If you ask any seasoned Costa Rica traveler what are the must visit places in Costa Rica are, Monteverde is usually on the list. Voted as one of the wonders of Costa Rica, the Monteverde cloud forests are truly a spectacular sight to see. You would never imagine that a cloud forest would exist in a tropical country!
But what most people don’t know is that there are actually 3 cloud forest reserves: Children’s Eternal Rain Forest, Monteverde and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. Monteverde is the name of the entire region encompassing the cloud forests and the towns, it’s not one town or just the cloud forest so people get confused. (Read our guide to visiting Monteverde.)
Many visitors spend just 1-3 days in Monteverde so they only have time to go to one of the three cloud forest reserves. They are all incredible but if you’re trying to decide which one to go to, this post will help.
(But of course, any one you visit will be an amazing experience!)
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserves, Which One Should You Visit?

First, let me explain a bit why the cloud forest is special. A cloud forest is a forest that has constant cloud coverage in high elevation meaning it is higher in precipitation and moisture. That is why flora and fauna thrive in this particular ecosystem. And there are only a few places in the world that has tropical cloud forest including Costa Rica.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
This is the most popular of the 3 cloud forest reserves. It was established in 1972 by the Quaker families and is now run by the Tropical Science Center, a non profit organization dedicated to protecting and saving the vulnerable ecosystem. The 4,000 hectares Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is home to over 100 species of mammals, 400 birds, 500 orchids and many more animals, making it one of the most important ecosystems in the world.
Get In
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is about 5.5 kilometers (3.4 miles) from the downtown of Santa Elena. The road is unpaved when you are past Cerro Plano with plenty of signage to the entrance.
There is a large parking lot, bathrooms, a cafeteria and souvenir shop at the entrance as well as a hummingbird gallery.
Entrance fee for foreigners are $25 USD per adult and $12 USD per student and child for self guided hike. You can pay in cash (USD or colones) or credit card. The reserve is open every day from 7 AM to 4 PM.
The Trails
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve has 11 trails with varying lengths of 305 meters to 2020 meters (.2 miles to 1.3 miles) so it’s accessible for everyone of different physical levels.
Here is a map of the trails and our guide to hiking the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve.
There are several viewpoints, a hanging bridge and a waterfall for points of interest.
You can choose which trails to do but for a $25 USD entrance fee, it’s best to enjoy it as much as possible.
Our Experience
We spent a whole afternoon hiking the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve on our own. We hiked from the entrance to the viewpoint up the Continental Divide, went to the hanging bridge and the waterfall and went back to the entrance from there. It took us about 4 hours total (including stopping for photos/videos). The total length we walked was about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles).
The trails are very well maintained and laid out. There are signs are every cross section so it’s hard to get lost and you can take a map with you. We saw many people along the way as the parking lot was completely full the day we went. Since we went in the afternoon, we didn’t see any bird watcher groups. We also saw many guided tour groups of older folk.
The views in the reserve are beautiful, especially the one up to the Continental Divide. You can see all the way to the Nicoya Peninsula and look over the cloud forest. It will leave you in awe.
The hanging bridge is very nice (especially if you’re not going to any of the eco parks like Selvatura or Sky Trek so you can get a taste of the famous Monteverde hanging bridges, a must do in Costa Rica.), it gives you a very different perspective of the forest. The waterfall is small, but charming.
When it comes to wildlife, we didn’t see too much. We saw a couple of coatis, saw a couple hummingbirds and heard lots of other birds. Most of the cloud forest reserve is fairly dense making it difficult to spot birds.
Overall Thoughts
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is extraordinary. The views from the Continental Divide were spectacular and it really makes you appreciate the fact that these delicate forests are protected.
Trails are well laid out, it’s easily accessible and convenient. However, it is crowded during the high season. The parking lot was completely full. We were constantly passing groups and we had to make a short line for photos at the viewpoint.
If you’re not keen on crowds, go early in the morning, like 7 AM when it opens as most tours don’t get there until around 8 AM or in the afternoon. Bird watching tours start early but it won’t be quite as crowded.
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve opened in 1972, protecting 764 acres of cloud forest. It’s run by the School Board of the Santa Elena Technical Professional High School, one of the first communities to maintain it’s own private reserve in Costa Rica. It’s slightly higher in elevation but the change is noticeable, it’s considerably wetter and cloudier than its sister Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve.
Get In
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve is 7 kilometers (4.34 miles) from Santa Elena town. Signage is excellent and it will take you up past Selvatura Park and Sky Trek (meaning those two ziplines actually go over and through the cloud forest). Road is bumpy but not too bad.
There is a large parking lot and the main entrance has restrooms, cafeteria and souvenir store.
