Sometimes it’s hard to narrow down exactly how to spend your time on vacation. Especially if your time is limited. We decided to ask the experts at Ocotea Tours for a little help. After all, they’ve been a leader in the local tourism industry for well over a decade, and they know which excursions and destinations are both popular and enjoyed.
Since there is still a petty wide range of activities and tours, we thought we would break it down even further based on the 3 most common vacation lengths. Take a look at what they have come up with and maybe it will help you organize your own trip so you can enjoy the best Monteverde vacation EVER.
One Week in Monteverde
Let’s say you need to cram all your fun and excitement into 7 days (well 6 by the time you include travel to and from the airport).
When that’s the case, it’s important to choose your activities carefully and to choose items that don’t require lots of travel time between each destination. That way you can make the most of your time in paradise.
Since there are plenty of things to see and do within a 20-mile radius of Monteverde, that is easier than you may think. If you’re staying at the Ocotea Boutique Hotel, you know you’re going to be able to fuel up every morning with an amazing breakfast, so that’s another time saver!
With that in mind, here is a sample itinerary for a 7-day Monteverde vacation.
Day 1- Arrive in Costa Rica, travel from the airport, check into your accommodations, and relax.
Day 2- Breakfast at the hotel, a horseback riding excursion, lunch at Cabure (and maybe some chocolates for later), a visit to the Butterfly Garden, and then back to Ocotea to relax for a few hours in the garden or the lounge, dinner at Bon Appetit!
Day 3- Another yummy breakfast at the hotel, a coffee tour followed by afternoon snacks at the Monteverde Cafe (watch the monkey and birds outside), a stroll through the Arte Jaguar Gallery, and back to the hotel in time to change and rest before dinner.
Day 4- A healthy breakfast will get you ready for a guided hike through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Enjoy lunch at their on-site restaurant and cafe where you enjoy amazing views while you eat. Then a visit to the Orchid Garden and a stop to watch the sunset at a local lookout spot followed by wood-fired pizza from Wine & Grill before heading back to the hotel to enjoy drinks and conversation in the rooftop lounge.
Day 5- A quiet day to rest and recuperate. Enjoy breakfast and lunch in Nectandra Restaurant and a soothing spa treatment before gearing up to explore the magic of the cloud forest at night at the Children’s Eternal Rainforest Reserve. Stop at a local soda for a typical Costa Rican casado on the way back to the hotel.
Day 6 (Friday only)- After breakfast, it’s time to head to the local market (feria) and explore all the amazing tropical fruits and veggies, and the local vendors with their artisanal treats and crafts, followed by a stop at the CASEM COOP for souvenir shopping. Back to Nectandra Restaurant for a fantastic lunch and an afternoon of relaxation and conversation before heading out for a unique farm-to-table dinner at Valle Escondido and a chance to try some of the produce picked directly from their onsite garden prepared by their talented chefs.
Day 7- Check out and head back to the airport after one last delicious breakfast, with a stop in San Jose at the Gold Museum along the way if your schedule permits.
10 Days in Monteverde
10 days is a nice timeframe to enjoy all that Monteverde has to offer, and a few things a little farther afield, like the El Tigre Waterfall.
Here is a Sample Itinerary For a 10-day Monteverde Vacation
Day 1- Arrive in Costa Rica, travel from the airport to Monteverde, check into accommodations, and unpack. Dinner at Nectandra where you can enjoy the new menu options!
Day 2- Shake off that jet lag with some fresh Costa Rican coffee and a healthy breakfast in the hotel, then it’s off to enjoy a full day at Selvatura where you can zip through the canopy, visit the hanging bridges, and explore the Butterfly Garden & Sloths followed by a short rest at the hotel and dinner at Wine & Grill Restaurant.
Day 3- Delicious breakfast in Nectandra Restaurant followed by a day tour at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and The Frog Pond with a delightful dinner at Nectandra.
Day 4- Up early for a quick breakfast and then it's off on a road trip to the El Tigre Waterfalls… with their one-of-a-kind zipline bike…maybe stop on the way for a picnic lunch to enjoy while you watch the rainbows created by the falls. Back in time for a hearty meal (and maybe a pint) at the Monteverde Brewing Company.
Day 5- Early breakfast and then out the door for a Cooking Class and Huellas de Monteverde (Travellers Philanthropy) followed by a relaxing stone-fired pizza from Tramonti.
Day 6- After a delicious breakfast you are off to explore the town and all it has to offer, late lunch in a local soda, and then the Bat Jungle + night tour at Children´s Eternal Rainforest and dinner at Nectandra Restaurant.
