Where can I see a red-eyed tree frog in Costa Rica?

They live in humid lowland and foothill forest, especially the Caribbean slope and areas like Sarapiquí, plus wet Pacific zones. They gather to breed on vegetation over ponds and still water, so a guided night walk near breeding pools is the way to find them.

When is the best time to see a red-eyed tree frog?

The rainy breeding season, roughly May to November, is by far the best, when warm humid nights bring frogs out to call and breed. They’re hard to find in the dry season and during the day. Night outings in the wet months are the reliable window.

Is a red-eyed tree frog sighting guaranteed?

No sighting is guaranteed, but on a wet-season night walk with a knowledgeable guide, the red-eyed tree frog is one of Costa Rica’s most dependable subjects. Timing and night access are everything. Lyferr shows each guide’s real track record across their trips.

How to Photograph the Red-eyed Tree Frog in Costa Rica

Agalychnis callidryas

The red-eyed tree frog is most reliably photographed at Sarapiquí in Costa Rica, with the best window May–Nov, in the first hours after dawn (Night, in the wet season). Expect cloud-forest low light, so plan for fast glass and high ISO.

See verified red-eyed tree frog guides

Season: May–Nov
Best hours: Night, in the wet season
Top site: Sarapiquí
Difficulty: Easy

When & where to see it

Jan·
Feb·
Mar·
Apr·
May best
Jun best
Jul best
Aug best
Sep best
Oct best
Nov best
Dec·

Primary regions

Sarapiquí
Caribbean lowlands

When is the best time to see the red-eyed tree frog?

Red-eyed Tree Frog viewing is best May–Nov, with the most activity night, in the wet season. Red-eyed tree frogs breed with the rains, gathering over water on warm humid nights and going hidden in the dry months — so a wet-season night walk is everything.

Where in Costa Rica should you photograph it?

The most dependable area is humid Caribbean lowlands and foothills, including Sarapiquí. Other productive sites include Sarapiquí, Caribbean lowlands — a guide who knows which is working this week beats picking one off a map.

What camera settings work in Sarapiquí light?

A macro or short telephoto with diffused off-camera flash lights the frog cleanly on a leaf; keep it low-power and brief so the animal isn’t stressed.

Which guides have the highest verified success rate?

We rank specialist guides by their verified red-eyed tree frog sighting rate — real trips, real outcomes, with the sample size shown next to every number. See the ranked guides ↓

Verified red-eyed tree frog guides

Ranked by the Accuracy Index — proven track records first.

No verified guides for the red-eyed tree frog yet

We only list guides once we can back up their track record.

Red-eyed Tree Frog — common questions

Keep planning

When to see the red-eyed tree frog →Where: Sarapiquí →Costa Rica wildlife photography →

Emerald Glass Frog

Espadarana prosoblepon

Costa RicaMay–Nov

0 guides specialize →

Fer-de-lance (Terciopelo)

Bothrops asper

Costa RicaMay–Nov

0 guides specialize →

By Daniel Soto — Lyferr field editor · two decades guiding Costa Rica cloud forest

Published June 18, 2026 · Last updated July 6, 2026

Sources: eBird · iNaturalist

No guide guarantees a wild animal. These are verified track records, shown to improve your odds — not to promise an outcome.