Destinations: Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
November 23, 2017Click on images to view larger
We spent the majority of our time in Costa Rica at the Saladero Ecolodge, a beautiful and relaxing spot in the Golfo Dulce. Like many of our trips, photography was not a primary focus and in researching the photographic opportunities of the spots we were to visit, I knew early on that I would not have an easy time of it. The Golfo Dulce is an incredibly lush and bio diverse area and presents excellent opportunities for those wishing to photograph birds and other wildlife. Unfortunately, the area’s photographic strength is my visual weakness. The birds and other animals in the rain forest blended into the foliage so well that I simply could not find them to photograph them. Of course, most photographers have much better sight than mine so my issue should not be a deterrent for them in any way.
With that said, where I normally develop a bit of photography plan when traveling, I photographed quite casually on this trip.
Really, my only decent brush with wildlife was from the deck of our cabin in the trees. Howler monkeys regularly traveled the branches in front of the deck. I was able to hear them coming a long way off and simply hung out of the deck at the ready. Although it was very dark in the forest, and the monkeys held still for just a second or two at a time, I managed to get a few decent images. The howlers were amazing to watch and to hear.
Although the Golfo Dulce didn’t work out all that well for me photographically, we thoroughly enjoyed our time there. Photographers with a good eye, in the literal sense, and fast glass will make out just fine.