Monteverde Night Tour: Glass Frogs, Sloths & Cloud Forest
What Wakes Up When the Sun Goes Down in Monteverde
You get picked up from your hotel at 5:30 p.m., spend two hours in the cloud forest with a bilingual naturalist guide spotting nocturnal wildlife like glass frogs and sloths, and return before 8:30 p.m. The small group size (maximum nine people) and included flashlights mean you're not fighting for a view or fumbling in the dark. Hotel drop-off is included, so the whole evening is handled.
Step-by-step itinerary
Evening Cloud Forest Night Tour
- Hotel pickup around 5:30 p.m.
- Travel to Ficus Trails
- Join naturalist guide at 6:00 p.m.
- Explore Cloud Forest after sunset
- Observe nocturnal animals and birds
- Use flashlights to spot wildlife
- Return to hotel after two hours
What’s included
- Your evening includes hotel pickup and drop-off from the Monteverde-Santa Elena area, a bilingual naturalist guide, flashlights, and transportation to and from the Ficus Trails. The two-hour guided walk through the cloud forest after dark is the core of the experience.
- everything else is logistics handled for you.
Times
- Every day 18:00
Before you book
Operated by Ficus Trails Night Tour Monteverde
Prices and times updated 6 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
"The forest doesn't close at dark. It opens," our guide told us as we gathered at 5:30 p.m. for pickup from the Monteverde-Santa Elena area. He wasn't being poetic. He meant it literally. The Monteverde night tour starts when most visitors are heading back to their hotels, which is exactly when the cloud forest transforms into something entirely different. Groups stay under nine people, so there's room to move quietly and actually hear what's happening around you: the calls, the rustling, the small sounds that mean something is hunting or feeding or moving through the canopy.
At 6:00 p.m., you step into the Ficus Trails with a bilingual naturalist guide and a flashlight. The forest at night is not the same forest you'd see during the day. Birds are roosting, their shapes dark against the branches. Mammals that hide from the heat (sloths, glass frogs, insects you didn't know existed) are active now, moving through the understory to feed. The guide knows where to look and what the sounds mean. You're not wandering. You're being shown a specific world that exists in the same place but only after sunset. Two hours is enough time to see the shift happen, to watch the forest settle into its nocturnal rhythm, without it feeling rushed.
The practical stuff matters here: wear closed shoes, long pants, a light jacket or poncho. Bring a camera if you want one, though the guide's flashlight does most of the work. The hotel pickup from anywhere in Monteverde or Santa Elena is included, which saves you from trying to find your way to the trailhead in the dark. Transportation, flashlights, and the guide's knowledge. All of it is already there when you arrive. You just show up ready to walk and watch.
Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the cloud forest's nocturnal side without arranging your own transport or guide: the early pickup and late return mean you're not managing timing, and the small group size is what makes it possible to actually see and hear the animals instead of just walking past them.
Compare the 6 alternatives
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (9 to 23 years); Child (5 to 8 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 animals will I see on the Monteverde night tour?
Glass frogs, sloths, nocturnal mammals, roosting birds, and various insects. What you see depends on the night and where the guide spots movement, but the forest is active after dark.
How long is the tour?
Approximately two hours. Pickup begins at 5:30 p.m., the guided walk starts at 6:00 p.m., and you're back at your hotel by around 8:30 p.m.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes. Pickup and drop-off from hotels in the Monteverde-Santa Elena area are included. Timing depends on your hotel's location.
What should I wear?
Closed shoes, long pants, and a light jacket or poncho. The cloud forest is cool at night, and long pants protect your legs from branches and insects.
How many people are in a group?
Maximum nine people per tour, which keeps the group small and allows the guide to focus on each person's experience.
Is the guide bilingual?
Yes. All naturalist guides speak both English and Spanish.
What if I'm not very fit?
The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. It's a walk through the forest at a slow pace, not a hike, and the guide sets the speed.
Do I need to bring a flashlight?
No. Flashlights are provided. You can bring a camera if you want to photograph the wildlife.
What is the cloud forest?
The cloud forest is a rare tropical habitat: only about 2% of the world's forests are cloud forests. Monteverde's version is one of the most biodiverse on Earth.
What's the minimum group size?
Two people minimum per reservation.
Monteverde Night Tour: Glass Frogs, Sloths & Cloud Forest
2h · EN
from US$ 38 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.