Golden hour and weather: when to shoot in Arenal

Golden hour is the first hour after sunrise and the last before sunset. The light comes in low and soft, skin looks good effortlessly and the landscape gains depth. In the tropics that window is short, so arriving on time changes the result more than any other decision.

Mornings usually win

In Arenal the sky tends to clear early and close in as the day goes on. If your priority is having the volcano's cone in the photo, book early. If your priority is the forest, the afternoon works just as well because the canopy filters the light.

If the volcano is covered

• We change the frame: forest, water and details don't depend on the sky.
• Mist separates the planes and adds depth; it's not a problem, it's a resource.
• A white sky works like a giant softbox for portraits.