MONTEVERDE COSTA RICA

If you like nature, it is a must see when you travel Costa Rica.
Know what a “cloudforest” is?

Well, it’s not a rainforest.

A cloudforest is found at a higher altitude than a rainforest and in an area of high humidity, creating an almost surreal-looking mist that envelopes the land, but less rainy than a rain forest.

The spectacular Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is considered to be one of the most stunning nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries in the New World Tropics.

It’s about a four hour drive from San Jose and you can get there by bus (the cheapest way), tour operators, or driving yourself, but don’t expect to be alone here because this is the second-most visited attraction by people who travel Costa Rica.

It’s spectacular with 2000 different kinds of plants, 100 varieties of mammals (including all five big cat species of Costa Rica), 400 species of birds, and 1,200 different amphibians and reptiles. If you include Monteverde on your Costa Rica vacation, it’ll be a wise choice because there are so many things to do. There are miles of developed hiking trails (some days boots are a good idea), lots of canopy tours, a tree-top tramway, a skywalk, and loads of activities in the vicinity.

You can even go by horseback to Arenal Volcano.

There’s the famous La Lecheria cheese factory, amphibian parks, huge butterfly parks (remember that there are more butterflies in Costa Rica than in all of Africa!), hummingbird parks, snake parks, and orchid gardens.

There’s even a entomological collection of-—get this--more than 50,000 bugs! It’s called the Jewels of the Rainforest Bio-Art Exhibition and, yep, it’s the biggest in the world.

And, if you're into bugs (or your kids are), make this a Costa Rica family vacations adventure stop on your next trip to Costa Rica. While you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to also check out the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, just northeast of the little town of Santa Elena.

It’s a bit higher than the Monteverde Costa Rica Cloud Forest Reserve but has the same species of animals and you’re going to find a lot fewer people.

The Children's Eternal Cloud Forest

This is a place with an amazing story.

It begins in 1987 with a nine year old boy in Sweden. Enthralled from a class about tropical forests, the little boy, Roland Teinsuu, asked what could be done to preserve these wonderful places. One idea: raise some money and buy land in Costa Rica. His class did just that and initially raised enough money to buy about 15 acres.

That led to other children forming the “Children’s Rain Forest” preservation group and, lo and behold, the idea took hold globally. From the modest 15 acres, the Children’s Eternal Cloud Forest has now grown to more than 50,000 acres and counting!

All from one little boy.

I’d call that Costa Rica’s Eighth Wonder!

So, when you take your tropical vacation, make it a point to visit Monteverde Costa Rica, the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, and the Children’s Eternal Cloud Forest.

Wonders never cease around here!

Pura Vida!

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