Hot Spots:
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, museums (Ranario, Serpentarium, etc), Bar Amigos and the Taberna
Volcanoes:
Views to Arenal Volcano are available from several lookout points in the Monteverde area. Two hotels, the Mirador and Vista Verde offer direct views to Arenal on clear days. Several of the reserves also have lookouts towards the volcano. Towers from the Santa Elena Reserve and from Sky Trek canopy tour are two of these viewing opportunities. It is often very cloudy and views are not guaranteed.
Private Reserves:
Due to its rich biological diversity, Monteverde is an international research center and home to many biological stations. Several U.S. universities such as University of California in Berkeley, Harvard University, Ohio State University, Texas University and others conduct research on the biological life of the cloud forest. There are often self-guided trails and educational centers at these research stations.
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve
Nestled in the lush cloud forest, the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve harbors abundant vegetation and an enormous diversity of wildlife. Lichens, mosses, liverworts and epiphytes swathe any open spaces of tree trunks and branches, making for a patchwork of green in every direction.
Within the reserve, there are three rivers that make up 78% of the water that flows into Lake Arenal, which in turn produces 60% of the hydroelectric power in Costa Rica.
There is an observation tower, several miradors (lookouts), a gift shop and a small restaurant. The Reserve is northeast of Santa Elena, about a 20 minute drive.
Children’s Eternal Rainforest
Another privately administered conservation effort, the Children's Eternal Rainforest was originally purchased in 1987 by a group of Swedish children. The students raised money for the Monteverde Conservation League to buy and protect threatened forest in the Monteverde area. Within four years of the purchase, the League's efforts resulted in double the amount of protected lands in the Monteverde area. Today, the reserve is more than 42,500 acres and protects valuable corridors of migration from the higher elevations to the lower elevations of forest.
There are trails (self-guided, interpretive), a children’s educational center, field stations, a visitor center and lookouts with awe-inspiring sunset views.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is the largest and most visted reserve in the area. Also located in the cloud forests of Monteverde, this reserve is teeming with wildlife and usually dripping with moisture. Even on sunny days, the mosses and lichens dribble water as if it had just rained minutes before. The reserve receives more than 3000mm of rain annually.
A maximum of 160 visitors are allowed in the park at any one time, so an early arrival helps guarantee admittance and is best for bird watching. Night hikes are available by reservation and are the best way to see the reserve’s mammals.
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Waterfalls:
There are several waterfalls in the area, located on a variety of properties. The San Luis Biological Station and the Ecological Sanctuary have well-known hikes to beautiful waterfalls. Several other private reserves/farms and hotels also have trails that wind through their properties offering views of spectacular falls.
On the main road just before you reach the town of Santa Elena, the Hotel Las Orchideas has a lookout platform. There are wet weather waterfalls visible to the left in the direction of Santa Elena and to the right is an incredible view of the mountains and the Gulf of Nicoya.
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Museums and Gardens:
There are several museums with live exhibits featuring bats, frogs, snakes, insects, butterflies and orchids. These living museums are a great way to spend a windy, rainy day in Monteverde.
Ranario Monteverde (Frog Pond of Monteverde)
Personal guides, included in the tour, will show you 25 unique species of frogs and toads found in Costa Rica. The most brightly- colored are the blue jeans frog, the green jeans frog, the red-eyed tree frog and the poison arrow frog. The frogs live in terrariums that simulate their natural habitats. Flash photography is prohibited; it burns the frog’s eyes.
Tickets are valid for two days so that visitors may return for an unguided tour to observe the frogs at night, or during the day if the original visit was at night.
Entrance fee: $9.00 adults, $7 students
Schedule: 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily
Tel.: 506-2-645-6320
Serpentario
There are more than 40 species of Costa Rican reptiles and amphibians in well-maintained terrariums to observe in the Serpntario. Guided walks begin every ½ hour. It is located 300m from the center of Santa Elena.
Entrance Fees: $8 adults, $6 student, $3 children
Schedule: open everyday 9 a.m.- 8 p.m.. Guided tours begin every ½ hour.
