Monteverde Cloud Forest of Costa Rica

The Monteverde cloud forest of Costa Rica is beautiful, peaceful and remarkably interesting. In fact, I would recommend the Monte Verde cloud forest as one of the top tropical places to visit. It ranks as one of the most popular destination to experience the true essence of Costa Rica ecotourism. As a result, it attracts thousands of visitors every year. The biggest challenge is to get there from the capital city of San Jose.

I should mention that the elevation of Monte Verde is approximately 5,900 feet. Several thoughts came to mind when viewing the location from San Jose. How did people get to that location? You quickly forget the tedious journey when you get there. I think the long bus ride through narrow winding roads is a small price to pay to experience the enchantment of the Monteverde Cloud Forest.

Departing from San Jose

I was up early for an appetizing buffet breakfast in San Jose.  Afterward we departed by coach to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. The road for the initial part of the journey was good. The paved road had double lanes. The latter part of the journey was just the opposite. To be exact, the roads were narrow, unpaved and winding along the mountain side. Dust covered the vehicle along the way. The bus trip took about 6 hours because of stops along the way to enjoy the countryside.

The original inhabitants of Monteverde is interesting. In 1951 a group of Quakers left Alabama, in the US. They did not want to participate in the Korean war. Going to Costa Rica was a way out from enlisting into the military. Soon after, their arrival in Costa Rica. They requested a quiet and peaceful area. So, the local Government offered them Monteverde. It was an ideal location. However, the oxen cart was the only means of accessing the area.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Hotel

We arrived early in Monteverde. Our lunch stop was the Tree House Restaurant and Cafe. The structure is a true representation of the name. The tree house restaurant is a must see when visiting the area. As a matter of fact, it is an interesting tropical place to visit when in Monteverde. The construction did not disturb or damage the tree existence. In full display was Costa Rica ecotourism efforts to preserve nature.

I was surprise with the restaurant layout. The restaurant was built around a huge fig (Higueron) tree. Above all, the seating area was among the branches. I must say it was impressive. The space was utilized without harming the tree. Without question the lunch was the high light of the visit. The meal was unbelievably delicious. My meal consisted of local ingredients of Costa Rica. Everyone enjoyed their meal. As a result, we were looking forward to retiring for the evening.

El Establo Hotel

We stayed at the El Establo Mountain Hotel. The hotel is on a hill overlooking a green luscious valley. The construction appeared to be part of the forest. There was little interference to the ecological system. The hotel construction had little impact on the forest. It appears that little damage was done to the forest. In fact, the huge trees in the area were not destroyed.

My room was spacious, and the layout was great. I was fortunate to see several wild animals. The wildlife calmly walked out from the nearby bushes. They calmly strolled across the yard in search of food. Although, the animals were awfully close. They were not scared of us. The hotel is a true reflection of Costa Rica ecotourism.

Our night activity involved a walk to the closest forest to the hotel. However, a light rain almost spoiled the evening. But our hotel guide provided raincoats for the walk. The reason for the walk was to expose visitors to the region night life. The guide located critters that move about in the dark of night. He provided a history of the forest and the efforts by the hotel to preserve it. We were fortunate to see scorpions, monkeys and other small critters. I must admit that the locals are immensely proud of Costa Rica ecotourism. They emphasized how the country was one of the best tropical places to visit

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

The next day was our scheduled visit to the Monteverde cloud forest. Costa Rica continental divide is located in the Monteverde cloud forest. Furthermore, it is the home of over 3,000 species of plants, 1,200 species of amphibians, 700 species of butterflies and 400 species of birds to name a few. In addition, there are several species of cats roaming the forest.

We paid a small entrance fee to the forest reserve. The walk through the forest was thought-provoking. The forest canopy in some areas was very thick. Thus, allowing the sun to peak through occasionally. The dark green vegetation was lush in some places.

I had the opportunity to see several orchids. Some were unique to Costa Rica. Birds were also in abundance. I saw and heard some incredibly beautiful birds. The stillness gave the impression that you were out of this world. The occasional bird interrupted the sound of silence. Their singing and chirping were music to the ears. We were unlucky and never saw the national bird of Costa Rica. It is called the Clay-Colored Thrush or Clay Colored Robin. I must applaud the people for creating and maintaining the forest. In addition, the trails were clean and well designed. Without a doubt, they were easy to follow due to several directional signs. The walk through the Monteverde cloud forest was calming and relaxing. The Monteverde cloud forest mut be added to your bucket list. It should top your list of tropical places to visit.

Hummingbird Sanctuary

Afterward I visited the hummingbird sanctuary. This was another beautiful aspect of Costa Rica ecotourism on display. The hummingbird sanctuary is opposite the entrance of the rain forest reserve. Several bird feeding pans were setup. The feeders attracted several hummingbirds. Above all, I was spell bound watching the birds hover over the feeders for food. The occasional red breast robin would compete for the food. The competition between the birds amused all that were present.

My experience in Monteverde will last a lifetime. Most importantly, I was impressed of how the Costa Rican people could preserve their environment. They appreciate and protect everything that surrounds them. Costa Rica ecotourism should be an example to other nations to follow.  Equally important, contact Tropical Destination Vacations when searching for vacation packages to tropical place to visit.