Written by David Garcia, Maria Gaulto, Alejandro Vargas
02/08/2025
Derek Sutton, Pexels
Monteverde, situated in Costa Rica's Tilarán Mountain Range, is a premier ecotourism destination renowned for its unique cloud forests and incredible biodiversity. Travelers are drawn to its extensive opportunities for wildlife observation, hiking through lush trails, and engaging in thrilling canopy adventures such as ziplining and navigating hanging bridges.
The nearby town of Santa Elena serves as the main hub, offering various dining options and a limited nightlife scene. Bar Amigos is a notable spot for a lively atmosphere, attracting a mix of locals and visitors with live music and pool tables. Hostels in Santa Elena, such as Monteverde Backpackers and Monteverde Monkey Hostel, are known for their social environments, making them suitable places for meeting other travelers.
Top 5 Things to do in Monteverde
Monteverde offers a blend of immersive nature exploration, thrilling adventure activities, and engaging cultural experiences.
1. Explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
Step into a mystical world where fog intertwines with lush vegetation. This renowned reserve protects a unique ecosystem, home to an incredible array of plant and animal species, including over 400 types of birds and 100 species of mammals. Wandering the well-maintained trails allows for quiet contemplation of nature's beauty and offers opportunities for birdwatching, particularly for the elusive Resplendent Quetzal. Guided tours enhance the experience, as expert naturalists can spot camouflaged wildlife and explain the intricate ecology of the cloud forest.
Cost: Entrance fee: $26 USD per adult (non-resident), $13 USD per child (6-12 years). Guided tours typically cost around $75-$95 USD per person, often including entrance.
Transport: The Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is about 5 km (3.1 miles) from Santa Elena. Public buses run from Santa Elena to the reserve multiple times a day, costing $1-2 USD per way. Taxis are also available, costing approximately $11-14 USD for the 5 km ride. Many guided tours include round-trip transportation from hotels in the Monteverde/Santa Elena area.
2. Experience Ziplining
Soar through the cloud forest canopy on a zipline, an adventure activity Monteverde is famous for. Various parks offer different lengths and levels of thrill, including options like 'Superman' style ziplines where you fly headfirst, and exhilarating Tarzan swings. This provides a unique, high-adrenaline perspective of the forest from above.
Cost: Prices vary by park and package, typically starting from $40-$90 USD per person. For example, 100% Aventura costs around $67.80 USD for adults and $56.50 USD for children (6-12).
Transport: Many ziplining parks are located outside of Santa Elena. Most zipline tour operators provide complimentary round-trip transportation from hotels in the Monteverde area.
3. Walk the Hanging Bridges
Traverse a series of suspension bridges suspended high above the forest floor, offering an unparalleled view of the cloud forest canopy. This allows you to experience the diverse ecosystem from a different perspective, observing plants and animals that inhabit the upper layers of the forest. The trails connecting the bridges are generally well-maintained and suitable for various fitness levels.
Cost: Self-guided hanging bridge tours at Selvatura Park cost $49 USD per adult and $34 USD for children (4-11). Guided tours may be more, around $80 USD.
Transport: Parks with hanging bridges, such as Selvatura Park, are typically a short drive from Santa Elena. Shuttle services are often included in the tour price or can be arranged.
4. Join a Night Walk
Discover the cloud forest after dark, when a different set of animals emerges. A guided night walk allows you to observe nocturnal creatures, such as sloths, armadillos, tarantulas, various insects, and unique frog and snake species, that are rarely seen during the day. Guides are highly skilled at spotting wildlife and often provide telescopes for closer views, making it an engaging and educational experience.
Cost: Most night walks cost at least $35 USD per person. Prices typically range from $30-$45 USD for adults.
Transport: Night tours often include pick-up and drop-off from hotels in the Santa Elena/Monteverde area.
5. Take a Coffee and Chocolate Tour
Immerse yourself in Costa Rica's rich agricultural heritage by visiting a local coffee and chocolate plantation. These tours provide insight into the entire process, from cultivation and harvesting to roasting and tasting. Many tours also include a demonstration of traditional sugar cane processing, allowing you to sample fresh cane juice and other products. It's a hands-on way to learn about the country's important agricultural exports and local farming life.
Cost: Coffee, chocolate, and sugarcane tours generally cost around $40-$45 USD for adults, with discounted rates for children.
Transport: Many coffee tours are located a short distance from Santa Elena. Some tours offer roundtrip transportation for an additional fee or as part of the package.
At TFA Travel we believe in travel for all. Our mission is to enable people to explore the world as easily as possible without having to pay a travel agent a huge commission.
Our typical audience are those that want to see something new and get involved with authentic experiences of a country. Whether you are a backpacker, solo traveller, solo female traveller, straight or LGBTQ+ couple, family, you will find local and authentic experiences here.
