Description
When the sun slips behind the Monteverde mountains, the cloud forest changes shifts. Hummingbirds retire, birds tuck themselves into the branches and an entirely different community takes the stage. This guided night walk invites you into that hidden world, lit only by the beam of your flashlight and the expertise of a naturalist who knows exactly where to look.
The walk follows trails in a private reserve near Santa Elena, in small groups so as not to disturb the wildlife. With every step, your guide reveals small treasures: a red-eyed tree frog clinging to a leaf, glass frogs whose translucent skin shows what lies inside, stick insects disguised as twigs, tarantulas peeking out of their burrows and scorpions that glow under ultraviolet light.
With a little luck, the night also brings encounters with mammals. The kinkajou, nimble and wide-eyed, travels through the canopy in search of fruit and nectar; two-toed sloths become more active after dark, and it is not unusual to see porcupines, opossums or an olingo. You will also spot sleeping birds, such as toucanets or guans, perfectly still among the foliage.
The atmosphere is calm and almost magical: the chorus of frogs, the smell of damp earth and mist drifting between the tree trunks. It is an easy activity, perfect for families and curious travelers of all ages, and one of the very best ways to end a day in Monteverde. Transportation, entrance, a bilingual guide and a flashlight are all included.
