Costa Rica herping tour

Tourism | Destinations

Join this tour if you want to photograph the greatest percentage of Costa Rica's 451 species of amphibians and reptiles in the least amount of time. In 12 nights, you will visit the main regions of the country and see close to a 100 species.

Costa Rica herping tour map

Tour details

Main tour (12 nights): $5,980 . $930 in single room.

Starting date: November 7, 2021.

Group size: 2–7 people.

What is included?

Reserve online or call +1-786-753-7899

How to reserve your spot?

1. Read our cancellation policy below.

2. Complete our contact form in the next step to let us know about your interests and so we can check availability and give you further information about the tour.

3. Review and approve the itinerary, invoice, and release of liability form we will send you.

4. Make payment to confirm your booking.

Cancellation policy If you are unable to attend the tour, you are welcome to send someone in your place, apply to another Tropical Herping event, or request a refund less a handling fee of 5% or $100, whichever is more. However, because we pre-pay all local services we can only accept credit or refund requests no less than 60 business days prior to the start of the event.

Important! Read the rules and recommendations

What to bring? Check out our suggested packing list .

Package based on two people sharing a room.

All meals and accommodation.

All river and road transfers.

Guides and tour leaders.

Park entrance fees.

What is not included?

Additional nights due to flight cancellations.

Alcoholic beverages, bottled water and snacks.

Health insurance.

International and domestic airfares.

Phone calls or messages.

Photo equipment.

Booking form

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Experts on this tour

Jose Vieira

Jose Vieira Biologist, photographer, tour leader

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We are photographers and know how help you get the images you want.

See our portfolio

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Your visit saves 1 acre of rainforest in the Ecuadorian Chocó region.

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By protecting that acre, you keep 25 tonnes of CO 2 e from ending up in the atmosphere.

Tour summary

After an overnight stay in San Jose and a two-hour drive, you will arrive at Sarapiquí, the quintessential rainforest of Costa Rica. You will then visit Bajos del Toro, a montane forest in the central highlands, a heaven for endemic species. Three hours drive from there, and you will be in the Carara area, a transition zone between the arid northwest and the humid Pacific lowlands. The icing on the cake for your tour will be Osa Peninsula, a remote paradise known for its lush rainforest and sandy beaches.

Bothriechis schlegelii

... but the world is your oyster...

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[email protected]

herping tour costa rica

Join Us.. COSTA RICA HERPING GROUP TOUR 2023!

Looking for reptiles and amphibians in Costa Rica is an extraordinary experience. They are present in all habitats and in every level of the forest. They range in size from the huge sea turtles to fingernail-sized frogs.  As a small country, Costa Rica is perfect for a herp tour and especially due to its great diversity.

The herpetofauna of Costa Rica is one of the best known and most studied in the Neotropics with over 400 documented species of amphibians and reptiles including 14 species of turtles, more than 200 species of snake, about 70 species of lizard, and 2 species of crocodile, 130 species of frog, 37 of salamander (the group with the highest endemism), and 4 of caecilian. The total of endemic species consist of 44 species of amphibians and 17 of reptiles.

WhatsApp Image 2022-06-04 at 12.43.27 PM.jpeg

Jump on to reser ve your spot for just £500... with nothing more to pay until March 2023! For the day-by-day itinerary, price and booking details, please contact paul @greigsmithtravels.com

Check out these reviews from Costa Rica 2022...

A lifetime dream achieved visiting the breathtaking jungles and rainforests of costa rica. the experience was both challenging, exhausting and downright brutal at times but balanced with excitement, exhilaration and simply left me in awe at the world around us. the animals certainly didn’t disappoint - we worked hard daily to see as much as we could covering a huge array of insects, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals.  adam radovanovic was an exceptional guide filled with an almost encyclopedic knowledge as well as good humour.  all the above i had expected in various degrees, what i wasn’t expecting was the great company and inspiration i’ve found by some of the genuinely amazing people on this trip.  thanks to paul greig smith and the team for a truly life changing trip  it was always meant to be a once in a lifetime trip but i’m already working on the next one.   john, costa rica 2022.

Love the sort of trips you put together. Great meeting so many like minded people. The fact that we keep coming back speaks volumes.   Ayesha, Costa Rica 2022

I have, and will continue to recommend you. Just keep the trips coming.

Stuart, Costa Rica 2022

The group I travelled with were both extremely excited and full of helpful knowledge and skills to apply to the areas we were herping in, especially the group  trip leader Adam - he was easy to speak to and full of knowledge and expertise in the relevant areas. 

I hope you're well and that the Arizona trip is still going ahead as my first trip was such an awesome experience I need to do more.   Bring on Borneo next year!

Paul, Costa Rica 2022

2022 Costa Rica Group Pic

Costa Rica 2023:  13-27th May

Costa Rica's fauna is rich and abundant, making the country one of the 20 countries with the highest biodiversity in the world.  

Known for its wet habitats - cloud and rainforests.  National Parks are home to more than 500,000 species - representing nearly 5% of the total species estimated worldwide.  

You're guaranteed to spot mammals such as howler monkeys, bats and perhaps tapirs.  Keep eyes alert for snakes such as eyelash palm pit vipers, the elusive bushmaster, fer-de-lance, and more.  Look up to spot scarlet & great-green macaws, keel-billed toucans, and colourful quetzals.  

And the frogs... they are everywhere!  Red-eyed tree frogs, blue jeans poison dart frogs, glass frogs, cane toads, and more!  

And on this trip you'll have the chance to encounter green and leatherback turtles, spectacled caimans, basilisk lizards, tarantulas, rainbow grasshoppers and green iguanas.   

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herping tour costa rica

We've taken the successful 2022 tour, listened to our guest's feedback, and tweaked 2023 to be EVEN BETTER! Arenal - Costa Rica's best-known volcano.  Your first stop is the awesome Arenal region, overlooked by the stratovolcano that towers at 5,000ft.  Enjoy a back-to-nature stay at the Arenal Oasis Eco Lodge & Wildlife Refuge.  Go in search of Costa Rica's rich flora and fauna, at this old-fashioned, rustic and charming lodge. The Arenal Volcano National Park spans almost 30,000 acres of rainforest and contains bizarre landscape of solidified lava flows and lush natural forest, home to howler monkeys, toucans and over 350 bird species.  Plus, 135 species of reptiles including the feared fer-de-lance, boa constrictors, parrot snakes and numerous lizards and iguanas. Join a local Herpetologist one evening in search of herps and on the second night relax at a hot spring. Driving on to the Sarapiqui Region,  La Selva Verde Lodge   is your upmarket stay.  A 500-acre rainforest reserve and lodge with pool, you'll hear the constant noise of howler monkeys in the surrounding Almendro trees.  Sarapiqui is simply astounding.  Exotic smells, unusual sights and sounds, your senses are constantly bombarded!  Listen to the frog chorus in the night, the constant call of birds, the smell of tropical hardwood trees... this is dense, atmospheric rainforest. Nearby  Le Selva Biological Reserve  is your next overnight stop.  And the list of herps here is simply mind-blowing!  48 amphibian species, 87 species of reptiles - many of which you'll find along the forest trails or in clearings.   Over 1,500 species of orchids, and supposedly between 50 and 100 different tree species in just a few acres!  Scientists, biologists, students and wildlife lovers return time and again to this spectacular location. Heading northeast, travel 3-hours to Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve, for Bushmaster Project camp.  A once-in-a-lifetime experience, staying 1km in to the rainforest, with no electricity, at the biological research station located in the middle of primary rainforest.  We don't suggest this is an easy stay, yet equally there's nothing too difficult to overcome.  No internet, no cellphone signal, this is back-to-nature, and perhaps reminds us all how much we've come to rely on technology.  Take a break from the world and turn your attention to the spectacular wildlife on show at this remote location offering an outstanding herpetology experience .  Sloths, snakes and birds can be spotted directly from the platform, whilst on guided hikes you'll explore jungle trails that take you to small creek habitats, hilly slopes, dense rainforests, large rivers, beautiful scenery that you will rarely see again.  Home to helmeted iguanas, Panamanian dwarf boas, annulated boas, glass frogs, dart frogs, red-eyed tree frogs, and many venomous snakes, such as different colorations of eyelash vipers, fer-de-lance, hognosed pitvipers and coral snakes.   After that feast of wildlife, take a well-earned rest for two nights in the coastal town of Puerto Viejo .  Adjacent to the spectacular Cahuita National Park, spend a morning at the Sloth Sanctuary, before snorkelling one of Costa Rica's best reefs.  Next morning, drop by the Jaguar Rescue Centre - home to injured and orphaned animals including sloths and monkeys.  Then, enjoy an afternoon of guided hiking at Cahuita National Park.  Keep an eye out for armadillos, raccoons, sloths, capuchin monkeys, and more snakes. New for 2023, your adventure continues at Pacuare Reserve - reached by road and local canoe.  With over 25 years history of protecting leatherback turtles and collecting data about nesting trends, and more, Pacuare is one of the world's most important turtle nesting beach.  Just under 4 miles of coastline is patrolled every evening, by volunteers, research assistants and groups of visiting students.   Another stay that comes without electricity, you'll be too busy helping the local staff to notice!  Help under an amazing star-filled night sky with the marine turtle census, watch for hatchlings, join a crocodile tour, hike the rainforest and visit a small lagoon to view beautiful agami herons. Last, but far from least, stop at  Tapirus Lodge, in Braulio Carrillo .  This is yet more lush rainforest, home to a wonderful amount of frogs and toads, which you can hope to spot on day and night treks within the 475 hectares of protected nature reserve.  6,000 species of plants envelope the lodge, making this another epic herp-rich location. With nights at the start and end in San Jose, this tour is a 15-night herp and wildlife heavy tour. Jump on to reserve your spot for just £500... with nothing more to pay until March 2023! For the day-by-day itinerary, price and booking details, please contact [email protected] .  

Costa Rica Herping Adventures

herping tour costa rica

"I have been on many trips with you all over Costa Rica and one in Panama , this was the most productive and the group GREAT. Thanks Jim!!

Herp with us.

Welcome to Costa Rica Herping Adventures. My name is Jim Kavney: Pronounce Cave-Knee !!

I’ve been guiding field herping trips to Costa Rica for 18 years. I do this because I enjoy doing it, not as a source of income, so I try very hard to keep the cost down. If I can pay the expenses of the trips and have enough for ads, I’m happy. I enjoy seeing herpers experience the wonders of the rain forest for the first time. When they find their first herp, they know they are living their dream……

Our 20th Year!!

Once you’ve decided you want to experience Costa Rica Herping Adventures for yourself, it’s best to book your trip with us ASAP. If there are spots available, grab one while the getting is good. Over the years I’ve seen them be open for months and fill up in a few weeks.  You just never know, act now and don’t be disappointed. I know it’s a lot to do, making sure you have the time off work, that it’s OK with your loved one, that it’s in your budget, etc. So, make a list and get started. Believe me almost all herpers would love to go on a trip like this, but for some reason they never do, it’s always next year. I’d love to share the next trip with you, but only you can make it happen.

Includes hotel, ground transportation and meals at final destination.

Air travel to Costa Rica is  not  included.

