14 Amazing Things to Do in Monteverde, Costa Rica
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Curious what the best things to do in Monteverde, Costa Rica are?
Way up high in the verdant Tilarán Mountains, mystifying cloud forests and some of the world’s most unique flora and fauna await you.
From exploring the hiking trails (in daylight, and at night – in search of nocturnal animals!) and bird-watching, to zip-lining through the cloud forest canopy, there are so many fun things to do in Monteverde, Costa Rica.
While living in Playa Negra and Playa Avellanas, I went on quite a few road trips around the country. And I have to say, Monteverde Cloud Forest is one of my all-time favorite destinations in Costa Rica.
In fact, less than 1% of the world’s forests are cloud forests, making Monteverde an incredibly special place to appreciate nature’s splendor.
While a lot of the activities in Monteverde and La Fortuna overlap, the two towns and their surroundings are very different. I recommend that you include both destinations in your Costa Rica itinerary.
This guide covers the top things to do in Monteverde, along with where to stay, the best restaurants in Monteverde, and other must-know tips.
Best Things to Do in Monteverde: Quick Summary
Unmissable Monteverde Activities:
- Discover the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve with a small-group guided walking tour or a private tour
- Join a birdwatching tour in the Curi-Cancha Reserve – you might even see a resplendent quetzal!
- Try traditional Tico cuisine at Soda La Amistad and book a table at the San Lucas Treetop Dining Experience
- Join this coffee, chocolate & sugar cane tour to learn about (and taste!) the extraordinary local produce
- Visit the Monteverde Orchid Garden to see 450 orchid species
- Go on this guided night walking tour to see nocturnal animals in the Monteverde Wildlife Refuge
- Zip-line through Monteverde’s forest canopy on the longest and highest zip-line in Latin America!
Other Things to Do in Monteverde:
- Hike through the quieter Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve on your own, or go with a nature guide
- Drink local craft beer at Monteverde Brewing Company or Belmar Craft Brewery
- Watch the sunset from Mirador San Luis or Mirador Valle Escondido
Where to Stay in Monteverde:
- Koora Monteverde: Luxurious bungalows perched high in the cloud forest
- Chira Glamping Monteverde: Stay here for the ultimate glamping experience
- Camino Verde B&B: We stayed here and loved the convenient location and endless forest views
Monteverde Map:
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Must-Know Facts about Monteverde, Costa Rica
- Monteverde translates to “green mountain.” Home to more than 700 species of trees, the name certainly fits!
- The Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve sits around 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) above sea level along the Continental Divide. Here, warm tropical air rises along the mountains, cools, and condenses into the mist and clouds that keep the forest perpetually moist.
- The main town near Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve is called Santa Elena. However, the sub-region (which consists of Santa Elena and the cloud forest reserves) is called Monteverde. Monteverde is part of the province of Puntarenas. I recommend staying in/near Santa Elena town for convenience.
- You need two or three full days in Monteverde.
- There are three different cloud forest reserves to visit in Monteverde (the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, and the Children’s Eternal Rainforest), plus some more wildlife refuges.
- I recommend renting a car for Monteverde and the rest of your Costa Rica itinerary. From there, you can drive to Manuel Antonio, La Fortuna, Nosara, Playa Negra, and beyond.
1. Take a Guided Tour of Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
The best thing to do in Monteverde is to go on a guided nature walk of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve!
Our guide was an absolute pro at bird calls and spotting wildlife. His depth of knowledge about the plants and animals in the forest was incredible, and we learned so much.
Even if you don’t see much wildlife (always a possibility!), the abundance of trees and beautiful forest flowers still make it well worth it. The walk is easy and mostly flat, but I still recommend wearing hiking boots.
Click here to book your small-group Cloud Forest tour. Alternatively, you can go on a private tour.
MADDY’S TIP: The Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve now uses timed entry. Park and check in at the official Visitor Center, located about 1 mile (1.5 km) below the Preserve entrance, then take the complimentary shuttle to the trails. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your reserved time slot.
2. Visit the Hummingbird Garden
The small-group guided nature walk (mentioned above) finishes at the Hummingbird Gallery next to the reserve entrance, where you’ll see many different types of beautiful hummingbirds flitting between the flowers and bird-feeders.
There’s a café in the garden, though I recommend skipping it (the food/coffee quality is sub-par). Come prepared with snacks, or just wait to eat until you get back to town.
3. Go Zip-Lining through the Cloud Forest Canopy
If you don’t plan to zip-line elsewhere in Costa Rica, then don’t miss this zip-lining adventure in Monteverde. This fun course includes 13 zip-line cables and a gigantic Tarzan swing!
Click here to book your zip-lining adventure!
Note: I’ve been zip-lining in La Fortuna, Manuel Antonio, and Rincon de la Vieja, so I decided to skip zip-lining in Monteverde.
MADDY’S TIP: Want even more of an adrenaline rush? Monteverde is home to Central America’s highest bungee jump. Click here to book your extreme bungee jump!
