Monteverde Cloud Forest Holidays

There are so many ways to explore during your trip to Monteverde Cloud Forest. You’ll find a number of trails weaving through the trees, which you can discover independently. Or, if you want to learn more about this amazing place and its wildlife, why not go on a guided walk? There are lots of options available, including bird-watching tours and night walks.

For a different perspective, check out Sky Adventures Costa Rica. You can hop in Monteverde’s aerial Sky Tram, and enjoy a leisurely gondola which soars over the misty canopy. Or you could embark on a guided Sky Walk, which takes you across a series of hanging bridges and treetop trails. Want to get your heart racing? Buckle up at Sky Trek and go zip-lining through the air, surrounded by lush forest.

Incredibly, it’s thought that Monteverde Cloud Forest is home to about half of Costa Rica’s biodiversity – which means that two per cent of the world’s plants and animals can be found here. More than 100 species of mammal live in the forest, along with 400 bird species and 1,200 types of amphibians and reptiles. So remember to pack your binoculars!

It’s likely you’ll see deer, capuchins, howler monkeys and toucans. You might see a shy tapir snuffling through the undergrowth, looking for fruit. And keep your eyes peeled for smaller creatures, like colourful hummingbirds, Costa Rica’s iconic tree frog, and an endangered bright-green bird called a resplendent quetzal. Monteverde Cloud Forest is also home to all six of Costa Rica’s big cats – ocelot, oncilla, jaguar, puma, margay, and jaguarondi – but sightings of these are fairly rare.

Right by the entrance to the Cloud Forest, you’ll find Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery. These tiny birds can be hard to spot in the wild, so this is a great place to see them. The gallery has 14 different species fluttering about, including the violet sabrewing and the strip-tailed hummingbird.

Want to see more wildlife? Spend a day at Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. A 90-minute drive to the north, this series of wetlands, lagoons and flooded forests is a unique home for all sorts of creatures. You can see sneaky caimans swimming along the rivers, watch spider monkeys swinging through the trees, and look out for iguanas lazing in the sunshine. 

Coffee-lovers should check out Café Monteverde Farm and Roastery. A coffee plantation run collectively by 18 families, this place offers tours and tastings. You can learn about the bean-growing process and sustainable farming, and – best of all – try five different types of coffee.

It’s best to plan your holiday to Monteverde Cloud Forest between November and May, as this is the dry season. You can still expect the occasional shower – the rain is what makes this place so green, after all – but generally it’ll be dry and warm, with temperatures between 22°C and 25°C. Just bear in mind that there can be less cloud between January and April, as this is the driest time of year.

Due to the forest’s high altitude, Monteverde tends to be slightly cooler than elsewhere in Costa Rica. So, whenever you visit, it’s worth taking a couple of layers for the evenings – especially if you’re planning to do a guided night walk.

Monteverde’s rainy season runs from June to October, and humidity is very high at this time of year. But, if you’re eager to explore without the crowds, this could be a great time for your trip. Just remember to pack a waterproof!