Best Destinations in Costa Rica: Monteverde Cloud Forest

thumb-img
0 Comments

Among Costa Rican destinations, Monteverde is unique. For decades, the road to Monteverde was terrible. Sometimes you need to have a four-wheel drive to get there. And yet, people came. And they kept coming. Why? Because Monteverde is a quite extraordinary destination! Keep on reading to find out why!  

Among Costa Rican destinations, Monteverde is quite a unique one. It is very remote. You will find it after going uphill for more than an hour. And once there, you will find that Monteverde is spread and it is even hard to find its center.   And it is chilly, cloudy, and ever drizzling… Why is it that people are constantly visiting this small town in the Costa Rican mountains? The answer hits you in the face when you get on a trail in one of its many reserves: The wilderness of Monteverde is breathtaking.

But if you paid enough attention to the way in, the answer came much earlier: Monteverde is simply beautiful. And beyond, in the past decades, its inhabitants have created numerous places to sit and experience its beauty. It is a place to be seen.  You will find benches strategically distributed, but you will see many people stopping to see the sunset over the Pacific Ocean in the distance in the afternoons.  It is a daily activity in Monteverde.

That is the soul of Monteverde. This is a place where the beauty of nature is appreciated and respected, and it shows.

Monteverde is among the three or four favorites among the Costa Rican destinations and a must if you are a nature lover, a bird watcher, or if you are into hiking. There is a fantastic collection of trails to choose from, and it is a hard choice!

Where is Monteverde? 

Monteverde is located in the Central North Pacific area of Costa Rica.

It is almost at the same distance from either airport:

2 hr 24 min (126.3 km) from the San José

2 hours, 25 minutes (124.2 km) from the Liberia International Airport (LIR).

And the way in, now wholly paved, goes on a winding, hard-to-drive uphill that will give you some glimpses of the fantastic nature of this place.

As you arrive, you will see a small town called Santa Elena, where you may find supermarkets, pharmacies, ATMs, banks, and several stores and galleries.

And depending on where you stay, you will also discover that Monteverde is quite spread.

The main attraction of Monteverde, of course, is the rare cloud forest. Let’s talk a bit about it:

What is a cloud forest?  

A cloud forest has continuous cloud coverage at high elevation, indicating it has higher rainfall and humidity. That is the reason for flora and fauna to thrive in this singular ecosystem. There are very few places in the world that have tropical cloud forests, including Costa Rica.

History of Monteverde

The history of Monteverde pays homage to true ethics and peace, as in the 1950s, a group of Quakers found their way out of going to war by coming to Costa Rica and establishing Monteverde. This created an amazing community and a true human example about conservation, sustainability and community.

Find the history in this video:

https://youtu.be/-MNKBTlKkNw

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve:  

This reserve was founded in 1972 by US Quaker families and is now managed by the Tropical Science Center, a nonprofit organization committed to preserving and defending the vulnerable ecological system. This reserve has 26,000 acres of primary and secondary cloud forest.

This reserve boasts 2.5% of the world’s total biodiversity. From the enormous old trees to the almost 500 kinds of birds, 120 distinct sorts of amphibians and reptiles, and more than 3,000 species of plants, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is an enchanting place for nature lovers.

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is approximately 5 kilometers (3.4 miles) from downtown Santa Elena. The road is gravel after you pass the Cheese Factory, and there are plenty of signs all over the place.

If you are driving, you will find a big parking lot about a mile before getting to the preserve (Shuttles). Which, for the safety of the car rental and your peace of mind, could be the best idea?

There are bathrooms, a big souvenir shop, and a good restaurant at the entrance of the reserve.

Right on the outside, you will also find an art gallery and souvenir shop that have a fantastic hummingbird garden. (The Hummingbirds Gallery).

The hiking trails 

Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve has 11 hiking trails with different distances from 300 meters to 2000 meters, making it accessible for every one of the various physical levels.

If you are traveling with Amazing Costa Rica we will recommend an expert guide to show you all the wonders of this fantastic preserve!

There are numerous viewpoints, a hanging bridge, and some small but charming waterfalls wholly surrounded by rainforest.

