This excursion is provided by Swiss Travel Service
Chosen as one of Costa Rica’s Seven Wonders, Monteverde Cloud Forest private reserve was founded in 1972 and it has been recognized worldwide for its efforts in conservation of wild species and their habitats. This Ecological Sanctuary is located in the highlands of Costa Rica, at an altitude between 1,500m and 1,800 m, right where the Atlantic and Pacific slopes collide over the Continental Divide. The reserve measures more than 4,000 hectares and holds 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity, making it one of the most important private reserves in Costa Rica. With a short drive of 25 minutes from the local village of San Elena and the surrounded hotels, you will arrive to the visitors centre to start the 2 hours’ walk through the forest The focus of the reserve is the protection, for this reason only a small portion (about 3%) of the property is open to the public with 13 kilometers, distributed on 9 different hiking trails. Although Monteverde is one of the most biodiverse areas of Costa Rica, wildlife is naturally hidden in the misty clouds shifting in the wind or high in the trees with thick mosses and lichens that cover every inch of bark. A knowledgeable naturalist guide not only knows where to look, but also has a scope, allowing you to see most the plants and animals at the reserve and what role they play in the eco-system. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best places to spot the bird everyone hopes to see, the elusive resplendent quetzal, but also, it is home of hundreds of species of mammals, birds, butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, insects and arachnids. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve will leaving you marveled with its beauty and biological diversity.
