I’m SO excited that you’ve added Monteverde to your list of places to visit in Costa Rica! Monteverde stole my heart on a vist 4 years ago and now I live here with my husband who is from here. We are always visiting new places and having adventures. I’d love to share with you my recommendations for all the best places to visit in Monteverde!
Here’s how I recommend you spend three days in Monteverde to create memories that will last you a lifetime.
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3 Day Monteverde Itinerary Quick Overview
- Day 1: Zipline at 100% Adventura, lunch in town at Orchid Cafe, hike the Youth Challenge Trail, dinner at Sabor Tico, drinks at Natu.
- Day 2: El Tigre Waterfalls Hike (with lunch), dinner at Morphos, Night Jungle Walk
- Day 3: Guided tour of Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, lunch at Stella’s, Chocolate & Coffee tour, dinner, drinks, and dancing at Bar Amigos.
- Where to Stay: Hotel Belmar
How do I get to Monteverde?
Often, when travelers are thinking of visiting Monteverde, their biggest concern is how to get there. It’s a mountainous region and the roads may be unpaved at times or have large potholes. That said, the road to Monteverde from San Jose is largely paved and a straightforward drive (there is really just one road to follow the whole way). I’ve never needed 4-wheel drive to get here.
It’s worth noting, the road from the Liberia airport to Monteverde isn’t as well-paved. It’s probably easiest to get to Monteverde if you are coming from the direction of San Jose.
If you don’t want to rent a car, you can also take the bus to Monteverde. This option requires some basic knowledge of Spanish because the bus drivers don’t usually speak much English. Transmonteverde is the company where you can book tickets and learn more about taking the bus to Monteverde.
There are also private and shared shuttles available to take you straight to Monteverde from both airports.
What is the best time to visit Monteverde?
Monteverde, like the rest of Costa Rica, experiences tropical rains most heavily between the months of May and November. The dry season in Costa Rica is between December and April.
Although you’ll experience sunnier weather during the dry season, Monteverde is still located in the cloud forest at a high elevation. When you visit Monteverde you’ll be among low-lying clouds that carry moisture. Often that means you’ll experience more rain in Monteverde and cooler weather than the rest of the country.
It’s also important to keep in mind that you’ll find tourist destinations like Monteverde busier during the dry season. Other busy times are December around Christmas and in March or April during Semana Santa (changes year-to-year like Easter, look up the dates of this week before your trip to avoid the crowds).
Personally, I love Monteverde in the rainy season. The rainforest is greener, more lush, and there are fewer crowds. No matter what time of year you visit Monteverde, be sure to pack a rain jacket just in case!
Where should I stay in Monteverde?
When you’re deciding where to stay in Monteverde, consider that there is the central town of Santa Elena and the town of Monteverde which is about 10 minutes up the mountain and more nestled into the jungle.
If you want to experience a remote immersive feel in the jungle, you might want to choose a stay in Monteverde. Having a rental car is a must if you choose accommodations further from the center of town.
If you don’t have a car, or if you want to be closer to the amenities in town such as coffee shops, grocery stores, and convenience stores, you’ll likely want to stay in the town of Santa Elena.
There are some nice hotels in Monteverde, and the beauty of the town itself means that no matter where you stay, you’ll be close to the wildlife and adventure that this area of Costa Rica is known for. That said, here are a few of my recommendations.
My Personal Recommendations:
- Budget-friendly Option: Camino Verde B&B
- Mid-range Option: Hotel Poco a Poco
- Luxury Option: Hotel Belmar
- Most Eco-Friendly: Valle Escondido
A stay at any of these hotels in Monteverde will be unforgettable!
3 Days in Monteverde Itinerary
There are so many things to do in Monteverde, I’ve been traveling and living here for years and I still haven’t done all there is to do here! That said, here is an adventure-packed 3-day itinerary for you to have an amazing trip to Monteverde.
Day 1:
Morning:
Early in the morning before your tour, head to Panaderia Jimenez and order their typical Costa Rican breakfast which includes rice and beans, eggs, cheese, plantain, and bread.
From there, you can do your first tour of the day, kicking off your time in Monteverde with an adventurous zipline tour. 100% Aventura is a fun zipline tour that includes a cable almost 1-mile long!
Afternoon:
You’ll likely be tired after an adventurous morning of ziplining, rappelling, and jumping off the Tarzan swing at 100% Aventura. Try eating lunch in town at Orchid Cafe, which has delicious food and coffee to perk you up so you can make the most of your afternoon. I recommend sitting on their upstairs terrace for a nice view.
For a non-strenuous afternoon hike, you might want to try going to the Santa Elena Reserve and walking their Youth Challenge Trail, which has an overlook of the rainforest where you can see Arenal volcano on a clear day.
