Nocturnal Frog Excursion & Traditional Costa Rican Dinner, Arenal/La Fortuna

4.5 (2 reviews)
Meet with a traditional Costa Rican family who lives off the land and supports the natural regeneration of wildlife and the earth

Overview

This evening tour offers a combination of nature and Costa Rican cuisine. Armed with flashlights, you'll follow your guide along a short trail, looking for nocturnal wildlife, including frogs, insects, bats, and more. One highlight along the walk is a visit to a frog sanctuary, where your guide will point out dart frogs and bullfrogs. You're also likely to see red-eyed tree frogs and little glass tree frogs. After the hike, you'll sit down for a traditional Costa Rican dinner prepared on a wood-burning stove.

Highlights

  • Hike through the woods at night with an expert guide
  • Spot nocturnal frogs, birds, mammals, insects, and bats in their natural habitats
  • Meet a local Costa Rican family and learn about their culture
  • Enjoy a delicious Costa Rican meal cooked on a traditional wood-burning stove 

Know before you go

Duration
4 hours
Recommended for
All ages
Group
Small group
Food & Drink
Dinner Included. Enjoy a traditional Costa Rican meal. Vegetarian options are available with advance notice.

What you'll do

Begin the tour with a transfer to La Tigra, a small town about 30 minutes from La Fortuna. You'll meet a local family who lives off the land and manages the property. After a short overview from your guide, you'll head into the rainforest, following a trail into the darkness.

On the first part of the 1.5-hour walk, you'll follow a 0.5-mile (800-meter) trail through a regenerating forest. With the aid of flashlights and special mirrored devices installed in the area, you'll be able to spot nocturnal birds, mammals, amphibians, and insects. 

The trail leads the group to the frog sanctuary, which fosters frog reproduction. Your guide will point out the dart frog and the bull frog, the smallest and largest species in Costa Rica, and various other frog species.

Following the wildlife viewing portion of the evening, you'll sit down for an authentic Costa Rican meal prepared by the host family on a wood-burning stove and paired with fresh-squeezed fruit juice. As the family serves dinner and tells you more about the farm's history, enjoy views over the valley and plains below, illuminated by lights. The meal lasts around one hour. Then return to La Fortuna, where the tour concludes.

Start times

  • Daily
    5:00 pm

What's included

  • Transportation from your hotel in comfortable air-conditioned minivans with WiFi
  • Bilingual naturalist guide
  • Sanctuary entrance fee
  • Lanterns and flashlights
  • Bottled mineral water
  • Traditional Costa Rican dinner

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Traveler reviews

2 total ratings
4.5
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.5
Food
5.0
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.5
Transport
5.0

Like what you see?

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Itineraries with Nocturnal Frog Excursion & Traditional Costa Rican Dinner