Green, breezy and cool, Monteverde Cloudforest 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.