Green, breezy and cool, Monteverde is one of the most exciting destinations in Costa Rica.

Set on a high mountain ridge, its tiny village, Santa Elena, was founded in the 50´s by a small group of conservation-minded Quakers who were looking for a peaceful place to live.

Its Cloud Forest Reserve is one of the most important wild life sanctuaries in the tropics, well known both among scientific researchers and eco travelers. It covers 26,000 acres with more than 2,000 species of plants, 400 species of birds, and 100 different species of mammals.
Visitors can take daily guided tours through miles of well maintained trails with excellent opportunities for bird watching. The resplendent Quetzal is often sighted up here (mostly January to July).

In the area you can watch the forest from a monkey’s eye view by sliding along the canopy or by taking a guided hike on tree top walkways. Local museums offer complete information and live samples of the region’s flora and fauna. You can groove to the nightlife at an exhibition of frogs, toads and other amphibians or experience a stunning night tour through the rainforest. The serpentario features 40 species of live reptiles and amphibians. The Santa Elena Reserve, located at a higher altitude, is home to quetzals, toucans, poison dart frogs, sloths, ocelots and howler monkeys. These forests are also world known for once being the habitat of the golden toad.

How to get there:
From San Jose

Take the Panamerican Highway # 1, passing through the airport and following the signs to San Ramon, Puntarenas, Liberia. Once you arrive to the Puntarenas intersection continue driving north towards Cañas and Liberia. After the intersection of Puntarenas there are 2 main entrances to Monteverde:

1. Via Sardinal, after the intersection to Punarenas you will see a sign to your right that reads Sardinal/Santa Elena/Monteverde.
At this point you will notice the Panamerican highway gets 1 lane wider. Take this road to your right and it will lead you to Monteverde.
(This road is in better condition than the via Lagarto road).

2. Via Lagarto, after the Puntarenas intersection, keep driving on the highway and take a right before the bridge at Rio Lagarto (there is a sign for Monteverde). At this point you will
have traveled 100 miles (160 km) from San Jose. You will travel then for 20 miles (35 km) on a dirt road all the way up to Santa Elena and Monteverde.