Cloud Forest Trails and Scenic Crossings in Monteverde

Monteverde is the twelfth canton of the Puntarenas province of Costa Rica, located in the Cordillera de Tilarán (Tilarán range). Monteverde is one of the country’s major ecotourism destinations, with the Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde (Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve) being the largest, in addition to several other natural attractions which draw considerable numbers of tourists and naturalists, both from Costa Rica and abroad.

We took a bus from Quepos to Puntarenas and another bus from Puntarenas to Monteverde. We travelled the whole day. The next day, We took a bus and visited Colibri Cafe, Los Amigos school, and Rachel and Dwight Crandell Memorial Reserve and Mirador Valle Escondido Preserve.

Another day, We also visited Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve (Reserva biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde). It is a sprawling tropical forest with a huge variety of plant and animal species. There were several trails.

The last day, We took a Jeep-Boat-Jeep from Monteverde to La Fortuna. The Jeep-Boat-Jeep service is the quickest and easiest way to travel between Arenal and Monteverde or vice versa. Because this area is so mountainous, there isn’t a direct route between the two places and the drive around Lake Arenal can take upwards of 5 hours. We enjoyed a beautiful scenic cruise across the tranquil Lake Arenal.