When we arrive in Monteverde for the first time, we may not realize how many reserves there truly are to appreciate the breathtaking nature of our region.
Interestingly, Monteverde doesn’t have one single national park. Private foundations manage every single protected area of the region.
In our articles, we’ve discussed some of the most popular, like the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, and El Tigre Waterfalls, but there are many more, and the trails are all different and quite magnificent.
In this post, I will talk about a walk on the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, a much lesser-known fantastic protected area. Keep on reading to find some good information about the trails, fauna, and flora and tips to enjoy it fully.
With a higher elevation of 1600 meters (5250 feet), the Santa Elena Cloud Forest has 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) of well-maintained trails with picturesque viewpoints.
Over 300 hectares (741 acres) of land are safeguarded there, primarily by the efforts of the Santa Elena Professional Technical High School, which runs it privately with the support of the Costa Rican Ministries of Environment and Education.
The Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve can be found on the Caribbean side of the Continental Divide, 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) away from the town of Santa Elena.
It is referred to in Spanish as La Reserva Bosque Nuboso Santa Elena on Google Maps and Waze.
Whether you take a private guide or go with an open group, a tour will always allow you to learn more and enjoy more. There are so many fantastic facts about this type of forest that visiting without an interpreter can be a mistake.
Tour Guides know the area intimately, they can easily find the animals and birds that, for us, are harder to find, and they carry professional optical gear so you can see everything in detail.
The drive from the town to the cloud forest reserve is simple, although it is essential to know that the road to Santa Elena is not paved, and depending on how complex the rainy season is, it might be in poor condition. Our recommendation is to ask the Ocotea Boutique Hotel staff about the condition of the road before you embark on it.
If the road conditions are not the best, our advice is to ask the staff for private transportation that can take you and pick you up later; or go on a tour (Information below).
However, if you are used to your 4X4 rental or are staying with us in the middle of the sunny season, we recommend downloading your map from Waze or Google Maps, as there are areas on the road where the signal is not available.
The app may send you in two directions from the Ocotea Boutique Hotel:
To the left and up the hill:
This is a good shortcut. You just have to make sure not to turn anywhere than how the map marks it. You will know you are on the right track because you will find one of our favorite Italian-style restaurants in Monteverde, Bon Appetit!, to the lefthand side after (approx) 10 minutes of driving.
To the right-hand side and downhill:
As you get to the main road, turn to the righthand side, and as soon as you get to the intersection of Santa Elena town, go downhill past the Shopping Center and into the center of Santa Elena.
You will arrive at the Banco Nacional corner and take a right here. Go past the town, and the plaza, and then you will get to Bon Appetit!
After Bon Appetit!, you will start getting out of the town and into the road that takes you to the reserve.
You will find a couple of intersections: keep on the right side. After you find the last crossing, you will find Selvatura Nature Park on the right. Keep on going. The road turns right, and at the very end, you will find Santa Elena’s Parking Lot. (Free Parking)
Once you’ve arrived at the reserve, they will give you a map at the office where you can buy your tickets and go inside.
Once inside, you will find a small restaurant, bathrooms, and the trails' beginning. At this point, everything is paved. There is an accessible trail created for people with different capacities, children, and seniors.
It’s a good idea to take a picture of the trail map and have it on your phone. You can also download it here:
The Santa Elena Cloud Forest is open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and costs 16 USD for adults and 7 USD for children.
As you can see, the Reserve has five well-defined trails, and it includes four different ecosystems.
The kilometer-long "Youth Challenge Trail" takes about an hour. It is the easiest and quickest trail on the reserve.
The Youth Challenge Trail is great for bird and volcano spotting on a clear day.
At the trail's end is a lookout tower with stunning views of Arenal Volcano and other natural landmarks on a clear day. If you want to see the volcano, get to the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve very early clouds set in.
This is a favorite for tour guides and groups.
This 4.8 km long trail takes about three and a half hours. It runs through the Santa Cloud Forest Reserve, making it the longest trail on the reserve, and it’s quite a challenging ride with steep climbs and descents. You can also spot a lot of wildlife along this trail.
This is a strenuous but fantastic walk. For those traveling during the green season, there is a pretty steep part of the trail that is frequently quite muddy.
This 1.4 km long takes about two and a half hours. It's an excellent trail for bird and wildlife viewing. You might even see a Resplendent Quetzal or a Howler Monkey if you're lucky!
The 1.6 mile (2.6 km) Bajo Trail takes about an hour and a half. It crosses a secondary forest with a multitude of birds and is a part of the greater Caño Negro trail system.
El 0.3 Km (0.48 mi) Young World Trail is a great option for families as it only takes ten minutes,
From our perspective, due to their excellent views of Arenal Volcano, the Encantado and Cano Negro trails are highly recommended.
The trails are well maintained in general, and most of them are covered with a thin layer of gravel. However, as it drizzles very frequently in the cloud forest (even in the sunny season), the trails can be muddy at times.
All pathways are surrounded by a stunning moss-covered collection of tall trees. As layers of plants, moss, and epiphytes are strewn across the ground floor, the dense vegetation doesn’t allow you to see the ground.
The sensation of wilderness at times can even be overwhelming! It is a very magical forest. You almost expect to see some ancient dinosaurs wandering through the mist.
And it shines! Maybe because it is frequently very wet, I always have the impression that the green of Santa Elena is brighter and somehow cleaner.
The community that maintains the reserve (The High School of Santa Elena students) does a great job keeping this network of trails.
Because of the pandemic, some of the trails deteriorated a bit, but right now, they are back on track and with great signage. However, just in case it’s nice to keep your map with you at all times.
The paths are easy to walk. Additionally, they have benches, making them welcoming to visitors of all ages.
Santa Elena benches in the cloud forest even have moss covering them, a friendly reminder that even in this preserve, you’re in the cloud forest.
Animals of the Santa Elena Cloud Forest can be elusive, but keep your eyes and ears open. They are there. It is just that sometimes it is impossible to pinpoint their location due to the dense and thick forest canopy (another reason a guide can be helpful).
Coatis, agoutis, and monkeys are a few of the animals you might see frequently. If you’re lucky, you can see the colorful Quetzals in Monteverde between February and July if you're lucky.
However, the best of the Santa Elena Reserve is the wilderness sensation that you experience, especially if you go on the Caño Negro Trail.
Money from the tours, self-guided hikes, and other services provided by the reserve is used for the protection and management of the reserve itself, but also to support educational centers in the area and in neighboring communities.
Santa Elena is one of the first communities in Costa Rica to own and direct an ecotourism project. It is, therefore, an excellent example of what an organized community can do to conserve and learn from its environment.
The Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve is a fantastic option for all visitors to the area of Monteverde. The experience of pure nature is breathtaking here, and its beauty may touch you deeply, especially when you are deep into the mists and mystery of the cloud forest.
For me, as a resident hiker, it’s a favorite, maybe because is less crowded, and wilder. There are few words to describe it, you must experience it! So come over! And let’s go hiking to the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve.
Reference
AllTrails.com. "Best Trails in Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve." AllTrails.com. n.d. Web. 7 Oct. 2022.