Last week I photographed a wedding in Drake Bays in the Osa Peninsula, this area is renowned as the most untouched zone on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.  It’s a few hours drive and boat ride from my home in Manuel Antonio, so I decided whilst I was there to enjoy and photograph some of this wild and abundant nature.
I had heard of “the Big Lady” of Drakes Bay through friends, so booked a tour. Tracie and Gianfranco have been living and guiding in the area for 15 years, and know everything about the local bugs, snakes and creepy crawlies. Their 2 1/2 hour hike is PACKED with critters as Tracie and Gianfranco tag-team to find a specimen and then explain fascinating details about it. My favorite is the Trapdoor Spider, though I am not sure I will EVER be able to find one on my own…I will just have to go back!

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Red-eyed Tree Frog -Agalychris callidryas

Red-eyed Tree Frog -Agalychris callidryas

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Pygmy Rain Frog – Pristimantis ridens

Common Rain Frog – Craugastor fitzingeri

Smoky Jungle Frog – Leptodactylus savagei

Tailless Whip Scorpion – Order: Amblypygi likely Paraphyrnus sp.

Northern Cat-eyed Snake – Leptodeira septentrionalis

Northern Cat-eyed Snake – Leptodeira septentrionalis

Chunk-headed Snake – Imantodes cenchoa

Burrowing Tarantula – Aphonopelma crinirufum

Long-jawed Jumping Spider – Lyssomanes sp.

Trapdoor Spider – Ummidia sp.

Trapdoor Spider – Ummidia sp.

Netcasting Spider – Deinopis longipes

Netcasting Spider – Deinopis longipes

Bulldog Fishing Bat – Noctilio leporinus

Moth killed by Cordyceps Fungus – Cordyceps sp.

Location - Drakes Bay, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Thanks to Tracie and Gianfranco for identifying all my photos, you can find details of their outstanding Night Tour on their website.

To keep up with my new weddings and other photography antics you can also visit my Facebook Page or my Nature photography website.

Have a great week!

John