Cloud forests, also known as a fog forests, are unique and diverse ecosystems that can be found in mountainous regions within tropical or subtropical latitudes. They are rare and only cover around 1 % of Earth’s global woodlands. Cloud forests are characterized by their persistent, low-level cloud cover and in Costa Rica you can find one of the world’s most famous ones, located in Monteverde. In Monteverde it is estimated that 50 % of Costa Rica’s biodiversity can be found. For the wildlife and nature enthusiasts, Monteverde is therefore a must visit when in Costa Rica. Here’s everything you need to know before visiting to make the experience as good as possible.
Three different cloud forests in Monteverde – Which one to visit?
Monteverde is the name of the entire area but there are actually three different cloud forests within this area. They are Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve and Children’s Eternal Rain Forest. The most famous one and most visited is Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. It is not that big of a difference between these three cloud forests in Monteverde so you do not have to visit all three if you don’t really want to. As spoken by a local: “pick one, because they all basically look the same”. Here’s a comparison between the three different forests.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Entrance fee: $26 for international visitors.
Characteristics:
- The most famous one and the most visited of the three.
- Known for its biodiversity with over 400 bird species and numerous plant species.
- Offers well-maintained trails, hanging bridges, and is home to iconic cloud forest wildlife and dense mossy vegetation.
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve
Entrance fee: $18 for international visitors.
Characteristics:
- Located at a higher elevation and is therefore often described as wetter and more atmospheric due to its altitude.
- Tends to be less crowded and more secluded.
Children’s Eternal Rainforest
Entrance fee: $19 for international visitors.
Characteristics:
- The largest of the three forests, covering 54,000 acres.
- It is a private reserve, created by an international campaign to protect the forest and does now belong to a non-profit organization focused on conservation and education.
- It is less developed for tourism with fewer trails, allowing visitors to explore undisturbed nature.
Should I do a guided tour or not?
All of the cloud forests in Monteverde can be experienced by own exploration or a guided tour. Which option you should pick depends on the experience you’re after. So let us first break down the purpose of your visit.
- Is your goal to hike as much as possible, in your own pace, with more seclusiveness and decide yourself where to walk?
- or Do you want to see animals and get to know more about the cloud forests?
If your answer is number 2 you should do a guided tour. The guide will take you around the cloud forests and tell you about the reserves, their history, the biodiversity etc. They also have some sort of super vision and manage to find animals your own eyes wouldn’t spot + they bring binoculars.
If your answer is number 1 you should hike without a guide. Then you should keep reading, because below are some tips based on a visit to the Monteverde Cloud Forest.
Tips for visiting Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
When to visit the cloud forest
If you don’t have a guided tour booked, be at the cloud forest reserve at opening hour. Only a limited amount of people are allowed in the reserve at the same time, this to protect and conserve the biodiversity. I arrived 1 hour after opening and needed to wait for 2.5 hours for my slot due to the reserve being full.
Decide a route before you enter the reserve
There are a lot of trails to hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and there is a chance you might have to do the same trail multiple times if you don’t plan your route ahead, especially if want to cover as many trails as possible. I got a hold of a map before my visit and planned my hiking route, covering almost the entire cloud forest hiking area. I thought I would share this hiking route with you together with the map. This picture is taken when I went in February 2024 so it should be up to date.
I started with Sendero Bosque Nuboso (dark green and yellow) all the way to the viewpoint called Sendero La Ventana (pink) where you’ll get a beautiful view of the entire cloud forest, above the tree tops. I then headed back and continued on Sendero Camino (red). Walking the hanging bridge was something I really wanted to do, so I turned right onto Sendero Wilford Guindon (blue), walked the hanging bridge and kept going to Sendero Tosi (green). Here I walked to the waterfall and then headed back on Quebrada Cuecha (black). I did a small detour on George Powell (red) before making my way to the entrance/exit. This route covers approximately 5.5 km and will take between 1.5 hours to 2.5 hours depending on your pace.