You will need a up to date Passport.

This trip will be at Arenal Lodge!! Our 12th. trip to the Lodge. This location

being a far distance from the airport and our drive through the mountains

with unpredictable weather conditions will make it necessary to spend

Saturday night (not included in the price) at the Hotel Aeropuerto and fly

home on Sunday. This extra expense is not covered in the fee for the trip

along with the meal that night. The room runs approximately $80, we

usually double up and split the cost.

To be eligible to participate in a Costa Rica Herping Adventures Trip.

You must 18 years of age or be accompanied by a parent who goes on our trips.

You must fill out a Hold Harmless and Assumption of Risk form. It must be signed and accompanied with a check for $250 refundable deposit payable to Jim Kavney . Call me at 305.393.2732 (# is also my Whats App number) or email me at [email protected] for mailing instructions. We reserves the right to refuse entry to a trip to anyone for any reason whatsoever. All trips are subject to cancellation.

The next trip will be to the Arenal Lodge our 12th Trip to the Lodge. 

 May 16th to May 23rd, 2020

          cancelled, there are   0   spots available for the this trip..

The following people will be on Trip 31

Mark ~~~ West Chester, PA

Donna ~~~ West Chester, PA

Jay ~~~ Dallas, TX

Jeremy ~~~ Draper, UT

Shawn ~~~ Wilton Manors, FL.

Audrey ~~~ Cincinnati, OH

Matt ~~~ Morrow, OH

Tim ~~~ Morrow, OH

——————————————————————————————————————–

This trip will be at Arenal Lodge!! Our 11th. trip to the Lodge. This location

 Nov 14th to Nov 21st, 2020

At this point this Trip many be cancelled via Covid-19 

There are   3   spots available for the this trip.

The following people will be on Trip 32

Richard ~~~ Troutman, NC

Henry ~~~ Bolton Landing, NY

Mary ~~~ Makanda, IL   

Kendra ~~~ Herrin, IL

herping tour costa rica

  • BRAZIL WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS
  • COSTA RICA HOLIDAYS
  • GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
  • BORNEO- MALAYSIA
  • INDIA WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS
  • SPAIN WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS
  • POLAR REGIONS HOLIDAYS
  • WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS
  • HERPING HOLIDAYS – REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS
  • WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY HOLIDAYS
  • BIRDING HOLIDAYS
  • GUIDED GROUP HOLIDAYS
  • EXPEDITION CRUISES
  • SUSTAINABILITY & CONSERVATION
  • +44 7388 884 530
  • 020 805 08658

herping tour costa rica

19 March 2023

No comments, full itinerary, accommodation, prices & inclusions.

SALE! Price: NOW £2495 (was £2795)/ $2995(was $3275) per person

herping tour costa rica

Date: 3rd to 16th August 2024

herping tour costa rica

Your Local Herpetologist Guides: Max Benito Smeele & Esteban E Arrieta (English, Spanish and Dutch Speaking)

herping tour costa rica

Herping in Cloud Forests, Rain Forests, in the Dry Forest and in High Elevations

herping tour costa rica

Chance to see around 100 Reptile & Amphibian Species

herping tour costa rica

Looking for Central American Bushmaster and the Black-headed Bushmaster

herping tour costa rica

Look for iconic Glassfrogs and Tree Frogs

herping tour costa rica

Learn About and Support the Bushmaster & Black-Headed Bushmaster Projects

herping tour costa rica

Great photography opportunities

Day 1: arrive at san jose and travel to poas.

We will meet at Juan Santamaría International Airport (San Jose) and we will head straight to our first location, to Poas. We spend the night looking for vipers, tree frogs and glass frogs.

Main targets are: Bothriechis lateralis, Agalychnis annae, Espadarana prosoblepon, Hyalinobatrachium fleischmanni, Bolitoglossa subpalmata.

Overnight in Poas.

Meals included: Dinner

Botriechis Lateralis viper in Poas

Day 2 – 3: Herping near Santa Rosa National Park

In the morning we are leaving to Santa Rosa National Park, in Guanacaste. We will spend the next 2 days exploring the dry forest looking for some iconic reptiles of the area.

Main targets are: Crotalus simus, Agkistrodon howardgloydi, Porthidium ophryomegas, Micrurus nigrocinctus, Boa imperator, Loxocemus bicolor, Trimorphodon quadruplex, Coleonyx elegans, Ctenosaura similis, Rhynophrynus dorsalis.

Overnight near Santa Rosa National Park.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Central American coral snake in Costa Rica

Day 4 – 5: Herping at the Osa Peninsula

Rise early today as we have a long drive to get to the South Pacific. We will break the long drive at Manuel Antonio National Park looking for diurnal wildlife. The next two days we will be Based North of Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula. It is one of the most biologically diverse places on the Planet. Explore the rainforest and its herpetofauna. Visit the Black-headed bushmaster project and learn about the ongoing conservation efforts.

Main targets are: Lachesis melanocephala, Porthidium porrasiii, Nothopsis rugosus, Phyllobates vittatus, Hyalinobatrachium collymbophyllum.

Overnight on the Osa Peninsula.

Black-headed bushmaster from the Osa Peninsula

Day 6: Travel to the Talamanca Mountain Range

We are leaving the majestic Osa Peninsula today and we will be heading towards the mountains. Before we reach our accommodation we stop at a spot to look for some rare species like , Metlapilcoatlus mexicanus, Anolis aquaticus . We stay overnight at San Vito and will observe the fauna near the foothills of the Talamanca Mountain Range.

Main Targets are: Bothriechis supraciliaris, Micrurus yatesi, Duellmanohyla legleri, Bolitoglossa lignicolor, Hyalinobatrachium vireovittatum

Overnight near the Talamanca Mountain Range.

Bothriechis supraciliaris in Costa Rica

Day 7: Herping at Cerro de la Muerte

Today’s plan is to explore some species in high elevation. Our expedition will take us to over 3000m over sea level. We will be looking for vipers, salamanders and lizards.

Main Targets are: Cerrophidion sasai, Bothriechis nigroviridis, Bolitoglossa pesrubra, Bolitoglossa cerroensis, Abronia monticola, Sceloporus malachiticus.

Overnight in San Gerardo de Dota

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Abronia monticola lizard in Costa Rica

Day 8: The Reptiles of Turrialba

We are slowly making our way towards the Caribbean-side of Costa Rica. We will have another stop near the capital, San Jose. We will have another chance to look for the Mexican jumping pit viper and other colourful snakes.

Main Targets are: Metlapilcoatlus mexicanus, Sibon lamari, Tripion spinosus, Pristimantis altae.

Overnight in Turrialba

Coronated Treefrog in Costa Rica

Day 9 – 10: The Caribbean Costa Rica

Today we will reach the Caribbean side of the country. En-route we will be visiting Cahuita National Park. With its crystal clear waters and forest it is a beautiful place to spend some hours of the day. We will have the chance to see sloths, capuchin monkeys and the famous Eyelash pit viper. In the afternoon we will head to Kekoldi where we spend our next two nights. Here we will learn about the Bushmaster Conservation Project.

Main Targets are: Lachesis stenophrys, Bothriechis schlegelii, Porthidium nasutum, Bothrops asper, Micrurus mosquitensis, Diploglossus monotropis, Cruziohyla sylviae, Hyalinobatrachium valerioi, Cochranella granulosa, Dendrobates auratus,Phyllobates lugubris, Pristimantis gaigei.

Overnight in Kekoldi

Yellow Eyelash Pitviper in Cahuita

Day 11: Discover the Frogs of the Costa Rican Amphibian Research Centre

After leaving Kekoldi, we will still stay at the East of Costa Rica, on the Caribbean-side. We spend the night at the Costa Rican Amphibian Research Centre, where we will be looking for iconic frog species, coral snakes and the infamous Fer-de-lance.

Main Targets are:   Agalychnis lemur, Agalychnis spurreli, Cruziohyla sylviae, Duellmanohyla rufioculis, Hyloscirtus palmeri, Itsmohyla lancasteri, Micrurus mosquitensis, Bothrops asper, Metlapilcoatlus mexicanus.

Overnight near the Research Centre.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner

Agalychnis lemur in Costa Rica

Day 12: Herping at Centro Manu

Our next stop will mainly concentrate on the colourful amphibians of the region, although we will have the chance seeing coral snakes and the unique Rainforest Hognosed-Pitviper.

Main Targets are: Sachatamia ilex, Tripion spinosus, Agalychnis saltator, Hyloscirtus palmeri, Oedipina carablanca, Porthidum nasutum, Micrurus multifasciatus, Pliocercus eurizonus.

Overnight in Centro Manu.

Ghost glassfrog from Costa Rica

Day 13: San Jose de la Montana

For the last stop of our herping adventure, we will return to north of San Jose. We will have the last chance to see the beautiful Black-speckled palm-pit viper and some rare frog species.

Main Targets are: Bothriechis nigroviridis, Itsmohyla pseudopuma, Agalychnis annae.

Overnight in San Jose de la Montana.

Agalychnis annae in the cloud forest of Costa Rica

Day 14: Departure Day

After breakfast, free time and individual departure from San Jose de la Montana.

Meals Included: Breakfast

The Iconic Red eyed treefrog from Costa Rica

Posada de Belen

Santa Rosa National Park area

Hotel Blue Dream

Osa Peninsula

Rancho Quemado-Laguna Azul

Cuenca de Oro San Vito

San Gerardo de Dota

Cabinas El Quetzal

Hotel La Esperanza

Kekoldi House

Cabañas el Reventazón

Centro Manu

Centro Manu House

San Jose de la Montana

Cabañas el Silencio

Prices & Inclusions

  • Accommodation in simple hotels for 13 nights on a twin share basis
  • All meals from Dinner on Day 1, till breakfast on Day 14
  • Transportation as per the itinerary
  • Local Herpetologist experts throughout the holiday
  • Guided daily walks as per the itinerary
  • Full financial protection by Protected Trust Services
  • International flights
  • Airport transfers
  • Meals not mentioned in the program
  • Travel Insurance

Your Expedition Guides

Max Benito Smeele

Max is a biologist from the Universidad de Salamanca in Spain. His main interests are around amphibian and reptile conservation, as well as in nature photography as a way to spread knowledge and awareness about these animals. He has worked as a researcher in Spain and Costa Rica, to which he travelled 5 times, with the aim to explore its overwhelming biodiversity. Currently he resides in Spain were he works as photographer for the Exsitu Project, tour leader, teaches courses about Iberian herpetofauna and studies a masters in tropical biodiversity. Moreover he speaks Spanish, Dutch and English fluently.

Max Benito Smeele Costa Rican guide

Esteban E. Arrieta

Esteban, from an early age, due to him living in the Caribbean slopes of the Talamancan mountain range, he has been passionate about herpetofauna. Since them he acquired a lot of field experience, focusing on finding rare species. He has been able to rediscover lost species and even find new ones for science. He now works as a private guide through Costa Rica to show people the wonders that inhabit this amazing and biodiverse country.

Esteban E Arrieta Costa Rican guide

The Gallery

Costa Rica Herping Holiday

Basilisk from Costa Rica

Next Holiday

Costa Rica is in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama; it is bordered from the East by the Caribbean Sea and from the West by the Pacific Ocean.

