Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve

Location: Monteverde, in the Puntarenas Province (though its boundaries also encompass the Guanacaste and Alajuela Provinces)

See Monteverde Tourism Region

Size: 765 acres

Date of Creation: 1992

About:

The Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve is a private, non-profit reserve managed by and for the community.  The Santa Elena agricultural high school, along with MINAE and the Ministry of Education, cooperatively manage the reserve to promote conservation, education and environmentally sustainable tourism. All proceeds from admittance fees and the gift shop go directly to the community and the reserve.

Located along the Caribbean slope of the Tilaran mountain range, the weather here is greatly effected by trade winds.  During the dry season, December – April, the winds insure windy and misty conditions.  The dry season here simply means that less total rain falls during this time, but by no means is it dry.  The wet season, April – October, actually experiences more hours of sun per day (usually in the morning) and then heavy downpours in the afternoons.   Most of the total annual rainfall is received during these downpours.  In July, a veranillo (or little summer) is experienced for about two weeks when the heavy rains cease and the misty, windy conditions return.  Annually, this area receives twelve feet of rain.

Weather:

12 feet of annual rain.

Windy and misty days are common in the Dry season: December-April.
Heavy rains and morning sun during the Wet season: April-October.

Activities:

Hiking, bird and wildlife viewing are featured. Camping is not allowed.

Facilities:

An information office, gift shop, small restaurant and trails are on site.

Trails:

Several trails lead hikers through mostly primary growth cloud forest (80%) where moss, lichens and liverworts cover almost every surface making for a patchwork of green at every level.

There are four trails leading off from the visitor center and a new, handicap accessible trail is under construction.  Trails are open everyday of the week from dawn to dusk.  You can not enter the trails after 4 p.m. 

The longest trail, Cano Negro trail (4.8km) takes about three to four hours to walk.

The Encantado trail (3.4 km) is excellent for birding as it climbs and decends through valleys.  It has a well-maintained trial and the three-wattled bellbird, quetzal and howler monkeys are frequently spotted here. 

The El Bajo trail is shorter at 2.6 km, with many creek crossings.  This trail passes through more secondary growth forest providing a diverse canopy and sunny openings for birding as well. 

The shortest, the Youth Challenge Trail (named after a Canadian student group) is 1.4 km.  This trail is best for lookouts and is about a 45-minute hike.  There is a tower here offering views of five volcanoes on a clear day: Arenal Volcano and its namesake lake, Rincon de la Vieja, Tenorio, Miravalles and Poas.  The Nicaragua Lake can also be viewed on the clearest of days from the tower. 

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Flora & Fauna:

The wet and cloudy conditions here in the Santa Elena Reserve promote a plethora of fauna including bromeliads, orchids, ferns and other epiphytes.

There are more than 400 bird species, 121 mammal species, 140 reptiles and amphibians and more than 2000 vascular plants to be encountered in the Santa Elena Reserve.

Santa Elena Reserve is well known for the three-wattled bellbird, resplendent quetzal, black-faced solitares, howler monkeys and hummingbirds (feeders line the entry path).  Quetzals exhibit altitudinal migration in the Monteverde area and are best viewed in the Santa Elena Reserve from December-July.

Fees and Schedule:

The administration office is in the Santa Elena High School (on the road leading out of Santa Elena, as you turn right at the bank) and is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.  Reservations for guided hikes may be made here or by calling 2-645-5390.  Birdwatching tours are also available.  The Santa Elena Reserve itself is open 7 days a week from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. 

Admittance to reserve: (no guide) $10 adults/ $6 students with ID

Guides: additional $15 (guides are recommended for a more fulfilling experience) Tours are available in English and Spanish.

Night Tours: 5-7 p.m., $15 includes guide.  Reservations required (2-645-5390)

Getting There:

Driving: To the Santa Elena Reserve from the town of Santa Elena, turn right at the bank and go up, and then down a steep hill and take the first gravel road to the right, following signs for Selvatura and Sky Adventures.  Continue past the Sky Adventures Park and follow signs to Selvatura.  The road continues past Selvatura to the left. The Santa Elena Reserve is five more minutes up the road. The road ends at the Reserve.

Shuttle: Daily shuttles leave the Info-Center Camino Verde located across the street from the Sky Adventure Office. Reservations are required for the $1 (one-way) journey.

Recommendations:

Always bring a wind-breaker or light jacket.  The continental divide can be quite windy and the weather may change rapidly without warning.

Nearby:

• Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

• Coffee Plantation Tours

• Canopy Tours

Contact:

Tel  /  Fax: 2-645-5390
web: www(dot)reservasantaelena(dot)org

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