It is open every day from 7 AM to 4 PM, tickets for self guided hike costs $16 USD for foreign adults, $9 USD per student and $7 USD per children.
The Trails
The trails in the Santa Elena Cloud Forst Reserve are much longer than the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. They range from .3 miles to 3 miles (.48 kilometers to 4.8 kilometers).
Here is a map of the trails.
Trails are extremely well maintained like Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and signage is very good as well. What’s even better is that there is a handicap accessible trail in Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve and a very nice one at that.
Since Santa Elena has more moisture, even the cloud forest feels different than Monteverde. Thick moss clings from every branch, fog hovers on the trail and leaves glisten with drops of water, giving off a faint mysterious atmosphere. It rained for the first 20 minutes we were there, making us feeling like we were exploring part of an enchanted forest.
It was breathtaking.
We were a bit short on time and it was raining pretty hard so we only walked the Encantado Trail and the viewpoint that looks over to Arenal Volcano was very cloudy. But on a clear day, you can see the entire Arenal Volcano and surrounding forest! There is also a look out tree, a huge ficus tree you can climb in to the top!
Our Thoughts
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve was stunning. I felt like I was back home in Washington with so much moss and rain!
Although we didn’t see any wildlife because of the rain, I met a couple who visited the day before (when it was super sunny) and they saw Resplendant Quetzals and a 2-toed sloth. They didn’t go with a guide but ran into a guided tour group who spotted the animals.
I would definitely get a guide if you want to see wildlife but I actually preferred to just enjoy the trees and walking through the forest in Santa Elena rather than looking for animals. But it would have been very interesting to have a guide to point out the different flowers, plants and trees since there were so many.
Since the trails are much longer, this is the ideal cloud forest reserve for those who love hiking. We could have stayed there all day (if it stopped raining at some point). The trails were not very difficult or steep so it is fine for any physical level but they are longer than the Monteverde Cloud Forest trails.
Children’s Eternal Rain Forest
Children’s Eternal Rain Forest, or Bosque Eterno de Los Ninos is the largest private reserve in Costa Rica encompassing nearly 23,000 hectares (nearly 6 times as big as the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve!) It was founded by a group of children from Sweden who campaigned for funds to create this reserve and is now run by the Monteverde Conservation League, a non profit conservation organization.
There are 4 different stations and we only had time to visit one, the Bajo del Tigre station close to Cerro Plano. Bajo del Tigre protects a special “rain shadow forest.” Even though it’s only 1 mile from the cloud forest, the climate in the Children’s Eternal Rain Forest Bajo del Tigre reserve is considerably drier, creating a different ecosystem with different plants and animals.
If you have more time or want to hike more, the other stations are excellent choices. San Gerardo has views of Arenal and 7 kilometers (4.34 miles) of trails. Pocosol station is accessible via La Fortuna (1.5 miles) and is amazing. We visited and it is an amazing place! It feels way more like cloud forest, it is very beautiful with not many visitors.
Get In
Bajos del Tigre reserve is very close to Cerro Plano, just a 5 minute drive away. Signage is excellent and there is a small parking lot. There are bathrooms and a small rest area by the office.
It costs $15 USD for adult foreigners, $13 USD per students and $10 for children ages 6-12 and 0-5 are free.
The Trails
The trails are Bajo del Tigre are excellent, well maintained and has great signage. Here is a map of Bajo del Tigre reserve.
The trails are pretty short, the longest being 1 kilometer and shortest .1 kilometers. We walked to the mirador and looped back in well under 2 hours.
As soon as you enter the reserve, you can immediately tell the climate is much drier, completely different than Monteverde and Santa Elena. The leaves you step on are crunchy instead of soggy, the air is dry and the sun feels stronger.
The day we went, we were joined by a large group of students. These trails are excellent for children and older folks as there are benches every couple hundred meters, markers and a guard rail. The University of Georgia owns and operates the UGA Costa Rica, so a lot of students seem to go through this station. We didn’t see any other student groups at the Monteverde and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve.
The viewpoint or mirador is wonderful. The .1 kilometer path to get to it is quite steep so it may not be suitable for people who have trouble walking though but when you get to the bottom, you have a view of the whole forest in the valley.
But the rest of the trails are easy and suitable for everyone.
Our Thoughts
This station is perfect for kids or older people who don’t want to walk as much as the Monteverde and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. The trails are extremely detailed with markers, benches and a rail throughout the entire reserve. It’s a quick walk and if you’re going with kids, they give you a pamphlet of different birds and plants to look out for.
