Your All-In-One Guide For Your Trip to Monteverde

The 6 Regions to Consider When Visiting Costa Rica

What to Pack for Your Trip to Costa Rica

Where is Everything In Monteverde?

Finding Your Way Around Town

Map of the Area Around Monteverde

Getting to Monteverde

Can I Find What I Need in Monteverde?

Accommodations

Fresh Grown Costa Rican Coffee

Landmarks and Gorgeous Scenery in Monteverde

Tourist Attractions

Delicious Cuisine

A Wonderful Place to Be

Weather Patterns and Tourism

A Traveller’s Guide to Costa Rica

What is the Weather Like in Costa Rica?

Average Temperature in Monteverde

Natural Events and Cycles

What About the Crowds?

So, When is the Best Time To Visit Costa Rica?

A Year In Monteverde: What to Expect from Each Month

Finding Beauty in the Green Season

High Season In Monteverde: Our Recommendations To Help You Have Your Best Experience

Tips & Tricks

5 Small Tips to Improve Your Monteverde Trip

What Makes Monteverde Special

Costa Rica: Ecotourism for the Conscious Traveler

The Fantastic Wildlife of Monteverde

Something For the History Buffs

A History of Monteverde | The Founding of Monteverde

Conservation, Tourism, and The Future of Monteverde

The Best Little Town Around

A Bit of Geography

The 6 Regions to Consider When Visiting Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a country full of options. Everything about it, from the climate to the weather patterns to the flora and fauna, is diverse. In some cases, the diversity is extreme, as in the case when it comes to the variety of animals that live here.

What that means for the average tourist is that you can decide what type of weather you want, what type of activities you’d like to try, and what sort of critters you’d like to see, and gear your vacation to that. Easy peasy, right?

Well no, not really. Lots of choices can make it hard to decide. 

That’s what this post is all about, helping you to understand the Monteverde region of Costa Rica, so that you can better decide when to go for your vacation, and what you can do when you get there. 

Monteverde is at the intersection of the red, beige, and green areas of the map. It is designated as a part of the Northern Pacific Region of Costa Rica.

The Regions of Costa Rica

First, there are 6 regions;

1. Northern Pacific- The northernmost region borders Nicaragua, quite close to Cárdenas which is just south of Lake Nicaragua. It stretches all the way along the Pacific coast to Mal Pais which is the southernmost point of the Nicoya Peninsula. It also includes Monteverde.

2. Northern or Northern Lowlands- In the center of the country, the Northern Region also borders Nicaragua and includes the areas around the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano and the Arenal Volcano near La Fortuna, which is a very popular tourist destination.

3. Caribbean- as the name suggests, this area lies on the Caribbean coast, along the Atlantic Ocean all the way from Nicaragua in the north to Panama in the south. 

4. Central Valley- In the middle of the county, the Central Valley is a lush area surrounded by mountains. It is also home to the capital city of San Jose.

5. Central Pacific- Running along the Pacific Coast from the top of the Gulf of Nicoya to Dominical the central Pacific is home to some of the best sport fishing in the world.

6. South Pacific- Starting at Dominical, the south pacific region runs along the coast to the end of the Osa Peninsula and the Panamanian border. It also includes Cocos Island which is the geographical southernmost point of Costa Rica. On the mainland, Pavones is known as the ‘end of the road,’ literally. Everything past Pavones is wilderness.

I won’t go into the weather for each, since this page is dedicated to Monteverde. What I am going to do, is break it down based on what the area is most known for, must-see destinations, how easy/hard it is to get there, and any other fun facts that I come across.

Northern Pacific Region

The Northern Pacific is a very large area with a very diverse range of climates. Within its borders, you can find rainforests, transitional forests, cloud forests, farmland, mountains, three active volcanoes, and tropical dry forests. Guanacaste, which is located near the top of the region, is definitely the driest part of the country. In fact, for certain times of the year, they’ll get no rain for months on end, making it a great place for outdoor excursions.

Known for: 

Because the area is so large, you almost have to break the region down more to get a feel for it.

Some of the most popular all-inclusive resorts are located in this area.  Coco, Flamingo, and Tamarindo are all popular tourist destinations, with a very beachy, tropical feel. The hottest driest area is the northwest part of the region.

Farther down the coast, between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Nicoya, life is a little quieter. Most of this area is known for protected areas, both on and offshore, and the natural beauty of the wilderness. It is also home to a Blue Zone which is an area known for the longevity and health of its residents. I wrote a post about that not long ago too called Wellness and the Pura Vida Lifestyle, which talks a little about what they think causes their unnaturally long lifespans.

Inland, of course, you come to Monteverde and explore the dark green foliage of the forests that stretch up into the clouds. Here the weather cools the farther up you climb, and the plant life changes a little with each elevation.

Must see:

Within the Guanacaste Region lies the world-famous Monteverde Cloud Forest. Since only 1% of the planet's forests are designated as cloud forests, this is a relatively rare and exciting site. It is even more exciting because of the inherent biodiversity of Costa Rica. Hundreds of thousands of people annually, come to wander the area's reserves and discover all of the amazing creatures to be found there.

Getting there: 

We recommend visitors fly into the Juan Santamaria Airport located in the country’s capital city, San Jose. From there it is about a 3-hour drive to Monteverde.

What You Will Need

What to Pack for Your Trip to Costa Rica

A packing list to go to Monteverde might not seem hard to put together. Especially if you will be staying in the luxurious ambiance at the Ocotea Boutique Hotel. The mountainous region around us, although rich in pure wilderness, tends to have a gentle climate, mild weather, and very few mosquitos. 

But there is more to packing than just covering the temperature and protecting from bugs! So as a local and as an ex-naturalist tour guide, I may have a couple of tips that you will find helpful once here.

A Little Idea of What to Expect

If you're reading this post, you might already be getting ready for a trip to Monteverde! Maybe your room is already reserved and you already planned the places you would like to see and the experiences you want to have. However, Monteverde has very varied weather and will surprise you almost every day.

You definitely won’t need a parka or emergency rations! But when we are talking about what to bring to fully enjoy Monteverde, we must think about the cool, clear, sometimes misty weather of the mountains, combined with sudden bursts of sunshine filled with a warm breeze. It is unpredictable, mostly all the time, and always wonderful.

You also have to think about your clothes in terms of the activities you will be doing while in Monteverde. Adventurous? Hiker? Looking to lounge and take in the beauty? All of those together? 

Don’t let the wrong clothes or shoes get in the way of your enjoyment. Adventure and nature garments should disappear from the mind of the traveler, so you can focus on enjoying your experience. Make them breathable, versatile, quick-dry, and lightweight… and that’s a great start! But there is more than that! 

In this first part of what to pack for Monteverde, I’ll explain what to look for in your clothing, and what to have on your list.

Then in our second part, we will talk about adventure gear, gadgets, first aid kits, and toiletries. 

Some of the items are pretty logical, and I will not get into their explanations. Some of them may need a bit more elaboration. So, please read on, and I hope you find this helpful!

Clothing and Accessories

For Men

T-Shirts - One per Traveling Day 

Breathable, quick-dry, and lightweight are the way to go here! 

Button-Down Shirts 

These are a great option for hikes in the cloud forest. It's a good idea to choose the ones with a flippable collar to protect your neck in case of need (horseback riding, for instance).

The Columbia-style shirts are ideal with their mesh-lined vented back, sun protection, roll-up sleeves, and multiple pockets.

Long Pants

These are helpful during cooler weather, of course, and to be more protected when setting out into the forest. Long pants are an excellent idea for the cloud forest hiking you plan to enjoy, along with ziplining or horseback riding.

The best, though, is the convertible pants that allow you to turn them to your best convenience. When you think about wearing long pants to experience the cloud forests, you want to look for comfort, freedom of movement, breathability, versatility, and durability. Lightweight and quick-dry are essential features. You’ll hear that a lot!

Leggings are also a good option, although I don't feel as protected as a good old pair of adventure trousers.

Also, forget about jeans! They tend to keep moisture in and aren’t the most comfortable pants you can find if you want to enjoy the tropics, be it up in the mountains or down by the beach.

Socks- 2 or 3 pairs of socks per day

When talking about socks for the rainforest, you may want to go for specialized socks.

Socks get pretty dirty when you are outdoors in Monteverde. If it's sunny, it'll be dusty. If it's cloudy, it'll be cloudy. In the rainy season, it's muddy.

It is good to look for a combination of comfortable, breathable materials such as wool or cotton, polyester, and spandex. And of course, try to find quick-dry, lightweight, responsive for moisture-wicking, seamless technology, midweight cushion, and suitable quality materials.

If you go out of the Ocotea Boutique Hotel to see some of our natural settings, it’s nice to have a change of socks. Then, later on, when you walk to the nearby frog pond or go to Santa Elena town, you might come back to the hotel and feel like changing socks again before going to dinner. And you can see why more socks are helpful!

Remember, it is humid here! So bring plenty of socks for all of your natural and adventurous experiences.

Pajamas 1 & 2

Sometimes Monteverde gets chilly at night. Having a nice variety definitely helps.

Swimsuit

It is always good to have a swimsuit with you when you travel. if you go rafting, kayaking, waterfall rappelling or find a hidden pond in a river to soak in, it is a good idea to carry one.

This is one of those "you never know " items. Unless you’re heading to the beach after your trip to Monteverde, in which case it’s a definite item!

For Women

Swimsuit 

I would highly suggest going for the sports type of swimsuit when using it for adventure or nature-immersed activities.

Dry Quick Tops

It's easier and more comfortable for nature and adventure activities.

Underwear- Two Pairs of Underwear Per Day

You may want to wear adventure or sports underwear when you are active outdoors. As you want to be comfortable and concentrate on your stamina and the pleasure of your experiences, it's best to get something form-fitting (not tight), and moisture-wicking. 

The Sarong

It is a convenient, multifunctional thing that doesn't take up much space. When relaxing after a shower in the room or if you are going to the beach after Monteverde, it is always a good thing to have on hand.

Dryer and Warmer

A Windbreaker or a Light Jacket

Monteverde is located on the Intercontinental Divide, separating the Caribbean and Pacific slopes. The winds from both oceans meet above our heads almost every day of the year, creating different conditions in separate periods. Still, one thing is clear about Monteverde: it can be breezy.

And even on warmer days or places, the wind may be chilly at times, depending on the season. So, having a good windbreak with an adjustable hood is a great idea. Make it, of course, quick-dry, lightweight, and waterproof.

Snug Cardigan, or a Comfortable Hoodie 

I recommend these for chillier days and evenings in Monteverde, better if water-resistant and quick dry. 

Rain Gear

Umbrella

It helps walk around town but is not as useful for outdoor or adventure activities.

A Raincoat

Rain jackets are helpful if it's drizzling. They can be more comfortable and even more protective than rain ponchos if the rain doesn't turn into a downpour (which can happen throughout the year). 

It is good to have seams that are fully sealed, although breathable, hand pockets with zippers or velcro seals, and an adjustable hem with a cord.

Rain Poncho

Although you may believe that a rain jacket will suffice, if you don’t have a waterproof backpack, you will want to cover your backpack and even the dry bag containing your electronics when it rains.

Umbrellas are useless in the forest as they get entangled in the lower branches, and depending on how durable your rain jacket is,  you may need something more significant and sturdy.

For me, rain ponchos are almost indispensable for forest hikes in Monteverde.

Some of the features you will want to find in the perfect rain poncho are body-length protection, lightweight, easy dry, loose fit, and zippered vents. Big enough to cover your hiking backpack.

Hats

Ball Caps or Hiking Hats

For everyday wear, sunny days, and boat trips (outside of Monteverde)

Rain Hat

Waterproof, they are an excellent complement to the rain jacket. Find a large-brim hat with a chin strap and a breathable membrane. Some can be folded to fit in your hand pockets.

Sun Hat

The best are made of cotton or nylon with mesh for ventilation. It's best if they have a chin strap (remember, it's windy here) and a cape for your ears and neck.

Bandanas

Multipurpose! They can be used for anything, from wiping sweat off your face to shielding your phone from the sun.

Footwear

Dress Shoes

Though not 100% necessary, these are great if you want to be prepared for a nice night out at a classy restaurant.

Casual Shoes

It is always nice to have those favorite shoes to go shopping, go to town, or enjoy the hotel grounds.

Water Shoes

Water shoes are very comfortable and quite multifunctional, as they can be worn in the room to relax as well as to rappel down a waterfall. Other than a good, thick gripping sole, essential features are the straps over the toes and around the heels.

Crocs

Just like water shoes. They are cozy and can work for several activities as long as they keep their gripping sole and your toes and ankle are protected. 

Flip Flops

Snug to wear in the room and if you are going to the beach or warmer areas. 

Sneakers

If sturdy, it can be used for hikes. Also for town walking, casual dining, or shopping.

