The Monteverde Cloud Forest is a global destination for avid hikers and nature lovers. Considered one of the wonders of Costa Rica, Monteverde is home to 2.5% of the biodiversity of the entire world. For this reason, opportunities for hiking in Monteverde are unparalleled.
Living here, I go on hikes almost every week but no matter how many times I hike in the rainforest in Monteverde, there is always something amazing to discover. Here is a list of some of the best hikes to do in Monteverde!
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Map of Best Hikes in Monteverde
Use this map to help plan your hikes in Monteverde. Then (after working up an appetite), be sure to taste test at my favorite nearby restaurants!
Hiking in Monteverde Leaderboard
Short on time? Here’s my personal Monteverde hiking leaderboard. However, I HIGHLY recommend you trying each one out for yourself.
- Most Scenic Hike: Santa Elena Reserve
- Best Hike for families: Curi Cancha Reserve
- My personal favorite: El Tigre Waterfall Hike
- Best for experienced hikers: Children’s Eternal Rain Forest
- Most Magical: Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
Breathtaking Hikes in the Monteverde Cloud Forest
No matter which park you visit in Monteverde, you’re going to experience the magic of the jungle and encounter amazing plant and animal life. Let’s look at some of my favorite hikes in Monteverde.
1. Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
- Length: 2-5 hours
- Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate
- Entrance fee: $26 per person
Easily the most famous hiking destination in Monteverde, you can’t leave town without hiking the trails at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve.
The forest in the Monteverde Reserve could have been pulled from a storybook with its dense jungle, hanging vines, brightly colored flora, and moss-covered pathways.
Along the trails, you’ll find a massive red suspension bridge where you can experience the forest from the vantage point of the clouds. If you want a better chance at finding wildlife, schedule a guided tour with a certified nature guide.
To get to the Monteverde Reserve, you can either drive (put Monteverde Biological Reserve into either Google Maps or Waze) or take the bus from town.
The bus leaves from either Banco Nacional or Vitosi Pharmacy departing at 6:15 AM, 7:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 1:20 PM, or 3 PM and the final bus leaving from the reserve to go back to town is at 4 pm so don’t miss it!
Hours are from 7 AM to 4 PM and you can purchase tickets on their website (I recommend 1-3 days in advance).
2. Santa Elena Reserve
- Length: 1.5-5 hours
- Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate
- Entrance fee: $18 per person
The Santa Elena Reserve is a less commonly visited but equally beautiful protected forest located just a 15-minute drive from Monteverde.
The Youth Challenge Trail is the best trail for a quick, easy hike (it takes about 1.5 hours). Much of the trail is paved and halfway through there is a tall observation tower where you can look out and see 4 different Costa Rican volcanoes on a clear day, including the famous Arenal Volcano. Go as early as possible in the morning for your best chance at a clear viewing of the volcanoes.
Stay for lunch at their on site restaurant and order a “casado”, a typical Costa Rican dish with rice, beans, plantain, salad and a meat of your choice. I also really love their brownies if you get lucky and they have some available!
The road to the Santa Elena Reserve is mostly an unpaved dirt road. Know that it will be slow going, especially on a rainy day. Park hours are from 7 AM to 4 PM and you can make reservations in advance on their website, although since this park is usually less crowded, you probably don’t have to.
3. Curi Cancha Reserve
- Length: 2-5 hours
- Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate
- Entrance fee: $20 for unguided park entry
Curi Cancha is a world famous reserve, known for it’s opportunities for birdwatching. The reserve is home to all kinds of amazing birds such as toucans, the quetzal, and the bellbird (an white and brown bird that has a mustache!).
Their birdwatching tour is 4.5 hours at either 6:30 AM or at 11 AM and the cost is $120 for adults and $112 for children. This is a pricey tour but also your best chance at viewing exotic birds while visiting in Monteverde. If you’re passionate about wildlife and love birdwatching, you might want to splurge for this once in a lifetime tour.
There are also huge ficus trees at the Curi-Cancha Reserve big enough to walk through. Even if you choose an unguided tour, you’ll enjoy the opportunities to view wildlife and plants you can only find in Monteverde.
