Close-up portrait of a Yellow-throated Toucan showing its bright yellow throat and large yellow-and-maroon bill in Costa Rica.

Bird, Frog and Macaw Photography in Sarapiquí, Costa Rica

Our next stop on the tour was Selva Verde Lodge in the Caribbean Lowlands, where we hoped to photograph frogs, macaws in flight, and, of course, more hungry birds.

The three-hour drive from Rancho Naturalista was uneventful, with the exception of a roadside sloth spotting.

Three-toed sloth resting high in a tree near Selva Verde Lodge in Costa Rica.

Arriving at Selva Verde Lodge

It was raining when we arrived at Selva Verde Lodge, but fortunately the lodge is well prepared for that. An extensive network of covered walkways connects the buildings, which meant we could move around without getting completely soaked.

Covered walkways through the rainforest during heavy rain at Selva Verde Lodge in Costa Rica.

Our room was one of the nicer ones we’d stayed in so far, set right along the river with a view into the surrounding forest. The sound of the water carried through the trees and gave the whole place a calm, settled feel.

Spacious guest room with two beds and a sitting area at Selva Verde Lodge in Costa Rica.

Covered wooden balcony with a hammock overlooking the river and rainforest at Selva Verde Lodge, Costa Rica.

The lodge also has a well-designed feeder setup. A large covered balcony faces a series of feeders positioned at just the right distance for photography, with benches where you can sit and watch the birds come and go. It was particularly useful in the rain, when wandering around the forest with camera gear seemed considerably less appealing.

Fruit feeders set among dense rainforest vegetation below the viewing balcony at Selva Verde Lodge, Costa Rica.

Birdwatchers photographing birds from the covered feeder balcony at Selva Verde Lodge in Costa Rica.

Photographing Frogs After Dark

After lunch and some time at the feeders, we took a short walk around the grounds looking for frogs. We found a few green-and-black poison dart frogs, but the environment was not great for photography.

Green-and-black poison dart frogs among wet leaf litter in the rainforest at Selva Verde Lodge, Costa Rica.

When we headed out again after dinner, the difference was noticeable. There was far more activity and we had some excellent sightings of red-eyed tree frogs. This was a clear step up from what we’d seen in Panama just ten days earlier.

Red-eyed tree frog perched on a broad green leaf at night at Selva Verde Lodge, Costa Rica.

Red-eyed tree frog showing its blue-and-yellow striped sides and orange toes while perched on a stem at Selva Verde Lodge, Costa Rica.

Red-eyed tree frog facing the camera with bright red eyes and orange toes at Selva Verde Lodge, Costa Rica.

An Early Morning at the Selva Verde Feeders

We arrived at the feeders around 6:30 a.m., only to discover that plenty of other people had apparently had the same idea. The balcony was already packed.

Yellow-throated Toucan perched with its bill raised at Selva Verde Lodge, Costa Rica.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird perched among bright pink flowers at Selva Verde Lodge, Costa Rica.

Collared Aracari perched on a branch at Selva Verde Lodge, Costa Rica.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird perched with its bill open at Selva Verde Lodge, Costa Rica.

Keel-billed Toucan perched against a tree trunk at Selva Verde Lodge, Costa Rica.

There was plenty of room though, and plenty of bird activity. After breakfast, we loaded into the van for the morning activity, which involved about a 40-minute drive from Selva Verde.

Photographing Macaws in Flight at La Finca Lodge

Our destination was La Finca Lodge, also known as the Macaw Farm.

The property hosts red macaws, green macaws, and a hybrid that we were told cannot reproduce. The setup was unlike anything we’d encountered so far on the trip.

We gathered in what looked like a sports field, with feeding stations positioned at either end. The birds started at one end while a staff member stood at the other and called them over. When they responded, they flew directly across the field, passing right over us.

Photographers preparing to photograph macaws in flight as scarlet and great green macaws wait on a feeding platform at La Finca Lodge, Costa Rica.

We stood in the middle trying to photograph them in flight.

Photographers lined up in a grassy field preparing to photograph macaws in flight at La Finca Lodge near Selva Verde, Costa Rica.

On paper, this should have been easier than photographing something like a hummingbird. Macaws are large birds moving along a relatively predictable path. In reality, it was much harder than expected.

