Monteverde Attractions

MONTEVERDE AND SANTA ELENA

The MONTEVERDE BIOLOGICAL RESERVE located in SANTA ELENA de Puntarenas in the Tilaran Mountains attracts thousands of visitors many of whom visit year after year. The town of Santa Elena can be accessed by four wheel drive vehicles or by private or public buses. Traveling north on the Inter-American Highway on Route 1, the ‘Rancho Grande’ exit marks the first stretch of the journey. Driving into the town of Sardinal, at the main plaza, a left turn marks the beginning of an adventurous stretch of the journey towards the Monteverde cloud forest. Steep, rocky and unpaved, some sections of this road will require a shift into four-wheel drive. The road winds through the rugged mountains and offers spectacular views.

When visitors arrive at the village of Santa Elena they already have an introduction to the natural wonders that await them on the trails inside the reserve. Santa Elena used to be an isolated community but these days many tourist services have been set up in the name of rural tourism. The prices and types of lodgings vary greatly to accommodate all budgets, as do prices in the restaurants. Nearby communities like SAN LUIS and SAN GERARDO are less commercially developed. The daily life of those who live in this region revolves around nature and the efforts to preserve it.

There are numerous hiking trails in and around the reserves, San Luis and San Gerardo. The vastness and richness of the natural landscape is best savored on horseback, but one can walk or bicycle to a butterfly observatory, a hummingbird garden, a serpentarium or a frog pond. For the more adventurous, several tour companies offer Canopy tours, rappelling and walks over suspension bridges. Some of the bridges are incredibly long and the sensation of observing life from the tree-top level is absolutely rewarding. A good tour guide will help you recognize various species of monkeys, birds, snakes and a large variety of orchids, bromeliads, air plants, vines and insect communities – all of these from the canopy level.

In between immersions in nature, some visitors attend language classes or join artistic workshops to learn to make handicrafts. There are galleries that exhibit the works of new local artists along with those who have been around longer. The diversity includes textiles, ceramic, water and oil paintings, collages, metalwork, engraving and photography.

MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST

This biological reserve is famous for being one of the most outstanding wildlife sanctuaries in the tropics. The varying climates and altitudes on the slopes have helped produced an amazing biodiversity; more than 100 mammal species, 400 bird species, 100 species of amphibians and reptiles and 3000 plant species have been reported, among which are 500 different types of orchids. In 1972, fearing threats posed by housing settlements in the areas surrounding the cloud forest, a visiting scientist, George Powell and his wife joined efforts with Wilford Guindon, one of the first Quaker settlers, to promote the establishment of a nature reserve. The country’s Tropical Science Center was receptive to their efforts and today administers and conserves the protected areas. The establishment of the reserve assures the financial and human resources needed to appropriately expand, consolidate, protect and administer the 5000 hectares that currently belong to the reserve.

THE RESERVE’S FACILITIES

Nine different trails are maintained within the Cloud Forest.

A 100-meter long suspension bridge that is 25 meters above ground at its highest point.

Three refuges within the reserve.

Natural history walks guided by qualified naturalists.

Guided night walks.

A lodge with a capacity for 40 people, a restaurant, gift shop and a visitor center.

Hours are from 7 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

SANTA ELENA CLOUD FOREST

Santa Elena was one of the first communities in the country to have a forest reserve. The 310-hectare reserve was officially opened in 1992 and since then the income from entrance fees has been used for community projects in education, conservation and research. The Chiquito and Caño Negro Rivers have their origins within the territory of this reserve, which, together with the Aguas Gatas creek, constitute 78% of the water that flows into the Arenal Reservoir and Dam, which in turn produces 60% of the electricity for the whole country.

                                                                                                                                                                                                        THE QUAKERS

Aside from nature and adventure, the attraction of Monteverde comprises a strong cultural component due to the Quakers who pioneered this mountainous area and continue to live here in Monteverde. The Quakers are Protestants Pacifists who came to the area in 1951 after learning that Costa Rica has abolished its army (1948) and after some members of their group were imprisoned in the United States for refusing to serve in the military during the Korean War. Originally, 44 Quakers arrived and settled in the Tilaran Mountains where they established dairy farms and began to produce cheese. Soon after arriving the community began to develop a strong interest in preserving and caring for the cloud forest in the area. They built a school for their children and invited Costa Rican children from Santa Elena to attend; as a result of this blending of nationalities a bilingual culture evolved and became one of the factors that gave rise to a tourism boom in Monteverde.

A visit to the MONTEVERDE CHEESE FACTORY includes a chance to learn about the preparation of cheese and an opportunity to sample some of their products. The factory is open to the public from Monday through Saturday from 7.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. and on Sunday from 7.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

SAN LUIS WATERFALL
This waterfall has an impressive drop of about 300 meters. Getting there involves a short hike from the town of San Luis.

MODEL ECOLOGICAL FARM
The BRENES FAMILY opens its private farm to show visitors a model ecological farm; there are primary forests with incredibly large trees and trails that facilitate wildlife observation. They also offer to take visitors to two waterfalls on oxcarts. There is an organic garden and a dairy where visitors can learn to milk a cow and to make cheese. This farm is located just 2 km from the center of Santa Elena.

CHILDREN’S ETERNAL FOREST
The largest private forest reserve in Costa Rica is located 7 km from the town of Santa Elena. There are 5 km of trails in the 22,000 hectares of this cloud forest, and it has an awesome view of Arenal Volcano to the north. It is open to the public from 7 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

BAJO DEL TIGRE TRAIL
This 3.3 km of trails offer sightings of white-face monkeys, armadillos, butterflies, frogs and a huge population of birds. There is an excellent view of the Gulf of Nicoya to the west.

MONTEVERDE MUSIC FESTIVAL
During the first few months of the year, the most prominent musicians in the country are invited to Monteverde to entertain visitors and residents. Every weekend a different group performs. This festival is held in the dry season to coincide with the influx of tourists.

COFFEE TOURS
There are several coffee farms that offer educational tours on coffee cultivation, processing and production; from collection, drying, toasting and grinding to having a hot cup of coffee served at your table.