Hiking shoes

If you are a nature lover or an adventure fan, you know how the experience improves when wearing the right shoes. It makes a difference. 

Some of the features you may want to have in your hiking boots are full ankle support, bouncy midsole, comfy heel cup, roomy toe area, good stability, and durability. Make them waterproof and lightweight (2 lbs. 2 oz. +/1.5 Kg).

And if you’ve got a set of hiking boots, make sure to use them for a couple of weeks before your trip. You don't want to find out they are uncomfortable when hiking.

Water Socks

Another optional piece of footwear. If you go to the beach or go rafting they may prove useful (I wouldn’t recommend them around waterfalls and slippery rocks though). Try to find some that are breathable and soft.

And Now On to the Gadgets!

There are some very easy features that can summarize the packing list to Monteverde: Lightweight, easy dry, and flexible. For clothing, it is certainly like that. How about other things like gadgets, first aid kits, or toiletries?  

It’s time to get into what you may need to enjoy this experience fully, from gadgets to toiletries.

You may not "need" everything on this list and the one before it, like a good digital camera or casual shoes for a fancy date at a particular restaurant. But if you have space in your luggage, some of these items can certainly help you enjoy  Monteverde much more.

*Another note — from your home office, some things may seem unnecessary, but sometimes that can change once you’re out on the trail. We don’t make these recommendations without knowing they’re helpful!

General Items

The Hiking Backpack

As a hiker, I cannot even think of going out on one of our great trails without getting ready for it in my nice, comfy backpack.

Fresh fruits, granola bars, and water are some things that I would throw in it. It is a rain jacket and poncho (both, as it depends on how rainy it gets to use one over the other – see our first article on the Monteverde packing list), along with bug repellent and sunscreen.

A good backpack for a hike in Monteverde can make all the difference. If it fits right, you don't even notice it's there! 

And like everything, make it lightweight, waterproof, and easy to carry, with body-hugging straps as a nice bonus

A Dry Bag 

A dry bag is indispensable to keep your electronic devices safe from the water when you come to the tropics. Of course, if you are going rafting or waterfall rappelling, this makes a lot of sense, but you might think that a dry bag may not be as necessary if you are going in the sunny season. 

Still, a surprise downpour in the tropics is a typical event, whichever time of the year it is. So if you are thinking about hiking, find a lightweight, small (5 L is enough) dry bag with a double seal and bring it over. Telephones, cameras, wallets, chargers, batteries, and all you want to keep dry will fit in it.

Trust us, knowing your valuables are safe and protected is a game-changer.

A Bottle of Water

Hard plastic, glass, or stainless steel. Not only does Costa Rica have drinkable water in 97% of its territory, but we also do not want to pollute our planet and region. A good, sturdy water bottle is an indispensable item to enjoy hikes and activities (and a sipping nozzle is a nice plus!). Think about lightweight, but also about bottle capacity. 

With sizes ranging from 16 to 32 ounces (or 600 ml to 1.2 liters), it’s helpful to plan for your outing, knowing that there are no replenishment stations on some of our hiking trails (Check our Hiking Trails..). 

Material selection also matters. Plastic water bottles are both long-lasting and lightweight. Please avoid the potentially risky chemical BPA (Bisphenol A). A visible stamp or label on the bottle generally indicates a BPA-free product.

Stainless steel bottles are also extremely robust and can be used as insulation. But they can be heavier and tend to dent easily. You should also consider the bottle mouth and nozzle design.

As you already know, there are wide and narrow-mouth bottles. 

My personal preference for hiking in Monteverde is a wide-mouth bottle. Two reasons: if you can refill them, it's easier, and you can make fresh fruit smoothies in them! 

*As a last note, in the tropics, you want to wash your bottle thoroughly to keep out any pollen or pests that might try to sneak in! 

Useful Gadgets

Binoculars for Birdwatching and Wildlife Sightings

Let's face it! Humans don't have the best sight in nature! We are actually quite limited, to say the least. And when you are hiking in Monteverde, you will find that the fog can make it even worse.

And this is when a good pair of binoculars makes all the difference.

Never mind if you are sitting in your room watching the birds through the enormous windows or in the middle of a hanging bridge in the forest, there is a unique feeling in watching something, raising the binoculars, nailing your eyes to the target, putting the lenses in front of your eyes, and adjusting to get that circular perfect enlightened image of... whatever! A resplendent quetzal or a glorious orchid up above or below! A good pair of binoculars enhance the Monteverde experience! By far!

Some features to look for in binoculars while in Monteverde include 10x42** magnification and good light, as the forest can be pretty dark at times. Weather-resistant or waterproof binoculars are much better for the region too, and no matter which you pick, I recommend finding a pair that isn’t heavier than 600 gr. (1.4 lbs.). Unless you’re out for some serious bird-watching!

I actually recommend to my birdwatching friends to try to get a backstrap for your binoculars. 

**10x42 means that the binoculars have 10x magnification (compared to the naked eye) and an objective diameter of 42mm.

Reference: What does 10x42 mean? How far can I see clearly? How do these compare to 8x42, 10x50, or 12x binoculars? (2022). (Retrieved April 23, 2022)

A Digital Camera

Ah, photography! The privilege of the beauty-filled eye!

Photography is a gift to the eye of the photographer. And when you are in nature, it is like everything enhances and gets better in all its details. I'm going to tell you a story and why I bought my first real camera.

As a naturalist tour guide, I had several photography groups in my life, but once, something memorable happened that allowed me to see what lies behind the eye that takes the picture.

This group of photographers came from various world areas, and we were walking in the Tortuguero National Park. We were going very slowly as our primary attention was focused on taking the perfect photos. And, well… the tropics happened! It started pouring. We had to open the dry bags, and all the passengers put the cameras and lenses in.

We continued the hike. However, they were almost as slow even without their gear, much to my surprise. 

The reason? They kept on finding beauty everywhere! They were finding pictures with their eyes, sharing the dry red leaf in the middle of the contrasting green, the texture of the bark, or the fantastic shapes of the tree edges in the canopy.

Photography does that to you. You learn to recognize the details and take time, somehow, to drink them in. It is one of the most enlightening activities that a nature lover can have.

And yes, we all carry fantastic, intelligent phones that may take magnificent pictures, but in my opinion, there is something truly special about a device designed specifically for photography and nothing else.

When you are holding a hybrid AF-SLR camera with a heavy lens and turning the lens to find the perfect angle, the proper movement, and the most favorable light to get the most stunning angle of what you are taking, it is like playing a homage to life itself.

And when you are back at the hotel and see the pictures on the bigger screen, Your spirit is somehow there. It is hard to explain but easily lived.

My Camera Recommendations

What do I recommend? First and foremost, a fast, customizable, and responsive autofocus (AF) system. You will also want your camera to be able to take fast-action photographs and have a continuous shooting speed. Among the needed lenses for the Monteverde cloud forest, you may want to bring:

A Macro Lens. Other than the "usual suspects" in nature, the amazing insects, and the stunning textures, the number of species of tiny orchids in Monteverde is quite impressive, and taking them with a macro is an adventure!

70-300 Telephoto:  From Howler Monkeys to the Resplendent Quetzal, this is the minimal telephoto lens you ought to have to enjoy wildlife photography in the cloud forest. And indeed, it is a pleasure when you can catch the perfect and free life expression with a click.

Wide-Angle Lens: You want to have a wide-angle lens when you can see the Pacific Ocean glittering in the sunset from the mountain's cloud forest. These landscapes come alive with a w

A last word on the camera, and one of my favorite sayings from my photography group: Don't turn your camera into your eyes. Allow your eyes to turn into your most-used camera.

1-2 TB Memory Cards (depending on your image size)

A rule of thumb is to have enough memory for all the pictures without having to upload them during the trip

Silica Gel to Mitigate Humidity 

Because Costa Rica is quite humid wherever you are, the silica gel will protect your electronics and camera.

You will want to have these in Monteverde. Even in the sunny season, it drizzles pretty often, and even if we keep on protecting everything, electronics get the humidity and may get mold afterward. 

So, it's best to have these at hand and in a reasonable amount so that they can be replaced every time they fill up. The best is the "indicating" type, which will change color when they are full.

A Flashlight or Headlamp 

For night hikes and tours. This is a great gadget to have if you are going on one of the numerous night hikes in the region.

First of all, it's important to say that you will be provided with a flashlight on all regular night hikes in Monteverde.

Then why am I recommending a headlamp? The main reasons are safety and comfort! It is easier to free your hands and balance your body on irregular terrain. But also because you will have certain perks with a good headlamp. There are countless headlamps on the market. The features I recommend the most in yours are:

Flood/Spot/Red adjustable. This is quite an essential feature for these hikes. And being able to dim the light is just as important, as you do not want to harm the big sensitive eyes of the nocturnal animals. And this is where the red light comes in to be quite significant.

Check that it is easy to operate, either in the lamp itself or even more accessible through remote Bluetooth controls. It is good to have fluorescent reflectors on its strap and a strobe mode in case you get a bit lost.

Plastic Sealable Bags

If you don’t have waterproof backpacks, this can be a quick fix. From small Ziploc-style bags to put your toiletries or medicines in, to big ones to protect your clothes while in the bags, Ziplocs are a versatile, easy-to-use drybag solution. 

Toiletries and medical supplies

First-aid Kit 

A first aid kit with supplies for minor accidents or illnesses, scrapes, cuts, or stings. The best way to find out what to bring in your first aid kit is to ask your family physician, and you can find one at most supermarkets or drug stores.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is essential on any trip, but here SPF 50 or higher is definitely recommended. Costa Rica is situated only 9 degrees above the equator, so your skin is likely more vulnerable to sun exposure here than back at home.

Even under the trees or on rainy days, you will need good sunscreen with a broad spectrum for balanced protection against UVA and UVB rays. Make it water-resistant.

Repellent for Insects

Although Monteverde doesn't have many mosquitoes in some periods of the year and during the day, it is still a tropical forest, so repellent will be needed in certain sections of the trails.

The CDC recommends at least 20% DEET. However, most repellents sold in Costa Rica only have up to 15% DEET. So we advise you to bring your own.

Picaridin-based repellents are also very effective. 

And as always, look for waterproof repellent, available in either spray or cream forms.

Ponytail Holders

If your hair is long, bring as many holders as possible. For activities like ziplining, having your hair well tied up is indispensable for safety reasons, and outside of these activities, it can be great for extra comfort.

Ready to Go?

These guidelines are based on years of experience traveling around the World while based and hiking in Monteverde, and should leave you prepared for any adventure Monteverde has to offer! 

As we stated previously, they are our recommendations for your trip to be stress-free and your hiking and adventures to be the best, but that doesn’t mean you can’t check off multiple boxes with certain items. Waterproof backpack has a dry bag inside? Go for it! Have comfortable hiking shoes that you’re happily strolling through town in? ¡Excelente!

And if you have any questions about your packing list, feel free to reach out to us at   Ocotea Boutique Hotel.

Where is Everything In Monteverde?

Finding Your Way Around Town

Monteverde is the general name used to describe the area around the Monteverde Cloud Forest, but it’s a little misleading because the place actually includes several small neighborhoods which are all quite close together- Monteverde, Cerro Plano, Perro Negro, and Santa Elena, which is the largest of the neighborhoods. 

It’s important to understand that these neighborhoods are located on a mountainside, and this topography has necessitated some rather windy roads. Plus, it’s hard to pay attention to road signs when there are so many jaw-dropping vistas all around!

So, the Ocotea Team has gotten together to create this article to help you not only find your way around but also find some of the best attractions and hidden gems in the region.

First off, let’s start with a map so you can get an idea of what I’m talking about…

Map of the Area Around Monteverde

As you can see, the town winds in and around the mountain peaks and through valleys crossed by bridges, so it’s not your typical road map with nice neat square blocks. Monteverde and the area around it is an adventure. It’s like following a treasure map where you have no idea what’s around the next bend.

Personally, I love that aspect of it, because I love exploring. But not everyone does, so this map will give you a general idea of the layout of the area. And if you really want to deep dive into what Monteverde has to offer, I highly recommend downloading our comprehensive and useful map full of all sorts of useful information.

For the purposes of this post ( because there is so much), I’m going to pick out a few things from each category to talk about. Before I do that, however, let’s talk about how to get here first!

Getting to Monteverde

This is another topic that could be extensive, so there will be a separate post (coming soon) that will cover directions from other areas of the country, some information about the airports, various modes of transportation you can use, and so on. For now, we’re just going to talk about its location in the grand scheme of things.

If you look at a map of the regions of Costa Rica you will see that the Monteverde  Cloud Forest Reserve is actually located right at the juncture of three regions, the Northern Pacific, Northern Wetlands, and Central Pacific. However, the town is part of the province of Puntarenas, which is in the Central Pacific Region.  What’s good about this, from a tourist perspective, is that Monteverde is right in the middle of lots of wonderful destinations and between both airports (San Jose and Liberia), so getting here is easier than you might think.

