Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike, Monteverde

Journey into the ethereal and wildlife-rich Santa Elena Cloud Forest for a tour with a naturalist guide

Overview

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.


Highlights

  • Explore the lesser-known Santa Elena Cloud Forest
  • Look for pumas, jaguars, spider monkeys, and sloths in the wild
  • Experience a wildlife reserve without the crowds on a guided hike

Know before you go

Duration
4 hours
Recommended for
All ages
Group
Small group, 9 people or less

What you'll do

Leave your accommodations in Monteverde and transfer to the entrance of the reserve. Upon arrival, you'll meet up with a naturalist guide.

Because the canopy is extremely dense in the cloud forest, it's challenging for the untrained eye to spot most wildlife species while walking the trails. Your guide will share stories and insights about the cloud forest while keeping a careful and well-trained eye out for any wildlife that crosses your path.

Although Santa Elena is only slightly higher in elevation than the Monteverde Reserve, the increase in rainfall and cloud coverage is considerable. This fact, combined with the lack of crowds, makes the atmosphere of the cloud forest all the more ethereal and mesmerizing. And because the local community runs the reserve, the tourism dollars generated by visitors go directly toward aiding the local schools and protecting and maintaining the forest.

You'll head back to Monteverde after the hike.
Discover more unique experiences in Monteverde.

Start times

  • Daily
    7:00 am, 1:00 pm

What's included

  • Transportation
  • Entrance to the reserve
  • Bilingual guide

Traveler reviews

Overall Rating (5 reviews)
4.6 out of 5
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.6
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.8
Transport
4.4
Tobi
Tobi S.
Canada | Reviewed on Apr 01, 2023

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

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 .

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Susan
Susan H.
Hilton Head, SC | Reviewed on Mar 16, 2023

A beautiful place in the planet. Our guide was exceptional and without her, we wouldn’t have seen a thing. Read more

A beautiful place in the planet. Our guide was exceptional and without her, we wouldn’t have seen a thing.

Tips for future travelers

Don’t miss this experience!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Ni
Transport
Amanda
Amanda S.
Highlands Ranch, CO | Reviewed on Feb 23, 2023

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

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).

Tips for future travelers

You may want to skip over the cloud forest and just stay longer in Arenal Area or Manual Antonio. This is what we wished we had done.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Bradley
Bradley C.
Savage, MN | Reviewed on Feb 05, 2023

Absolutely breathtaking. Read more

Absolutely breathtaking.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Dani did a great job guiding us.
Transport
Daniel
Daniel R.
Malaysia | Reviewed on Jan 13, 2023

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

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 fairly dry. The weather can change very quickly and can be very misty at time, so come equipped.
Although walking around by yourself is not difficult (if you got transportation to get to the Reserve), having a guide is very valuable since it is next to impossible to find and see animals by yourself. The guide carries a telescoping lens so that you can observe very well all there is to see. Our guide, Danny, was most knowledgeable about all the plants around, and was happy to talk about anything related to Costa Rica. We thoroughly enjoyed discussing with him. He managed to find a sloth, porcupine, a tarantula (hidden in a hole), and plenty of birds and other animals. We walked up to the top of the area, where there is a 4 story tower to observe the surroundings, including a number of volcanos. At some stage, we were at the exact point where the water would either go to the Pacific ocean or the Caribbean seen, depending on which side you go. This tour is great for nature lovers and worth getting a guide if you want to fully experience this unique place.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport

Itineraries with Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Costa Rica Adventure & Wildlife Tour - 10 Days

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.

Costa Rica's Cloud Forests - 6 Days

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.

Volcanoes, Cloud Forests & the Pacific Coast - 13 Days

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.

Costa Rica: Ultimate National Parks Tour - 15 Days

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.