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Travel bucket list idea:

Last updated: 28 May, 2023
Expert travel writer: Alex Robinson

Spread across rugged mountains 1,400m above sea level, this private reserve (and adjacent protected areas) covers more than 10,000 hectares of wildlife-rich, misty cloud forest.

This is where dedicated twitchers come to combe the 15kms of trails in search of the resplendent quetzal, the brightly-plumed bird sacred to the Mayas.

But there is plenty of other wildlife to discover – from spider monkeys and over 400 bird species, to wild orchids and prehistoric ferns – and a variety of ways to explore Monteverde.

Walking trails lead through a forest encrusted with orchids and covered in thick carpets of dripping moss (there are day and night safaris available). Canopy walkways and cable cars run through the trees, affording an eagle’s eye view of the extraordinary landscape, or you can see it at high-speed on a zip-line experience.

Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 8+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

The reserve lies at the end of a bumpy mountain road. Most travellers come via Santa Elena, a small dairy town located 6km west of the park entrance. While maps and well-maintained trails make independent hiking easy, spotting wildlife is challenging in the misty forest – better to go with a naturalist guide.

Binoculars are a necessity, along with long sleeves, trousers, hiking boots and a jacket for when the mist descends.

A basic café at the main entrance serves Costa Rican food. If you want to hit remote trails, pack food and water. There are no services inside the park.

If travelling to Monteverde from the Arenal/Fortuna area, a number of companies can arrange a day-long journey to Monteverde on horseback. It’s a rugged, beautiful trip skirting Lake Arenal.

When to do it

The dry season (Dec-May) is the best time to see wildlife. The ideal time to see quetzals is in March and April, when they’re nesting.

Even in the dry season, the cloud forest is wet and damp. However, during the wettest months (September to October), it can rain for days on end.

For the best chance of spotting wildlife, walk the trails around dawn or dusk.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Monteverde Rain Forest Night Walk

Puntarenas

Monteverde Rain Forest Night Walk
The Rain Forest Night Walk provide you a fantastic chance to enjoy a nocturnal tropical forest experience, the night time is special time to explore the jungle. Scientists suggest that 80 percent of tropical wildlife is active at night as they take refuge in the dark to avoid potential predators. This activity is a nice opportunity to explore a natural tropical forest with the company of an expert naturalist guide in local wildlife who will share natural history data with scientific data of the area and this unique natural ecosystem in the world. We provide flash lights for the two hours Walk serching for local wild life. We use professional optic gear to be able to observe with details the amazing tropical forest residents This tour provide a good chance to watch animals like, *Two-toed Sloth *Red-eye frog *Side-striped Palm-pit viper *Orange kneed Tarantulas *Kinkajus *Nine-banded Armadillo *Bats *Bio-luminescen mushroom *Anoles *Olingo *Mottled Owl *Sleeping Monkey and more

Price: $33

Min age: 2

Rating 4.69 / 5 [268 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Monteverde Cloud Forest Tour

Puntarenas

Monteverde Cloud Forest Tour
This great tour all ways provide a good oportunity to watch allot of the local wild life, specially in a Tropical Cloud Forest . The cloud fores is one of the most beautiful forest on the world. Many of the species are endemic. We can find more than 200 species of plants on one tree. You can learn about the forest and the animals and birds. Will be a wonderful experience with a small group. The idea Whit the small group is provided a very personal service. Also we have the resplendent quetzal.the most beautiful Bird in central America. 2500 different species of plants. 1000 different species of trees. 585 different species of orquídeas. 540 species of birds. And many more.

Price: $35

Min age: 2

Rating 4.78 / 5 [212 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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100% Adventure Park Combo: Zipline, Superman, and Mega Tarzan Tour in Monteverde

Monteverde

100% Adventure Park Combo: Zipline, Superman, and Mega Tarzan Tour in Monteverde
Visit 100% Aventura adventure park, during this 2-hour experience in the Costa Rican rainforest. This combo canopy tour includes the park's most popular attractions: zipline course (10 cables), the Superman (two cables), rope bridge, rappel, buggy ride, and, last but certainly not least, the Mega Tarzan Swing. Select a morning or afternoon departure time when booking. Restrictions & Details: Minors between the ages of 10 and 17 can only participate in the activity in the company of an adult. Children under ten years old cannot participate in the canopy tour, no exceptions. The maximum weight for a person to participate in the canopy tour is 240 pounds and it is necessary that the harness fits properly, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. The maximum weight for a person to participate in the Superman, Rappel and Tarzan Swing activities is 220 pounds and it is necessary that the harness fits properly, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Price: $56

