Monteverde Night Walk Tour: Nocturnal wildlife with private guide

Walk the forest at night and see what hides when the sun sets

A private 2-hour night walk through Monteverde's transitional forest with a live guide, private transportation and entrance fees included. The guide leads you on well-kept trails to spot nocturnal wildlife: sleeping birds, mammals and insects that behave differently after dark. Your guide speaks English or Spanish and picks one of several trail options (Wildlife Refuge, Santamaria, Curi Cancha and others) closer to your tour date.

Step-by-step itinerary

Night walk in Monteverde forest

• Meet guide and start tour
• Walk chosen night trail
• Observe nocturnal wildlife
• Return from night walk

The experience

Night brings out the forest's most active fauna. Mammals, birds and insects behave in ways you won't see during the day, and the guide uses a flashlight to reveal sleeping birds perched in branches, nocturnal mammals moving through the canopy, and the insects that emerge only in darkness. The transitional forest here (warmer and slightly lower in elevation than the cloud forest higher up) holds a different mix of species than the daytime tours, which is why night walks have a higher chance of spotting wildlife most visitors miss.

The walk lasts about 2 hours on safe, well-kept trails. A private tour means your guide's attention stays on your group and the animals, not on managing a crowd. You'll travel by private transportation to the trailhead, and entrance fees are included in the price. If you're bringing children, the tour works for families of all fitness levels, and specialized infant seats are available if you need them.

Your guide will let you know which trail you'll walk closer to the date of your tour: options include Wildlife Refuge, Santamaria, Curi Cancha and others in the area. The guide speaks English or Spanish, so you can choose the language that works best for your group.

What’s included

• Private transportation to the trailhead and back.
• use of a flashlight during the walk.
• entrance fees to the forest.
• a private guide who speaks English or Spanish.
• taxes included in the price.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 18:00

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (under 5): free

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Pasión Costa Rica

Is this one for you?If your Spanish or English is comfortable, either language works equally well with the guide. The private format means you're not waiting for a group to assemble or adjusting to other people's pace, so families with children or anyone who prefers undivided attention will find this setup lets you move at your own rhythm and ask questions without holding others back.

Traveler reviews

4.94★★★★★★★★★★

32 verified traveler reviews

5 ★30

4 ★2

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 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 24h before the start.

What kinds of animals will I actually see on a Monteverde night walk?

Nocturnal mammals, sleeping birds roosting in branches, and insects active only after dark. The guide uses a flashlight to spot them on the trails. What you see varies by season and which trail you walk, but the night shift brings out species you won't encounter during the day.

How does a private night tour differ from a group one?

A private tour means the guide focuses entirely on your group and can move at your pace. Night tours are popular enough that sharing a guide with other groups would split their attention and reduce your chances of spotting wildlife, so a private guide is the way to avoid crowds and get the full experience.

What's included in the price for the Monteverde night walk?

Private transportation to and from the trailhead, the flashlight you'll use during the walk, entrance fees to the forest, and the private guide. Taxes are included as well.

Which trail will I walk on the night tour?

The guide will choose one of several options in the area (Wildlife Refuge, Santamaria, Curi Cancha and others), and will let you know which trail you'll walk closer to your tour date.