Few countries on Earth offer such an intense wildlife experience as Costa Rica. Despite its small size (just 0.1% of the world’s landmass), it contains an astonishing 5% of all known biodiversity. This natural abundance stems, in large part, from Costa Rica’s remarkably varied habitats, from dazzling Pacific and Caribbean beaches, through lush lowland jungles and marshes, to the mist-cloaked cloud forests and alpine paramo of the country’s mountain spine. An impressive 25% of these ecosystems is formally protected, providing refuge for Costa Rica’s 950 recorded bird species, 250 mammals, 400 reptiles and amphibians, over 12,000 plants, and hundreds of thousands of fascinating insects (many of which are yet to be scientifically described).
Below we present a small selection of the photographs taken by tour leader Oliver Smart on our Costa Rica – A Wildlife Photography Tour in April 2026. To view the images larger, please click on the crosshairs in the centre of each image.
Montezuma Oropendola © Oliver Smart
Talamanca Hummingbird © Oliver Smart
Fasciated Tiger Heron © Oliver Smart
Yellow-throated Toucan © Oliver Smart
Sunbittern © Oliver Smart
Talamanca Hummingbird © Oliver Smart
Red-eyed Tree Frog © Oliver Smart
Pallas's Long-tongued Bat © Oliver Smart
Acorn Woodpecker © Oliver Smart
Golden-browed Chloroponia & Blue-grey Tanager © Oliver Smart
Red-capped Manakin © Oliver Smart
King Vulture © Oliver Smart
Brown-hooded Parrot © Oliver Smart
Lesser Violetear © Oliver Smart
Eyelash Viper © Oliver Smart
Rose-breasted Grosbeak © Oliver Smart
Hairy Woodpecker © Oliver Smart
Spangle-cheeked Tanager © Oliver Smart
Green Thorntail © Oliver Smart
Central American Pygmy Owl © Oliver Smart
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