Min age: 10

Rating 4.68 / 5 [621 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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The Original Canopy Tour Monteverde, Zipline

Monteverde

The Original Canopy Tour Monteverde, Zipline
The Original Canopy Tour offers Canopy Tour, Rappel, climbing a Hollow tree, Tarzan Swing, and an exhilarating opportunity to soar through the treetops high above the forest floor on the adventure of a lifetime. Here you will view the jungle life from a perspective previously reserved for a selected group of researchers and photographers. Everything was designed for your fun but always preserving the forest.

Price: $68

Min age: 5

Rating 4.87 / 5 [782 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Bird Watching Tour in Monteverde

Monteverde

Bird Watching Tour in Monteverde
The Monteverde area is home to over 450 species of birds. About 90 of those species migrate from North America every year. This tour offers a professional guided walk early in the morning when normally most birds are waking up and enjoying breakfast. Even though there is no control of the weather nor the birds, your guide will do the very best to spot and ID as many birds and wild life as possible. This tour is conducted in small groups is provide the best service possible. This tour is for birders of all ages and experience levels, so whether you are a bird watching expert, an amateur or none, you are welcome to join a walk in the Cloud Forest in the heart of the Monteverde community.

Price: $75

Min age: 10

Rating 4.78 / 5 [33 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Monteverde Birdwatching Experience

Monteverde

Monteverde Birdwatching Experience
Is the perfect activity for those who wants to discover the natural habitat found in Monteverde, Costa Rica. The idea is to start at 6:00am or 7:00am with an introduction of the Costarican birds and general terms about the tour. During the 4 hours of this tour is possible to spot different species of animals. Costa Rica is well known wordwide about birds, so this is a great experience if you really wants to feel the cloud forest sorrouned by beautiful nature.

Price: $75

Min age: 0

Rating 4.92 / 5 [28 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Monteverde Cloud Forest Zipline Tour

Monteverde

Monteverde Cloud Forest Zipline Tour
Soar through the air with the greatest of ease in this 3-hour Superman Zipline canopy tour through Selvatura Park.

Price: $88

Min age: 4

Rating 4.71 / 5 [207 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Extreme Bungee Jumping in Monteverde

Puntarenas

Extreme Bungee Jumping in Monteverde
This thrilling tour takes 1 to 2 hours, plus time for transportation. The bungee jump in Monteverde consists of jumping off a tram, which moves on cables operated by a motor, into the center of a valley. The extreme jump is 143 meters off the ground. Jumper's minimum weight is 50kg. and maximum weight is 113kg. Transportation is included.

Price: $90

Min age: 15

Rating 4.51 / 5 [189 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Sky Walk- Sky Tram & Sky Trek Zipline From Monteverde

Monteverde

Sky Walk- Sky Tram & Sky Trek Zipline From Monteverde
This perfect combination will allow you to learn everything about the Cloud Forest in Monteverde.You will experience a total adventure tour. First, start with the guided Sky Walk, then onto the guided Sky Tram, and last is the Sky Trek ziplining. It's 5 hours of adventure and adrenaline. This small-group tour has a maximum of 15 guests. Choose from one of 3 departure times when you book.

Price: $148

Min age: 7

Rating 4.64 / 5 [115 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Zipline and Hanging Bridges Combo Tour in Monteverde Cloud Forest

Tamarindo

Zipline and Hanging Bridges Combo Tour in Monteverde Cloud Forest
Take a trip out the thick of the rainforest in Monteverde. There are a wide varity of activites to choose from, and our favorites are the extreme ziplining and the famous hanging bridges,. Here you can zipline through the clouds on a course that is 2 miles long and includes a Tarzan swing. After this exhilarating experience and a hearty lunch, take your time and walk through the clouds on the notorious hanging bridges, walking on eight different bridges with various lengths ranging between 150 feet up to 510 feet.

Price: $160

Min age: 5

Rating 4.60 / 5 [68 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Full Monteverde Cloud Forest Experience With Ziplining.

Monteverde

Full Monteverde Cloud Forest Experience With Ziplining.
Spend time exploring all the spectacular cloud forest has to offer! Zipline through the forest canopy, walk along the hanging bridges and explore the butterfly jarden.

