Covers the rainforest at night, Asia's night markets and Mexico City, plus glowing bays and dark skies.
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There's no city here to tour at night. La Fortuna is a small town at the foot of Arenal, and after dark the action is in the forest around it, where a guide with a flashlight finds the animals that sleep through the day.
So every tour on this list is the same kind of thing: a rainforest night walk on a private reserve, usually about two hours, usually $50 to $60 (€45 to €54). The differences are smaller than the marketing suggests. How far the reserve is from town. Whether pickup is included. How many people share one guide. That's mostly it.
Two walks tie at the top on 8.1, both rated a perfect 5.0. Papa's Place is a family property just outside town. Anura is a park-run walk with fixed 6 and 8:15 p.m. slots. Honestly, I'd be happy with either, and the tiebreaker is whether you have a car.
At a glance
Best overall
Night Walk with Papa's Place, 8.1, rated 5.0, from $52 (€46)
Best with a set time
Anura Ecological Park, 6 or 8:15 p.m., from $50 (€45)
Pickup included
Mirador El Silencio walk near the volcano, from $60 (€54)
Small group, firm cap
Jungle Adventures toward Penas Blancas, 8 people max
Skip unless you want chocolate
The Chocolate and Night Tour, 5.9
When it gets dark
About 5:42 p.m. in October, 6:27 p.m. in July
On this page
The 10 best night tours in La Fortuna, ranked
Every tour we scored in La Fortuna that cleared our bar (rated 4.4 or more from 50+ reviews), in Night Score order. Night Score = 30% rating, 10% review count, 20% price per hour, 40% how much the night is the point. How we score
A 5.0 from 266 reviewers, and the most reviews of any perfect-scoring walk in town. That's what puts it first. Papa's Place is a family-run property about 2.6 km southeast of La Fortuna, and the walk covers its private trails for tree frogs, snakes and insects over 1 hour 40 minutes. Flashlights, entry and a certified guide are included. Transport isn't, so you'll need a taxi or a car. It's $52 (€46), with lower child rates. The catch: groups go up to 20, and one reviewer describes crowding when several groups share a slot. It runs in light rain, umbrellas offered.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Rated by travelersData · 30%7.6
Review countData · 10%5.6
Price per hourData · 20%6.3
After darkEditors · 40%10.0
What it is: A guided night walk with flashlights on the private trails at Papa's Place, a family-run property just outside La Fortuna.
Good to know: Flashlights, entry and a certified guide are included; transport is not. Up to 20 per group, and a reviewer reports crowding when several groups share a slot; it runs in light rain with umbrellas offered.
After dark: The walk exists to find tree frogs, snakes and insects that hide by day and are only active at night.
Rating, review count and from-price as shown on Viator on October 26, 2026. The price changes with the date.
Ties for first. Anura Ecological Park runs this walk on its own trails at El Abanico, and it wins on price per hour: two hours for $50 (€45), park entry, walking sticks and flashlights included. It's also the one with clear times, 6 p.m. or 8:15 p.m. Take the early one if you're with kids. The late walk ends about 10:15 p.m., and the host suggests booking a taxi back in advance. Listen to the host. The page says 8 travelers maximum in one place and 16 in another. Rated 5.0 on 213 reviews.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Rated by travelersData · 30%7.2
Review countData · 10%5.2
Price per hourData · 20%7.1
After darkEditors · 40%10.0
What it is: A guided flashlight walk on the trails of Anura Ecological Park, a private reserve outside La Fortuna, run by the park itself.
Good to know: Guide, walking sticks, flashlights and park entry are included. The page says both 8 and 16 travelers maximum; the 8:15 p.m. walk ends about 10:15 p.m. and the host suggests booking a taxi back in advance.
After dark: Frogs, snakes and sleeping birds are only found by flashlight after dark, when the rainforest's night shift comes out.
Rating, review count and from-price as shown on Viator on October 26, 2026. The price changes with the date.
