Best places to visit in Costa Rica - Monteverde
Best places to visit in Costa Rica - My Monteverde experience
One of Costa Rica’s absolute must-see destinations, high in the misty mountains of the country, is the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Since the unique cloud forests are extremely sensitive to the effects of climate change, these marvelous forests might not be around forever, so best experience them while you still can, so that you can discover why Monteverde is one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica.
After a delicious, nourishing breakfast at Villas Jacquelina, I was ready to start my trip from Quepos to Monte Verde. With a full belly, I walked to the bus station in Quepos, which takes about 15 minutes from the Villas, to catch the bus at 9:30 to Puntarenas. It should take about 3 hours to get there, but be prepared for delays, especially if it has rained heavily the day before. Make sure to get a window seat, because the bus ride will take you through seemingly endless stretches of palm plantains, followed by gorgeous views over the Pacific ocean.
If you want to travel in the most eco-conscious way possible (or maybe you’re just broke like me), taking the bus will be your transportation of choice. If you want to be more comfortable (and a lot quicker), best take the car.
Once in Puntarenas I grabbed a bite to eat and had to change buses – the bus to Monteverde leaves at another terminal, which is only a short walk away. For detailed information on how to get to Monte Verde, make sure to check out our blog post: How to get from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio Quepos
Enjoy magnificent views over the lush green, rolling hills of Monte Verde (which literally translates to “green mountain”), while the bus is making its way up steep and narrow mountain roads to the lively town of Santa Elena, elevated 1.440 m above sea level. Especially the last bit of the road can feel a bit like a rollercoaster ride, at times seeming like the road consists of more potholes than pavement. The bus ride is supposed to take about 2.5 h, though it can easily be longer.
Writers Tips:
- wear trousers that cover your thighs
- take a pouch with you to store your phone/camera in if you want to take photos (backpacks must be left at reception)
- wear solid shoes because there is quite a bit of walking involved in getting from one zip line to another
After a good night’s sleep and some breakfast got on the bus to Puntarenas at 7:45, once again admiring the gorgeous panoramic view from the bus window. All in all, Monteverde makes the perfect next stop on your travel itinerary, coming from Quepos!
Thanks for reading - Lisa (Villas Jacquelina volunteer 2022)
The next morning I got on the bus to the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, the smaller one of the two cloud forest reserves – the other one is the Monte Verde Cloud Forest Reserve, which can be a bit more crowded. The reserves limit the number of visitors per day, so best be there early!
The park is home to lots of unique plants and wildlife, like the rare, colorful, Quetzal monkeys, sloths, ocelots, pumas and so much more. Buzzing with life, you can definitely hear the animals, even if you might not see them without taking a guided tour. As I was hiking along rugged jungle trails, the forest around me was alive with the singing of birds and chirping of insects.
The paths are pretty good, so you can bring your hiking boots if you like, though you can totally do it with any kind of comfortable shoes (like trainers) too.
After a quick lunch, I went off to the second part of my adventure - an absolute must-do in the area -as Monte Verde doesn’t just offer tranquil rainforest and peaceful wildlife, but also amazing zip-lining tours! There are various tour operators to choose from; I decided to go with Monteverde Extremo Park – for $59 you get transportation from and to your hotel and a three-hour zip line tour, including 2 superman zip lines and a Tarzan Swing. At first, the guides showed me and my group the safety instructions, then the fun started!
Flying through the sky with spectacular views all around, I sailed from one treetop to another. We started with some smaller zip lines and worked our way up to the mile-long superman zip line, where you go head-first! There was even a group of howler monkeys cheering us on as we were sailing through the rainforest! It was a really exhilarating experience, perfect for all adrenaline junkies and thrill-seekers.
For more detailed information, check out this video that highlights some of the best places to visit in Costa Rica.
