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Stories from the forest

Highlights from our tours

Real encounters that remind us how every journey into nature can reveal a unique story.

Explore the stories and filter encounters by experience or wildlife group.

10 stories

Reptiles

Predation: one of nature's most powerful moments

Common blunt-headed tree snake and Golfo Dulce anole (Imantodes cenchoa · Anolis polylepis)

August 22 · 8:08 p.m.

During a night tour, we watched a common blunt-headed tree snake hang from a vine while holding a Golfo Dulce anole. For several minutes, the snake searched for a stable position to swallow its prey while the anole still tried to escape. It was a raw and fascinating glimpse of the forest's delicate balance.

Uvita Night Tour

Invertebrates

Zombies exist in nature

Executioner wasp and parasitic fungus (Polistes carnifex · Cordyceps sp.)

May 5 · 6:30

Fungi of the genus Cordyceps infect insects and other arthropods. In some species, the infection can alter the host's behavior and lead it to a strategic location where the fungus develops reproductive structures and releases spores to continue its life cycle.

Uvita Night Tour

Mammals

Playing to grow

White-faced capuchin (Cebus imitator)

July 28 · 9:59 a.m.

Play among juvenile white-faced capuchins is essential to their development. Through chases, leaps and mock fights, they build the social, communication and survival skills they will use as adults.

Sierpe Mangroves

Mammals

The perfect ending

Northern tamandua (Tamandua mexicana)

July 2, 2026 · 7:58 p.m.

A few minutes before our night tour ended, we had an unexpected encounter with a northern tamandua. We first watched it forage on the ground before it slowly climbed a tree and disappeared among the branches.

Uvita Night Tour

Amphibians

Unusual neighbors

Reticulated glass frog and orchid bee (Hyalinobatrachium valerioi · Eufriesea sp.)

July 8, 2026

While looking for the male guarding an egg clutch and calling from beneath a leaf, we found a surprise: an orchid bee had chosen the same leaf to rest. The frog seemed uncomfortable with its unexpected neighbor and even tried to chase it away with a few kicks.

Uvita Night Tour

Mammals

Lunchtime

Baird's tapir (Tapirus bairdii)

July 15, 2026 · 12:05 p.m.

On our way back to the station, we heard a report of a tapir in the middle of the trail. Just a few meters farther on, we found this pregnant female peacefully enjoying a generous meal of hog plum fruit.

Sirena · Corcovado

Reptiles

A new species recorded on the trail

Northern tree boa (Corallus ruschenbergerii)

July 29, 2026 · 8:30 p.m.

At the end of our night tour, one of the guides discovered a snake resting on a branch. The excitement was immediate when we confirmed that this species had never been recorded on the trail, making the sighting a very special moment for the group.

Uvita Night Tour

Birds

Two cousins on the same branch

Black-throated trogon and slaty-tailed trogon (Trogon rufus · Trogon massena)

August 18, 2026 · 6:55 a.m.

During one of our birdwatching tours, we saw something unusual: two different trogon species perched on the same branch. Both appeared to be feeding on fruit from the same tree, giving us a special opportunity to appreciate their behavior and coexistence.

Uvita Birdwatching

Mammals

Whale season

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

July 5, 2026 · 10:35 p.m.

Humpback whales visit our coast during two seasons: Southern Hemisphere populations arrive from July to September, while Northern Hemisphere whales appear from December to March. Their spectacular breaches are uncommon, but sometimes we are fortunate enough to see one emerge completely from the water.

Sirena · Corcovado

Mammals

Puma in Marino Ballena National Park

Puma (Puma concolor)

September 7, 2025 · 1:21 p.m.

After the annual Whale and Dolphin Festival, one of our guides was walking to his vehicle when he heard several white-faced capuchins giving alarm calls. Following the commotion, he discovered a puma hidden among the branches—an unexpected and thrilling sighting.

Marino Ballena
Content: Your Nature Guide CR

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Each experience is coordinated with the permits and insurance appropriate to the activity. Tours are led by certified tourism guides who hold the credentials required to provide guiding services and have naturalist interpretation experience in Costa Rica's South Pacific. The company also carries a civil liability policy issued by Costa Rica's National Insurance Institute (INS), providing visitors with greater protection and peace of mind.

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About our encounters

Wildlife highlights FAQ

How we document and share the wildlife we observe.

Did these stories happen during the tours?

Yes. The highlights document real encounters experienced by the Your Nature Guide CR team during nature tours.

Are sightings of these species guaranteed?

No. All wildlife roams freely, and sightings depend on weather, season, animal behavior and other natural conditions.

How can I tell on which tour each encounter happened?

Each story identifies the related experience and includes a link to its complete tour information.

Can I receive photographs after my tour?

On tours that include photography, images captured by the team may be shared with participants according to the conditions of the experience.

How often will highlights be updated?

We will add stories as the team documents new encounters and receives permission to publish the corresponding material.

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