Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Monte Verde, Costa Rica

The Basics

A gem of Central America, Monteverde Cloud Forest spans more than 35,089 acres (14,200 hectares) of land and contains 8 miles (12.9 kilometers) of trails. Trek through the lush reserve and immerse yourself in Costa Rica’s rich wilderness; spot rare wildlife; climb to “La Ventana,” a scenic overlook with panoramic views; and take a photo on the Continental Divide with one foot on the Pacific side and the other on the Caribbean side.

Guided tours of the reserve cover a wide range of interests. Nature lovers can head out on a guided hiking excursion, night tour, or private bird-watching tour, while thrill seekers can fly through the treetops on ziplines or traverse the park’s series of hanging bridges on a canopy tour. For an in-depth experience, it’s also possible to visit Monteverde Cloud Forest on a multiday tour of Costa Rica’s northwestern highlights.

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View all 71 experiences

Recent reviews from experiences in Guanacaste and Northwest

We had Joset as our...

V_T, Apr. 2023

Hiking in the Cloud Forest

We had Joset as our guide, who was an excellent wildlife spotter and naturalist. He was able to find the male and female quetzal within the first 30min of the tour, showed us a well hidden sloth and numerous other birds and mammals.during the 3hr tour he brought us the waterfall, told us about the different tyoe of fauna and wildlife, all while be engaging and informative. We really enjoyed the tour with Joset, and would highly recommend this company.

A very fun experience worth the money!

Donna_W, Dec. 2022

Monteverde Cloud Forest Zipline Tour

The zip line experience was fantastic! My 11-year old daughter said it was the best or second best :) activity she’s ever done on vacation. With 13 or so zip lines to ride on, it was worth the money. The scenery was absolutely beautiful too! The only critical feedback I have is that the checkin process had a long line. But everyone was very pleasant. (Tip: I’d skip the restaurant. You can get much better food at more reasonable prices outside of the park.)

Fantastic morning walk through the Cloud Forest with our guide!

Stephanie_D, May 2023

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Morning Walk -Monteverde Wild-

Getting a guide for the Cloud Forest is a MUST; and our guide, Oscar, was amazing! HIGHLY recommend! He was very knowledgeable about the environment and various creatures we saw in reserve. Had we not been with him for our walk, we would have missed out on so many species and would have never learned so much about the surrounding environment. We saw a Queztal, Spider monkeys, couple species of Tucans, a tarantula, and various other birds, to name a few. One thing I noticed Oscar had that no other guide had was a phone attachment for the scope so that you could easily take pictures with his phone through the scope and watch the creatures live on the phone screen rather than having to fumble with your own phone and try to peek through the scope. If you are debating about getting a guide, STOP contemplating and just book it!

Will recommend to others

Malay_D, Dec. 2022

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Morning Walk -Monteverde Wild-

Amazing cloud forest,made it exceptional by guide Victor , very knowledgeable with great interpersonal skill , made really enjoyable

Quetzal !

Julie_N, May 2022

Guided Walk to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve

We saw the Quetzal ! Thanks to our knowledgeable guide, Rodiger! We had a great day ! The cloud forest was incredible !

It was a great easy walk....

Miguel_E, Apr. 2022

Monteverde Cloud Forest Hanging Bridges

It was a great easy walk. No clouds in the sky so we didn't get the "hidden/cloud forest" effect but still an amazing view.

Decent tour, but not the best place.

Anna_B, Apr. 2022

Cloud Forest Tour in search of the Quezal

I would recommend this tour if you cannot go to any other tours in the area. It was good because our tour guide was engaging, but the scarcity of the wildlife (visual) was sad, considering this is where we should have seen a lot more animals than anywhere else in CR, other than the most remote places like Osa Peninsula. Also it would have been totally fine for us to not spend so much time waiting for quetzals but focus more on the rest of the wildlife existing in the Cloud Forest. Finally, I don't think Monteverde Cloud Forest is the best place in general--do try other reserves in the area if possible. So crowded that we couldn't hike on one of the trails. I only went to this one because the one I wanted never replied to my email inquiries.

Excellent Guide and Tour!

Alex_C, Dec. 2021

Package | Monteverde Cloud Forest + Curi-Cancha Reserve + Night Hike (Private)

This tour was amazing! 10/10 would recommend. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable and was able to spot two quetzals (sp?), some pigs, some long-snooted creatures, many different birds, a sloth, several vipers, two giant insects, intertwining paths of leaf-cutter ants, sting-less bees, giant trees, a spider monkey, and dozens of other animals. He also was very helpful with getting us good pictures of all the animals through his scope as he is also a very talented photographer. Overall the tour was engaging, well paced, and entertaining. If you're in Monteverde, do this tour and you will see all the cloud forest has to offer!

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Things to Know Before You Go

Remember to bring comfortable shoes, sun protection, and plenty of water.
An on-site restaurant offers traditional Costa Rican dishes.
The road to Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve is half paved and half unpaved; a vehicle equipped with 4-wheel drive is recommended.

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How to Get There

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve is located along the Cordillera de Tilaran mountain range, roughly three hours by road from San José. Bus services connect San José to Santa Elena. From there, a transportation service runs periodically to the reserve.

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When to Get There

The most popular time to visit is during Costa Rica’s dry season (mid-December to April), when the weather is ideal for exploring. Arrive early in the day if you want to avoid crowds.

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Exploring the Reserve

Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve contains four different ecological zones and also includes Monteverde Biological Reserve, Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, the Children's Eternal Rainforest, and part of the Arenal Volcano National Park. Most of the reserve is still comprised of untouched forest.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

What are the nearest attractions to Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve?

Attractions near Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve:

Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve

The Basics

Recent reviews from experiences in Guanacaste and Northwest

Things to Know Before You Go

How to Get There

When to Get There

Exploring the Reserve

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