Costa Rica 2026 Hummingbirds!
A Photography/Videography Tour
July 12 - 22, 2026
5 Spots Available
Leader: Ron R Bielefeld
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On this tour we will focus specifically on hummingbirds. Costa Rica is home to 50+ species of these flying jewels. We will travel through various areas of the country from lowlands, to mid-elevations, to high cloud forest in search of great photo and video opportunities with these amazing birds. We will not sit at one lodge and photograph at feeders or just on the lodge property. We will venture out and find birds other tours just do not attempt. We shoot 9 days, so there is no rush. You will have plenty of time to enjoy your photography experience.
So, if you like hummingbirds and want the opportunity to photograph a variety of hummingbirds including several hard to find species come on along and experience a tour like no other!
A sample itinerary can be found here. This is an example and actual itin may vary from that shown: Itinerary
Cost: $6995 per person ($850 deposit*)
Degree of Difficulty: Low to Moderate
Prerequisites: open to photographers of all skill levels
8-9 days of photography per tour
5 photographers maximum per tour
Includes:
- Lodging - single occupancy no sharing (except travel days)
- Transport to wildlife locations - on tour dates
- Photography/video instruction - on tour dates
- All entrance, guide, and boat tour fees during the tour
Not Included:
- Flights to and from San Jose' Costa Rica
- Tips/gratuities
- Meals/beverages not part of lodging fees
- Any excursions/activities not included in tour
- Lodging and meals during travel days
Arrival and Departure:
San Jose, Costa Rica
Dates: July 12 -22, 2026
Travel days = 12 -22 ; Photography days = 13 - 21
General arrival and depart schedule:
Arrive on the afternoon or evening of July 12th to avoid any flight delays keeping you from meeting up with transportation on the 13th.
Depart on afternoon or evening of the 22nd.
Base hotel = Hampton by Hilton San Jose Airport. Hotel has a shuttle from the airport. Each person is responsible for making the needed reservation at the hotel for the night of the 12th.
Throughout the tour, you will be transported in comfort to every location by a dedicated driver. During the tour I will provide instruction as needed while in the field as well as during any off times.
My goal is to get you opportunities to make stunning images and the knowledge to do it. This tour will take you to several different areas of the country where we hope to photograph species such as:
Alfaros Hummingbird
Band-tailed Barbthroat
Black-bellied Hummingbird
Blue-chested Hummingbird
Black-crested Coquette
Blue-tailed Hummingbird
Blue-throated Goldentail
Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer
Bronzy Hermit
Brown Violet-ear
Charming Hummingbird
Cinnamon Hummingbird
Coppery-headed Emerald
Fiery-throated Hummingbird
Garden Emerald
Gray-tailed Mountain Gem
Green-breasted Mango
Green-crowned Brilliant
Green-fronted Lancebill
Green Hermit
Green Thorntail
Indigo-capped
Long-billed Starthroat
Magenta-throated Woodstar
Mangrove Hummingbird
Mexican Violetear
Plain-capped Starthroat
Purple-crowned Fairy
Purple-throated Mountain-gem
Rivoli's Hummingbird
Rufous-crested Coquette
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Sapphire-throated Hummingbird
Scaly-breasted Hummingbird
Scintillant Hummingbird
Snowcap
Snowy-bellied
Steely-vented
Stripe-tailed Hummingbird
Stripe-throated Hermit
Violet-bellied Hummingbird
Violet-crowned Woodnymph
Violet-headed Hummingbird
Violet Sabrewing
Volcano Hummingbird
Western Long-tailed Hermit
White-bellied Emerald
White-bellied Mountain-gem
White-crested Coquette
White-necked Jacobin
White-tailed Emerald
White-tipped Sicklebill
White-throated Mountain-gem
White-vented Plumeleteer
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
Clothing
Temperatures can vary on this tour; it can be hot and humid (lowlands) and cool and damp (mountains), so pack accordingly. There is also the chance of rain, so remember to bring clothes that dry fast and/or rain jackets for yourself and camera gear.
- Long pants made of light, quick dry material
- Long-sleeved shirts made of light, quick dry material
- Warm Jacket/clothing for mountains
- Bug spray - The bugs are not as bad as you might expect, but better safe than sorry.
- Sunscreen - sun can be intense especially in the mountains
- Motion Sickness Meds - We will spend a fair amount of time in vehicles on hilly and winding roads, so if you get motion sickness bring medicine.
Camera Equipment
- Camera body or two; in case one malfunctions.
- Lenses - Fast prime such as a 400mm 2.8 or 500mm or 600mm f/4 for dim light shooting and a zoom such as a 100-500, 200-600, or 200-800mm lens for situations where birds are changing distance fast.
- Tripod and Speed-shooter harness system. Being able to move quickly from spot to spot can be critical and the Speed-shooter allows this.
- Rain cover for your equipment as well as a lens cloth.
- Laptop to back up photos and to participate in lightroom and photoshop lessons - not required but beneficial.
- Lots of memory cards and batteries!
Important Notes:
*Due to having to book lodgings many months in advance and these costs being non-refundable, your deposit is non-refundable unless we can refill your spot on the tour.
This is likely an international tour for most, so please make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months past the last date of the tour.
Please arrive the afternoon or evening before the tour start date (July 12th) to avoid any flight delays keeping you from meeting up with tour transportation on the morning the tour starts. Base hotel will be the Hampton by Hilton San Jose Airport. You are responsible for making your reservations at the hotel. Please plan on flying out late on the ending tour travel day or staying over in San Jose and leaving the next day. If staying in San Jose after the tour you are responsible for making those reservations.
The tour itinerary will be flexible to take advantage of the best photography/videography opportunities available and thus is subject to change without notice.
This photography/videography tour requires a minimum number of participants, if sufficient tour places are not sold the tour may not be run.
Not all mentioned wildlife can always be observed and photographed, thus the aforementioned species should be considered our target species. No guarantee is made of photographing all or any of the mentioned species.
To register for this tour please call 772-713-1216 or email mail ron@whistlingwingsphotography.com.
If you have questions or would like more information please email here.
Images from the Tour: