A long day of flying from Vancouver to Seattle to Houston to San Jose, Costa Rica has brought me to the Hotel Buena Vista, a dear boutique hotel set amongst lush growth, stunning flowers, colourful butterflies and singing yet strangely invisible birds.

I wandered the grounds playing with my new macro lens and now very much look forward to some instruction in its more effective use!

Our tour group is small, only eleven people – ten women and one man who is married to one of the women – all American but me.  Our group leader is Tomás Callejo, a young enthusiastic biologist who assures us that we will see all the animals, flowers, birds, frogs and bugs that our group claims it must shoot.

(I always hesitate to use that terminology but alas, that’s what photographers say).

We will be joined by Alejandro Fernández, a professional photographer, who through some miracle will turn us all into expert nature photographers in seven days. The final member of our group is Omar Brenes, the very important bus driver.

Following breakfast tomorrow we will have a short session with Alejandro and then be on our way.  A warning from Tomás: it’s the dry season but keep rain gear nearby,  don’t forget sunscreen and insect repellent.  And don’t be late.  Sounds like a plan.