Volcanoes, high mountain ranges, and lush tropical forests are dominating the landscapes. It also provides beautiful golden beaches for those who want to relax at the end of their holiday.

This Central American country is one of the leaders in eco-tourism and sustainability. They have more than 190 biological reserves and national parks. The country has 12 different life zones, and despite its small size, it is home to nearly 5% of the total living species of the Earth.

It is a perfect place for wildlife watching, birding (over 900 species of birds), wildlife and nature photography, and for families who can combine nature, adventure, and the beach.

+44 (0) 738 888 45 30

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herping tour costa rica

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​PRIVATE TOUR:   NOCTURNAL JUNGLE HERPING IN CAHUITA

herping tour costa rica

  • PHOTOGRAPHY
  • BUILD-A-TRIP

In the day time you tend to see monkeys, sloths, birds and can check out the medicinal plants and ecology of the rainforest.  At night, much of the wildlife that is hiding from the heat of the day comes to life!  During the night hikes you can see mammals, snakes, frogs and insects in this bio-diverse are of Costa Rica. If you are here to go herping, let us know if you have a particular species you're trying to see so we can let the guide know...he knows where the herping hot spots are and many call home!

herping tour costa rica

  • OSA CORCOVADO TOURS
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  • PUERTO VIEJO CARIBBEAN TOURS
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Private Small Group Tours in Costa Rica

Copyright © Bushmaster Adventure Tours, Costa Rica. Private Guide Services, Private Guided Tours, Costa Rica.  All rights reserved.

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herping tour costa rica

herping tour costa rica

COSTA RICA Herping Tour

5 - 16 november 2023, 6 spots taken tour is full.

The nature of Costa Rica is incredibly beautiful and versatile. There are tropical rainforests, highland cloud forests, dry forests, as well as beautiful beaches, rivers, waterfalls and volcanoes.

The small country in Central America is famous for its rich biodiversity. There are approximately 400 different species of reptiles and amphibians! The Red-eyed Tree Frog, Poison Dart Frogs, and the Eyelash Viper, which, in addition to countless other color variants, also occurs in bright yellow, are just some prominent examples.

No wonder Costa Rica is a very popular destination for nature lovers in general and especially also herpers.

herping tour costa rica

TOUR INFORMATION

profile_Erythrolamprus-epinephelus.jpg

The whole tour I will be available as your guide and we will do mainly trips as a group. But you will also have the opportunity to explore jungle trails on your own, enjoy comfortable bird watching at the lodge, just relax, or do whatever you feel like.

In addition, we will team up with local guides and benefit from their knowledge.  

When it comes to photography, I can assist with advice and action, to ensure that you get tons of great photos.

profile_Agalychnis-callidryas.jpg

PARTICIPANTS

To provide a very personal and matey atmosphere, the limit of participants is 6. So there is also the possibility to respond to individual wishes and we have the best conditions to photograph without stress or crowding.

TRANSPORTATION

​ An experienced driver will transport us in a very spacious and air-conditioned private bus. From airport pick up through the entire tour to airport drop off, a safe and comfortable journey is arranged. 

ACCOMMODATIONS

​ We will stay in different parts of the country to maximize the diversity of species and landscapes we can explore.

Excellent eco lodges, surrounded by nature with hiking trails will be our homes for this trip.

lodging_beds.jpg

EXTRA - BIRDING

This is a herping trip, so of course we will focus on reptiles and amphibians. But in addition we will also have the opportunity for some high quality bird photography. Without neglecting the herpetofauna, we will be able to observe countless bird species. Thanks to their rainforest surroundings and feeders, our lodges are ideal places for bird watching. Even the optional visit to an excellent King Vulture hide is possible during the tour. (no extra charge!)

Price 2300 €

NOT INCLUDED

guides + photography workshop

all lod ging

ground transportation

breakfast + dinner, water

king vulture hide

flights to San Jose

insurance costs

vaccination and medical costs

extra meals, snacks and beverages

optional extra activities / taxi rides

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24 of the Best Reptile and Amphibian Wildlife Guides and Tour Companies

herping tour costa rica

This is going to be quite a niche-specific article, so if you’ve stumbled in here and you aren’t interested in looking for and photographing reptiles and amphibians, the below list probably isn’t giong to be for you. 

Over the years, I’ve done quite a few herping tours–from SE Asia to South America–as well as guided some myself. A lot of the people I follow on Instagram are fellow herpers, including a handful who are professional guides in various places around the world (Thailand, Indonesia, Colombia). 

Some of these guides are expats who have immigrated to places like SE Asia and Central America, either with a strong amateur passion for herpetofauna and/or some kind of scientific background. Some are local people. Either way, these are folks who sell their wildlife and local geographical knowledge to enthusiasts like me for an opportunity to head out into the wild in search of reptiles, amphibians and anything else you are fortunate enough to illuminate with a flashlight beam. 

Trying to decide on optics or outdoor gear for an upcoming trip? Checkout my detailed breakdowns of everything from boots to flashlights to snake gaiters and more .

Most of these people run their guiding businesses through Instagram (perhaps alongside a website). They post their finds regularly (some of them daily) and advertise upcoming tours. 

I thought I would put together a short list of some of the accounts I follow and create a repository of social media-based guides in this insular little niche of ours. I hope this is a work in progress, where I add new accounts and opportunities as I encounter them.

It seems a growing number of people around the world are becoming interested in seeing, protecting and helping others find and photograph reptiles and amphibians–some of the most imperilled creatures on earth –as well as recognizing the economic opportunity that comes with the specialized local knowledge required to guide (especially people with few attractive economic opportunities in places like Latin America). I expect there to be more people and small businesses added to this list over time. 

Here’s the list. 

Table of Contents

Tropical asia.

herping tour costa rica

Southeast Asia is a place that I’ve been coming back to for years. I’ve spent many hundreds of hours herping the forests of Southern Thailand, Malaysian Borneo and West Papua Indonesia–on my own, with herping friends and as an occasional guide.

The diversity of habitats, the sheer number of species and the relative safety of Southeast Asian wild areas (compared to other places I have herped (like Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia) has drawn me back for the past 7 years, and I can’t foresee ever stopping.

Here are some of the best herping guides and tours in the region.

Orion Herp Adventure

  • Geographic focus: Peninsular Malaysia, Malaysian Borneo

herping tour costa rica

Orion Herp Adventure has been guiding fieldherping tours in Peninsular Malaysia, as well as Malaysian Borneo, for years, and they are a well-known guiding outfit in the region.

You can book both single-day and week-long trips.

Exploreherpetology

  • Geographic focus: Thailand, they are in the process of developing excursions further afield in SE Asia.

herping tour costa rica

Explore Herpetology is a collective of reptile experts and enthusiasts dedicated to providing the highest quality herping experiences in Asia. They cater to a diverse range of herpers, from enthusiastic first-timers to seasoned herpetologists in search of rare reptiles. 

I’ve spent, cumulatively, around a year-and-a-half in Thailand over the last six years, and I’ve done a lot of herping. I like to think I’ve found and photographed a lot of species, but these guys are next level. 

Spend a few minutes perusing their Instagram, and you’ll see what I mean. The sheer number, as well as the number of rarities they encounter all over the country, is insane. 

They also go to places that no one else goes–particularly Narathiwat and Yala in the far south of Thailand.

herping tour costa rica

Their tours to these places sell out quickly, and for good reason. Go out into the field with these guys, and you are all but guaranteed to have your mind blown by a crazy number of reptile, amphibian and invertebrate species. 

You might also find yourself inadvertently participating in the discovery of a new species or a new range addition for a species. Explore Herpetology actively seeks opportunities to contribute to scientific knowledge, and past expeditions have resulted in significant discoveries, such as new country records, the rediscovery of species believed to be lost for decades, and substantial range extensions.

herping tour costa rica

Tontan Travel

  • Geographic focus: Thailand

herping tour costa rica

Another of Thailand’s most famous herping and general wildlife guiding outfits, if you go out with these guys, you are not only going to add some serious herps to your list, but mammals as well.

A lot of their tours are to the world-famous Kaeng Krachan National Park, which is around 75km from the city of Hua Hin. This is one of the best places in Thailand for both mammal watching and herping.

Philippines

Wild palawan expeditions.

  • Geographic focus: Palawan, Philippines

herping tour costa rica

At first glance, Wild Palawan Expeditions (especially from their Instagram) Wild Palawan Expeditions does not look like a serious herping outfit. Most of their publicity is promoting their general tourist packages (a lot of which are centred around things like swimming with Whale Sharks in Palawan).

They do, however, organize some fairly rigorous herping trips around Palawan (one of the most forested areas of the Philippines), and regularly post stunners to Facebook herping groups.

Check out this gorgeous Schult’z Pitviper:

herping tour costa rica

Ecophis Wildlife

  • Geographic focus: India

herping tour costa rica

It’s quite difficult to find herping guides in India, especially herping outfits led by local biologists with so much experience in the field.

Ecophis Wildlife is run by Indian wildlife conservation biologist Yatin Kalki and wildlife photographer Vikas Kumar. They run expeditions throughout all of India’s most herp-rich regions, including the Thar Desert, Agumbe and Wayanad.

The Neotropics (Central and South America)

herping tour costa rica

The first place I went when I began working remotely back in 2016 was Colombia. It was a place I had always fantasized about–its Pacific, Amazonian and Andean valley wet forests; its Orinoco wetlands and mountainous Caribbean coast.

I have also herped Costa Rica and Panama, Mexico, Guatemala, and Ecuador. I’ve spent cumulative years of my life in Central and South America, and the abundance and diversity there are unsurpassed anywhere else in the world.

Here are some of the best herping guides in the Americas.

Ichi Wildlife Tours

  • Geographic focus: Yucatan and Quintana Roo

herping tour costa rica

Ichi Wildlife Tours offers bespoke birding, mammal watching and herping tours in Yucatan, Campeche and Quintana Roo, Mexico.

If you’re looking to see regional endemics and access places like Calakmul, these are your guys.

Turipache Wildlife Expeditions

  • Geographic focus: Mexico

herping tour costa rica

It’s hard to come across herping guides in Mexico. This is a place where you really need a lot of local knowledge to navigate the very complicated social and political landscape, and much of the country is probably not safe to herp.

These guys plan expeditions to places like Lacandon in Chiapas, Michoacan, Veracruz and other parts of the country with incredible herp diversity but quite a ways off the beaten path.

Indigo Expeditions

  • Geographic focus: Guatemala

herping tour costa rica

Indigo Expeditions is run by conservation biologist Rowland Griffin, someone with extensive experience throughout Guatemala (particularly in the Maya Biosphere Reserve).

If you are looking for herps in Guate, there really isn’t a better herpetofauna authority.

  • Geographic focus: Costa Rica

herping tour costa rica

CR Wild is definitely the biggest herpetofauna guiding small business in Costa Rica and is quickly becoming one of the bigger ones in Central America. 

Led by Spanish Anthropologist César L. Barrio-Amoró, they now organize trips to Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico, as well as both Atlantic and Pacific Slope Costa Rican herping expeditions. 