Many people who head to Costa Rica on vacation choose more than one destination and spend a week in each (or part of a week) so they can enjoy the best of both worlds. That’s where a central location comes in really handy.

Whether you fly into the Liberia airport in Guanacaste for some surfing and then meander to Monteverde to explore the diversity of the cloud forest, or you land in San Jose Airport, come here first and then cruise down the coast to Manuel Antonio National Park, the drive from the airport to the mountaintop is about the same (approx 3 ½ hours). Most people choose to get a rental car at the airport, but shuttles are also available if you want to sit back and enjoy the view along the way.

Let’s move on to some practical matters before we get to the fun stuff…

Can I Find What I Need in Monteverde?

For those of you who like to stay a while, or just like to be uber-prepared, it’s always good to know what is available in terms of shopping, medical care, pharmacies, and the like. 

The good news is that Monteverde has it all, even though it’s a small town. 

There are gas stations, so you can fill up and head out to explore. There are banks with ATMs so you can exchange your money (although US dollars are accepted everywhere), and pharmacies where you can get most medications (although they may not always have the same brands). 

There is even a post office if you want to send your family some postcards to make them jealous. There are clinics for medical emergencies or to deal with the rash you got from sniffing all the lovely flowers (been there, done that), and there is a shopping mall where you can fill most needs. 

So, if you’re running out of room in your luggage, you can unload a few of those tubes of sunscreen and buy them when you get here.

Accommodations

As a popular tourist destination, the area has a wide variety of accommodation types for any taste or budget, from a rustic lodge to an eco-friendly boutique hotel tucked in under the canopy, to high-end luxury. 

The Ocotea Boutique Hotel is a truly unique spot to settle in and immerse yourself in nature. Perched on a hilltop with stunning views of the countryside, and boasting the best service around, it’s the ideal home base from which to explore… or simply settle into your surroundings and let the peacefulness creep into your soul.

Fresh Grown Costa Rican Coffee

You can’t come to Costa Rica and not try a cup of delicious, locally-grown coffee, because we grow some of the best beans on the planet. Luckily coffee enthusiasts can easily satisfy their java cravings because every small cafe and restaurant serves deliciously smooth, rich Costa Rican coffee made from Arabica beans. When I think of all the cups of brown water I’ve had in Canadian restaurants over the years, I almost want to cringe…

It’s also really easy to stock up with fresh beans to take home, so you can enjoy the flavor of Monteverde long after you’ve gone home. One great place to do this is Cafe Monteverde which is located in Santa Elena, right next to the CASEM Co-op (which we’ll talk about later). The cafe has a wide variety of coffee blends, lots of delicious treats to enjoy, and a gorgeous tree shading the patio where you can often watch colorful birds and capuchin monkeys while you sip.

Or, if you can’t exist on caffeine alone, you can visit the Choco Cafe and Restaurant which is on Highway 620 between Santa Elena and Monteverde. They have a full menu of delicious options and a scrumptious dessert list. If you haven’t tried chicken curry made with coconut milk… you haven't lived.

If you want to explore coffee culture a little bit further, there are several coffee tours available, where you get up close and personal with your favorite bean, learn the drying and roasting process, and discover how different types of soil, and even neighboring plants can affect the taste of your morning brew.

So now that we’ve talked about getting here, you have a nice place to lay your head, and you know where to get your morning caffeine fix… let’s talk about some local landmarks.

Landmarks and Gorgeous Scenery in Monteverde

The wonderful thing about a place like Monteverde is that everywhere you look, there is a spectacular view. If you’re on a budget, you can literally pack a picnic lunch and spend your day driving in circles and never run out of things to see, without spending a lot of money.

Here are a few spots in and around Monteverde well worth seeing…just because…

The Local Farmer’s Market

Any trip to a tropical location should, in my humble opinion, include a stop at the local Feria or market. Why? Because it’s an experience like no other. The absolutely stupefying array of fruits and vegetables that you can find will make your head spin and your tastebuds quiver. Plus, they quite often have lots of other interesting wares to investigate… like homemade baked goods, street food, and handicrafts. If you see something that looks like a long flat bean, called a guaba or pacay, give it a try, its nickname is the “ice cream bean” for good reason. You can find more information on Costa Rican fruits and vegetables here.

The Monteverde Cheese Factory

What many people don’t realize about Monteverde is that there is an Amish community that has been living and thriving in Monteverde since 1951 when 11 families purchased 14,000 hectares of land. They opened the cheese factory in 1952, and a tradition was born. Today the factory (which was purchased by Sigma two years ago) receives 33,000 liters of milk daily from local dairy farmers and turns that into 3,300kg of cheese- every day.

They offer tours, lots of delicious treats, and ice cream… and are located on the big bend of the main highway (620) that runs from Santa Elena to Monteverde.

CASEM Co-Op

The CASEM Co-Op is an artisan market that is run by the ladies in Monteverde. It is full of an amazing array of handicrafts created using techniques that have been around for generations, as well as some items that are created using recycled materials.

Sunset Lookout Spot

When you’re this high above sea level, and you’re facing the Pacific Ocean, you’re bound to get some breathtaking sunsets. There are plenty of local spots where you can sit and gaze out at the colors as the sun sinks into the sea, but one stands out, and it's a well-kept secret… so shhh!

On Highway 620 (the main road) heading North, just past the Monteverde Gas Station are some benches on the left side of the road. They are there for people who want to slow down and take a moment to enjoy the view. If you’re in the area at sunset, it is well worth the stop.

Tourist Attractions

This is a category that could take pages and pages, and knowing this, I left it for the last. Everywhere you go, people are talking about the touristy locations, and they are doing it because they’re the reason people come to Monteverde. However, as you may have noticed, this is an area of wild natural beauty and far-reaching vistas. It’s a place where you will find yourself staring up into a tree for half an hour- for one reason or another- and where you can’t help but pause, take a breath, and just… be.

Where you automatically feel yourself slowing down, breathing deeply, and relaxing… because that’s what time in nature does. That’s why I wanted to share with you all the little things that make Monteverde a great place to visit- even without canopy tours, zip lines, and ATVs.

Having said that, here are some fabulous tours that you can enjoy because you really should see some of the diversity that makes Monteverde so popular while you’re here.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has been protecting one of the rarest ecosystems on the planet for more than 50 years because only 1% of the world’s forests are classified as ‘cloud forests’.

The Orchid Gallery because where else can you find 450 species of orchids in the same place?

Bird Watching is a favorite pastime in Costa Rica. Probably because there are so many amazingly colorful birds… everywhere. I would love to be able to identify all of the bird songs that I hear all around me, and maybe after one of these tours, I could!

Delicious Cuisine

Now that you’ve hiked and bird-watched, you’re bound to be hungry. Luckily finding delicious food is easy in Monteverde. The hard part is deciding which restaurant to go to!

One of the most exciting things about the food here is the number of farm-to-table options…and why not? Monteverde’s population is dedicated to living sustainably and protecting the environment around them. 

By using locally sourced ingredients, or by growing their own, restaurants reduce waste, and carbon emissions and avoid all that extra packaging. Plus… it just tastes better when everything is fresh!

Nectandra

Located within the Ocotea Boutique Hotel is Nectandra. Now open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this hidden gem provides succulent farm-to-table meals designed with love and attention by its head chef Roberto Cruz.

Bon Appetit!

Located right on the corner where Highway 606 meets Highway 619, Bon Appetit! is a great spot to finish off a busy day. This Italian Eatery has a huge selection of mouth-watering dishes to tempt your tastebuds and a wine list that will make even the most discerning palate drool. 

Morphos

Located on Morphos Lane (surprisingly enough) right off the 620, Morphos Restaurant is a great spot to head out to the porch, plop down in one of their Adirondack chairs and enjoy a delicious meal, and a fancy cocktail while watching the sun go down. Try a Cafe Morphos… it's a gigantic coffee milkshake made with coffee liqueur and coffee ice cream… What can go wrong?

Cafe Cabure Restaurant and Coffee Shop

It would be rude of me not to tell you about a restaurant that not only serves fabulous Argentinian food and delicious Costa Rican coffee… but also has homemade chocolates made from local cocoa beans. They also offer chocolate tours and a stellar view of the surrounding area from their perch high on a hill. Just don’t plan your visit to Cabure on a Tuesday, it’s the one day they close.

They have quite a selection of curries. I recommend giving the tropical curried chicken salad with mango a try, but save room for dessert! You can take a peek at their menu here.

A Wonderful Place to Be

Before I go, I want to leave you with one last thought…

Any day spent in the beauty and serenity of nature is good for the soul. No matter what type of activity appeals to you. No matter if you’re extending all sorts of energy, or sitting on a bench gazing at the view for hours. That calm that seeps into you? That’s what makes places like Monteverde extra special. It’s a feeling you seldom get when you’re surrounded by concrete and high rises… so enjoy it.

Weather Patterns and Tourism

A Traveller’s Guide to Costa Rica

As someone who was born and raised in the frozen north, “vacation time” usually refers to a couple of weeks in December/January. Mostly because by then we were already tired of the cold and ready for a break. 

We would spend most of November dreaming of sunny skies and tropical beaches. Now that I live in Costa Rica, I get to see the other end of the spectrum. I notice the ebb and flow of foreign travelers and learn to work around it. 

For those of you planning a trip, it’s really helpful to understand the difference between the various tourist seasons, and what they mean to you as a traveler. Many people ask us what time of year is the best, but there are so many variables to that question it's hard for me to answer. Plus, most people will tell you that there’s never a bad time to visit Costa Rica (me included!)

Probably the most important part of planning a visit is your own expectations. What one person views as negative might be exactly what someone else is looking for, so it’s all subjective. That’s why I’m going to use this post to tell you about the various seasons, in terms of weather, activities, and tourism, and then you can decide for yourself which time of year appeals to you.

I’ll start with the weather since that is the question I get the most from friends and family.

What is the Weather Like in Costa Rica?

I’m not a meteorologist, so I’m going to keep this fairly simple. As a general rule, the temperature in most of Costa Rica varies between 21 and 27 degrees Celsius (or 71 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit) all year long. That’s an overall average. Costa Rica has several microclimates, so there will be some areas of the country that trend hotter (like Guanacaste), and some areas that are cooler (like Monteverde).

Elevation has an effect on temperature, so areas which are in the mountains, can be warm at the lower elevations, but cool enough to wear a few layers when you reach the misty areas near the peak. In the case of Monteverde where the  Ocotea Hotel is located, you can visit several of these microclimates in a short span of time by hiking up the mountain!

San Jose also tends to be cooler than the coastal areas. The northeast portion of Costa Rica is the hottest and driest, home to one of the world’s rarest, most interesting microclimates — the tropical dry forest.

For those of you who enjoy visuals, here are some annual averages by area according to Weather and Climate.com. This is actually a good resource if you’d like more information.

Average Temperature in Monteverde

What’s frustrating for many travelers is understanding the rainy season. If you look on any weather app for any place in Costa Rica from May to mid-November, the app will probably tell you there is a 100% chance of rain, and that’s really misleading.

It does rain often during the rainy season, and yes when it rains, it tends to come down pretty energetically. However, in most areas, it rains mainly in the afternoon for about an hour (called aguaceros) and overnight. That means you can still get out and enjoy nice weather as long as you schedule dry activities in the morning. Locals like to say afternoons are for R&R (rain and relaxation), and you end up getting some ridiculously beautiful sunsets thanks to the moisture in the air!

October is the wettest month in Costa Rica, so residents settle in to wait it out and businesses use the downtime to perform maintenance. There is actually something really soothing about the sound of rain on the leaves.

Here is a lovely graphic to help you wrap your head around the annual rain patterns in Monteverde.

In my personal opinion, the shoulder seasons are actually the most pleasant time of the year because you get a bit of both worlds instead. When people ask, I tell them to come in November —  the rain is starting to subside, everything is green and lush and the temperature is tropical but comfortable. I would also like to point out that while the bursts of rain can be heavy in the green season, it's still a nice warm rain, so it doesn’t need to ruin your fun.

Natural Events and Cycles

While many tourists travel based on the weather, it’s not the only reason to travel in certain seasons. What I mean by this is that there are other ´seasons’ to consider. As a country that 

has a thriving ecotourism industry, it attracts thousands of people annually who are interested in natural events such as annual bird migrations which can be a cause for celebration for birders. 

What About the Crowds?

This is another common question from people who are planning to come to my new home for a visit. You can break it down like this.

