Monteverde on a Costa Rica Circuit
Monteverde rarely stands alone in a Costa Rica trip. It sits in the mountains between the Arenal side and the Pacific side of the country, and the roads in and out are slow, so the sensible way to plan it is as one stop on a circuit. This page covers where it fits, how to arrive and leave, and how to spend two or three nights once you are there.
Where Monteverde Fits
The classic loop runs from San Jose to La Fortuna and Arenal, across Lake Arenal to Monteverde, then on to the coast. Two nights in Arenal and two in Monteverde is a common split. Monteverde is inland at about 1,400 to 1,700 m and has no beach, so a coastal leg means leaving the valley.
For a wider view of the country, the Costa Rica 5 day itinerary shows how the regions link up.
Arriving
| From | By road | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose | 145 to 167 km, 3 to 4 hours | Buses leave Terminal Atlantico Norte at about 6:30am and 2:30pm for roughly $9 to $15, so check the terminal and times first |
| La Fortuna | about 115 km, 3 to 3.5 hours | Paved, via roads 142, 145 and 606 |
| La Fortuna by lake | about 3 hours | Jeep, then a 45 minute boat from La Represa to Rio Chiquito, then another jeep |
Shared jeep-boat-jeep seats run about $25 to $35 per person one way, and a private transfer for up to 4 costs roughly $320 to $370. Fares and departure times differ by operator, so confirm yours before you commit.
Driving yourself is easy in dry weather. Route 606 is mostly paved, a normal car copes and four-wheel drive is not needed. It climbs steeply with sharp bends and fog, and it has no lighting, so arrive before dark.
Leaving
- Manuel Antonio is 4 to 5 hours away by road.
- Guanacaste beaches such as Playas del Coco and Hermosa are about 3 hours away.
- San Jose is 3 to 4 hours away.
- Tortuguero does not work as a side trip from Monteverde.
Two Nights: The Minimum
Two nights is enough for the main sights, with forest walking on the first day and adventure plus an evening walk on the second.
Day one. Book a timed circuit at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve for the morning, which means checking in 15 minutes early at the Visitor Center. Follow it with a guided walk at Santa Elena Reserve (the 1:00pm departure suits an afternoon) or at Curi-Cancha.
Day two. Spend the daylight at Treetopia or Selvatura. Selvatura’s canopy tour takes 2 to 2.5 hours, and Treetopia’s Sky Trek takes about 2.5 hours. Finish with a night walk. Bajo del Tigre leaves daily at 5:30pm, and Curi-Cancha and the Preserve also run evening walks.
Preserve tickets can be cancelled for a full refund up to 48 hours ahead, which takes the risk out of booking before your transport is fixed.
A Third Night
A third night gives room for slower things. Visit the Orchid Garden and the Butterfly Gardens, tour a coffee farm with Don Juan Tours or Cafe Monteverde Farm and Roastery, and browse the CASEM craft shop in Santa Elena. A second Preserve circuit is also possible, because each ticket covers one circuit only.
Packing and Weather
Nights drop to 12 to 14 C and the valley is damp, so bring a warm layer, a rain jacket and closed shoes. Umbrellas are not allowed in the Preserve. Most operators quote dollars, and Santa Elena Reserve quotes colones at about 450 to the dollar.
Read more: the day trips and walking tours pages.
Rooms can be compared on Booking.com . Preserve booking rules are at cloudforestmonteverde.com , and Santa Elena guided walk times are at reservasantaelena.org .