Where can I see an emerald glass frog in Costa Rica?

Look along forested foothill and mid-elevation streams on both slopes, including Caribbean foothill areas near Sarapiquí. Emerald glass frogs call from leaves overhanging running water at night, so a guided night walk along the right stream is how they’re found.

When is the best time to see one?

The wet breeding season, roughly May to November, is best, when males call from streamside vegetation on warm humid nights. They’re strictly nocturnal and tied to running water, and they largely vanish from view in the dry season, so wet-season night walks are the window.

Is an emerald glass frog sighting guaranteed?

No sighting is guaranteed, but on wet-season night walks along the right streams, a guide who knows calling sites finds them fairly reliably. Timing, streamside habitat, and night access are the key factors. Lyferr shows each guide’s real track record.

When to See the Emerald Glass Frog in Costa Rica

Espadarana prosoblepon

The best time to see the emerald glass frog at Sarapiquí foothills in Costa Rica is May–Nov, with the most activity wet-season nights, by running water. Sightings fall off sharply outside that window, so timing the trip matters as much as the location.

See verified emerald glass frog guides

Season: May–Nov
Best hours: Wet-season nights, by running water
Top site: Sarapiquí foothills
Difficulty: Moderate

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 foothills
foothill streams

When is the best time to see the emerald glass frog?

Emerald Glass Frog viewing is best May–Nov, with the most activity wet-season nights, by running water. Glass frogs are tiny, green, and nocturnal, calling from the undersides of leaves over running water in the rains — they demand the right night, the right stream, and a careful ear.

Where in Costa Rica should you photograph it?

The most dependable area is forested foothill and mid-elevation streams, including Caribbean foothills near Sarapiquí. Other productive sites include Sarapiquí foothills, foothill streams — a guide who knows which is working this week beats picking one off a map.

What camera settings work in Sarapiquí foothills light?

A macro lens with gentle diffused flash reveals the translucent belly; work from beside the stream and avoid disturbing the eggs on the leaves.

Which guides have the highest verified success rate?

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

Verified emerald glass frog guides

Ranked by the Accuracy Index — proven track records first.

No verified guides for the emerald glass frog yet

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

Emerald Glass Frog — common questions

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How to photograph the emerald glass frog →Where: Sarapiquí foothills →Costa Rica wildlife photography →

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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.