Lapa Trips
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Private reserve · Monteverde, Puntarenas

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Monteverde's main draw: a private reserve protecting 10,193 acres of cloud forest since 1972. Visits run in time slots with a cap on visitors, and guided walks take up to 10 people.

Last verified Oct 8, 2026 2 sources
Morning light through the trees in Monteverde's cloud forest
Photo: Christopher Austin on Unsplash

What to know

  1. Book online and arrive 15 minutes early. Entry is by time slot with a cap on visitors, and late arrivals may not get in.

  2. Self-guided trails run from 1.4 km (about 1 hour) to 4.1 km (about 2.5 hours) on the Continental Divide Trail. Mist is part of the visit, so bring a rain jacket.

  3. The guided Night Walk starts at 6 pm and lasts about 2.5 hours, in groups of up to 10. Bring a flashlight.

Quick facts

Hours
7:30 am to 4 pm1
Night Walk
6 pm, about 2.5 hours1
Protected area
10,193 acres (about 4,125 ha)1
Protecting forest since
19721
Guided walks
Up to 10 people, in English1
Cancellations
Full refund 48 hours or more ahead1
Bird species
About 4002

Where to stay and eat nearby

Our hotel and restaurant picks for Monteverde, with booking, Tripadvisor and map links.

Hotels in Monteverde Restaurants in Monteverde
A hanging bridge through the forest canopy at Selvatura Park in Monteverde
Cloud forest town

Monteverde

A mountain community surrounded by cloud forest reserves, with Santa Elena as its main town. It is the second base on the 10-day route: two nights, with the cloud forest in the morning and a guided night walk after dark.

Last verified Oct 8, 2026

Sources

  1. Visit the Preserve, Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve
  2. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Wikipedia

Last verified: October 8, 2026. Sources checked Oct 8, 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so check official sources before you travel.