Travel bucket list idea:
Monteverde, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica
Spread across rugged mountains 1,400m above sea level, this private reserve (and adjacent protected areas) covers more than 10,000 hectares of wildlife-rich, misty cloud forest.
This is where dedicated twitchers come to combe the 15kms of trails in search of the resplendent quetzal, the brightly-plumed bird sacred to the Mayas.
But there is plenty of other wildlife to discover – from spider monkeys and over 400 bird species, to wild orchids and prehistoric ferns – and a variety of ways to explore Monteverde.
Walking trails lead through a forest encrusted with orchids and covered in thick carpets of dripping moss (there are day and night safaris available). Canopy walkways and cable cars run through the trees, affording an eagle’s eye view of the extraordinary landscape, or you can see it at high-speed on a zip-line experience.
The reserve lies at the end of a bumpy mountain road. Most travellers come via Santa Elena, a small dairy town located 6km west of the park entrance. While maps and well-maintained trails make independent hiking easy, spotting wildlife is challenging in the misty forest – better to go with a naturalist guide.
Binoculars are a necessity, along with long sleeves, trousers, hiking boots and a jacket for when the mist descends.
A basic café at the main entrance serves Costa Rican food. If you want to hit remote trails, pack food and water. There are no services inside the park.
If travelling to Monteverde from the Arenal/Fortuna area, a number of companies can arrange a day-long journey to Monteverde on horseback. It’s a rugged, beautiful trip skirting Lake Arenal.
The dry season (Dec-May) is the best time to see wildlife. The ideal time to see quetzals is in March and April, when they’re nesting.
Even in the dry season, the cloud forest is wet and damp. However, during the wettest months (September to October), it can rain for days on end.
For the best chance of spotting wildlife, walk the trails around dawn or dusk.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
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