Price: $165

Min age: 4

Rating 4.73 / 5 [76 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Monteverde Hanging Bridges Day Trip from San Jose

San Jose

Monteverde Hanging Bridges Day Trip from San Jose
Explore the lush Cloud Forest of Costa Rica on this Monteverde Day Trip from San Jose. Hike on the best hanging bridges of the country and observe the Cloud Forest up-close. Learn about the interesting jungle’s eco-system and observe Wildlife. Stop in different places on the way to Monteverde to learn about fruits of Costa Rica, in a place where monkeys are normally observed and in a look-out point to take pictures of the Nicoya Gulf and the Monteverde mountainous landscape.

Price: $179

Min age: 3

Rating 4.76 / 5 [165 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Monteverde Sky Tram & Hanging Bridges Cloud Forest Tour from San Jose

San Jose

Monteverde Sky Tram & Hanging Bridges Cloud Forest Tour from San Jose
Explore the lush Cloud Forests of Monteverde on this Full-Day trip from San Jose. Take a ride on the Sky Tram Gondola and get the best views of the Monteverde Mountains and jungles. Hike on the Sky Walk Suspension Bridges and observe the Cloud Forest’s flora and fauna from the top. Walk on the Sky Park Trails and learn about the interesting Cloud Forest Eco-system. Make multiple stops on the way to Monteverde to observe monkeys, learn about tropical fruits of Costa Rica and to take pictures of beautiful landscapes.  

Price: $195

Min age: 3

Rating 4.89 / 5 [175 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Full Day to Selvatura Monteverde Cloud Forest from Guanacaste

Playa Flamingo

Full Day to Selvatura Monteverde Cloud Forest from Guanacaste
Explore the unique topical eco-systems of the Monteverde Cloud Forest on this Full-Day Trip to Selvatura Park. A must for intrepid travellers who are looking for a thrill-seeking adventure in Costa Rica, this fully inclusive tour will have you walking through treetops and getting up close and personal with local wildlife, birdlife, and amphibians. Selvatura Adventure Park is Monteverde’s top attraction. It’s an ecological paradise, where you’ll have the unique opportunity to explore Costa Rica’s jungles on an action-packed day trip that includes transport from Guanacaste with a local tour guide, breakfast, drinks, lunch, and VIP access to all the attractions and activities. During your day trip to Monteverde Cloud Forest, you can walk in the clouds on a 1.9-mile trail of hanging bridges. After all that action, you’ll be ready for the butterfly garden and amphibian exhibition, where you’ll meet over thirty species of lizards, geckos, frogs and snakes endemic to this part of Costa Rica.

Price: $262

Min age: 0

Rating 4.92 / 5 [13 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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3-Days Arenal Volcano Tabacon Resort - Monteverde - Manuel Antonio

San Jose

3-Days Arenal Volcano Tabacon Resort - Monteverde - Manuel Antonio
Hike in one of the most spectacular destinations in Costa Rica, the Arenal Volcano! As the most active volcano in the country, don't be surprised if you hear a crackling noise or smoke coming out of its mouth, See the view of the Arenal Volcano and your Lake in the tower inside the National Park.Enjoy a relaxing bath in the wonderfull Hot springs. See the region of Monteverde from up high as you walk across hanging bridges in Selvatura Park, and sail down a zip line or enjoy a time in Don Juan Coffee tour 3in1 (coffee,sugar,chocolate) here you can enjoy a typical foods of Costa Rica and taste the different types of coffee and ice cream. This tour provides a perfect combination of nature, wildlife and pristine beaches.Explore the Manuel Antonio National Park on foot,relax and sunbathe on the beach in this spectacular tryp wich is also sorrounded by a lush tropical forest. Enjoy typical breaksfast,view of the mountains,waterfalls and even see cocodriles in their natural habitad.

Price: $695

Min age: 0

Rating 4.45 / 5 [37 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste

San Antonio De Belen

9-Day Best of Northwest Costa Rica from San Jose: Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Guanacaste
Experience Costa Rica's northwestern highlights on this 9-day tour, including Arenal Volcano National Park, Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Super Combo in Guanacaste. Explore the natural wonders of land and water, where approximately six percent of the world’s most bio-diverse species reside. Relax in a thermal hot spring as you watch the active Arenal Volcano, spot wildlife on a cruise through a tropical rainforest, explore the forest canopy on a Sky Walk and ride on horseback along mountain trails – with an extra day to relax at your leisure or continue your adventure with multiple options.

Price: $1,460

Min age: 3

Rating 4.55 / 5 [9 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

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