Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in Costa Rica is one of the most visited Costa Rica parks. Brilliant green forest sopping with moss, bromeliads, and more than 400 types of orchid form the backdrop of the Monteverde Cloud Forest landscape, softened by the ethereal clouds that drift through the trees.
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Everyone who has walked though the haunting Costa Rica cloud forest agrees Monteverde is a magical place. But unlike the more remote Costa Rica national parks, Monteverde is convenitent. Also including the Santa Elena Cloud Forest, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is right outside the village of Santa Elena, just four hours by bus from San Jose.
Admission:
$13 US for adults; $6.50 for students with ID and kids 11 – 18; free for kids 10 and under.
Size:
Approximately 25,000 acres
Landscape:
Cloud Forest
Wildlife:
More than 100 species of mammals including Baird's tapir, jaguars and ocelots; over 400 bird species including the resplendent quetzal (don't you love that name?), the umbrella bird and 30 different varieties of hummingbirds. You can see many of these animals up close at Monteverde and Santa Elenas series of Serpentarios (snake zoos), Frog Ponds, Bat Jungles and Butterfly Gardens.
Getting there:
From San Jose (and from many other Costa Rica cities), several inexpensive public buses leave daily to Santa Elena – take a look at the Costa Rica bus schedule. You can also book a minibus to Santa Elena through your hotel, or through a company like Monteverde Info.
Once you're in Santa Elena, buses from Santa Elena leaves from the Banco Nacional from 6am to 1pm, and head back every hour from 9:45am to 4pm. The park is so close, taxis are also cost-effective at around $7 US.
Travel Tips:
The hiking trails in the Monteverde Cloud Forest are remarkably well-maintained – no fancy hiking gear necessary.
While hiking, bird-watching and horseback riding are all worthwhile Monteverde attractions, only one is an absolute must-do: Monteverde canopy tours! Many canopy tours include suspension bridges, endless stretches of cable for zip lining, and the pinnacle of cloud forest excitement: the Tarzan swing.
Fun Fact:
The tiny village of Monteverde was founded by a group of America Quakers during the Korean War. They donated much of the land that now encompasses the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (called Bosque Nuboso de Monteverde in Spanish).
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