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Costa Rica

Digital Photography in Nature: Capturing the Best of Costa Rica

Program No. 15114RJ
Learn to get the most out of your digital camera as you join experts to practice exposure, composition and wildlife and landscape techniques in the colorful landscapes of Costa Rica.

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Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Jan 13 - Jan 21, 2024
Starting at
2,699
Jan 22 - Jan 30, 2024
Starting at
2,699
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Feb 4 - Feb 12, 2024
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2,699
Feb 21 - Feb 29, 2024
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2,699
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Mar 2 - Mar 10, 2024
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2,699
Mar 11 - Mar 19, 2024
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2,699
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Apr 14 - Apr 22, 2024
Starting at
2,699
Special Offer

No extra cost for single rooms! Free singles sell out quickly, so be sure to enroll early.

Apr 27 - May 5, 2024
Starting at
2,699
Special Offer

No extra cost for single rooms! Free singles sell out quickly, so be sure to enroll early.

May 17 - May 25, 2024
Starting at
2,349
Special Offer

No extra cost for single rooms! Free singles sell out quickly, so be sure to enroll early.

Aug 11 - Aug 19, 2024
Starting at
2,349
Special Offer

No extra cost for single rooms! Free singles sell out quickly, so be sure to enroll early.

Oct 7 - Oct 15, 2024
Starting at
2,349
Special Offer

No extra cost for single rooms! Free singles sell out quickly, so be sure to enroll early.

Nov 12 - Nov 20, 2024
Starting at
2,699
Dec 6 - Dec 14, 2024
Starting at
2,699
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Jan 13 - Jan 21, 2024
Starting at
3,229
Jan 22 - Jan 30, 2024
Starting at
3,229
Filling Fast!
Feb 4 - Feb 12, 2024
Starting at
3,229
Feb 21 - Feb 29, 2024
Starting at
3,229
Mar 2 - Mar 10, 2024
Starting at
3,229
Mar 11 - Mar 19, 2024
Starting at
3,229
Apr 14 - Apr 22, 2024
Starting at
2,699
Special Offer

No extra cost for single rooms! Free singles sell out quickly, so be sure to enroll early.

Filling Fast!
Apr 27 - May 5, 2024
Starting at
2,699
Special Offer

No extra cost for single rooms! Free singles sell out quickly, so be sure to enroll early.

Filling Fast!
May 17 - May 25, 2024
Starting at
2,349
Special Offer

No extra cost for single rooms! Free singles sell out quickly, so be sure to enroll early.

Aug 11 - Aug 19, 2024
Starting at
2,349
Special Offer

No extra cost for single rooms! Free singles sell out quickly, so be sure to enroll early.

Oct 7 - Oct 15, 2024
Starting at
2,349
Special Offer

No extra cost for single rooms! Free singles sell out quickly, so be sure to enroll early.

Filling Fast!
Nov 12 - Nov 20, 2024
Starting at
3,229
Filling Fast!
Dec 6 - Dec 14, 2024
Starting at
3,229

At a Glance

The rugged orange bloom of the Heliconia looks even more exotic as you zoom in for a shot in the Caribbean lowland rainforest. Accompanied by a naturalist photography instructor, learn to capture brilliant photographs in the dynamic Costa Rican environment. Lectures and field instruction help you to create digital images using professional techniques, while presentations and excursions introduce Costa Rica’s flora and fauna, as well as its human heritage.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to 1.5 hours a day over uneven trails in hot and humid conditions. Elevations up to 11,000 feet.
Micro Group
Micro Group
These adventures feature our smallest group size, with 12 participants or fewer.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Capture images of Bromeliads, colorful birds, iconic tree frogs and more during daily photo sessions.
  • Learn how to manage light, exposure and composition, as well as macro, landscape and wildlife photography techniques.
  • Experiment with depth of field and polarizing filters to add atmosphere to your landscape shots at Cerro de la Muerte.

