Costa Rica: Wildlife Paradise - A Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshop field report
- Russell Graves
- Jul 12
- 4 min read
“We are on a boat on the summer solstice in Costa Rica,” one guest proclaims with a grin from ear to ear. “Full stop!”
He needn’t explain more as everyone on the boat understands what he means. It’s a succinct statement, but his words speak volumes. It’s a bit surreal to be here amongst all of this beauty. So we ride and soak in the moment.
Just a bit earlier, we were in a big pod of tropical spotted dolphins as they fed and jumped in the gentle waves of Gulfo Dulce. Everyone was engaged in trying to get images of them. If you’ve ever seen dolphins before, you know they are a delight.
After a bit, I look around, and no one is taking pictures. Instead, they just watch the dolphins. In this moment, the air is warm, light rain falls across the bay from where we cruise, and clouds hang over the heavily vegetated tropical mountains. It’s the start of the rainy season here in the jungle, but the rains always hold off until the night. This day is no different.
Later in our ride, we anchor just off the rocky coastline, and for those who wish to, we take a swim and snorkel over a coral reef. In less than ten feet of water, we see parrot fish, rays, and other colorful fish that use the reef as cover to hide from predators.
After the swim, we cruise the beach and see colorful scarlet macaws feeding from an almond tree. Everywhere we turn, it seems, the jungle shows her bounty.
And so it goes for each outing we take on this Costa Rican nature photography workshop.
Throughout the week, we photograph the four monkey species found on the Osa Peninsula. It’s like an encyclopedia of New World monkeys: the capuchin, spider, howler, and the diminutive squirrel monkey. Each morning we awake to the sounds of howlers greeting the day - their deep bellowing calls belie their stature. From a distance, they sound large and imposing, but up close, their tight-knit social structure delights all who see them.
On a safari drive one afternoon, we catch movement in the trees only to find a troop of squirrel monkeys skittering about the branches. These little monkeys are the true acrobats of the forests. They can leap with seemingly weightlessness as they jump from branch to branch. Their understanding of physics and motion is calculated instantly as they deftly move through the canopy.
Every day and on every outing, we find something new to photograph. Reptiles, birds, mammals, and amphibians are all on the docket, and one by one, day after day, we check off accomplishments. Then, each evening we return to luxury at our lodge where we enjoy fantastic meals, incredible hospitality, and a swimming pool that’s too special to describe.
On the last full day of our outing, we travel to an area where sloths are often seen. Within minutes of us parking, our guide, Eduardo, alerts us.
“There’s a sloth right here, and he’s low,” he says excitedly. Walking thirty yards down the road, we look a dozen feet up a tree and conclude he’s right. We watch and photograph the three-toed sloth for a bit, and he begins to move. Predictably, the mammal's movements are slow and deliberate. That gives us ample opportunity to get some stunning photos of one of Costa Rica’s unofficial mascots. He spends some time obscured by branches, but much of the time is in the open, which allows everyone to shoot beautifully lit images with stunning backgrounds.
The sloth hangs around for quite a bit, but I can tell from everyone’s body language that no one is bored with the spectacle. Sloths are a fascinating species to watch. They move so slowly that moss grows on their fur. Since they spend up to 16 hours a day sleeping, we’re lucky to find an active one so quickly.
After leaving the sloth area, we head into the mountains, where we’ll spend the last afternoon of the trip photographing macro subjects. The day doesn’t disappoint.
Red-eyed tree frogs, eyelash vipers, helmeted lizards, and a myriad of other reptiles and amphibians make up the list of critters presented to guests for the creation of incredible imagery. Each participant learns new and exciting techniques to photograph these small subjects. These images add nuance and variety to each person’s Costa Rica portfolio, and the smiles all around prove that each activity we did this week has been a worthwhile endeavor. From our walks in the fabled Corcovado National Park to our safari drives, each experience yields images and unforgettable memories.
On the drive back to the lodge, I think back to the declarative statement that one of the guests made from the boat a few days ago.
“We are on a boat on the summer solstice in Costa Rica, Full stop!”
He couldn’t have said it any better.
We're already gearing up for our 2027 Costa Rica Excursion. If you are interested, be sure to send over a note!
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