Night Jungle Walk Mindo: Glass Frogs & Nocturnal Creatures

Hunt nocturnal creatures while daytime walks stick to the gravel paths

A two-hour guided night walk through Mindo's jungle where you search for glass frogs, tarantulas, stick insects and other nocturnal wildlife using high-lumen headlamps. The guide locates species most casual walks miss and helps you photograph them without disturbing the animals. Headlamps, waterproof gear, rubber boots and entrance fee are included. Pickup from Mindo town is arranged based on group size.

Step-by-step itinerary

Night jungle wildlife exploration

• Begin night walk in Mindo jungle
• Spot Tarantulas and Ambilipigies
• Observe Glass Frogs and Cutin Frogs
• Discover Forest Crickets and owls
• Use tactical flashlights to find creatures
• Photograph wildlife with expert guidance

The experience

You arrive in Mindo with a free afternoon or evening and want to see the forest come alive after dark. A standard night walk keeps to gravel paths and covers the obvious ground. This one goes into the living forest itself: deeper into the Andean Chocó where the rarest nocturnal animals actually are. The guide is trained to spot eye-shine and locate glass frogs, Pristimantis species, tarantulas, stick insects, ambilipigies and forest crickets that blend into the canopy on daytime hikes. Depending on the month, you may see owls. The walk runs two hours.

You carry a high-lumen tactical headlamp: the guide shows you how to use it to spot animals the way a professional does. Waterproof gear and rubber boots are provided, so rain doesn't stop the search. The guide is trained to help you frame macro shots without startling the wildlife, so if you brought a camera, you get the angle. Entrance to the forest and pickup from Mindo town are included. The driver arranges the route based on how many people are in your group.

What’s included

• High-lumen tactical headlamps.
• waterproof rain gear.
• rubber boots.
• entrance fee to the forest.
• pickup from Mindo town arranged by group size.
• live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 19:00 and 21:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 to 80 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Agencia Llona

Is this one for you?This walk suits wildlife spotters with moderate fitness who want to see nocturnal species most daytime tours miss. The deeper forest route and expert eye-shine technique are what separate this from casual night strolls on gravel paths.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What kind of animals will I actually see on a night walk in Mindo?

Glass frogs, tarantulas, stick insects, ambilipigies, forest crickets and owls (depending on the month) are the species the guide locates. You won't see everything on every walk (nocturnal animals move and hide), but the guide knows where to look for the ones most casual walkers miss.

Do I need to be fit to do this walk, or is it easy terrain?

You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The walk goes off the gravel paths into the living forest, so the ground is uneven and the pace is slower than a daytime hike as the guide searches for animals. Rubber boots are provided to help with footing.

What happens if it rains during the night walk?

Waterproof gear is included, so rain doesn't cancel the walk. Many nocturnal animals are actually more active when it rains, so wet conditions can be good for spotting.

How does pickup work if I'm staying in Mindo?

The guide arranges pickup from Mindo town based on the number of people in your group. You can drive or walk to the meeting point depending on where you're staying and how many passengers there are.

Will the headlamp scare the animals away?

The guide is trained to use the headlamp to spot eye-shine without disturbing the wildlife. You'll learn how to hold and angle the light so the animals stay in place long enough to see and photograph them.