Night Jungle Walk from Drake Bay
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5.0 · Wildlife after dark2 hoursSmall group · local guide
Nature & Wildlife · After dark

Night Jungle Walk from Drake Bay

The rainforest comes alive after sunset. Walk jungle trails by torchlight with a local guide to find the creatures — and the glow — you'd never see by day.

Reserve this trip$55per person
About this trip

What to expect

When the sun sets the forest changes shift. A local guide leads you along the trails after dark, reading the night for the animals active only once the heat is gone.

Expect frogs, snakes, kinkajous, owls, bioluminescent insects and glowing mushrooms. Rubber boots, a flashlight and the entrance fee are included.

Trip highlights

Nocturnal wildlife

Kinkajous, frogs, owls and snakes.

Bioluminescence

Glowing insects and mushrooms after dark.

The forest's hidden side

Guided by local night knowledge.

Boots & torch included

Just turn up ready to explore.

Your day, hour by hour

The itinerary

6:30 PM

Meeting point & safety briefing

Welcome from your guide, gear check (flashlights and repellent), and safety instructions for the night walk.

6:55 PM

Entering the night jungle

At the trail entrance, begin the exploration across rivers and awaken your senses as the jungle comes alive.

7:00–9:00 PM

Wildlife & bioluminescent fungi spotting

Look for snakes, frogs and insects in the night forest.

What's included

  • Certified local guide (EN / ES)
  • Rubber boots & flashlight
  • Entrance fee

Not included

  • Pick-up & drop-off
  • Alcoholic beverages & snacks
  • Insect repellent
  • Tips for your guide (appreciated)
$55per person
Reserve this trip
Before you go

Good to know

What to bring

Long trousers, insect repellent and a camera that copes with the dark. Boots and a torch are provided — a head torch of your own leaves your hands free.

Who it's for

Anyone, including families. It is two easy hours on a marked trail at walking pace, with frequent stops. Nervous about snakes and spiders? This is the trip that fixes that.

Best season

Year round, and the wetter months from May to November are genuinely better — more frogs, more insects, more of everything the night walk is about.

Where we meet

In the centre of Drake Bay at dusk, around 5:50 PM. We are back out of the trail by about 8 PM.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What will we actually see?

Frogs in numbers, including red-eyed tree frogs and glass frogs, plus stick insects, spiders, sleeping birds and often snakes. Kinkajous and opossums move in the canopy. Some nights the fungi glow.

Is it dangerous walking at night?

No. You stay on a marked trail, in boots, behind a guide who knows exactly where to put his feet and yours. The snakes we look for are found because the guide knows where they rest, not by accident.

Is equipment provided?

Rubber boots, a torch and the trail entrance fee are all included. Bring your own head torch if you have one — it makes photography much easier.

Do you pick up from my hotel?

Not included, but Drake Bay is small and most places are a short walk from the meeting point. Tell us where you are staying and we will tell you how to reach us.

Is this good for photography?

Very. Frogs and insects sit still and the guide will light them for you. Bring a macro lens if you have one, and a torch you can hold off-axis.

Is this tour refundable?

Yes. If you need to cancel, contact us as soon as possible so we can arrange your refund.

From our guests

Hear from travelers who chose us

13 reviews on Google

We booked two tours with Bucaneros and were very satisfied. We especially enjoyed a trip with Carlos on the boat, where we saw a huge pod of dolphins and were treated to a delicious meal in a beautiful bay. Carlos is a relaxed, caring, and friendly guide. If you're still hungry or thirsty after the tour, the family-run restaurant El Bucanero is a great option.

Mats Ahlgren

The bioluminescence tour was wonderful. Carlos and Carlos or friend will take you out on a multipurpose boat, the same one their family uses to catch fresh fish for their restaurant. This type of bioluminescence is reactive to the touch. In Drake Bay in mid-July, we went out into the middle of the bay and swam in life jackets. They were willing to do a private tour for a bit longer for a little more, and were very flexible and nice. I felt comfortable at night with a ratio of 1 guide to 3 people, so if swimming in a lifejacket at night in the bay is scary for you, you might inquire about that. It is difficult to climb up to the boat without a ladder on your own, but extremely easy with the captain's helping hand. This bioluminescence is not easily photographable and requires at a minimum a very very large aperture DSLR with very high ISO and sensitivity, and even then it's extremely faint. Think of it as bright as small ephemeral stars in the water, a few dozens whenever you move. The snorkeling goggles are not compatible with prescription glasses, but I preferred personally the clarity of no goggles (which can get foggy), while my companions preferred with goggles. Any night is good as long as the moon is not up in the sky (new moon or near new moon is fine any time of night, but anything else and you have to check the lunar hour by hour moonrise moonset time table). Very nice family, who helped us out a few times when we forgot an item or two. Tasty drinks and food at their restaurant too. Another unnamed popular agency across the street cancelled another bioluminescence tour we booked, disingenuously claiming "weather" (seemed fair weather; I think they didn't get enough customers that night), but Bucaneros Corcovado Tours is very good. Bucarenos Tours honored the scheduled time and has always been straightforward and honorable, and we greatly enjoyed their kindness/hospitality and experience. Muchas gracias para todos 🤎

Dominik Müller

Thanks Carlos for the amazing kayak tour showing us the bioluminescence! After paddling out in the sea for a while, the biolumnescence was clearly visible from the kajak and even more while swimming in the sea. It was magical!

Christoph Hammer

We booked the Sunset & Bioluminescence Tour as a family, and it was absolutely amazing. Carlos and his friend did an outstanding job throughout the experience. Our kids especially loved when they cut fresh coconuts from the palms and prepared sugar cane for us to try. They even brought along cold beers, which we enjoyed while watching the sunset from the boat. Later, swimming in the glowing water under the pitch-black, starry sky felt truly magical. We can without hesitation recommend this tour. If you're interested, it’s best to visit Bucaneros Restaurant and arrange it directly with them, as the website still needs a bit of improvement . Its worth it! :)

Ron Mitchell

My wife and I were impressed by the professionalism and knowledge of Carlos during our inshore fishing tour today. He tried different spots, different techniques in pursuit of the best experience. We caught Bonito Tuna, Red Snapper, Spanish Mackerel, and Jack. The Jack fish was served at the El Bucanero Restaurante in a Ceviche dish - muy deliciosa!

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Small groups, licensed local guides, 100% wild. Tell us your dates and we'll get you out on the water.

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+506 6194 7003 info@bucaneroscorcovadotour.com
Drake Bay, Osa Peninsula · Costa Rica
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