Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Famous reserve of misty mountain forest covered in mosses, ferns and orchids. Trails and hanging bridges let visitors look for quetzals, hummingbirds and other birds among the clouds.
Monteverde
Birdwatching in this misty cloud forest may turn up the resplendent quetzal, and there are also hanging bridges and zip-lines.
Attractive locations
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve
Community-run reserve with trails through cloud forest above the town of Santa Elena. It is often a little quieter than its larger neighbour and has lookouts over the surrounding hills.
Selvatura Park
Forest attraction beside Santa Elena Reserve, with suspension bridges and canopy walkways. It also has wildlife exhibits such as butterflies, hummingbirds and reptiles.
Curi Cancha Reserve
Private reserve of forest and pasture near Monteverde, popular with birdwatchers. Fewer visitors are allowed in at a time, which makes it easier to spot and watch wildlife quietly.
Serpentario de Monteverde
Small wildlife centre with a collection of snakes, frogs and other reptiles and amphibians, shown in glass enclosures. Guides explain how the animals live in the surrounding forest.
Airports
La Fortuna Arenal Airport FON
It is about 31 km in a straight line from Monteverde.
Juan Santamaría International Airport SJO
It is about 74 km in a straight line from Monteverde.
Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport LIR
It is about 87 km in a straight line from Monteverde.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Costa Rica page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan23.9 °C13 mm
- Feb24.8 °C9 mm
- Mar26.2 °C10 mm
- Apr27.3 °C40 mm
- May26.5 °C187 mm
- Jun25.2 °C177 mm
- Jul25.0 °C131 mm
- Aug25.1 °C175 mm
- Sep24.8 °C252 mm
- Oct24.3 °C289 mm
- Nov23.8 °C132 mm
- Dec23.7 °C28 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Mar. Wettest months: May, Sep, Oct.
Costs
Prices here are about 59% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
911 for all emergencies.
local government
Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT)
Helps with: Costa Rica's national tourism institute. Its site links to complaint channels, including a form for complaints against tourism companies. The page gives the main office number but no tourist helpline.
Who qualifies: Visitors and others dealing with Costa Rica's tourism sector.
Phone: +506 2299-5800
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Costa Rica
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in Costa Rica since 1954. It works on migration management and crisis response, including support for migrants seeking to regularise their status.
Who qualifies: Migrants in Costa Rica and government or other partners. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: (506) 4052 3500
Address: Sigma Business Center, Costado Oeste del Mall San Pedro, Torre C, Piso 1, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica
local government
Emergency number 911 (police, ambulance and fire)
Helps with: Reaches the police, ambulance and fire services in Costa Rica. The number comes from UK government travel advice.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 911