We have been back two weeks now and I have finally finished working on pictures and writing reports of our great week in Costa Rica.

We spent the first night at the Orquideas Inn and then 7 nights at Bosque del Cabo. This was our 3rd trip to Bosque del Cabo and it was better than previous trips (which is hard to imagine). So, for all you GTG folks headed there in July, here is a taste of what you might have in store.

Pictures and reports are linked from here:
http://www.focusedonnature.com/

Alan

Thanks for posting. I enjoyed your trip report and especially your beautiful photos of the Osa Peninsula.

Pura Vida,
Ballardo Diaz

Very nice! Really enjoyed the frogs and snakes - the Fer de Lance is awesome.

I loved your report and pictures! We're going in two weeks (staying in Sol) and I hope we see even half of what you did. (Although I could do without the Fer de Lance!) Did you bring your rubber boots with you or buy them in PJ?

Such wonderful pics and great report. I can truly relate to the neck pain, after a while I tell myself to focus on the ground for a spell. Couldn't be the same one - could it? - but in Dec I came across a solitary male coati there that looked much worse for wear; glad to see some babies have been spotted around. Thanks for posting!

Thanks all.

BAJJ, the boots are from REI. They took up a ton of space in our bags but were worth it. Although, the trails aren't too bad thanks to the clay and consequently a lack of mud.

Beautiful photos as always, Alan; thanks for posting.

I will have to go back and read your report but truly amazing photos...I'm impressed that you know the names of most everything so my question is, which guidebooks to you rely on most for wildlife identification? Also, tell the truth, do you just sit and wait sometimes for these opportunities like the monkeys eating critters and such or do you just luck out? I get a lot of fruit and nut eating but not so many stick bugs and things, lol. Last, I'm sure I've asked this before, but what type of camera do you use and which lens is your "go to"? Great shots of the Spiders on the almond tree. Love the courting shots too!

Yes that cluster of spider monkeys is incredible.

Amazing photos! Thanks for sharing...wish I was there!

Alan those shots are out of this world! You know i was going crazy looking at all the reptiles and amphibs... You found a ton! The tree boa really got me

HipvirgoChick,

For identification we use The Birds of Costa Rica by Garrigues and Dean. We also have Belize books that we reference. For, other animals we have lamenated cards by RainForest Publications (the same ones you can buy at BdC). Finally, we ask Philip or Carlos to ID things if we can't figure it out another way.

Also, we luck into most of our sightings. But, we also try to make our own luck by maximizing our time on the trails. That means up by 5AM and not in bed until after 10PM.
We really only sit at meals, otherwise we are out and about. After all, we can rest at home but we can't see monkeys at home.

I take multiple cameras and lenses but the "go to" combo is a Nikon D300 with a 70-300mm VR lens and a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod. That combo works out great for lugging around the rainforest.

Joe, I actually thought of you when we were on our trip because of the reptiles and amphibians we were seeing (especially the Fer-de-Lance). We saw 2 tree boas both on the river as part of our boat trip so they weren't around the lodge. I remember you having great photos from your trip and I think you saw more snakes. Next to the juvenile slot, the snakes were the highlight for us. They get the heart moving.

thanks for the info! i'm going to see what i can do with a canon t3 with a 55-250mm lens. it's brand new for me so i'll also take my olympus with a 10x zoom as well (in case i get frustrated, lol). i've been able to take some fantastic shots with that.

puma was just sighted walking across the yard at casa miramar. so exciting!

also, kudos to you for spotting not one but two sloths on your own. those slow little buggers are hard to find!

Stunning photos, some of the best I've seen taken at BdC - thanks for sharing and wish I was there!

I had the pleasure of meeting Alan at BdC as our stays overlapped by a day. His photos are stunning! I'll have my own trip report and photos as soon as I finish going through them.
PS- there was a puma sighting at Casa Miramar while I was there, sadly it was not by me.

Wonderful photos!

That's great Alan! I'm glad you had a nice trip!

SO impressed by your photos, and missing BdC!

Your pictures are absolutely stunning. Thank you so much.

I am considering Bosque del for my first trip to Costa Rica, as it comes hightly recommended. Can you tell me what makes it so special, or different from other properties in the area?

Thanks.