ANURA Park - Day and Night Walk La Fortuna

ANURA Park - Day and Night Walk La Fortuna Información de contacto, mapa y direcciones, formulario de contacto, horario de apertura, servicios, puntuaciones, fotos, videos y anuncios de ANURA Park - Day and Night Walk La Fortuna, Agencia de turismo, La Fortuna.

At ANURA, we offer unique day and night tours near La Fortuna. 🌿 Explore an eco-park full of life: amphibians, reptiles, insects, mammals, and birds. 🌙🌞 Book your adventure today and experience the magic of nature with us! 🐾

Why would a caterpillar choose one of the most chemically defended plants in the forest?These striking caterpillars are ...
18/08/2026

Why would a caterpillar choose one of the most chemically defended plants in the forest?

These striking caterpillars are Eumaeus godartii, a cycad specialist in the butterfly family Lycaenidae. Here at ANURA Ecological Park, they are feeding on the Zamia plants we have established as part of our restoration work.

Their bright colors are not simply decoration. They are a form of aposematism, a warning signal that tells predators, “I am not good food.” Eumaeus caterpillars can tolerate and sequester toxic compounds from their cycad diet, including cycasin and related compounds. Those chemicals can make them unpalatable, so their vivid colors may help advertise that they are a poor choice for a predator.

There is another fascinating detail: these larvae often feed in groups and stay closely associated with their host plant. In Costa Rica, Eumaeus godartii has been documented as a highly specialized herbivore of Zamia. Instead of avoiding a chemically defended plant, it has evolved to make that plant part of its life strategy.

At ANURA, seeing these caterpillars is more than finding a beautiful insect. It shows that the Zamia plants we are restoring are already being incorporated into local ecological relationships.

A forest is rebuilt one interaction at a time.

📸 Thanks to and for sharing these beautiful photographs with us.

A predator waiting in the darkness. During a recent night walk at ANURA Ecological Park, we found this large Central Ame...
13/08/2026

A predator waiting in the darkness.

During a recent night walk at ANURA Ecological Park, we found this large Central American boa (Boa imperator) hunting from a branch. At more than 1.5 meters long, it is an impressive animal, and its exceptionally bright, clean-looking scales suggest that it may have shed its skin only a few days ago.

Snake skin is replaced periodically as the animal grows. Before shedding, the old skin separates from the new one, and the snake eventually works its way out of the entire outer layer. After a successful shed, the new scales can look remarkably fresh and glossy, just like this individual.

Boa imperator is mainly active during the evening and at night. It is an ambush predator, remaining still and waiting for prey to come within striking distance. Its diet can include mammals, birds and lizards. Once it catches prey, its muscular body allows it to constrict the animal and then swallow it whole.

What makes this encounter especially interesting is that this large boa was using a branch as a hunting position. Although adults are more terrestrial than young boas, they can still climb and use vegetation when it offers a good opportunity to hunt.

Predators like this are an essential part of a functioning forest. They do not simply "eat other animals". They influence population sizes, energy flow and the structure of food webs.

At ANURA, encounters like this are part of the story of a forest recovering its ecological complexity. One night, one branch, one predator, and an entire food web hidden behind it. 🌿

#ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴇᴘʜᴏᴛᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜʏ

During one of our birdwatching walks at ANURA Ecological Park, we noticed a young Bridal Veil Stinkhorn (Phallus indusia...
06/08/2026

During one of our birdwatching walks at ANURA Ecological Park, we noticed a young Bridal Veil Stinkhorn (Phallus indusiatus) beginning to emerge from the forest floor. By the time we completed our walk around the lake, the mushroom had transformed completely. Its remarkable lace-like veil, called the indusium, had fully expanded.

Unlike most mushrooms that rely mainly on wind to disperse their spores, Phallus indusiatus follows a very different strategy. The olive-green coating on the cap, known as the gleba, produces a strong odor that attracts flies, stingless bees and other insects. As they feed or walk across the sticky surface, millions of spores adhere to their bodies and are carried to new locations throughout the forest. Recent research even suggests that spores transported on the insects' bodies may be more important than those dispersed through their f***s.

The function of the beautiful white veil is still being studied. Many mycologists believe it acts as a visual signal and even as a "ladder" that helps crawling insects reach the spore-bearing surface more easily, increasing dispersal efficiency.