The people working at Monteverde Cloud Forest will recommend a trail to start with and they do this to everyone meaning everyone will be on the same trail. I would therefore suggest you start with another trail, maybe you want to walk my route above? Even though Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is the most visited one, I met very few people when I visited and got the hiking trails almost all to myself.
Set right expectations regarding wildlife spotting
It is important to know that you will not see a lot of wildlife if you’re not very very lucky. This can be good to know before you go so you don’t get disappointed. Monteverde cloud forest is a large area and it’s hard to know where to look for animals, or if they even appear at all. During my visit I saw a coati, some hummingbirds, cool insects and a monkey. For me that was enough, I just enjoyed walking the trails of this magic landscape.
Prepare for the climate
Generally, cloud forests have cooler temperatures compared to lowland tropical forests. The temperature remains moderate due to the constant mist and cloud cover. If the sun is not out you might need a sweater and it’s also not impossible that you’ll experience rain, so bring a rain jacket as well. Something to keep in mind though is that the altitude and you being closer to the sun leads to a higher UV index, even though it’s colder than in the beach destinations. So do not forget to bring sun protection.
How to get to Monteverde
Monteverde is located in the central parts of Costa Rica, approximately a 3-hour drive from the capital San José. Most people combine a trip to Monteverde with visiting La Fortuna, another mountain/rainforest destination in Costa Rica.
Getting to Monteverde from La Fortuna
Traveling from La Fortuna to Monteverde is easy. There is a transportation way called Jeep-Boat-Jeep for $30. It is exactly what it sounds like. First you get picked up from your accommodation in La Fortuna by a mini bus and it will drive you for about 20 minutes to a boat that will take you across Lake Arenal. The boat trip takes about 1.5 hours. When arriving on the other side of the lake you will get picked up by another shuttle, usually a minivan, that will take you to your accommodation in Monteverde. All in all the transportation takes about 4 hours.
Getting to Monteverde from San Jose
The two best options to get to Monteverde from San Jose is either by public transport or shuttle.
Public transport: A bus runs between San Jose and Monteverde every day with departures at 6.30am and 2.30pm, Transmonteverde S.A. is the main service provider. The buses depart from a new bus station in San Jose called Terminal 7-10. At level two you purchase your ticket. The bus ride takes around 4 hours and tickets cost $8.
Shuttle: You can book both private and shared shuttles from San Jose to Monteverde. The two best options is either to search for a shuttle at Bookaway or book via Tropical Tours. A shared shuttle will cost you around $50 to $60, and $220 for a private minivan. The journey takes 4 hours.
Getting to Monteverde from Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa is located on the Nicoya peninsula and getting from there to Monteverde will require a ferry ride over Golfo de Nicoya. The ferry will take you to Puntarenas, the main hub for people traveling to and from the peninsula.
Public transport: You need to take a public bus to Paquera, which is the harbour the ferry departs from. Sometimes there are direct buses but usually you need to transfer in Cobano. In Paquera you take the ferry to Puntarenas. Tickets can be purchased on site for $1.5. Transmonteverde S.A. operates a public bus from Puntarenas to Monteverde every day 3.45PM. On Mondays through Saturdays there are also buses departing at 8.30AM and 1.30PM. The journey takes approximately 2.5 hours and tickets cost $8.
Shuttles: You can book both private and shared shuttles from Santa Teresa to Monteverde. The two best options is either to search for a shuttle at Bookaway or book via Tropical Tours. A shared shuttle costs around $60, and a private minivan approximately $220. The journey takes 4 hours. Usually when you book a shuttle you will be picked up at your hotel in Santa Teresa, get dropped off in Paquera by the ferry terminal, hop on the ferry and then get picked up by another shuttle when arriving on the other side of Golfo de Nicoya. This shuttle will take you to your hotel in Monteverde.