General Notes

Participants should have their own digital camera (preferably with multiple lenses or adapters), tripods, chargers and digital media storage devices.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
National Geographic Complete Photography
by Scott Stuckey, National Geographic Society
Beautifully bound in hard cover, National Geographic's top photographers, including Annie Griffiths, Steve McCurry and Frans Lanting, contribute to this comprehensive reference, packed with tips, how-to's, photo galleries and stories from the field.
The Wildlife of Costa Rica, A Field Guide
by Twan Leenders, Robert Dean, Jim Zook, Fiona Reid
This guide includes 450 of the most common, interesting and charismatic mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and arthropods that you are likely to encounter. Each has exquisite full-color illustrations.
The Monkey's Bridge, Mysteries of Evolution in Central America
by David Rains Wallace
Opening this absorbing account of the history and biogeography of the Central American isthmus with the tale of Columbus, Wallace weaves his own travels in the region with a crisp overview of exploration, nature and evolution. Natural history buffs and ecologically minded travelers will appreciate this valuable resource.
National Geographic Costa Rica
by Christopher P. Baker
This stylish, informative and up-to-date travel resource features 200 photographs, many maps and good information on the country's history, nature and culture.
National Audubon Society Guide to Nature Photography, Digital Edition
by Tim Fitzharris
Fitzharris shares his tips for capturing and processing flawless images of nature in this detailed guide, with hundreds of brilliant color photographs.
Costa Rican Wildlife
by Pocket Naturalist
Put it in your pocket! This handy, fold-up card includes color illustrations of dozens of typical birds, mammals and reptiles.
Volcanoes, Crucibles of Change
by Richard Fisher
A complete primer for the volcano lover, this heavily illustrated book covers types of volcanoes and eruptions, worldwide distribution and the physics of their formation.
Costa Rican Spanish
by Lonely Planet
A pocket guide to understanding idioms, slang and Spanish as it is spoken by the Ticos.
Neotropical Rainforest Mammals, A Field Guide
by L.H. Emmons
Compact enough to slip into your daypack, this field guide to the mammals of Central and South American features 29 color plates of more than 200 species.
Perfect Digital Photography
by Jay Dickman
A guide to the art of digital photography, including equipment, lighting, composition, tips on subjects and travel destinations by a Pulitzer Prize-winning National Geographic photographer.
Tropical Nature
by Adrian Forsyth, Ken Miyata
A lively, lucid portrait of the tropics as seen by two uncommonly observant and thoughtful field biologists. Its 17 marvelous essays introduce the habitats, ecology, plants and animals of the Central and South American rainforest
Costa Rica Butterflies & Moths
by James Kavanagh
A handy, laminated fold-up card with color illustrations of Costa Rica’s more visible species of butterflies and moths. Includes the distinguishing markings or behaviors of each species.
Costa Rica Adventure Map
by National Geographic
A double-sided map at a scale of 1:500,000.
Costa Rica, A Journey Through Nature
by Adrian Hepworth
Dividing the book by ecosystem and geographic area, BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Hepworth's color photographs showcase the diversity of Costa Rica's wildlife and habitats.
Nature of the Rainforest, Costa Rica and Beyond
by Adrian Forsyth, E.O. Wilson (Introduction), Michael Fogden (Photographer)
Our favorite biologist-writer returns to the Neotropics in this beautifully illustrated, oversized overview of the rainforest. With chapters on Monteverde and Guanacaste, plants, frogs and snakes, birds, monkeys and jaguars, the sloth, peculiar insects and biodioversity; A marvelous, anecdotal introduction to ecology, evolution and conservation.
Wild Costa Rica
by Adrian Hepworth
This beautiful, informative survey of the habitats, wildlife and protected areas of Costa Rica features 200 color photographs and chapters on natural history and conservation.
Costa Rica Birds
by James Kavanagh
A handy, laminated fold-up card with full-color illustrations of birds commonly found in Costa Rica. Great for kids, too.
Costa Rica, A Traveler's Literary Companion
by Barbara Ras
A wonderful introduction to the character of the people, culture and land, this anthology brings together 26 stories by Costa Rican writers.
The Birds of Costa Rica
by Richard Garrigues, Robert Dean (Illustrator)
Built for the field, this great guide includes multiple illustrations for 820 species of birds.
Culture Smart! Costa Rica
by Jane Koutnik
A guide to local customs, etiquette and culture.
A Brief History of Central America
by Hector Perez-Brignoll
A good overview of the region’s economic, political and social history through the 1980s by a professor at the University of Costa Rica. Well-written, informative and concise.





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.