La Fortuna Night Walk at Arenal Volcano: Rainforest Wildlife Tour
Night wildlife tours and night safaris
7.8/10Night Score
From $60 (€54)
2.5 hours
Starts: 5:30 p.m. at the trail
Small group
4.8 (367 reviews)
The one closest to the volcano itself. Wildlife Tours Costa Rica walks the Mirador El Silencio trails near Arenal Volcano National Park, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the trail, just as it gets dark. Pickup from La Fortuna center hotels comes 30 to 45 minutes earlier and is included, with trail entry, guide and lights. That's the reason to book it: no car needed. It's $60 (€54) for 2.5 hours, so the hourly price is low. Rated 4.8, slightly below the two above, from 367 reviews, the most on this page. Up to 15. Dinner, water and tips aren't included. Not wheelchair accessible.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Rated by travelersData · 30%5.7
Review countData · 10%6.1
Price per hourData · 20%7.3
After darkEditors · 40%10.0
What it is: A naturalist-guided night walk on the Mirador El Silencio trails near Arenal Volcano, run by Wildlife Tours Costa Rica with round-trip shuttle.
Good to know: Trail entry, shuttle from La Fortuna center hotels, guide and lights are included; dinner, water and tips are not. Up to 15 per group; not wheelchair accessible.
After dark: It starts at dusk and the whole walk is in the dark, when frogs, snakes and night insects are active on the volcano's lower slopes.
Rating, review count and from-price as shown on Viator on October 26, 2026. The price changes with the date.
Max 8 people, and unlike Anura's page, this one doesn't contradict itself on that. Jungle Adventures Costa Rica walks a private property 11 km out of town toward Penas Blancas, two hours, $49 (€44), the cheapest from-price here. Guide, a low-intensity flashlight, entry, parking and filtered water are included. The page's list also names transport and dinner, which would be unusual at this price, so ask before you count on either. Start time isn't listed; a reviewer mentions 8 p.m. Arrive 15 minutes early. It's rated 4.8 on 311 reviews, a hair behind the top three.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Rated by travelersData · 30%5.5
Review countData · 10%5.8
Price per hourData · 20%7.2
After darkEditors · 40%10.0
What it is: A small-group flashlight walk on a private rainforest property toward Penas Blancas, run by Jungle Adventures Costa Rica.
Good to know: Guide, low-intensity flashlight, entry, parking and filtered water are included; the page's list also names transportation and dinner, which is unusual at this price, so confirm with the operator. Maximum 8 per group; arrive 15 minutes early.
After dark: On a private forest property the guide hunts frogs, snakes and night insects that are invisible in daylight.
Rating, review count and from-price as shown on Viator on October 26, 2026. The price changes with the date.
Rainforest Night Walk in La Fortuna with Authentic Dinner
Night wildlife tours and night safaris
7.5/10Night Score
From $92 (€82)
4 hours
Starts: 5:00 p.m. (hotel pickup)
Large group
4.8 (196 reviews)
The full-evening version. Ecoterra Expeditions picks you up at 5 p.m., drives about 45 minutes to the La Tigra rainforest, walks you through it at nightfall, then serves a Costa Rican dinner cooked on a wood-burning stove. Four hours, $92 (€82), with pickup, guide, flashlights, dinner, bottled water and gratuities all included. That's decent value per hour. The drive is the catch: some reviewers didn't expect 45 minutes each way, and groups go up to 30. Rated 4.8 from 196 reviews. Book it for the dinner, not the walk.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Rated by travelersData · 30%4.9
Review countData · 10%5.1
Price per hourData · 20%7.5
After darkEditors · 40%10.0
What it is: A guided night walk in the La Tigra rainforest followed by a Costa Rican dinner cooked on a wood-burning stove, run by Ecoterra Expeditions from La Fortuna.
Good to know: Hotel pickup, air-conditioned minivan, guide, flashlights, dinner, bottled water and gratuities are included. Up to 30 per departure, and the drive is about 45 minutes each way, which some reviewers did not expect.
After dark: The walk is timed for nightfall in the La Tigra rainforest, when nocturnal frogs, snakes and insects come out.
Rating, review count and from-price as shown on Viator on October 26, 2026. The price changes with the date.
