Monteverde CloudForest
5
Day Itinerary •
Costa Rica
Five days in Monteverde and the Costa Rica cloud forest gives you the full extraordinary depth of the finest cloud forest destination in the Americas, with two full days in the Monteverde and Santa Elena reserves for the finest quetzal sightings, the extraordinary Sky Walk hanging bridges, the remarkable Extremo zipline, the fine night walks and the extraordinary extension to the Curi-Cancha alternative reserve and the Children's Eternal Rainforest. This extended route covers Monteverde completely. Two days in the extraordinary Monteverde and Curi-Cancha reserves with guided birding, ziplining and night walks, the remarkable Bat Jungle and Sloth Sanctuary, a full day at Santa Elena Reserve and the Children's Rainforest, and a final day combining the fine Butterfly Garden and the extraordinary Quaker cheese factory history.
Best Time To Visit
December to May, quetzal nesting February to May is the finest
Getting There
Fly into SJO then 4-hour shuttle to Monteverde
Getting Around
Walking in Santa Elena, taxis to reserves
Budget Per Day
Approx 80 to 180 USD per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate, some steep cloud forest trails
DAY 1
MONTEVERDE RESERVE
MORNING
MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST BIOLOGICAL RESERVE DAWN WALK
The most extraordinary cloud forest in the Americas, a remarkable 10,500-hectare private reserve at 1,440 to 1,800 metres. The extraordinary diversity of 500 orchid species, 400 bird species including the remarkable resplendent quetzal, 490 butterfly species and 100 mammal species including the fine baird's tapir makes this the finest cloud forest reserve in the world. Dawn guide walks give the finest quetzal sightings. Entry approx 24 USD. Book tickets online. 30 min walk
MIDDAY
MONTEVERDE HUMMINGBIRD GARDEN AND ORCHID GARDEN
The extraordinary hummingbird gardens of Monteverde where remarkable species including the green-crowned brilliant and fine purple-throated mountaingem feed simultaneously. The extraordinary Monteverde Orchid Garden contains the finest collection of cloud forest orchid species with remarkable micro-orchids viewable only through magnifying glass. Entry approx 10 USD each. 15 min walk
AFTERNOON
CHEESE FACTORY TOUR AND MONTEVERDE VILLAGE
The extraordinary Monteverde Cheese Factory established in 1953 by the remarkable Quaker community who founded Monteverde, producing the finest artisan cheeses in Costa Rica. The fine factory tour reveals the remarkable history of how Alabama Quakers created the extraordinary environmental sanctuary of Monteverde. Tour approx 8 USD.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Bajo del Tigre nature trail at the Monteverde reserve edge, a remarkable 1.5km walk through outstanding secondary cloud forest with fine interpretive signs on the extraordinary biodiversity, is almost entirely missed by visitors who go straight to the main reserve. The finest bird activity is at dawn on this trail. Entry approx 10 USD.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe Monteverde Outstanding breakfast in Santa Elena. Fresh Costa Rican coffee and gallo pinto before the dawn reserve walk. | Lunch: Soda Monteverde Outstanding casado and fresh fruit juice after the hummingbird gardens. | Dinner: Tree House Restaurant The finest restaurant in Santa Elena. Outstanding contemporary Costa Rican cuisine in an extraordinary treehouse.