Every walk at ANURA reminds us that nature is never standing still. Sometimes, all it takes is one lap around a lake to witness an entirely different organism.

A few days ago, the biologist from ANURA Ecological Park joined the reforestation activities organized by , thanks to th...
31/07/2026

A few days ago, the biologist from ANURA Ecological Park joined the reforestation activities organized by , thanks to the invitation from ASADA La Fortuna.

Together we planted native species including Gallinazo (Schizolobium parahyba), Sota Caballo (Zygia longifolia), several Guaba (Inga spp.) and many other native trees within the watershed that protects La Fortuna's main drinking water source.

This land was once covered by African pasture grasses for cattle. Although productive for livestock, these grasses reduce biodiversity, compete with native seedlings and slow natural forest regeneration.

That is why pioneer trees are so important.

Schizolobium parahyba grows rapidly, creating shade that suppresses pasture grasses and allows shade-tolerant forest species to establish. Inga species form partnerships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, naturally enriching soils that have lost fertility after years of grazing.

As the forest develops, something remarkable happens underground. Roots, fungi and microorganisms gradually rebuild the soil, increasing its ability to absorb rainfall. Instead of running off the surface, more water infiltrates and slowly recharges the aquifer that supplies drinking water to La Fortuna.

Restoring a forest is not simply about planting trees. It is about recovering biodiversity, ecological processes and the natural systems that provide clean water for both wildlife and people.

Thank you to and ASADA La Fortuna for allowing us to contribute to this important restoration effort.

🌳 Every mature forest begins with pioneer species.

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At first glance, this butterfly looks badly injured.The missing sections of its wing make it seem fragile, yet it contin...
25/07/2026

At first glance, this butterfly looks badly injured.

The missing sections of its wing make it seem fragile, yet it continues flying, feeding and searching for mates. What appears to be a tragedy is often part of a butterfly's natural history.

This is Aeria eurimedia, a transparent-wing butterfly commonly found in the forests of Costa Rica. Like many butterflies, its wings are actually larger than the minimum surface needed for flight. Losing part of a wing usually reduces maneuverability and efficiency, but many individuals remain perfectly capable of flying for weeks or even months.

Why would evolution allow such "extra" wing area?

One reason is survival. Predators such as birds, spiders and lizards often attack the wings first. A damaged wing can mean the butterfly escaped instead of becoming a meal. The sacrifice of a few square centimeters of wing tissue may be the difference between life and death.

Every scar tells a story. This individual has already survived at least one attack and is still carrying out its ecological role as a pollinator and as part of the complex food web that connects hundreds of species in tropical forests.

Moments like this remind us that nature is rarely perfect, but it is remarkably resilient.

📷 Photo by Thank you for sharing another extraordinary moment from ANURA Ecological Park.

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Sometimes the best conservation lesson is learning when not to plant a tree.A few days ago, ANURA Ecological Park had th...
22/07/2026

Sometimes the best conservation lesson is learning when not to plant a tree.

A few days ago, ANURA Ecological Park had the privilege of participating in the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Children's Eternal Rainforest (BEN) during a special event at Finca Steller.

Our biologist led a forest interpretation walk where participants discovered that a healthy rainforest is much more than a collection of trees. We explored how forests recover through passive restoration, the ecological succession that allows nature to rebuild itself when given the opportunity.

Instead of asking "What species is this?", we explored different questions.

Why do pioneer trees arrive first?
How does a fallen tree become the beginning of new life?
Why is dead wood one of the most important habitats in a tropical forest?

Understanding these processes changes the way we see conservation. A forest is not simply planted. It is built through thousands of interactions that continue every single day.

We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the Children's Eternal Rainforest (BEN) for four decades of extraordinary conservation work. It is difficult to imagine the ecological landscape of northern Costa Rica without the BEN. The remarkable forest connectivity that still exists across this region, allowing wildlife, water, seeds and ecological processes to move through the landscape, owes an enormous debt to the vision and dedication of everyone who has protected this forest over the last forty years.

Projects like ANURA are possible because they are part of something much larger. Ecological restoration only reaches its full potential when it connects with healthy forests that have been protected for generations.