Only your group. La Fortuna Aventuras runs this private walk on the Arenal Natural Trails property, a 7 to 10 minute drive from town toward El Castillo. It's priced per person, from $60 (€54), and that buys you a guide who goes at your pace, which matters if you have a small child or a big camera. Entry and flashlights are included; transport isn't confirmed, so plan your own. It's rated 5.0 but on just 86 reviews, the fewest here, and that's what holds it at sixth. The listing's duration field is a mess; the card says about two hours.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Rated by travelersData · 30%5.1
Review countData · 10%3.9
Price per hourData · 20%6.4
After darkEditors · 40%10.0
What it is: A private guided night walk on the Arenal Natural Trails property, run by La Fortuna Aventuras.
Good to know: Entry and flashlights are included; transport is not confirmed on the page. The page's duration field is garbled, so 2 hours is from the listing card.
After dark: A private guide works the trails after dark for frogs, snakes and night insects at your own pace.
Rating, review count and from-price as shown on Viator on October 26, 2026. The price changes with the date.
The reserve on the edge of town. Ecocentro Danaus runs its own bilingual night walk past ponds and trails for frogs and reptiles, two hours, $60 (€54). Admission, flashlights, a guide and water refills are included, plus a free day pass to come back the next morning and see the same place in daylight. Nice touch. No pickup. Up to 15. A reviewer mentions a 5:30 p.m. start. The page contradicts itself on whether tips are included; assume they aren't. It ranks seventh on a 4.8 from 156 reviews and a higher price per hour than the walks above.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Rated by travelersData · 30%4.6
Review countData · 10%4.8
Price per hourData · 20%6.4
After darkEditors · 40%10.0
What it is: A bilingual guided night walk through Ecocentro Danaus, a small eco-reserve on the edge of La Fortuna town, run by the reserve.
Good to know: Admission, flashlights, a guide, water refills and a free day pass to return the next day are included; gratuities are not (the page contradicts itself). No pickup; up to 15 per group.
After dark: Frogs and reptiles in the Danaus reserve's ponds and trails are only active after dark.
Rating, review count and from-price as shown on Viator on October 26, 2026. The price changes with the date.
The walkable one. The Sloth Watching Trail is about 600 m east of La Fortuna's central park, so you can stroll there from most of the town's hotels for the 6 p.m. start. By day it's a sloth trail; at night its own guides work it by flashlight for frogs, snakes and other night animals. It's $51 (€46) for 1.5 to 2 hours, up to 15 people, guide and lights included. The rating, 4.7 on 100 reviews, is what sinks it to eighth. The page's meta text claims 273 reviews but shows 100. Bring bug spray, a rain jacket and closed shoes.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Rated by travelersData · 30%3.3
Review countData · 10%4.1
Price per hourData · 20%5.9
After darkEditors · 40%10.0
What it is: A guided night walk on the Sloth Watching Trail, walking distance from La Fortuna's central park, run by the trail's own guides.
Good to know: Guide and lights are included; no pickup. Up to 15 per group; bring bug spray, a rain jacket and closed shoes. The page's meta text quotes 273 reviews but shows 100.
After dark: The trail that shows sloths by day is walked by flashlight for frogs, snakes and night-active animals.
Rating, review count and from-price as shown on Viator on October 26, 2026. The price changes with the date.
Three hours with dinner and transport for $75 (€67), sold by Destination Services Costa Rica. The walk is at the Arenal Oasis reserve, and the frog ponds are the main event. Pickup covers hotels within about 35 minutes of La Fortuna; farther out you pay a surcharge, and drinks and photos are extra. Up to 15. It starts with a 5:30 p.m. pickup and the host says bring a raincoat. A 4.6 on 86 reviews is the lowest rating here, and that's why it's ninth. If you want a dinner combo, La Tigra rates higher.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Rated by travelersData · 30%2.5
Review countData · 10%3.9
Price per hourData · 20%7.1
After darkEditors · 40%10.0
What it is: A guided night walk at the Arenal Oasis reserve with dinner and round-trip transport, sold by Destination Services Costa Rica.
