Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve

The cloud forest is not to be missed! Highly recommend booking the natural history tour and going with a guide. Hermón came prepared with a scope for optimal viewing and flashlight to show us critters like tarantulas and insects engulfed in cordyceps fungi. Amazingly we were able to see 2-3 quetzal up close with the scope. They are truly gorgeous and indeed a highlight, although Hermón was so skilled and spotting numerous other gorgeous birds (especially brilliant hummingbirds) and wildlife in the cloud forest. He also educated us on the area’s history and environemntal stewardship. Highly recommend this experience and had we more time in monteverde we would have separately also booked the continental divide self guided tour, however you can’t do both on the same day to be mindful the effects of foot traffic on the wildlife habitat. Nonetheless it was a phenomenal experience and we highly recommend going with a guide for optimal spotting and education. The peace and tranquility the cloud forest brings is truly unbeatable.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is a truly unique place and worth visiting, especially to experience a classic cloud forest. The forest is very dense and lush, which creates a beautiful atmosphere, but it also means wildlife sightings are limited compared to other reserves. That said, the setting itself is the highlight. What makes this place special is its unique geographic location, where clouds and winds move from the Pacific side toward the Atlantic, creating the iconic misty environment the cloud forest is known for. A great place to experience the cloud forest ecosystem, even if wildlife viewing isn’t the main draw

I am beginning to realize that many of the parks in Costa Rica that charge an entry fee feel more like financial traps aimed at inexperienced tourists. To start, you cannot purchase tickets at the actual entrance. Instead, you must buy them a mile down the road and then drive back to the entrance. You pass the ticket office on your way up, yet there are no signs indicating that this is where tickets must be purchased, and the building itself has no signage suggesting it is affiliated with the cloud forest. We visited on a typical cloudy day and quickly realized we were essentially paying just to hike. To see anything of real interest, you either need a guide or expensive equipment such as a telescope or binoculars. In fact, we saw more wildlife outside the park boundaries than we did inside. I would recommend the free trails, which do not require an entry fee, but most visitors to Costa Rica are persuaded to hire guides and spend much of the tour looking through telescopes. The trails inside the park have concrete center blocks with holes running along the pathways. These appear to be designed for ATVs, likely to allow staff to drive through the park during maintenance work without getting stuck in the mud. As a result, the trails are difficult to walk comfortably and seem designed more for workers on ATVs than for guests. There are many free trails in Monteverde where you can experience wildlife without guides or overpriced tickets. Based on my experience, I would not recommend this park, as I encountered far more wildlife on other nearby trails at no cost.

Beautiful scenery. We did the longest hike, and it was very manageable in about 2-3 hrs. Definitely recommend hiring a guide. This was the only experience of our CR trip where we attempted the hike without a guide, and it was the only place where we failed to see wildlife. Visiting the preserve was a bit of a pain, to be honest. We got tickets in advance, but then had to go to a ticket counter anyway, and there was no one working there. Waited probably 20 minutes to finally get a voucher printed for the shuttle to the preserve. Note you have to park at the visitor center and take the shuttle to the preserve. There was no parking when arrived in late morning. Massive traffic jam ensued on the narrow little mountain road.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A breathtaking and essential visit for nature lovers The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is absolutely beautiful. I visited in November — it wasn’t a sunny day, but that made the experience even more magical. I was lucky enough to see the Resplendent Quetzal and several other bird and wildlife species among the lush trees, vines, and dense vegetation. Yes, the entrance fee is higher than in other reserves, but it’s important to remember that your visit directly supports forest conservation. It’s worth every cent for those who truly love nature. If you’re not a nature lover, maybe it’s not for you — but for those who are, this place is paradise. Monteverde is one of the few remaining true cloud forests on Earth — a rare and fragile ecosystem that must be protected. Please, visit responsibly: respect the trails, take your trash with you, and appreciate this living treasure. Every step here reminds you how important it is to protect our planet. 🌿

Had a wonderful natural history walk in the park with our guide Chris. He was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and a perfect bird spotter. He was very inspirational to our two kids. We saw 16 different species of birds, an Tayra, bird spiders and a lot of fauna! Will always recommend a guide and we will recommend using those of the park itself. The park is very beautiful and carries out an important work. Go there!!!

1 start for monetization, 5 for nature. Ensure that you pay for long trail. You probably will not see any wildlife without a guide

This review is mainly for the decision from the park operators to exercise greed over common sense. People are funneled to 3 different trails and need to pay reentry for another? It is such a wonderful place but it is tarnished by this new policy. Even guides were complaining about it. It is just not reasonable.