Are there many things to do in Monteverde Cloud Forest, in Costa Rica?

Question

I'm planning a trip to Costa Rica this March. I was wondering if there were many other activities you can do in the area besides hiking the trails (eg. biking, spelunking, canopy tour)? Is it possible to get a place IN Monteverde Cloud Reserve? Thanks!!!

Answer 1

The previous answer actually covers things very well.  I would add that there are limited accomodations at the entrance of the Cloud Forest Reserve which is in the rain forest with great access.  They are very nice but designed for small student groups.  If you want to be in the back country, arrangements can sometime be made to use back country shelters in the reserve and the Monteverde Conservation Association has the San Gerardo lodge which is inside the Children's Eternal Rainforest.  It has a great view of Arenal Volcano and is only about an hours walk from the nearest road.

Answer 2

Monteverde has the best canopy tours and zip lines, and is absolutely beautiful.  BUT...  there really is not that much else to do there, and the drive to get there is horrible!  The roads are very rocky, full of washout and blind corners.  It's an annoying, tiring, somewhat scary long drive to get there.  I love off-roading, but that is not fun.  The hotels closer to the reserve can be pretty pricey too.  There is a club somewhere in town, but I haven't been to it either time I've been there.

If you are looking to have some fun and adventure, I would consider Arenal/La Fortuna near the active volcano.  That is one of my favorite places in Costa Rica, and is not far from Monteverde (and much quicker and nicer to get to from San Jose).  They have a much more fun, active social scene there too.  My favorite was the Canyoning Tour where we rappelled down cliffs and waterfalls.  That was probably the most fun and challenging thing I have done!  I've done the zip-line canopy tours in several places in Costa Rica... this takes it by a mile!  They have a great hot springs park with 15 different pools (some with bars right in the pools).  Great restaurants and fun bars in Arenal/La Fortuna as well!  Also, I found it much cheaper to stay, eat, drink, etc there.

I would also highly recommend checking out Montezuma on the southern end of the Nicoya Peninsula.  A beautiful, laid-back beach town full of eco-tourists and hippies that love to party!  Just past there is Santa Teresa, a surfer villiage, that has some of the best surf you will find anywhere!

If you'd like to know more, feel free to contact me.  You can also find my Costa Rica vacation pics on my myspace at myspace.com/jon4got2.

Good luck planning your vacation!  You'll love it down there.