Good to know: Guide, dinner and transport from hotels within about 35 minutes of La Fortuna are included; farther hotels pay a surcharge, and drinks and photos are extra. Up to 15 per group; bring a raincoat.
After dark: The walk is all after nightfall, when the reserve's frog ponds are at their busiest.
Rating, review count and from-price as shown on Viator on October 26, 2026. The price changes with the date.
Half chocolate, half night walk. Don Juan Tours starts at 5:45 p.m. on its farm 1.5 km northeast of town with a chocolate and coffee tasting, then takes you out with flashlights for frogs once it's dark. That split is why it scores lowest on darkness here and ranks last at 5.9. It's $67 (€60) for two hours, minimum two people per booking, with tastings, guide, gratuities and hotel pickup included. Up to 10. Part of the path is covered; the waterside bit gets muddy. Rated 4.8 on 89 reviews. Good if you want the chocolate. Otherwise, pick a real night walk.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Rated by travelersData · 30%3.8
Review countData · 10%3.9
Price per hourData · 20%6.0
After darkEditors · 40%8.0
What it is: A chocolate and coffee tasting on a farm outside La Fortuna followed by a guided night walk, run by Don Juan Tours.
Good to know: Tastings, guide, gratuities and hotel pickup are included. Up to 10 per group; part of the path is covered, but the waterside can be muddy.
After dark: The second half is a flashlight walk for frogs and other night animals, which is why it is scheduled at dusk.
Rating, review count and from-price as shown on Viator on October 26, 2026. The price changes with the date.
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What you actually see on a night walk
Frogs, mostly. Tree frogs on leaves, frogs in the reserve ponds at Danaus and Arenal Oasis. Every La Fortuna walk on our list names frogs, and most add snakes and night insects. Finding them is the guide's job; yours is to keep the light where they point.
Sloths and tarantulas are a different story. They're the animals Monteverde listings promise. The La Fortuna pages don't, so don't book one expecting a sloth. You might see one; the Sloth Watching Trail is named for its daytime sloths, not its night ones.
Nothing is guaranteed. Sightings vary from night to night, and reviewers on several walks say so. A good guide still finds something on a slow night. A bad night is a long walk in the dark looking at leaves.
How to pick: distance, pickup, group size
They're all two-hour flashlight walks. So pick on logistics.
No car? Take Mirador El Silencio, which includes pickup, or the Sloth Watching Trail, which you can walk to from the central park. Papa's Place and Anura are the two best-rated walks, but neither includes transport, so budget a taxi there and back.
Want a small group? Jungle Adventures caps at 8. The private walk at Arenal Natural Trails is only your party, for $60 (€54) a head. Avoid the dinner tours if group size matters: La Tigra takes up to 30.
With kids, take an early slot. Anura's 6 p.m. walk, Mirador El Silencio at 5:30 p.m. and the 6 p.m. Sloth Watching Trail walk all finish before most children fall apart. None of the ten sets a minimum age, and most have lower child rates.
Entry fees: usually included here
This is one thing La Fortuna does better than Monteverde. On most of the walks ranked here, reserve entry is part of the price: Papa's Place, Anura, Mirador El Silencio, Jungle Adventures, Ecocentro Danaus and the private walk all list it as included.
The extras are tips (not included at Mirador El Silencio, unclear at Danaus), dinner unless it's a dinner tour, and the taxi. Carry some small bills.
Rain, mud and what to wear
It will probably rain. The weather archive gives La Fortuna more than 22 days with some rain in every month of the year, and about 30 in July and August. Walks run in rain and stop for lightning. Papa's Place hands out umbrellas.
Nights are warm, around 68 to 72°F (20 to 22°C) all year, so a light rain jacket beats a fleece. Closed shoes, not sandals: trails are wet and there are snakes. Long trousers. Bug spray. Reviewers on several of these walks repeat that list, and they're right.
You don't need to pack a flashlight for most of these; nearly every walk includes one. Jungle Adventures even specifies a low-intensity light.
Different forests. La Fortuna's walks are in warm lowland rainforest around Arenal; Monteverde's are up in the cloud forest, cooler and mistier, where nights run about 62 to 65°F (17 to 18.5°C).
