There are many incredible things to do in Monteverde, Costa Rica.
I know my posts about Costa Rica may seem repetitive, but it’s a country that surprised me so much, in a positive way of course, leaving me speechless and with a great desire of coming back. I love its unspoiled nature, wild animals, welcoming and always helpful people and the many adrenaline-filled things to do in Costa Rica.
I found all of this also in Monteverde, where I spent three days that were not enough (though some people visit on day trips from San José). In fact, I‘m already planning my return to check out more activities in Monteverde.
Located on the foothills of the Cordillera de Tilaran, in the Puntarenas province, Monteverde (whose name literally means “green mountain”) is surrounded by a thick nebular forests. It’s a very hilly place where you will often have to puff your way uphill, or walk along a steep downhill.
This small town – together with the neighboring Santa Elena – was founded in 1951 by a group of Quakers fascinated by the country’s choice not to have an army. They appreciated the importance of the cloud forest and of the precious ecosystem.
Today, the cloud forest biological reserve, heart-stopping zip-lines, coffee plantations, the nicest shops of all Costa Rica together with the ever-present Pura Vida motto, make a visit to Monteverde one of the highlights of a trip to Costa Rica.
My post What To Know Before Traveling To Costa Rica is a useful resource to use before you even start planning your trip!
Curious to find out more? Then continue reading as here I will share tips on the best things to do in Monteverde, and the best Monteverde attractions.
The Best Things To Do In Monteverde
Walk the Hanging Bridges
What if instead of the classic tree house there is a series of bridges that allows you to walk suspended in the air high in the branches of the trees? Well, not only Monteverde has all of this, but you are also spoiled for choice on where to go.
Yes, walking the hanging bridges is what to do in Monteverde for nature lovers.
There are 5 different hanging bridges experiences in Monteverde. Each one has its own peculiarities that makes it different from the others, but you will feel safe in all of them. You can try one or more but it’s important to choose the right one for you.
The best hanging bridges in Monteverde include the Treetop Walkways at Selvatura Park, the Monteverde Sky Walk at the Sky Adventures Monteverde Park. I also recommend the Aventura Hanging Bridges at 100% Aventura, and the Monteverde Bridge at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.
Here’s a quick overview:
Sky Walk’s Hanging Bridges at the Sky Adventures Monteverde Park
Sky Walk consists of 6 hanging bridges, one of which is the longest of Costa Rica with its 236 meters (more than 774 feet): it connects two mountains. The complete loop of the bridges is a moderate hike of 2,5 km (1.5 miles) and takes about 2 hours.
You can also take a shortcut and walk the loop of 4 bridges that lasts one hour.
Sky Walk’s hanging bridges goes through the virgin cloud forest and, for a small part, in a reforested area. It is perfect if you don’t have a lot of time, for families with young kinds and for people who have mobility issues. I find that Sky Adventures has the best balance between panoramas and wildlife.
Selvatura Hanging Bridges
Selvatura Hanging Bridges have the best scenery of the virgin cloud forest thanks to its highest elevation point. There are 8 hanging bridges for 3 km (1.8 miles) of nature trails, and the entire loop takes around 2 hours.
The trail gets steep in some parts, but you catch your breath sitting on one of the benches on the trail. Because of the elevation it’s not easy to spot wildlife.
Aventura’s Hanging Bridges
Aventura’s Hanging Bridges are the best to spot wildlife. It’s situated in the primary and secondary forest and views and vegetation are different from the one in the cloud forest.
100% Aventura Park offers a guided tour that lasts 2 hours with a trail of 3 km (1.8 miles) with 8 hanging bridges. You will also have a trained guide, which means that you will have someone that will help you spot the wildlife.
If you are more interested in wildlife than scenery, you should go to this hanging bridge park right.
Explore Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has only one bridge but many trails to hike. Situated in the heart of the cloud forest, it has an unspoiled nature considered by CNN one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
If you would rather walk than seeing the forest from the trees, this is the right park for you.
You could consider joining this guided tour of Monteverde Cloudforest Reserve that also includes the hanging bridges. The tour lasts about 3 hours and includes a visit to the hummingbird garden, but admission to the park and transportation are not included so if you aren’t renting a car in Costa Rica you’ll have to arrange a separate transfer.
El Tigre Waterfalls & Bridges
Farther from Monteverde, El Tigre Waterfalls & Bridges has 10 hanging bridges and 4 waterfalls. In this park, you can hike for 8 km (about 5 miles), with a good portion of the trail uphill, or hike for 5 km (3.1 miles) and come back on a horseback or by 4×4 safari car.
