MONTEVERDE, COSTA RICA
Have you ever set foot in a cloud forest? If not, you’re in luck! Due to its high altitude, Monteverde is surrounded by them! When visiting this region in northern Costa Rica, technically the town you will stay in is called Santa Elena (but it is generally referred to as Monteverde). Be prepared for this spot to be a bit chillier than the rest of your Costa Rican travels but, hey, that’s not necessarily a bad thing if you’re looking to cool down!
Attractions:
Cloud Forest Reserves: There are three different cloud forest reserves in Monteverde; all of them are open from 8am-4pm.
Monteverde Cloud Forest: This forest boasts 10 hiking trails up to 1.5 miles in length. Entrance to the park costs $25 and guided tours (3 hours) are offered in both Spanish and English for an additional price. Buses leave daily from Banco Nacional at 6:15am, 7:20am, and 1:15pm. Return buses leave at 11:30am, 2:00pm, and 4:00pm. Buses are 20 minutes and cost $1 each way.
Santa Elena Cloud Forest: I chose to visit this reserve because it is less expensive ($16), less crowded, and has longer hiking trails than the above option. The 5 trails here (ranging from .3-3 miles in length) are absolutely beautiful; I spent 5 hours walking around and admiring the nature! I recommend the Caño Negro and Encantado trails. Buses leave daily from Banco Nacional at 6:30am, 8:30am, 10:30am, and 12:30pm. Return buses leave at 9:00am, 11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm, and 4:00pm. Buses are 20 minutes and cost $2 each way.
Children’s Eternal Rainforest: This is the least visited of the three and is actually closest to town. All of the trails here are under half of a mile. Entrance costs $12 and the park is a 30-minute walk from town center.
Ficus Tree: There is a single, straggler ficus tree just 15 minutes outside of town that is free to visit and climb (located here)! If you ask anyone, they can point you in the right direction. Climbing to the top of this hollowed-out, 20m tall tree (65 feet) will give you a commanding view. I highly recommend; it’s lots of fun!
Sky Walk: Are you afraid of heights? This experience gives you a unique perspective of what the forest canopy feels like! At heights of 70m (230 feet), the views you get over the course of this trail are incredible! This 2.5km (1.5 mile) circuit winds through tropical forest and over hanging suspension bridges. Entrance costs $25 and guided tours are available for additional $16 (tours run 6 times daily).
Kinkajou Night Walk: For $28, you can take a 2-hour guided tour through the rainforest at dark (flash lights are provided). The list of animals you can potentially see is long but includes armadillos, tarantulas, toucans, frogs, and scorpions! Tours leave at 6:00pm, 7:00pm, and 8:20pm.
Other attractions to consider include: Selvatura Adventure Park, Monteverde Butterfly Gardens, Don Juan Coffee Tour, and Monteverde Waterfall.
Accommodation:
Hotel - Camino Verde Bed & Breakfast: Although this isn’t a proper hotel, it’s a great spot to call home during your stay in Monteverde! Camino Verde has been in service for over 20 years and is just a short walk from the town’s center. Their staff is world-class and they can help you set up any of the tours mentioned above during your visit. Enjoy!
Hostel - Santa Elena Hostel Resort: This hostel is right in the middle of town, just 5 minutes walking from the bus station. It’s a backpacker’s haven with a great kitchen, fun vibes, and plenty of hammocks to relax on! If you’d prefer a more upscale hostel, the world-renowned Selina chain has a location in town.
Transportation:
Monteverde’s main bus station is the Transmonteverde Bus Station and where all of the below buses depart from. If you choose to travel via shuttle bus, those will pick you up from your hostel/hotel.
San José is 4.5 hours by bus from Monteverde and costs $6; buses run twice daily at 6:30am and 2:30pm via Transportes Monteverde. You will be dropped off at Terminal 7-10 in San José.
The shuttle ride is 4 hours and costs $57.
Jacó is 7 hours by bus from Monteverde (indirect; via San José) and costs $11. The first bus from Monteverde to San José is 4.5 hours and costs $6 (see bus times above). No station transfer is necessary. The second bus from San José to Jacó is 2 hours and costs $5; buses depart at 11:00am, 3:00pm, and 7:00pm.
The shuttle ride is 3 hours and costs $45.
San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua is 7-8 hours by bus from Monteverde (indirect; via Lagartos and La Virgen) and costs $26. The first bus from Monteverde to Lagartos is 1 hour and costs $3. You will be dropped off on the side of the highway (this is where the local road connects to the Pan American Highway); don’t worry, this is normal. You are to wait here for a big blue bus (Transnica) heading to Nicaragua. This second bus from Lagartos to La Virgen, Nicaragua is 4 hours and costs $20; they will try to charge you $25 or more but you should be able to haggle them down to $20. The ride from Lagartos to the border (Peñas Blancas) is 3 hours. Once you get through border control, board the same Transnica bus to La Virgen. An hour later, you will be dropped on the side of the highway near La Virgen. You are to wait here for a yellow school bus heading to San Juan del Sur. This final bus from La Virgen to San Juan del Sur is 1 hour and costs $3.
The shuttle ride is 6 hours and costs $67.
When crossing the border from Costa Rica to Nicaragua, you will pay two fees. The first fee is $7 to exit Costa Rica and the second fee is $12 to enter Nicaragua. The border crossing can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours.
Manuel Antonio is 8-9 hours by bus from Monteverde (indirect; via San José) and costs $15. The first bus from Monteverde to San José is 4.5 hours and costs $6 (see bus times above). Upon arriving at Terminal 7-10 in San José, walk 25 minutes to the Tracopa Terminal (or take a 15-minute taxi for $10). The bus ride from here to Manuel Antonio is 3.5 hours and costs $9; buses run daily at 10:30am, 2:30pm, and 4:45pm.
The shuttle ride is 5 hours and costs $59.
La Fortuna is 9-10 hours by bus from Monteverde (indirect; via San José) and costs $11. The first bus from Monteverde to San José is 4.5 hours and costs $6 (see bus times above). No station transfer is necessary. The second bus from San José to La Fortuna is 4 hours and cost $5; buses run every 20-50 minutes (or by demand from 5:30am-5:45pm).
The shuttle ride is 3 hours and costs $45.
Puerto Viejo is 9-10 hours by bus from Monteverde (indirect; via San José) and costs $17. The first bus from Monteverde to San José is 4.5 hours and costs $6 (see bus times above). Upon arriving at Terminal 7-10 in San José, walk 5 minutes to the Terminal de Autobus Atlántico Norte. The bus ride from here to Puerto Viejo is 4.5 hours and cost $11; buses leave every two hours from 12:00pm-6:00pm.
The shuttle ride is 8 hours and costs $99.
The two closest airports to Monteverde are 125km (78 miles) away - Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR; outside of Liberia) and Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO; outside of San José). They are both accessible via shuttle bus.
Thank you, Phillip & Alex, for snapping the photos of me in the ficus tree! Thank you, Freddy, for taking some great shots as well!