4. Dine at Monteverde’s Best Restaurants
Here are my picks for the best restaurants in Monteverde:
- Soda La Amistad: This traditional tico soda is budget-friendly and the food is delicious! Located next to the Camino Verde B&B (one of the hotels I recommend staying at), we walked right in and grabbed a table. I ordered the shrimp al ajillo casado – with the usual suspects of rice, beans, plantains, veggies, and salad on the side.
- El Sapo: This is probably the best restaurant in Monteverde – featuring local and sustainable ingredients, fresh produce straight from their own garden, and organic South American wines. From artisanal bread baked in-house to local Monteverde cheeses to homemade gnocchi and ravioli to pepper steak, the menu is wonderful. They even have a full vegetarian/vegan menu! In high season, make your dinner reservation in advance. I took my husband here for his birthday!
- San Lucas Treetop Dining Experience: Here, you can dine in your own floor-to-ceiling glass cube, way up high in the treetops, surrounded by panoramic cloud forest views. Meanwhile, the chef will take you on a culinary journey through Costa Rica with nine courses. Book in advance.
- The Open Kitchen: Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the menu combines Tico classics, Israeli/Northern African/and Middle Eastern flavors and dishes, and Western faves. I ordered the falafel.
- The Green Restaurant: This popular spot serves yummy, healthy food – but nothing you couldn’t make at home.
5. Birdwatch at the Curi-Cancha Reserve
Curi-Cancha Reserve in Monteverde is home to some of the most spectacular and elusive birds in the world (more than 200 species), all kinds of mammals (from armadillos and coati to ocelots and sloths), and roughly seven kilometers of hiking trails at elevations of between 4,750 to 5,300 feet (1,450 to 1,615 meters).
If you’re into bird watching, go on this birdwatching tour in the Curi-Cancha Reserve. You’ll hopefully see some amazing birds, and learn more about this unique ecosystem.
We were lucky enough to spot a resplendent quetzal – what a special experience that was!
Click here to book your bird-watching tour in the Curi-Cancha Reserve.
6. Go on a Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Tour
This Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Tour is another must-do in Monteverde.
On this tour, you’ll visit a local farm to learn about the cultivation of coffee beans, cacao beans, and sugar cane – and how they’re processed to make products like freshly brewed coffee, chocolate, raw sugar, and guaro. Along the way, you’ll taste the different artisanal products.
Click here to book your Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugar Cane Tour.
MADDY’S TIP: In La Fortuna, going on this Craft Specialty Coffee and Chocolate Tour is also one of the best things to do; so if you don’t have time in Monteverde, then no worries!
7. Visit a Local Craft Brewery
When you need a break from hiking, stop by one of Monteverde’s local breweries!
Monteverde Brewing Company is top-notch. They have many different beers on tap, which rotate seasonally (from hazy IPAs to APAs to coffee stouts to golden ales). Order a tasting flight so you can try five different ones!
If you have time to brewery-hop, Belmar Craft Brewery is another local brewery in Monteverde.
8. Visit the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve
Compared to Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve is less-visited, but just as spectacular…
If you have time to visit both reserves, you absolutely should.
Within the Santa Elena Reserve, you’ll find roughly 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) of hiking trails to explore, different viewpoints, an observation tower, many bridges, and a beautiful orchid garden.
You’ll probably want to hike on your own here, but guided walks of Santa Elena are also available.
9. Watch the Sunset from a Viewpoint
If the weather’s good, hop in your rental car and choose either the Mirador San Luis or the Mirador Valle Escondido Preserve to watch the sunset.
MADDY’S TIP: Bring a couple of cans of beer from Monteverde Brewing Company with you!
10. Go on a Night Walk
While in Monteverde, you have to go on this small-group guided night walking tour in the Monteverde Wildlife Refuge.
Exploring the jungle at night, by flashlight, is an incredibly cool (and kind of creepy!) experience.
From motmots to woodpeckers to owls, we saw so many incredible birds within the first 15 minutes of the tour, at dusk. Once darkness fell, our guide led us around the trails to search for nocturnal animals out hunting their prey. Luckily, we spotted a few bright-green pit vipers slithering through the trees, plenty of frogs, and a couple of tarantulas.
We also saw plenty of fascinating bugs and plants – and some birds and other animals mid-slumber.
Plus, with a small group of just six people, the experience was intimate and allowed our guide to answer all of our questions.
Click here to book your small-group night walk tour.
Prefer private tours? Book your Private Monteverde Night Tour here.
MADDY’S TIPS: The night walk is an easy, flat walk, but you must wear closed-toed shoes. You probably won’t step on a snake, but it’s certainly possible. Plus, at roughly 5,000 feet, it can get cold in the refuge at night. Bring a jacket.
11. Visit the Monteverde Butterfly Gardens
Discover four different habitats and 30 kinds of butterflies in the serene Monteverde Butterfly Gardens. Open daily (from 9 AM to 3:30 PM), a guided tour is included in your entrance fee, and reservations are not required.