Thank you to everyone who joined us with curiosity, muddy boots and a willingness to learn.

At ANURA, we believe that understanding nature is the first step toward protecting it.


During one of our night ecotours at ANURA Ecological Park, we encountered this Red-lored Parrot (Amazona autumnalis) sho...
17/07/2026

During one of our night ecotours at ANURA Ecological Park, we encountered this Red-lored Parrot (Amazona autumnalis) shortly after an intense rainfall. Its muddy plumage and soaked feathers revealed the impact that extreme weather can have on wildlife, even for species perfectly adapted to tropical forests.

Heavy rain temporarily reduces the insulating capacity of feathers, increases energy expenditure, and can force birds to remain inactive until their plumage dries. During these periods, conserving energy becomes more important than flying.

To avoid causing additional stress, we observed this individual from a respectful distance and used only the minimum light necessary for documentation. For us, the welfare of wildlife will always be more important than obtaining the perfect photograph.

Tropical storms are an essential ecological process. They redistribute nutrients, open gaps in the forest canopy, create new habitats, and influence the regeneration of rainforest ecosystems. Although these events strengthen forests over time, they can represent a significant challenge for individual animals.

We hope this Red-lored Parrot (Amazona autumnalis) recovered quickly and continues fulfilling its ecological role as an important seed disperser in the forests surrounding La Fortuna, Costa Rica.

📷 Wildlife photograph: Elena Pocs

Discover rainforest biodiversity with our guided day and night ecotours at ANURA Ecological Park, just minutes from La Fortuna, Costa Rica.

During one of our guided walks at ANURA Ecological Park, we found this remarkable tortoise beetle larva (subfamily Cassi...
15/07/2026

During one of our guided walks at ANURA Ecological Park, we found this remarkable tortoise beetle larva (subfamily Cassidinae, family Chrysomelidae) carrying what scientists call a f***l shield.

Rather than discarding its waste, this larva carefully builds it into a protective structure that it carries above its body. The shield is made from its own droppings mixed with fragments of its old exoskeleton left behind after each molt.

Why would an insect do this?
Researchers have shown that these shields can protect the larva in several ways. They make it more difficult for predators such as ants, spiders and predatory bugs to attack, help camouflage the insect among damaged leaves, and in some species may even incorporate defensive chemicals from the plants the larva feeds on. Some studies also suggest the shield can reduce attacks from tiny parasitoid wasps, making this one of the most sophisticated defensive strategies known among herbivorous insects.

It may look unpleasant to us, but from an evolutionary perspective it is an ingenious survival strategy that has developed over millions of years.

Moments like this remind us that rainforest biodiversity is not only about colorful frogs, snakes or mammals.

Some of the most extraordinary adaptations belong to animals only a few millimeters long.

Every night at ANURA Ecological Park reveals another hidden story of Costa Rica's rainforest.

📸 Special thanks to Liam Tomko-Watterworth () for capturing and generously sharing this incredible macro photograph with us.

Con Children's Eternal Rain Forest / Bosque Eterno de los Niños - ¡Me acaban de reconocer como uno de los fans destacado...
13/07/2026

Con Children's Eternal Rain Forest / Bosque Eterno de los Niños - ¡Me acaban de reconocer como uno de los fans destacados! 🎉

Conservation photos can be very serious... but this is not one of them.This katydid (family Tettigoniidae) looked direct...
13/07/2026

Conservation photos can be very serious... but this is not one of them.

This katydid (family Tettigoniidae) looked directly into the camera as if it had just been caught doing something suspicious.

The long antennae are not just for decoration. In katydids, they work as highly sensitive sensors that help them navigate the forest at night, detect movement, and communicate with other katydids.
Many katydids are masters of camouflage, spending the day hidden among leaves and branches. Their huge eyes and extra-long antennae are part of a toolkit designed for life in the dark.

Sometimes the rainforest gives us a reminder that wildlife photography is not only about rare species and dramatic moments. Sometimes it is about a tiny forest comedian posing at exactly the right time.

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La Fortuna
21007

Horario de Apertura

Lunes 14:00 - 22:00
Miércoles 14:00 - 22:00
Jueves 14:00 - 22:00
Viernes 14:00 - 22:00
Sábado 14:00 - 22:00
Domingo 14:00 - 22:00

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