Discover the Santa Elena Cloud Forest on a guided hike. While the Monteverde Reserve is on the "must-see" list for most travelers to Costa Rica, the Santa Elena Reserve offers the opportunity to experience this rare ecosystem without waiting in lines for a photo or stepping off the path as large tour groups pass. During your guided hike, you'll have the chance to see an astonishing number of animals. Elusive feline species include pumas, jaguarundi, and the endangered jaguar, while more commonly spotted species include spider monkeys, sloths, bright red poison dart frogs, and tarantulas.
This was a nice hike but, there was a lot of stopping looking for birds, which is not really our thing. The guide was very knowledgeable and kind but was not engaging for my daughters. We would have just preferred to hike and stop when there was actually something to see. I know the people we were with were very interested in the birds so I’m sure it was good for them . Read more
A beautiful place in the planet. Our guide was exceptional and without her, we wouldn’t have seen a thing. Read more
We saw a giant tarantula! Not much else that was exciting though lol. Everyone wanted to see pretty birds, sloths, or cats. Instead we saw some plants and a spider haha. What was worse was waiting for 10 people to look through the same telescope to see something tiny 100 feet up in the air (i.e. we looked for 30 minutes at one porcupine in some dark shadows). Read more
This activity started with a 20 mn drive in a mini bus from our hotel to the Reserve through a dirt road up the hill. We were there in January so the road was dry, but according to the driver, it can be challenging at time.
The Reserve got a number of tracks ranging from 0.5km to 4.8km loops. The guide tour took about 2 hours using a 1.5-2km track, as we progressed slowly looking at plants and animals. The track is easy to walk on, especially since we were there in January and it was... Read more
Spend 10 days getting to know the diverse wildlife of Costa Rica's rainforests, with plenty of adrenaline-pumping activities, too. You'll zip-line through the rainforest, hike to waterfalls, and mountain bike on a volcano, with opportunities for kayaking and relaxing in hot springs.
Head to the Monteverde region if you want to experience a distinct ecosystem, spot wildlife, and have plentiful options for hiking and zip-lining. Perfect for a quick getaway, the 6-day version of this itinerary will take you to both Monteverde and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserves, along with two nights in vibrant San José.
This 13-day itinerary is perfect for travelers who like to combine their mountain adventures with a bit of a beach holiday. After arriving at the airport in Liberia, you'll head to Rincón de la Vieja to explore the nature surrounding one of the country's most active volcanoes. Then travel deeper inland to spend a few days crossing suspension bridges, ziplining over trees, and hiking through the jungles of La Fortuna and the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. You'll end your trip by returning to Guanacaste for some relaxation on the beaches of Papagayo.
Experience Costa Rica's most spectacular national parks on this 15-day tour. You'll catch glimpses of sea turtles and monkeys in Tortuguero National Park and spot hundreds of bird species in the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Then it's time to head to the country's largest and most famous volcano, Arenal, for a mix of wildlife and heart-pumping excursions. Finally, you'll end the trip in Manuel Antonio, where you'll snorkel among colorful fish and traverse jungle trails.