Contact: 506-2-645-6002
Monteverde Butterfly Garden
The Monteverde Butterfly Garden and biodiversity center offers a broad variety of living exhibits including four unique butterfly gardens (each representing a different local butterfly habitat) and a leaf cutter ant colony that is under glass for close observation. They raise more than 40 species of butterfly for their educational exhibits. All tours include a guided walk (1 ½ hours) through the facility. Located in Cerro Plano- look for their sign.
Entrance fee: $9.00 adults, $7.00 students
Schedule: 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m..
Contact: 506-2-645-5512
Hummingbird Gallery
This is a great place to view hummingbirds up-close. There are many feeders set out amongst the flowering shrubs that surround the patio to attract a wide assortment of hummingbirds. Hummers buzz by your head so close that you think they will run into you.
There is also an art gallery and small gift shop here with original paintings, fancy wooden art (bowls, lamps, etc), books and gifts.
Entrance fee: Free
Schedule: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily
Orchid Garden
With a collection of more than 425 species, the Orchid Garden serves as an education and research center for the conservation of orchids. They have specimens that are endemic to Monteverde as well as world renowned orchids. Guided walks on their handicap accessible trails are included in the admittance fee. Located in Santa Elena, downhill from the bank on the paved road.
Schedule: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. everyday
Contact: 506-2-645-5308
The Bat Jungle
A brand new living museum in Monteverde, the Bat Jungle is an interesting and unique facility focused on increasing the public’s awareness of the ecological importance of bats (conservation through education). There are more than 110 species of bats in Costa Rica, accounting for more than half of the total Costa Rican mammal species.
Guided tours begin with a walk through the educational facility which has posters, hands-on activities and incredible photographs. Tours then move into a dimly-lit room where six species (at the time of this writing, but there are more to come) of Costa Rican bats are on display. They have a machine that slows the bat sounds down 60 times, so that humans are able to hear their voices.
Also on the premises is an auditorium, meant to compliment the Bat Jungle and History Museum with interesting multi-media presentations.
Entrance fee: Adults: $8, students with ID: $6
Schedule: 9:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. daily
Contact: 506-2-645-6566
The Cheese Factory
Guided tours (in Spanish and English) include a slideshow on the history of Monteverde and of the origins of the Monteverde Cheese Factory. There is an observation area where visitors can watch the cheese-making process and cheese sampling is encouraged as well. Several types of cheeses made at the factory are available for purchase, along with locally-made ice cream. Reservations are required.
Entrance fee: Adults: $8, students with ID: $6
Schedule: 9:00 a.m.-2 p.m. (Monday- Saturday)
Contact: 506-2-645-7090
World of Insects
Another very interesting and educational museum, the world of insects displays hundreds of Costa Rican insects. It has 30 terrariums with living creatures and plants. Guided tours explain the habitats and life cycles of insects. The tour is not for the squeamish as piles of cockroaches and cages full of crawling scorpions can be a bit intimidating, even though they are behind glass. There is also a butterfly garden.
Entrance fee: Adults: $7, students with ID: $6
Schedule: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily
Contact: 506-2-645-6859
Bio-Art Exhibition
The largest private collection of insects known as the “Jewels of the Rainforest”, graces the Selvatura Educational facility. Thousands of insects including beetles, stick bugs and butterflies from all over the world are on display here. Many specimens are artistically displayed in glass boxes, organized by patterns of color, shape and size, creating a dramatic visual impact.
The “Jewels of the Rainforest” video is included in tour of this exhibit and features the insects of Costa Rica, many of which can be found in the Selvatura Reserve.
Entrance fee: $10
Schedule: CALL
Contact: 506-2-645-5929/ 645-5757
Note: Also opening in the near future is a chocolate shop with home-made sweets, an art museum, Meg’s Art Gallery, and a restaurant, the Sunset Terrace Café where views of the Gulf’s sunsets can be viewed.
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Shops and Markets:
See Things To Do in Monteverde: Shopping
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