We saw an Emerald Toucanet and heard a ton of Keel billed toucans. We saw one large group of students and two couples in the reserve but since it’s fairly small, it felt like a lot of people. Since Bajo del Tigre reserve is a lot smaller than the other two, it’s great if you’re short on time since it only took us under 2 hours.
You can read more about our time at Bajo del Tigre Reserve (we included Pocosol in there).
Thoughts About the Three Cloud Forest Reserves
- In our opinion, we loved Santa Elena the most out of all 3.
- If you have kids/seniors or short on time, Bajo del Tigre reserve is excellent.
- For the classic cloud forest experience, head to Monteverde.
- For a truly off the beaten path, rain forest experience, go to San Gerardo Station or Pocosol when it opens in Children’s Eternal Rain Forest.
Tips for Visiting the Children’s Eternal Rain Forest, Monteverde and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve
- Don’t have the expectation of seeing a ton of wildlife. The trails through all 3 of the reserves only go through a tiny portion of the cloud forest so you won’t see animals everywhere.
- If you are visiting all 3, ask for the discount when you purchase tickets at the office.
- Bring a rain jacket and wear closed toed shoes. If you are visiting in rainy season, come prepared for lots of rain. Check our rainy season packing list for more tips.
- Because of the high elevation, mosquito repellent is not necessary.
- There isn’t a cafeteria at Bajo del Tigre station so make sure to bring snacks or eat before. Bring plenty of water.
- If you want to see wildlife or learn more about the flora and fauna, hire a guide. You can hire a guide at the Monteverde and Santa Elena offices and you can make reservations for a guided tour at Bajo del Tigre. Read more about hiring guides in Costa Rica.
- You can also do night walks through the reserves, this must be reserved in advance with a guide.
- Go early in the morning to avoid crowds and have more chances to see wildlife.
Public Transportation
There are buses from Santa Elena town to both Monteverde Cloud Forest and Santa Elena Cloud Forest. The bus from Santa town to Santa Elena Cloud Forest is at 6:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM and returns at 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM and 4 PM. It costs $2 per person.
The bus from Santa Elena to Monteverde Cloud Forest is 6:15 AM, 7:30 AM, 1:20 PM and 3 PM and returns at 6:45 AM, 11:30 AM, 2 PM and 4 PM. The Sunday service is at 6:15 AM, 1:20 PM and 3 PM and returns at 11:30 AM, 2 PM and 4 PM.
I hope this post helps you decide which cloud forest reserve in Monteverde to visit and I’m sure that you’ll have a wonderful time at any of them!
Read about other articles about Monteverde
Monteverde ficus tree root bridge
Or read about other hikes to do in Costa Rica
Rincon de la Vieja National Park
ALEXANDRA ROBINSON says
This is so helpful, had been trying to figure out what one to go to.
Whereabouts do you get the buses from for the reserves and do you know how much they are?
Sammi says
Most hotel should be able to help you arrange it with the closest pick up spot, or you can go to the information center in downtown Santa Elena if you’re close to there. You can also call the phone numbers to book it.
Alana P says
I love reading your blogs!
Can you see both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea from the Continental Divide viewpoint?
Sammi says
From the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, they have a trail that lets you see the continental divide but you don’t really see the ocean that clearly and it’s very often quite cloudy.
Viktoria says
Hello,
If we’re planning to do the ziplining tour with Selvatura, do we also get access to Santa Elena Cloud forest, or is it a separate entrance? Thank you!
Sammi says
Those are two completely separate parks so you need to purchase entrance tickets to them separately.
Diana says
Hi
I have rented a manual Toyota Yaris. I’m struggling with the car to go up hills already. What’s the drive like to Santa Elena Cloud Forest? Is it worth getting a bus there instead?
Worried about the steep hills and dirty road.
Sammi says
I would get the bus there, the road up there is steep and not paved and the Santa Elena reserve is higher in elevation
Diana says
Thank you
Simone says
This post along with your Monteverde Guidebook totally helped us decide which cloud forest to visit. We will see the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve tomorrow morning! I only wish I’d known about the public bus in advance as we’ve already reserved a shuttle pick-up, but all is good. We cannot wait to see it!
renee says
Hello:
You have convinced us to choose Santa Elena for our anticipated Cloud Forest experience. Do we need a reservation in Covid-time? I don’t see that on your site, nor can I find a website for this park full of cool trails.
Thanks so much for your help.
Sammi says
Hi, here is their website: https://www.reservasantaelena.org/
Brenna says
Hi, love your site! it has been so helpful in planning our CR trip. Where can you get a guide or join guided trips? Do you sign up in town or at the park? And do you know approximately how much a guide/guided tour would cost? We are considering the Monteverde Cloud and Santa Elena Cloud forests and are looking for a nature/wildlife hike tour. We are renting a car so we will be able to get to the park.
