Chasing Feathers: Exploring Costa Rica’s Avian Wonders

My phone beeped—a message from my friend Elena. Not unexpected, we were both engrossed in Eclipse preparations and were already exchanging photo tips. "Official geeks" is what I call us! The text read, "Amiga, I have a proposal for you," followed by an audio note about a trip to Costa Rica to photograph the nesting of the resplendent Quetzal.  Quetzals are a gloriously coloured endangered bird, with significance in Mexican and Central American culture, known to symbolize freedom. I immediately said "YES." The best trips are spontaneous, right? That’s how my trip to Costa Rica began.

Aerial view of San Jose

Costa Rica, nestled in Central America, is celebrated for its stunning natural beauty, rich biodiversity, and welcoming atmosphere. Bordered by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south, the nation’s strategic location offers a predominantly warm climate and a variety of microclimates that create diverse ecosystems.

Tourism is a major source of income for Costa Rica, attracting visitors with its lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and vibrant wildlife. Travelers can explore a range of environments, from cloud forests and volcanic landscapes to coastal mangroves and tropical forests.

The trip commenced from San Jose where Eric, our avid Birder and tour guide, led the group on an unforgettable seven-day bird photography focused trip. Birdwatchers, in particular, will find Costa Rica to be a paradise. As we drove through its tiny towns, passing banana groves, pineapple fields, and mango orchards, we had numerous opportunities to spot a wide array of bird species in various habitats. We were visually rewarded with picturesque scenery and the charm of small towns and local farms.

Our hotel, nestled in the heart of the country, was surrounded by its own biological reserve. Tree branches were alive with iguanas of all sizes, scurrying to feed on the food set out in the feeders, while hummingbirds flitted about. The vibrant colours of the birds that could be seen just by staying at the lodge were breathtaking. There was no need to leave; I was simply awed by it all. I’m not great friends with snakes or lizards, and there were plenty of those too! After the first night in the jungle, I learned to mentally block out hissing noises— Yikes! The noises could be unsettling - but I guess you learn to face your fears.

One crucial aspect of bird photography is that you must be patient. Our days began early, around sunrise, allowing us ample time to locate our target bird for the day. We would then carefully and quietly set up around it, waiting patiently for it to display its crown or feathers. This process could easily take two to three hours . I was also introduced to reptile portrait photography . Another bonus .These were done in controlled locations with experts organizing the setups , ensuring that no one including the reptiles were hurt in the process. Fascinating !!!These trips continued for three days after which we left the lush forests and made our way to the mountains to start photographing the Quetzal.

We arrived to our mountain lodge in the evening after a five-hour drive. Our lodge was situated in the heart of the mountains, and words cannot do its beauty justice. The cabins, were perched amidst lush greenery that stretched as far as the eye could see, were truly picturesque. Birds were constantly feeding on the flowers or at the feeders set up by the owners. While the Quetzal is often celebrated for its beauty and elegance, the other birds I saw there were no less magnificent

The plan was to wake up early morning to photograph the gorgeous Quetzal in action, the sole purpose for this trip.

Our Quetzal photography day dawned, and this is where my camera rant kicks in. Where do I start? We arrive at the Quetzal location early in the morning, assuming we would be the first on site, only to find twenty other photographers already set up. The plan was to photograph the male Quetzal as it flew from the nest to gather food and then return. I had my Fujifilm XT4, which shoots at 12 fps. This was the biggest rookie mistake of my life! For photography of birds in flight, you need a minimum of 20 fps.  So, after two hours, all I had were three tail shots, two head shots, one in flight, and about twenty or more empty frames. Poor Eric, he was seriously worried that I wouldn’t get the shot, so I decided to try out the Nikon Z7II for the afternoon session paired with Carlos’ Nikkor100 400mm lens. It was even worse! The moral of the story: for wildlife photography it HAS TO BE a minimum of 20FPS. My advice, buy a Sony A1 (and no I’m not advertising them), they are the best in the business

Two photography sessions in, I learned to time the flight patterns of the Quetzal and finally I got my 20 photos... as opposed to 200 the others got! A lesson learned the hard way!

The trip felt like it came to an end too soon. A week filled with amazing moments, new experiences, and above all new friends that made it all the more special.

                          Muchas Gracias Costa Rica. you never know maybe I’ll be back!

TRAVEL TIPS:

Visa requirements :.

As a Bahraini passport holder A visa is required However if you are a Schengen visa holder or a USA or a uk visa holder then that will suffice . The airport is really very small so once you are done with the passport control (depending on the season be ready for a long wait ) you just pick up your luggage and be out in a minute .Keep some cash dollars to be able to tip the porters in the event you would need to .

After luggage collection you can get money exchange at the forex bureau .There is just one there but people are happy to accept US dollars

I suggest getting an esim from Airalo However keep in mind that even with that the net is very slow and at times unaccessible.

I avoided eating any uncooked veggies or fruits . But I have to say their pineapples are a level of their own!! and the Heart of Palm is something else! Drink bottled water at all times

Pile up the sunscreen and keep it in your backpack at all times . Keep a first aid kit . Meds are not readily available depending on where you are .the more remote you are the less likely you will have access to pharmacies.

A power bank is a must .

Cameras and lenses :

-Travel with a minimum of two camera bodies. Easier than switching lenses.

MAKE SURE YOUR CAMERAS HAVE A MINIMUM OF 20FPS OR YOU WILL BE OFFICIALLY SCREWED.

Minimum lens will be 100400mm . Add the 200600mm if you have it .

-Bring as many camera batteries as possible.

-A tripod is must and the tripod head should have a gimbal .I used Jobu Deluxe Jr . Also keep an extra mounting plate .

Clothing :

• Get enough clothes for a week you won’t have time to do laundry . t-shirts and hiking pants (waterproof is always the safest as it can rain ) /hats /gloves / for the jungle part . And warm clothing for the Quetzal part as it tends to get chilly in the morning .

Footwear : Do not bring flats or any open ended sandals. Trainers will suffice preferably waterproof .

Sunglasses//sunscreen/ shampoo/lotion/soap/hats/ a full medical kit (paracetamol,vita c , anti nausea, anti diarrhea , hand sanitiser )

Tour Organizer : Eric Granadas

instagram : @quetzal_experiences