They’re another group of guys who really put in the hours and seem to find nearly all of the superstar species everywhere they go. Like other outfits on this list, they also contribute to conservation and furthering scientific knowledge and understanding when and where they can. 

Wildlife Journeys CR

  • Geographic focus: Monteverde

herping tour costa rica

Wildlife Journey’s CR is led by Costa Rican wildlife photographer Jean Bonilla with a focus on both birds and herps.

Herping Expedition CR

  • Geographic focus: Caribbean

herping tour costa rica

Herping Expedition CR is run by Costa Rican wildlife photographer and guide Andrey Solís. It is based out of Saripiqui in Heredia.

Wildlife by Luis

  • Geographic focus: Corcovado National Park (and trips to the Brazilian Pantanal)

herping tour costa rica

Wildlife By Luis is run by Costa Rican wildlife photographer Luis Acuña, who is based out of Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula.

He’s definitely a generalist, which you can clearly see from his Instagram profile, but like most Costa Rican guides, they have a very good knowledge of their country/region’s gorgeous herpetofauna.

Bushmaster Adventures CR

  • Geographic focus: all of Costa Rica

herping tour costa rica

Bushmaster is a team of expats (South African Gary Kritzinger and American Wendy Nolastname), with a passion for conservation and Costa Rica’s herpetofauna. They run fully customizable private and group tours that you can tailor to your specific nature and wildlife passions.

Go Herping Panama

  • Geographic focus: Panama

herping tour costa rica

Go Herping Panama is a biologist-led, conservation-focused herping tour operator. They are one, if not the only Panama-based tour company that specializes in Panamanian herps.

Tamandua Nature Tours

herping tour costa rica

Located in Cerro Punta, a small town in Panama’s hyper-diverse Chiriquí highlands, just one hour from the David International Airport and a short drive from some of the best birding and wildlife observation in all of Central America, Tamandua manages a 100-hectare private reserve in the Talamanca Mountain Range.

While primarily a birding outfit, Tamandua’s fully licensed local guides are a wealth of knowledge and experience across Panama’s animal groups, including the country’s insanely diverse reptiles and amphibians.

Nuqui Herping

  • Geographic focus: The Chocó-Darién wet forests of Nuqui on the Pacific Coast of Colombia.

herping tour costa rica

Nuqui, on the isolated Pacific Coast of Colombia, is somewhere I first went back in 2018 and have been dying to go back ever since. 

herping tour costa rica

Nuqui Herping is a relatively new, community and family-based small business run by local Chocoan people with a passion for herpetofauna and conservation. 

They post on Instagram almost every day, and it’s back-to-back stunners (especially the dart frogs and harlequin frogs). The entire Pacific Coast of Colombia, from Buena Ventura to Bahia Solano, is dart frog heaven (especially for endemics), and Nuqui is no exception. 

I already pointed one Spanish herper friend in their direction this past July, and he was very happy with the experience. 

One thing to note, if you’re considering heading out with these guys, is the language barrier. I’ve communicated over Instagram chat with Nuqui Herping a few times (in Spanish), but I’m not too sure about their level of English. One of the great things about herping, though, is that it’s a universal language. Excitement (and shared Latin names, of course) transcends language barriers. 

Birding and Herping

  • Geographic focus: at present, Colombia’s Pacific Coast (for frogs) and the Magdalena wet forests.

herping tour costa rica

Birding and Herping is a Colombian wildlife tour company based out of Quindío specializing in herpetofauna, birds and mammals.

A wholly-owned Colombian enterprise, they pride themselves on involving local communities, keeping conservation at the forefront of all their tours and their intimate knowledge of the local terrain, flora and fauna in all the places they visit.

They also have an extensive network of connections throughout the country and can help arrange tours to pretty much anywhere.

Herping in Colombia

  • Geographic focus: Colombia (unspecified).

herping tour costa rica

Herping in Colombia is primarily focused on frogs, although where there are frogs, there are other herpetofauna, so I’m confident that you would likely be able to customize your tour to suit your primary interests and targets.

Herping Bahia Solano Tour

  • Geographic focus: The Chocó-Darién wet forest around Bahia Solano, Colombia

herping tour costa rica

Another community-based Colombian Pacific Coast herping outfit, these guys are based out of the slightly more northern community (59km from Nuqui as the crow flies) of Bahia Solano. 

Like Nuqui, it is also quite isolated, reachable either by slow ferry or a charter flight. 

These guys also find a TON. Think of the most gorgeous endemic dart frogs from the Colombian Pacific and the most stunning coral mimics of the Chocó-Darién ecoregion, and these guys find them on a seemingly regular basis. 

As with the Nuqui Herping guys, I’m not too sure what kind of language barrier you can expect with Herping Bahia Solano Tour. 

Diego Rocha  

  • Geographic focus: Putumayo, Colombia

herping tour costa rica

Diego Rocha is someone I’ve wanted to go out herping with for a while but have never had the time while I’ve been in Colombia. 

He’s based out of my absolute favourite part of Colombia–Putumayo–and while he’s not specifically a herpetofauna guide (although he does concentrate primarily on frogs), he’s someone with a good knowledge of both the local terrain and the local wildlife across all animal groups. 

Colombia is one of those places where you can’t just wander the forests on your own for obvious security reasons, and you typically need someone with both local knowledge and local connections to access private land with significant patches of forest and wetlands on it. 

The Colombian Amazon is just a mess when it comes to safety and deforestation, so having someone like Diego as a guide and resource is invaluable. 

Uraba Nature Tours

  • Urabá (northern Antioquia) Choco Wet Forest

herping tour costa rica

This is another herping (although it also offers birding and mammal-watching excursions) outfit in a part of Colombia that offers big Chocó-Darién herpetofauna rewards but requires some serious local knowledge to do safely.

Urabá is in the northern part of the Antioquia department, bordering the Caribbean Sea where Panama meets Colombia. Getting here is not easy, but the finds (as Uraba Nature Tours clearly shows) can be well worth the effort.

Get in touch with them via their Instagram page, linked to in the title at the beginning of this section.

Tropical Herping

  • Geographic focus: Latin America-based with several international trips as well.

herping tour costa rica

Maybe one of the most well-known herping tour guides and outfits in the world, Tropical Herping is the project of Ecuadorian biologist and world-renowned wildlife conservation photojournalist Lucas Bustamante. 

They organize trips all over the world, from Borneo to Madagascar to Belize to Sri Lanka, and it’s been a dream of mine to one day join them on a tour. 

Tropical Herping is a conservation-first business model that funds its projects and operations via tourism. It is definitely going to be the most expensive experience on this list, just FYI, but the company, their photography and their reviews speak for themselves if you’re a serious herper.

Photo Wildlife Tours

  • Geographic location: Ecuador (but also Colombia and Costa Rica)

herping tour costa rica

Since 2016, Photo Wildlife Tours, a team of biologists and naturalists, have provided a unique service, not only capturing wildlife but also sharing insights into their behaviour. Your participation in their trips actively contributes to various conservation programs they champion.

Dendrobirds Peru

herping tour costa rica

  • Geographic focus: Northern Peru

Dendrobird Peru specializes in both birding and herping with a specific focus on Peru’s phenomenal dendrobatid (dart frog) species, while also offering the option for custom tours.

Owned and run by Angel Del Castillo, a Peruvian guide based out of Tarapoto, Peru, Angel has more than a decade of experience guiding naturalists and photographers in search of Northern Peru’s immense anuran and bird diversity.

Latin Wild Expeditions

  • Geographic focus: Atlantic Forest, Amazon, Cerrado

herping tour costa rica

Offering both herping expeditions and primate safaris, Latin Wild Expeditions is run by Brazilian wildlife photographer and videographer Rafael Guadeluppe.

Herping Suriname

  • Geographic focus: Suriname

herping tour costa rica

Suriname is the most forested country on earth and a herping mecca. This is a place where rainbow boas, emerald tree boas, anacondas and the craziest Amazon tree boa morphs are common occurrences (as far as the Amazon basin goes.).

A difficult country to get to, Herping Suriname is the brainchild of environmentalist and herpetofauna enthusiast Dick Locke who has been herping and exploring the jungles of Suriname for over a decade.

I will be building this list out over time, so it will continue to grow.

If anyone has recommendations for herping tour additions or perhaps would even like to be added themselves, feel free to let me know so that I can grow this into as comprehensive a resource as possible.

If you appear on this list and would like me to add (or remove something) I’ve written, you can also let me know.

Alex G

  • Herping Iberia
  • Birding Iberia
  • Costa Rica 2018
  • Morocco 2019
  • Croatia 2021
  • Morocco 2022
  • Costa Rica 2023
  • Trip reports

herping trip to costa rica

Map of Costa Rica with all the places visited during the trip

Introduction

For as long as I can remember, tropical rainforests have always fascinated me. They are the most biodiverse of all ecosystems, true sanctuaries for the animal and plant wildlife. In 2018 I was presented with my first opportunity to go outside my natal Spain on a trip focused on searching, observe and photograph wild animals. On autumn 2017 I met my friend Max Benito, who told me about a great volunteering he did on that last summer in Costa Rica, and how amazing the amphibian and reptile diversity of this country was. So he proposed me to accompany him to this central american country on summer 2018, and as you imagine I can't refuse. As an european and nature enthusiastic, costa rican biodiversity impressed me since I begin to inform me about: 180 amphibian species, more than 130 snakes, caymans, caecillians, hummingbirds... And most importantly, my first encounter with a tropical primary forest, a long dream to me.

We planned the trip for the entire July of 2018. As we both were students that time, with not so much money, we'll move on the country by bus. We decided to dedicate the first half of the trip for the volunteering with sea turtles, and the other 15 days for visiting potential herping places around the country. Finally, Max's cousin, Rodri, joined us on this adventure. He's not as herper as us, but was a great complement to the team at many moments of the trip. With the team full, we did a careful planning and the adventure started!

herping tour costa rica

Costa Rica power team: Luis Albero, Max Benito and Rodrigo Calvo

4-5 July: Brief scale on Miami, Florida Everglades

We planned our trip so that the flights were as cheap as possible, and that means long stops for turning planes. We decided to take the best of it and carefully select our scales on places with herping potential. On our way from Barcelona to Costa Rica, the flight had a long scale of 17h in Miami, a great opportunity for us to visit one of the best places to look for wildlife on the U.S.A., the Florida Everglades. So we rent a car for one day (not so expensive) and despite not having slept much during the flight, the desire to look for reptiles was bigger and we headed to the Everglades.

We decided to visit not the main Everglades National Park, but Big Cypress preserve, located just north of the park and with a similar ecosystem and herping possibilities. We did that because we heard that there were big restrictions for herping on the national park, and the rangers can be quite tough if they see you with a snake hook, for example. In our way to the hearth of the swamp, we begin to see the first reptile species: the introduced green iguana ( Iguana iguana ), our first american alligators ( Alligator missisipiensis ) and some roadkill snakes. We found a lot of roadkill herps that night, from snakes ( Nerodia sp., Panterophis sp.) to turtles, frogs and even an alligator. 