The paths are very well kept and planned out. There are indications in every cross-section, so it’s difficult to get lost.

The views are stunning, particularly the one up to the Continental Divide. You can observe the Nicoya Peninsula and look over a considerable portion of the cloud forest. It is impressive.

Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve

Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve started in 1972, preserving 764 acres of the cloud forest. It’s managed by the Santa Elena High School and its students are the ones in charge of the trails and even of the guiding sometimes.

It’s somewhat higher in elevation, but the difference is remarkable; it’s significantly damper and cloudier than the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve.

Somehow, it feels wilder.

Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve is 4.3 miles (7 km) from Santa Elena town. The signage is excellent; however, the gravel road can be tricky to drive.

There is a big parking lot, and the main entrance has bathrooms, a lunchroom and cafeteria, and a small gift shop.

The Trails 

The trails in Santa Elena Reserve are longer and more technical.

If you are a good hiker, you can manage all of them. However, if you are not, the only one that I wouldn’t recommend is Caño Negro, as it is pretty strenuous and doesn’t have any shortcuts.

The trails in the Santa Elena Reserve are longer and a bit more complicated than the ones in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

Trails are very well kept, and signage is excellent as well. There is even a universal paved trail in Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve.

The cloud forest here feels different, as it is more humid and rainier; lush moss clasps to every branch; fog floats on the path, leaving it shining with drops of water and creating a quiet, mysterious atmosphere. It always makes you feel as if you were traversing part of a magical forest.

Most importantly, in the Santa Elena Reserve, you can find several trails..

Children’s Eternal Rainforest 

Bosque Eterno de Los Ninos is the most extensive private reserve in Costa Rica, containing approximately 23,000 hectares (6 times as big as the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve!). The Monteverde Conservation League, a nonprofit conservancy organization, is in charge of managing the reserve after a group of Swedish children fought for funding to establish it.

Four different stations spread throughout the region, getting to be as distant as San Ramon in the Central Volcanic Mountain Range.

In Monteverde, you can enjoy the Bajo del Tigre station which is on the way to the Monteverde Reserve.

Bajo del Tigre protects a unique “rain shadow forest.”  A rain shadow is a dry area on the side of a mountain (away from the wind). The mountains prevent the passage of rain-producing climate systems and cast a “shadow” of dryness behind them. (1)

Even if it’s only 1 mile from the cloud forest, the weather in the Children’s Eternal RainForest Bajo del Tigre reserve is substantially drier, producing a separate ecosystem with different animals and plants. Its trails are also quite soft and great for families and small children to enjoy.

Hanging Bridges:

Selvatura Park sits at nearly 5250 feet (1600 meters) in height; you will get the cloud forest experience!

Selvatura Park has a breathtaking cloud forest; it receives its influence right next to the magnificent Santa Elena woods. And to enjoy this fantastic nature, you can walk on high and long-hanging bridges, delight in the thrill of ziplining, and see a butterfly garden, a hummingbird garden, an amphibian and reptile exhibit, and a new ecological center with sloths.

Ziplining in Selvatura is almost a must and a great way to enjoy some adventure in Monteverde.

Night Hikes 

They are worth it! Unless it is pouring, the night walks at Monteverde are fantastic!

The sounds of the forest alone are breathtaking. At night, the jungle revives, and you feel it all over. On the other side, it is an excellent chance to see some night wildlife, and if you have a good guide, this is an experience to discover a new realm.

Conclusion:

Monteverde is a unique destination in Costa Rica that draws visitors from around the world to experience its stunning cloud forests and reserves. Despite the remote location and challenging road, people make the journey to immerse themselves in the area’s breathtaking natural beauty and biodiversity. From hiking through mystical trails to glimpsing rare birds and wildlife, Monteverde offers endless opportunities to connect with nature. Its conservation history and continued efforts also resonate with many travelers. Those who make the trip find it is well worth the journey.

To truly experience the magic of Monteverde, contact Amazing Costa Rica, the best tour operator in Costa Rica.

 

Categories:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *