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Sun on the horizon behind layers of mountains seen from Monteverde.

Costa Rica · Monteverde

Night walks in Monteverde

At night frogs, tarantulas, sloths and olingos come out. These are the sites and operators running night tours.

7 places

  1. 1

    WildlifeOpen

    Valle Escondido Reserve and night tour

    Cerro Plano, 50 m south of the butterfly garden1.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    $40
    Hours
    17:30 to 19:30
    Booking
    Recommended

    A 17-hectare reserve with trails, a waterfall and a lookout, whose night tour was one of Monteverde’s first; at night you look for frogs, tarantulas, snakes and mammals.

    Source: Valle Escondido – Night tour (oficial) · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Night tour: $40 adults, $30 students, $25 children, under 5 free; private $80.
    Hours
    According to the official site, 17:30 to 19:30, or 18:00 to 19:45 from November to April.
    Booking
    Book ahead: places are limited and there is a 2-person minimum. Transport is not included.

    Tip: Part of the daytime trails is wheelchair accessible, according to the reserve.

    Nearby: Monteverde Butterfly Gardens (0 km) · Jeep-boat-jeep to La Fortuna (0.7 km) · Children’s Eternal Rainforest – Bajo del Tigre (0.8 km)

    Sources: Valle Escondido – Night tour (oficial) · Valle Escondido Nature Reserve (oficial)

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  2. 2

    WildlifeOpen

    Monteverde Wildlife Refuge

    Calle Los Camachos, north of central Santa Elena3.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    from $38
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A 55-acre property of forest and gardens with guided day, birding and especially night walks, where sloths, coatis and olingos are common.

    Source: Wildlife Refuge Monteverde (oficial) · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Night tour from $38; natural history from $40; birding from $70; private night tour from $80 (official site).
    Time needed
    Night tour of about 2 h, flashlights included.

    Tip: Some reviews say several groups overlap at the same time; the private tour avoids crowds.

    Nearby: Santamaría’s Night Walk (0.3 km) · Kinkajou Night Walk (0.6 km) · Don Juan: coffee, chocolate and sugar cane (0.8 km)

    Sources: Wildlife Refuge Monteverde (oficial) · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – A night tour in Monteverde

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  3. 3

    WildlifeOpen

    Twilight walk at Bajo del Tigre

    Bajo del Tigre, road to the Monteverde Reserve1.3 km from the centre

    Entry
    $30
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Guided walk at dusk in the Children’s Eternal Rainforest to look for insects, frogs, sleeping birds and night mammals.

    Source: ACM – Rates and reservations (oficial) · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    $30 per international adult; children 6 to 12 $22.80; under 5 free (taxes extra).
    Hours
    Daily at 17:30, by reservation.
    Booking
    Minimum 2 people. Hotel transport for $8 per person if booked ahead.

    Tip: The money goes to forest conservation, not a private operator.

    Nearby: Children’s Eternal Rainforest – Bajo del Tigre (0 km) · CASEM women’s craft cooperative (0.3 km) · Caburé chocolate tour (0.4 km)

    Sources: ACM – Rates and reservations (oficial) · ACM – Bajo del Tigre (oficial)

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  4. 4

    WildlifeOpen

    Kinkajou Night Walk

    600 m west of Hotel Holístico, Santa Elena2.7 km from the centre

    Entry
    $35
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Guided night walk on a private estate inside a biological corridor, in English or Spanish, to see nocturnal wildlife in its habitat.

    Source: Kinkajou Night Walk (oficial) · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Adults $35, students $28, children and nationals $23, infants free.
    Hours
    Departures at 18:00 and 20:20.
    Time needed
    About 90 minutes.

    Nearby: Santamaría’s Night Walk (0.3 km) · Don Juan: coffee, chocolate and sugar cane (0.6 km) · Monteverde Wildlife Refuge (0.6 km)

    Sources: Kinkajou Night Walk (oficial)

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  5. 5

    WildlifeOpen

    Santamaría’s Night Walk

    North of Santa Elena2.9 km from the centre

    Entry
    $34
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Easy night walk on a family property near Santa Elena, with frequent sightings of sloths, snakes, tarantulas and sleeping birds.

    Source: Monte Tours – Santamaria Night Walk · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    A local reseller lists $34 per adult (12+) and $25 for ages 5 to 11 in 2026.
    Hours
    Departures at 18:00 and 20:00.
    Time needed
    About 2 h.

    Nearby: Monteverde Wildlife Refuge (0.3 km) · Kinkajou Night Walk (0.3 km) · Don Juan: coffee, chocolate and sugar cane (0.6 km)

    Sources: Monte Tours – Santamaria Night Walk · Tripadvisor – Night Walk Tour Santamarias

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  6. 6

    WildlifeOpen

    Night walk at the Monteverde Reserve

    Monteverde Reserve visitor centre2.3 km from the centre

    Entry
    $15
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    The reserve’s own guided walk after dark, in small groups, to see cloud forest night life.

    Source: Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve – Visit the preserve (oficial) · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    $$ · US$15–50
    Booking
    Online on the reserve’s website. Offered in English only.
    Time needed
    About 2.5 h; maximum 10 people.

    Nearby: Monteverde Cheese Factory (0.8 km) · Curi-Cancha Reserve (0.8 km) · Hummingbird Gallery (0.8 km)

    Sources: Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve – Visit the preserve (oficial)

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  7. 7

    WildlifeOpen

    Monteverde Frog Pond (Ranario)

    Santa Elena, a few blocks from the centre1.7 km from the centre

    Entry
    $15
    Hours
    9:00 to 20:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    Exhibit in Santa Elena with more than 25 species of frogs and toads in naturalistic terrariums; they are more active at night.

    Source: MonteverdeInfo – Monteverde Frog Pond · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    $ · under US$15
    Hours
    Recent sources give 9:00 to 20:00.

    Tip: According to reviews, the ticket (about $20) lets you return another day that week: go by day and come back at night with the guide.

    Nearby: Monteverde Serpentarium (0.1 km) · Santa Elena town (0.1 km) · Jeep-boat-jeep to La Fortuna (0.2 km)

    Sources: MonteverdeInfo – Monteverde Frog Pond · Tripadvisor – Ranario Monteverde Frog Pond

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