The night was a whirlwind of emotions. In our first stop to eat some american traditional food (hamburguer and chips from a known fast food restaurant) we could see our first up close alligators and a slider turtle ( Pseudemys nelsoni ). My first wild crocodylian ever! When we finished our meal, I realised that I couldn't find the car keys. I was completely sure that I've putted it in my pocket, but simply they weren't there. After one of the longest hours in our lifes, already convinced that we would miss the flight and the entire trip, Rodri found the keys behind some rocks on a channel shore which we had approached for seeing an alligator. They had fallen out of my pocket! We were lucky that they didn't fall on the water... Best go with deep pockets to the wild, guys...

herping tour costa rica

Not my best photograph, but my first wild crocodylian ever, american alligator ( Alligator missisipiensis )

After some time to recover the "herping mode", we took the car and started the roadcruising on the cypress swamps. Herps were slowly showing themselves, like some anoles ( Anolis sp . ), more slider turtles, or alligators, whose impressive roars filled the swamp. We were surprised when we found a small newt ( Notophthalmus viridescen s) on the swamp shore in a place full of carnivore fishes, crayfishes, turtles and alligators. In Europe is impossible to find newts in waters like that... Close to the sunset we found our first snake, a garter snake ( Thammophis sirtalis ). My first snake outside Spain.  

Already at night, there seemed that some strong storms were forming on other parts of the swamp, as we started seeing lightning and thunders on the horizon. However, we didn't receive a single raindrop on us, but as we arrive to other roads where it had rained hard moments before, we started to see a high amphibian activity. We began with a lonely southern toad ( Anaxyrus terrestris ), on the road. In a parking lot, lots of frogs of different species were calling on the pure pavement. Even we saw catfishes prowling on land! That kind of weather was good for amphibians, but not very good for snakes, and we feel that our possibilities of seeing some of the iconic floridan species, like the diamondback rattlesnake, the coral snake or the cottonmouth were going down. Fortunately, after some more roadcruising and lots of snake-looking sticks (we called them "stickophis") we encounter a nice looking juvenile cottonmouth ( Agkistrodon piscivorus ). My first pitviper ever, and was very calm during the photo session. 

The night ended with an alleged loss of my glasses, which took us a little time until I found them. The last wildlife highlight of the night was a close encounter with a massive adult alligator, which we saw crossing the road in front of our car. At first I thought it was an american black bear! When we jump down of the car, the big crocodylian don't seemed to be very afraid, and remained on its ground hissing loudly. An unforgettable experience! We ended with a striped mud turtle ( Kinosternon baurii ), which we took off the road. A great night for beginning our trip!

herping tour costa rica

The star of the night. Florida cottonmouth ( Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti ). 

The Big Cypress swamp

Big gator ( Alligator missisipiensis )

5-19 July: Laguna Urpiano wildlife refuge

Laguna Urpiano is a private wildlife refuge located on the caribbean coast of Costa Rica, south of the famous Tortuguero National Park. This place is dedicated primarily to the protection of one truly iconic species: the leatherback sea turtle ( Dermochelys coriacea ), world's biggest turtle and without doubt one of the most impressive herps of the planet. They accept volunteers from all over the world to help working with the turtles, and thus there we met a great group of young people interested in this animals and their conservation.

The daily routine in the refuge comprises some morning work doing things like taking care of the banana plantations, do labours of reforesting of the near forest or cleaning. That was the worst part of the trip for me, as I'm not such a big fan of working during my vacation, at least without being paid (actually it was us who had to pay for staying there). The best part, however, came at the nights when we did the beach patrols in search for female turtles arriving to lay their eggs. We saw a total of seven or eight adult leatherbacks ovipositing during our two weeks there. Not allowed to take photos for not disturbing them, but of course an unforgivable experience to see those prehistoric looking giants so close! The turtle eggs were collected in situ and translated to a guarded patch on the beach, as illegal poaching is still a big problem for turtles there. We also have lots of nests hatching during our stage, being able to see (and measure) lots of baby leatherbacks. 

Apart from working, we had some free time to go herping on the nearby jungle. This of course is not the best place to look for snakes and frogs on Costa Rica, and it was hard for us to encounter animals, with an average of one or none snake and frog per night. We were also able to observe, however, lots of cool tropical bugs so the nights were not boring. Most of the time we went herping late on the night, after the turtle work, when the animal activity had surely weaken. Our first snake of the trip was a cool slender Imantodes cenchoa , found our first day there. On our free time during the day, we also were able to observe some of the iconic costa rican species, like the basilisk lizards, green iguanas, anoles, strawberry poison frogs ( Oophaga pumilio ) and teiid lizards. Some nights we also were able to see spectacled caimans ( Caiman crocodilus ) very close, and also some big american crocodiles ( Crocodylus acutus ) from the boat, but no photos of these.   

herping tour costa rica

Hatching leatherback sea turtles ( Dermochelys coriacea )

Laguna Urpiano refuge

Spectacled caiman ( Caiman crocodilus )

One the third day I had the great idea of swimming on the sea with my glasses, so a silly wave took them forever to the deeps of the caribbean sea. As I had to spend the rest of the trip without glasses (only contact lenses), that prevented me many times to go looking for wildlife, especially during the day. On the night I put on my contact lenses, I ended the trip with some eye damage but a lesson for the next, always wear two glasses! Rain was very frequent and strong during all of our time there, but in the middle of our stage, we had a big tropical storm that hitted very strongly with an enormous amount of water. Water levels on the refuge grow for almost one meter, and lots of three trunks (some of them really big) and other debris were carried to the beach. No more turtles after that and we spend those days cleaning the beach. The good part is that inside one trunk we found one of the coolest herps of the entire trip: a purple caecilian ( Gymnopis multiplicata ), also my first seen caecilian. 

On the remaining days there we found other cool herps as the first red eyed tree frog ( Agalychnis callidryas ), a very iconic species, along with some other less colorful but also cool frogs. We also found some more snakes, like three bird snakes ( Phyrononax poecilonotus ), which seems common in the area, and our first encounter with the infamous terciopelo ( Bothrops asper ), an individual which showed himself very close to the place where we had our bedrooms. We also spotted some mammals, like monkeys, sloths and opossums. One day Max surprisingly catch a big snapping turtle ( Chelydra acutirostris ), on the inundated forest, also another very cool find. Some other turtle species were found on the beach, carried by the storm.

herping tour costa rica

Purple caecilian ( Gymnopis multiplicata )

Purple caecilian (Gymnopis multiplicata)

Red eyed leaf frog ( Agalychnis  callidryas ), the most iconic frog on the world

20-22 July: Costa Rican Amphibian Research Center

After finished in Laguna Urpiano, we really wanted to do some serious herping on a real jungle. Our next destination couldn't be much better for that. I think that the C.R.A.R.C. is a must for any herper going to Costa Rica. This private reserve owned by american biologist Brian Kubicki and his wife Aura hosts an amazing amphibian diversity, with some species truly being among the cooler frogs in the world. Among 60 amphibian species have been recorded here by Brian, some of them are rare and endangered species which are here due to reintroduction efforts. The price of 60$ per night must seemed a little high, but if you can afford it I think it really worths the visit. We stayed there for three nights.

After a long bus drive, we meet up with Brian and arrived at the fantastic hostage on the reserve, surely the best accomodation we had on the entire trip. Brian was very kind and told us the best parts of his land to see the amphibian species we wanted to see the most. He also offers the possibility to do guided tours with him, but as we didn't have so much money we prefered to explore the forest by ourselves. The conditions on the first night appeared excellent with a little rain, no wind and good temperature, so we took our flashlights and rain boots and started exploring this primary forest. This time Rodri was tired and decided to stay on the house...

As soon as we started the night walk, we realized the great amphibian populations this place hosts, as we begin to see lots of red eyed tree frogs (in Urpiano we saw only one on 15 days). We also started to spot some new and cool species, like the brilliant forest frog ( Lithobates warszewitschii ), the clown frog ( Dendropsophus ebraccatus ) or the amazing gliding leaf frog ( Agalychnis spurrelli ), the greatest treefrog of Costa Rica. This latter frogs were very active, calling and going to the ponds for breeding; we saw among 100 of these that night. As soon as I approached the first pond, I found another of the top herps of the trip, a little arboreal salamander ( Bolitoglossa striatula ) on a fern. 

As the night progressed, we found other top species, as a couple lemur leaf frogs ( Agalychnis lemur ), a very endangered species that can be only found in little places of Costa Rica and Panama. On the third pond (this place has lots of ponds) I almost stepped on a massive 1.5m female terciopelo ( Bothrops asper ), which was in ambush position near the pond. It's incredible how this snakes can go so unnoticed on the forest floor, they are true biological landmines. We stayed for some minutes taking photos with the very gentle viper (we even named it "Manola"). 

The latter part of the night we toured some streams in search for glass frogs, realizing how difficult to find this little frogs can be. They are so tiny, it's difficult to locate them for their eyeshine and can be in difficult places like branches meters above rocky streams. Finally we found our first species, a dwarf glass frog ( Teratohyla spinosa ). 

herping tour costa rica

Lemur leaf frog ( Agalychnis lemur )

Cukra mushroomtongue salamander (Bolitoglossa striatula)

Big female terciopelo ( Bothrops asper ), in situ

We ended the first night around 4:30AM, when we started notice that the herp activity was getting lower. As you can imagine, we spent almost all the morning resting, but we took some time during the day for looking for the three species of poison dart frogs on the reserve: the strawberry poison frog ( Oophaga pumilio ), with more blue than their coastal relatives, the lovely poison frog (Phyllobates lugubris) and the amazing green and black poison frog ( Dendrobates auratus ). We also spent some time chatting with Brian, always a pleasure to talk to people so knowledgeable on herpetology. He also gave us some tips for searching for glassfrogs that night. As an extra, we spotted two nice rainbow-billed toucans. 

That night can be define as "the snake night". We found seven different snakes of five species, our top record on the hole trip. The first was a very cool tree boa ( Corallus annulatus ), our only boa of the trip. The amphibian activity was lower than on the previous night, but we found some new and cool species, the top one was also for me the top amphibian of the trip, two nice splendid leaf frogs ( Cruziohyla silviae ). We also found a jumping leaf frog ( Agalychnis saltator ), the last of the five phyllomedusid frogs of the preserve. Other finds were some stream-related frogs, as the red eyed stream frog ( Duellmanohyla rufioculis ) and Palmer's treefrog ( Hyloscirtus palmeri ). The glassfrogs continue to elude us, as we only found a couple dwarf glass frogs and a supposed ghost glass frog which rapidly jump away. 

herping tour costa rica

Splendid leaf frog ( Cruziohyla silviae )

C.R.A.R.C. rainforest

The following day we had a little incident when a big bullet ant visit us in the kitchen. Their stings have a reputations of being very nasty, so we carefully put her on a pot with a thick glove (it started stinging and biting the glove aggressively) and bring her back to the jungle where we also found a couple more. That last night Brian offer us to go with him to the deepest part of the reserve, a nice piece of old primary forest where we might be able to find the glass frogs that were eluding us the previous night. 