What’s special about this park is that there also is a natural swimming hole in the river so you can cool down if you feel like it.
Certainly, the bridges are not the highest and you are not in the virgin cloud forest, but nature and waterfalls make it a special place.
Visit the Reserva Biologica Bosque Nuboso
One of the top things to do in Monteverde is walking in the primary forest shrouded in dense mist. The Nebulous Forest or Bosque Nuboso has an incredible biodiversity and humidity is so strong that it condenses into clouds. The place almost mystical: you’ll have the feeling of being in a fantasy world.
Early in the 1950s the Quakers agreed on the need to protect this reserve, which today covers 105 square kilometers. There are 9 trails with hanging bridges, waterfalls and viewpoints, for a total of 13 km (8 miles).
The most popular trail is Sendero Bosque Nuboso which starts from the ranger station and runs for about 2 km (1.2 miles). Being the most fascinating trail, it is also the busiest. If you continue hiking on Sendero la Ventana, you will get to Mirador la Ventana, where you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Nicoya Gulf (when it’s not cloudy).
El Camino is the most popular trail for bird-watchers, with lots of species spotted on the way, including quetzals. Sendero Wilford Guindon takes you to a 100-meter (328 feet) long hanging bridge.
There are more trails you can follow here, including the Sendero Pantanoso, which crosses swamps, and the Quebrada Cuecha trail which goes by some waterfalls.
Because of rain and humidity, trails in the reserve are very muddy even during dry season (so make sure you are dressed accordingly).
Visibility is limited due to the fog and animals tend to camouflage and stay away from popular trails, but you may spot various types of birds, including the shining quetzals (easier to spot during their nesting season between March and April), coati, howler monkeys, sloths, tapirs, agoutis, tarantulas, frogs, colorful butterflies and even jaguars, ocelots and pumas.
Admission to the Reserva Biologica Bosque Nuboso is capped, so if you want to visit make sure to get tickets in advance (you can get them on the official website) or try to arrive before the gates open. Get a map at the ticket office, so you can follow the trails you prefer. For this particular place, I recommend getting a guide as there’s quite a lot to take in and lots of wildlife to spot.
The entrance fee does not include a guide, but my recommendation it to take one so you can have explanations about this unique amazing place. At the end of the tour, if you want, you can continue on your own for the less busy trails, since the ticket is valid for the whole day.
Check out the Children’s Eternal Forest – Bosque Eterno de Los Niños
The Children’s Eternal Forest (Bosque Eterno de Los Niños in Spanish) is the largest private reserve in this area. It was established by the Quaker community, thanks to fundraising efforts made by a group of Swedish schoolchildren whose goal was to save the rainforest. Its poetic name wants to remind the amazing big heart of these children.
The forest is huge and only a small part can be visited – at least of the portion that is in Monteverde. Other parts that can be visited are far away, near La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano.
I recommend following the Sendero Bajo del Tigre, about 3.5 km (2.1 miles) long, together with a series of shorter trails around it: it starts near the village of Santa Elena.
Another trail leads to the San Gerardo Biological Station where you can also stay overnight – though accommodation is very basic.
As you might guess from the name, visiting the Bosque Eterno de Los Niños is what to do in Monteverde for families with children. At the gate, you will find an educational center for children. The view from there is magnificent. You can also opt for a night visit, which gives you the chance to spot insects, bats, frogs, and reptiles that live in this area.
If you want to opt for a guided tour, you could consider this Children’s Eternal Rainforest Expedition which includes transportation, a live guide for the duration of the tour (8 hours), lunch, drinks and much more.
Zipline with 100% Aventura
The first zip lines appeared in Monteverde back in the 1980s and now this area is considered the ziplining capital of Costa Rica.
It goes without saying that one of the unmissable things to do in Monteverde is flying through trees, over valleys and streams, hooked to a long-suspended cable. I love ziplining and I love the adrenaline rush, so of course I had to try it.
There are many places where you can try ziplining in Monteverde. We did in 100% Aventura Park and highly recommend it.
The park located in a cloud forest setting and offers 9 regular zip lines, hanging bridges, 1 rappel and 2 superman zip lines including the longest of Costa Rica measuring 1,590 meters (that is almost a mile!).
I had never tried the superman zip lines before and I must admit that the feeling of flying is even stronger as well as the adrenaline rush.
The experience at 100% Aventura ends with the icing on the cake. For daredevils only, the Tarzan swing is a leap into the void from a height of about 30 meters (98 feet) that mimics the motions of Tarzan jumping from lianas.
