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Things to do in Monteverde

Our most recommended things to do in Monteverde

Santa Elena or Monteverde: Cloud Forest Night Walking Tour

1. Santa Elena or Monteverde: Cloud Forest Night Walking Tour

Take a guided walking tour through the rich biodiversity of the Monteverde Cloud Forest as nocturnal mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, and amphibians wake up for the night. Be picked up and dropped off at your doorstep in Santa Elena or Monteverde.  Hop aboard an air-conditioned coach and sit back and relax on the drive into the Cloud Forest area. Find out for yourself how busy the forest can be at night as most animals are active in the evening and around 80 percent are nocturnal.  Follow your guide through paths lined with lush vegetation. Spot critters that are not seen during the day on a 2-hour walk. Look for animals like raccoons, sloths, armadillos, olingos, and kinkajous that are active at night.  Follow your guide on a magical journey through a beautiful forest as well as a sustainable coffee, banana, and sugar cane area. Return to your accommodation in Santa Elena or Monteverde by coach at the end of your tour. 

Montevede: Jungle Zipline & Rappel Experience with Transfer

2. Montevede: Jungle Zipline & Rappel Experience with Transfer

What you'll do Zip line through one of the most breath taking views in Monteverde, this extreme experience offers views to a waterfall, 14 cables of zip line, 5 of them are extremely long: 467 mts, 425 mts, 600 mts, 750 mts, 1 kilometer and height between 75 mts and 150 mts. Total distance 4KM For no additional cost you will also enjoy: -Rappel (30 mts) -Tarzan Swing -Superman cable of 1 km -Subterranean Superman:175 mts long -21 platforms. -Insurance. DON"T MISS THIS BREATHTAKING EXPERIENCE

Monteverde: Cloud Forest ATV Guided Tour

3. Monteverde: Cloud Forest ATV Guided Tour

Enjoy an unforgettable experience in one of the most exclusive and amazing tours in Monteverde and Costa Rica, brought to you by Outback Adventures Costa Rica and its associates, who have more than 20 years of experience in ecotourism and adventure tourism. Explore Monteverde and its surroundings from another perspective, in brand new ATVs with professional guides and experts in the flora and fauna. The tour includes everything you need to have a great time. No previous experience with ATVs is required. This premium experience is personalized with limited units to guarantee an exclusive service. We will pass by the "Continental Division" where you can learn the differences between the Caribbean and the Pacific. For approximately 2.5 hours we will ride through all kinds of terrains offering spectacular and secluded sites with magnificent views surrounded by nature. We will fill your day with adrenaline, while you learn about Monteverde’s culture and history.

La Fortuna or Monteverde: One-Way Boat Transfer

4. La Fortuna or Monteverde: One-Way Boat Transfer

Add a little adventure to your transportation needs between Monteverde and La Fortuna and avail of a transfer that includes an informative boat tour across Lake Arenal. Get spectacular views of Arenal Volcano and the cloud forests of Monteverde as you travel by van and boat. Choose from a morning or afternoon departure in either direction to suit your schedule, and relax in the knowledge that your luggage will be taken care of on every step of the journey. Depart La Fortuna and travel to Lake Arenal by van. Then, take a 30-minute boat ride to the town of Río Chiquito before continuing to Monteverde by van. For departures from Monteverde, travel to Lake Arenal by van. Cross Lake Arenal on an enlightening 30-minute boat ride to the earthen dam, and then continue to La Fortuna by van for drop off at your hotel.

From San José: Monteverde Hanging Bridges Day Trip

5. From San José: Monteverde Hanging Bridges Day Trip

Your tour begins in the morning with pickup in the San José area. Then travel towards the northern part of the country on a very scenic drive, with great views of beautiful mountain ranges, local towns and farms, and the Pacific coast. On the way to Monteverde, enjoy multiple stops. Learn about local fruits at the largest fruit stand of the country. Explore a place where several monkeys are normally observed in the wild at a very close range. Photograph amazing landscapes from a lookout point. Once in Monteverde, savor a delicious lunch and then proceed to do the amazing hanging bridges tour in the cloud forest. Hike with your guide for two to three hours, admiring the beauties of this rare ecosystem and searching for the local wildlife, including monkeys, emerald toucans, coatimundis, and the rare resplendent quetzal, the most beautiful bird of Costa Rica. This hike is approximately 3km (1.9 miles) long and is mostly on flat terrain with a few mild climbs.  Late in the afternoon, return to your accommodation in San José or to your accommodation in central Monteverde. 

Monteverde: Zip Line, Bridges, and Butterfly Garden Tour

6. Monteverde: Zip Line, Bridges, and Butterfly Garden Tour

Treat yourself to a day of fun in Monteverde park. Zip line through the tree canopy, walk across the impressive self-guided suspension bridges, and wander around the extensive butterfly gardens with a guide. Experience the Monteverde Cloud Forest by zip line. Then head to the tree-top walkway, the ideal experience for those who want to explore the beauty of the canopy at their own pace and appreciate the region's incredible array of vegetation and exotic bird life. The walkway is made up of eight suspension bridges linked by 1.9 miles of trails. The bridges range in length from 150 feet to 500 feet and are suspended at heights ranging from 36 feet to 180 feet. The bridge system is the widest and strongest in Costa Rica. The stunning butterfly garden in Monteverde is one of the largest on the continent. Discover the giant garden that is 300 feet long and 90 feet wide, with a massive 50-foot dome ceiling and 50 species of butterflies. Temperature control that is precise and sensitive allows species to survive across a wide range of altitudes and climate conditions in Costa Rica. Take a guided tour of this fascinating live exhibit to learn about the life cycle, special behaviors, and evolution of these extraordinary creatures.