Park hours are from 7 AM – 3 PM if you prefer to visit the reserve for an unguided hike. You can reserve tickets in advance on their website and know that they do not provide transportation to and from the reserve.
4. El Tigre Waterfall Hike
- Length: 3-5 Hours
- Difficulty: Intermediate to advanced
- Entrance fee: $33
El Tigre Waterfall Hike is a great choice for hikers with some experience who are craving adventure. Bring your swimsuit because weather permitting you might get a chance to refresh in the waterfall pools during your hike.
The full hike is 8 km and involves elevation changes, 4 waterfalls, and 10 hanging bridges. You can also elect to only do their 5 km hike and return on horseback or in 4×4 but this option costs $66 per person (it includes lunch).
If you decide to hike El Tigre, they have plenty of parking if you arrive by car or they can help arrange transport for you from the Santa Elena town if needed. Their hours are from 7:30 AM to 1 PM (meaning, you need to start your hike before 1 PM).
Book through their website here!
5. Children’s Eternal Rainforest
- Length: 2-5 hours
- Difficulty: Intermediate to advanced
- Entrance fee: $19
The Children’s Eternal Rainforest is the largest protected reserve in Costa Rica at 55,800 acres. There are a few locations across Costa Rica where you can enter the reserve and one is the Bajo del Tigre Reserve in Monteverde.
This hike feels more wild and off-the-beaten-path than the other reserves in Monteverde and might be best for hikers with some experience. The path isn’t always clearly marked and there is a feeling of a true closeness to nature.
You can reserve a guided hike by emailing [email protected] or simply arrive at the park within their hours of 8 AM and 4:30 PM for a self-guided hike.
Know Before You Go: Hiking in Monteverde Tips
- Wear long pants and bring a rain jacket. You wouldn’t think you need to dress warmly when visiting the tropics, but due to the high elevation and low-lying moisture-filled clouds, Monteverde can get wet and chilly. Dress appropriately with waterproof hiking shoes (close-toed), a rain jacket, and a water-resistant pouch for your phone.
- Bring plenty of water and remember that everything you carry in with you into the parks you need to carry out with you too. Monteverde is a protected area and we all do our part to keep it beautiful by refraining from leaving garbage or waste anywhere inside the parks.
- Get to the parks as early as possible for your best chances of seeing a view and beating the rain. Personally, I find the cloud forest absolutely enchanting in rainy weather. You’ll find yourself feeling very literally amongst the clouds – a difficult feeling to describe unless you’ve experienced it for yourself!
- Monteverde isn’t a place that is easy to navigate on foot due to its areas of steep elevation. If you don’t come to Monteverde with a car, plan your hikes in advance for the best possible experience. There is a bus that goes from the town of Santa Elena to the Monteverde Reserve or you can set up transportation with either El Tigre Waterfalls or the Santa Elena Reserve if you message the staff in advance.
My Personal Recap: Best Hikes in Monteverde
Regardless of the park you choose, you will surely treasure hiking in Monteverde if you have an appreciation for nature and all the beauty you can experience in the rainforest here.
That said, here is a quick summary of my recommendations:
I recommend everyone visit the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve to experience the beauty of the cloud forest and the massive red suspension bridge quintessential to Monteverde. Santa Elena Reserve could be a good choice for a quick hike with a nice view or for the experience of less crowded hiking trails. Bird lovers should make a visit to Curi-Cancha Reserve, and avid hikers might want to check out either the Children’s Eternal Rainforest or El Tigre Waterfall Hike.
With the changing climate here in Costa Rica, scientists are unsure how long the cloud forest habitats will last. Therefore a hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest should be a must-do on your list of things to do in Costa Rica.
More Resources to Plan your Trip to Monteverde!
- Best Hanging Bridges in Monteverde
- Should You Take a Night Tour?!
- Complete Guide to Costa Rica for First-timers!
- Where to Stay in Monteverde
- Coffee Shops (and Tours) in Monteverde
- Sloth Sanctuary and Butterfly Gardens
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]
