Bahía Drake · Osa Peninsula · Costa Rica

Pajarilla Night Tour

Guided wildlife walks after dark on a large private finca

Red-eyed tree frog

Green vine snake

Rainforest scorpion

Stick insect

7-15 g
Weight: 5-7.5 cm
Size: Insectivore
Diet

80-180 g
Weight: 1.2-2 m
Size: Carnivore
Diet

5-30 g
Weight: 4-8 cm
Size: Carnivore
Diet

10-40 g
Weight: 8-18 cm
Size: Herbivore
Diet

01 / 04

The Forest at Night

Duration

2hrs

6:00 – 8:00 pm

Price

$45

per person

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What we provide

01Flashlight
02Rubber field boots
03Round-trip transport
04Refreshment after the walk

Rainforest night tours

Drake Bay, Costa Rica

Beyond the beach, the forest moves to a different rhythm after sunset. Three ways to understand the experience: wildlife, flora, and climate.

Sloth hanging from a branch under the Milky Way in the rainforest at night

Night wildlife in Drake Bay

Night tours in Drake Bay reveal a forest that feels completely different after sunset: frogs, snakes, spiders, kinkajous, bats, and many other species become active once daylight fades. In Costa Rica, more than half of mammal species are nocturnal or crepuscular, and when amphibians, reptiles, and insects are added, nighttime dramatically expands the chances of wildlife sightings.

Flora after dark

Plants do not fully rest at night: some flowers open at dusk, scents become stronger, and many leaves shift through nyctinasty. In Drake Bay, humidity brings epiphytes, ferns, mosses, and fungi to life, creating a rainforest atmosphere that is best understood slowly and with careful light.

Drake Bay climate

Drake Bay has a tropical rainforest climate: warm days, mild nights, and seasonal rain. May through November is usually wetter, while December through April tends to be drier, although showers are possible in any month. Ocean breeze, streams, and dense forest shade shape every walk.

Nocturnal wildlife on our private finca

Pajarilla Night Tour operates on a large private property in Bahía Drake, on Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula—one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth. After sunset, aquatic, terrestrial, and aerial species emerge across streams, trails, and canopy. These are some of the creatures guests regularly encounter with our local guides.

Aquatic species

Pistol shrimp
Camarón pilero
Aquatic crustacean whose snap creates a cavitation bubble—common near streams and wetlands.

Terrestrial species

Giant anteater
Oso hormiguero
Large insectivorous mammal often spotted foraging on forest trails after dark.
Huntsman spider
Araña cazadora
Fast-moving nocturnal spider that hunts insects on trunks and leaf litter.
Fer-de-lance (Bocaracá)
Bocaracá
Pit viper of the Osa lowlands, observed safely from a distance with expert guidance.
Snail specialist
Caracolera
Rainforest species associated with mollusk-rich habitats across the finca.
Gladiator frog
Rana gladiadora
Stream-side amphibian active at night near watercourses on the property.
Cane toad
Rana toro
Large nocturnal amphibian frequently heard and seen near forest edges.
Glass frog
Rana de vidrio
Translucent amphibian clinging to vegetation above streams in humid forest.
Red-eyed tree frog
Rana de ojos rojos
Iconic Costa Rican tree frog that becomes active after sunset.
Cat-eyed snake
Ojo de gato
Slender nocturnal snake with distinctive vertical pupils, common on night walks.
Gray four-eyed opossum
Zorro ratón
Small nocturnal marsupial foraging on the forest floor and low branches.
Lichen katydid
Saltamontes líquen
Camouflaged insect that blends with moss and lichen on trunks and leaves.
Fer-de-lance
Terciopelo
Bothrops asper—the most encountered viper on Osa night walks, always viewed with care.

Aerial & canopy species

Esperanza silk moth
Esperanza
Large moth drawn to light in the rainforest canopy and forest margins.
Kinkajou
Perro zompopo
Arboreal mammal that moves through the canopy feeding on fruit and nectar.
Tropical orb-weaver
Tejedora de orbes tropical
Large spider spinning orb webs between trees, especially visible at night.

Explore the wildlife gallery Book a night tour in Drake Bay