Night nature walk in the Arenal rainforest
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 8 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Night nature walk in the Arenal rainforest worth booking?
Night nature walk in the Arenal rainforest is a 2-hour experience in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, from $33 per person. It scores 67 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 5/5 rating across 8 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 67 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (8)
- Duration
- 2 hours
- From
- $33 per person
Discover the rainforest after dark on a two-hour guided hike at Mirador El Silencio, near Arenal Volcano. Traverse the forest trails with an expert local naturalist and look for free-roaming nocturnal wildlife, such as red-eyed tree frogs, insects, spiders, snakes, sleeping birds, and mammals. Your guide will explain animal behavior, rainforest ecology, and conservation efforts, helping the group observe wildlife safely and respectfully. Flashlights are provided. Wildlife sightings vary naturally on each tour. Choose the option that best suits your needs and carefully check whether the trail entrance fee is included.
What you get
About this experience
Discover the rainforest after dark on a two-hour guided hike at Mirador El Silencio, near Arenal Volcano. Traverse the forest trails with an expert local naturalist and look for free-roaming nocturnal wildlife, such as red-eyed tree frogs, insects, spiders, snakes, sleeping birds, and mammals. Your guide will explain animal behavior, rainforest ecology, and conservation efforts, helping the group observe wildlife safely and respectfully. Flashlights are provided. Wildlife sightings vary naturally on each tour. Choose the option that best suits your needs and carefully check whether the trail entrance fee is included.
What's included
Included
- 2 hours tour
- Flash lights
- HD spotting scope
- local tour guide
Not included
- Local transport
- Entrance fee to El silencio trails
What you'll see and do
Mirador El Silencio
Discover the magic of a night walk in La Fortuna, near Arenal Volcano, and explore the rainforest's biodiversity with a naturalist guide expert in Costa Rica's flora and fauna. After dark, observe red-eyed tree frogs, sloths, armadillos, anteaters, owls, palm-pit vipers, sleeping birds, and insects in their natural habitat. The tour includes flashlights and the use of professional optical equipment to view each species in greater detail. Weather permitting, you can even capture unique photos and videos through the telescope using your smartphone. Ideal for families, couples, photographers, and nature lovers, this Arenal night tour offers adventure, environmental interpretation, and responsible wildlife viewing. Book your experience and discover the Costa Rican rainforest under the stars. Sightings may vary depending on natural conditions.
120 minutes here · Admission not included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
La Fortuna
1Meet at the main reception of Mirador El Silencio, F7MC+W37, Route 142, San Carlos, Alajuela, Costa Rica, approximately 1 km east of Tabacón Resort. Please arrive 10-15 minutes before the scheduled start time. Your guide will be waiting at the reception. The activity ends at the same location.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
1Meet at the main reception of Mirador El Silencio, F7MC+W37, Route 142, San Carlos, Alajuela, Costa Rica, approximately 1 km east of Tabacón Resort. Please arrive 10-15 minutes before the scheduled start time. Your guide will be waiting at the reception. The activity ends at the same location.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 8 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Red Eyes Frog expeditions
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 8 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
6 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
6 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
8 verified traveler reviews for Night nature walk in the Arenal rainforest. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Great place for wildlife photography and learning about the ecosystem
Our tour guide Uriel was awesome. He has an intimate knowledge of the local plants, but he also knows where to look to see the nearby wildlife. The property itself is unreal at night. We saw so many cool species, that this may have been the best day of our week-long photography trip. Just keep in mind there is an additional 10 USD fee for entering the park. I would say this is still worth it despite that.
Response from the operator: Thank you for your excellent review and for recognizing Uriel’s knowledge, dedication, and wildlife-spotting skills. We are delighted that your guided rainforest night walk became one of the highlights of your photography trip to Costa Rica. Discovering the property after dark and photographing its remarkable nocturnal wildlife is truly a unique La Fortuna experience. We also appreciate your helpful comment regarding the additional $10 park entrance fee. This admission is currently separate and is not included in the guide-service rate. However, we are continually working to improve our service and simplify the booking process. We are now developing a more convenient package option that includes both the guided tour and park admission, creating a clearer and smoother experience for future visitors. Thank you for recommending our Arenal wildlife night tour. We hope to welcome you back for another memorable nature and photography adventure. Warm regards, Red-eyed Tree Frog La Fortuna
via Tripadvisor
Cool night walk
Very good experience to see the rainforest after dark and see animals in their natural habitat. We saw many beautiful frogs, bugs, plants, some sloths, a snake, and even a super cool firefly show.
Response from the operator: Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience. We are delighted that you enjoyed exploring the Costa Rican rainforest after dark and observing frogs, insects, tropical plants, sloths, and a snake in their natural habitat. The magical firefly display must have made your Arenal Rainforest Night Walk even more memorable! Thank you for choosing our guided night tour near La Fortuna. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable wildlife adventure in Costa Rica. Warm regards, Red-eyed Tree Frog La Fortuna
via Tripadvisor
Magnificent tour
The tour was exceptional! Our guide was friendly, extremely knowledgeable and told us everything we needed to know about Costa Rican plants, animals and the whole ecosystem. It was a whole new experience compared to the day tours in the national parks, a lot more intense and exciting especially because we could see all the frogs, snakes and spiders that would only appear in the dark. Would definitely recommend!!
