16 Best Things to Do in Monteverde, Costa Rica

The best things to do in Monteverde, Costa Rica, are a morning in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, the hanging bridges above the canopy, a zip line tour, a guided night walk and a coffee farm. Two full days cover the highlights, and three let you add the quieter reserves and a bungee jump.

Monteverde sits in the Tilarán mountains of northwest Costa Rica, at roughly 1,400 meters. The trade winds push clouds over the ridge from the Caribbean side, which keeps the forest wet and green and covered in mosses, ferns and orchids.

In the early 1950s, a group of Quakers from the United States settled here and set aside part of their land to protect the watershed. That land became the core of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, and the area has been a model for responsible ecotourism in Costa Rica ever since.

Today, Monteverde is two places: the small town of Santa Elena, where most hotels, restaurants and tour offices are, and the scattered community of Monteverde along the road to the reserve. Even if you are not into extreme sports, there is plenty to do, from gardens to coffee and chocolate tours.

Things to Do in Monteverde Compared

1. Fly Through the Canopy on a Zip Line

I highly recommend the canopy tour with 100% Aventura. I have done many zip line tours before, but this one stands out because you fly far above the treetops, with long views over the forest.

The circuit has 11 cables over about 4 kilometers, including two Superman lines where you fly headfirst. The longest cable runs for about 1.6 kilometers, which the park bills as one of the longest in Latin America.

Do not skip the Mega Tarzan Swing at the end of the tour. It feels like a short bungee jump and is a fitting finale to a morning full of adrenaline.

Verdict: Worth it for the Superman lines and the Tarzan Swing. If you only want one adventure in Monteverde, make it this one.

This tour covers 11 zip lines over about 4 kilometers, rated 4.7 from over 360 reviews.

2. Walk the Sky Walk Hanging Bridges

Do you want to see the cloud forest from above? Then walk the Sky Walk with Sky Adventures, one of the best-known attractions in Costa Rica.

The trail has six suspension bridges and is mostly flat. The longest, the Zapote bridge, is about 236 meters long and around 50 meters above the forest floor.

You can walk it on your own or join a guided tour. A good naturalist guide will spot birds, sloths and plants you would walk straight past, so do not forget your binoculars.

Verdict: Worth it, ideally with a guide. Selvatura Park has a similar set of bridges if Sky Walk is fully booked.

3. Join a Guided Night Walk

Monteverde changes after dark. On a guided night walk, you see animals that hide during the day, and the forest feels completely different by flashlight.

On my night walk, I was greeted by a sloth carrying its baby. I also saw tarantulas, toucans, opossums, frogs and even a pit viper.

If I could choose again, I would join a small group of five people or fewer. A group of nine felt too big for an activity where you need to stay quiet.

Verdict: Worth it, and one of the best things to do in Monteverde. Ask for the group size before you book.

This small-group night walk includes a guide and flashlights, rated 4.7 from over 440 reviews.

4. Explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, founded in 1972, protects more than 4,000 hectares of forest along the continental divide. About 400 bird species have been recorded here, including the resplendent quetzal, and you are lucky if you see one in the wild.

Arrive early in the morning, when the forest is quietest and the birds are most active. Before the hanging bridge on the main trail gets crowded, you can stand above the canopy and watch the mist move through the trees.

My recommended route is the long loop that starts on Sendero Bosque Nuboso and returns via Sendero Pantanoso and Sendero El Río. The reserve is also home to more than 100 mammal species, from coatis to pumas, though the big cats are rarely seen.

Verdict: Worth it, but hire a guide. Without one, most visitors see trees and little else.

This small-group guided walk in the reserve is rated 4.8 from over 180 reviews.

5. Hike the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve

The Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, a few kilometers northeast of town, is managed by the local community and its high school. It sits slightly higher than the Monteverde reserve, at around 1,600 meters, with about 12 kilometers of trails.

It sees far fewer visitors, and on a clear day you can see Arenal Volcano from some viewpoints. Entrance fees go back into conservation and local education.

Verdict: Worth it if you want the cloud forest without the crowds. Combine it with Selvatura Park, which is on the same road.

6. Go Birdwatching at Curi-Cancha

Curi-Cancha is a private reserve of about 83 hectares between Santa Elena and the Monteverde reserve. Around 250 bird species have been recorded here, and it is one of the most reliable places in the area to see the resplendent quetzal.

The reserve limits visitors to 50 people at a time, which keeps the trails calm. Nine short, connected trails cover about 8 kilometers, so you can make the walk as short or as long as you like.

Verdict: Worth it for birders, and the best early-morning walk in Monteverde. Go with a guide and a telescope to have a real chance of a quetzal.