I confess that I chickened out: I arrived at the end of the platform but once I looked down I felt weak so I went back. I just walked down and saw others doing it!
The whole experience at 100% Aventura lasts about 3 hours, but time flies too. It really isn’t one of the cheap activities in Monteverde, but considering cost of maintenance, safety of the steel cables, staff on each platform, and insurance it makes sense to pay that much.
The experience includes a short (but to the point) safety training – which makes it great even for first-timers. There will be members of the staff taking photos (which you can buy at the end of the experience) and if they will be ready to accompany you if you feel to nervous to fly.
You can book your ziplining experience with 100% Aventura online. Transportation is not included so if you are not driving in Costa Rica you’ll have to find a way to get to the park, but there are taxis you can take in Monteverde.
There are several other companies that offer ziplining activities in Monteverde. You can combine ziplines with hanging bridges and spend an entire day between nature and fun.
For example, you could consider this Monteverde: Jungle Zipline & Tarzan Swing which is one of the most complete experiences. It lasts 3 yours and includes transportation from Monteverde.
There’s also this Monteverde: Sky Walk, Sky Tram & Sky Trek Ziplining Tour which is a bit more expensive, but it’s a really fun tour that also includes the famous sky tram of Monteverde, perfect to admire nature from a unique perspective.
Finally, there’s this canopy tour in Monteverde which includes pick up and drop off from your hotel and lasts about 3 hours.
Go on a chocolate tour
Are you a chocolate addicted? Would you like to know more about chocolate? Joining a chocolate tour at Cabure then is one of the unmissable things to do in Monteverde.
During the interactive tour you can learn everything about the chocolate-making process – from bean to bar. The tour begins with a walk among cacao trees, and continues with the steps of fermentation, roasting, grinding, until the last of solidifying the chocolate.
Every step includes a taste. At the end of the tour, you can create your perfect truffle!
The chocolate farm is located just outside of Monteverde and is run by a local family with a great knowledge and passion for chocolate. Bob, one of the founders of Cabure, the farm where tours take place, was a veteran of the Peace Corps who fell in love with Costa Rica and decided to stay.
The tour – which is very good value for money – is once again what to do in Monteverde for families with kids.
This coffee, chocolate and sugar cane experience in Monteverde will take you to the chocolate farm. The tour lasts 2 hours and includes transportation from your hotel.
Or on a coffee tour
What could be better than a hot cup of coffee in the morning as soon as you wake up? Of course, coffee must be delicious for a good wake-up call, and in Costa Rica I drunk some of the best coffee I have ever had.
There are many coffee plantations in the area of Monteverde, so surely you can imagine that a coffee plantation and coffee tasting tour is one of the coolest things to do in Monteverde – I certainly did one!
There are several companies that offer good coffee tours, but I was recommended Cafe de Monteverde because of its sustainability. It is an association of families who have been growing, processing and roasting coffee for over 5 generations.
Cafe de Monteverde Coffee Tour, also known as the Finca Life Coffee Tour, offers a two-hour-long tour during which you will walk through the coffee plantation, learn about the production process from seed to cup and taste different kinds of coffee. You can visit their website for more information.
Alternatively, you can go to their store in the central square of Santa Elena, do the coffee tasting and buy the one you prefer. My personal favorite is their light roast quality.
Another option is joining a combined tours of coffee, chocolate and sugarcane plantations – they are all excellent products that grow in this area.
This coffee, chocolate and sugar cane experience in Monteverde will take you to a coffee plantation too. It lasts 2 hours and includes transportation from your hotel.
Take a night walk in the cloud forest
If during the day the cloud forest seems eerie because of the fog, the incessant rain and the sound of trees and wild animals; at night the atmosphere is even more intense. In fact, as temperature drops, many nocturnal insect, amphibians and wild animals come out and you can see them, and especially ear them.
A night walk in the cloud forest is what to do in Monteverde if you are interested in unique wildlife.
My sister and I joined this Kinkajou Night Walk and it was fine. Our group was small and this is very important because you need to stay close to the guide to see the animals and listen to the explanation.
Guides communicate with each other via radio to pass information about the animals they find so that visitors can see as many as possible. You’ll have the possibility to see scorpions, snakes, frogs, spiders, salamanders, sloths, kinkajous, and different birds (usually asleep).
For the rest of the walk silence is essential, especially when looking for animals in order not to scare them. The area of the reserve is not very large, in fact we met other groups several times.