12. Explore the Children’s Eternal Rain Forest
Visit the Children’s Eternal Rain Forest (or the Bosque Eterno de los Niños). The roughly 56,000 acres that encompass this private reserve were purchased with donations from children in 44 countries.
13. Visit the Farmers Market
Open every Friday from 11 AM to around 3:30 PM, visit the Santa Elena Farmers Market to support producers selling local fruit, veggies, honey, handicrafts, and more.
14. Visit the Monteverde Orchid Garden
At the Monteverde Orchid Garden, you’ll encounter 450 orchid species (120 different types are guaranteed to be in bloom daily!), including micro-orchids. The garden is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, and your entrance includes a roughly 45-minute guided tour. There are no fixed tour times; you can arrive directly, though booking online can reduce your wait.
Where to Stay in Monteverde
- Koora Monteverde ($$$): The luxurious bungalows perch high in the cloud forest, surrounded by lush flora and wildlife, offering the most stunning views from gigantic floor-to-ceiling windows. Click here to book it.
- Chira Glamping Monteverde ($$$): From relaxing in your own private hot tub to breakfast in bed (with a jungle view), this is the ultimate glamping experience. This hotel is home to the San Lucas Treetop Dining Experience mentioned above. Click here to book it.
- Camino Verde B&B ($$): Where we stayed. Our room was huge and very comfortable – and the staff couldn’t have been friendlier. I loved sitting out on the deck in the evening, sipping a glass of wine, watching the clouds swallow up the entire town. The included breakfast was not so great, though. Click here to book it.
How to Get to Monteverde, Costa Rica
The best way to get to Monteverde is in your own rental car.
Private shuttles are very expensive in Costa Rica. You’ll save a fortune by not relying on shuttles, and you’ll have the freedom to explore as you wish.
This is my favorite website to find great deals on rental cars in Costa Rica and beyond.
The roads in Monteverde are well-maintained; however, the road up the mountain is winding and a bit rough. If you choose to self-drive, you can expect to encounter some pothole-filled dirt roads from time to time.
- From La Fortuna, follow this route in your rental car, which leads to Santa Elena town. If you don’t want to drive a rental car, then you can take the scenic van-boat-van route. First, you’ll take a shuttle to the shores of Lake Arenal, boat across it, and then catch another shuttle to your Monteverde hotel. This option takes an hour longer than driving – sometimes longer. Click here for a private shuttle from La Fortuna to Monteverde
- From Liberia Airport, follow this route. Or, book this shared shuttle service.
- From San Jose Airport, follow this route. Otherwise, you can book this private shuttle or this shared shuttle.
- From Manuel Antonio, follow this route. Or take this shared shuttle.
Note: If self-driving, you may encounter highway tolls. Keep some Costa Rican colones handy, since payment methods vary by road and not every toll booth accepts credit cards.
Monteverde Travel FAQs
Yes, Monteverde, Costa Rica, is worth visiting. Monteverde is a nature-lovers’ paradise featuring lush cloud forests, more than 2,500 plant species (including around 700 tree species), and at least 400 bird species. Between hiking in the misty cloud forests, zip-lining, bird-watching, and exploring the local cacao and coffee plantations, there are so many incredible things to do in Monteverde, Costa Rica!
If you’re pressed for time, two full days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Monteverde. In 48 hours, you’ll be able to go on a guided walk through a cloud forest, visit the local breweries, go on a chocolate, coffee, and sugar cane tour, go for a guided night walk, and eat at some delicious restaurants and sodas. However, if you want to experience all of the best things to do in Monteverde (and have some time to relax), you need at least 3 full days!
Ideally, you should plan to spend 3 days in Monteverde, especially if you’re not visiting La Fortuna. Why? Similar activities involving hanging bridges, zip-lining, touring coffee/chocolate farms, night walks, and more are also available in La Fortuna. If you’re also visiting La Fortuna, then 2 full days enjoying the cloud forest in Monteverde will be sufficient.
Monteverde and La Fortuna are both magical. Even though they offer similar activities (i.e. zip-lining and coffee tours), their landscapes and ecosystems are completely different. In Monteverde, you’ll spend a day exploring the cloud forest, searching for rare and beautiful birds – while in La Fortuna, you might soak in some natural hot springs, hike to view the Arenal Volcano, and swim in a waterfall pool. I love both destinations, and I don’t think you should choose. Both La Fortuna and Monteverde deserve a spot in your Costa Rica itinerary.
While some may say that the dry season (roughly December through April) is the best time to visit Monteverde, but I disagree! The dry season is the high season, so it’s the busiest time of year to visit Monteverde. And even during the dry season, Monteverde’s cloud-forest climate means mist, drizzle, and occasional rain are always possible. The early part of the low season (ideally May through August) is also a great time to visit Monteverde. A little rainy weather in the cloud forest isn’t a deal-breaker for me, but huge crowds and higher prices are! I love the rainy season in Costa Rica. But all in all, any time outside of September and October (the rainiest months of the year) is a great time to visit Monteverde!
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