Monteverde Cloud Forest

Costa Rica

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve has earned its fame as one of the most outstanding wildlife sanctuaries in the New World tropics. Positioned atop the Continental Divide in western Costa Rica, the Preserve extends down both the Caribbean and Pacific slopes. The result is a combination of climatic and geographic factors which changes dramatically over relatively short distances.

There are wind-sculptured elfin woodlands on the exposed ridges, whereas protected cove forests have majestically tall trees festooned with orchids, bromeliads, ferns, vines, and mosses. The variable climate and large altitudinal gradient has helped produce an extremely high biodiversity. The Preserve supports six different vegetational communities (Life Zones).

There are over 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, 120 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 2,500 species of plants (among them 420 different kinds of orchids), as well as tens of thousands of insect species. Spectacular wildlife includes the Jaguar, Ocelot, Baird´s Tapir, Three-wattled Bellbird, Barenecked Umbrellabird and the rare Resplendent Quetzal.

Optional Tours in Monteverde include the following. Please contact us for pricing and details.

Sky Walk Tour

The SkyWalk Tour allows a vision of the forest from a different perspective. It starts with a walk through the forest, and takes you up to explore the tops of the cloud forest canopy. SkyWalk is an unforgettable experience, the excitement of looking to one side and seeing the tops of the trees while at the same time, feeling the sensation of walking among the clouds. SkyWalk is a complex of suspension bridges and platforms constructed within cloud forest, and was designed to reach all heights of the forest, including the canopy. More than 90% of the trails are constructed within primary forest.

SkyTrek Tour

SkyTrek is a system of trails, suspension bridges, and ziplines built within the Monteverde Cloud Forest that offers visitors the opportunity to observe and appreciate tropical forests from different vantage points. A suspended bridge 90 meters (300 feet) long and 20 meters (66 feet) high, will give you the best view of the inner forest. SkyTrek is similar to other canopy tours in Costa Rica, but incorporates some significant differences, such as being of larger scale, with more ziplines and platforms, longer trails, and a suspension bridge. SkyTrek guarantees a stretch of 1,317 m of cables and the whole system is integrated by a path 2.300 meters long (7000 feet).

Canopy tour

This is the original site of The Canopy Tour. Consisting of approximately 70 acres of primary and secondary tropical rainforest and cloud forest, this are is extremely rich in its bio diversity. This eco-system contains a variety of Bromeliads & Epiphytes, among other species of plants, animals and birds. Here we have constructed a Tarzan Swing, 2 walkways, 5 platforms, 3 traverses high in the treetops, and 1 rappel. The tour starts with a short guided hike through the private reserve of the Cloud Forest and a spectacular climb up a rope ladder through the inside of a huge, hollow strangler fig. Dangling from an ingenious series of cables 22 meters off the ground, the eight-meter-long walkway that winds around the various trees makes for an unbeatable vantage point for observing the surrounding rainforest. Here you can sit down and relax so you can watch the wildlife, admire the view or practice technical climbing skills. The guests slide from platform to platform and finally rappel the down to the forest floor.