- Duration
- Full day (~12 hrs)
- Start time
- 4:30amSubject to availability
- Group style
- Private departure
- Pickup
- Pickup can be coordinated
- Languages
- EN / ES
The experience
Boca Tapada – Full Day Bird Photography Tour
Private Full Day Bird Photography Expedition to Boca Tapada — one of Costa Rica's best-kept rainforest secrets. Early start at Laguna Lagarto Reserve with breakfast and access to a top toucan photography platform, ~2 hours at Edward's famous bird garden (tanagers, honeycreepers, oropendolas, euphonias), King Vulture hide for close-range vulture photography, traditional Costa Rican lunch, afternoon hummingbird photography session (multi-flash or natural light), and macro opportunities (2–3 frog species and snakes such as Eyelash Pit Viper, Fer-de-Lance, Jumping Pit Viper). Return to La Fortuna ~5:40–6:30 PM.
PRICING OPTIONS: • Without transport (drive yourself to Boca Tapada): $400 pp → $466 pp all-in (+ 13% IVA + 3% fee) • With private transport from La Fortuna hotel: $550 pp → $641 pp all-in (+ 13% IVA + 3% fee)
Drive yourself option: a VIVO Expeditions team member will arrange to meet you at Muelle de San Carlos and lead you in convoy to Boca Tapada — straightforward even on your first visit. Exact meeting point and coordinates sent after booking confirmation.
OPTIONAL ADD-ON (book at time of reservation): • Evening Bat Multi-Flash Photography (5:45pm–7:45pm or 8:15pm–9:30pm): +$80 pp + IVA + fee → +$93 pp total
Highlights
What makes this day different
Without transport: $466 pp all-in (base $400 + 13% IVA + 3% fee)
With private transport from La Fortuna: $641 pp all-in (base $550 + 13% IVA + 3% fee)
Drive yourself option: VIVO team member meets you at Muelle de San Carlos and leads convoy to Boca Tapada
Meeting point and coordinates sent after booking confirmation — never before
Optional add-on: Bat Multi-Flash +$93 pp
Best for serious bird and wildlife photographers — all levels welcome
La Fortuna departure ~5:30 AM · Return ~6:30–7:00 PM
Minimum 1 adult · Maximum 6 passengers
Itinerary
Your day, hour by hour
Indicative timings — we adapt to wildlife activity and weather.
4:00 AMHotel pickup
Private transport from your La Fortuna area hotel.
4:20 AMArrive at Boca Tapada / Laguna Lagarto
Briefing with your bilingual naturalist guide.
4:30 AMGuided experience begins
Immersive interpretation at a boutique pace.
9:30 AMWildlife & photo stops
Curated stops for sightings and photography.
2:30 PMReturn to hotel
Comfortable transfer back to your accommodation.
Gallery
What you may see
Real photographs from our departures. Sightings are never guaranteed.
Included
What is included and what is not
Included
- Private naturalist / photography-focused guide
- Breakfast at Laguna Lagarto Reserve
- Access to toucan photography platform (~2 hrs)
- Edward's bird garden session — tanagers, honeycreepers, hummingbirds (6+ species)
- Multi-flash hummingbird photography session (Edward's professional setup)
- King Vulture hide photography session
- Macro photography of frogs & snakes in natural environment
- Traditional Costa Rican lunch
- Entrance fees to all photography locations & hides
Not included
- Transport / hotel pickup — quoted separately by hotel and zone
What to bring
- Camera with telephoto lens (400mm+)
- Macro lens (optional)
- Rain cover
- Binoculars
- Snacks
- Comfortable outdoor clothes
Logistics
Practical details before you book
Pickup can be coordinated
The exact meeting point is shared once the session is confirmed.
Share your hotel or Airbnb name during checkout and we confirm pickup time and any transport cost in writing.
What to know
- Camera with telephoto lens (400mm+)
- Macro lens (optional)
- Rain cover
- Binoculars
- Snacks
- Comfortable outdoor clothes
Where exactly it is
Boca Tapada, San Carlos · 110 km from La Fortuna (≈165 min drive)
Tour Location· Boca Tapada Lodge
4.9(125)24 hoursBooking window
Requests close 240h before departure. Inside that window we still try, but availability is not confirmed.
This experience accepts a card authorization online: the amount is held, never charged, until VIVO confirms.
1 Adult · 8
Cancellation & changes
- 10+ days before tour → 100% refund to original payment method, minus 5% administrative fee
- 5–10 days before tour → 30% refund to original payment method (minus 5% admin fee) — lodge cabins and crew are reserved once the 10-day window starts
- Less than 5 days before tour → No refund (travel credit may be offered case-by-case)
- No-shows are non-refundable and non-rescheduleable
- Weather: 100% travel credit valid 12 months — no cash refund. Transport already executed on tour day is non-refundable.
- The 5% administrative fee is non-refundable and covers non-recoverable bank/processor fees (Stripe and PayPal retain ~3% on every transaction even when refunded) plus the cost of processing the cancellation. It is waived when we cancel for operational or weather reasons.
- All refunds are issued to the original payment method (card, PayPal, or bank transfer used at booking). We do not issue cash refunds under any circumstance.
Compare
Choose with clarity
Duration, price, difficulty, transport and booking type, side by side.
Compare with other options in this zone
Real alternatives in the same destination, so you can decide without opening five tabs.
| Detail | You are viewingBoca Tapada – Full Day Bird Photography Tour | Valle de los Quetzales – Full Day Birding & Photography Tour | 🌋 La Fortuna – Classic Combo Experience | Combo: Canyoning + White Water Rafting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | Full day (~12 hrs) | Full day (~10–11 hrs) | Full day (~10 hours) | 8 hours |
| Price | From $521 | From $261 | From $423 | From $182 |
| Difficulty | — | — | — | — |
| Transport | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Modality | Private | Private | Private | Private |
| Booking | Instant date hold | Instant date hold | Instant date hold | By request |
| Includes | 9 items | 5 items | 5 items | 6 items |
Book
Secure your date
Authorize your card today; the charge only happens once VIVO confirms the operation.
How it works
- 1
Choose your date
Date, modality and travellers at checkout.
- 2
We authorize your card
The amount is held; NOT charged until VIVO confirms.
- 3
We confirm in writing
Email and WhatsApp with time, meeting point and assigned guide.
- 4
Your private portal
You receive your portal with itinerary, calendar invite and support.
You can also add this experience to your itinerary and book several together. View my itinerary
Price per person
From$521
All fees included.
Small group from $521
Reserve My Experience
Your card is authorized only, not charged.
Availability is checked live. VIVO captures the payment after finalizing the operational details.
Free cancellation 10 days+ (−5% fee)
Meeting point shared after booking
Secure payment · no hidden fees
Questions
Frequently asked
How long does this tour last?
It lasts a full day, around 12 hours. Start times: 4:30am departure.
Is transport or pickup included?
Transport is never included in the tour price. We quote it separately by hotel and zone so you only pay for the route you actually need.
Why does it start so early?
Boca Tapada is roughly 3 hours from La Fortuna and the wildlife is most active at first light, so we leave before dawn to use the best hours.
How far ahead should we book?
At least 2 days ahead. Availability is confirmed within 24 hours and free cancellation applies up to 10 days before the date.
What happens if it rains?
Rain is part of the rainforest and the tour normally runs; we bring rain gear. If conditions become unsafe, we reschedule or refund according to our policy.
More questions about tours in this area? Read the Boca Tapada FAQ
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