Day 7- Enjoy a delicious breakfast before heading out to take in some of the local culture. The Trapiche Tour is a great way to learn about some staples of the Costa Rican diet (and maybe yours too) sugar cane, coffee, and chocolate! Enjoy typical Costa Rican tapas. Back in the afternoon for a few hours of rest and relaxation before dinner and conversation at Bon Appetit Pizzeria e Ristorante.
Day 8- Are you ready to ride? After breakfast, it’s time to take a horseback riding tour, followed by a visit to the Orchid Garden. Stop for dinner at a local soda and then spend the evening relaxing in the rooftop lounge.
Day 9- After breakfast, its time for an enjoyable day of Birdwatching at Curi Cancha and Milking (yes, milking) at Terra Viva Farm where you and learn about a simpler way of life, then back to the hotel for supper and an evening of relaxation.
Day 10- Breakfast followed by check-out, travel from Monteverde to San Jose or Liberia Airport for your flight. Depending on your flight time, you can stop along the way for souvenirs or shopping.
14 Days in Monteverde
If you are lucky enough to manage a 2-week vacation, then Monteverde is a great home base with plenty to do right here in town and within a couple of hours' drive.
Here is a Sample 14-day itinerary.
Day 1- Arrive in Costa Rica, travel from the airport to Monteverde, check into accommodations, and unpack. Dinner at Nectandra Restaurant where you can enjoy the new menu options!
Day 2- Get up early and shake off that jet lag with a morning tour at Santa Elena Reserve followed by the Huellas de Monteverde Tour. Then a relaxing afternoon at the hotel followed by dinner at Bon Appetit Pizzeria e Ristorante!
Day 3- Enjoy a delicious and healthy farm-to-table breakfast followed by the canopy tour that started it all at Original Canopy, then enjoy a late lunch and sunset at one of the amazing lookout spots around town. Dinner in a local soda.
Day 4- After an early breakfast, it’s time to hit the road and head to La Fortuna for a one-day tour of Arenal Volcano National Park and La Fortuna.
Day 5- Back in Monteverde, enjoy a relaxing breakfast and some amazing Costa Rican coffee before you head out to explore the hanging bridges, and sloth sanctuary at Selvatura. Then back to Nectandra Restaurant for a delicious meal.
Day 6- After a hearty breakfast, it’s time to enjoy a delicious Cooking class followed by horseback riding and wood-fired pizza at Tramonti.
Day 7- Today is all about beauty, and it starts with a visit to the Orchid Garden, lunch, and handmade chocolates at Cabure followed by a relaxing on-site spa treatment. End your day with a relaxing dinner at Nectandra Restaurant.
Day 8- Strap on your hiking shoes and load up on a hearty breakfast because it's time to explore the flora and fauna of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve followed by lunch at a local soda and a visit to the Bat Jungle. After a few hours of relaxation, it's off to Morphos for a tasty meal and an amazing view from the deck.
Day 9- Enjoy a delicious early breakfast and then it's off to the beauty of the El Tigre Waterfalls and its one-of-a-kind zipline bike, followed by a simple lunch and a quiet afternoon at Ocotea Boutique Hotel.
Day 10- Enjoy a delicious yogurt bowl for breakfast followed by a morning exploration of Santa Elena’s shops. Lunch at Stella’s Cafe and then a Milking Tour at Terra Viva where you can explore this traditional dairy farm and develop an appreciation for the work that went into sourcing that yogurt. Spend the afternoon at the farm, before heading back to the hotel for sunset in the Rooftop Terrace room and a light supper.
Day 11- Enjoy a delicious breakfast before heading out to learn all about Costa Rican Coffee followed by a visit to the Frog Pond and a stop at the local CASEM Coop for souvenirs. Supper at your favorite local restaurant.
Day 12- Relax and sleep in, then enjoy a late breakfast before heading out for Birdwatching at Curi Cancha, a late lunch/early supper, and then an exciting night tour at Children´s Eternal Rainforest.
Day 13- It’s road trip day, so after an early breakfast, it's time to board a shuttle and head out to the Llanos del Cortés Waterfalls. Lunch on the road followed by a relaxing evening and dinner at Nectandra Restaurant.
Day 14- Breakfast followed by check-out, travel from Monteverde to San Jose or Liberia Airport for your flight. Depending on your flight time, you can stop along the way for souvenirs or shopping.
So Much to See and Do
Regardless of how much time you have to spend in Monteverde, there is no doubt that your trip can be as exciting… or as relaxing… as you wish it to be, and that is perhaps, the most appealing thing about our little town. It really can provide something for everyone, and leave each person with memories that they can cherish for years to come.
Let us help organize your dream Monteverde vacation. Click this link and speak to one of our friendly and knowledgeable staff because that trip of a lifetime starts with one tiny step.
Email: reservations@ocoteahotel.com
Or call us direct (toll-free) from the US or Canada at 1-866-379-5133 or in Costa Rica at +506 4002-2599.
