NIGHT TOUR
VALLE ESCONDIDO, MONTEVERDE
As sunset falls in Valle Escondido, the forest and its nocturnal animals awaken.
Valle Escondido Night Tour was one of the first in Monteverde & Costa Rica, starting twenty-four years ago. Still one of the best, our highly experienced guides leads visitors at night to witness the magic of the forest's nocturnal activity. Different from other operators we work with limited group size and limited tours per night to reduce the impact on the natural habitat. Please reserve in advance. Transportation is not included.
Hides during the day in bromeliads, but emerges at dusk. Usually seen at night, perched at low vegetation. Male produces a chuckling harsh trill.
May be active in day or night; eats invertebrates, fruit and carrion. Is a good swimmer; crosses streams by gulping air and floating across. Female gives birth to genetically identical quadruplets, which are susceptible to human diseases.
Migrates from October to April. Usually on or near ground in mature wet forest, or advanced second growth, but also forages on trails at dawn and dusk. When alarmed utters a quick 'pik pik.'
Eats mainly figs and other fruits. May roost under banana leaves, and can also build tents from plant leaves for camouflage and protection from the weather during the day.
Small and abundantly found. Found often in leaf litter, and also leaves and trees. Eats a variety of invertebrates or insects.
Nocturnal and arboreal, spends daylight hours coiled on tree roots, branches or bromeliads. Bears litters of live young of up to nineteen.
Can migrate great distances. Lays eggs on a tropical plant that is toxic; the caterpillars that eat the plants are then unpalatable to predators. Adult butterflies are feed on toxic flowers, the alkaloids of which are converted to pheromones by the males to attract females.