Tours and Activities

The Monteverde tourism zone is known around the world for its conservation efforts and lifestyle centered around respect for nature.Santa Elena is the area’s main service center with various shops and tourism companies; other important towns are San Luis and San Gerardo. Though its main attraction is the Monteverde Biological Preserve, the region also features a variety of natural places, picturesque paths, flora- and fauna-watching opportunities, natural landscapes and more.
Owing to the area’s attractions and environment, activities are centered around natural history and adventure; possible tourist activities include bird- (especially the resplendent quetzal), wildlife- and nature-watching, hiking, canopy tours, trips to suspension bridges and visits to butterfly and frog gardens.

BIRD-WATCHING

The resplendent quetzal is the area’s most striking bird; the wet forest is its habitat. Alongside the quetzal, the bellbird and the umbrella bird also stand out. Hummingbirds, goldfinches and other birds may also be admired.

HORSEBACK RIDING
Several hotels and mountain lodges, as well as family operations, offer horseback-riding tours through typical villages, picturesque trails and wet forest, with the final destination usually being a waterfall or other scenic natural spot.

TREETOP ADVENTURES
Several options are available for observing life and activity in the treetops: several species of monkey, birds, snakes and the forest canopy itself, as well as different varieties of orchids, bromeliads, pinguins, climbing plants, parasites and communities of insects and pollinators.As a complement to all this, tourists can live the adventure of walking over suspension bridges, gliding through the canopy on zip lines anchored to platforms, or swinging from the seat of an aerial tram. Canopy, Sky Walk, Sky Trek and Natural Wonder Tram are options for visitors to
enjoy adventure and nature.

Additional Information.

MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST BIOLOGICAL PRESERVE
This preserve boasts a wealth of diversity in flora and fauna, much of which is unique in the world, that has made it a visitor attraction not to
be missed: a place where nature-loving tourists and scientists can share one place that satisfiestheir diverse interests.A number of trails allow visitors to observe the cloud forest. Approximately 400 bird species, 490 butterfly species, more than 100 species of mammal, 2,500 plant species (500 of which are orchids) and tens of thousands of insects have been identified here. Noteworthy wildlife includes the jaguar, tapir, lark, umbrellabird and the resplendent quetzal.The preserve comprises 11,500 hectares and is open from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

SANTA ELENA CLOUD FOREST PRESERVE
Managed by the Santa Elena Technical Professional School, the Santa Elena Preserve, as it is commonly known, is dedicated to protecting the cloud forest and contributing to the education of the Santa Elena community. Revenue from the preserve is used to protect the forest and to develop environmentalprograms.

Several trails are available to enjoy the 310-hectare preserve. On clear days,Arenal Volcano may be seen. The preserve is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

MONTEVERDE CHEESE FACTORY
The main attraction here is observing how cheese is made and buying dairy products such as ice cream and other sweets. The factory’s hours are Monday toSaturday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

CASEM HANDICRAFTS
The Artisans Committee of Santa Elena and Monteverde (CASEM) makes various handicrafts and souvenirs out of wood and other materials, as well as clothing, for tourists to purchase.