You might be surprised to learn that most of Costa Rica's animal population is active only at night. On a guided night trip, see some of Costa Rica's most famous and secretive animals. The daytime reputation of Costa Rica as an exciting playground belies the exciting nightlife that the country offers.

Although you will see plenty of famous animals during the day—especially if you love your activities far from the beaten path—many are only visible during a guided night trip in this incredible nation, which is home to over half a million diverse animal species.

What Does A Costa Rican Night Tour Often Entail?

Raccoons feasting on crabs, banded armadillos, three types of opossums, a swarm of endemic bats and the world's most brilliantly colored frogs are just a few of the animals that call this region home. These are only a few incredible creatures that may be spotted during a nighttime tour of Costa Rica.

Tours At Night in Costa Rica: The Greatest There Is

Let's preface this by saying that you'll find a comparable nighttime option practically wherever you can go on a daylight animal-watching trip in Costa Rica. But each location has its unique collection of fauna that you won't find anywhere else.

Because of this, wildlife enthusiasts who want a comprehensive view of Costa Rica's nocturnal animals sometimes opt to attend many night trips in different locations.

We want to highlight that the guide you select might decide how enjoyable your evening is. Learning a great deal about the creatures you see is made possible by your guide's wealth of knowledge.

Tour of the Monteverde Cloud Forest at Night

Something is enchanting about the Monteverde cloud woods on a sunny day. At night, they must appear even more surreal. There are many animals to be seen, especially at night, with over 100 mammal species and over 1,000 amphibian and reptile species.

Nighttime Tours of Tortuguero

Faraway and brilliant It is well acknowledged that Tortuguero is one of the best places in the world to see turtles because of its abundance of nesting sites. Night excursions into the forest searching for nesting turtles are only available in the spring and summer.

To witness the turtle nesting season in Tortuguero, Costa Rica, plan your trip between early July and the end of October. Throughout July through October, Tortuguero becomes home to four sea turtle species in Costa Rica: the Olive Ridley, Leatherback, Green, and Hawksbill.

Night Tour For Olive Ridley Arrivals At Ostional Wildlife Sanctuary

This trip focuses only on the Olive Ridley turtle, one of the rarest and most endangered marine turtles. What makes this event so unique? Given that no other turtle species nests in such large numbers along the Pacific coast's Ostional reserve, it is important to preserve the Olive Ridley. The figures are staggering.

To witness thousands of mother turtles going down the beach to give birth, visit Ostional between May and the end of October. One of nature's most breathtaking shows is put on by arribadas, or large-scale nesting activities.

Nighttime Visit to Corcovado Park

Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica's most remote and biologically rich reserve, comes alive with the rainforest sounds after dark. This hidden gem of the Osa Peninsula is enjoyable to visit at any time of day, but the nighttime trips are when the best wildlife may be seen.

You will see some of the most exotic snakes, insects, and amphibians in all of Costa Rica while wearing a headlamp and hiking boots and accompanied by an expert naturalist guide. You shouldn't miss this spot if you're taking your kids on an adventure trip to Costa Rica, and they're crazy with reptiles and insects.

Nighttime Tour of Manuel Antonio

The best part about visiting Costa Rica at night is that you don't have to go far to have a very rewarding experience. One of the most visited parks in the country, Manuel Antonio National Park, is also a great place to see animals, especially on night tours.

While modest in size, this park packs a lot of punch when it comes to the variety and abundance of its resident animals. However, because of the large number of day visitors, animals might be difficult to spot, especially on well-used paths.

Better your chances of spotting local animals by taking a nighttime forest tour. You may satisfy your inner nature enthusiast in Manuel Antonio, where you can witness the red-eye leaf frog.