The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, established in 1972, is regarded as one of Costa Rica's most prized natural areas. This 4,000-hectare (9884-acre) private reserve safeguards a fragile and endangered ecosystem: the tropical cloud forest.
As you can read in our articles about the history of Monteverde, a group of Quakers knew that the cloud forests were the water source for many communities from here to the coast. It could easily be endangered, so they set up the reserve to protect the water surrounding forests.
A non-profit organization currently administers the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, and travelers from all over the globe visit this section of Costa Rica to learn about the unique cloud forest. You can always choose between going on a guided tour or by yourselves to enjoy the beauty of a cloud forest and its significance around the globe.
Getting To the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is roughly 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) from the Ocotea Boutique Hotel and takes around 15 minutes to get there. There are a few different ways to make the trip.
Taking a Private Tour
In our opinion, this is the best way to see the Monteverde Cloud Forest! Contact us, and we will set you up with the best naturalist guides in the area. With fantastic optical gear, the tour guides will discover all the secrets, allowing you to see magnificent birds such as the Resplendent Quetzal or the Three Wattled Bellbird, and offering the best way to see the magnificent ecology of these remarkable forests.
The tour will pick you up at your hotel reception and drive you to the reserve and back, getting you out of parking and driving hassle.
Please contact us and we will arrange the best tour for you!
If You Have Your Car
If you are in your car, you travel east from the Ocotea Boutique Hotel getting to the main road, and then turning left. After passing the gas station in Cerro Plano, you will notice that the road turns to gravel.
You will continue in this road a little less than three miles until you arrive to the parking lot. Just follow the signs.
The New Parking Lot
A large blue sign on your right says "Official Parking Lot Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve."
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve now has its own parking lot for all guests to park. You can’t miss it!
Find a space, leave your car locked and take the keys. A shuttle with a friendly and bilingual driver will take you to the reserve's entrance, pick you up, and take you back to your car.
Parking and the shuttle from this official parking area to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve goes for a small fee per vehicle.
The reserve entry is closed to direct traffic, so if you drive up, the guard will likely direct you to return to the parking lot. You may see cars parked on the side, but we don’t recommend parking there..
Go with more people in a tour
Sometimes when we are on vacation, we like to meet other fellow travelers and go on shared tours is a fantastic way to do that.
We may also arrange that for you to go with a naturalist guide, and more people.
Shuttle Bus
You can also reserve a shuttle bus in advance to get to the reserve. Let us know, and we will get it for you in advance.
Important Notes
- The reserve is open daily from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. every day
- We definitely recommend leaving yourself a decent amount of time to explore and savor every moment and trail
- We advise you to take a picture of the trail map on the way in.
Trails in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
I usually start with Sendero Nubloso to the viewpoint at La Ventana, where you get to see the Intercontinental Divide, which is a beautiful viewpoint where you can see to both the Caribbean and Pacific sides of Monteverde. ; Then, on the way back, I take Camino to get to the Wilford Guindon. From there, I go across the bridge and, depending on the time I have — and how I feel — I decide whether to extend my trip by taking the strenuous El Roble and then Chomogo or go straight to Tosi and Cuecha via Sendero Wilford Guidon to get back to reception.
Sendero Nuboso (1125 m)
The Nuboso is a relatively easy and flat trail in its first part. It will come to an intersection where you will find the second part (yellow on the map) that comes with a severe sign: “Very steep.” And it is!
You take this path to go to the Continental Divide viewpoint. The paths are well-kept and marked, and the excellent signage makes it simple to walk around.
After 300 meters, Sendero Nuboso becomes Sendero La Ventana. You will notice a change in the vegetation as the trees turn into bushes due to the strong winds.
This route leads to the Continental Divide viewpoint, where you can overlook the Pacific and Caribbean sides (Not the oceans but the different landscapes).
To Go to The Hanging Bridge
Unless you wish to continue back through Sendero Nuboso, you must return to the beginning of Sendero La Ventana and turn left to Sendero Camino.
We will be in Sendero Camino for another 300 meters before turning into Wilford Guindon to reach the bridge.
The bridge is worth a visit! Even if you have been to all the hanging bridges in and out of Monteverde, this one is worth a visit!
Goes without saying that jumping or running on the bridge is not allowed — the bridge is steady and strong, but this reduces the impact of the struts and supports on the surrounding trees and topography..
The bridge is relatively short compared to the ones in Selvatura. However, nature is magnificent on both sides, and the views are beautiful and quite mystical.
This is where you must decide if you take El Roble and Chomogo, which are pretty tricky and filled with uphill stairs, or if you want to stick to a faster and easier (yet beautiful) route, you can continue on.
If you want to venture up to El Roble, a set of stairways going up and then going down will take you to the most pristine and least visited of all trails in Monteverde.
Sendero Tosi and the Waterfall Route
From El Roble, you will get into Chomogo to go down to the Tosi trail. In Tosi, you will find a giant ficus tree!
I always stop there, take some juice or fruit and feel like honoring the massive creature by just sitting on the nearby bench and looking at it for a while.
Soon after the ficus, you’ll merge with Sendero Cuecha, the waterfall trail, and finally, after half a kilometer on Sendero Cuecha, you arrive at the waterfall.
The waterfalls are small but immersed in a vast and fascinating wall of the forest where you can spot many birds, but that mainly will take your breath away as it is such a beautiful spot!
From there, you can return to the parking lot by walking back down Sendero Cuecha, which has lots of clear signage to guide you back home.
Wildlife in the Monteverde Reserve
I have walked the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve many times. I have seen coatimundis, agoutis, monkeys, and even peccaries. And an abundance of birds.
The forest is too dense, and the reserve is huge. Nevertheless, I have always been surrounded by one of the unique ecosystems on the planet!
And this is the reason why I will always recommend going with a guide at least once!
When you go by yourself (and I tend to always hike solo), if you don’t know about tropical nature, you will miss the best of it all! Plus, the beauty of Costa Rica’s vast microclimates means that there’s something interesting to discover in every trail, even if there are no charismatic animal sightings.
If you like learning about nature, you should arrange a guided walk.
Another great possibility is to go first with a guide, and then on a second trip, take the pathways slowly and without any rush to take the cloud forest in.
Winding Down Your Trip
On the way out of the reserve, you can have a delicious typical lunch at the restaurant. The food is delicious, and you will eat right before this magnificent forest landscape.
If you are driving your car, that is where you arrange the shuttle to the parking lot.
What Should I Take to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve?
I usually wear light clothes, breathable shirts, and hiking boots. A good rain poncho and a hat are great to have in the backpack too.
For carrying, I like to take a good backpack, comfortable and light. And in it, I will take a good-sized water bottle (Refillable), some nut or granola bars, a few candies (in case my sugar levels go down), and a container with some fruit in case I go hungry while walking.
A Must-See During Your Time!
Walking in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is almost compulsory for you to come to the region of Monteverde. There are many more places to hike, but this is the first and most important of the area. And never mind how many times you visit Monteverde, hiking in “the reserve” is always outstanding!
Contact us, and we will arrange the best visit for you!
