Sta Elena and how to reach it
by a005116
Sta Elena is the place to go, when you want to visit the famous Monteverde cloud forests. It is a very touristic place like you can imagine. Souvernir shops, hotels and restaurants all over the place. Try the bakery close to the buss station, they have very nice things there!
It is a hard way getting there, but you'll survive, I'm sure! There are busses to Puntarenas and to Tilaran. There are also other touristic services. The ways to get there are from the most terrible (unpaved and like a like gryére cheese) and when that doesn't make you feel sick, you get it from all the turns in the way or from the fast driving driver...
Cold (or relatively so anyway)
by daffodil
It is "cold" in Monteverde, especially on the many days when it is raining. By cold I mean about 10 C with no sun and very damp. This might not seem to cold when you come from weather that is -5, but after spending a couple days at the coast of Costa Rica where the sun is warm and the temperature is in the low thirties during the day and mid 20s at night, it seems colder.
Also being very wet it is better to have shoes or hiking boots than sandals. It would be good to have sunblock and bug spray just incase as this is not the place to take a quick drive to the closest store! (see transportation tip) There are items available, but I would think that the prices are higher than elsewhere. You will want it, but make sure to have some lens cloths to wipe all that moisture off! Rain gear is very advisable. It rains here more than half the days of the year.
Now that's a beetle
by zrim
The cloudforest is surprisingly devoid of active creepie-crawlies. Looking at the thick jungle like atmosphere, it seems as if hordes of multi-legged, biting, venemous creatures should be making a bee-line for the hiker's exposed skin. But in reality, insects, milipedes, slugs and other creepie-crawlies are seldom seen. Part of the reason is that many of these bugs are nocturnal and are sleeping the day away and another reason is that they are scared to come into the open. Irrational humans may be scared witless by a large menacing insect, but birds, lizards, frogs, spiders and other insects just might find that same insect a delicacy that is impossible to resist.
mariposas
by pollon
At the Jardín de las Mariposas ( the Monteverde Butterfly Garden) they didn't showed me the promised more than 50 species of local butterflies but it was worth the visit anyway...
I don't know if they have a permanent show but when I was there, was taking place a project of a U.S. study on local spiders and its arachnids relatives of which I got a really enlightning presentation...
At the end of the guided tour, you are showed a nest and described the life of the Leafcutter ant...
Guided walk in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
by mim95
There are numerous walking trails of various distance in the Monteverde Reserve. I highly recommand hiring a guide for a nature walk in the park. It is well worth the money as the guides have great knowledge of the area and can explain the fauna and flora, as well as spotting wildlife along the trail. Without the guides, it will only be a walk in the forest. They have really sharp eyes and they know where the animals and birds hang out as the forest is their office! With the guide, I was able to see numerous spider monkeys, quetzals, toucans, hummingbirds, tarantulas and other species of birds.
There is also an early birdwatching tour and a guided night walk. I'm not sure about the prices for these tours.
You can hire a guide for $15, and the walk lasts for about 3 hours. Ask for it when you pay your admission.
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rafael
Tarzan swing
about to fall 25 feet.
zipping ad looking rather calm
