Travelers drawn to Costa Rica are faced with a daunting challenge as they try to narrow down an itinerary in the country. Much of Costa Rica’s charm comes from the unique character of its small towns, which are vibrant communities that each have something to offer.
The diversity of Costa Rica’s natural world offers another challenge. Over every ridge, around every bend in a river, down each waterfall, you can stumble onto yet another microhabitat, with its own endemic species, climate, and fascinating natural history.
Here at the Ocotea Boutique Hotel, we’re passionate about exploring Costa Rica. Even for those of us who have lived here for years, decades, even our entire lives, there’s always a new destination to explore right here in our country. And that’s before you factor in changing seasons and yearly migrations, which can bring a fresh perspective to familiar destinations.
It’s no wonder that so many people who come to the country make multiple stops on a trek through Costa Rica, and it’s in this context that we’ll be talking about Monteverde today.
The glory of the cloud forests, the stunning wildlife (particularly the birds), and the expansive network of trails with jaw-dropping vistas to both sides of the continental divide are just a few of the many reasons to visit Monteverde. But there’s also beauty in Monteverde’s contrast to much of Costa Rica, offering a blissful mountaintop retreat unlike anywhere else in the country.
The first thing most travelers notice as they venture up the mountains into Monteverde is that the weather becomes noticeably cooler, which can offer a pleasant contrast to many of Costa Rica’s perennially hot destinations. The air is misty and fresh like you’re starting to breathe in the clouds for which these forests have been named.
Those clouds play a part in every aspect of the Monteverde climate. When they reach capacity and burst, you get the brief rejuvenating rainstorms that roll across sections of the mountain. When they fade, they leave behind breathtaking rainbows. Even the incredible sunsets over the Golfo de Nicoya draw their colors from the refraction of clouds.
For some tour operators and hotels in Costa Rica, discussing things like clouds, rain showers, and cooler weather is considered off-limits and bad for business. But up in Monteverde, there’s a different mentality.
Short rain showers are the perfect time to take a nap, relax, look out from your terrace, and watch the weather roll across the mountains. Clouds bring shade and shadow that bring the forests to life. And cool weather offers a respite from the steamy rainforests or the sunny beaches. And that Monteverde mentality extends to more than just the weather.
There are many wonderful places in Costa Rica with jubilant nightlife full of singing and dancing that stretches late into the night and often early into the morning. Monteverde isn’t one of those destinations and is instead a place where things are quiet and relaxed in the evenings.
To help preserve the natural rhythms and routines of the wildlife around us, lights across the city are gentle and are generally turned down even further in the evenings. Loud music is also kept to a minimum, and the result is a place that’s peaceful not just for the animals, but for human beings as well.
There are destinations in Costa Rica that are designed for the active pursuit of wellness, with countless spas and treatments, along with a wealth of practitioners, studios, and retreat opportunities.
Monteverde features these kinds of experiences, but they’re not the main focus of life in the mountains. Instead, in Monteverde tranquility is woven into the fabric of daily life. Calm isn’t something to necessarily be sought or bought, it’s something that emerges when you simply pause and let the natural world envelop you.
There are incredible adventures to uncover in Monteverde, but if you seek wall-to-wall action, with constant tours, experiences, and stimulation, there’s a possibility that Monteverde might not be where you find it.
Here, we find that experiences are more powerful when you savor them, with time to prepare, fully inhabit the journey, and thoughtfully unwind afterward over coffee or a delicious meal.
This Monteverde mentality, which we’ve discussed in detail in previous articles that you can find right here, comes from the people who have chosen to live here, tracing their roots back to the first Monteverde settlers, a group of Quakers who founded the town in pursuit of a peaceful home.
Today’s inhabitants are a blend of tourism professionals, conservation specialists and biologists, artists, craftsmen, and remote workers who have come seeking that same peace of Monteverde, and you can see the effects of that lifestyle in every person you meet here.
There’s an appreciation for tranquility, a quiet respect for nature. These are the types of people who enjoy a thoughtful walk down through town as the breeze blows, or watching the monkeys in the trees as they enjoy a cafecito.
An afternoon of adventure — right here in town, or a short drive away — is right up their alley, but so too is an afternoon sitting on the terrace reading a book, gazing up when a hummingbird flits by to sample the flowers.
Monteverde natives are fantastic listeners, just as comfortable with silence as they are having thoughtful conversations. To feel at home in Monteverde is to be at peace with a much larger, more complex world than yourself, yet find purpose in the small contributions each of us makes every day.
Monteverde is perched on the Continental Divide almost the exact midpoint between the two international airports in the country, and on an odyssey to see exactly what Costa Rica has to offer, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better place to stop in, collect yourself, and rejuvenate.
The natural beauty of Monteverde isn’t big or flashy, it’s not loud or boisterous. Instead, it reveals itself when you take a moment to stop and smell the orchids. In this way, the town is tailor-made for a feeling of balance, restoration, and welcoming community
If you choose to dive deep into the world of Monteverde, you will depth and complexity to ignite your curiosity for a lifetime. Just ask the painters and the birders, the conservationists and restaurateurs and guides.
But if you’re planning a multiple-stop trip through Costa Rica, a few days at one of the superlative Monteverde Hotels can be an incredible place to cool off and catch your breath. Along the way, you’ll enjoy fresh nourishing meals, restful downtime, and thoughtful, contemplative experiences in the cloud forest.
The natural world of Monteverde will reward you for this. The more you slow down, savor the moment, and listen, the more the natural world around you will come to life and reveal itself.