Monteverde is one of the “crown-jewels” of Costa Rica tourism (the others being Arenal and Manuel Antonio). What makes it so popular? Mainly the cloud forest. What the heck is a “cloud forest”, you ask? Well, a forest in the clouds, dummy. No, really it’s a little more complicated than that.
True, the cloud forest exists at higher elevations, though no that high. Monteverde is 1,400 meters (or, 4600 feet) above sea level. For comparison purposes, San Jose is around 1,200 meters). So, yes it’s up there, but not so much. It can’t be that high, because if you get too much higher, there is not near the level of biodiversity that you find in a place like Monteverde. The Cloud Forest is wet most of the time as it is marked by persistent cloud, or fog, cover. So, bottom line is that lots of stuff grows and lives in all that vegetation. Monteverde has been called one of the most important Cloud Forest eco-systems in the world. New species are routinely discovered there and it is a prime laboratory for measuring the effects of global warming.
So, enough scientific stuff. Let’s get on to the cool stuff. Below are 10 of my personal favorite cool things to do in Monteverde.
Cool Thing #1: Take a guided day tour of the Cloud Forest Reserve
Okay I’ve already given my pseudo-scientific explanation of what a cloud forest is. What it does is supply a home to 2,500 plant species (including the most orchid species in a single place), 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species, 120 reptilian and amphibian species, and thousands of insects. The best way to experience it is a tour with a naturalist guide. They will show you things you would never know were there. You can hire one right at the entrance, where you pay to get in. The experience is priceless, so stop worrying about what it costs…not that much….do it!
Cool Thing #2: Take a guided “night” tour of the Cloud Forest Reserve
A day tour is a must do, but a night tour is really cool too. Many of the animals in the cloud forest are nocturnal. To see them, you need to go a night. Watch out for the vampire bats!
Cool Thing #3: Getting there by Van and Boat (throw in a horse)
The road to Monteverde is one of Costa Rica’s most famous (or infamous) bad roads. It is not as bad these days as it used to be, but I believe you can still buy a t-shirt that says “I survived the road to Monteverde” as a souvenir of your visit. On many of our vacation designs, one will go from San Jose to Arenal, then to Monteverde. That is a very common tourist route. And the best way to get there is the so-called “van boat” transfer. The distance between the two places is not that great. Problem is that Lake Arenal, Costa Rica’s largest, stands between. So some smart person crafted the idea of the van boat transfer. It is the quickest and most scenic way to get there (2.5 hours versus twice that amount of time to drive around the lake and then up the mountain). They can even throw in a horse ride leg if you want.
Van Boat Transfer/Tour with Desafio
Cool Thing #4: Visit the “farms” (frogs and snakes)
These are basically two buildings that are full of, guess what, frogs and snakes. Many of these guys, especially the snakes, you probably would not want to encounter on your guided walk through the forest. But here at the “farms” you get your chance to see what is really out there. I believe the technical term is “serpentarium,” at least for the snake one. But there is no such thing as a frogatarium, is there? I prefer to just say farms. There are also places nearby featuring insects, bats, and butterflies. Great stops for the kids.
Cool Thing #5: Visit the Art House
The Art House is a cooperative where many local artists sell their cool stuff. You will find some really unique pieces there. There usually is some local artist putting on an exhibit as well. It provides a boost to the local art scene, one of things that makes Monteverde so cool!
Cool Thing #6: Eat at the Tree House Restaurant
This is my favorite restaurant in the area. It gets the name because right in the middle is a huge tree. Food is great. It is right in the center of town….you can’t miss it.
Cool Thing #7: Do the Selvatura Canopy Tour and Tree Top Walk
We regard Selvatura as having one of the truly premier canopy (or, “zip-line”) tours in Costa Rica. What is a canopy tour? It consists of cable from one tree to another. And you go zipping across them at very high speeds. Not the best way to “see” the forest (do that on the guided tour), but a real hoot. How do you stop? Well, with that leather glove on your hand of course. The tree top walk is a suspended bridges walk in the cloud forest canopy. Selvatura has some other cool stuff as well, like the insect museum.
Cool Thing #8: Ice Cream at the Monteverde Cheese Factory
Monteverde was founded by the Quakers who came to escape becoming conscripts in the Korean war. They were dairy farmers so they did what came natural. They built a cheese factory. Nowadays that factory is one of the largest producers of dairy products in the country. And you can visit the factory and taste some of their delicious ice cream, while learning a little history of the Quaker founding of Monteverde and the Cloud Forest Reserve. That makes the Quakers a really cool bunch!
Monteverde Cheese Factory tour website
Cool Thing #9: Buy cool handmade stuff at the Artesenia Ecuatoriana
This is a little place (not sure of the actual name, or even if there is one) where a family from Ecuador sells all kinds of cool handmade stuff from their homeland. I just love it and the stuff they have is very unique and authentic. I stop by every time I am there.
Cool Thing #10: Visit other area nature reserves
The most famous is the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. However, in the area you will also find some other important ones. These include the Santa Elena Reserve and the Children’s Eternal Rain Forest. All are certainly worth a visit and in doing so you will be helping to preserve these vitally important eco-systems.
Children’s Eternal Rainforest website
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve website
Monteverde certainly deserves its place as one of Costa Rica’s crown jewels. Admittedly, it has become more and more commercialized over the years, but still retains its tico-quaker cultural quaintness to a large degree. But the naturalist guides will tell you that things are changing in the forest and not for the better. Global warming is indeed taking its toll primarily reflected in gradual species reduction. We need to protect Monteverde and places like it before it is too late. Your involvement can help greatly.
Comments
Rebecca Rivers
I have been to Monteverde and I agree it is a must to experience while visiting Costa Rica. I loved the canopy tour and the suspended bridge walk . The food at the restaurants is great!