We then started to follow Brian and his neighbour into the forest via a machete-made track. That part of the C.R.A.R.C. was truly impressive, with trees like towers with no apparent end. In spite of the moderate wind, the environment on the forest floor was completely calm. Soon we begin to spot some new frog species, and more dwarf glass frogs. Then, Brian spotted another species of glass frog for us, the pretty cascade glass frog ( Sachatamia albomaculata ). Frog activity was not very high, probably due to the wind, but then I spotted a suspicious eyeshine near a stream... There it was, one of our highlights for this trip, the amazing ghost glass frog ( Sachatamia ilex )! The eyes of this frog are truly impressive. We didn't find so much more that night, but learned a lot from Brian's deep knowledge of the rainforest and its amphibians. Thanks a lot for the walk Brian!

When we arrived at the guesthouse, we found another cool herp, Max's personal favourite. A night lizard (Lepidophyma flavimaculatum) was refugiated on the electricity facility of the house. A prehistoric looking lizard with a strong bite. 

herping tour costa rica

Ghost glass frog ( Sachatamia ilex ), in situ

Bullet ants (Paraponera clavata)

Amplecting dwarf glass frogs ( Teratohyla spinosa ), in situ

23-25 July: Cahuita National Park

After leaving the C.R.A.R.C. our next destination was Cahuita, in the southern caribbean coast. Of course there are better herping places on the country, but as we didn't have money for booking only private jungle reserves (which are the best places), then decided to try on this coastal park, famous for its high density of eyelash vipers, another of our most wanted species. As a tourist place it was not so difficult to find a good hostel for less than 10$ per night. We had also planned to do some snorkeling on the coral reefs, but due to the past tropical storm here it was not possible, as the water was still very dirty.

The first day I felt really sick after eating some fried chicken for a street market, so not so much herping. The following days we went daytime to the park, really crowded tourist place. Night herping was not allowed in the park. We tried one night to get in unnoticed, but there were guards on the entrance so that was a fail. Instead, we explored some jungle trails that we found just outside the park, with really good appearance. We had to do all by walking at night from the village to the jungle, going on the edge of the main road. Nothing bad happend to us, but a friend who went there after get assaulted by four men with machetes who take all his possessions so be very careful if you walk alone at night here. Having a car would have been better I think. 

Finally we could find one nice golden eyelash viper ( Bothriechis schlegelii ) on the day near the park entrance, thanks to the guards. Herp activity was low at night, it could be due to the moderately full moon or to the past storm. At night the best finds were a granular glass frog ( Cochranella granulosa ) in a random stream, which was down enough to catch it for photos. That was the only one we saw in the trip, in spite of hearing them and seeing their eggs in other places. We also found some more cat eyed and blunt headed snakes, and a new species, the cloudy slug eater ( Sibon nebulatus ). 

herping tour costa rica

Eyelash viper ( Bothriechis schlegelii )

Max and rodri posturing on the Cahuita beach

26-27 July: Keköldi indigenous land

Apart from the C.R.A.R.C. this was the other private preserve we visited, in this case a indigenous territory, inhabited by the Bribri people, and among them we met Sebastián, an indigenous leader with a special interest in snakes and their conservation. He hosts some interesting research projects on his land, specially focused on one mighty snake, the bushmaster. This is probably the best place in Costa Rica for finding this elusive snake, however it is not easy to encounter one. For getting here we had to do some jungle walking on muddy tracks, with all our equipment (I stepped down a couple times...). Sebastián lives in a true paradise, a big wood house in the middle of the jungle, he said each log of the house was carried there for 20 men.

Here we realised we have made a big mistake not planning the trip taking account of the moon phases. The full moon on the jungle means zero snake activity, and that's what we had here. We also have strong raining, and even Sebastián told us he was surprised by the low number of snakes we saw on the two nights we were out with him. However, the forest here was very impressive, and if we have the opportunity we truly will came back with better weather conditions.

The only new snake we found was a green vine snake ( Oxybelis brevirostris ). We also found two more eyelash vipers (one on the top of their observation tower), cloudy slug eater and cat eyed snake. On the streams we found a new glass frog, la Palma glass frog ( Hyalinobatrachium valerioi ), a male guarding his eggs. We found some other frogs, but amphibian activity was not very high. We thank Sebastián for his hospitality and expect to come back someday and find a bushmaster!

View from the observation tower

29-31 July: San Gerardo de Dota

Time to move to the Pacific coast! After a night in San José and lots of bus hours, we arrived to a calm valley on the Talamanca mountains, the village of San Gerardo de Dota. This is a famous place for birdwatchers, and I convinced Max for trying some iconic species like que quetzal and some mountain hummingbirds (he is not a great birder as I am). We book a nice wood cabin, with kitchen and even more space that we needed. Even we managed to fish some trouts on the nearby stream (don't tell the cops), which formed a great dinner for the first night. We didn't spot any single frog on the nights there, and perhaps that introduced trouts have the guilt for that...

On our first day we took a taxi (nice taxi guy on the village) to the top of Cerro de la Muerte, the second highest mountain of Costa Rica, at more than 3.400m above sea level. Our plan was to hike all the way down to San Gerardo de Dota, passing through different environments and herping all the way, with a main objective, the Talamanca pit viper ( Bothriechis nubestris ). However, we only found some herps on the summit puna: alligator lizards ( Mesaspis monticola ), emerald swift ( Sceloporus malachiticus ) and the endemic red footed salamander ( Bolitoglossa pesrubra ). On the way down the cloud forest was impressive but we only saw a squirrel. 

The following day we get up early to see the quetzals, but someone told us to go a bit later than is ideal to see them, so finally we only saw one immature male. A very gorgeous bird after all. On the afternoon we enjoyed the hummingbirds on the feeder that was in our hostage, including one unique leucistic Talamanca hummingbird, and the very cool fiery-throated hummingbirds. Another of my dreams for this trip was seeing my first hummingbirds, and in this place we had very good views of them, they even fly skimming your hair!

On the top of Cerro de la Muerte

1-3 August: Dominical

Finally we arrive to our last destination, Dominical on the Caribbean coast. Another slightly touristic place full of surfers, but also cheap and tranquil. Here we wanted to see some species that are only found on the Pacific side before going back to Spain. We herp on the nights looking for nearby forest tracks by foot, similar than we did on Cahuita, and the last day we ventured on a private preserve, Hacienda Barú, where we herp all day and all night.

The truth is that we didn't find so many animals. The moon was still very big and the herp activity, thus, very low. We found some Pacific specialities like the black spiny tailed iguanas ( Ctenosaura similis ), gladiator treefrog ( Boana rosenbergii ) and some anoles. Our last snake of the trip was a juvenile Oliver's parrot snake ( Leptophis aff . nebulosus ). We also found some more caimans, turtles and frogs.

Black spiny tailed iguana (Ctenosaura similis), male

4 August: Brief scale in North Carolina

On our way back to Spain we had a scale of 23 hours in Charlotte (North Carolina, USA). This place is not the best for herping so we didn't rent a car, instead we went by foot to the backyards of the airport, triying to find some natural places. We found a pond, a stream and some promising places, but the weather was very hot (more than 35ºC). We found a tiny mole kingsnake ( Lampropeltis calligaster ), under some rubbish, and some common lizards and frogs in the pond. That silly snake managed somehow to escape when Max was taking pictures, so I ended with no photos of it...

Herping on North Carolina

Conclusions

This trip was without doubt an unforgettable experience, with some lifetime highlights for me: my first herping trip, first time on tropical rainforest, first time seeing lots of cool animal groups... We also learned a lot during this adventure that surely will help us to improve our next trips, for example, always avoid the full moon! In Costa Rica we had overall much more luck with frogs than with snakes. We saw most if not all of our main frog targets, but there are still some snakes that avoided us, like the boa constrictor, all the other vipers, some big colubrids, etc. We ended with more than 100 reptile and amphibian species in Costa Rica, plus an extra in our scales at the U.S., incredible numbers for european herpers. Most of this species, the less showy, don't have photos taken, and that's another thing to improve for the following trips. In conclusion, the trip was great and I'm sure that we will return to this amazing country to enjoy this colorful biodiversity again. Pura vida!

We thank fellow herpers Enrique Ruiz , Raúl León and Gert Jan Verspui for their useful advice when planning the trip.

Herp species list (Costa Rica only):

Dermochelyidae :

-  Dermochelys coriacea

Chelydridae:

- Chelydra acutirostris

Kinosternidae:

- Kinosternon leucostomum

- Kinosternon scorpioide s

- Trachemys emolli

Geoemydidae:

-  Rhinoclemmys funerea

- Iguana iguana

- Ctenosaura similis

- Basiliscus basiliscus

- Basiliscus vittatus

- Basiliscus plumifrons

- Corytophanes cristatus

Phrynosomatidae:

- Sceloporus malachiticus

- Ameiva festiva

- Ameiva quadrilineata

Gymnophthalmidae :

- Gymnophthalmus speciosus

- Marisora alliacea

- Sphenomorphus cherriei

- Diploglossus bilobatus

- Mesaspis monticola

Gekkonidae:

- Hemidactylus frenatus

- Hemidactylus garnoti

- Lepidodactylus lugubris

- Thecadactylus rapicauda

- Sphaerodactylus millepunctatus

- Sphaerodactylus graptolaemus

- Lepidoblepharis xanthostigma

- Gonatodes albogularis

Xantusiidae:

- Lepidophyma flavimaculatum

Dactyloidae:

- Anolis biporcatus

- Anolis frenatus

- Anolis humilis

- Anolis lemurinus

- Anolis limifrons

- Anolis lionotus

- Anolis pentaprion

- Anolis polylepis

- Norops oxylophus

- Bothrops asper

- Bothriechis schlegelii

- Corallus annulatus

Colubridae(s.l.):

- Leptophis nebulosus

- Oxybelis aeneus

- Oxybelis brevirostris

- Imantodes cenchoa

- Sibon nebulatus

- Leptodeira ornata

- Geophis brachycephalus 

- Phyrononaxu poecilonotus

- Chironius grandisquamis

Crocodylidae :

- Crocodylus acutus

Alligatoridae:

- Caiman crocodilus

Caeciliidae:

- Gymnopis multiplicata

Plethodontidae:

- Bolitoglossa striatula

- Bolitoglossa pesrubra

- Incilius coniferus

- Incilius valliceps

- Rhinella horrida

Eleutherodactylidae:

- Diasporus diastema

Craugastoridae:

- Craugastor bransfordii

- Craugastor crassidigitus

- Craugastor fitzingeri

- Craugastor gollmeri

- Craugastor megacephalus

- Craugastor noblei

- Craugastor persimilis

- Craugastor ranoides

- Craugastor taurus

Strabomantidae:

- Pristimantis cerasinus

- Pristimantis gaigei

Leptodactylidae:

- Leptodactylus melanonotus

- Leptodactylus savagei

Phyllomedusidae:

- Agalychnis callidryas

- Agalychnis lemur

- Agalychnis saltator

- Agalychnis spurrelli

- Cruziohyla silviae

- Dendropsophus ebraccatus

- Dendropsophus phlebodes

- Duellmanohyla rufioculis

- Hyloscirtus palmeri

- Hypsiboas rosenbergi

- Hypsiboas rufitelus

- Scinax elaeochroa

- Smilisca baudinii

- Smilisca phaeota

- Smilisca sordida

Centrolenidae:

- Cochranella granulosa

- Hyalinobatrachium valerioi

- Teratohyla spinosa

- Sachatamia albomaculata

- Sachatamia ilex

Dendrobatidae:

- Dendrobates auratus

- Oophaga pumilio

- Phyllobates lugubris

- Silverstoneia flotator

Aromobatidae:

- Allobates talamancae

- Lithobates forreri

- Lithobates vaillanti

- Lithobates warszewitschii 

Luis Albero ( Friday, 27 March 2020 12:47 )

Thank you Gert Jan! Yes, that gaigei was one of the main surprises of the trip, I think we had luck with the frogs, taking account to the places we visited. Next time the snakes will be the targert!