The practical difference is money and transport. In La Fortuna, entry is usually in the price. In Monteverde, many walks make you pay the reserve fee on site, and most don't include transport. Monteverde's listings also lean harder on sloths, kinkajous and tarantulas.
If you're doing both towns, I'd do the night walk in Monteverde and the hot springs in La Fortuna. If you're only in La Fortuna, book a walk here. It's a good one.
When it gets dark
Early, and at almost the same time all year. La Fortuna is close enough to the equator that dark comes at about 5:35 p.m. in November and 6:27 p.m. in July. Full dark is never later than about 6:54 p.m.
That's why the 5:30 and 6 p.m. walks work: they start at dusk and are fully dark within half an hour. There's no reason to wait for the 8 p.m. slots unless you want a quieter trail.
Getting back after dark
Sort it out before you go. Several of these reserves sit on roads out of town, and only Mirador El Silencio, La Tigra, Arenal Oasis and the chocolate tour list hotel pickup. Anura's host tells guests on the 8:15 p.m. walk to book a taxi back in advance. Do it.
The Sloth Watching Trail and Ecocentro Danaus are the two you can reach on foot from town. Even then, carry a light for the road. See our night tour safety guide.
When it gets dark in La Fortuna
Times are for the 15th of each month in 2027, local time with daylight saving, computed with NOAA’s solar equations for La Fortuna. Dark is the end of civil twilight, when streetlights and floodlights take over; fully dark is the end of nautical twilight. Night lows are 2016–2025 averages from the Open-Meteo historical archive. Every city side by side
Month
Sunset
Dark
Fully dark
Night low
January
5:34 p.m.
5:57 p.m.
6:23 p.m.
68°F (20°C)
February
5:46 p.m.
6:08 p.m.
6:33 p.m.
68°F (20°C)
March
5:49 p.m.
6:10 p.m.
6:35 p.m.
68°F (20°C)
April
5:49 p.m.
6:10 p.m.
6:35 p.m.
70°F (21°C)
May
5:52 p.m.
6:14 p.m.
6:41 p.m.
72°F (22°C)
June
6:00 p.m.
6:23 p.m.
6:50 p.m.
71°F (22°C)
July
6:04 p.m.
6:27 p.m.
6:54 p.m.
71°F (22°C)
August
5:57 p.m.
6:19 p.m.
6:44 p.m.
71°F (22°C)
September
5:39 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:25 p.m.
71°F (22°C)
October
5:21 p.m.
5:42 p.m.
6:07 p.m.
71°F (22°C)
November
5:12 p.m.
5:35 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
70°F (21°C)
December
5:19 p.m.
5:42 p.m.
6:08 p.m.
69°F (21°C)
Where La Fortuna ranks
The best place a La Fortuna tour reaches on each of our other pages.
By our Night Score, the Night Walk with Papa's Place, tied with Anura Ecological Park's small-group walk at 8.1. Both are rated 5.0. Papa's Place has more reviews; Anura is cheaper per hour and has fixed 6 and 8:15 p.m. start times.
Is the La Fortuna night tour worth it?
Yes, if you go in with the right expectation: two hours with a flashlight looking for frogs and snakes, not a wildlife show. The top walks are rated 5.0 and cost about $50 (€45). Sightings aren't guaranteed.
Do you see sloths on a La Fortuna night walk?
Sometimes, but none of the ranked La Fortuna walks promise them. The listings name frogs, snakes and insects. Sloths and tarantulas show up far more often in Monteverde's night walk listings.
Are night walks in La Fortuna OK for kids?
Yes. None of the ten sets a minimum age and most have child rates. Pick an early slot like Anura at 6 p.m. or Mirador El Silencio at 5:30 p.m., put the kids in closed shoes, and bring bug spray.
What should I wear on a night tour in Costa Rica?
Closed shoes, long trousers, bug spray and a rain jacket. Nights in La Fortuna stay around 68 to 72°F (20 to 22°C), so you don't need warm layers. Walks run in the rain.
