rickyloo

We are in the Santa Elena Reserve volunteering for two weeks. I wondered if any one had any suggestions for SPECIFIC tours they took that they thought were outstanding. Did you prefer one tour company over another? Thank you so much!

volcanogirl

We really enjoyed the night hike at Hidden Valley. We trooped around with flashlights and saw a fox, raccoon, sloth, porcupine and other critters. We got put into a great group so we had lots of fun.

james572

One great tour in Monteverde is the train tour.
I took this tours couple of months ago, it was really funny and different I couldn't imagine a train across the forest. There is the website: http://www.monteverdecloudforesttrain.com/
Enjoy Monteverde... Bye

Continental_Drifter

The night hike is awsome. Consider going to the one at the UGA research facility/compound.

http://www.externalaffairs.uga.edu/costa_rica/

Also, we enjoyed Selvatura. DO NOT purchase the tickets in town. Go the the sales desk at the gift shop on site. The girls there will take care of you without the markup the "salesmen" receive at the in town location.

Have fun!

rickyloo

THANK YOU EVERYONE. Your suggestins were great.....and our calendar has been more than filled. To your list we also went to the Orhid Reserve and learned that vanilla beans come from a species of orchids. Visiting the Monteverde Cloud Forest was breathtaking. We went to the Continental Divide...amazing. Thank you again for your ideas! Next week we will be working at the Santa Elena Reserve clearing trails...and sorting recycled items for the community at the high school in Santa Elena. Quite an adventure!

katiequirkauthor

I realize this post is quite old, but the question is still very much alive. I live in Monteverde and recently ran into yet another tourist who was trying to figure out what reserve to visit--Monteverde, Curi Cancha, and Santa Elena were on her list, and of course there are still others. I live just down the road from the Monteverde Reserve and it's the place where I've seen the most quetzals, so it holds a special place in my heart, but I also find the other two reserves breathtaking. A quick summary of some of my favorite aspects of each:

Monteverde--a great suspension bridge in the canopy; the largest amount of primary forest of the three reserves; a great hummingbird gallery outside the gates; a gusty trail along the continental divide; and my favorite trail--the Bosque Nuboso or Cloud Forest trail (immediately to the right once you enter the gate).

Santa Elena--many fewer visitors and thus often empty trails; a glimpse of the drippy, moss-hung, higher-elevation cloud forest on the even wetter Caribbean slope; a tower to climb up (and possibly get a view of Arenal Volcano); and the opportunity to contribute to a community-run reserve with the payment of your admission.

Curi Cancha--more varied habitats with some pasture, and a good deal of secondary growth forest (you'll be amazed at how much growth can happen here in a few decades); good wildlife viewing potential given the more open spaces; limited crowds; and very well-maintained trails and facilities.

For more info on the reserves and the cloud forest in general, I've written an article here:

https://warmerthancanada.com/2017/01...erde-reserves/

And I've written a second article about some of my favorite places in Monteverde beyond the reserves that range from thermal springs to a butterfly tour to an artist's gallery:

https://warmerthancanada.com/2017/01...-the-reserves/

Enjoy your visit. We love it here!