Peak Tourist Season: Mid-December to Mid-January (Holiday Travellers) and July/August (Families with kids out of school)

This is the busiest time of year, everything is in full swing. If you enjoy the vibe of lots of people having fun and you don’t mind crowds, it’s a popular time to visit. The upside is that you are now fully into the “dry” season so unless you are in the central valley or on a mountaintop, the weather will be the classic tropical paradise every day. The downside is that accommodation and flights are both at the highest prices of the season. If you travel during the “holiday season” be sure to pre-book everything to nail down good spots, reservations, and travel accommodations. 

High Season: Late November to April

This time of year will have mid-level rates for flights and hotel rooms, tourism is brisk so you may have some line-ups and it’s best to pre-book many excursions to make sure there is room. On the upside, all of the businesses geared to tourists will be up and running. If you travel near the start or end of the season, you may see some rain, but activities roll on no matter what!

Low (“green”) Season: May to Mid-December

During low season you can enjoy the lowest rates for both flights and accommodations, you will miss the crowds and see Costa Rica at its absolute lushest. You will usually see a healthy amount of rain, but also plenty of sunny mornings. When the rain comes down, it does so in short, intense bursts, but it’s also musical, and fresh smelling. If you're like me and you love a good storm, the sheet lightning brightens up the whole sky, and it’s so much fun to sit and watch.

Apart from the lush green weather and the occasional storm, things are quiet. There are a few tour companies that scale down for this time of year, so it’s worth checking ahead of time to make sure you don’t get caught off guard by a “closed for the holidays” sign. 

All in all, though, I really enjoy the quiet laid-back vibe, and having the beach all to myself. (Okay, I’m exaggerating, there may be a few other people on the beach, and several dogs… but it is nice and quiet.)

So, When is the Best Time To Visit Costa Rica?

The answer to that question lies entirely with you. My suggestion is always the same. Ask yourself what you want to accomplish with your trip.

If the answer is that you want to see all there is to see and do all there is to do, then I recommend a visit in late November or February. The rates aren’t as high but the season is in full swing and the drier weather won’t interfere with any tours you might wish to take.

If the answer is that you want to get away from the daily grind, slow down and get in tune with nature, then I would recommend  May/June or early November (I love November - can you tell?) This time of year will give you the most peace, and the lowest rates, while still enjoying the beauty of lush greenery, plenty of wildlife, and quiet beaches. Book your outings in the morning and spend your afternoons reading a book in the hammock and listening to the music of the rain on the leaves.

Whenever you decide to visit my new home, you’ll find a warm welcome and a happy, carefree lifestyle, so pick a season that appeals to you and come on down. There’s beer in the cooler and a hammock with your name on it.

For those of you who want to dive a little deeper, here is a month-by-month breakdown.

A Year In Monteverde: What to Expect from Each Month

Monteverde is a fantastic region, and there is a bit for everyone all year round. It is also one of the few regions in Costa Rica where there are three climatic periods, not only two. 

In Monteverde, we have the rainy season, from May to late October, and the sunny season from late February to early May. And then, we have the windy season, from early November to February, which for me is the most beautiful time of them all!  In the windy season, there are light, drizzling rains. We call that cloud-immersed rain “pelo de gato” and it makes the best rainbows! 

We also have migrations: the birds, butterflies, bugs, and even mammals you can see the change from month to month. 

And of course, the people. Culture thrives in Monteverde and there is always something happening! Some of these activities are annual, monthly, or seasonal! 

Breaking Down Monteverde Month by Month

As a way to organize all these fantastic elements that happen in the 20.48 sq. mi (53.05 Km2) of Monteverde, we will summarize them in a description of Monteverde month by month. 

First of all, of course, has to be the weather. Although we are showing here some of the numbers from Climate-data.org, the actual climate of Monteverde is definitely unpredictable. 

As we are located right on the Continental Division, we are influenced by these two very different oceans and their winds, currents, and temperatures. 

Add in factors like El Nino, La Nina, and, without a doubt, climate change, and all of these stats can be affected. But here is a good sense of the average weather in Monteverde month by month: 

N..a. "Santa Elena climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Santa Elena weather averages - Climate-Data.org." En.climate-data.org. n.d. Web. 24 Jun. 2022.

Birding Seasons in Monteverde: 

When we talk about the birds of Monteverde we can say that there are three birdwatching seasons also: 

In the sunny season (from late October to early March and April), you can find almost 400 resident species and 91 migratory species, including warblers, kites, and hummingbirds from around the Americas.

During the rainy season (from early May to October), you can find only the resident bird species, though many occupy beautiful, diverse mixed flocks

And if you’ve come to visit Monteverde to view the Resplendent Quetzal or the Three-Wattled Bellbird, two of the region’s most iconic targets, your best season may be a bit different.

The breeding season (and greatest viewing) for quetzals is from mid-February through June or July when wild avocado trees and other fruit from plants in the laurel family (Lauraceae) are in bloom.

Meanwhile, one of the world’s largest populations of bellbirds travels to Monteverde, for six months of the year between March and August.

Now let’s get into the months of Monteverde!

January

Weather: January in Monteverde is very windy and a bit chilly. If you check the stats above, you will notice that January is one of the coolest months of the year. 

Travel Industry: When talking about tourism it is the high season, and you will find hotels and tourist attractions quite full, so it is a good idea to reserve in advance. 

Sunsets are quite dramatic in January. 

Rainbows are breathtaking, there are plenty of rainbows in the afternoons so our Monteverde Rooftop is a great place to go in the afternoons. 

At a Glance:

February

Weather:  February is still windy and chilly although the winds calm down and the sun is out more often. 

Other animals: Throughout the months of February and March, you will notice an increase in the visibility of the coatimundi groups of females and babies. Female coatimundis are open for courtship and they get closer to human areas that males visit frequently. 

Activities: The Monteverde Music Festival also begins in February. This is Monteverde's largest festival of the year, and it is an incredible opportunity to hear Costa Rica's top musical acts all in one spot.

Tourism: In the hospitality industry, February is part of the high season and spring breakers (families with children and teenagers more than party-goers) are beginning to come so reserving in advance is a good idea.

Because of the music festival, hotels tend to sell out, so arrange your reservations as far in advance as possible.

At a Glance:

March

Weather: March is considered the dry season in Monteverde, which means it is the best time to go outside without worrying about rain.

Other Animals: The coatimundi female groups remain visible. 

Tourism: March is part of the high season, there are large groups of people in the main attractions and the hotels are pretty full so reserving early is a great idea. 

Sunsets: are clear and pink at this time of year with very few clouds; the light is very impressive. 

Rainbows are not common in March. 

At a Glance:

April

Weather: This is the last month of the sunny season, and usually Easter week thus, the peak season is usually in April. 

Tourism: April is part of the high season and you will find large tour groups in the main attractions. 

Sunsets: April is a great time to see sunsets and sunrises on the Monteverde Rooftop. 

Rainbows: Not common in April. 

At a Glance:

May

Weather: Early May is usually dry, although is at the beginning of the rainy season

Insects: Beetles come out at night this month. We call them “abejones de Mayo”

Tourism: May is already considered a lower season as it starts to rain in the second half of the month. A great time to try that attraction or get a fantastic reservation!

Sunsets: May is already the rainy season and sunsets are seldom visible. However, the sunset skies are alight with some incredible colors.

Rainbows: May is not a good time to see rainbows. 

At a Glance:

June

Weather: Sunny mornings and rainy afternoons. There are a few sunny days in late June (Called the veranillo de San Juan - San John’s little summer)

Insects: Good time to see the Morpho Butterflies!

Tourism: June is a month for families and groups of students. 

Sunsets: Hit and miss on sunsets, but the sunsets that do show up are incredibly beautiful!

Rainbows: June is not the best time to see rainbows. 

At a Glance:

July

Weather: Sunny mornings and rainy afternoons. 

Insects: Morpho Butterflies are easy to spot at this time.  

Tourism: July is another month for families, and groups of students, and the summer traveling season for the Northern Hemisphere. 

Sunsets: Once again, hit or miss on sunsets, but incredibly beautiful when they appear!

Rainbows: July is not the best time to see rainbows. 

At a Glance:

August

Weather: Sunny mornings and rainy afternoons. 

Tourism: August is the traveling season for the Northern Hemisphere. 

Sunsets: Not the best time to see sunsets. 

Rainbows: August is not a good time to see rainbows. 

At a Glance:

September

Weather: Scattered showers most days. This is part of the Caribbean’s sunny months and in some areas of Monteverde, it can be sunny. Just depends on the wind!

Tourism: Traditionally lower this time of year. An excellent time to get to know the real Monteverde.

Sunsets: Not the best time to see sunsets. 

Rainbows: Infrequent, but you can always spot one after a daytime shower!

At a Glance:

October

Weather: More scattered showers, with the occasional longer storm due to systems in the Caribbean. In late October we begin to feel the effect of the trade winds, which signal the start of the dry season.

Tourism: October is a traditionally low season for tourism. Another great time to know the true Monteverde 

Sunsets: Not the best time to see sunsets. 

Rainbows: Always waiting after a scattered shower 

At a Glance:

November

Weather: Sunny days and the trade winds start to blow, bringing warm weather!

Tourism: Begins to pick up towards the end of the month, but early November is one of the hidden gems of Costa Rica. The greenest time of year under the vibrant sun!

Sunsets: Sunsets are visible and beautiful.

Rainbows: We begin to get more drizzle and the most astounding rainbows. 

At a Glance:

December

Weather: Sunny and breezy. In the afternoons there is a refreshing drizzle. Temperatures get down for cool evenings!  

Tourism: Early December is pretty low (another hidden gem time to experience Costa Rica). Late December is peak season. 

Sunsets: Breathtaking sunsets almost every night

Rainbows: Beautiful rainbows everywhere you look! This is the peak of the drizzling months, and the results are awe-inspiring! 

At a Glance:

No Matter the Season, You Are Welcome Here!

Above, we give you a little taste of the different times of year in Monteverde, but we hope we captured that Monteverde is beautiful all year round. Whether you like sunny and breezy days or scattered showers, lush greenery, and the occasional thunderstorm, the region is always beautiful and it is permanently open for visitors. 

Finding Beauty in the Green Season

As an ex-pat who lives in Costa Rica almost year-round, I often get asked about what it’s like in the less busy times of the year, like the green season… and my answer is always that Costa Rica is an amazing place to visit at any time of year.

I have written posts in the past about the various seasons (like the Traveller’s guide) which go into detail about what is considered the best time to visit and why, but the honest truth is that your enjoyment has everything to do with you and your expectations while on vacation.

There are many tropical destinations around the globe that have 2 seasonal weather patterns, and by that I mean they have a dry season and a rainy season. As tourists, many have skewed perspectives of the worst of these times — videos of torrential downpours and landslides in tropical countries (some thousands of miles away from where we’re going). But lots of people decide all the same — there is no way they’re traveling during that time. 

What’s sad about that is people tend to share photos and videos of extremes like the most beautiful sunset over a white sand beach… or that torrential downpour I mentioned. But that doesn’t give an accurate description of what day-to-day life is like in Costa Rica in the ‘rainy season’. I’d like to make an effort to correct that with today’s post… because there is a lot to love about the green season. I won’t call it the rainy season again because that carries with it a negative connotation that just doesn’t do it justice.

Instead, we will discuss what time of the year is considered the green season, what the weather is actually like, which areas get the most rain and when, and most importantly why the green season is a great time to explore… because it’s on its way and it’s the perfect time to book your next trip!

When IS the Green Season?

Mother nature does what she wants when she wants (which explains why it’s raining in the dry season this year) but in general, the period from May to Mid-November is considered the green season while Mid-November to the end of April is considered the dry season. However, the change from one to the other is relatively gradual so if you arrive during the transitional periods you will likely get a pleasant mix of sunshine and sun showers.

The average temperature across all of Costa Rica only really varies about 20 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 degrees Celsius all year long, but of course thanks to geography, some areas are cooler overall (the Central Valley and Monteverde) and other areas in Guanacaste are hot enough to have tropical dry forest and desert-like flora. 

The point I want to make here is that we are in the tropics and tropical weather can be expected year-round, but if you are hiking through a cloud forest on a night tour, you might want a light jacket, and if you are doing it in the green season, you might want a raincoat. I took both on my hike but once I started hiking, I was warm enough to remove them and I found the occasional drop of warm rain quite pleasant. 

In terms of geography, the area around Manuel Antonio and the Central Valley has the highest rainfall amounts in the green season. It’s important to note, however, that the Caribbean coast is subject to the same weather patterns as the rest of the Caribbean, which is actually opposite to that on the Pacific coast. If you look at the chart in the Traveler’s Guide, you will see higher rainfall in December/January with a second rainy period in July.

The Joy of Green Season

So let's talk about what a typical day looks like in say… June. 

Morning typically dawns bright and sunny, although the tropical blue skies that you see in the dry season are a softer shade of blue-grey in the off-season. The ground is likely to be damp from last night’s rain, which makes the air smell fresh and clean. The extra rain also ensures that the grass is green and the trees are covered in lush foliage.

