Destination visited: Costa Rica
Activities included: Birdwatching, Horseback Riding, Walking

I was planning a day and a half for the Monteverde cloud forest and ended up staying a week. There is a lot to do, and the area is very safe and comfortable.

I’ve been in Nicaragua and Honduras (I liked these places too), but there is no way you can wander safely for hours by yourself, in the jungle, like you can do in Monteverde.

Plenty of well maintain and marked trails, great diversity (primary forest, secondary forest, pre-mountain forest, waterfalls, etc.) and many other things to do like Sky Trek, a new canopy tour ( 11 zip lines, 3 suspended bridges, a observation tower, and 2 miles of lush trails, about 3 hours: $35) that was the most thrilling thing I did in Costa Rica ( the “original canopy tour” is overpriced at $45, and last only 1h15, 3 zip lines ).

I liked also the reserve Santa Elena, the Children’s eternal cloud forest ( Bajo del Tigre) and especially the San Luis Waterfall (breathtaking views and no tourists).

The night tour in the Reserve of Monteverde was fun (3 hours, $13 including guide and entrance fee). I saw some tarantulas, lots of weird insects, sleeping Trogon (a bird), fluorescent mushrooms, etc. I loved-it!

There is plenty of good restaurants in the area, along with a bank, supermarket, etc.

Partly responsible for my extended stay, is the Pension Santa Elena, witch I warmly recommend. These friendly and helpful folks kept on feeding me with activities and tips on less visited spots. It’s a budget pension with a community kitchen and e-mail service.

If you plan on renting a car, get a 4×4, the dirt roads are very bumpy.

I travelled by bus from San Jose, and it was ok (4 hours, $5). From Monteverde to the active volcano Arenal, it takes 8 hours by bus, so I took a 3 hour tour combining 4×4 and boat for $25. The views on the lake of Arenal were simply fantastic.

My partner went by horseback (I’m allergic to horse), and we met in the boat on the Lake Arenal. He loved it and I’m jalous of his photos!

Costa Rica has beautiful beaches, but I think that Monteverde and other parks like Manuel Antonio or Corcovado, is what makes this country special.

Their tours where fine.

Bring a warm sweater (nights are cool and the sky is full of stars), a green poncho so you don’t scare the animals away (I met 2 noisy guys wearing bright red, complaining that they did not see anything!), some binoculars and plenty of film!

San Jose, Monteverde, La Fortuna (volcano Arenal), San Jose

The forest, night tour, Sky Trek and the cruise on the lake.

Beaches are great, but don’t miss the misty cloud forest of Costa Rica.

Birdwatching, Eco/Nature, Nature Observation
Birdwatching, Costa Rica, Horseback Riding, Monteverde Cloud Forest, Walking