- Book a time slot online. Tickets at the gate depend on space, as of 30 Oct 2026.
- Park at the Visitor Center, 1.5 km below the entrance. The free shuttle leaves at your slot time, so arrive 15 minutes early, as of 30 Oct 2026.
- Open 7:30–16:00. The Night Walk starts after dark, as of 30 Oct 2026.
- No umbrellas, pets or drones, as of 30 Oct 2026.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Costa Rica
The country's first private biological reserve, in the Tilarán mountains. Book a time slot and ride the shuttle up.
Check before you go
Facts
Run by: Tropical Science Center, a private non-profit, since 1972.
Size: About 4,100 ha of cloud forest.
Hours: 7:30–16:00. Night Walk after dark.
Trails: Three self-guided loops: 1.4 km, 2.8 km and 4.1 km.
Fee: Shown when you book on the reserve's site.
Contact
Reservations: reservacionesweb@cct.or.cr
Official page: Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve site
Checked with the reserve, as of 30 Oct 2026.
Map
- Essence Trail: 1.4 km, about 1 hour, easy. A huge ficus and the Cuecha waterfall.
- Heart of the Forest Trail: 2.8 km, about 1.5 hours. The hanging bridge.
- Continental Divide Trail: 4.1 km, about 2.5 hours, moderate. Dwarf forest and the La Ventana viewpoint.
- Natural History Walk: Guided, about 2.5 hours, up to 10 people, in English.
- Night Walk: Guided, about 2.5 hours after dark, up to 10 people, in English.
Cloud forest: mosses, orchids, bromeliads and old strangler figs, often in mist. The resplendent quetzal still lives here. Sightings vary, and a guide improves the odds.
Drive to the Visitor Center, where parking is free. Private cars can't go up to the entrance, so a free shuttle takes you the last 1.5 km. A local bus also runs from Santa Elena. Check its times in town.
Yes. There is a daily limit and a time slot for each visit. At the gate you get in only if there is space. Cancel 48 hours ahead for a full refund.
The price shows when you book on the reserve's site.
No. The Cloud Forest Walk is self-guided, with signs in English and Spanish. The Natural History Walk and the Night Walk are guided, in English, for up to 10 people.
Walk quietly and stay on the marked trails. Don't feed or touch wildlife, and carry out your waste. No umbrellas, pets or drones. Eat after your walk, not before. There are no restrooms on the trails.
Parks near
Arenal Volcano
The cone is the view, not the climb. Lava-flow trails and lake views west of La Fortuna.
San Lucas Island
The old prison island off Puntarenas. A boat, a guided walk through the cells, and back.
Juan Castro Blanco
The 'water park' above Ciudad Quesada: cloud forest and river sources. Call before you drive.
Tenorio Volcano
The blue river near Bijagua. A muddy 3 km trail to the waterfall and the place the color starts.
Palo Verde
Wetlands on the Tempisque, full of birds from September to March. Gravel from Bagaces.
Carara
Macaws and a flat accessible trail, 20 minutes before Jacó. Book the ticket online.