Sammi says
You can check the direct websites of the reserve as I believe you can reserve guides with them beforehand or contact Three Brothers Tours, they are a family of local guides and they can take you on a guided walk of the reserve (you have a car so you can meet them there).
Martin says
Hi,
awesome website which is very helpful for our vacation planning! 🙂
I have a general question: The Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve and many national parks in Costa Rica are open until 4pm. Is this time only referred to the entrance of the park/reserve and you could stay 1-2 hours longer or does it mean that you have to leave the park by 4pm since they also close the gates to the parking lot etc. by then?
Thanks,
Martin
Sammi says
Hi Martin! That is the time the park closes so you need to leave the park before that time. Usually about 1 hour before, the park rangers will start going around to tell everyone to leave and that they need to be out of the park by 4 PM. Most places do not let you enter after a couple hours before closing so for example, you will need to enter the park before 2 PM if it closes at 4 PM, they won’t let you enter the park after 2 PM.
Rob says
Hello – we will be visiting in December and arriving Monteverde around midday (driving from San Jose). We are planning to do the night hike that same day, followed by Selvetura Park Canopy/hanging bridges adventure and day hike the following day. Assuming we arrive around Noon on day 1 and the night hike doesn’t start until 6pm, what else would you recommend we do between noon and 6pm? We have two kids – 18 and 16.
Sammi says
I would recommend to check in, go into town (Santa Elena), have lunch and then you can also check out the Butterfly Garden or Bat Jungle which is very close in town.
Len says
Are these trails safe to be hiked by a solo female?
Sammi says
They are very popular places for hiking in Monteverde and there is good signage and maps you can get from the front desk. Just make sure to stay on the trail, don’t wander off the trail because the reserves are very big!
Marie-Eve says
Do you need to get your park pass the day before in order to get in. We will be visiting early January.
Sammi says
No, you can buy them when you arrive at the office 🙂
Sandra says
I love the blog and loved the posts about the reserves in Monteverde. They are super helpful for my trip to Monteverde! Now I know Santa Elena is the reserve for us 🙂 Thanks and congratulations on this fantastic job!
Sammi says
You’re very welcome Sandra and glad it’s helpful!
Sammi says
That is the best route from Tamarindo to Monteverde, it does take about 3 – 3.5 hours. Route 145 is Las Juntas and once you turn onto that road from the 1, it turns into a windy, narrow curvy road up the mountain so you will need to go slow. You can see what this route is like in this post: Monteverde road conditions.
Bill Westendorf says
What’s the best rout to take from Tamarindo to Monteverde Cloud Forest. Waze says rt 152/160/21/18/1/145. Says a little over 3 hours. Is that a reasonable route and time?
Lillian says
Thanks for all this information! I feel like I know where I’m going now.
Sammi says
Hi Margaret, it’s recommended to have a high car for Monteverde because the road there and the roads off the main one are unpaved and have a lot of big pot holes. I would definitely have a SUV or a compact/mid size. Also note that the Sardinal route, Route 606 is currently under construction so you will need to take Las Juntas (Route 145). You can see what the roads are like in Monteverde in this post: Monteverde road conditions.
Margaret says
Thanks Sammie. Can we catch a taxi from Santa Elena to the park? If so, is there a centralized taxi space where we can go to find a taxi or should we just park and flag down a passing taxi?
Sammi says
Hi Margaret, there are lots of taxis in Santa Elena, they are all on the main road outside the Tree House Restaurant.
Margaret says
Thank you so much for all your help!
Margaret says
Thank you. I started following your website on facebook and received that information today.
Margaret says
Thanks for all your information. One question: do you need an SUV to drive the gravel road to Monteverde Cloud Forest parking lot or will a regular car make it ok? I am familiar with gravel roads…is there high enough clearance for the cars undercarriage?
Lauren Pritchard says
Great blog! I’ve been really struggling to find some clear info on the parks so I’m so happy to find your site!!
Thanks for the info 🙂
Lauren
Sammi says
Hi Lauren! You’re very welcome! It can be hard to find detailed up to date info on a lot of stuff in CR so glad to hear it was helpful!
Sammi says
Hi Liz, I am not sure you will need to contact the ranger stations. I believe it is sometime in 2018 after they renovate them.
Liz Z says
When will the Pocosol and San Gerardo entrances reopen?
Kristina S. says
Do you know if the cloud forests are open on holidays? We are planning a visit for the new year holiday! Love your blog and guides. This is so helpful!
Sammi says
They should be 🙂 Thanks for reading Kristina and glad the blog is helpful!