DAY 2
SKY WALK
MORNING
SKY WALK HANGING BRIDGES
The extraordinary Sky Walk system of six hanging bridges and eight nature trails through remarkable old-growth cloud forest giving outstanding above-canopy views of the extraordinary Monteverde landscape. The fine 3km trail crosses 16 bridges including 6 extraordinary hanging bridges. The outstanding 330-metre suspension bridge is the longest in Costa Rica. The remarkable sloth and toucan encounters are the finest. Entry approx 29 USD. 15 min drive
MIDDAY
EXTREMO MONTEVERDE ZIPLINE
The extraordinary Extremo Adventure Park, the finest zipline in Costa Rica, where remarkable cables cross the extraordinary cloud forest canopy at heights of up to 125 metres and speeds of 120 kilometres per hour. The fine 12-cable Tarzan swing and the remarkable Superman position give extraordinary views over the cloud forest and Pacific lowlands. Zipline approx 55 USD. 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST NIGHT WALK
The extraordinary night walk in the Monteverde Cloud Forest with a specialist naturalist guide, revealing the remarkable red-eyed tree frog, extraordinary olingo, the fine glass frog and the remarkable porcupines. The fine Monteverde glass frog visible through its transparent skin is the most extraordinary wildlife encounter on the night walk. Tours approx 22 USD.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Curi-Cancha Reserve adjacent to the Monteverde boundary is the finest alternative wildlife reserve in Monteverde, with outstanding quetzal sightings, remarkable three-wattled bellbirds and the fine bare-necked umbrella bird in a less-crowded setting. Entry approx 20 USD. The finest hidden birding reserve in Monteverde.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast Good breakfast before the Sky Walk opening. | Lunch: After Extremo zipline Outstanding smoothies and casado at a Santa Elena soda. Remarkable appetite after the extraordinary zipline. | Dinner: Morphos Restaurant Outstanding Costa Rican cuisine with fine cloud forest atmosphere. Excellent river fish and local vegetables.
DAY 3
CURI-CANCHA
MORNING
CURI-CANCHA RESERVE GUIDED BIRDING
The extraordinary Curi-Cancha Reserve, the finest alternative wildlife reserve in Monteverde with outstanding resplendent quetzal sightings, the remarkable three-wattled bellbird and the fine bare-necked umbrella bird. The remarkable private reserve shares the Monteverde watershed and the extraordinary quetzal population moves between the two. Guided birding in the early morning mist is the finest birding experience in Monteverde outside the main reserve. Entry approx 20 USD. 20 min drive
MIDDAY
SKY TRAM GONDOLA TO PACIFIC LOWLANDS
The extraordinary Sky Tram gondola from the cloud forest ridge down the remarkable Pacific slope giving outstanding aerial views above and the fine Gulf of Nicoya coastline below on clear days. The remarkable Sky Tram combined with the Sky Walk gives the finest cloud-forest-to-lowland experience in Monteverde. Tram approx 35 USD. 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
BAT JUNGLE AND SLOTH SANCTUARY
The extraordinary Bat Jungle in Santa Elena, the finest bat education centre in Costa Rica, where remarkable live bat colonies fly in a specially darkened enclosure revealing the extraordinary diversity of bat species. Then the fine Sloth Sanctuary with its remarkable three-toed sloth rehabilitation programme and extraordinary close-up encounters with recovering sloths. Entry approx 15 USD each.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Bajo del Tigre trail at the Monteverde Conservation League is a remarkable self-guided nature walk at the edge of the Children's Eternal Rainforest, with outstanding interpretation of the extraordinary cloud forest ecosystem. Entry approx 10 USD. The remarkable story of how children from 44 countries raised money to buy this extraordinary forest in 1988.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast Good breakfast before the Curi-Cancha dawn birding. | Lunch: After Sky Tram at the base Outstanding fresh juice and casado at the remarkable Sky Tram base station. | Dinner: Sofia Restaurant, Santa Elena Outstanding contemporary Costa Rican cuisine. Finest restaurant in Santa Elena.
