Breeding sites are scattered, ephemeral, and limited resources for rainforest amphibians. This resource limitation has driven the evolution of a variety of reproductive strategies across species to enhance larval development and maximize offspring survival. For example, most poison frogs shuttle their tadpoles from terrestrial clutches to aquatic rearing sites using various cues to assess pool suitability. Yet, the sensory mechanisms and strategies involved in finding new pools are not well understood. In this study, we worked with the poison frog Allobates femoralis to test the role of odor cues in the process of finding new tadpole deposition sites. We placed 60 artificial pools in the field grouped into three conditions: (1) stagnant water odor cues, (2) presence of conspecific tadpoles, and (3) clean water control. Out of the 60 pools, fifteen (25%) were discovered within six days and frogs showed a clear preference for stagnant water odor cues. Out of 253 tadpoles deposited in 15 artificial pools, 212 tadpoles were deposited in 11 stagnant water odor pools, 23 tadpoles in two pools with conspecific tadpole cues, and 18 tadpoles in two control pools. Furthermore, of the 18 frogs directly observed at the pools (of which, four were transporting tadpoles), 15 were at stagnant water odor pools, two at pools with conspecific tadpole cues, and one was at the control pools. Our data suggest that frogs are using odor cues for the initial discovery of new tadpole rearing pools. These odor cues may be important indicators of pool stability and increased likelihood of tadpoles’ survival.