Night Monteverde Wildlife Refuge About 2 hours Up to 10 guests4.9/5 · 814 Tripadvisor reviews

Shared Small-Group Night Walk in Monteverde

Shared departure

Night Walk — Shared Small Group with a certified naturalist guide in Monteverde Wildlife Refuge, Monteverde, Costa Rica

24-hour booking cutoff · admission refundable up to 48 hours before the tour · rain or shine: 50% of the guide service and purchased entrance fees are non-refundable · 2-person minimum, solo guests get 50% of the second-person charge refunded.

Start time
Starts 5:30 pm
Modality
Shared small group
Where
Monteverde Wildlife Refuge
7 photos by our guides

Overview

Night hikes are universally recognized as one of the most highly recommended, must-do activities when visiting the Monteverde area. As dusk settles over the mountains, a fascinating shift takes place: the daytime animals seek out safe shelter to rest for the evening, while an entirely new cast of secretive, nocturnal creatures awakens to claim the forest. On this thrilling evening walk, we venture into the specialized trails of the Monteverde Wildlife Refuge. Equipped with high-powered flashlights, we quietly scan the undergrowth and the canopy. Without the blinding light of day, your senses will sharpen to the unique, orchestra-like sounds of the nighttime forest. It is an entirely different world, giving you a rare opportunity to look closely for tarantulas, masterfully camouflaged insects, sloths on the move, sleeping birds tucked into the leaves, and nocturnal mammals or snakes going about their nightly routines. Iconic species we target: two-toed sloths, kinkajous and gray foxes; bright green tree frogs and sleeping or hunting snakes; orange-kneed tarantulas and well-camouflaged walking sticks; vibrant toucanets and sleeping cloud forest birds puffed up on their branches.

Guided by Nasua Tours' certified naturalist guides, led by founder Oscar Castillo Mejía (license #1090) — read more about the team. Still comparing options? The Monteverde planning guide explains how this tour differs from the others.

Itinerary

Dusk briefing

We meet at the refuge at dusk, hand out flashlights and cover night-trail safety.

Night trails

Quiet, slow scanning of undergrowth and canopy for nocturnal wildlife.

Scope viewing

Night-range telescope views and guided photos of your best sightings.

What to expect

Reserve admission can be included in your tour price or purchased separately — choose your admission option when requesting the tour.

What's included

  • Professional bilingual naturalist guide, certified by the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT)
  • Shared use of a professional spotting telescope equipped for night-range viewing
  • A flashlight provided for every guest

What to bring

  • A reliable waterproof jacket or windbreaker — cloud forest nights get chilly and misty
  • Closed-toe hiking shoes or sturdy trail sneakers (mandatory for night safety)
  • Fully charged smartphone or camera
  • Long pants for comfort and protection on night trails

Optional or not included

  • Transportation
  • Meals

Not a mass-market tour

This is an exclusive experience run in small groups or fully private — never a large commercial departure. You walk with one of our certified naturalist guides, led by Oscar Castillo Mejía, at your pace, with professional optical equipment on the trail and your reserve admission confirmed for you when you choose the all-inclusive option.

  • Small groups or fully private — no crowded buses
  • Personal attention from a certified naturalist guide
  • Professional spotting scope and quality optics included
  • Reserve admission confirmed for you when included

What guests said about this tour

Read all reviews
4.9/5 on Tripadvisor (814 reviews) · 5.0/5 on Google (295 reviews)
  • We had an excellent experience on the Nasua Tours night walk in Monteverde with Oscar as our naturalist guide.
    Andrea Peña, Nasua Tours guestAndrea PeñaGoogle · 2 months ago
  • We had an amazing experience on this night walk! The guide was fantastic and honestly made all the difference.
    Natasha Antony, Nasua Tours guestNatasha AntonyGoogle · 3 weeks ago
  • I did my tour with Oscar, and I could tell he is very knowledgeable and passionate about the wildlife in Monteverde and Costa Rica. I was by myself, and I had a lot of fun with him! We got to see a glass frog during the day. This is a very special memory of my trip :) I hope to take another tour again with him soon!
    Irisa D., Nasua Tours guestIrisa D.Google · 11 months ago

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Booking & cancellation policies

These terms apply to every Nasua Tours booking and you accept them before your request is sent.

  • Booking cutoff: 24 hours

    Requests close 24 hours before the tour starts, so admission and guiding can be arranged in time.

  • Reserve admission is refundable up to 48 hours before the tour

    Cancel at least 48 hours before the tour starts and the reserve admission (entrance tickets) is refunded. With less than 48 hours' notice the entrance tickets are no longer refundable.

  • Rain or shine — 50% of the guide service is non-refundable

    Monteverde weather is unpredictable, so tours run rain or shine. If the tour is cancelled, 50% of the guided-service charge is non-refundable, and entrance fees already purchased are non-refundable.

  • Minimum booking: 2 people (solo guests welcome)

    Every tour is sold from a 2-person minimum, so a solo guest books the service for 2. If only one guest travels, Nasua Tours refunds 50% of the extra charge for the second person.

Questions about this tour

What time is the shared night walk and how long is it?
The tour begins at 5:30 pm and lasts about two hours.
What might we see on a shared departure?
Insects, tarantulas, snakes, mammals and sleeping birds are all possible — nothing is guaranteed, as all sightings are wild.
Is a private night walk available?
Yes. The same walk can be booked fully private for your party only.
Are reserve entrance fees included?
You choose. "Tour with admission included" covers the guided service plus the applicable reserve or activity admission with 13% tax, so there is nothing to buy at the gate. "Tour without admission" covers the guided service with 13% tax only, and you pay the reserve entrance yourself. Infants 0–3 are free on both options.
How much does the tour cost?
Both options show a live total in the request panel, with 13% tax already included. Prices per guest depend on group size, whether the tour is private or shared, and — for the all-inclusive option — which reserve you visit, since admission differs by reserve and age. Children 4–10 have their own rate and infants 0–3 are free. You confirm the exact total with Nasua Tours before anything is booked.

Continue your Monteverde experience

You can combine tours to see different sides of Monteverde. These pair well with this one:

Build a multi-tour itinerary

Send us the tours you like and the dates you are in Monteverde. Oscar sequences them realistically around start times and reserves, then replies with the current rates and one combined plan.

About 2 hours

With or without admission

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