The tour usually lasts two hours, includes transportation from the hotel and begins almost as soon as it get dark – which is usually around 5:30 or 6:00 pm depending on the season. Keep in mind you will need a rain jacket and proper hiking shoes as the terrain can be very muddy (and there are snakes).
Spot hummungbirds
Have you ever seen a hummingbird flying? Can you imagine that the smallest species of hummingbirds move their wings up to 80 times per second? This small and brightly colored birds are fascinating and hypnotic.
You can find them in Central America and Costa Rica too. In Monteverde, just next to the entrance of the Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, it’s easy to find them in the Hummingbird Gallery.
Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery has a café, a gift shop and a garden with feeders to attract hummingbirds. Grab a cap of coffee and take a seat to enjoy the “show”: dozens of hummingbirds approach to feed. They zip through so fast!
Another place in Monteverde where you can see hummingbirds is Selvatura Hummingbird Garden, which has a waterfall and colorful flowers that are the perfect setting to observe more than 10 species of hummingbirds.
Go birdwatching in Curi Cancha Reserve
If you are an enthusiast birdwatcher, seeing hummingbirds is just one of the many great things to do in Monteverde, but you will also want to do more birdwatching – the area is considered a birdwatching paradise.
The cloud, secondary, transitional dry, and transitional rain forests are the ideal habitat for birds. Over 400 bird species live here, among which the shining quetzal (easier to spot from March and April, during the courtship and nesting) and the three-wattled bellbird.
Many private reserves rent binoculars and tripods if you are keen to do this experience, but the overall best place for birdwatching in Monteverde is the Curi Cancha Reserve. Despite being rather small with about 5.2 km (3.2 miles) of trails, thanks to its higher elevation, here you will have the highest chances of spotting various species.
Admission to the reserve is restricted to a limited number of people per day, so I highly recommend booking your visit in advance. You can explore independently or with a guided tour.
Hiring a qualified naturalist guide is a great idea to learn more about the different species of birds (and to spot them). A good guide, in fact, recognizes birds by their singing, knows where to find each species and has all the necessary equipment to make sure you spot them.
This Monteverde Birdwatching Experience at Curi Cancha Reserve comes highly recommended. You will have a guide and for around 4 hours (starting very early around 7:00 am) you will go in search of the most beautiful bird species in the area.
Go to the Frog Pond and Butterfly Garden
Inside Santa Elena town there is a Frog Pond where more than 25 species of native frogs, toads and other amphibians live. A large terrarium has been created to reproduce their natural habitat.
Among the various species here you can find the red-eyed tree frog, emblem of Costa Rica, the hourglass frog and the colorful poison arrow frog.
If you are into frogs, you will be happy that to know that a part of the proceeds from ticket sales goes to conservation and research initiatives: indeed toads and frogs are at high risk of extinction due to increasing pollution and climate change.
The ticket to the Frog Pond is valid for two entries – lots of people visit during the day, but it’s at night that frogs are more active and vocal.
Another place to visit in Monteverde (especially if you are traveling with children) is the Butterfly Garden. This is divided into four environments representing the different habitats where 40 species of butterflies live. It’s the world’s largest live butterfly exhibit. If you are lucky, you can even see butterflies emerging from their chrysalises.
Other species that you can spot include leaf-cutter ants, scorpions, and pompilid wasps that feed on tarantulas.
Consider hiring a guide or joining a tour to learn more about the life cycle of butterflies. For example, this Monteverde Butterfly Gardens tour is highly recommended. It lasts up to 2 hours – keep in mind that transportation is not included.
Do a bit of shopping
We found the best shops of Costa Rica to be in Monteverde, and they are at the Centro Comercial Monteverde. We just happened to get there by chance as we were having lunch at a restaurant in the area, when we spotted a few nice shops were we bought souvenirs, t-shirts and linen shorts and more. It’s a great place to do some shopping.
Further Readings
These other posts may be useful when planning your trip to Costa Rica:
- Is Costa Rica Safe?
- The Best Things To Do In San Jose
- The Best Things To Do In Puerto Jimenez
- How To Visit Corcovado National Park
- How To Visit Manuel Antonio National Park
- How To Visit Tortuguero National Park
- How To Visit Marino Ballena National Park
- How To Visit Cano Island
- How To Visit Rio Celeste Waterfall
- How To Visit Nauyaca Waterfalls
- The Best Waterfalls In Costa Rica
- The Best National Parks In Costa Rica
- The Best Things To Do In Puerto Viejo
- The Best Things To Do In La Fortuna
- The Best Things To Do In Manuel Antonio
- What To Wear In Costa Rica
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