La Fortuna Rainforest Night Walk & Costa Rican Dinner

30 Minutes from La Fortuna, You're in a Frog Sanctuary After Dark

You drive 30 minutes to a regenerating rainforest, walk a trail around mirrored lakes spotting nocturnal frogs, birds, bats and insects with a guide and flashlight, then eat authentic Costa Rican dinner cooked on a wood stove while overlooking the San Carlos valley lights before returning to La Fortuna. Hotel pickup and drop-off included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Night walk and dinner in La Tigra

• Travel to La Tigra from La Fortuna
• Walk trail around mirrored lakes
• Visit frog sanctuary and observe species
• See nocturnal birds, mammals, insects, bats
• Enjoy authentic Costa Rican dinner
• View lights of San Carlos valleys
• Return to La Fortuna

The experience

You've just landed in La Fortuna, and the sun's already dropping. The rainforest night walk starts with a 30-minute drive to La Tigra, a small town where the real evening begins: a guided trail through regenerating rainforest with mirrored lakes that turn into wildlife mirrors once the light goes. Your guide carries a flashlight, you carry another, and the forest starts talking. Nocturnal birds call from somewhere you can't see. Bats move overhead. Insects hum in a rhythm that feels older than the trail itself.

The frog sanctuary is the heart of it. This isn't a zoo. It's an area dedicated to natural reproduction of frog species, and the diversity is real. You'll see dart frogs (small, electric-colored), bull frogs (the largest in Costa Rica), and the Red Eyed Tree Frog, which looks exactly like the photos but somehow more fragile in person. The Glass Frog is translucent enough that you can see its organs if the guide positions the light right. It's the kind of detail that stays with you. After the walk, you head to dinner: Costa Rican food cooked on a wood-burning stove, and the view opens up to the lights of San Carlos valleys below. You eat, you rest, the minivan brings you back to La Fortuna.

The whole thing runs at a pace that works for most fitness levels. Kids can come if an adult stays with them. If you eat vegetarian, let the operator know when you book and they'll have something ready. The guide might speak more than one language, depending on the day. Flashlights and water are provided. You don't arrange transport, you don't hunt for a restaurant, you don't navigate the forest alone in the dark. The tour handles all three.

What’s included

Your evening includes hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned minivan with Wi-Fi, a professional guide (possibly multilingual), flashlights and lanterns for the trail, bottled water throughout, and a delicious Costa Rican dinner prepared on a wood-burning stove. You'll also have access to the frog sanctuary and mirrored lakes during the night walk.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 17:00

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 21 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Ecoterra Expeditions

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see nocturnal Costa Rican wildlife and eat local food without arranging transport, finding a restaurant, or navigating the forest alone after dark: the fixed schedule and included pickup mean you step out of your hotel and into the rainforest without planning anything else.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What wildlife will I see?

You can expect nocturnal birds, mammals, insects, amphibians, and bats. The frog sanctuary features dart frogs, bull frogs, Red Eyed Tree Frogs, and Glass Frogs.

Is the trail difficult?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

What if I'm vegetarian?

A vegetarian dinner option is available. Advise the operator at the time of booking.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, professional guide, flashlights and lanterns, bottled water, authentic Costa Rican dinner, and air-conditioned minivan transport with Wi-Fi.

Do I need to bring my own flashlight?

No. Flashlights and lanterns are provided.