Monteverde is a beautiful and impressive area that includes the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. As the name suggests, forests are almost always surrounded by clouds. Monteverde is Spanish for green grass, which is an apt description for this lush green forested area of Costa Rica. Monteverde is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Costa Rica.
Monteverde is also known for its Quaker population. In the 1950s, several Quaker families came to Costa Rica from the United States. Peace activists who wanted to avoid the 1949 US military draft moved to the Monteverde area of Costa Rica. They have felt more in tune with the Costa Rican political system since the Costa Rican government disbanded the army in 1948.
The early Quaker settlers bought much in the surrounding area and continued to preserve the area. They started their dairy farms which now produce tons of cheese every day. It is one of the best cheeses in the country and is imported all over the world. Most of the land that the Quakers bought in the 1950s is now part of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. It is an absolutely stunning area. You can walk on your own or with guided tours. The trails are in very good condition and well maintained.
In addition to the beautiful Monterverde Cloud Forest Reserve, the canopy and zipline tours through the cloud forest are the best of all the canopy tours in Costa Rica, so don’t miss out.
You can easily get to Montverde from the Arenal Volcano. It’s about 90 miles away. Head towards Tilaran. From Tilarn to Monteverde the road is a bit bumpy so a 4WRD is recommended. It takes about 2 hours of driving. If you are really adventurous, you can take a 3-hour horseback ride from Monteverde to the Arenal Volcano. You will arrive at Santa Elena, Black Canyon, through the dam of Lake Arenal and towards La Fortuna.
From San José, take the Inter-American highway and turn off at Sardinal north of the Puntarenas turnoff. It is uphill from Sardinal towards San Luis and towards Santa Elena, which is the main town of Monteverde. It is about a 4-hour drive from San José.
The Bosque Lodge and the Trapp Family Lodge are good places to stay in Monteverde.
The forest features exotic animals and plants that will leave you in awe. It is one of the favorite places for ecotourism with its preserved forests and undeveloped areas. Average temperatures range from 60 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can find more information by listening to my Costa Rica Podcast. CostaRicaTalkRadio.com.