Evening:
After you’ve had a chance to rest, you can go eat dinner somewhere casual where you can get great typical Costa Rican food. I recommend trying Sabor Tico, a restaurant in the center of town that serves a dish known as a “casado” which has rice, beans, plantain, salad, and a meat of your choice.
The restaurant Natu just a few doors down is known for it’s mixology, if you’d like a cocktail after dinner!
Day 2:
Morning:
Hopefully after a restful night, you’ll want to start your day early seeing more of what Monteverde has to offer. Get an early breakfast at Taty’s Bakery, which opens at 6 AM and has typical Costa Rican breakfast options as well as coffee and bakery items.
Then, head over to El Tigre Waterfalls where you’re going to want to do their 5 km hike that will lead you past four waterfalls and ten hanging bridges. The hike finishes with a horseback ride or a 4×4 ride back to the reception area. In total, you can expect to spend about 4 hours inside their trails, arriving back at reception just in time for lunch!
Afternoon:
Lunch is included if you purchase the full package for the El Tigre hike, and I highly recommend sticking around for lunch! They have an array of drinks and fresh food including vegetarian options.
After, I recommend taking the afternoon to rest and maybe grab coffee at the Choco Cafe in town which has delicious lattes and espresso drinks.
Evening:
Try dinner at Morphos, a restaurant in town that has a patio with a nice sunset view (try their papaya smoothie!). Get there before 5:30 PM for a chance to see the sunset.
After dinner, head over to Santamaria’s Night Walk for a night tour. This is a must-do activity in Monteverde. Night tours start at either 6 or 8 pm and you will be led by a guide to see insects, spiders, scorpions, snakes, and nighttime mammals like the Costa Rican coati, an animal similar to a raccoon. Head back after the tour to your hotel and get a good night’s sleep before your final day in Monteverde!
Check out other Night Tours here!
Day 3:
Morning:
You can’t leave Monteverde without visiting the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, a biological reserve that is home to some of the most biodiverse plant and wildlife species in the entire world. At the park, you’ll also get a chance to see the quintessential red suspension bridge you’ll find when you look up ‘Monteverde’ on the internet.
Book a guided tour with a certified guide if you want to learn as much as possible about the park. You can get to the park as early as 7 am and on your way to the park, grab light fare and pastries from the Monteverde Cafe.
Afternoon:
Try Stella’s Monteverde for lunch, an adorable restaurant that has great food choices, including pancakes and French toast if you’re craving a taste from home! There is an artisan co-op just across the street where you might want to browse for homemade goods to take back as souvenirs.
After lunch, you can do a 3-in-1 coffee, chocolate, and sugar cane tour with Don Juan Tours to learn more about Costa Rica’s agricultural industry.
Evening:
For your last night in Monteverde, you might want a fun night out. Bar Amigos is a favorite place among locals where they sell Costa Rican beers (ask for Pilsen or Imperial!), mixed drinks, and dinner.
On the weekends they play dance music and people will get up to dance salsa, bachata, meringue, or occasionally dance hall or reggaeton. If dancing isn’t your thing, there are also pool tables in the basement where you can play games for a small fee.
Other things to do in Monteverde:
If you find that you still have some downtime, or maybe you just want the option to mix and match activities, there is a lot you can add to your Monteverde itinerary. There are a ton of activities in Monteverde ranging from relaxing and educational, to adventurous and unforgettable.
Here are some other things you might want to do when visiting Monteverde:
- The Monteverde Butterfly Garden – At the Monteverde Butterfly Garden, they’ll take you on a tour through greenhouses that are home to butterflies you can find at all the different elevations in Costa Rica. After touring the butterfly garden, they’ll lead you through a demonstration of insects you can find throughout the country (they actually pick up some of the bugs, so if you are squeamish sit this one out!). Tickets are $20 for adults and $12 for children.
- Selvatura Park – You and your family can easily spend your entire day in Selvatura Park, with its options for a zipline tour, hanging bridges walk, sloth habitat, butterfly garden, and reptile exhibit. The cost for a full package that includes all of the above activities is $165 for adults and $124 for children, but if you only want to do some of these activities you can pay for them separately.
- Monteverde Waterfall – A great option for budget travelers, the Monteverde Waterfall (or Catarata Los Murciélagos) is $7 per person and involves a 15 minute hike to a waterfall that is nice for swimming. Keep in mind the hike is steep, so wear proper hiking shoes if you choose to visit the Monteverde Waterfall.
