Dec 29, 2025
Unmissable!! - An amazing experience!! The place is wonderful. We saw the sunset that was divine on top of the mountain drinking coffee that we were served on arrival.
Then our guide, Don, would take us along the trail lighting only with flashlights and would locate the animals and insects he was encountering.
We saw a lot of variety of fauna: tarantulas, leaf insects, stick insect (huge!), a porcupine in the branch of a tree, lizards, frogs, scorpion, some field rabbits, a sleeping woodpecker and a toucan... it was wonderful!! Don would show them to us on his telescope and take pictures for us.
The respect and love that he has for nature was noticeable in Don our guide, he was giving us super interesting information and conveyed that fascination with nature and his companion (I think it was Alfredo, I am very bad with names!) was a great support to find the animals in the dark.
We could also see the stars on a part of the route.
I recommend not to miss this tour!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 19, 2025
Small group, incredible guide, breathtaking sunset. - What an amazing tour! It's a small family run company so small tours. In fact it was just the 2 of us. Donald is an incredible guide. A former ecology professor, he is incredibly knowledgeable but also passionate and animated. We saw amazing things. I don't know how he spotted them. And the sunset was breathtaking. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 26, 2025
Worth it!! - One of my highlights in Monteverde :) The welcoming was super warm, and our tour with Donald was fun and we learned so much! It was fascinating to see how our guide knew the forest and could answer all our questions. Don was as excited as us (and sometimes even more!) when we saw creatures which makes a unique vibe. Strongly recommend!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 21, 2025
Incredible Night Tour Adventure — Sloth, Toucans & More! - I joined the Woodpecker Educational Tours night tour in Cañas as a solo traveler and had an amazing experience! The atmosphere was friendly and easy, and I felt safe the whole time. Donald and Cris, both biologists, were knowledgeable and obsessed about the wildlife!
We saw so much in just one evening: a sleepy sloth, two toucans, three frogs, vipers, a tarantula, and many fascinating insects. Sipping coffee in the clouds before heading out was the perfect touch.
Highly recommend this tour for anyone wanting to experience Costa Rica’s incredible wildlife at night in a fun, safe, and educational way!
Donald also guides at other reserves and has photo equipment to take the best photos with your own camera.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 15, 2025
Unforgettable tour with Donald – pure nature! - We had a fantastic tour with our guide Donald! He was very ambitious and led us through the evening with a lot of enthusiasm. We were able to discover an incredible number of animals: Snakes, spiders, scorpions, birds, frogs and much more. Donald explained everything excitingly to us and always provided a great atmosphere. The mix of sunset and night walk was an unforgettable experience. Highly recommended!
Pura Vida! :))
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 15, 2025
Brilliant night, don’t miss it! - We did a wonderful tour with our guide Donald. He was very enthusiastic and showed us lots of birds, snakes, scorpions in the completely dark forest. It was a really amazing experience which we won’t forget for a long time!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Apr 30, 2025
Outstanding night tour - 3 of us took the night tour, with Ilfido as our guide. He was amazing, we saw many sleeping birds, including a hummingbird that we got within 3 feet of. We also saw a blue morph butterfly, a rhinoceros katydid, an owl, frogs, and a rabbit, Ilfido was very patient and generous with his time, A tremendous experience
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Apr 29, 2025
Night tour with Cris - We had a great Time with a great guide Cris. Sharp eyes and great knowledge such as a good guide ethic. This tour will make you discover a whole different world of sounds and creature.
The reserve is well preserved and guarantee you a great experience no matther what you see
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 31, 2025
Fantastic experience! - Amazing Experience with Donald Torres at Woodpecker Educational Tours!
Our group of six had an unforgettable experience with Donald Torres as our guide through Monteverde. Over several days, he led us on a stunning sunset hike, an exciting night hike, a tour through the Monteverde Cloud Forest, and a final adventure through the private reserve associated with Woodpecker Educational Tours.
Donald’s knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm were absolutely contagious. He truly loves his country and is a strong advocate for conservation. His deep respect for the natural world shines through in everything he does, and his ability to spot and identify wildlife is incredible. We were lucky enough to see a wide variety of birds—including the spectacular Resplendent Quetzal—as well as frogs, snakes, a tarantula, and breathtaking views around every corner.
This is my third time having the honor of Donald being my tour guide, and I would recommend him to anyone visiting the area. His tours are not just informative—they’re inspiring. If you want to experience the heart and soul of Monteverde, go with Donald and Woodpecker Educational Tours!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 8, 2025
So much fun! - We had a wonderful tour. The tour starts with coffee/tea and cookies while enjoying the sunset before heading into the forest. Our guide, Donald, was so knowledgeable and incredible at spotting wildlife. The preserve is obviously much smaller than other locations in the area, but that’s part of beauty and allure of it. We saw a variety of animals and insects so don’t be discouraged by the smaller size! Well worth it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor