Monteverde is one of Costa Rica's most visited destinations, and for good reason. The cloud forest reserve here protects some of the most biodiverse habitat on earth — orchids, bromeliads, mosses, and hundreds of bird species including the resplendent quetzal.
The area sits at around 1,400 metres in the Tilarán Mountains, which means cool, misty weather year-round. The two main reserves are the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, both offering well-maintained trail systems through dense, dripping forest. The smaller Curi Cancha reserve is one of the best places in the country to see the resplendent quetzal.
The town of Santa Elena is the commercial centre, with restaurants, tour agencies, and hostels. The surrounding area has a strong Quaker community that settled here in the 1950s, and their cheese factory is still operating. Canopy tours, hanging bridges, and night walks are the main organised activities, but the real draw is simply being in the forest.