Monteverde & Santa Elena
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Overview
Strung between two lovingly preserved cloud forests, this slim corridor of civilization consists of the Tico village of Santa Elena and the Quaker settlement of Monteverde, each with an eponymous cloud forest reserve. The cloud forests are premier destinations for everyone from budget backpackers to well-heeled retirees.
01 / Attractions
Must-see attractions
Monteverde & Santa Elena
This sweet-smelling garden in Santa Elena has shady trails winding past more than 500 types of orchids. On your guided tour, you’ll see such rarities as…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
Head here for everything you ever wanted to know about butterflies. There are four gardens representing different habitats; they're home to more than 40…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
For those who prefer their reptiles under glass (or at least behind it), a guide will show you around and introduce you to more than 50 species of…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
This simple meeting house in Monteverde is the ‘church’ of the American Society of Friends, or the Quakers, who first settled this area and committed to…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
There's no sign, no website, and last we checked, nobody was collecting any money for this delightful roadside attraction. It's simply a hollowed-out fig…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
The Bat Jungle in Monteverde is a small but informative exhibit, with good bilingual educational displays and a habitat housing almost 100 free-flying…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
Returning to its former glory as the Ranario, or Frog Pond (it's changed names a few times), this place also features an insect house. The frogs are still…
Monteverde & Santa Elena
A local landmark in the center of Santa Elena. The adjacent roasted-chicken shack apparently has no religious affiliation.
02 / Plan with a local
Build a memorable collection
Get to the heart of Monteverde & Santa Elena with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.
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