Response from the operator: Thank you very much for your wonderful review and recommendation. We are delighted that your guided Arenal Rainforest Night Walk was such an exciting and memorable experience. It is especially rewarding to know that our naturalist guide’s knowledge of Costa Rican plants, wildlife, and tropical ecosystems enriched your visit. Exploring the rainforest near La Fortuna after dark offers a completely different perspective, revealing remarkable nocturnal species such as frogs, snakes, spiders, and many other fascinating creatures. Thank you for choosing us to discover the nocturnal wildlife of Costa Rica. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable nature adventure near Arenal Volcano. Warm regards, Red-eyed tree frog La Fortuna
via Tripadvisor
An Unforgettable Tour with a Special and Unique Guide
Uriel is a first class forest tour guide! Under his guidance and expertise I was able to not only see amazing wildlife and flora, but also deepen my understanding of an entire complex and vibrant ecosystem, its ecology and its essence. I am grateful to Uriel for imparting his deep knowledge of the Costa Rican landscape and forests, his sincere love and enthusiasm for his work is contagious and I highly recommend him to all tropical nature enthusiasts. Thank you!!
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your extraordinary review and for sharing such thoughtful feedback about your experience with Uriel. We are truly honored to know that your guided rainforest tour became more than just a wildlife experience, but also an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Costa Rica’s complex tropical ecosystem, biodiversity, and cloud forest ecology. Creating meaningful connections between travelers and nature is exactly what we strive to achieve through our eco-tourism experiences. Uriel’s passion for the Costa Rican rainforest, wildlife conservation, and environmental education is something that inspires many of our guests. We are delighted that his knowledge, enthusiasm, and dedication helped make your experience both educational and unforgettable while exploring the incredible flora and fauna of the tropical forest. Costa Rica is internationally recognized for its rich biodiversity, and guided nature tours like this offer unique opportunities to observe wildlife while learning about the delicate balance of the rainforest ecosystem, including native plants, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and nocturnal species in their natural habitat. Thank you again for highly recommending our tour to fellow tropical nature enthusiasts and eco-travelers. Your kind words help future visitors discover authentic rainforest adventures and professional naturalist-guided wildlife experiences in Costa Rica. We sincerely appreciate your visit and look forward to welcoming you back for another unforgettable journey through the magical forests of Costa Rica.
via Tripadvisor
Wonderful tour!
Uriel is an incredible guide! So knowledgeable and insightful, always making sure everyone has a smile on their face :) we saw many beautiful jungle creatures! Can’t wait to come back!
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for sharing your experience with our rainforest wildlife tour. We are delighted to hear that Uriel made your adventure both enjoyable and memorable. His passion for Costa Rica’s rainforest, wildlife conservation, and natural history helps create authentic and engaging experiences for travelers visiting the cloud forest and tropical jungle. It is fantastic to know that you were able to observe many beautiful jungle creatures during your guided tour. Costa Rica’s rainforest is home to incredible biodiversity, and every night walk offers unique opportunities to discover frogs, reptiles, insects, sleeping birds, mammals, and other fascinating nocturnal wildlife in their natural habitat. We truly appreciate your kind words and recommendation. Reviews like yours help future travelers discover one of the best guided wildlife and eco-tourism experiences in Costa Rica. Thank you again for choosing our tour. We look forward to welcoming you back for another unforgettable rainforest adventure in the future.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $33 to $55
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 3
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Why this scores 67
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Night nature walk in the Arenal rainforest: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for La Fortuna.
How much does Night nature walk in the Arenal rainforest cost?
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Prices start at $33 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in La Fortuna usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Night nature walk in the Arenal rainforest take?
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Plan for about 2 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in La Fortuna is not rushed.
Is Night nature walk in the Arenal rainforest worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 67 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 8 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in La Fortuna, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Night nature walk in the Arenal rainforest?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Night nature walk in the Arenal rainforest suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 2-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Night nature walk in the Arenal rainforest?
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Around 3 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in La Fortuna can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in La Fortuna and add a light layer if any part of the 2-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Night nature walk in the Arenal rainforest start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central La Fortuna within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in La Fortuna?
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On Outty we rank every La Fortuna experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Upper Balsa River White Water Rafting Class 3/4 in Costa Rica, White Water Rafting Class II and III, Authentic Coffee and Chocolate Tour at North Fields. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit La Fortuna?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in La Fortuna?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Night nature walk in the Arenal rainforest?
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Included: 2 hours tour; Flash lights; HD spotting scope; and local tour guide. Not included: Local transport; and Entrance fee to El silencio trails. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Night nature walk in the Arenal rainforest?
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1Meet at the main reception of Mirador El Silencio, F7MC+W37, Route 142, San Carlos, Alajuela, Costa Rica, approximately 1 km east of Tabacón Resort. Please arrive 10-15 minutes before the scheduled start time. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Night nature walk in the Arenal rainforest offered in?
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It is offered in English and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Night nature walk in the Arenal rainforest?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Night nature walk in the Arenal rainforest wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Night nature walk in the Arenal rainforest if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in La Fortuna. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Night nature walk in the Arenal rainforest?
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Across 8 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
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