- The Bat Jungle – For a rainy afternoon, if you’d rather stay dry and skip a hike, you might want to visit The Bat Jungle in Monteverde. Here, you’ll do a guided tour and view 90 live bats in an enclosure and listen to the bats biosonar communication. The cost is $15 per person and the guided tour lasts approximately 1 hour.
- Birdwatching at Curi-Cancha Reserve – The reserve at Curi-Cancha is world famous for its opportunities for birdwatching. Go with a guide who will help point out the amazing exotic bird species in Monteverde like the Quetzal, Bellbird, and Toucan. The cost is $120 per person for a 5-hour guided tour where you are sure to see some amazing birds, or you can pay $20 for a self-guided hike in the reserve and try to spot some birds yourself. If you decide to book a guided tour, know that you need to do this in advance and bring a copy of your passport (a photo is fine) to show upon arrival.
- Bungee Jumping at Extremo Park – An activity for only the most extreme adventure traveler, you can bungee jump at Extremo Park from their 500 foot platform. At $90 per person, if you are an adrenaline junkie, you can’t leave Monteverde without making a trip to Extremo Park.
Where (else) to Eat in the City:
Monteverde has plenty of food options depending on the cuisine you are in the mood for. Here are some of my recommendations!
- Breakfast: The Open Kitchen is a great place to come for breakfast, especially if you want vegan or vegetarian options. They also have a covered patio for you to sit outside and enjoy your meal.
- Authentic Costa Rican Cuisine: La Cocina de Doña Mayra is a “soda”, which is a restaurant that serves typical Costa Rican food for a reasonable price. Here, you can stop for an authentic Costa Rican meal. Gallo pinto is a rice and beans dish you might want to try in the morning, or order a casado for lunch to get a well-portioned plate of rice, beans, salad and a meat of your choice.
- Lunch: Tiki’s Seafood Monteverde is right in the center of town near the bus station and has a delicious Hawaiin themed menu if you’re in the mood for something other than Costa Rican food. I love getting their chicken katsu and a tiki-themed mango drink!
- Fine Dining: Restaurante Celajes is a restaurant you can visit for a fine dining experience in Monteverde. It’s located at the luxury Hotel Belmar with views overlooking the cloud forest. Try to go when the sun sets between 5-6 pm and be sure to book your reservation in advance!
- Dinner: Taco Taco Monteverde is in downtown Santa Elena and has options for tacos if that is what you are in the mood for, including vegan options. They have both indoor and outdoor seating if the weather is nice.
- Quick: Raulito’s Pollo Asado is my go-to place when I’m hungry but not in the mood for a big meal. They have delicious chicken empanadas with a chimichurri side. Usually I get horchata, a rice-based cinnamony drink, to go with it.
- Pizza: Bon Appetit! The exclamation point in the name says it all. This restaurant is known for it’s wood-fired pizza if that’s what you’re craving. They also have options for gluten-free pizza, those with sensitivities will be pleased to know.
Other Tips to Know Before Visiting Monteverde:
- There are a LOT of hills in Monteverde. If Monteverde is on your list of places to visit in Costa Rica and you don’t plan on renting a car, know that you will need to walk up and down hills in Monteverde even your navigation app says your destination is only a 10 or 15-minute walk away.
- Take advantage of the morning in Monteverde to do outdoor activities and excursions if you don’t want to get rained out. Usually, the weather is sunnier in the morning (usually, but not always). Bring a rain jacket and a plastic bag for any electronics everywhere you go, just in case!
- Know that many tour operators won’t usually cancel tours due to the rain. This includes hikes, zipline tours, night tours, and nature walks. If there are lightning storms or high winds, your tour may be canceled. When in doubt, check with the tour operator before your trip to find out if they will be operating.
- If you take the bus to Monteverde, tour operators generally have transportation services or the ability to arrange transportation for you. When you make your reservation, confirm your transportation needs with the tour company in advance. Also, try to choose a hotel in Monteverde close to the center of town, most tour operators won’t pick up from remote locations.
- Going to the Monteverde or Santa Elena Reserve? Book your tickets online a few days in advance (or 1-3 weeks if you’re going during the busy season). For most other tours, you can book 1-3 days in advance, but check with the tour provider to find out if you need to secure a reservation further in advance.
And there you have it! This is just an example of a 3-day itinerary but you can switch out activities to best fit your budget, preferences, and energy levels! Monteverde is an adventure-heavy place, so don’t be disappointed if you can’t get to all the things on this list.
You’ll experience the magic of Monteverde with even just a few of these awesome excursions on your list.
Lindsay Gantz lives in Monteverde, Costa Rica with her husband who is Costa Rican. She helps visitors plan trips to Costa Rica and also organizes small group trips for solo female travelers. You can reach her on Instagram or by email at [email protected]
