Monteverde is Spanish for "Green Mountain". The name has come to represent a wide area - at least to (eco)tourists, for whom this is one of the better known destinations in the country. It is less of a town than a spread of dwellings set off the main through-road.

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.

There are many types of animals including howler and capuchin monkeys, non-venomous and venomous snakes, frogs and toads, and thousands of beautiful birds, including hummingbirds that are lured to places where they can be easily observed with sugar water feeders. Here, one can expect to be surrounded by swarms of all sorts of hummingbirds.

Around and closeby
To the west of Monteverde 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 arranged here.

Farther north, nearer Santa Elena, there is 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, some as long as 300 metres. This is a unique opportunity to see the forest from a completely different angle.

Sightseeing
The main attraction is Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde at the south-eastern 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.

Getting there
Buses leave San José for Monteverde twice daily.

It's also possible to travel all day on horse back, but make sure you pick a reputable operator.

From Arenal you can take a Jeep, then a small boat, and then a Jeep again to get you to Monteverde.