This place is famous worldwide, Monteverde will get you to know how magnificent and beutiful mother nature can be. This place is some kind of perfect combination between adventure and beauty of the rain forest. This place is a must visit if you like adventure and if you are a rain forest fan.Cloud forest in Monteverde is one of the most known places if you are into eco-tourism kind of vacations. This place is about 4700 feet above sea level, this area is one of the most interesting places to visit in Costa Rica. You can find here more than 100 species of mammal animals, including 5 species of felines, more than 400 species of birds, thousands of different insects, more than 2500 species of tropical plants. This area is supposed to be one of the best refuges of wild life in the tropic. And I don't have any doubt about that, once you get to take a look at it you can definitely be sure all this is true.
If you get to walk into this beautiful cloud forest, you fell like you're walking into a magnificent green Cathedral. You can see there are a lot of tall trees festooned with orchids, bromeliads, ferns, vines, and mosses.
The variable climate has helped produce an extremely high biodiversity. Spectacular wildlife includes the Jaguar, Ocelot, Baird´s Tapir, Three-wattled Bellbird, Bare necked Umbrella bird and the famous elusive Resplendent Quetzal.
Let me give you a quick background on the History and Nature of this exotic place, these facts I found in a document I read some time ago:
History
In 1972 under the threat of homesteading in the surrounding rain forest, visiting scientists George Powell and his wife joined forces with long-time resident Wilford Guindon to promote the establishment of a nature preserve. The Tropical Science Center was receptive to these efforts and accepted institutional responsibility for ownership and management of the protected areas. An initial land purchase of 328 hectares formed the core of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, Costa Rica.
In 1975 the 554-hectare community watershed reserve, founded in the mid-60s by members of the Quaker community and named Bosque Eterno S.A., was annexed under an administrative contract to the Preserve.After the Preserve's creation, the Tropical Science Center continued to secure the financial and human resources necessary to expand, consolidate, and properly protect and manage the non-profit Rainforest Preserve's current 10,500 hectares.
Nature
The region lays claim to some of the best-kept cloud forest in the entire country and is a paradise for bird watchers. Several nature preserves have sprung up to make sure this stays the case. Because of the beauty of the area, it is only natural that Monteverde has become a major part of the Costa Rican tourist trail - despite the poor roads leading up to and through it. This being a cloud forest of course one has to count with the possibility of continuous fog and/or light rain
The main attraction is "Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde" at the Southeastern end to the East of Monteverde proper, which is an enormous nature reserve. But usually only the area around the park entrance is visited. There are trails further inland though, where one can also stay overnight on platforms in the trees. It is even possible to cross the entire park to the Arenal Volcano, though this needs good planning and for those who are not used to jungle trekking it is advisable to go with a guide. If only because they tend to spot much more and will point out animals that one would likely never have spotted. Of course this also goes for other nature areas here and elsewhere (provided the guides are experienced, which they generally are here).
To the West of Monteverde proper lies the "Bosque Eterno de los Niños", a project in which schoolchildren from all over the world protect this area that is not really in the cloud forest and therefore better for some animal-observations. Guided night-walks can be done here.
Farther North, nearer Santa Elena, are a butterfly garden, a serpentarium and a ranarium (frogs). Still farther north, past Santa Elena, is the Reserva Santa Elena. Nearby one can do the Sky Walk, with seven suspension bridges (see photo), some as long as 300 m. This is a unique opportunity to see the forest from a completely different angle; from above.
A less tranquil way to go through the forest (not for nature lovers but for thrill seekers) is the Sky Trek in which one zips through, and occasionally above, the forest along cables. The Monteverde Canopy Tour is similar to this. Or the exciting Aventura Canopy Tour with the famous Tarzan Swing Aventura Canopy
Apart from all this there are many other, less official, tracks, such as the one up Cerro Amigos, where there are radio masts (the operators of which may be happy to meet someone - it's lonely up there).
Other activities include horse riding and mountain biking. There is some controversy over these activities since they make the tracks unusable for hikers. The horse riding tours have been attacked for abuse of the animals, but have responded by enforcing satisfactory humane practices. But in recent years this has improved.
Well, I hope you liked what I have shared with you about this beautiful place. If you ever travel Costa Rica you already know that this is a very interesting place to visit.
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