El Establo Mountain Hotel
On a private 150-acre farm next to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, on the Continental Divide, with its own trails, a lake, a full spa and transport around the grounds.
4-starView hotel
Monteverde Cloud Forest
A small mountain town wrapped in cloud forest, with three reserves, hanging bridges and night walks. Most of our clients spend 2 nights here.
- Fly into
- SJO or LIR
- San José 3.5 to 4 h, Liberia about 2.5 h
- Stay
- 2 nights
- What most of our clients choose
- Best weather
- Jan to May
- The drier months in the cloud forest
- Region
- Northern Zone
- Cloud forest, mountains, three reserves
- Pairs with
- Arenal
- Taxi, boat, taxi across the lake
Why go
Walk inside a cloud
Monteverde is the place to see a cloud forest: a thin veil of cloud drifts just below the canopy, turns to water on the leaves and drips down to the plants below. Three reserves protect these mountains, the Monteverde Reserve, the Santa Elena Reserve and the Children's Eternal Rainforest, and some 400 species of birds live here or pass through, the resplendent quetzal among them.
Cloud forest hikesMonteverde, Santa Elena and Curi-Cancha
Hanging bridgesWalk the canopy at Selvatura
Night walksSloths, frogs and sleeping birds
The map
Every hotel we book in Monteverde
20 hotels, our favourites numbered.
Hotels we know personally
3-star and above only, chosen by our team in Costa Rica.
Hotel Belmar
Run by the Belmar family: a wood-panelled chalet whose 28 rooms all look out to the Nicoya coast, with jacuzzis heated by biogas the hotel makes itself.
4-starView hotel
Trapp Family Lodge
A European-style lodge with trails that lead straight into the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, spacious rooms with cloud forest views and breakfast included.
3-starView hotel
Poco a Poco Hotel
Step-free entrances and ramps to the rooms, a full spa with sauna, two pools and a gym, in colourful gardens in Monteverde.
3-starView hotel
What our clients book most in Monteverde
Ranked from the trips we planned in the last 12 months.
- 01Night walk in the cloud forestPrivate or shared, 2 hours
- 02Selvatura hanging bridges and slothsShared, 2.5 hours
- 03Guided hike in the Curi-Cancha RefugeShared, 3 hours
- 04Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve hikePrivate or shared, 3 hours
- 05Guided hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest ReserveShared, 3 hours
- 06El Trapiche coffee tourShared, 1 hour
When to go
Best weather January to May
From June the rain returns and the forest is at its greenest. Bring rain gear in any month: this is a cloud forest.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Best weatherGreen season, more rainSemana Santa, 21 to 28 March 2027: plan early
From San José, Liberia or straight from Arenal
From San José (SJO)3.5 to 4 hoursPrivate transfer up the mountain road
From Liberia (LIR)about 2.5 hoursPrivate transfer, the shorter drive
From Arenalabout 3.5 hoursTaxi, boat, taxi across Lake Arenal, the way most of our clients arrive
Where to go next
![Manuel Antonio beach and point from the air]()
![Surfer inside a wave at Tamarindo]()
![Coastline of the Gulf of Papagayo from the air]()
![Arenal Volcano above the rainforest]()
Where our clients go after Monteverde
Manuel AntonioPrivate transfer, about 4 hoursOur most planned next stop
TamarindoPrivate transfer, about 3.5 hoursSurf town with restaurants and sunsets
PapagayoPrivate transfer, about 3 hoursResorts close to Liberia airport
ArenalTaxi, boat, taxi across Lake Arenal, about 3.5 hoursVolcano views and hot springs
Good to know
Monteverde questions we answer every week
How many nights do I need in Monteverde?
2 nights is what most of our clients choose: a full day for a reserve hike and the hanging bridges, and an evening for the night walk.
How do I get from Arenal to Monteverde?
Most of our clients take the taxi, boat, taxi route across Lake Arenal, about 3.5 hours door to door.
Do I need a guide in the cloud forest?
We recommend one. Wildlife is hard to spot in the cloud forest, and a guide finds the birds and animals you would walk straight past.
What should I pack for Monteverde?
Rain gear, waterproof shoes or hiking boots, and binoculars.
When is the best time to visit Monteverde?
January to May brings the best weather. The reserves limit how many people go in at a time, so in high season your hike starts early in the morning.
Your Costa Rica, planned by people who live here
Tell us what you love. A Costa Rica Specialist builds a custom itinerary around it, with private transfers, hotels we know and our team on call 24/7 while you travel.
Since 2004 in Costa RicaOver 25,000 clients1,200+ five-star reviewsICT licensed, Declaratoria Turística