What Comes Out at Night in Costa Rica

[00:00:00]♪♪ I'm nearing the end of my trip to Costa Rica and have already seen so many animals during the day, I thought, what could I see at night?

[00:00:11]-I prefer mostly night hikes, night walks because 74% of the wildlife that we have in Costa Rica are nocturnal.

[00:00:21]-74% did you say? Wow! -Mm-hmm.

[00:00:24]-Oh! Look at that at the top of the tree.

[00:00:26]So we have an amazing anteater.

[00:00:29]So we are very lucky today to see this creature.

[00:00:31]-I don't see it. I don't see it.

[00:00:33]-So just look in the -- at that palm in the back of the tree.

[00:00:36]-Ohh! -And it's taking a nap.

[00:00:38]So that is something crazy.

[00:00:40]I think it's my first time to see an anteater sleeping.

[00:00:43]-Really?! And it was with me? -Yeah. That's true.

[00:00:45]-Yeah. Yeah. -Wonderful!

[00:00:47]I'm sorry. So anteaters are nocturnal or they're not nocturnal?

[00:00:50]-Actually are mostly nocturnal, but also it's possible to see during the day.

[00:00:55]-Okay. -But in this case, they're probably taking a rest just for a while.

[00:01:02]Oh. Look at that.

[00:01:04]Let me show you right over here.

[00:01:05]-What is -- Oh! Are those mushrooms?!

[00:01:08]-Here in Costa Rica we call "cup of wine" mushrooms.

[00:01:12]-"Cup of wine" mushroom?

[00:01:14]-You see it has, like, the same shape.

[00:01:15]Mm-hmm. -Phenomenal.

[00:01:16][ Animals calling ] I just love the night sounds. -The night sounds?

[00:01:22]-These are sounds that I'm usually sleeping, no matter if I'm here or, you know, where I live.

[00:01:25]And so to hear, you know, the sounds at night, it just feels so special.

[00:01:33]-And it's very mystical, the forest.

[00:01:37]And then everything that we have inside that is completely so absolutely beautiful for me.

[00:01:43]-I agree. Until I see snakes.

[00:01:45]Then I'm gonna scream at the top of my lungs, hit the high road, turn around, and this guide hike is done.

[00:01:51][ Both laugh ] -In Costa Rica, the sun sets year round at 6:30 p.m., which means these night hikes happen at 7:00 p.m.

[00:02:01]-Oh, Sam, look at that! -Ooh!

[00:02:03]-We have one of the most beautiful frogs that we have in Costa Rica.

[00:02:06]-It's the one on all the posters!

[00:02:08]-The red eye slit tree frog.

[00:02:10]They are one of the most emblematic frogs that we have in Costa Rica.

[00:02:14]♪♪ Oh. What do we have here? Take a look here. [ Laughs ] -Whoa! -That is something amazing.

[00:02:21]-It's a snakeskin! -[ Laughs ] Yeah.

[00:02:23]That is one of viper that we have in Costa Rica.

[00:02:26]-Vipers are... -Venomous one.

[00:02:28]-...are very poisonous, right? -Venomous.

[00:02:31]-Venomous. That's right. Venomous.

[00:02:32]-Exactly. This is from a few hours ago.

[00:02:35]-[ Laughs ] Really?

[00:02:37]-Probably the snake will be around the area, so we never know.

[00:02:40]Ha ha ha. Be careful.

[00:02:42]That is around 4 or 5 feet, but they can grow around 7 or 8 feet.

[00:02:47]-Ooh, boy. -Yeah. That's a big snake.

[00:02:49]-Um I love the fact that we saw the skin.

[00:02:52]And, to me, I saw a snake.

[00:02:53]In the best way possible. -The best way possible.

[00:02:56]-I say we walk fast back to the car.

[00:02:58]-Back to the car. -[ Laughs ]