Many people think that you can only experience the jungle when the sun is shining, but with a flashlight and some help from an experienced guide, hiking after dusk let’s you rediscover the forest in a whole new way. The rainforest is teeming with wildlife and it’s not just during the day. In fact a large percentage of rainforest creatures are actually nocturnal, asleep during the day and thriving at night. The Twilight Hike at Hacienda Baru is well-reviewed and lots of fun, especially for kids and nature lovers.
The Hacienda Baru Biological Center is located just outside Dominical. Spread over 815 acres of primary and secondary rainforest, comfortable hiking trails weave throughout preserved rainforest supporting a diversity of wildlife. Although most tours provided at this nature site are during daylight hours, the evening tour reveals nesting grounds for all kinds of nocturnal creatures including animals, insects, and reptiles.
The night hike starts after sun set at around 5:30 pm. Your guide will meet you at the main office and lead you on a hike for about 2- 2.5 hours through woodland trails with only the moonlight (and your flashlights) to illuminate the way.
As you walk along the path you may notice how much louder the rainforest is during the night than during the day. It almost seems as if the critters are waiting for the sun to go down so they can come out and have a party. This section of Hacienda Baru has been particularly designed for safe and informative night hikes with well-maintained trails weaving throughout a thriving ecosystem.
Your nature guide who is knowledgeable about the particular habits of the wildlife in this area will stop to show you whatever can be found on the night of your adventure. You will likely be amazed by all of these beautiful, rarely-seen, nocturnal creatures such as Red Eyed tree frogs, bats, sloths, sleeping birds, and interesting insects.
The Red eyed Tree Frog is a unique, nocturnal reptile that embodies all of the colors of the rainbow. Just like the name implies, the beaming red eyes are one of the most prominent features, followed by bright orange feet, sky blue legs and a vibrant green body. Keep your eyes open for this frog and many other fascinating exotic reptiles on your Twilight Hike.
Please wear hiking boots or enclosed running shoes, long pants and bug repellent during this exciting trek through the forest. Make sure you bring along a flashlight, too. No transportation is needed from Hacienda Baru. Transportation is not included from other area hotels. It is not suggested for children under 8 years of age. This activity is not available on Sundays.
The Twilight Hike is available from Dominical
8 and up
Latitude: N 9° 16' 16.07"
Longitude: W 83° 52' 54.12"