Top 5 Things to Do in Monteverde, Costa Rica

Monteverde is home to majestic cloud forests, tons of wildlife, and stunning mountain views. It’s one of the most popular places to visit in Costa Rica, and for good reason! This post lists some of the top things to do in Monteverde, Costa Rica.

The Monteverde region is high in the hills of the Puntarenas province in Costa Rica. It is a bit cooler than other parts of the country and can be very windy – so make sure you bring a jacket! It is also the location of some of Costa Rica’s iconic cloud forest ecosystems. 

Top things to do in Monteverde, Costa Rica

1. Stroll through the cloud forest

Monteverde is famous for its cloud forests, so they are definitely a must-see when you visit! Be sure to put aside some time to go for a walk through these unique ecosystems while you are here.

Pro tip: If you have a student ID, you can get significant discounts at both the Monteverde Cloud Forest and the Santa Elena Cloud Forest, so don’t forget your card!

2. Zipline through the treetops

I went ziplining at Extremo adventure park. It was such a cool experience zipping through the treetops of the cloud forest. Those looking for an extra boost of adrenaline can try the Tarzan swing (included in the cost) or bungee jumping (costs extra).

​The only negative part of this experience was that after we did the zipline section, there was a LONG wait for the Tarzan Swing – we waited in line for over an hour. We were the last to go, and it was almost dark when our turn came. It was definitely an experience getting dropped when it was almost too dark to see the ground, but I suggest booking one of the earlier slots to avoid this!

3. Take a coffee tour

I highly recommend going on a coffee tour with Cafe Monteverde! The farm was so beautiful, and our guide was great! We learned about how the coffee is harvested and the different drying processes for the beans. At the end of the tour, we got to have a coffee tasting and see if we could guess which processes led to which taste.

I especially liked this particular coffee tour because our guide highlighted the importance of long-term sustainability over short-term profit throughout the tour and pointed out the different ways that the farm was trying to grow coffee in a more sustainable way. It was really interesting to get this perspective!

In addition to its farm, Cafe Monteverde has an actual cafe located in town. Here, you can drink the coffee that was grown and roasted right down the road! The cafe sells coffee by the cup as well as by the bag, so it is a great place to grab some beans to take home as a memory of your trip.

4. Explore the hanging bridges

A trip to one of Monteverde’s hanging bridges is a great way to get a different perspective of the cloud forest. They also make for a great photo-op!

5. Go on a night hike

The cloud forest is a whole other world after dark! On a night hike, a guide will take you into the forest and point out the animals (and bugs!) that become active once the sun goes down. This is an opportunity to experience the cloud forest in a whole new way and hopefully see some critters that you wouldn’t be able to see during the daytime.

Bonus tips

Transportation between Monteverde and La Fortuna

For transport between La Fortuna and Monteverde, I recommend the Jeep Boat Jeep shuttle. They offer door-to-door service and a scenic boat ride across Lake Arenal for $25 USD. Contrary to the name, the land transportation is not a Jeep but rather a comfortable shuttle bus.

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This post lists some of the top things to do in Monteverde, Costa Rica. I hope you find it helpful in planning your visit!

For more ideas about where to go if you’re considering a visit to Costa Rica, check out this list of amazing destinations in the country.