I'm about to go on my fifth trip to Costa Rica - my favorite place on earth. My husband and I usually stay along the coast in Manuel Antonio and the Osa Peninsula and I always come back with portfolios full of my favorite animals - the mono titis. This trip I've decided to spend an extra few days and do a little bit more photography of some of the smaller creatures, hummingbirds and treefrogs.
Since I probably only have time to visit one location - either Monteverde or La Paz - I was wondering if anyone has been to both the La Paz hummingbird gardens and frog pond (ranarium) and/or the Monteverde hummingbird gardens and frog pond (ranarium)? What was your experience photography-wise? Which facility is better? I noticed the La Paz photos all show hummingbirds at feeders and not at flowers, but maybe this is just part of their marketing.
I've seen some beautiful tree frog photography done at one of the two ranariums, but the information on the site didn't list if the photography was done at La Paz or at Monteverde. I wrote to that photographer but never heard back. Are the frogs in either ranarium free-roaming (and looking like they are in a natural habitat) or are they in glass aquariums? Also, it appears as though the hummingbird garden at La Paz is indoors (which may be nicer for controlled light) - is this the case?
If you have any other advice about great places to visit for treefrog and hummingbird photography I'd love any information. I've done the frog garden (which is attached to the butterfly garden) at Manuel Antonio and it was excellent and I plan to go back on this trip.
Thank you in advance! Christina
Posted by Jason Kim on December 19, 2007 at 12:31 AM
Hi Christina,
I just got back from a trip to Monteverde. I spent some time at the hummingbird garden there and it was pretty nice - more birds that you know what to do with and many different species. The birds were mainly concentrating on the plastic feeders, but there were some flowers around and with more patience you might get a natural shot. My best photos were taken when the birds would land on nearby trees/plants (away from the feeders).
I didn't see the ranarium in/near Monteverde, unfortunately. During our guided hikes, I asked if we might see any colorful frogs and the guides said no, not in that area.
Lots of small mammals in Monteverde, if you're interested in that sort of thing. Also, we saw a bunch of really cool insects that made good macro subjects. I wished for a macro flash setup.
Since you asked about frogs, I had an excellent time in Bocas Del Toro (Panama) and I believe you can catch a quick flight out there from Costa Rica, it isn't far away at all. I got some good shots of the indigenous red dart frogs that live along the beach. If you want any more info, email me directly.
Thank you so much! It's great to know that the garden attracts lots of hummingbirds. You never know from the descriptions on websites what a place is really like. Thanks again for all of your help!
Posted by Dave Flaig on December 23, 2007 at 12:57 AM
Christina,
I travel to Costa Rica once or twice a year, and always stop at the LaPaz Waterfall Gardens on my way back to San Jose. I plan on going within the next couple months, just to relax for a week or so...
It's a wonderful place to visit whether you want photos of humming birds, butterflies, insects, waterfalls, flowers or just want to hang out for a day or two... I highly recommend it.
Depending on the time of the year, you may find up to 28 different species of Humming birds at this location. They have spared no expense making this into a first rate tourist location and are always improving on their ideas and business goals. It IS a business, and can be expensive to some, but still worth the experience. Last year admission to the gardens was around $20-$25, and more if you wanted the buffet style lunch at the restaurant. The food was fine, and the break will give you a little time to go over your shots...
The butterflies are almost as impressive as the humming birds, and if the flowers are in bloom, you'll get more diversity than you'll have time to shoot... They do have tree frogs but I wasn't impressed by them. It must be difficult to display frogs in a natural setting..
I'd suggest maybe finding a local to show you the frogs in that area, or keep an eye to the ground on your way to see the waterfalls... I've had pretty good luck doing that in Costa Rica and Panama as well.
Arenal Volcano isn't too far from there, and if you haven't been there, is a nice place as well, at night. The El Tucano Spa & Resort (an Occidental Resort) is about half way between La Paz and Arenal. It's an older resort, but very nice for the money.
I have several photos scattered throughout my website if you'd care to take a look. My most favorite shot from Costa Rica is the "Green Flycatcher @ Lunchtime" in my Avian Gallery...
Have fun!!!
Dave
www.flaigphoto.com
Posted by Dave Flaig on December 23, 2007 at 2:24 AM
Christina,
I travel to Costa Rica once or twice a year, and always stop at the LaPaz Waterfall Gardens on my way back to San Jose. I plan on going within the next couple months, just to relax for a week or so...
It's a wonderful place to visit whether you want photos of humming birds, butterflies, insects, waterfalls, flowers or just want to hang out for a day or two... I highly recommend it.
Depending on the time of the year, you may find up to 28 different species of Humming birds at this location. They have spared no expense making this into a first rate tourist location and are always improving on their ideas and business goals. It IS a business, and can be expensive to some, but still worth the experience. Last year admission to the gardens was around $20-$25, and more if you wanted the buffet style lunch at the restaurant. The food was fine, and the break will give you a little time to go over your shots...
The butterflies are almost as impressive as the humming birds, and if the flowers are in bloom, you'll get more diversity than you'll have time to shoot... They do have tree frogs but I wasn't impressed by them. It must be difficult to display frogs in a natural setting..
I'd suggest maybe finding a local to show you the frogs in that area, or keep an eye to the ground on your way to see the waterfalls... I've had pretty good luck doing that in Costa Rica and Panama as well.
Arenal Volcano isn't too far from there, and if you haven't been there, is a nice place as well, at night. The El Tucano Spa & Resort (an Occidental Resort) is about half way between La Paz and Arenal. It's an older resort, but very nice for the money.
I have several photos scattered throughout my website if you'd care to take a look. My most favorite shot from Costa Rica is the "Green Flycatcher @ Lunchtime" in my Avian Gallery...