This small-group birdwatching walk in Curi-Cancha is rated 4.8 from about 100 reviews.

7. Walk in the Children’s Eternal Rainforest

The Children’s Eternal Rainforest is the largest private reserve in Costa Rica. It began in 1987, when schoolchildren in Sweden raised money to buy and protect rainforest here, and children around the world followed.

Most of the reserve is closed to visitors, but the Bajo del Tigre sector near Santa Elena has about 3.5 kilometers of easy trails through lower, drier forest. There are good viewpoints toward the Gulf of Nicoya on clear afternoons.

Verdict: Worth it for families and for a gentle walk on arrival day. The night walk here is a good alternative to the busier commercial tours.

8. Bungee Jump at Monteverde Extremo Park

If you want something to keep your heart pumping, try the bungee jump at Monteverde Extremo Park. At 143 meters, about 470 feet, it is marketed as the highest bungee jump in Central America.

A cable car carries you out over the canyon, where the crew gets you ready to leap into the open air above the cloud forest. It is not for the faint-hearted, but if you do it, you will have a story to tell for years.

Verdict: Worth it if you have always wanted to bungee jump. Book for a clear morning, as the view is half the experience.

9. Ride a Horse Through the Farmland

Horseback riding is a relaxed way to explore the countryside around Monteverde. Most rides last two to three hours and pass coffee farms, sugarcane fields and mountain viewpoints on the edge of the cloud forest.

If your time is flexible, choose a ride that runs just before sunset. On a clear evening, you watch the light change over the Gulf of Nicoya in the distance.

Verdict: Worth it for a slow afternoon. Skip it in heavy rain, when the trails turn to mud.

10. Take a Coffee and Chocolate Tour

If you want something more relaxed than dangling from a cable, go on a coffee and chocolate tour. Coffee has shaped Costa Rica for almost two centuries, and many small farms around Monteverde welcome visitors.

A good guide shows you the plants, explains how the beans are harvested, dried and roasted, and walks you through the cacao process. The tour ends with a tasting of the farm’s own coffee and chocolate.

Verdict: Worth it on a rainy afternoon. Family-run farms give a more personal tour than the larger operations.

This small-group tour covers coffee, sugarcane and chocolate on a farm in Los Tornos, rated 4.8 from over 300 reviews.

11. Go Canyoning

There is a great sense of thrill in rappelling down waterfalls, jumping into pools and swimming through a canyon. Every tour starts with a safety briefing, and all equipment is provided.

Expect waterfalls of up to around 40 meters and cold water, so wear quick-drying clothes. The best-known canyoning tours in the region run near La Fortuna and Arenal, so many travelers do this on the same trip, before or after the transfer across Lake Arenal.

Verdict: Worth it for active travelers. If you only have time for one adrenaline activity in Monteverde itself, choose the zip line.

12. See Reptiles at the Monteverde Serpentarium

The Monteverde Serpentarium in Santa Elena lets you see Costa Rica’s snakes, lizards, frogs, iguanas and turtles up close. A naturalist guide takes you through more than 35 species and explains how to recognize the venomous ones.

It is a good choice with children, and it makes the snakes you might spot on a night walk far less scary.

Verdict: Worth an hour with children. Skip it if you are short on time and already booked a night walk.

13. Visit the Monteverde Butterfly Garden

The Monteverde Butterfly Garden has four habitats with up to 30 species of butterflies, plus live insects and arachnids from across Costa Rica. A naturalist guide walks you through the gardens and the breeding area.

The garden also takes volunteers for longer stays, if you fall in love with the place and want to learn more.

Verdict: Worth it for families and for photographers. On a cold, cloudy day, the butterflies stay hidden.

14. Watch Hummingbirds at Selvatura Park

Selvatura Park, near the Santa Elena reserve, has a hummingbird garden where more than ten species come to the feeders. Standing among them as they zip past your head is one of the most relaxing things to do in Monteverde.

The park also has hanging bridges, a zip line, a butterfly garden and reptile and amphibian exhibits. Its combination packs bundle several of these with lunch.

Verdict: Worth it if you are already at Selvatura. Buy a single activity rather than a full pack unless you want a whole day there.

15. Learn About Bats at the Bat Jungle

The Bat Jungle is a small exhibit with nearly 90 live bats of eight species, in an enclosure that recreates their habitat. A guide explains how bats feed, fly and live together, and how they help control insects, spread seeds and pollinate flowers.

One of the highlights is the ultrasonic microphone that lets you hear how bats communicate. The exhibit was created by Dr. Richard K. LaVal, a bat biologist who worked in Monteverde for decades.

Verdict: Worth it on a rainy afternoon, and better than it sounds.

