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.

StartSan José
Nights 2–4Sarapiquí
Nights 5–6Bajos del Toro
Nights 7–8Carara
Nights 9–11Osa
EndSan José

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.

What is included?

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.

Laundry.

Phone calls or messages.

Photo equipment.

Visa fees.

or call +1-786-753-7899

Booking form

Experts on this tour

Jose Vieira

Jose Vieira
Biologist, photographer, tour leader

Why join?

DSLR camera icon

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

See our portfolio

Forest icon

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

Learn more

Planet temperature icon

By protecting that acre, you keep 25 tonnes of CO2e from ending up in the atmosphere.

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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
Agalychnis callidryas
Hyalinobatrachium valerioi
Teratohyla spinosa
Spilotes pullatus
Cruziohyla calcarifer
Corytophanes cristatus
Oxybelis aeneus
Micrurus nigrocinctus
Sphaerodactylus homolepis
Agalychnis callidryas
Basiliscus basiliscus
Smilisca phaeota
Phyllobates lugubris
Iguana iguana
Leptophis ahaetulla
Dendrobates auratus
Agalychnis spurrelli

Frequently asked questions

Am I supposed to pay the tour price at once?

You can confirm your booking by making a 50% deposit and pay the remaining balance at least 60 days before departure.

Does the tour take place during the nights?

The tour includes both diurnal and nocturnal activities.

Can I make a reservation for this tour but on 2022?

Yes, you can confirm your booking now by making a 20% deposit and pay the remaining balance at least 60 days before departure.

How do I book my spot?

The first thing you need to do to reserve your spot in this tour is contact us using our booking form. Second, you will need to review and approve the itinerary, invoice, and release of liability we will send you. Finally, you will have to make a deposit to confirm your booking.

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 in Costa Rica, where you will used them every night.

Is there a chance to arrange a private tour?

Yes, most of the tours we offer are private.

Is there any chance to rent a snake hook?

Yes, we can provide you with a snake hook that you can use during the tour.

Which domestic flights should I purchase?

In this tour, domestic flights are not needed.

What herping gear do you recommend?

We recommend that you bring a durable waterproof headlamp, a rain poncho, and a DSLR camera, ideally one with a macro lens and off-camera flash.

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.

What kind of trouser is needed?

You can bring any durable but lightweight trousers that are easy to dry.

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.

Will the tour be cancelled if one or more participants are unable to join?

This tour will run with as few as two participants. If one of two participants makes a reservation and then cancels, it would affect the tour if no payment has been made to lodges, transports, and guides (which usually cannot be refunded).

Will you pick us up at the airport upon arrival?

Yes, our team will meet you and welcome at the airport.

Will there be laundry service, electricity, and wifi at all sites?

Usually there is laundry service and electricity at all of the lodges we will visit. Wifi is available only at some.