Monteverde, Costa Rica

A dense cloud forest with zip lining, hanging bridges, and plenty of wildlife!

The Monteverde Vibe

Monteverde Costa Rica is home to a unique cloud forest destination filled with lush green mountains and a cloudy moody feel. This area is great for hiking, wildlife viewing, zip lining, and more!

Downtown Monteverde is small and has some nice restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops that we enjoy. Just make sure you get out of the downtown and really explore. You’ll be happy you did.

Also, just to note when planning hotels, restaurants, things to do etc. Santa Elena is the name of the downtown area of Monteverde.

We have gotten a lot of questions from people wanting to know if Santa Elena Costa Rica is an OK place to stay if visiting Monteverde. The answer is yes!!

OK, now on to the Monteverde Costa Rica travel guide!

monteverde map

Map Of Monteverde

Monteverde is located in the mountains. At first glance, it is not too far from La Fortuna. However, to get between the two locations you’ll have to drive around Lake Areal which takes a while. 

Monteverde at a Glance

Popular Things to Do

zip lining, hanging bridge walk, night wildlife tour

Best Way to Get Around

Rental car, walking in the downtown area

Best Time of Year to Visit

Dry season is from late December until mid-April

 

Getting to Monteverde

Flights to Costa Rica

Monteverde is great because it is pretty centrally located between the Liberia airport and the San Jose airport. It will take you about two and a half hours to drive from either location.

More and more airlines are starting service to Liberia so check out the rates. It may be worth it for you.

If you haven’t booked your flight yet, we suggest using Skyscanner. We consistently find the best rates through their website.

 


The best option to get to Monteverde is to rent a car. If coming from San Jose or from Liberia you can rent a car from close to the airport (but free transportation to the rental car office is provided from the airport).

We suggest using Adobe because they are the most trustworthy rental car company in this country and we have partnered with them to get a 10% discount for you on your rental car. You can find out more about renting a car here.

The drive from Liberia or San Jose is not too bad for the first half. The highways are well maintained. Things get a little crazy during the last part of the drive, though.

You will be driving on somewhat steep and curvy roads that are not paved in many parts. I would definitely recommend a 4×4 or at a minimum, all wheel drive.

Also, please don’t drive it at night. We made that mistake recently and because you are in the cloud forest you sometimes can’t see even a few feet in front of you.

The car we were driving did not have fog lights, so we literally couldn’t see anything. We had to wait for a truck to pass and follow them closely to get to Monteverde. NEVER AGAIN!  

If you don’t feel comfortable driving that distance on your own (I know, I’m not really selling it as a fun drive, but it’s not bad during the day), the cheapest option is to take the public bus. The bus leaves from San Jose every day at 6:30am and 2:30pm.

It will take you about five hours to get to Monteverde (the bus stops a lot). The problem with taking the bus is that it does not leave from near the airport. You will need to take an Uber (don’t take a taxi they are crazy expensive) to the bus terminal in downtown San Jose in order to catch the bus.

From Liberia there is no direct bus. You will have to take the bus from Liberia to Puntarenas and then Puntarenas to Monteverde.

The bus from Liberia to Puntarenas leaves every day at 5:00am, 7:45am, 8:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, and 3:30. It will take about three hours to get to Puntarenas.

The bus from Puntarenas to Monteverde leaves at 8:30am, 1:30pm, and 2:15pm. This also takes about three hours.

It’s not the most comfortable ride, but it’s cheap (under $10 per person). Definitely get there early before the departure time because once all the seats are taken you may be left standing for a long ride.

Tip: If you don’t feel comfortable driving, a private shuttle is always a great option. Find out more here.

Getting Around in Monteverde

We like having a car while in Monteverde because it gives you the flexibility to do a lot of off the beaten path activities and not have to depend on day tours.

However, I will say that a lot of companies within Monteverde are really good about providing free transportation to and from your hotel. As I mentioned before, it is a popular backpacking destination and companies in Monteverde realize that.

If you do opt to rent a car (which we definitely suggest if going to more off the beaten path activities) we personally love Adobe rent a car.

We have partnered with them to bring you a 10% discount because, in a country where a lot of people will try to rip you off, Adobe is extremely trustworthy. Unfortunately, Adobe does not have a rental car office in Monteverde at this time.

This means that if you would like to drive while in Monteverde and would like to rent with Adobe, you will need to rent a car near the airport and make the drive yourself rather than taking the bus.

Monteverde Weather

Monteverde is a cloud forest. It is not unusual to have rain all year round. Even if you are visiting when it is dry season in the rest of the country, we still suggest packing that rain jacket. You never really know here!

We have visited in July and had amazing weather with very little rain. We have also visited in August and had nonstop rain.

It is also a bit cooler here than most of the country. I usually always wear long pants and at least bring a long sleeve shirt when visiting this area.

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Monteverde Hotels

Booking.com

High-End Hotels

Monteverde Lodge & GardensBeautiful rooms in a unique jungle setting. There is a restaurant and the staff are happy to organize day tours for guests. 

Chira GlampingIt is hard to describe this place because it is just so unique. Picture your own private yurt like dome with private bathroom and a beautiful jungle view. There is a shared kitchen on-site for guests to use.

Mid-Range Hotels

Camino Verde Bed and Breakfast: This place is newly done and looks beautiful. Breakfast is included and there is a communal kitchen that guests can use.

