After enjoying a delicious Costa Rican breakfast, collect your rental car, check out of your accommodation, and depart for Chilamate. Along the way, consider visiting Poás Volcano, which requires a small detour but is very manageable, especially if you leave early.

Your route is as follows:
Alajuela → Vara Blanca → Chilamate (via Route 126).
The distance is approximately 75 km, and the driving time is about 4 hours, excluding time spent at the volcano or breaks along the way.

If you decide to visit the Poás Volcano, it’s an easy trip:

The distance is approximately 30 km, and the drive time is around 45 minutes.

Directions:

– Leave Alajuela heading north on Route 130 towards Itiquís and Fraijanes.

– Follow the signs for Poás Volcano. The road climbs through coffee farms and cloud forests.

– The road is paved and in good condition, but it is winding and has changes in altitude.

Volcano info:

• There is a parking area and a visitor centre at the entrance to the park.
• Reservations must be made in advance via the SINAC website.
• From the visitor centre, it’s a short 10-minute walk to the crater viewpoint.
• Facilities include restrooms, parking, and occasionally, a small café.

Poás Volcano → Vara Blanca → Chilamate (via Route 126).

The distance is approximately 100 km, and the drive time takes around 3 hours.

Optional stops along the way:

• Colibrí Café (Vara Blanca): Enjoy great coffee, snacks, and potentially view hummingbirds.
• La Paz Waterfall (visible from the road).
• Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí: A larger town where you can refuel or buy groceries.

After your journey, check into your accommodation in Chilamate and settle in.

📸 An Immersive Photography Day in Chilamate!

Before Breakfast:

Start your day at first light during the golden hour, which is perfect for capturing stunning images of birds, howler monkeys, and the misty rainforest. You can explore the lodge’s private trails or take photographs from the riverside deck. Expect to see toucans, trogons, aracaris, motmots, and sloths.

Tip: Bring a long lens (300 mm or longer), a macro lens for close-up shots of insects, and waterproof protection for your equipment.

Breakfast at the Lodge:

Savour a local breakfast featuring fresh fruit, coffee, and gallo pinto. Use this time to back up your photos and plan your next photography outing.

After Breakfast:

Join a guided nature walk or go on a river photography trip. Accompany a naturalist guide as you explore the lowland tropical rainforest, who will assist you in spotting and identifying rare species.

Photographic highlights include frogs, lizards, fungi, butterflies, and a variety of insects. Alternatively, you can walk alongside the Sarapiquí River, known for its rapids, mosses, ferns, and river birds, including herons.

Lunch:

Enjoy lunch either at the lodge or in the nearby town of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí. The midday light can be harsh, so this is a great time to rest, review your images, or recharge your equipment.

After Lunch:

Take a siesta suspended in a hammock while browsing through your photos. Alternatively, focus on macro photography, capturing images of subjects such as poison dart frogs, leaf-cutter ants, orchids, and mushrooms. You may also consider visiting nearby reserves, such as La Selva Biological Station or Tirimbina, to explore different habitats and wildlife.

Sunset, Dusk Activity, and Dinner:

Capture the golden light by the river or in clearings around the lodge. As night falls, you can photograph bats and fireflies, or prepare for a night walk.

Night Walk with Guide:

Using a headlamp and a macro lens, explore the rainforest at night. Possible subjects include glass frogs, snakes, owls, nocturnal mammals, spiders, various insects, and glowing fungi. This experience is one of the most magical photography opportunities in the tropics.

Back to Lodge:

Relax, upload your photos, and take in the stargazing from one of the lodge’s open spaces.

Day 4: A Combination of Natural Photography, Rural Tourism, Relaxation, and Traditional Sustainable Local Activities.

These experiences are designed for individuals seeking more than just capturing beautiful images. They support local communities, foster mutual respect, and promote environmental awareness.

Options Include:

• Community Portrait Project (with consent and context).
• Ethical Cacao Farm Visit.
• Traditional Cooking or Tortilla Workshop.

Recommended route: via Los Chiles. The distance is 138 km, and he driving time is approximately 4 hours, depending on traffic, road conditions, and weather.

Please note that the itinerary only includes details for the first four days of your trip. We are happy to send you a complete overview of the remaining days via email. This comprehensive itinerary will include information on lodging, transfers, tours, and activities.

Prepare for a one-of-a-kind photo shoot in Caño Negro, a true paradise for waterbirds and wetland wildlife.

Caño Negro provides the perfect opportunity to take intimate, wildlife photographs from small boats during sunrise and sunset. You will have numerous chances to capture stunning images of birds, caimans, and river life in the beautiful golden light. Local guides and community-run tours offer authentic insights into one of Costa Rica’s most important wetland ecosystems.

Route: Caño Negro → Cañas → Liberia → Santa Cruz → Ostional.

Distance: Approximately 230 km.
Driving time: 4.5 hours, depending on road conditions and traffic.

For photographers, witnessing the mass arrival of Olive Ridley sea turtles during “arribada” is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Under the moonlight or in the early morning hours, thousands of turtles come ashore to nest. This phenomenon offers photographers dramatic scenes in low light, intimate textures, and powerful wildlife moments. Although flash photography is prohibited, red light is permitted as it does not harm the turtles.

Route: Ostional → Puntarenas ferry → Dos Bocas.

Distance: Approximately 330 km.
Driving time: 6.5 hours, depending on road and ferry schedules. Don’t forget to stop at the Tárcoles River bridge to spot crocodiles and take some great pictures.

In the next two days, you will explore beautiful nature and encounter exotic animals. Additionally, you have the opportunity to visit Nauyaca, the most stunning waterfall in all of Costa Rica, visit hot springs or join whale and dolphin watching tours during the season at Marino Ballena National Park.

The drive from Dos Bocas to Sierpe is approximately 90 kilometres and takes about 1.5 hours. From Sierpe to Drake Bay, the boat trip covers roughly 40 kilometres and takes around 1.2 hours. This boat journey is incredible, as it navigates through the beautiful mangroves of the Térraba River estuary before emerging into the open sea.

Two unforgettable days focused on coastal and oceanic photography in the wildlife-rich paradise of the Osa Peninsula.

Recommended Route (during the dry season or with 4×4): Drake Bay → Rincón → La Palma → Palmar Norte → Tres Colinas.

Distance: Approximately 170 km (depending on the route).
Driving Time: around 3.5 hours, varying with road conditions and weather.

Prepare for breathtaking starry skies. Here are the best locations for photographing the Milky Way. Hopefully, your trip coincides with meteor shower events, and don’t forget to capture the beauty of the high mountains.

Route: Tres Colinas → San Isidro de El General → Copey.

Distance: Approximately 190 km.
Driving time: about 4 hours, depending on the route and weather conditions.

Explore misty cloud forests, take photographs of hummingbirds and highland landscapes, and visit local coffee farms to experience rural life. The highlight is spotting the Resplendent Quetzal, one of the most beautiful birds in the Americas, in its natural cloud forest habitat.

The distance is approximately 90 km, and the driving time is about 2 hours, depending on traffic and weather conditions.

As your journey with Into Nature comes to a close, take a moment to reflect on the landscapes you’ve walked, the light you’ve captured, and the stillness you’ve experienced. After breakfast, return your rental car and check out of your accommodation. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
Departure time: 18:00.