Monteverde Cloud Forest Guided Hike
Experience hiking and floating through the cloud forest
Nature & Wildlife
The cloud forest is complex and awe-inspiring. Did you know that only 1% of the global woodland is cloud forests? Costa Rica is one of the 59 countries that have a cloud forest and is lucky to have an abundance of biodiversity.
The Monteverde Cloud Forest is one of the unique places in the world. Looking down at the clouds, walking through them, and enjoying the volcano vistas along the hike is just the beginning. On a guided hike through one of the reserves, you’ll learn about everything from the mosses and orchids to the abundance of birds and mammals. You might spot three types of monkeys, some tapirs, or maybe even a puma. You’ll also see any number of the hundreds of bird species that call the area home. Don’t miss out on the chance to experience the beauty of a forest so high up in the clouds.
A tour through the Monteverde Cloud Forest is perfect for anyone who is a true lover of nature or curious about what a cloud forest is all about. It is on a continental divide, which is about 4,000 feet above sea level. It can get a bit chilly at night, around 60 degrees, so bring a sweater.
Here is why we suggest checking out the Monteverde Cloud Forest Hike:
- Monteverde is situated in the Cordillera de Tilaran mountain range and spans 10,500 hectares of forest, 90% of which is virgin.
- The Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve has 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity.
- There are 2,500 plant species, including 500 orchids, 400 bird species, 100 mammal species, 120 reptilian, and amphibian species, and thousands of insect species.
- Monteverde is acclaimed as one of the most outstanding wildlife refuges worldwide, and after your visit, you’ll no doubt why.
- Its altitude and climate produce extremely high biodiversity you can’t help but appreciate.
- In 2019, Monteverde was listed by CNN as one of the top 25 most beautiful places globally as well as the most magical place in Costa Rica.
What to Expect from Monteverde Cloud Forest Guided Hike
You’ve likely looked at a Monteverde cloud forest map and thought, “Where do I even start?” We have found the best-guided hikes in Monteverde and Santa Elena cloud forest. Any of these four cloud forest tours will leave you impressed. The more adventurous visitors might choose the one with hanging bridges through the cloud forest. The others offer hikes of varying timeframes and difficulty levels through the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Santa Elena Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, and Children’s Eternal Rainforest.
Intensity
Moderate
Monteverde Cloud Forest Is Featured in These Trips
Here are some of the combo trips we recommend you to check out if you want to experience Monteverde Cloud Forest:
Monteverde Cloud Forests
This is a rather long hike, 4.5 hours. The half-day tour is likely too long for kids. It will leave you tired but amazed at the biodiversity you got to see. A local naturalist guide will help you spot what their trained eyes see, from tiny orchids to camouflaged hummingbirds. Their wealth of information and experience will help you learn about details like the golden toad’s unique habitat and all about strangler figs.
The tour is focused on the interconnectivity of the rich biodiversity of the cloud forest. You may spot the three-wattled bellbird, black-faced solitaire, cecropias, bromeliads, and mosses. Keep an eye out for the resplendent quetzal, arguably the most beautiful bird in the Americas.
This tour ends with a visit to the local women’s handicraft cooperative, where you can get some locally made souvenirs. This is across the street from Stella’s, the bakery with the area's best coffee, quiche, and bagels.
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
This reserve is exemplary in Costa Rica, as it’s one of the community-administered first. It is an example of how a community can come together to protect its surroundings. At the same time, tourism benefits the community that protects the cloud forest. Additionally, entrance fees provide higher quality education in the local schools. It’s a win all around.
On your tour, you can expect to wander in awe of flora and fauna for about 3 hours, observing trees, lichens, orchids, hummingbirds, the black guan, toucanet, and quetzal, howler monkey, agouti, and coatimundis. Some are lucky enough to see a tapir, ocelot, peccary, or puma. You’ll also have incredible vistas of the Arenal Volcano and the Guanacaste lowlands from specific points.
Sky Walk Tour Monteverde
These walking trails are different from the other walking or hiking trails in the area because they include five hanging bridges to walk across, providing a different vantage point from which to get to know the cloud forest. The trails are not too long, about a mile and a half in total. So it’s feasible for anyone in moderate shape and not afraid of heights.
The longest hanging bridge is 984 feet long. A bilingual guide will be with you to point out native plants and animals you come across on the bridges and trails on this tour that mixes nature viewing with the hanging bridges adventure.
Children’s Eternal Rainforest
Children from Sweden and the USA started a fundraising campaign in 1987, and 44 countries have come alongside the effort to preserve a uniquely diverse ecosystem in Costa Rica. The Children’s Eternal Rainforest is the largest private reserve in the country, spanning 22,000 hectares, from Monteverde to Arenal and San Ramon.
An enjoyable tour of the protected forest is available. The active hike with a bilingual guide takes you on a 1.5-hour walk through the forest, where you should look for white-faced monkeys, porcupines, blue-crowned motmots, long-tailed manakins, and colorful birds and butterflies.
FAQ about Monteverde Cloud Forest Guided Hike
- Is the Monteverde Cloud Forest worth visiting? Yes, it’s a must-see. A cloud forest experience is unlike anything else you’ve done before. Visitors can’t stop talking about how cool it is to look down at the clouds or walk through them. You’ll surely see many animals you can’t even name because they are unique to the cloud forest and are widely unknown and exciting. Birdwatchers are especially fascinated in Monteverde. The local shops sell some books and laminated checklists to keep track of the birds you find.
- How much time do you need in Monteverde Cloud Forest? As much time as you can spare. Nature enthusiasts stay for months without getting bored, and some settle there permanently. It’s hard to leave. Most visitors stay about three to five days because it’s a remote area and takes a while to get to, and there’s so much to see and do there. We recommend checking out a few of the reserves (at least one with a guide), getting some locally made cheese and ice cream at the factory, and going to some animal museums and reserves (butterflies, hummingbirds, snakes, frogs).
- Do I need a guide for the Monteverde Cloud Forest? It’s ok to wander around the reserves on your own, but Costa Rican Vacations travel agents recommend that you go with a guide at least once during your stay because they will help you see so much more than you would.
- What animals can I see in Monteverde? You can see white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, two-toed sloths, pacas, porcupines, deer, ocelots, jaguars, pumas, the resplendent quetzal, tapirs, 29 species of lizards, 71 of snakes, 60 amphibian species, almost 30 hummingbird species, and 5,000, yes, 5,000 species of moths! The Golden toad was discovered in Monteverde but hasn’t been spotted since 1988. There’s some debate about whether it’s extinct or not. Will you be the one to find it?