Mornings are the perfect time to head out and do whatever excursions you have planned. Businesses tend to be a little quieter, lines will be shorter, and prices will be lower, but very few of the ‘touristy’ businesses actually shut down in the off-season because here a bit of warm rain once in a while is just part of life.

As the sun rises higher in the sky, the temperatures rise, reaching averages of 82-89 F or 28- 32 C depending on where you are. Thanks to the extra moisture in the air, you can expect a bit more humidity than you would in the dry season. 

As you’re enjoying your lunch on a patio somewhere, you will notice the sky getting whiter as the clouds roll in. By two or three in the afternoon, the clouds will be darkening and there is usually an hour or so of heavy rains. 

Since the sun and the activity from the morning can wear you out, this is a great time to grab your book and find a comfy chair or hammock to relax in while you listen to the music of the rain on the nearby branches. 

By mid to late afternoon, the rain is usually gone and you get a couple of hours to head to the pool or take a walk before supper, and then in the evening the rain will start up again, continuing through the night.

While you will occasionally get days that drizzle all day, they aren’t the norm, so with a little bit of flexibility, you can still get outside and enjoy whatever activities you normally would, but you also get to see the lush tropical foliage at it’s best while enjoying the milder temperatures. By comparison, you will often experience temperatures between 95-100 F or 30-35 C in the dry season.

While some people love the heat, others find it tiring and can only be outside for short stints at a time. For those people, the lower temperatures of the green season are much more appealing.

The Best Times to Visit

So, if this new information has changed the way you look at the off-season, and you are itching to book a trip in the next few months, here is my two cents worth on the subject.

If you are an outdoorsy person whose perfect vacation includes mountain biking the winding roads of Monteverde or hiking miles of trails and you want to spend as much time in nature as possible- then aiming for the shoulder season will be your best bet. I personally love November. Everything is verdant and growing and the temperatures are moderate. 

April/May should also work since the rain increases gradually as it nears May.

If you are coming to Costa Rica to enjoy the pura vida, and your intention is to head to a retreat, do some yoga, rejuvenate your spirit, and generally relax, then any time during the off-season will provide you with a peaceful visit with fresh air to breath and amazing experiences. Plus, the sound of the rain dripping from leaf to leaf is really soothing.

Costa Rica Has No Bad Seasons

I hope this post has enlightened you and inspired you to take a chance on the green season. It really is a beautiful time to explore everything this amazing country has to offer, and you may be surprised at how much the rain when it does come, changes your perception of “down-time”.

Seeing the clouds roll in and deciding to wait it out in a little roadside cafe can lead to long conversations with new friends, and a chance to get to know some of the amazing people who call Costa Rica home. In some ways, the afternoon rains force us to slow down a bit and just enjoy life as it comes.

I can say, now that I’ve been here a while, I look forward to the green season in much the same way I looked forward to snow days as a child. Somewhere inside us, we still have an inherent need to hibernate once in a while- to slow down and replenish our energy… so why not embrace the slower pace of life and let the rain wash away the stresses of everyday life?

High Season In Monteverde: Our Recommendations To Help You Have Your Best Experience

In many parts of North America, we tend to think of seasons in terms of weather and expect to enjoy four distinctly different seasons.

Closer to the equator, that’s not the case, and in Costa Rica, in relation to weather, you will experience two seasons, known by locals as the dry season, and the green season. For the full scoop on the weather in Costa Rica, check out our Traveller’s Guide!

When it comes to tourism, however, there are three seasons that you need to understand in order to have the best possible experience in Costa Rica. These seasons are known as:

• Holiday Season (the busiest) is, as the name implies, during the period around Christmas and New Year. 

• High Season brackets the holiday season, beginning in mid-November and running until the end of April, with a secondary high season in July/August when North American families are enjoying their school break.

• Low Season covers most of the green season, runs from May to June, and from August to mid-November when the high season begins again.

Most people visit Costa Rica during the high season because the weather is phenomenal. If you are planning to do the same, you should know a few things that will help you deal with the unique challenges that a busy tourist season brings. 

What’s the Weather Like During the High Season?

The main reason that Mid-November to March is so popular for tourists is that the weather is exceptionally consistent. While the average temperature varies from place to place depending on the elevation, much of the country enjoys temperatures ranging from 30-35 degrees C (86-95 F) daily.

There is something very comforting in knowing exactly what to expect and waking up to clear blue skies and perfect tropical weather every day means that you can plan lots of outdoor adventures without fear of being rained out.

You do, however, need to be prepared with lots of water and some potent sunscreen, so you can enjoy the outdoors safely. As with many hot locations, people like to get moving early in Costa Rica, and then have a bit of downtime during the hottest period of the day, and it makes sense to follow their example. 

Since the temperature remains consistent, even after the sun goes down, you can enjoy your outdoor time well into the evening. The only real exception to this is at the highest elevations, where you may wish to bring a few layers for the evening.

A Typical Day During High Season

It is also important to note that since we are located close to the equator, the sun rises and sets at the same time (or close to it) all year long. 

For many people, the day begins when the sun comes up (around 5:30) because the weather is a little cooler. The pura vida lifestyle we enjoy revolves around nature, healthy pursuits, strong Costa Rican coffee, and fresh, locally-sourced food, so breakfast is often enjoyed outdoors.

A typical Costa Rican breakfast includes gallo pinto (rice and beans), eggs, handmade corn tortillas, plantains, queso (cheese), and whatever fruit is handy or in season. For more information about traditional Costa Rican meals, click here.

Early morning is a great time to plan your outdoor adventure, and in Monteverde, there are lots of things to choose from, whether you want to explore the world beneath the canopy with a hike through Monteverde’s Cloud Forest, or you want to book a zipline tour and get a little wild. Taking advantage of the cooler morning temperatures is common here.

Lunch is typically a less formal meal since we all like to stay busy and enjoy the outdoors. You can expect to see the locals stop at the local panadería to load up on stuffed breads or pastries that they can eat on the go, and I highly recommend trying a few of these tasty treats yourself. 

In most parts of the country, when the true heat of the day arrives, you can find people relaxing in the shade with their pastries and coffee. This lull can last a couple of hours, and it’s a great time to relax and unwind before the nighttime festivities begin. Up in Monteverde, our cool temperatures and dense canopy mean you can stay out all day, but you’ll still find many people savoring the peace of the early afternoon. 

Where we enjoy extended dusk in Central America during the summer months, you can expect the sun to set between 5:30 and 6:00 pm. In many areas, taking a pause to watch the colors of the sky is part of the daily routine. 

Then the outdoor lights come on, and people continue with their day. The evening meal is generally served later than North Americans may expect, and may carry on for a few hours. Typical meal times are friendly gatherings with long conversations, lots of amazing food and music, so don’t expect to be rushed through it.

Tips & Tricks For Visiting During High Season

The high season is a great time to enjoy a Costa Rican Vacation, and that’s why so many people do it. So if you enjoy sunshine, tropical temperatures, and plentiful outdoor activities, we highly recommend a visit.

There are a few things to keep in mind though, so you don’t find yourself disappointed by long lines and overbooked attractions.

• Book flights and accommodations early (statistically 6 months before your trip gets you the best rate) to get the best selection.

• Book your rental car early as well, the closer you get to high season, the higher the prices!

• Do your research, so you have an idea of what you want to see and do before you arrive.

• Work with experienced tour companies, like Ocotea Tours and Transfers, they can recommend the best time to visit each attraction so you arrive when there are fewer lines.

• Consider booking a package that includes transportation and tours. Sometimes, a few moments to relax between adventures rather than planning the next one is a godsend

• Ask hotel staff for restaurant recommendations to find the hidden gems that the locals enjoy

• Be flexible. There is so much to do, having a plan B can remove the stress if you do happen to arrive at your destination and see a long line.

• Costa Ricans enjoy the beauty of high season on the weekends too, so for a quieter experience try visiting popular attractions mid-week. 

Must-See Monteverde Attractions and Events

And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention a list of some of the absolute must-sees around Monteverde, like: 

• El Tigre Waterfall Tour

• Monteverde Cloud Forest

• Horseback Riding

• Ziplining or Canopy Tours

• Hanging Bridges

• Butterfly Garden

• Orchid Garden Tours

• Learn About the Quakers

• Farmer’s Market

• Artisan Market (CASEM Co-op)

• Coffee and Chocolate Tours

For a full list, some recommendations, and a guide to getting around town, you can explore our map to Monteverde here!

The Bottom Line

There is never a bad time to visit Monteverde and discover what makes it so unique, but having the best possible experience during the high season can take a little extra planning, a sense of pura vida, and a willingness to work around the occasional crowd. We hope this article will help prepare you for a dream vacation in paradise, and we can’t wait to see you.

Tips & Tricks

5 Small Tips to Improve Your Monteverde Trip 

Heading out to visit a new place is always an adventure. With the right amount of planning, it can be a wonderful experience… or not. There are always things you can’t control, like delayed flights or flat tires, that can keep things from running as smoothly as they might have… but we aren’t going to focus on those.

We have already discussed the weather (at length), and given you all the information you could ever need about what to pack.

So now we’re going to focus on the many small things that can take a wonderful vacation and make it even better… and some of them may surprise you. Let's start with the thing we all do before our vacation even begins. The planning stage.

1. Leave Time to Just Be On Vacation

While doing research and reading reviews can help ensure that book the best hotel and the most reliable tour guides (like the professionals at Ocoteas Tours), and pre-booking those tours can allow you to relax and focus on enjoying your trip, there is one common mistake that people make when planning their trip.

And that is not leaving enough time to just relax. We’ve all been guilty of this one, especially in a destination, like Monteverde, which has so many things to do and see. It’s hard to narrow it down and you end up with a schedule that requires a mathematician to organize.

It may seem a little obvious, but we all need a little bit of downtime, and a jam-packed holiday can leave you more tired, not less, which defeats the purpose. Plus, if you are well-rested, you will be so much more able to enjoy and appreciate the tours and activities that you experience during your trip, and you will be more likely to go home relaxed, rested, and with happy memories.

This brings us nicely to tip number two.

2. Take a Moment to Be in the Moment

As the years go by and we realize as a society how much our busy schedules and stressful careers affect our health and happiness, we start to look for ways to get more out of our lives.

One of those ways is to ‘live in the moment’, it’s a pretty common phrase, but what does it really mean? Is it just a reminder to look up from your screen once in a while? To pay attention to what's going on around you? Find enjoyment in the little things?

Of course, the answer to all of those questions is YES, but there is one thing that has become a habit for most of us, and that we don’t even realize is impeding our ability to ‘be in the moment’, even when we are paying attention and actively enjoying the world around us.

What is it, you ask? You might be surprised to know that it is the act of using our phones as a camera. Yup, that’s right. Even though phones these days are equipped with some truly impressive technology, and take amazing photos, carrying them along with you to snap photos can create an environment where you view your whole vacation through the screen of your phone, and you don’t actually experience it directly.

Believe it or not, that small degree of separation not only narrows your focus so you don’t enjoy the breadth and wonder of the world around you… but studies show that our tendency to experience things from one ‘photo-worthy’ item to the next keeps our brains from properly processing and storing the information.

What does that mean? It means we don’t remember the experience in the same way that we do if we are seeing it directly and taking it in with all of our senses. Click here for a more technical explanation of what scientists have dubbed the “photo-taking impairment effect.”

It turns out that leaving your phone in your pocket/purse and using a good old-fashioned camera is still the best way to immortalize that perfect moment, on film and in our memories.

3. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

We all have things that part of us wants to do, and part of us is terrified of… like ziplining or getting up close and personal with a wild animal, and Monteverde is the perfect place to take the leap and try something new. 

Why? Because the men and women who choose to spend their lives introducing visitors to the wonders of their world do so because it’s their passion. Being a guide here is a serious profession that requires years of training. You won’t be left in the hands of a 16-year-old on their summer job. 

The guides and professionals who depend on tourism for their living know the value of good service, and they come with years of experience and knowledge that you can depend on. They want you to have the best possible vacation and will show you the right way to enjoy their home and all the creatures in it.

What’s life without a little adventure?  Take a chance and gently step out of your comfort zone in a safe environment, and you will create memories that you can carry with you for a lifetime.

4. Be Curious

I can’t stress enough, and you may not believe me until you experience it anyhow, that the people of Costa Rica are truly the country’s greatest asset. 

Thanks to a decision made back in 1949, the country has no military, and the money that would normally be used to supply and staff a military force was put to good use by improving the educational system, and by creating a socialized medical system. That, in turn, has created a population of healthy, happy people with warm, welcoming attitudes, and a love of life.

It has also led to the pura vida lifestyle that I love to talk about. There are so many interesting people, skilled artisans, and knowledgeable guides that you can talk to. So go ahead and ask questions. 

