Birding & wildlife observation
Knowledge of birds, their behavior and their habitats helps Freddy choose productive places and respond to changing activity.
Costa Rican wildlife photographer · Expedition leader
Freddy
Madrigal
Founder & Owner · Naturalist Guide
Certified International Tour Manager (CITM)
38 years of field experience.
A personal commitment to your journey.
Freddy Madrigal creates expertly designed birding, wildlife and photography expeditions across Costa Rica, Central America, South America and Africa. His knowledge of tropical habitats and his photographer’s eye help turn time in nature into an experience shaped around you.
38years leading birding
and nature tours
and nature tours
CITMCertified International
Tour Manager
Tour Manager
Personalattention to your interests,
goals and preferred pace
goals and preferred pace
A life connected to nature
From learning in the forest to leading the way.
Birds have been Freddy’s passion for more than three decades. His career grew from field experience in Costa Rica into a profession built on knowledge, careful observation and respect for the people who travel with him.
That experience reaches beyond the best-known destinations. Local trails, quieter birding locations and productive wildlife sites are part of the practical knowledge he brings to planning and leading each expedition.
Early field experience at La Selva
Freddy began working as a project assistant with ornithologist Dr. Gary Stiles at La Selva Biological Station in late 1982.
Training becomes a profession
After completing La Selva’s naturalist-guide course, he began guiding locally. Later that year, he took his first naturalist-guide job at Hotel El Gavilán.
An established independent guide
A traveler’s Costa Rica trip report described Freddy as a freelance guide with his own tour company, documenting his field knowledge in Carara and Braulio Carrillo.
Read the historical trip report
Knowledge that shapes the experience
Understanding the birds.
Knowing how to guide you.
Professional leadership, local knowledge and thoughtful preparation make a difference in the field.
Bird & nature photography
Attention to light, natural backgrounds, composition and patient observation supports the photographs you hope to create.
Tropical biology
An understanding of tropical ecosystems adds context to each sighting and helps travelers appreciate the relationships within the forest.
Culture, rural tourism & adventure
Experience in cultural travel, rural tourism and nature-based adventures allows a journey to reflect more of your interests.
Experience across regions
At home in the field.
Across borders.
His guiding and photography experience includes these destinations, among others:
Costa RicaPanamaColombiaPeruEcuadorBrazilRwandaKenyaUgandaTanzania
The goal behind every journey
Your satisfaction
is the goal.
For Freddy, the greatest reward is seeing the smile of satisfaction on his clients’ faces. His aim is to combine rewarding wildlife encounters, productive photography and attentive service in a trip you can enjoy from beginning to end.
Whether you travel privately, with friends or as part of an organized group, your time, wish list, photography goals and budget help shape the itinerary.
Quality time in nature. Personal attention throughout.
A passion developed into experiences
The projects behind the name.
Two ventures bring Freddy’s knowledge, photography and commitment to hospitality together.
Founder, owner & expedition leader
Freddy Madrigal
Photography Expeditions
Personalized birding and photography journeys combine professional leadership, practical local knowledge and carefully chosen locations. Private travel, friends’ groups and scheduled departures offer different ways to explore.
Find your next expedition
Cofounder · Costa Rica’s highlands
Sueños Natura Bird Sanctuary-Costa Rica
Hummingbird Therapy Garden
Created with Verónica Espinosa, Sueños Natura Bird Sanctuary-Costa Rica brings bird photography, a peaceful highland setting, welcoming hospitality and carefully prepared food together. Visit for a day or stay close to the experience.
Discover Sueños Natura Bird Sanctuary-Costa RicaA shared standard of service. Freddy personally trains trip leaders and staff in the approach and service standards that reflect his commitment to each traveler’s needs.
Meet the teamIn travelers’ own words
Field experience.
Remembered by guests.
Published feedback from a birding trip with Freddy and a stay at Sueños Natura Bird Sanctuary-Costa Rica.
Birding with Freddy
“I was well looked after though by Freddy Madrigal, who is a really excellent birding guide.”
Independent Costa Rica trip report
January 2003 · Carara and Braulio Carrillo
Historical traveler account published on birdtours.co.uk
Staying at Sueños Natura Bird Sanctuary-Costa Rica
“The lodge was a very productive area for high altitude species and we got excellent photos.”
Trish P · March 2026
Sueños Natura Bird Sanctuary-Costa Rica
Guest review published on Tripadvisor
Let’s plan your next experience
Tell us what you hope to discover.
Tell Freddy your preferred countries, target birds, travel dates and group size. Your interests and photography goals are the starting point for your expedition.