Welcome to Monteverde

The Monteverde Region with the Santa Elena town as the center is situated in the Cordillera of Tilaran at an altitude of between 1200 and 1500 meters above sea level. Monteverde has a population of about 5000 people; average daily temperature is 15-24 with dry season from January to April and rainy season from May to November. Recommendation: to bring a rain gear as well as pants and a light jacket.

Monteverde with his protected cloud forest reserves, his extraordinary flora and fauna is known as one of the most famous ecotourism destinations in Central America. We recommend you to stay at least a few days to explore the Monteverde Region, one of the most interesting places to visit in Costa Rica.

Highlights

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

The Monteverde Cloud Forest has earned its fame as one of the most outstanding wildlife sanctuaries in the New World Tropics. Positioned on  the Continental Divide in Northwestern Costa Rica, the Preserve extends down both the Caribbean and Pacific slopes. The resultant combination of climatic and geographic factors creates temperature and humidity gradients, which change dramatically over relatively short distances.The elevation varies from about 800 meters in the lowest reaches of the Peñas Blancas river, to 1842 m. at the top of Cerro Tres Amigos. Wind sculptured elfin woodlands on the exposed ridges, they are spectacularly dwarfed, whereas protected cove forests have majestically tall trees festooned with orchids, bromeliads, ferns, vines, and mosses. Poorly drained areas support swamp forest, while parts of the Preserve, dissected by deep gorges, have numerous crystal clear streams tumbling over rapids and waterfalls. The variable climate and large altitudinal gradient has helped to produce an extremely high biodiversity >> more...

Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve

The Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve is situated 7 km northwest of Santa Elena town. The Cloud Forest Reserve is an exceptional hiking experience. The Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve is a wonderland of green lushness. Giant tree ferns, bamboo and palm trees grow abundantly in the under story,  while thick moss covered liana vines dangle from the canopy. Conservation of the unique biodiversity of Santa Elena is of primary importance. Use all your senses to enjoy the frequent sightings of birds and mammals, to hear the song of the Quetzal and the roaring of the Howler monkey and to identify the tracks of the shy Puma, Coati and Red brocket deer >> more...

The Children´s Eternal Rainforest

The Children's Eternal Rainforest (CERF) is managed by the Monteverde Conservation League (MCL) is located on the Tilarán mountain range in northwestern Costa Rica. This range presents a steep sinuous topography which is characterized by peaks and mountain ridges, valleys and canyons as well as abundant rivers of rapid currents that drain both the Pacific and Atlantic slopes of the country.

The CERF is over 22,500 hectares (54,000 acres) in size and encompasses primary and secondary forest as well as regenerating areas. It borders the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve to the north and east, and along with other private reserves and the Arenal National Park, forms a forest block under protection of about 50,000 hectares (110,000 acres).

In general the CERF can be categorized into three forest types: seasonal evergreen forest, cloud forest and aseasonal rain forest, this later type being the most representative within the reserve. However, the CERF includes 6 out of 12 life zones present in Costa Rica as well as a great variety of habitats between 450 and 1,800 above sea level. >> more...