Gert Jan ( Friday, 27 March 2020 08:08 )

Nice Report! So cool you guys found Pristimantis gaigei.

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The Best Time to Visit Costa Rica for Wildlife, Surfing, and Fewer Crowds

By Amber Port

An aerial view of the pacific ocean and coastline in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is easy to love with its awe-inspiring landscape and infectious atmosphere. With so much to offer, the best time to visit Costa Rica depends on what you're looking to do during your holiday. Whether you're off wildlife spotting or chasing swells, spending time in this picturesque Central American nation quickly teaches visitors what the “pura vida” lifestyle is all about. Below, see the best months to plan a Costa Rican getaway for surfing, budget travel, whale spotting, and more.

The best time to visit Costa Rica for good weather

If you’re looking to catch some sun, we recommend visiting Costa Rica between December and April. This is when temperatures are at their best, averaging 80 degrees Fahrenheit, with the hottest temperatures in March and April reaching around 97 degrees Fahrenheit. The chance of rainfall is low during these months, with an average of 61% humidity, making it more manageable than the rainier seasons.

The best time to visit Costa Rica for wildlife spotting

Costa Rica is full of opportunities to spot wildlife, no matter what season you decide to head to this beautiful country. There are numerous national parks and wildlife refuges, all boasting unique sights. If you’re looking to spot sea life, we recommend visiting between July and August–it’s the optimal time for whale spotting in Dominical and sea turtles in Tortuguero National Park . And if you’re a sloth lover, then you’re in luck. Costa Rica’s Manuel Antonio beach is an excellent place for sloth spotting.

Costa Rica Monteverde RedEyed Tree Frog

Costa Rica has numerous national parks and wildlife refuges perfect for nature lovers.

The best time to visit Costa Rica for lower prices

We’d recommend visiting in the early and later months of the off-season, like May and September. Costa Rica is a popular destination with North American travelers, so traveling before the high season and school holidays means you are more likely to save some money on accommodations and flights. The best weather spans from December to April, coinciding with the holiday season in North America, so this also tends to be a more expensive time to visit Costa Rica.

The best time to visit Costa Rica for surfing

It depends on your experience level. If this is your first foray into surfing, visiting in the dry season is the perfect time. March and April bring tame waves–perfect for learning how to surf . If you’re an experienced surfer, the green season (May to November) is for you, with September and October bringing the biggest swells.

A woman balancing on a log under a palm tree while watching sunset from a beach in Costa Rica.

For tame waves and sunny skies, beginner surfers should plan to visit Costa Rica in March and April.

The best time to visit Costa Rica for fewer crowds

If you want to avoid crowds , we’d recommend visiting at the beginning and end of the rainy season–May and October. The dry season between December and April will bring many tourists, as will the summer months as families head down during the school holidays.

This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK .

El Silencio Lodge & Spa

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COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

Costa Rica Contractor Under Investigation for Prohibited Practices

Costa rica crocodile attack during nesting season turns deadly, costa rica braces for doubling of migrant influx in coming year, costa rica bridges, restrictions part of traffic fix, volunteers in costa rica team up to shield national park from blazes, costa rica’s insects: meet the tarantula hawk – winged nightmare.

Vincent Losasso

Costa Rica offers the entire spectrum of wild creatures. Some animals are particularly beautiful. Others are adorable. Today’s feature creature, the tarantula hawk, can most appropriately be described as terrifying. It’s too big, it can cause you intense pain, and its method for rearing young is the stuff of nightmares.

The tarantula hawk is known as the avispón or calenturón in Tico Spanish. I usually like to give scientific names of the creatures that I describe but there are approximately one gillion different species of tarantula hawk and for the life of me I couldn’t figure out which one haunts my front yard. For our proper dose of weird Greek words, let’s settle on the fact that all species of tarantula hawks belong to the family Pompilidae.

The tarantula hawk is neither a tarantula nor a hawk. It’s an enormous wasp. They can grow to over two inches long, which I think we can all agree is way too big for a wasp. They have blue-black bodies starkly contrasted with rust-orange wings. Their coloration is an example of aposematism.

Aposematism or aposematic coloration is a way for creatures to advertise to other animals that they are dangerous and should not be messed with. In this case, contrast between the dark body and the bright orange wings are saying to the world, ‘Not only am I not hiding, I’m specifically standing out with my colors because I’m dangerous.’

So what’s included in the diet of these large, dangerous insects? Baby monkeys? Whole families of birds? No. Adult tarantula hawks are mainly nectivorous. That is, their diet consists almost exclusively of sugar-rich nectar produced by flowering plants. So the big scary bug likes flowers.

The frightening part of this wasp’s lifestyle is how it brings the next generation of wasps into the world. The female tarantula hawk buzzes around in search of tarantulas. When she finds one, she quickly applies a powerful sting which paralyzes her prey. She then drags the enormous, incapacitated spider into her burrow, lays a single egg on its abdomen, and seals the entrance to the burrow shut. (Prepare yourself, this is awful.)

When the egg hatches, the larva tunnels into the still living spider and feeds on it from the inside, careful to avoid vital organs so it stays alive as long as possible, until the larva pupates into an adult wasp and emerges from the spider-husk to live its adult tarantula hawk life. Yikes!

That method of rearing young is truly bad news for tarantulas, but you and I aren’t big spiders so we’re in the clear, right? Well, no. Tarantula hawks aren’t particularly aggressive towards human beings. In my own experience they buzz around me while I’m doing my thing outside, and I overreact a bit while they couldn’t care less that I’m around.

My overreaction is based on the fact that tarantula hawks pack one of the most powerful stings in the animal kingdom. I found a quote on the internet where a researcher describes the sting as follows: ‘…immediate, excruciating, unrelenting pain that simply shuts down one’s ability to do anything, except scream.’

I’ve seen many tarantula hawks over the years. Most of my interactions are them flying somewhere in my vicinity and me getting a little too uptight about it. Twice I’ve seen them dragging their paralyzed tarantula prey to its slow demise. Once, the spider was being drug across a dirt road a night, and I caught the act with my headlights. Just a few weeks ago, my whole family watched in interested horror as a tarantula hawk pulled a stiff spider four feet up our backyard retaining wall and into the forest.

So next time that you’re enjoying the great outdoors in Costa Rica and a huge black and orange wasp buzzes by, stay calm and focus on the fact that they’re mostly docile and like flowers (and not that ‘excruciating, unrelenting pain’ thing).

About the Author

Vincent Losasso, founder of  Guanacaste Wildlife Monitoring , is a biologist who works with camera traps throughout Costa Rica. Learn more about his projects on  facebook  or  instagram . You can also email him at:  [email protected]

Vincent Losasso

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Southern costa rica - western panama dendrobatidae herping expedition on demand (request dates).

herping tour costa rica

Jewels of the Neotropics

One of the best itineraries to observe and enjoy some of the most beautiful jewels of the Neotropical realm: 

the Central American Poison Frogs.

Join us through the Central and Southern Pacific of Costa Rica, the mountains of the Talamanca ridge, the archipelago of Bocas del Toro i n Panama   and the Caribbean rainforests of Costa Rica,

in search of this beautiful jewels of the rainforest.

herping tour costa rica

Southern part of Central America.

In this expedition we can observe almost all species and many morphs of Dendrobatids inhabiting in the Central America region: Oophaga granulifera (yellow, red, red and blue), O. pumilio (many varieties), Phyllobates vittatus, P. lugubris, Dendrobates auratus (Caribbean and Pacific), Andinobates claudiae, Colostethus pratti, Silverstoneia flotator, Allobates talamancae …

Price per person

Meet The Team

Cesar Barrio A.jpg

César L. Barrio-Amorós

Scientific director and photographer

Spanish herpetologist who dedicated his life to the understanding and conservation of nature.

Cristian Porras Ramirez

Cristian Porras Ramirez

Founder, Managing Director and Photography Director

  Some pictures taken during our Dendro tours

herping tour costa rica

About the tour

Dendrobates auratus 2.png

What is included and not

Dendrobates auratus.png

Required equipment

  • Will the tour be cancelled if one or more participants are unable to join? This tour will run with as few as the minimum amount of participants explicit for every tour. Less than this number (usually 4 people for expeditions, 2 for tailor made tours and night walks). In the case many people cancel (due to major force reason or sickness) and only one or two persons remain, we will run the tour.
  • Will you pick us up at the airport upon arrival? Yes, we will.
  • What kind of trouser is needed? You can bring any durable but lightweight trousers that are easy to dry.
  • Can you get rubber boots for me? We suggest you bring your own rubber boots as you should test whether they fit comfortably before arriving, where you will use them every day. You can also buy very cheap rubber boots in the local market, to avoid bringing them. (Boots are included on some night tours).
  • What herping gear do you recommend? Important to bring a durable waterproof lamp with replaceable batteries , a rain coat, and your own camera; bug spray (better not based on deet).
  • Is there a chance to arrange a private tour? Yes, most of the tours we offer are private. Contact us for a private tour not open to other people (https://www.crwild.com/tailor-made-herping-tours).
  • How are the tours paid and how do I book my spot? ? Tours are paid and reserved online. Reserved online with a deposit of USD 600 on the website or by international transfer. The remaining balance at least 60 days before departure.
  • What time do the walks take place? Walks can take place both, during day, evening and night.
  • Which vaccination certificates do I need? The three most important vaccines to get before visiting the tropics are against yellow fever, tetanus, and hepatitis. However, you do not need a vaccination certificate to access any reserve or national park during this tour.
  • What if there is no other participant willing to share a room? If you are willing to share the room, you do not have to pay the single supplement fee, regardless of whether you end up sharing the room or not.
  • Can I insert an image, video, or gif in my FAQ? Yes. To add media follow these steps: 1. Enter the app’s Settings 2. Click on the “Manage FAQs” button 3. Select the question you would like to add media to 4. When editing your answer click on the camera, video, or GIF icon 5. Add media from your library.
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  • Day 1 Day 1: Arrival in Drake Bay You'll arrive in Drake Bay on the morning flight from San Jose at 9 am. We'll take you to your hotel, and you'll have the rest of the day to explore the beaches and forests around the area. In the evening, after dinner, we'll take you on a guided walk through the jungle to spot nocturnal creatures such as red-eyed treefrogs, tree frogs, rain frogs, glass frogs, and nocturnal reptiles such as snakes.
  • Day 3 Day 3: Corcovado National Park After breakfast, we'll take you on a boat to Corcovado National Park, where we'll go on a guided walk to spot crocodiles, tapirs, coatis, four species of monkeys, sloths, scarlet macaws, and many other species, including pumas. Corcovado National Park is famous for its rich biodiversity, with 5% of the world's biodiversity found within its boundaries.
  • Day 5 Day 5: Osa Rainforest We'll move to another lodge in the heart of the Osa Rainforest, which is surrounded by one of the world's most spectacular jungles. Here, we'll explore the area's primary rainforest, home to the black-headed bushmaster, three species of poison frogs, and an array of other species. You'll have the chance to observe impressive trees (Pandora like!) that shelter the fauna, from orchids to mushrooms.
  • Day 2 Day 2: Whale and Dolphin Watching August is the peak season for humpback whales in Costa Rica, and Drake Bay is the best spot to observe them, along with dolphins, false orcas, and even true orcas. After breakfast, we'll take you on a private boat ride with an expert guide who has been observing and photographing cetaceans in the area for over 20 years. You'll have the rest of the day free, and in the evening, you can choose to go on an optional night walk (not included).
  • Day 8 Day 8. After breakfast, we said goodbye. Flight back to San Jose.
  • Day 7 Day 7. Return to Drake, and we walk to the beach and bathe in a river with crystalline waters right next to where sea turtle nests are sheltered. Rest of day free in Drake. Possible night out (not included).
  • Day 6 Day 6. The area has innumerable trails through the jungle where we can take photos of the exuberant nature of the region, from mushrooms to orchids and all possible fauna. At night we will also continue in search of the famous bushmaster and other nocturnal creatures (which may include Bothrops asper and its predatorthe mussurana Clelia clelia, Bothriechis schlegelii, Nothopsis rugosus, etc etc).
  • Day 4 Day 4: We'll head to Rancho Quemado, a hotspot for the black-headed bushmaster, one of the rarest snakes on the planet. Although it's not guaranteed that we'll spot this elusive creature, we'll spend the next three nights in the area (in two spots), exploring during the day and at night to see a variety of fauna, including vipers like the eyelash, fer de lance and white-tailed hognose, endemic to the Osa Peninsula. We'll also have the chance to observe birds, mammals (the area is perfect for observing the white-lipped peccary), and various frogs, salamanders, and lizards.
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herping tour costa rica