Thanks so much for your response. I'm going to do La Paz at the end of my trip so it'll be good to know ahead of time what to expect. I really appreciate your response and I'm off to check out your pictures right now. I love seeing other people's work.
Thanks again!
Discussion
5 repliesI'm about to go on my fifth trip to Costa Rica - my favorite place on earth. My husband and I usually stay along the coast in Manuel Antonio and the Osa Peninsula and I always come back with portfolios full of my favorite animals - the mono titis. This trip I've decided to spend an extra few days and do a little bit more photography of some of the smaller creatures, hummingbirds and treefrogs.
Since I probably only have time to visit one location - either Monteverde or La Paz - I was wondering if anyone has been to both the La Paz hummingbird gardens and frog pond (ranarium) and/or the Monteverde hummingbird gardens and frog pond (ranarium)? What was your experience photography-wise? Which facility is better? I noticed the La Paz photos all show hummingbirds at feeders and not at flowers, but maybe this is just part of their marketing.
I've seen some beautiful tree frog photography done at one of the two ranariums, but the information on the site didn't list if the photography was done at La Paz or at Monteverde. I wrote to that photographer but never heard back. Are the frogs in either ranarium free-roaming (and looking like they are in a natural habitat) or are they in glass aquariums? Also, it appears as though the hummingbird garden at La Paz is indoors (which may be nicer for controlled light) - is this the case?
If you have any other advice about great places to visit for treefrog and hummingbird photography I'd love any information. I've done the frog garden (which is attached to the butterfly garden) at Manuel Antonio and it was excellent and I plan to go back on this trip.
Thank you in advance! Christina
I just got back from a trip to Monteverde. I spent some time at the hummingbird garden there and it was pretty nice - more birds that you know what to do with and many different species. The birds were mainly concentrating on the plastic feeders, but there were some flowers around and with more patience you might get a natural shot. My best photos were taken when the birds would land on nearby trees/plants (away from the feeders).
I didn't see the ranarium in/near Monteverde, unfortunately. During our guided hikes, I asked if we might see any colorful frogs and the guides said no, not in that area.
Lots of small mammals in Monteverde, if you're interested in that sort of thing. Also, we saw a bunch of really cool insects that made good macro subjects. I wished for a macro flash setup.
Since you asked about frogs, I had an excellent time in Bocas Del Toro (Panama) and I believe you can catch a quick flight out there from Costa Rica, it isn't far away at all. I got some good shots of the indigenous red dart frogs that live along the beach. If you want any more info, email me directly.
Jason
I travel to Costa Rica once or twice a year, and always stop at the LaPaz Waterfall Gardens on my way back to San Jose. I plan on going within the next couple months, just to relax for a week or so...
It's a wonderful place to visit whether you want photos of humming birds, butterflies, insects, waterfalls, flowers or just want to hang out for a day or two... I highly recommend it.
Depending on the time of the year, you may find up to 28 different species of Humming birds at this location. They have spared no expense making this into a first rate tourist location and are always improving on their ideas and business goals. It IS a business, and can be expensive to some, but still worth the experience. Last year admission to the gardens was around $20-$25, and more if you wanted the buffet style lunch at the restaurant. The food was fine, and the break will give you a little time to go over your shots...
The butterflies are almost as impressive as the humming birds, and if the flowers are in bloom, you'll get more diversity than you'll have time to shoot... They do have tree frogs but I wasn't impressed by them. It must be difficult to display frogs in a natural setting..
I'd suggest maybe finding a local to show you the frogs in that area, or keep an eye to the ground on your way to see the waterfalls... I've had pretty good luck doing that in Costa Rica and Panama as well.
Arenal Volcano isn't too far from there, and if you haven't been there, is a nice place as well, at night. The El Tucano Spa & Resort (an Occidental Resort) is about half way between La Paz and Arenal. It's an older resort, but very nice for the money.
I have several photos scattered throughout my website if you'd care to take a look. My most favorite shot from Costa Rica is the "Green Flycatcher @ Lunchtime" in my Avian Gallery...
Have fun!!!
Dave
www.flaigphoto.com
I travel to Costa Rica once or twice a year, and always stop at the LaPaz Waterfall Gardens on my way back to San Jose. I plan on going within the next couple months, just to relax for a week or so...
It's a wonderful place to visit whether you want photos of humming birds, butterflies, insects, waterfalls, flowers or just want to hang out for a day or two... I highly recommend it.
Depending on the time of the year, you may find up to 28 different species of Humming birds at this location. They have spared no expense making this into a first rate tourist location and are always improving on their ideas and business goals. It IS a business, and can be expensive to some, but still worth the experience. Last year admission to the gardens was around $20-$25, and more if you wanted the buffet style lunch at the restaurant. The food was fine, and the break will give you a little time to go over your shots...
The butterflies are almost as impressive as the humming birds, and if the flowers are in bloom, you'll get more diversity than you'll have time to shoot... They do have tree frogs but I wasn't impressed by them. It must be difficult to display frogs in a natural setting..
I'd suggest maybe finding a local to show you the frogs in that area, or keep an eye to the ground on your way to see the waterfalls... I've had pretty good luck doing that in Costa Rica and Panama as well.
Arenal Volcano isn't too far from there, and if you haven't been there, is a nice place as well, at night. The El Tucano Spa & Resort (an Occidental Resort) is about half way between La Paz and Arenal. It's an older resort, but very nice for the money.
I have several photos scattered throughout my website if you'd care to take a look. My most favorite shot from Costa Rica is the "Green Flycatcher @ Lunchtime" in my Avian Gallery...
Have fun!!!
Dave
www.flaigphoto.com
Thanks again!