Find out the story behind that interesting gallery, ask the artisan what kind of loom they use, or the street vendor how they get the pipa frias (chilled coconuts) out of the tree. Ask the guy at the feria what that strange fruit is (or click here and see what I learned when I asked), ask the server what their favorite dish is- and then try it. The world is full of amazing things and complex interactions that you might never suspect, and something as simple as asking “why” can open your eyes to a whole new world. A world that might never be discovered without speaking to that artisan, or making use of your tour guide's vast stores of knowledge.

Go forth and explore! You never know what you will learn!

5. Breathe!

And last but not least, breathe. Put away your laptop… that email will still be there when you get home.  Find yourself a peaceful spot and a comfortable position and just… be. Close your eyes and let the incredible variety of bird calls, chirps, and clicks soothe you. 

This is Monteverde, a truly unique place in one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. Why not give yourself time to soak it all in and experience it in a truly personal and restful way, one that’s as easy as incorporating some mindful practices into your vacation routine?

You don’t need to know yoga, (although if you do, go for it!) You don’t need any special equipment. Sometimes all it takes to create those special memories is the chance to truly experience them in a relaxed and unhurried way.

It sounds so simple. In fact, all of these tips are quite simple and easy to do. All it takes is a little intention, maybe a change of mindset, to give yourself the best possible holiday in a truly spectacular place.

Give it a try, and please… let us know about your experience. We would love to hear about the very best moments in your Costa Rican vacation. If you would like to spend that vacation enjoying the benefits and experience that the Ocotea Boutique Hotel and its sister company Ocotea Tours can provide, click here, we are happy to help!

What Makes Monteverde Special

Costa Rica: Ecotourism for the Conscious Traveler

If you’re on this page, chances are you’ve done a Google search of Costa Rica. Were you surprised to see all the information about eco-tourism and sustainability pop up? You shouldn’t be. 

Protecting their natural resources is a really big deal to a tico (Costa Rican). The government made some mistakes in the past. When they realized what was happening and how it was affecting the land, they dedicated themselves to rebuilding and putting in place practices that would prevent it from happening again. 

Since then, the country has been working hard towards the goal of sustainability. They recognize that the country’s natural resources are their greatest gift and that they have a responsibility to protect and nurture them.

A Culture of Caring and Conservation

Let’s hit some highlights. The Global Green Economy Index ranks countries based on “leadership & climate change, efficiency sectors, markets & investment and the environment.” In 2018 Costa Rica ranked 14 out of 130 countries worldwide. (Global Green Economy Index, 2018)

Also, in 2018 Costa Rica’s President announced a plan to become the world’s first decarbonized country!

They also realize that sharing the beauty and biodiversity of Costa Rica with people around the world is a step in the right direction when it comes to worldwide sustainability. Once you have stood under the enormous canopy of a tree that’s been here for hundreds of years… a tree that’s so large, four people can barely wrap their arms around it… one that maintains an entire ecosystem in its branches… it’s impossible not to understand the importance of those trees to the planet.

That’s one of the reasons they have made great strides to reforest the country. In fact, in 2016 50% of Costa Rica’s landmass was covered by forest!

Costa Rica’s ecotourism industry is helping travelers from all around the world to make a connection to our planet and to understand how all the minute pieces of the ecological puzzle work together to keep the planet healthy.

Everything from the smallest insect to the huge humpback whale has a part to play, and here in Costa Rica, you can discover and learn about so much of the world’s biodiversity. The beauty of it is, exploring is so much FUN.

Sustainable Hotels and Costa Rica

While Monteverde is near and dear to my heart (and for good reason!), it is but one small piece of Costa Rica’s ecotourism. Several hotels in the area, and around the country, maintain sustainable practices in an effort to minimize their effect on the environment around them.

Here is a fun fact! According to the Borgen Project, in 2019 more than 99% of Costa Rica’s energy came from renewable sources!  67.5 % was hydro-powered!

While the government works to bring water services to the most remote rural areas, hotel owners all across Costa Rica are stepping up to put sustainable practices in place and ensure that the groundwater stays clean and fresh (Costa Rica has some of the cleanest, most delicious drinking water I’ve ever tasted.) Ecotourism is leading the way to a better future.

Many hotels are putting in their own kitchen gardens to provide fresh produce, fruit, and herbs to their guests. What can’t be grown on-site is often locally sourced. Not only is the food fresher and more delicious, but it was grown with care using natural methods and brought to your table with minimal use of fossil fuels, or packaging.

Ordering in small quantities as needed also reduces waste, although in many cases, unused produce is used to feed local animals.

A Monteverde Perspective

Throughout one of my favorite little mountain towns, you can see this care. 

In Monteverde, we are blessed to have a Quaker community that makes many delicious items like artisanal cheeses, and various dairy products made with recipes handed down through generations. All were founded based on sustainable, community-supporting products.

Obviously, you have the raw acreage of protected preserves and wildlife areas, but this attention to sustainable detail continues on through every aspect of green hotels, restaurants, and tour providers.

Many sustainable hotels are harnessing the power of the sun to reduce their carbon footprint.

In some cases, it's as simple as water tanks on the roof, allowing the water to be heated naturally, in others it means outfitting the rooftop with solar panels. Low-tech or high, the end result is the same, a better future with less dependence on fossil fuels.

Our friends at the Ocotea Hotel (and with Ocotea Tours) are a big leader here in embracing the heart of ecotourism… with solar panels to heat water for the guests and an extensive on-site recycling procedure.

Adventures in Nature

But changing the world doesn’t just mean recycling and not wasting energy. It means education and enjoyment of nature too, and all throughout Costa Rica you can see that spirit.

And obviously, teaching people about the natural world and its biodiversity requires getting them out in it! In Costa Rica there are so many ways to get into nature, it’s literally mind-boggling. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… no matter what type of adventure you’re into, you can find it here! (okay… well, maybe not snow…)

But you’re here to learn about Monteverde, so let me reassure you… has tours for every taste and speed and budget… whatever your level of ‘daring’ may be.

Do you like to cook? Great! Visit a local home and learn authentic Costa Rican cuisine from a Tico! Do you want to go to the market to buy the ingredients? Visit the weekly Feria or market full of fresh produce, home-baked goodies, herbs and spices, cheese, and even fresh or cured meats. 

Do you want to go to the farm and pick it yourself? You can do that too! Speaking of farms, you can choose from cocoa, coffee, dairy, sheep, cattle, or horse farms. Gather up the ingredients you need, or simply stay and explore. You can even milk a cow and make your own cheese! Horseback riding is one of my favorite pastimes!

If you’d rather see more exotic animals, There are wildlife sanctuaries galore. Some of them specialize - like the sloth sanctuary which provides some really fun tours! 

There are butterfly conservatories, and even a place to learn all about bats, known as The Bat Jungle. You really don’t need to go to a sanctuary to see wildlife in Costa Rica though, there are dozens of national parks, including the three cloud forest preserves I mentioned in a previous post. There are wildlife preserves,  and hiking trails galore… and that’s not even touching on the marine perspective.

A Water-Walk on the Wild Side?

Once you bring water into the equation, everything changes once more. Do you love waterfalls? There are plenty here to explore, and even take a dip in. Do you want to explore freshwater rivers? You can! El Tigre Waterfall is a popular local attraction and a sight well worth a visit! Or range further afield on a day trip to kayak or white water raft in the Tempisque River.

Something for Everyone to Immerse in Nature

There is everything from ATV-ing to rock climbing. If you don’t want to climb UP the rock? Repel down a waterfall instead! Walk through the mists of the canopy on hanging bridges far above the valley floor or,  if you don’t feel like walking,  you can hop on a zipline and glide through it instead.

I almost forgot the volcanos! There are 6 active and 61 extinct volcanoes to explore as well. Ever heard of a Tarzan swing?  I hadn’t, and I’m not brave enough to try it… but it’s there if you want it! If that's not exciting enough you can jump off a cliff into a pool, go spelunking or paraglide.

If these kinds of activities are too adventurous you can enjoy a round of birdwatching, or take in some local culture by visiting one of the many indigenous villages and learning about the traditional Costa Rican lifestyle, and that takes us right back to cooking where we started.

Explore, Appreciate, Understand, and Support!

The bottom line here is that learning about nature can be a lot of fun, and while you’re galloping, zipping, or swinging past it, it’s impossible not to appreciate the amazing plants and animals that share the planet with us. Many of those creatures are endangered. They need our help to survive, and the best way to preserve their way of life (and our own) is to understand how we all fit together on the planet.

Plus, ecotourism brings money into the local economy and into the hands of people who are doing their part to nurture the land and the many animals that live on it. It’s a win-win situation for all of us, whether we have 2 legs, 4 legs, no legs, way-too-many legs, or fins!

Regardless of how you interact with nature, or what method you use to get into it, learning about our world and seeing first-hand the beauty and the majesty of it is an experience that’s really hard to describe. It reminds us that we are one small part of a very big, very complex machine and we all have to work together to maintain the balance

I love the fact that my new home is so diverse and has such an amazing variety of things to do. 

The Fantastic Wildlife of Monteverde

One of the things that everyone who comes to Costa Rica loves is that wildlife is usually visible. 

When you travel around our country, you may even see sloths or monkeys on the trees on the side of the main roads — and on the way to the Caribbean as much as on the Pacific side. This is a nature lover's paradise! 

You'll often hear about this love for wildlife surrounding destinations as distant within the same country as Corcovado and Tortuguero. And it’s true: both places have wildlife teeming everywhere. Or the fantastic wildlife experiences in Manuel Antonio where they still claim to have more monkeys than people!

But what about Monteverde? Are you expected to see the same amount of wildlife up in the cloud forests? 

Yes. And no. 

If we define wildlife as all life that lives in a non-domesticated environment, you will be immersed in wildlife. If wildlife is a synonym for animals, then keep on reading, please, and we will tell you a bit about seeing animals in Monteverde. 

First, The Fantastic Nature of Monteverde! 

Cloud forests are only 1% of all woodlands on the planet. These unique life systems depend on a particular sort of weather and topographic conditions. 

They are very humid, misty, and a bit chilly at times, and quite often, you will find a thin drizzle covering the environment with the glow of a thousand diamonds. 

And you will see plants and more plants! Giant ficus trees will take your breath away, along with tiny orchids, bromeliads of all sizes, and great arborescent ferns. The botanical side of Monteverde is almost infinite. 

Monteverde is home to about  2.5% of the total number of species on the planet. That is insane! It is estimated there are over 3,000 plant species and over 700 species of trees and counting, and that’s before you get into animals and other life!

Whatever I tell you here, though, cannot compare to the absolute magic of walking in the depth of the cloud forest.  

It is luscious and beautiful, yes. When you are hiking in the most strenuous trails, all alone and in silence -be it the Caño Negro trail in the Santa Elena Reserve or El Roble in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve-, the experience goes beyond words.

Surrounded by a primary forest with no human tracks other than the trail you are on, this is an experience that is as thrilling as it is peaceful. Trees are covered with layers and layers of vegetation, each a habitat in itself! They are thick and dark, and when the wind blows, they whisper as if they were saying something. If you take the time to breathe in all the essence around you, this may well turn into a life-changing experience. 

And, of course, there are birds. Lots of them! 

Monteverde alone has almost half the species of all Costa Rica. When you are hiking in the forest, now and then, you will notice groups of dozens of birds in different colors, sizes, and shapes foraging together. Comprised of species as different as the bright woodpeckers or tiny hummingbirds, the mixed flocks are designed to survive possible predators and are a great thing to witness. 

You can also hear the metallic and sort of discordant sound of the Three Wattled Bellbird, and if you are lucky, you can watch it up on the top of the highest trees calling. And, of course, the Resplendent Quetzal with its iridescent feathers up in the Ocotea trees.  

(Read here about the beautiful birds of Monteverde: Birdwatching in Monteverde)

But then, the question remains… 

Are There Many Animals in Monteverde? 

Yes! Plenty! 

There are over 100 mammal varieties, 400 bird species, 161 amphibia, and reptile varieties.

These are some of the animals that you may see in any of the reserves in the region of Monteverde. Some of them are only seen at night by the camera traps, others are usual sightings, part of life in the sustainable community of Monteverde. 

Bats

Bats account for more than half of the mammals in Monteverde's cloud forest. In this area, you'll find at least 58 species. 

Bats are underrated, to say the least! These tiny winged dog-faced hyper-interesting mammals are very varied, and fascinating too! Their adaptative differences may go as far as very long hummingbird-like tongues that can catch nectar or those with huge noses or huge ears (for their sizes, of course). They are as well very relevant to our ecosystems, serving as the main pollinators of the vast majority of forests. Move over birds and bees!