DAY 4
SANTA ELENA
MORNING
SANTA ELENA CLOUD FOREST RESERVE
The extraordinary Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve at 1,700 metres, higher and more dramatically misty than the main Monteverde Reserve. The remarkable tower viewpoint gives the finest Arenal Volcano panorama on clear days. The outstanding resident guides spot the remarkable resplendent quetzal, fine emerald toucanet and the extraordinary bare-necked umbrella bird. Far less crowded than Monteverde. Entry approx 15 USD. 20 min walk
MIDDAY
CHILDREN'S ETERNAL RAINFOREST AND BAJO DEL TIGRE
The extraordinary Bosque Eterno de los Ninos, the largest private reserve in Costa Rica at 22,000 hectares, with the remarkable Bajo del Tigre trail giving the finest birdwatching near Monteverde in a less crowded setting. The extraordinary story of the Children's Rainforest purchased with donations from children around the world since 1988 is the finest conservation story in Costa Rica. 15 min drive
AFTERNOON
FROG POND AND MONTEVERDE SERPENTARIUM
The extraordinary Ranario Monteverde frog collection with remarkable walk-through enclosures including the extraordinary red-eyed tree frog, the fine glass frog visible through its transparent skin and the remarkable strawberry poison dart frog. Then the outstanding Serpentarium with its remarkable rattlesnakes and the extraordinary eyelash palm pit viper. Entry approx 15 USD each.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Children's Eternal Rainforest Bajo del Tigre bird trail gives the finest independent birdwatching near Monteverde away from crowds with remarkable resplendent quetzal sightings during the February to May nesting season. Entry approx 10 USD. Almost entirely overlooked by visitors who see only the main reserve.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast Good breakfast before the Santa Elena Reserve. | Lunch: Santa Elena soda Outstanding casado with fresh cloud forest vegetables and local cheese. | Dinner: Tree House Restaurant The finest restaurant in Santa Elena in an extraordinary treehouse. Remarkable cloud forest menu.
DAY 5
CLOUD FOREST FAREWELL
MORNING
MONTEVERDE BUTTERFLY GARDEN
The extraordinary Monteverde Butterfly Garden, the finest butterfly research facility in Costa Rica, with remarkable live collections of 30 Costa Rican species in four outstanding walk-through garden enclosures. The remarkable blue morpho butterfly emerging from its chrysalis is one of the finest educational wildlife experiences in Monteverde. Entry approx 15 USD. 15 min walk
MIDDAY
MONTEVERDE CHEESE FACTORY FAREWELL TOUR
The extraordinary Monteverde Cheese Factory, the remarkable Quaker-founded cooperative that created the conservation ethic of Monteverde since 1953. The outstanding cheese tasting and the fine Monteverde story are the most remarkable cultural experience in the cloud forest highlands. The extraordinary relationship between the cheese production and watershed conservation is remarkable. 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
RETURN JOURNEY AND CLOUD FOREST FAREWELL
The extraordinary final drive down from Monteverde's remarkable cloud forest highlands through outstanding coffee and cattle farms. The remarkable last view of the extraordinary cloud forest ridge disappearing into the clouds is the finest farewell to the most extraordinary ecosystem in Costa Rica.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Bajo del Tigre trail at the Children's Eternal Rainforest boundary, the largest private reserve in Costa Rica at 22,000 hectares, gives the finest independent birdwatching near Monteverde away from crowds with remarkable resplendent quetzal sightings during the nesting season. Entry approx 10 USD. The extraordinary Children's Eternal Rainforest purchase story is remarkable.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast Good breakfast before the butterfly garden. | Lunch: Cheese Factory cafe Outstanding artisan cheese plate and fresh bread at the remarkable Monteverde Cheese Factory cafe. | Dinner: San Jose or on road Fine dinner at a Central Valley restaurant on the return journey.
Where To Stay
Santa Elena, All 4 Nights Monteverde Lodge and Gardens or El Establo Mountain Hotel. Approx 100 to 350 USD. Monteverde Area Hotel Fonda Vela or Trapp Family Lodge. Approx 80 to 200 USD per night. Budget Camino Verde Hostel or Pension Santa Elena. Approx 20 to 60 USD per night.
Top Tips
1. Book Monteverde Reserve entry online. Daily visitor limits sell out in peak season months ahead.
2. February to May is the finest quetzal season at Monteverde. Book dawn guided walks.
3. Bring full waterproofs and rubber boots. The cloud forest is wet throughout the year.
4. Curi-Cancha is the finest alternative to the main reserve. Far fewer tourists and excellent quetzals.
5. The Extremo zipline is extraordinary. Book ahead in December and January.
6. Monteverde gets cold at night. Bring warm layers and a light fleece even in the dry season.
Total Budget
80 to 500 USD/day