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Monteverde Cloud Forest
Green Mountain is its name and is known for its contiguous forest reserves. World-renowned for its numerous nature attractions and vast cloud forest.
Founded by a community of Quakers and Tico’s, who to this day are very large dairy farmers producing cheeses throughout Costa Rica. It has been acclaimed as one of the most outstanding wildlife refuges in the New World Tropics. High atop a ridge this is one ascending ride that will amaze you if you dare to drive it.
The town of Santa Elena is where the center of things such as stores and restaurants are. Santa Elena Reserve about 5 kilometers past the town is a higher elevation than Monteverde. One trail can take you to a look out point where Arenal Volcano can be seen in the distance on a clear day.
In the high season this reserve can be a nicer option since there are less bus loads of people arriving. Admission is cheaper and the trails are a little more 'rustic' than in Monteverde. Gear up with poncho and boots it can get pretty wet. Entrance fees to Santa Elena Reserve are $8 for adults and $6 for students.
 Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is what most people come to see. This reserve of 25,000 acresis known world wide for its biodiversity and is visited each year by many tourists and scientists. The reserve is owned and managed by the Tropical Science Center, a Costa Rican nonprofit, scientific research organization.
Hiking the many nature trails one can encounter 400 species of birds, 110 species of amphibians and reptiles, 100 species of mammals, 2,500 species of plants as well as wild life seldom seen elsewhere in this country.
Numerous guides are available to you. The guides are all part of the Monteverde Guide Association founded in the late nineties.
The guides in this area are expert naturalists, many of whom have lived their entire lives in or near these forests. Private guided hiking tours are a minimum of three people and are $15.00 per person. Admission: US$12 (adults), US$6.50 (students and children). Children younger than 11 years are free.
One of the popular attractions is Sky Trek which is a canopy adventure with a system of platforms connected by zip lines and suspension bridges criss-crossing the top of the forest, providing a vantage point from in and above the canopy.
Fly over the jungle or observe from 3 suspended bridges, and an 8 story canopy observation tower which is perfect for viewing the many bird species that inhabit this area. The Sky Trek tour is a 2½ to 3 hour tour: $40 adults, $32 students, $28 for children 8 to 12.
For you flower lovers a farm called Orquideas De Monteverde is an orchid garden boasting over 450 indigenous species including the world’s smallest flower to which a magnifying glass is given at the start of the tour to see it. Entrance fee is $5.00 Hours of operation are from 8-5pm.
If you are looking for indigenous art work upon entering the town of Monteverde one can find a shop called Casem. Founded in the early eighties, this cooperative of artisans consists today of 140 people in the Monteverde area.
Many of the artisans live in the communities surrounding Monteverde and produce one of a kind artwork. At Casem you can buy a wide range of ceramics, embroidered fabrics and carvings.
So many things wild and wonderful are waiting for you here. This is why it is one of our must-sees.
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