Los Pinos Lodge & GardensEvery cottage has a private kitchen and balcony. The property is great for exploring.

Budget Hotels

Casa Campo Verde- Simple hotel surrounded by lush gardens. The owners here are so nice and helpful.

Hostel CattleyaNice hostel with private rooms and shared dorms. There is also a shared kitchen for guests.

Backpackers Hakuna Matata– Nice hostel with dorms and private rooms. There is a shared kitchen and tour desk on the property.

Greemount Hotel: The owners here are the sweetest. The perfect place for budget private accommodations. 

Monteverde Homes & Villa Rentals

We always love renting a home or villa for our vacation. This gives you more privacy and allows you the flexibility to cook your own meals.

Note: We try to only ever suggest places with good cancellation policies, but always double check before booking.

High End

Modern Stay House – 5 bedroom/ 5 bath home that sleeps 12. This home is modern and peaceful. We love the large yard area. 

Million Dollar View Eco-Villa – A modern oasis that sleeps six guests in two bedrooms. The views here are amazing.

Casa Guarumo – A four bedroom home that can sleep up to 12 guests. This home is just straight up cool. You need to look at this pictures to see what I mean. It’s the perfect place for a group of friends. 

Mid Range

Casa Ira Rosa – A 3 bedroom home that can sleep 5 guests. The home has a rustic modern feel. We love how secluded it feels here.

STAR HOUSE MONTEVERDE – A two bedroom house that can sleep 7 guests. This is a good spot for a family.

Budget Friendly

Casa Terraza – A modern studio apartment with kitchen. A great spot for a couple. 

Things to Do in Monteverde

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Take a Coffee Tour

There are several great coffee tours in Monteverde, but we suggest this coffee, chocolate, and sugarcane tour.

 

 

Go Hiking in the Cloud Forest

There are several reserves you can go hiking in Monteverde. We like the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. The cloud forest is beautiful and something everyone can enjoy. Another option is the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

You can always do this on your own, but if you would prefer to walk with an informative guide you can book that here.

 

Walk Some Hanging Bridges

Monteverde is home to many suspension bridge parks. At these parks, it is possible to fully enjoy the cloud forest from above.

 

Go Bungee Jumping

We haven’t actually done this, because we are wimpy, but a friend of ours went last year and had such a great time.

If you think that bungee jumping with cloud forest views sounds like your kind of thrill, book your trip here.

Note that this tour includes transportation from your Monteverde area hotel.

 

Take a Night Tour

Taking a night tour in Monteverde is the perfect way to see night active wildlife with an experienced guide. We have a complete guide to Monteverde night tours for all the details.

And we suggest booking your tour with Johnny here. Just note that this tour does not include transportation.

If you would like a tour with transportation, we suggest this one

 

Go Ziplining

If you plan on doing any zip lining while in Costa Rica, Monteverde is the place to do it! There is a full guide to Monteverde forest canopy tours here.

 

 

Monteverde Restaurants

Fine Dining

San Lucas Tree Top Dining– This is one of those not to miss dining experiences. This restaurant is located in the trees and each table has its own private little area. The food is also incredible.

Restaurant Celajas– Amazingly fresh food served with a view. A great date spot.

Mid-Range

Orchid Coffee – Great place for an afternoon coffee and cake or dessert. Their baked goods are ridiculously good!

The Green Room – This is a great dinner spot. They do excellent burgers and steaks, but their menu has a weird variety of other options as well. 

Tree House Restaurant This is one of those tourist destinations that I think you should go to just for the experience. The food isn’t the cheapest or the best, but we suggest going just for a drink.

After all, when else can you go to a treehouse restaurant?

Restaurante Thomas & Thiago– Delicious restaurant with a bit of everything on their menu.

Budget-Friendly

Taco Taco– Super tasty Tex-Mex style tacos at a good price. Plus they have a really good selection of craft beers.

Soda La Amistad – Great place for affordable typical Costa Rican cuisine.

Remote Working in Monteverde

If you plan on working while in Monteverde there are a few things you should know.

– In general the internet is usually ok, but it’s always a good idea to ask about the internet speed before booking a place. Plus, this is a cloud forest which means that sometimes heavy rains can cause connectivity problems.

– If you need a co-working space check out Selina hostel. They offer co-working spaces for as low as $10 per day.  

Packing for Monteverde

This is a cloud forest so it is almost always rainy. Don’t forget your rain gear and plenty of changes of clothes. 

We love having a waterproof backpack for hikes here. We also suggest lot of layers because it can be cold.

Check out our Monteverde Packing List on Amazon for all the essentials. 

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Monteverde Travel Tips

– If you are interested in the whole cloud forest thing but want a more peaceful experience, check out San Gerardo de Dota.

– We have always felt safe in Monteverde. However, please don’t carry large amounts of cash on you and never leave anything of value in your car.

Don't Forget Travel Insurance!

We strongly suggest you purchase travel insurance for a wide variety of reasons. 

Travel insurance doesn’t just cover you for medical issues and accidents during adventures it is also there to help if your flight gets cancelled, if your luggage gets lost, if something gets stolen, or if you get sick and need to extend your stay in Costa Rica.

We always use WorldNomads for our travel insurance and highly suggest them to you. 

You can get a quote and secure your insurance below. ↓

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