Monteverde recommendations
 

Just in the area for 2 days. We'll be arriving by bus and won't have transportation. We are mostly interested in hiking and exploring the forest trails. (but maybe also some other things mentioned-frog ponds, coffee plantations?) Just concerned about getting around so a hotel close to trails or transits would be ideal. Also any one know a good place to camp--would safety be an issue?

thanks!

We like Fonda Vela; it's one of the hotels closest to the Reserve - the new junior suites are nice and have a small frig and a bathtub. Pretty grounds and a nice restaurant on site. We just used taxis to get around in Monteverde, and they were pretty cheap. If you have time, we really enjoyed the night hike at Hidden Valley.

Are you interested in a canopy tour? We used the Selvetura canopy tour to get a ride, it is only about 200m from the entrance to the Santa Elena cloud forest. So we got the early morning ride, hiked all morning, ate lunch at Selvetura and then went ziplining and got a ride back to Monteverde. Very fun day!

There aren't that many hotels right next to the major hiking areas. You'd probably be best off staying in Santa Elena, which would allow you to walk to attractions like the Frog Pond as well as several good restaurants.

Check out Pension Santa Elena, an in-town, inexpensive place that got good reviews from people I talked to who were staying there. The website even lists camping in their garden as an option ($4!) www.pensionsantaelena.com

We stayed at Arco Iris, a lovely place very close to the Pension Santa Elena but more of a lodge-like atmosphere, very cool. www.arcoirislodge.com We paid $85 a night. Loved it.

You can take a taxi to Monteverde Park, or arrange a guided tour through your accommodation that will include transportation. Selvatura (great zipline, hiking) provides transportation as well--they have an office in Santa Elena where you can arrange it.

The frog pond is walking distance from town. We really liked staying in Santa Elena--it was low-key, had a good choice of restaurants and a decent supermarket, and was a nice base for the activities we undertook.

Aprillilacs, Perfect information. You answered the OP exactly on point.