Monteverde: The Ultimate Guide And Top Things to Do
The region of Monteverde in Costa Rica hosts a special kind of eco-system. This beautiful area of Costa Rica with its lush cloud forest bursts of wildlife and plants. This guide to Monteverde puts together the top things to do in Monteverde, how much you should plan to spend when you are there and when to visit Monteverde. Have a great trip to Monteverde and enjoy this guide.
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7 Amazing Things to Do in Monteverde
Monteverde is an absolute must-see when you are in Costa Rica. The cloud forest which surrounds this beautiful place is one of a kind. You can spot plenty of wildlife and some very rare bird species. All of the following activities can be done from the little village of Santa Elena, which you can use as a hub.
1. Visit the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Monteverde is famous for its cloud forest. The eco-system of the cloud forest is very special and hard to find in the world as only 1% of global woodlands are classified as cloud forests. What makes the cloud forest so unique is the fact that it is located high in elevation which is why they are often called montane rainforests. The elevation of the cloud forest and the drop in temperature leads to the condensation of the moist air from the sea, which creates the mystical clouds that meander around the trees.
Due to the high moister, the flora of the cloud forest is characterized by orchids, ferns and mosses that cover the trees in thick green blankets. But not just the flora, even the fauna is flourishing in the cloud forest. If you are patient you will be able to spot plenty of wildlife such as birds, mammals, reptiles and insects.
At the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in Costa Rica, you can find a perfect example of this unique ecosystem. The Cloud Forest Reserve is open every day from 7 am to 4 pm and the entrance fee is 25 USD per person. As it can get very crowded you should consider arriving as early as possible. This will also increase the chance of seeing the mystical clouds creeping through the forest.
2. Hummingbird Cafe
If you weren’t lucky with spotting animals at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, we have a little tip for you. Right at the entrance of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, you can find the Hummingbird Cafe. In the garden of this cute little cafe, you can see dozens of small hummingbird species flying around. These cute little creatures are attracted by the sugar water which is served through bird feeders hanging from the trees. You can get super close to the hummingbirds and hear the distinctive hum from their wings when they fly around your head. With some luck, you can even spot a Tucanet feeding on the berries from the trees.
Access to the garden is completely free, but don’t forget to have a quick look at the gift shop where they sell beautiful handmade souvenirs. Also in the cafe, they serve huge mouthwatering cinnamon buns and cakes for a reasonable price.
Read More: If you are planning to visit more places in Costa Rica, check out the Guide of the Top 10 Things to Do in Uvita, Costa Rica.
3. Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve
If you want to enjoy the mystic cloud forest with fewer tourists we recommend visiting La Reserva Bosque Nuboso, also known as the Santa Elena Trail. This cloud forest is higher in elevation than the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and therefore it is more moist and wet. This is the reason why the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve has more moss and ferns growing on the trees, which makes it even more mystical.
Overall I prefer the experience of hiking the trails in the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve as there are fewer tourists and it is more affordable as well. The entrance fee to the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve costs 16 USD per person and it is open every day from 7 am to 3 pm.
Top Tip: If you are a student bring your student ID with you and you can enter the Cloud Forest Reserve at a reduced price.
4. Go Bird Watching at the Curi-Cancha Reserve
The Curi-Cancha Reserve is an ‘El Dorado’ for bird watching. This relatively small reserve boasts of wildlife. This park is home to more than 200 species of birds. To name some of them: the Keel-billed Toucan, the Blue-crowned Motmot, the Orange-bellied Trogon and many more. But the star of this park is without a question the Resplendent Quetzal. This magnificent bird is one of a kind and can be seen in the Curi-Cancha Reserve. Your best chance to spot this bird is to look in the crown of old wild avocado trees as it is the main source of food for the Resplendent Quetzal.
Also, there is a huge amount of mammals that you can spot in this park, such as armadillos, coatis, sloths and three types of monkeys that call the Curi-Cancha Reserve their home.
The entrance to the Curi-Cancha Reserve is 20 USD for adults and 12 USD for children between 5 and 20 years old. The park is open every day from 7 am to 3 pm and is located only 10 minutes with the car from Santa Elena.
Top Tip: To be able to spot many different kinds of birds we would recommend joining a guided bird-watching tour. We can recommend the Three Brothers as a tour guide. They offer affordable and high-quality bird-watching tours.
Read More: If you love seeing wildlife and you are up for an adventure, read the Top 10 Things to Do in La Fortuna.
5. Sunset at Mirador Valle Escondido
One amazing free thing to do in Monteverde, Costa Rica is watching the sunset from one of the viewpoints. Our favourite spot to watch the sunset in Monteverde is the Mirador Valle Escondido.
To see the sunset arrive around 5 pm at the viewpoint. If you are lucky you can grab a seat on a bench next to the road. If all the seats are taken we highly recommend venturing down to the grass and taking a seat there.
Top Tip: Take a pick-nick blanket when you are planning to sit on the grass to make the most of the sunset.
The Mirador Valle Escondido is about a 15 minutes walk away from Santa Elena and is located here. So grab a couple of beers and some crisps and enjoy the end of an incredible day in Monteverde.
Read More: If you want to see a completely different side of Costa Rica, check out the Perfect Guide of Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica.
6. Monteverde Waterfall
If you have some spare time in Monteverde, why not check out some waterfalls. The Monteverde waterfall is located just outside of Santa Elena. To get to the waterfall you can park at the little car park from where you start the descent to the small but beautiful waterfall. As soon as you arrive at the bottom of the valley you will find a small creek which you follow upstream over some bridges to get to the waterfall. On the way there you can spot wildlife and beautiful flowers.
The entrance to the waterfall is 3600 CRC per person and it is open every day from 9 am until 5 pm. You can purchase your ticket at the entrance to the waterfall. Parking is available but it is very limited. Chances are high that you will experience the waterfall all by yourself as there are almost no people around, which makes this place the ideal getaway from the main tourist route.
7. Zip-Lining at Skyadventures
Monteverde is the perfect location if you seek an adrenaline rush. One major activity at Monteverde is zip-lining at Skyadventures. Flying over the tree canopy can give you a completely new perspective on the cloud forest.
The Sky Trek takes you over 7 zip-lines at a height of 100 meters and it will cost you 84 USD. Skyadventures is open every day from 8 am until 5 pm.
Budget For Your Monteverde Trip
In Monteverde, I spent around 60-70 USD per person per day. This included my accommodation in a private hostel room, entrance fees for the parks and tours, as well as for food which I cooked by myself in the hostel kitchen.
If you want to eat out in a restaurant, expect to pay between 10 – 30 USD for a meal.
Best Time to Visit Monteverde
The seasons in Monteverde in Costa Rica are divided into the dry season which runs from December to April and the rainy season which runs from May to November. But because of the high elevation of Monteverde high up in the mountains, it can rain any day.
But this is what adds to the charm of Monteverde. Being surrounded by the lush rainforest which is covered in clouds makes for a unique experience no matter what time you will visit Monteverde.
Always be prepared for slightly lower temperatures than the rest of Costa Rica, especially at night, so dress accordingly.
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