You may want to see them in the bat jungle. This unique exhibition will take you to see them live in all their glory. You will also learn a lot about them as specialized guides will take you through the place.  

Oh, and right in the same building, you will find a delicious chocolate store called Cabure. 

The Wildcats

Monteverde is also the home to all six of Costa Rica's wildcat species.

Large cats in the tropics are highly endangered due to habitat loss and indiscriminate hunting. After all, in the past, fur traders used to hunt them. However, hunting has been penalized as a crime in Costa Rica since 2012, after a pledge signed by hundreds of thousands of Costa Ricans. 

Cats, of course, had been the primary victims of hunters up until then. But twelve years after the law passed, wildlife sightings have been more common than before. 

In general, cats are tough to see, but after the pandemic, sightings have been more often, especially at night.  

Hard to spot in the trails, our recommendation for seeing these is through the numerous cameras placed in the different preserves. 

Except for the jaguarundi, all of them have nocturnal habits, and they don't thrive in disturbed environments or places losing habitat. 

Ocelot

The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is only outgrown by the Jaguar and Puma. It has enormous paws, thus the Costa Rican name manigordo (fat hand). 

Margay

The margay is a spotted cat (Leopardus wiedii) similar in appearance to the ocelot. And like the ocelot, it is arboreal and nocturnal, living in the trees, hunting monkeys and other arboreal creatures. The margay has lately even been revealed to imitate its prey's vocalizations. 

Jaguar

Jaguars are the only Panthera species found in the Americas. One of Costa Rica's only "large cats", jaguars can reach over two meters long and weigh 250 kg, but the loss of habitat and unlawful poaching has made them vulnerable. They usually dominate over vast ranges of territory, where this "pouncing killer" stalks its target before pouncing on it. You can keep a lookout, but you won't know if one is around (though fortunately, they’re scared as heck of humans!)

Puma

Catamount, cougar, puma, or panther are common names for the Mountain Lion. Pumas are lonely creatures — they typically patrol a range of around 207 square kilometers. However, they are incredibly versatile, which explains why they can live in such a wide variety of settings.

This considerable predator is an obligate carnivore, eating agoutis, pacas, coatis, olingos, raccoons, porcupines, opossums, hares, and tiny reptiles.

Jaguarundi

The jaguarundi is one of the country's oddest cats (Puma yagouaroundi). It has a large torso and short legs, like a puma. Its unspotted coat and tiny legs make it more like a weasel than a cat. It prefers to live near water. Fish, frogs, and other small mammals make up its food. The jaguarundi is the only wild cat in Costa Rica that is active during the day and is allegedly well-adapted to human settings.

Oncilla

The oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus) is shy and lonely, and its tracks resemble those of a domestic cat, so it can hunt in peace if humans are nearby. The oncilla eats birds and rats. It has two pairs of strong black bands on either side of the neck and is usually pale in color. 

Three Species of Monkeys

In Monteverde, there are three different species of monkeys, although the most common are the Yellow Mantled Howler Monkey and the White-Faced Capuchin monkey. Spider monkeys, present in the region, are much more elusive. 

Yellow Mantled Howler Monkeys

You can easily hear them in the morning at dawn, howling to the wind, a faraway storm, or a truck passing by. It may be a bit intimidating when you don't know what that sound is that covers the forest.  

When I was a tour guide, sometimes I would tell people just for the fun of it that it was a T-Rex, and I can swear I could see a tiny fear spark in their eyes before they burst out laughing. 

The males of the mantled howler can weigh up to 9.8 kg, making it one of the biggest Central American monkeys (22 lb). It is the only Central American monkey that eats a lot of leaves, and because leaves are difficult to digest and supply less energy than most diets, the mantled howler spends most of his time resting and sleeping. 

The male mantled howler has an enlarged hollow bone near the vocal cords that intensify the male's sounds and gives rise to the term "howler." This is actually so monkeys can find each other by howling instead of accidentally risking violent confrontation. 

White-Faced Capuchin Monkeys

This is a 3.9 kg medium-sized, brilliant monkey (8 lb 10 oz) predominantly black, with a pink face and white on the front of the body, hence the name. It has a long prehensile tail that it uses to hold itself when feeding beneath a limb.

The Panamanian white-faced capuchin is a versatile wild animal that eats fruit, other plant material, insects, and small vertebrates. 

Among the monkeys in Monteverde, these are the most common sighting as they are usually close to hotels and restaurants on the lookout for fruit put for birds or organic waste. 

White Nosed Coatimundis

There are several huge groups of white-nosed coatimundis, females, and babies, and you will also see the lonely males looking for food wherever they may find it. 

The white-nosed coati is a member of the raccoon family. Unlike most raccoons' family members, the coatimundi is active during the day. However, adults may slumber upon a tree. 

Agouti Pacas

And of course! You will see the usual agouti pacas. These small, harmless rodents inhabit the jungle floor looking for seeds and grains they can eat or hide for later. In fact, they are some of the most important seed dispersers in the ecosystem. 

Together with the Coatis, Agoutis are probably the most common wild animal you can spot while walking on any trail. 

Nine Banded Armadillos

The Texan official animal came all the way to Costa Rica and decided to stay! And not just stay, thrive! They are quite small and always dig the jungle floor for insects. 

Quite elusive and shy, armadillos are a surreal sighting, coming from a time when exoskeletons were the trend. You can see the lonely males quite easily, but the best is when you find them with their offspring, the two or three extremely cute pinkish babies following the mother. 

You may also watch anteaters, porcupines, olingos, easels, white-nosed peccaries, and Baird Tapirs. 

And That’s Just the Mammals!

And here we are only talking about mammals! Monteverde is home to some of the rarest frogs in the World, and if we are to talk about invertebrates, there are many more! Isn’t it great to know that such a wild, beautiful world is thriving around you?

Perhaps the most amazing is that it’s just a short trip from the center of town out to these deep, primary forests. So you can rest assured when you stay at the Ocotea Boutique Hotel, or anywhere else in town, you will be very close to all the different places where you can witness the unique wildlife of Monteverde!

Something For the History Buffs

Monteverde is not only breathtakingly beautiful and strategically adapted for people to see it in all its splendor, but it is also a sustainable and supportive society. 

Monteverde itself is a relatively small town but it is also very unique, both in culture and in its level of social responsibility, and those differences can be traced right back to its founding and the beliefs of those who settled here. To truly understand this amazing place, you must first learn about the strength and determination of the people who have built it.

A History of Monteverde | The Founding of Monteverde

First, we have to understand Costa Rica geographically. Yes, we could say we all know where it is on the map, but do you know the real meaning of being in the center of it all? Costa Rica is between two substantial continental masses and two very different oceans whose climates clash across our mountains and valleys. With altitudes that reach 12,000 feet high above sea level, Costa Rica, the Northern part of Panama, and the Southern area of Nicaragua were the last parts of the continent to emerge.

More than a hundred million years after the formation of the continents, an archipelago of volcanic islands began to erupt between South America and North America, forming a bridge that changed the World's climate forever and its landscape. This sudden appearance of land between the two continental masses also turned into a grand highway filter, as many species started migrating North and South. Many of these migrating species stayed and found homes in the many different life zones and microclimates in Costa Rica with its different elevations, terrain, and meteorological conditions. 

These climatic circumstances created the breathtaking biodiversity that we all boast about here. However, for this to happen, the territory was as tropically wild as a place can be. Not only with tremendous pouring rains and harsh dry conditions depending on the season but with very broken mountains and swarms of mosquitoes. And so, when humans arrived, they went through Costa Rica, and very few stayed. 

From the early Precolombian times to the colonial days, Costa Rica was the most forgotten place in the Neotropics. It was simply too wild.

When the Spaniards arrived, they found a small native population with many different ethnicities. Some of them came from Mexico, and some of them were significantly influenced by South American traditions, but societies were small. There were no big cities, pyramids, or significant stone buildings, just a tiny population that somehow survived in hostile conditions. 

Colonial Times in Costa Rica

Christopher Columbus came to Costa Rica on his fourth trip in 1502. He wrote a letter to King Ferdinand stating that he had found the "Richest Coast." I must add that Columbus never knew about the existence of Mexico or Peru, the actual wealthiest areas of the Americas. Therefore the little that the native population had to show off impressed him. Or so it seems. 

But in the end, Spaniards also found very little gold, no precious stones— nothing really that made it attractive to the crown. The 'Rich Coast' was just a rough and impoverished remote province of the Guatemala Kingdom in the Spanish Empire. 

And although we had a coast in the Caribbean, it was so wild that it was impossible to go across. 

Far away, remote, hostile. It was the perfect place to hide, mainly from the Spanish Inquisition, but from governments, injustice, war, you name it! Of course, there were churches and Spanish authorities in the region, but they were concentrated in a few small colonial villages scattered in the thousands of miles of rainforests. Outside of the eastern side of the Central Valley, Costa Rica was a vast realm of forests where people could come and live in peace.  

We don't know the number of people that lived hidden and dispersed throughout the country. However, in the XVIII Century, the Catholic church decided to start pushing the people to move to the center of the country. Eventually, that push turned to a shove, as they scaled to more aggressive ways to convince the people, like burning their houses and taking their wives and children to the new settlement in the center of Costa Rica: San Jose. 

Life in Early Costa Rica

In the colonial days and Costa Rica, everyone was poor. Even the rich were poor. 

And although there was the same sad violence of the conquest and colonization as in the rest of the region, and a vast part of the original population died, a lot of the indigenous population also mixed with the Spaniards.

In Costa Rica, the poor and the rich have always been together in the same classroom, the same old cantina, and the same tiny church. They both walked through mud, and they both had to work very hard. 

And so, Costa Rica walked a different historical path than its neighbors, constantly embedded in wars. Somehow, throughout time, and in all their tragic isolated, and hard-working circumstances, Costa Ricans lived in peace, even from the very start. 

When Costa Rica finally won its independence (we found out about it about a month after it happened), our first chief of state was a school teacher. 

And throughout the years' Costa Rica evolved almost without any military conflicts, local or international. You will find very few dictators and a couple of scuffles with Nicaragua and Panama. And our only actual international conflict was back in 1856, in defense of the national territory from an invader that came from Nashville, Tennessee

William Walker usurped the presidency of Nicaragua from 1856 to 1857 and waged war on Costa Rica. (3) But through the bravery and unity of the people, he was eventually expelled by the allied Central American countries. This is probably our only "real" international conflict throughout history. 

From the 1900s, Onward

In 1882, Costa Rica opened an entrance gate and port in the Caribbean, starting a different progressive era with banana production and coffee exportation to Europe. 

Through the late 19th Century and into the early 1900s, the people of Costa Rica started to move out of the Central Valley. Progress was slow but supported by the government, which gave out the land for those who wanted to work it. 

The area known as Monteverde was taken by several families who were survivors of the harsh conditions. Some were legal owners, some were squatters. Many came to work in the gold mines that existed in the area long ago. 

That changed mid Century. In 1948, Costa Rica had its 20th Century Civil War. Provoked by possible electoral fraud and an emerging dictatorship, a group of Costa Ricans went up in arms. After a bloody conflict that lasted a month, the dictator fled, and the people once again took over the government. 

The insurgent group had been led by an extraordinary (yet polemic) man called Jose Figueres (a.k.a. Pepe Figueres), who, after eight months in power, decided that Costa Rica needed to reinforce its education, housing, and health. 

And more importantly, Costa Rica decided that it did not need an army or its costly, negative expenses. On December 1st, 1948, the Costa Rican government happily abolished its army forever. It was a bold decision to take amidst the Cold War. However, it proved to be brilliant and a founding pillar of Costa Rican culture.

Now, talking about Monteverde:

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The next video is part of the usual speech that Marvin and Flory Rockwell gave to the tourists in Monteverde, talking about their incredible journey in the cloud forests of Costa Rica: 

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The Quaker Settlement at Monteverde

While all of this was happening in Costa Rica in the U.S., the Korean War neared, and Congress opted to restore the draft, a measure that required young men to register for military duty.

Consequently, dissatisfied with the rising military industry in the United States, the Meeting of Friends (Quakers) in Fairhope, Alabama, determined that they could not stay in the country and contribute to the war effort. Four of the group's young men were sentenced to a year in prison in 1949 for refusing to register for the draft as conscientious objectors. They were released after four months, and in November 1950, these four men, along with forty-four Quakers, consisting of eleven families, departed their northern homes for Costa Rica. 

They chose Costa Rica mostly because it was close to the United States and had great weather, agricultural potential, and a beautiful environment. They had also read the remarks of Pepe Figueres, Costa Rica's president at the time. Figueres invited outsiders to come and help develop the country. Perhaps most appealing to the Friends was that Costa Rica had recently dissolved its army, and these pacifists believed they could thrive here.

