Costa Rica 2026 Hummingbirds!
A Photography/Videography Tour
July 12 - 22, 2026
3 Spots Available
Leader: Ron R Bielefeld
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This tour is all about hummingbirds—Costa Rica’s flying jewels. With over 50 species found across the country, we’ll travel from lowland jungles to misty mid-elevations and high cloud forests in search of stunning photo and video opportunities.
Unlike typical lodge-based tours, we won’t stay put or rely on feeders. Many species don’t visit them, and we’re here to find the birds others don’t. Our approach is field-based, immersive, and respectful—designed to uncover rare and elusive species in their natural habitats.
We shoot for 9 days, giving you plenty of time to slow down, enjoy the experience, and capture the magic. If hummingbirds fascinate you and you want the chance to photograph a wide variety—including several hard-to-find species—this is the tour for you.
Come along and experience a hummingbird adventure 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: