Night Walk Tour Monteverde: See Nocturnal Wildlife Up Close

Spot sleeping birds and tree-dwelling mammals most tours miss

The Night Walk Tour Monteverde is a 2-hour guided hike through El Refugio reserve after dark, led by a local naturalist who provides flashlights and optical gear to help you find nocturnal wildlife. On a typical night you'll see 3–5 mammal species, 5–10 bird species, snakes or frogs, and many insects. Groups stay small, four to six people, and advance booking is required.

Step-by-step itinerary

Night wildlife walk at El Refugio

• Meet local tour guide
• Receive introduction and flashlights
• Walk through El Refugio trails
• Observe mammals, birds, reptiles, insects

The experience

El Refugio is a family-run conservation reserve where the trails come alive after sunset. Your guide hands you a flashlight and optical gear before the walk begins, then leads you through the reserve in search of animals most day tours never encounter. Sloths hang motionless in the canopy; coatis and kinkajous move through the branches; opossums and armadillos forage on the forest floor. The reserve is known for sleeping toucans, mot-mots and black guans perched where they roost: birds you can watch without them fleeing. A typical night yields more animal variety than other night tours in the area.

The 2-hour walk moves at the pace of the search. Your guide stops when something appears, uses the flashlight to locate it, and explains what you're looking at before moving on. Insects are everywhere: frogs call from the understory, snakes occasionally cross the trail. The small group size (four to six people) means you're not competing for the guide's attention or jostling for a view. Places fill quickly, so you need to reserve ahead. The tour runs in English or Spanish depending on your preference.

What’s included

• Flashlights and optical gear.
• naturalist tour guide leading a small group of four to six people.
• 2-hour walk through El Refugio reserve trails.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Spanish17:30

Guide in English or Spanish20:00

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDepartures at 17:30 and 20:00

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “we meet up on the front desk of the Refugio de Vida Silvestre”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h 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 yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Monteverde Tropical Wildlife

Is this one for you?Choose the group tour if you want to share the cost and don't mind a small circle of other travelers. Pick the private option if you'd rather have the guide's full attention and set your own pace through the reserve.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

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 animals am I most likely to see on the Monteverde night walk?

On a typical night you'll spot 3–5 mammal species such as sloths, monkeys, coatis, olingos, kinkajous, armadillos and opossums; 5–10 bird species including sleeping toucans, mot-mots and black guans; a couple of snakes or frogs; and many types of insects. The reserve sees more animal variety than other night tours in the area.

How many people go on the Monteverde night tour?

Groups are kept small, four to six people per walk, so you have direct access to the guide and room to move through the trails without crowding.

What gear does the tour provide?

The guide supplies flashlights and optical gear before you start, so you don't need to bring your own equipment to spot animals in the dark.

Can I do the night walk if I'm not in great physical shape?

The walk is suitable for all fitness levels. It's a light hike over 2 hours on reserve trails, though it's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

Do I need to book the Monteverde night tour in advance?

Yes, places are limited and you must reserve ahead. The tour runs in English or Spanish depending on which language you choose at booking.