Costa Rica Bread Making

7. Costa Rica Bread Making

We will show you how to create the best tasting a Costarican bread using only items you will find at home, no industrial equipment needed. While the dough is rise we'll also make delicious empandas and impress family and friends with hot out of the oven fresh bread rolls using dry instant yeast. The workshop will be a combination of demonstrations as well as following along and making your own, concluding with some drinks where you get to eat and taste everything you have learned to prepare and bake.

Monteverde: Curi-Cancha Reserve Tour with Entry Ticket

8. Monteverde: Curi-Cancha Reserve Tour with Entry Ticket

Go on a tour of the Curi-Cancha reserve in Monteverde. Get picked up from your hotel, and drive to the 83-hectare reserve. Start your tour with a local guide and see a variety of rare birds and unusual animals. Marvel at the views and take lots of photos. Get dropped back at your hotel at the end. Begin your hike and listen to your guide tell you all about the wildlife in the area. Keep your eyes peeled for rare birds, including the Resplendent Quetzal, the Three-Wattled Bellbird, the Blue-Crowned Motmot, and the Orange-bellied Trogon. Continue along 7 kilometers of natural trails and get to see the flora and fauna of the tropical forest. See if you can spot unusual wild animals, such as armadillos, coatis, and two-toed sloths and use the opportunity to take photos. Learn about the sustainable practices of the reserve. Marvel at impressive views of the mountains surrounding you. Get taken back to your hotel at the end of the tour.

Monteverde: 3-in-1 Sky Tram, Sky Trek and Sky Walk

9. Monteverde: 3-in-1 Sky Tram, Sky Trek and Sky Walk

See the Monteverde Cloud Forest from above on a guided canopy tour. Ascend to the treetops in a sky tram, admire native wildlife as you cross suspension bridges, and soar above the cloud forest on a zip line. After being picked up from your hotel, board the aerial tram and ascend above the beautiful cloud forest, stopping along the way to observe plant and animal life. Learn about the different species and habitats from your guide. Then, arrive at the first of two observatory platforms, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and, on a clear day, the northern lowlands that stretch all the way to the Caribbean. Next, make your way across the suspension bridges, each with its own breathtaking view of the forest. Take your time to cross and admire the cloud forest's flora and fauna from a dizzying height. Finally, zip line across the canopy and get a birds-eye view of the forest. Enjoy eight zip line cables totaling nearly 1.8 miles (3 kilometers), with distances ranging from 131 to 2,460 feet (40 meters and 750 meters) and heights ranging from 49 to 328 feet (15 meters to 100 meters). At the end of your canopy tour, you will be returned to your hotel in Monteverde.

Monteverde: Suspension Bridges, Sloths, and Butterflies

10. Monteverde: Suspension Bridges, Sloths, and Butterflies

Treat yourself to a fun-filled day exploring all the very best of Monteverde Cloud Forest. Tour the Butterfly Garden and the Sloth Sanctuary alongside an expert guide. Walk the impressive self-guided suspension bridges at your own pace. For those who want to enjoy the wonderful variety of vegetation and unusual bird life that the area has to offer while appreciating the splendor of the canopy at their own pace, the Tree Top pathway is the best way to experience the cloud forest. One of the biggest on the continent is the magnificent butterfly garden in Monteverde. The garden, which is 300 feet long and 90 feet wide with a massive 50-foot dome ceiling, is home to 50 different butterfly species. Learn about the life cycle, distinctive behaviors, and evolutionary history of these extraordinary species on a guided tour of the live exhibit. Visitors can view many species of colorful birds here, which will awe you with their breathtaking flying tricks. Visit these magnificent facilities and learn about Costa Rica's flora and fauna while accompanied by a knowledgeable guide. At the Sloth Sanctuary, take the opportunity to observe different species of sloths. A natural exhibition has been developed where sloths can move freely along specially made trails.

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What people are saying about Monteverde

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 208 reviews

The guide was wonderful. We saw sloths,tarantulas,and birds. I was amazed how big the trees were. We were a party of 5 and everyone enjoyed the hike. I highly recommended this adventure.

Wonderful experience! Our guide Juan, was so knowledgeable and really cares about the environment and the animals. We saw heaps during the walk and were so glad we did it!

La caminata por el bosque es increíble. Y las tirolesas wooooow si eres fan de la adrenalina y aventura obvio debes hacerlas

Great experience! Broke up my travel from la fortuna to Monteverde and couldn’t be more happier

The other group in our party canceled, so we got a private tour with Jorge. He was amazing!