Quakers find Monteverde

The Quakers resided in San Jose for six months while searching Costa Rica for a suitable location to create their colony. Eventually, they presented this plot of land spanning the Continental Divide, where a few Costa Rican (tico) families were homesteading. 

The Quakers purchased 1400 hectares (approximately 3500 acres) of land above the tiny settlements of Cerro Plano and Santa Elena, buying from the Guacimal Land Company and locals, many of whom just relocated to other holdings nearby. 

Immediately, the Quakers divided the property into separate family farms, reserving a considerable portion for communal needs such as their school and Meeting House and their first effort at a sustainable company, the Monteverde Cheese Plant. Many of these Quakers were not farmers in Fairhope, so this was an exciting experience to discover the territory, clear the land, learn about dairy, and find solutions for their new cheese business. 

Quaker Forest Protection

In a forward-thinking move, the Quakers opted to maintain the forest on the high slopes at the top of the mountain from whence the streams flowed, giving the water the community relied on for many parts of their lives. 

They put approximately a third of the area, 554 hectares (1300 acres), in a reserve named The Watershed Property and cared for it cooperatively, keeping the boundary lines clear and evicting illegal squatters before they deforested or made a claim. This would be one of Costa Rica's very first private reserves.

The Quakers gladly cut trees to create pastures on their farms. However, they promised not to cut the forest in the Watershed Property, realizing the importance of safeguarding the Guacimal River's headwaters. When driving through the lowlands below Monteverde during the dry season (February through April), the Guacimal River is often the only flowing river.

In many ways, this first conscious decision was the start of a grand spirit of sustainability.

Monteverde Cheese Factory

As the way in and out of Monteverde could only be made by horse (or a very, very dedicated driver), the Quakers realized that selling the milk was not a possibility. Instead, the founding Quaker families had to learn everything from correct milking procedures to safe milk storage and processing to the skill of creating different types of cheese. 

After the Quakers established their process, they invited local Costa Rican dairy farmers to join. Eventually, the plant had more Ticos than Quakers as suppliers and employees, and it was sold to a Mexican food giant, Sigma, in 2013. 

The cheese factory the community set up produced 350 pounds of cheese in its first batch. Today the factory produces 8,000 pounds in one day.

The Monteverde Friends School

But economic development wasn't all the Quakers brought.

When the Quakers arrived on the mountain, they established the Monteverde Friends School, where children were educated in an environment promoting Quaker beliefs. They worked hard to provide a firm intellectual foundation, emphasizing the search for truth and the values required to contribute to a peaceful, sustainable, and just community. 

These values and beliefs in a possible peaceful, sustainable, and diverse society have been taught to the children of Monteverde and influence the town's culture to this day. 

Even now, with several public schools and a thriving community throughout the different neighborhoods of Monteverde, the base of this warm and joyful community draws a great deal from that Quaker foundation. 

Conservation, Tourism, and The Future of Monteverde

Now that we have discussed the founding of Monteverde, drawing from Costa Rica’s incredible natural origins to the origins of the nation, and finally, to the founding of this small settlement grounded in the values of peace, education, and conservation, we will discuss how those values have formed the Monteverde that we know today, and how they have shaped the bright future ahead!

Forest Conservation, Research, and Biodiversity

The early Quakers cleared land, constructed homes, had children, bought and milked cattle, and developed a dairy processing plant. The English-speaking population, pleasant and tranquil Costa Rican lifestyle, and fantastic biodiversity drew biologists to Monteverde in the 1960s. 

These coming scientists discovered the Golden Toad, Monteverde's most famous amphibian, during this period. At the same time, birders began traveling to Monteverde to pursue the elusive Resplendent Quetzal and the Three-Wattled Bellbird.

A Couple of Conservationists Change the Game. 

Conservation in Monteverde was established in 1970 by George and Harriett Powell, two Californian graduate biology students. They hired a tiny cabin on Wolf and Lucky Guindon's property to focus on George's Ph.D. study. Wolf and Lucky, aged twenty and eighteen, joined the original Quakers in 1951, a month after their marriage in Fairhope. Wolf liked to walk and explore the nearby woods, and was one of the few experienced dairy farmers in the group, importing chain saws to speed up the clearing of trees for new pastures for the burgeoning dairy herds.    

But when the Powells discovered how quickly the forest was vanishing and how many species were in danger of extinction, they decided they had to do something to slow down the deforestation. They began raising funds from friends and relatives in the U.S. to acquire the primary forest before the locals cut it down. They recruited Wolf Guindon, who knew the forest and most of the homesteaders distributed among the outlying slopes and valleys, to discover desirable parcels of land.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Was Born.

The Powells agreed that the Tropical Science Center in San Jose would handle the funds and watch after the protected land, forming the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve (also known as the Monteverde Reserve) (810 acres) in 1972. After that, the World Wildlife Fund provided funds for administrative and vigilance expenditures, additional money was gathered, and more properties were bought.

The Quaker group had been caring for its Watershed Property for twenty years until they incorporated the area into the Tropical Science Center as part of the Monteverde Reserve, handing over responsibility for its management and maintenance. This deal protected around 2000 hectares (roughly 4940 acres) of land in the Monteverde area, taking the community of Monteverde one step further in conservation and habitat protection.

Several organizations and people continued finding properties, negotiating sales, protecting plants and animals from poachers, maintaining boundaries and trails, and spreading the conservation message throughout the area. 

For example, the Cloud Forest Reserve now includes the Peñas Blancas River valley (Close to the Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna) and Monteverde's upper slopes, protecting about 10,000 hectares (26,000 acres) of virgin forests.

And the results have had long-reaching effects. In the mid-1980s, local landowners and biologists discussed the hillsides being deforested by cutting or burning, and how it harmed soil retention, water quality, and ecosystems. And as a result, concerned citizens created the Monteverde Conservation League in 1985. They launched reforestation and environmental education projects, establishing a tree nursery in Monteverde to help reforest windbreaks and tiny tree lots on the Pacific side.

The Monteverde Wildlife League

But the efforts of conservation in Monteverde were just beginning. On a trip to Sweden in 1987, biologist Sharon Kinsmen offered slide shows to public school children. The Monteverde Conservation League inspired the children to gather funds to help safeguard the remaining wilderness. 

Over the next four years, Swedish schoolchildren raised close to a million dollars to protect Monteverde's woods. The Swedish government matched this donation, and by the early 1990s, the Conservation League had about two million dollars. Excellent brownie sales results! 

Children´s Eternal Rainforest

The Conservation League bought over 20,000 hectares (45,000 acres). It was named the Children's Eternal Rainforest ( also known as BEN – Bosque Eterno de los Niños) in 1988 and remains Central America's largest private reserve (now roughly 22,500 hectares or 54,000 acres). 

The League employed forest guards to assist defend this enormous region from hunters, tree cutters, squatters, and palm tree poachers (the heart of palm, or palmito as it is known here, is a traditional Easter food, but in the wild, the whole tree is cut to harvest the heart destroying many trees.)

To this day, those initial decisions to pursue conservation have inspired others and continue to have a powerful effect, not only on the health of the community but also on the economy of the region!

Monteverde Tourism

Tourism began to boom in Costa Rica in the 1980s, especially around Monteverde. With friendly tico locals and English-speaking ex-pats, the unique Quaker community, the relatively accessible cloud forest (up the road), and the abundance and diversity of birds, orchids, trees and insects, and butterflies, there is plenty of natural beauty and interesting people to keep a visitor intrigued.

Over time, the number of high-quality hotels and restaurants increased, and adventure tourism was born in Monteverde in the early 1990s. Today, many firms offer all sorts of thrilling experiences, including rappel, horseback trekking, mountain bike, and some of the best long-distance hiking paths in Central America.

The Road to Monteverde

For many years when I was a tour guide, and they told me I was going to Monteverde, I sighed. The road was hell! It was dusty in the sunny season, and on the good days full of potholes (they were rifts in the bad days!) In the rainy season, it turned from annoying to scary. Mud was the word, and now and then, you could feel the vehicle sliding closer and closer to the cliffs. 

The community of Monteverde spent decades discussing the convenience of paving or not the road that accesses the community to the Panamerican Highway. 

Conservationists in Monteverde used to be entirely opposed to this as they rather have the sort of visitor that would remain for a few days rather than big crowds coming for one day and leaving. However, dust started to be a health problem for the areas around the road, as one-day tours kept on coming anyway.  

The road was finally paved in 2019, and coming up to Monteverde is much nicer, safer, and more comfortable now. 

The Monteverde Community Fund

The Monteverde Community Fund was founded in 2010 by Monteverde citizens and the Monteverde Institute under the motto: We do better together.

The community was fast transforming, with 6,000 local people and 200,000 annual visitors drawn by our lush forests, and a group of conscious neighbors of Monteverde wanted to prepare the place and its inhabitants for the challenges and possibilities of change now and in the future.

The Center for Responsible Travel and The Monteverde Institute conducted a conference on travelers' philanthropy in 2011, studying how to acquire resources from the influential tourist sector and channel them somewhat toward community-identified activities. And the Monteverde Community Fund was established in 2012 to put these ideas into effect.

Since its inception, the Fund has supported and educated teams that are working on various initiatives. After all, we’re happy to serve our neighbors and stakeholders in Monteverde, from municipal wastewater treatment to forestry projects to motion and exercise programs.

Thanks to the Monteverde Community Fund, community organizations can focus on their areas of expertise backed by unified financial support. And between groups that focus on climate change, literacy, theatre, arts, entertainment, recycling, and more, I’d say it’s working.

In all, it has become a force that magnifies and enriches the work of Monteverde's active citizens, and that’s a big part of the future of Monteverde.

A Twist in the Tale: Covid-19 Strikes Monteverde

On March 16th, 2020, Costa Rica closed its borders to the world as all countries were doing. The travel industry, as we all know, collapsed. And Monteverde suddenly stopped as well. No microbuses with happy faces, no birdwatchers pointing binoculars up, and not even trails to walk on. It was an unfortunate surreal experience to walk through Monteverde in those days. 

It was like an abandoned Garden of Eden, empty in all its glory. 

Everything had to close. Everybody was unemployed. Some of the grocery and essential services stores remained open, but a considerable percentage of the population had no income at all. 

Monteverde stands out because the values of the community are genuine and rooted in all its inhabitants; their fighting spirit, dedication, and organization showed off during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They formed the "Comision de Enlace Monteverde," with representatives of more than 12 public and private institutions, as well as representatives of private companies and volunteers. 

Part of the aid was coordinated with the Monteverde Community Fund (MCF), fed by donations from international organizations and people living inside and outside the country. Already in 2017, during Storm Nate, it had helped raise funds for the emergency, and in the face of a second crisis, the community came together again.

Members of the Circular Economy Subcommittee identified and inventoried local food producers (vegetables, basic grains, chicken, eggs, cheese, etc.) and made it possible to connect producers with local consumers, using the community's social networks and chats to enable buying/selling with home delivery. 

It was anything but easy, but Monteverde survived.

And, of course, as travelers once again began to return to the country, Monteverde thrived. It was one of the first communities to have the majority of the population vaccinated, and nowadays when visitors are back, Monteverde is getting ready for a fantastic future. 

The Future of Monteverde

In this writer’s humble opinion, Monteverde is a model community for what we all want the world to be. You can see it needed to be framed in the peaceful and also progressive state of mind of Costa Rica, but it was a long line of events that brought Monteverde to be the remarkable and rather unusual place it is. 

But that doesn’t mean the lessons learned here are unique to Monteverde!

Its history of stubborn peacemaking with the environment and in the community has created a difference, and it is that lesson that has been shared and created a ripple throughout the world. 

Getting to today was not easy — not for Costa Ricans, Quakers, or visitors —  but without a doubt, we stand in the midst of a satisfying and extraordinary journey that still has a thing or two to teach the world. 

As I finish writing from one of the gardens at  Ocotea Boutique Hotel, I encourage you to embrace this place while you’re here.  Take time to talk to the locals, look beyond the majestic beauty of the place into the happy eyes of the people, and as you hear the vibrating synchronized sounds of the forest, feel how Monteverde remains proof that, true to the motto, we do better together.  

The Best Little Town Around

Now that you know everything you could possibly know about Monteverde and its surrounding areas, maybe you can begin to understand how such a small town has developed such a big reputation, not only within Costa Rica but around the globe.

It truly is unique, in geography, biodiversity, sustainability, and community. It is a place full of heart and life and warmth, and that atmosphere has created a thriving, happy, and welcoming population.

We hope you will come and check it out for yourself. We can guarantee that you will never see the world in quite the same way once you have stepped under the towering trees of the canopy and walked through the clouds. 

While we don’t think you could possibly have any more questions… we are here and happy to help with any of your travel needs, from accommodations to transportation to tours. Or contact them by email, reservations@ocoteahotel.com, or by phone at 506 4002-2599 (in Costa Rica) or 1-866-379-5133 (International).