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IMAGES

  1. Costa Rica herping tour

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  2. Night Herping Tours

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  4. Tropical Herping

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  6. 2023: Costa Rica Herping GST

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VIDEO

  1. Costa Rica Caribbean Herping Expedition / CR WILD / 23-30 September 2019 / 8-10 PAX

  2. Behind the scenes

  3. Behind the scenes

  4. Herping Costa Rica: Discovering Eyelash Vipers & Coral Snakes

  5. Osa Peninsula

  6. Behind the scenes

COMMENTS

  1. Costa Rica: Herping

    HERPING EXPEDITIONS * DAY TOURS * TAILOR MADE / [email protected] / +1-904-990-7014 / EXPLORING THE WILDEST PLACES INCREASING WILDLIFE CONSERVATION. top of page. Home / About / ... Pacific and Central Valley in Costa Rica Herping Costa Rica. Read More. Tailor Made. Herping Tailor Made. Tailor-made expeditions: Photographers, family members ...

  2. Costa Rica herping tour

    Costa Rica herping tour. Tourism | Destinations. Join this tour if you want to photograph the greatest percentage of Costa Rica's 451 species of amphibians and reptiles in the least amount of time. In 12 nights, you will visit the main regions of the country and see close to a 100 species.

  3. Herpetology Herpetological Private Guided Tours

    Most of our Herpetology Tours are listed under Night Hikes. If you are a "herper" and want to see specific species, contact us and we'll let you know where to go! Herpetological private naturalist guide certified in handling snakes. Private wildlife guide for herping in Costa Rica. Private night tours around Costa Rica.

  4. Private Herping Expeditions in Costa Rica

    CARIBBEAN HERPING EXPEDITIONSeptember 1-8, 2024/ 8 days, 7 nights - Costa Rica(deadline for deposit: 1 June) Price is $2799 per person. This expedition to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica is intended to find and photograph some of the most marvelous and spectacular species of frogs and vipers in the world.

  5. Looking the Central American Bushmaster in Costa ...

    Required equipment. Herping Expedition the Caribbean side of Costa Rica Discover the herps you ever dreamed about! Eyelash Vipers, pit vipers, phantastic Tree Frogs, countless Glass Frogs and poison frogs, Emerald basilisks and much more… even the mighty Bushmaster! Costa Rica is one of the smaller countries in the world, with 51,100 km2, but ...

  6. 2023: Costa Rica Herping GST

    With nights at the start and end in San Jose, this tour is a 15-night herp and wildlife heavy tour. Jump on to reserve your spot for just £500... with nothing more to pay until March 2023! COSTA RICA HERPING ADVENTURE 2023 May 13-27th 2023, Small group herp and wildlife tour. Educational, fun. Everyone welcome.

  7. Manuel Antonio Herping Tour (Reptile & Amphibian)

    The Manuel Antonio Herping Tour by Manuel's Tour was amazing! We got the opportunity to observe many species of anurans, snakes and arachnids. ... is your casa" Pura Vida! Manuel Cabalceta M. Manuel´s Tours, Costa Rica. Read more. Written March 23, 2021. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of ...

  8. Costa Rica Herping Adventures

    To be eligible to participate in a Costa Rica Herping Adventures Trip. You must 18 years of age or be accompanied by a parent who goes on our trips. You must fill out a Hold Harmless and Assumption of Risk form. It must be signed and accompanied with a check for $250 refundable deposit payable to Jim Kavney.

  9. COSTA RICA HERPING ADVENTURE

    Day 1: Arrive at San Jose and travel to Poas. We will meet at Juan Santamaría International Airport (San Jose) and we will head straight to our first location, to Poas. ... COSTA RICA HERPING ADVENTURE. A 14-day ultimate, guided herping adventure of the rainforests, Cloud forests of Costa Rica looking for iconic reptiles & amphibians.

  10. Puerto Viejo Caribbean Costa Rica Tours

    PRIVATE NOCTURNAL CAHUITA HERPING TOUR. TIMES. 6:30 pm - 8:30 PM. PRICE. $80/per person, 2 person minimum. INCLUDED. Professional tour guide. Available in English or Spanish. TRANSPORT.

  11. COSTA RICA

    COSTA RICA - Wildlife Tour. ABOUT. CONTACT; SHOP. BLOG. More. COSTA RICA Herping Tour. 5 - 16 November 2023. 6 spots taken Tour is full! The nature of Costa Rica is incredibly beautiful and versatile. There are tropical rainforests, highland cloud forests, dry forests, as well as beautiful beaches, rivers, waterfalls and volcanoes. ...

  12. Costa Rica Herpetological Trip

    The "summer" or dry season is December to April, and "winter" or rainy season is May to November. It is considered that Costa Rica possesses around 4% of the total world biodiversity and if we consider the total number of described species this number jumps then to 5.4 % (Jiménez 1995). To give a comparative idea, Costa Rica has 234.9 plant ...

  13. Nature Walks Costa Rica

    birding, herping, photography & nature tours countrywide. Nature Walks Costa Rica can design and deliver a tour to your individual requirements, from your arrival to your departure, we can tailor made your whole vacation with local experts in each location or perhaps you rather a nature interpreter and private driver for your trip.

  14. Home page photography

    Herping is an exhilarating outdoor pursuit where enthusiasts seek out reptiles and amphibians in their natural habitats. Picture yourself on a real-life treasure hunt, where instead of gold, the reward is encountering fascinating creatures like snakes, frogs, and lizards! With experienced herping tour guides, you'll explore diverse landscapes ...

  15. 24 Serious Herping Tour Guides/Expeditions Around The World

    CR Wild is definitely the biggest herpetofauna guiding small business in Costa Rica and is quickly becoming one of the bigger ones in Central America. Led by Spanish Anthropologist César L. Barrio-Amoró, they now organize trips to Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico, as well as both Atlantic and Pacific Slope Costa Rican herping expeditions.

  16. Night Herping Tours

    You will have the opportunity to explore the natural world in the company of our experienced guides, and get up close and personal with some of the most fascinating and elusive nocturnal creatures. Join us for a night tour and discover the wonders of the Costa Rican rainforest! Our day-night tours have an average price of 60 to 100 USD. per ...

  17. Costa Rica: Manuel Antonio Reptile/Amphibian Small-Group Tour 2023

    Discover the rich biodiversity of Costa Rica on this tour that is ideal for herping enthusiasts, wildlife lovers, and eco-conscious travelers. In a small group of no more than six guests, explore the surroundings of Manuel Antonio National Park and Quepos in search of every local species of reptile and amphibian, including viper snakes, colorful tree frogs, and more.

  18. Exploring Costa Rica's Diverse Ecosystems

    Embark on a thrilling adventure into the heart of Costa Rica's biodiversity with our exclusive herping tours, where you'll discover the hidden treasures of amphibians and reptiles in their natural habitats.. Costa Rica, a small but ecologically diverse country nestled in Central America, boasts an extraordinary array of ecosystems and wildlife.

  19. Private 8-Day Costa Rica Birding and Herping Tour from Bri Bri

    Join this all inclusive, multi adventure tour in Costa Rica. Your accommodation, transportation, entrance fees, and so many exciting activities are included in this price. Check the itinerary for all of the included meals, too. Things you'll be doing are kayaking, night hikes, waterfall and beach visits, rainforest hikes, and so much more. Your accommodation is a few miles from Bri Bri town.

  20. herping trip to costa rica

    20-22 July: Costa Rican Amphibian Research Center. After finished in Laguna Urpiano, we really wanted to do some serious herping on a real jungle. Our next destination couldn't be much better for that. I think that the C.R.A.R.C. is a must for any herper going to Costa Rica.

  21. Herping Costa Rica

    Disfruta de nuestros tours nocturnos de herping. Ideal para visitas esporádicas. Guías especializados en . todo el país. Lee mas. Expediciones. Expediciones Herping. Explore el Caribe, el Pacífico y el Valle Central en Costa Rica Herping Costa Rica. Lee mas. Hecho a medida. Herping a la medida. Expediciones a medida: Fotógrafos, familiares ...

  22. The Best Time to Visit Costa Rica for Wildlife, Surfing, and Fewer

    The best time to visit Costa Rica for good weather. If you're looking to catch some sun, we recommend visiting Costa Rica between December and April. This is when temperatures are at their best ...

  23. Costa Rica's Insects: Meet the Tarantula Hawk

    Costa Rica offers the entire spectrum of wild creatures. Some animals are particularly beautiful. Others are adorable. Today's feature creature, the tarantula hawk, can most appropriately be described as terrifying. It's too big, it can cause you intense pain, and its method for rearing young is the stuff of nightmares.

  24. CR WILD, HERPING, Dendrobatidae Expedition to Costa Rica and Panamá

    14-24 May 2021. 11 Days. 2-4 PAX One of the best itineraries to observe and enjoy some of the most beautiful jewels of the Neotropical realm; the Central American poison frogs. May 2019 (17-27). 11 Days. 2-4 PAX.