Bucket list experience:
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.
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Destination Guide >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.
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
Puntarenas
$24 | Rating 4.70 / 5 [213 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Puntarenas
$31 | Rating 4.77 / 5 [166 ratings]
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Monteverde
$54 | Rating 4.68 / 5 [562 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Puntarenas
$55 | Rating 4.86 / 5 [631 ratings]
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Monteverde, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica[3.8 miles]
A well-appointed B&B with cosy wooden treehouses built right into the cloud forest canopy, close to Monteverde Cloud Forest.
Official star rating:
Arenal Volcano National Park, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica[17.8 miles]
Originally built for scientists, this is the only hotel inside Arenal National Park; which guests have to themselves until gates opens at 8am. Volcano views are astounding.
Official star rating:
La Fortuna, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica[22.5 miles]
A gorgeous, sustainable rainforest retreat, close to the Arenal Volcano National Park, that harnesses the healing power of the Tabacon Thermal River.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Costa Rica
Rainforests, powdery beaches, white-water rivers and towering volcanoes: this relaxed Central American country offers exceptional wilderness adventures in stunning landscapes.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Alajuela Province, Costa Rica[19.3 miles]
Shrouding Costa Rica’s most impressive volcano, this forested national park is cut with hiking trails, filled with waterfalls and offers adventures from zip-lining to canopy walkways.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Costa Rica
Stringently protected, crawling with life, astonishingly diverse, Costa Rica’s protected forests and reefs have inspired successful conservational tourism worldwide.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
El Castillo, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica[14.2 miles]
This small centre just outside the Park has atrium habitats housing hundreds of colourful rainforest butterflies, as well as other small rainforest fauna and an orchid exhibit. You’ll leave with a full appreciation of the extraordinarily diverse range of butterflies you may not see in the wild. Open daily.
Best for ages: 4+ | £11
Arenal National Park, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica[20.9 miles]
A beautiful 75m-high waterfall that drops into a refreshing, clear-water pool surrounded by moss-covered boulders. A wonderful place to swim.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
