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!

Red-eyed Tree Frog -Agalychris callidryas

Red-eyed Tree Frog -Agalychris callidryas

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.

Thanks to Tracie and Gianfranco for identifying all my photos, you can find details of their outstanding Night Tour on their website.