16. Hike Cerro Amigos

In a place full of entrance fees and package deals, there is still free hiking in Monteverde. Cerro Amigos, at about 1,840 meters, is one of the highest points in the area, and a steep gravel road leads up from near Hotel Belmar.

Experienced hikers will not find it hard, but it is a steady climb, and beginners and children can manage it at a slow pace. The view over the Gulf of Nicoya is the reward, especially at sunset.

Verdict: Worth it on a clear afternoon. In thick cloud, you will see nothing at the top.

More Monteverde tours and transfers are listed on GetYourGuide.

How to Get to Monteverde

Monteverde is about 145 kilometers from San José. By car or shared shuttle, the trip takes about 4 to 5 hours, and the public bus takes 5 to 6 hours with a change in Puntarenas.

The last stretch is winding, and a four-wheel drive is a good idea in the rainy season.

From La Fortuna, the popular jeep-boat-jeep transfer combines a short drive, a boat across Lake Arenal and a mountain road to Monteverde, in about 3.5 to 4 hours. It is the most scenic way to connect the two.

For more routes, see Monteverde to San José, Liberia to Monteverde and Tamarindo to Monteverde, or the guide to getting around Costa Rica.

This shared transfer crosses Lake Arenal between La Fortuna and Monteverde, rated 4.6 from over 80 reviews.

Where to Stay in Monteverde

Santa Elena is the most convenient base, with restaurants and tour offices within walking distance. The lodges along the road to the reserve are quieter and closer to the forest.

I recommend El Establo Mountain Hotel, a family-owned lodge in the cloud forest with wide views, about 4 kilometers from the Monteverde reserve. It has a spa with a heated indoor pool, a gym and tennis and basketball courts.

• For views and space: El Establo Mountain Hotel
• For sunsets: Hotel Belmar, a family-run hotel on the hillside below Cerro Amigos
• For gardens: Monteverde Lodge & Gardens, a short walk from Santa Elena
• For design: Senda Monteverde, with rooms set in the forest

Best Time to Visit Monteverde

Monteverde is cool and humid all year, with an average temperature of about 18°C. Days in the dry season usually reach about 18 to 23°C, and nights drop to around 12 to 15°C.

The dry season runs from December to April, when mornings are often clear and clouds build after lunch. From May to November, the green season brings daily afternoon rain, heaviest in September and October, but fewer visitors and lower prices.

Season descriptions are Universal Traveller’s summary for planning. Weather in the cloud forest changes fast, so pack for rain in any month.

What to Bring to Monteverde

• A rain jacket and a warm layer, as the cloud forest gets cold, especially at night
• Closed hiking shoes with good grip for wet trails
• Insect repellent and high-SPF sunscreen
• Binoculars for birdwatching
• A dry bag for your phone and camera

Suggested 3-Day Monteverde Itinerary

• Day 1: arrive by jeep-boat-jeep from La Fortuna, a short walk at Bajo del Tigre, a guided night walk
• Day 2: a guided morning in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, a coffee and chocolate tour in the afternoon, sunset at Cerro Amigos
• Day 3: birdwatching at Curi-Cancha at dawn, a zip line or the Sky Walk hanging bridges, the Bat Jungle if it rains

With a fourth day, add the Santa Elena reserve, Selvatura Park or a bungee jump at Extremo Park.

More Universal Traveller Guides to Costa Rica

• Best places to visit in Costa Rica
• Arenal Volcano National Park guide
• The best Arenal Volcano hikes
• Lake Arenal, Costa Rica
• La Fortuna Waterfall
• Río Celeste Waterfall
• Tabacón Hot Springs
• Best things to do on the Papagayo Peninsula
• All Central America guides

Frequently Asked Questions About Monteverde

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Tim Kroeger( International Tourism Management Expert )

Tim Kroeger is the founder and editor of Universal Traveller, covering luxury stays and active travel. Based in Bangkok, he draws on 15+ years of travel across 112+ countries, from reviewing luxury hotels to bikepacking through Southeast Asia. He also writes about luxury wellness and longevity travel at tim-kroeger.com, where he developed the Restorative Index.

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Expertises: International Tourism Management, Luxury Travel, Adventure travel, Luxury Bikepacking

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Mareike Wielens( Tourism in Costa Rica Expert )

Mareike Wielens is a highly experienced and passionate Tourism in Costa Rica expert with over 10 years of experience in the travel industry.

She is the CEO of Emotional Travel, a Costa Rica travel agency specializing in well-being and mental health vacations, but also designs tailormade roundtrips in Costa Rica.

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Expertises: Tourism in Costa Rica, Costa Rican Tourism Board, Ecotourism in Costa Rica, Costa Rica, Travel agency