My photo buddy and I are planning a week in Costa Rica and looking for suggestions on a photo/naturalist guide to put us in the right places at the right time. I suppose a small "workshop" could do (happy for those suggestions), but also would like to explore a private tour. Looking at going in the mid-June to mid-Sept timeframe - I know it's rainy season, but then the foliage will really be green! Appreciate the thoughts and suggestions. Thanks - Jeff.
Best such person is Juan Carlos Vindas with Neotropic Photo Tours. He is a resident of Costa Rica and an excellent photographer. He specializes in taking very small groups of 4 or fewer photographers. http://www.neotropicphototours.com/
I had him put together a 7 day trip for my wife and I on short notice and he booked our rooms and he provided the vehicle. He is fluent in English and a very nice person overall.
If you are not in need of photographic instruction I can recommend a fantastic guide - Dionisio Paniagua (Nito to most everybody), of Surcos Tours (surcostours.com; option for English is at bottom of home page).
I was blown away by two things:
1) I was supposed to go to CR with Nito/Surcos in 2020 but Covid scuttled that. They were fantastic in rescheduling everything for the same time in 2021 (I guess I was rather optimistic!) and then again in 2022 (when it finally came to be). Stella in the office (Nito's sister) was incredible to work with. So pleasant, helpful and accommodating. I can't say enough about her!
2) Nito as a guide was beyond words. His ability to hear and see (and even smell!) wildlife was amazing. Two examples. We were walking along a trail and he suddenly stops and puts his fingers to his lips. He listens for a moment and then quietly tells me to stay until he waves me over. He walks 10-15m (a little more than yards) off the path, searches and then waives me over. He points to this tiny frog on leaves! His ability to spot wildlife was equally impressive (as is his knowledge of the wildlife of the Osa Peninsula)
Second example. Unfortunately I can't recall for certain if it was an anteater or a sloth, but we are walking along and he stops and says there is a [anteater or sloth] here. I say where? He says he doesn't know yet but he can smell it! Sure enough he finds it.
