After a long bus journey from San José, we arrived in Monteverde, the Green Mountain. Since 80% of the cloud forest wildlife is nocturnal, a Monteverde night tour was the perfect way to explore the unique beauty and diversity of this Costa Rican paradise.

Getting to Monteverde from San José

The roads to reach the mountaintop paradise of Monteverde were treacherous. We were happy to have chosen public transportation from Terminal 7-11 in San José. At only 2,845 colones ($5 USD), we could relax and admire the scenery along the winding dirt road. Private shuttles cost much more for roughly the same driving time. The only advantage was the air conditioning, which was a non-necessary luxury in March.

Upon arriving in the quaint town of Santa Elena/Monteverde, the sky was bright blue. The small town was surrounded by an extensive reserve of lush greenery. A very light rain was constantly falling from the verdant forests - the mist that gives the cloud forest its name. We checked in at the familial Hotel Santa Fe. The charming accommodation was within walking distance from the center where we found numerous cute cafes, bars and restaurants.

Why Choose a Night Tour in Monteverde?

Our goal in Monteverde was to spot animals in their natural habitat. The green oasis was brimming with plants and animals. But since 80% of the wildlife is nocturnal, a night tour was the best option to explore the cloud forest when it truly comes alive.

We booked a last-minute Monteverde night tour from our hotel, freshened up, ate Costa Rican food, geared up and waited for the bus shuttle. Our tour began at 5:30 PM just before nightfall when most creatures wake up, look for mates, and hunt. The cloud forest really came alive at that time.

Exploring the Cloud Forest After Dark

Equipped with flashlights, we made our way through the windy forest trails. The group was large with another 10 fellow explorers, so we stayed close to our local guide. We were incredibly lucky to see a lot of amazing insects, birds and mammals including:

• Armadillo - scurrying through the underbrush
• Opossum - hanging from tree branches
• 2-toed sloth - moving slowly through the canopy

We learned that only 2-toed sloths live in Monteverde. 3-toed sloths don't have enough fur to survive in the cool, misty cloud forests!

The Monteverde Night Tour Experience

We strolled through the private reserve for almost 2 hours and highly enjoyed our Monteverde night tour. The experience was enthralling - we would have never encountered so many insects and mammals during the day. The forest sounds at night were incredible, and our guide's expert eye helped us spot creatures we never would have seen on our own.

The cloud forest ecosystem is unique, with constant moisture from the mist supporting an incredible diversity of life. Walking through it at night felt like entering another world.

Have you done a night tour in Monteverde or another cloud forest? What nocturnal animals did you spot? Did you prefer the night tour to daytime hikes? Leave us your comments below. We would love to hear from you.

Pura Vida! 🇨🇷

The Monteverde night tour was a highlight of our Costa Rica adventure. There's something magical about exploring the cloud forest after dark, when the nocturnal creatures emerge. If you're visiting Monteverde, don't miss the chance to experience the rainforest at night - it's a completely different world!