Row 1

• Basilisk, Selva Verde Lodge, Chilamate (Caribbean lowlands). 70-300 lens.
• "Mint chocolate chip" poison dart frogs, Selva Verde Lodge, Chilamate (Caribbean lowlands); aposematic (bright warning) coloration and poison glands on the back secrete powerful neurotoxins that deter predators. 28-105 lens.
  
• Basilisk, closeup of head, forest at CATIE (Center for Tropical Agricultural Investigation and Learning), Turrialba. 70-300 lens.
• "Blue jean frog" another species of poison dart frog but small enough to sit on a 25-cent piece. 90mm macro lens.
• Heliconid butterfly, Monteverde Biological Reserve. 90mm macro lens.
• Green beetle, Monteverde. 90mm macro lens.
• Owl butterfly, INBioparque, San Jose. 70-300 lens.

Row 2

• Scarlet macaw, Marenco Biological Station bordering Corcovado National Park, Osa Peninsula. Wild birds are attracted every morning to feeding stations full of fruit (and sadly, cheese) at Marenco. 70-210 lens.
• Caterpillar, Bosque de Paz, Bajo del Toro. 28-105 lens.
• Collared aracari, Selva Verde Lodge in the rain. Luckily, I got one shot with a 400mm lens before the rain began to pour down.
• Clear wing butterfly, Monteverde Butterfly Garden. 90mm macro lens.
• Boa constrictor in tree, Jungle Lodge, Tortuguero. This large snake was probably feeding on hatchling oropendulas whose hanging nests adorned this large Pithecellobium tree. 400mm lens.
• Purple grasshopper, Selva Verde Lodge, Chilamate (Caribbean lowlands); a rare daylight view of this nocturnally active 4" insect. 28-105 lens.
  
• Malachite butterfly, Monteverde Butterfly Garden. 90mm macro lens.

Row 3

• Violet sabrewing hummingbird, Bosque de Paz Lodge. 70-300 lens.
• Coatimundi, Bosque de Paz Lodge, Bajo del Toro; this omnivorous Central American raccoon relative is equally active around human dwellings as in the forest. 70-300 lens.
• Agouti at night in forest, Selva Verde Lodge. 70-210 lens.
• White-faced monkey, San Pedrillo Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park. 400mm lens.
• Silver beetle, Monteverde Biological Reserve. As I dashed out of breakfast to shoot a beautiful early morning rainbow, I noticed this beetle on my friend's leg; she was shooting the rainbow as well. As the rainbow faded, we "encouraged" the beetle to linger so I could set up my tripod to get a photo of the gorgeous insect. The rainbow photo is in the Costa Rican Cloud Forest Gallery. 90mm macro lens.
• Nymphalid butterfly feeding on a rotting log, Carara Biological Reserve. 90mm macro lens.
• Feathers of scarlet macaw, Marenco Biological Station. 90mm macro lens.

Row 4

• Milk snake, Selva Verde Lodge. This small, nocturnally active snake is moving down the spiny trunk of a Pejibaye palm (Bactris gasipaes). 70-210 lens.
• Praying mantis, Las Pailas Trail, Rincon de la Vieja National Park. 90mm macro lens.
• Millipede, Crater Trail, Rincon de la Vieja National Park. 90mm macro lens.
• Millipede, Crater Trail, Rincon de la Vieja National Park. When picked up, this large insect gives off an almond-scented smell. The cyanide-related compound is a defense mechanism that protects it from potential predators. 90mm macro lens.
• Hummingbird on nest, Lankester Gardens, Paraiso. 70-210 lens.
• Green violet ear hummingbird, Monteverde Butterfly Garden. 70-210 lens.
• Magnificent hummingbird, Bosque de Paz Lodge. 70-300 lens.

Row 5

• Heliconid butterfly, Haciend Baru, Dominical. 70-300 lens.
• Morpho butterfly, INBioparque, San Jose. 70-300 lens.
• Black Guan feeding in rain, Cloud Forest Trail, Monteverde Biological Reseve on the Continental Divide near the Mirador La Ventana. 70-300 lens.
• Ctenosaur, Manuel Antonio National Park. These opportunistic, large lizards stalk the beach forest in the park looking for fruit and insects. 70-210 lens.
• Blue-throated Magpie Jay, in tropical dry forest at Playa Junquillal National Wildlife Refuge. These large, social, loud birds patrolled the park picking up scraps of food left by campers.. 70-300 lens.
• Ghost crabs feeding on dead moray eel, Playa Junquillal National Wildlife Refuge. Normally, it's difficult to get within 20' of these large beach crabs but they were intent on feeding on the putrid carcass of this 4' eel. I was able to slowly approach the feeding frenzy within 8' with a 70-300 lens.
• Spider monkey feeding in mango tree, Zoo Ave, La Garita. These monkeys could leave the park if they choose, but they remain in this location that provides regular food and safety within a natural habitat. 70-300 lens.

Getting good images of the wildlife is difficult because large animals are wary of humans, birds move around a lot - particularly high up in dense vegetation, and the insects and smaller animals are well camouflaged for protection. Often it's simply a matter of being in the right place at the right time with the right equipment at the ready. Traveling in small, quiet groups (or even better - solo ), stopping frequently to look and listen will increase your chances of getting good shots. Knowing the habits of the animals helps, too.

Many lodges have bird feeding stations, butterfly or hummingbird gardens and / or "resident" wildlife that you may be able to shoot at closer range than in a field setting. Parks such as INBioparque in San Jose, the various Butterfly Gardens located around the country, and Zoo Ave in La Garita outside Alajuela also provide good opportunities for getting images of wildlife in more controlled, yet natural, settings.