Panning smoothly while tracking a fast-moving macaw takes practice, and it quickly became clear that this was not a skill we’d spent much time developing. Still, it was fun, and with enough attempts we managed to capture a few images that were in focus.

Macaw coming in to land with wings spread against the green landscape at La Finca Lodge, Costa Rica.

Macaw landing with wings raised among a group of macaws at La Finca Lodge, Costa Rica

Macaw in flight with wings and long tail feathers fully spread at La Finca Lodge, Costa Rica.

And also some that were more… artsy.

Flock of macaws flying together over La Finca Lodge in Costa Rica.

Macaw photographed with a slow shutter speed, creating motion blur as it flies past at La Finca Lodge, Costa Rica.

Abstract slow-shutter photograph of a macaw in flight, with its yellow wings and long tail feathers blurred against a bright white background.

Capuchin Monkeys and Macaw Portraits

After the flight session we moved to another area of the property, where the experience was completely different.

We spent some time photographing capuchin monkeys, including one carrying two babies on her back. This was our first monkey on this tour, and we’d also never seen one carrying two before.

White-faced capuchin monkey carrying two young monkeys on its back while walking across the grass in Costa Rica.

White-faced capuchin monkey carrying two young monkeys on its back while standing on a tree branch in Costa Rica.

Eventually the macaws made their way into this area as well, giving us the chance to photograph them perched as well as clambering together around a tree, using their bills and feet to hang from the trunk and branches.

Close-up portrait of a Scarlet Macaw showing its bright red plumage, pale facial skin and large curved bill in Costa Rica.

Scarlet and Great Green Macaws crowd together with wings spread around a tree in Costa Rica.

Scarlet Macaw flying toward a palm tree with its colourful wings and long tail fully extended in Costa Rica.

After the chaos of trying to track them in flight, this felt considerably more manageable.

Bird Photography at Donde Cope

That afternoon we visited Donde Cope, a private garden set up specifically for bird photography.

Fortunately the photography area was covered because the rain arrived not long after we did. Even with the shelter, conditions were quite dark. There were birds visiting the feeders, but the lack of light made photography challenging.

Red-legged Honeycreeper perched on a branch with its bill open, showing vivid blue plumage, turquoise crown and bright red legs in Costa Rica.

Gray-cowled Wood-Rail standing on a moss-covered log, showing its gray head, chestnut body and bright pink legs in Costa Rica.

Two Orange-chinned Parakeets interacting closely while perched together in Costa Rica.

Rather than fighting the conditions, we shifted our attention back to hummingbirds, which were more forgiving subjects in the low light.

White-necked Jacobin hummingbird feeding from a red torch ginger flower while hovering in Costa Rica.

White-necked Jacobin hummingbird hovering beside a red torch ginger flower with its wings and tail spread in Costa Rica.

We also tried some long exposures, making the Jacobin hummingbird tail feathers almost look like Degas dancer skirts.

White-necked Jacobin hummingbird hovering beside a red torch ginger flower, with its wings blurred by motion in Costa Rica.

Abstract slow-shutter photograph of a White-necked Jacobin hummingbird in flight, with blurred wings and fanned white tail against a dark green background.

Multiple hummingbirds converging around a red torch ginger flower, their rapid wingbeats creating motion blur in Costa Rica.

And lastly, we found a very small and very patient emerald glass frog.

Emerald Glass Frog gripping intersecting branches, showing its translucent green body and patterned eyes in Costa Rica.

Emerald Glass Frog gripping intersecting branches, showing its translucent green body and patterned eyes in Costa Rica.

Andy and Jennifer Martin

We’re Andy and Jennifer—two former corporate executives who chose long ago to prioritise experiences over stuff while pursuing our passions for travel and photography. From the Arctic to Antarctica, and most places in between, we’ve captured the world through our lenses and love sharing those stories. Our careers gave us the means, but our purpose is inspiring others to explore and helping people create images they’re proud of.

You may also like

Nectar-feeding bat near a banana flower during a night photography session at Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica.

Snowcap Hummingbirds and Bat Photography at Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica

Lesser Violetear hovering beside an orange torch lily flower at Paraíso Quetzales in the Savegre Valley, Costa Rica.

Hummingbird Flash Photography at Paraíso Quetzales and Another Look at the Resplendent Quetzal

Savegre Valley Bird Photography and Searching for the Resplendent Quetzal