This blog may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy for more info.
Looking for the best things to do in Monteverde? Then you’ve come to the right place.
While living in Costa Rica, we found the best things to do, from hidden gems to popular attractions. One of the most amazing activities in Monteverde is visiting the cloud forests which are among the rarest habitats on the globe and are home to incredible plants and animals. But, there are so many other epic things to do here!
To help you decide, I’ve put together this list of the absolute best things to do in Monteverde. Believe me, there will be no shortage of fun times on your vacation if you follow this list!
Don’t Miss Out On Our Top Choice!
The tour we loved the most and suggest booking ASAP is this one!
Our personal FAVORITE thing we did in Monteverde was this guided tour of the Cloud Forest! With our expert guide and spotting scope in hand, we saw way more wildlife than if we had gone on our own.
Plus it’s a small group tour at a great price.
- Don't Miss Out On Our Top Choice!
- Things to do in Monteverde, Costa Rica
- 1. Explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest
- 2. Go ziplining
- 3. See Nocturnal Wildlife on a Night Tour
- 4. Take a Combo Tour to See the Hanging Bridges
- 5. Go Bungy Jumping!
- 6. Visit a Coffee, Chocolate, & Sugarcane Farm
- 7. Go Horseback Riding
- 8. Go Birdwatching
- 9. Hike to El Tigre Waterfalls
- 10. Go Whitewater Rafting on the Tenorio River
- Where to Stay in Monteverde
- Pura Vida!
- Why We Book Tours with Viator
- Getting Around Costa Rica
- Don't Forget Travel Insurance!
Things to do in Monteverde, Costa Rica
1. Explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest
This is one of the main Monteverde attractions, and it’s an incredible place to spend some time. The Monteverde Cloud Forest essentially welcomes the sky down into the rainforest – letting you walk through the low-hanging clouds and mist.
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve was created in 1972 to protect this area and now stretches more than 35,000 acres with a huge array of wildlife, including more than 100 kinds of mammals, 400 types of birds, and 1,200 species of amphibians and reptiles.
There are six main trails here, forming a network of about 8 miles (13 kilometers.) There are short trails that will only take about 10 minutes to walk and others that stretch a couple of kilometers and will pass through swamps and waterfalls. My favorite is the Sendero Camino Trail which leads to a suspension bridge that gives you a bird’s eye view above the rainforest canopy.
We recommend taking a tour of Monteverde Cloud Forest instead. We did this guided cloud forest tour, and it definitely enhanced our cloud forest experience! Having a guide with us dramatically increased the amount of wildlife we saw, plus we got to learn all about the cloud forest ecosystem as we went along.
The tour also includes a spotting scope (think telescope to see wildlife), so you’re more likely to see some of the amazing animals hiding up in the trees.
Check availability and prices for this popular guided cloud forest experience here!
2. Go ziplining
Ziplining is such a fun way to see some fantastic scenery (as it flies past you!) and have an adrenaline-filled adventure.
There are many different companies that offer ziplining tours in Monteverde, but not all are created equally in terms of quality. Our favorite zipline tour is this family-friendly tour that takes you on a thrilling 2.5-hour adventure ziplining and rappelling through the cloud forest!
We really like the fact that the zipline course is set up to showcase old-growth and new-growth sections of the cloud forest. As well as ziplining, you can enjoy rappelling 150 feet (46 meters) all the way down to the forest floor, climbing inside an enormous hollowed-out tree, and soaring through the air on the park’s Tarzan swing!
This tour has multiple start times available in the morning or early afternoon, making it super easy to fit into your busy schedule. Personally I recommend going in the morning so you avoid the heat that comes later in the day. You’ll have an expert guide with you to teach you all the secrets of the mysterious cloud forest and help you spot animals. They’ll also take photos which you can purchase at the end of the tour.
All of the activities mentioned above are included as well as pickup and drop-off from Santa Elena hotels. It’s so much fun and the company behind it is super reputable, with over 1,000 5-star reviews under their belt so far (check out the reviews here)!
Learn more about this ziplining tour & check availability here!!
3. See Nocturnal Wildlife on a Night Tour
One of the best tours in Monteverde happens after dark! Experience the wildlife nightlife with a Monteverde Rain Forest Night Walk.
In fact, this highly-rated tour is one of the best in the country (just check out all the great reviews here)!
Almost 80% of the animals in Monteverde are nocturnal, so night is the perfect time to spot them. You can see everything from sloths, porcupines, snakes, lizards, frogs, birds, or one of the many felines that call the rainforest home.
What’s great about these night tours is the experienced guide to help you spot critters along with a flashlight and optic gear. Tours are offered at 5:30 pm or 8 pm. The later tour tends to be less busy and takes place completely in the dark.
This tour is only $35 USD, which is a fantastic deal! It takes place at Refuguio de Vida Silvestre – located only a few minutes from the center of Santa Elena, making it easy to get to with a short drive or taxi ride.
Secure your spot on this popular night tour here!
4. Take a Combo Tour to See the Hanging Bridges
If you have limited time in Monteverde, a combo tour is the best way to see the highlights – including the hanging bridges! We are huge fans of this combo adventure tour since it had us ziplining, bird watching, seeing the suspension bridges, and even included a trip to a butterfly garden.
Selvatura Park is quintessential Costa Rican jungle and exploring it with a nature guide is hands down the best way to make the most of it. I loved seeing colorful parrots as we crossed over hanging bridges and went ziplining through the park’s 16-line track.
The highlight for me was getting to experience one of Costa Ricas biggest butterfly gardens. There are so many rare species on display that are almost impossible to see in the wild!
I also really liked how accessible the whole day was and can easily recommend it to anyone with moderate physical fitness. I think kids would especially enjoy this tour because there are plenty of fun things to do.
Don’t hesitate to take this tour if you want a perfect day in Monteverde. It has a little bit of everything and even includes round-trip transfers!
Book your spot here and receive FREE 24-hour cancellation!
5. Go Bungy Jumping!
Bungy jumping is one of the fun Monteverde attractions you have to try – if you’re brave enough that is!
This extreme bungee jump is over 460 feet (140 m) high. That’s the highest in Costa Rica and all of Central America!
What’s unique about this bungy jump is it takes place from a tram over the cloud forest. The tram moves you out high over the cloud forest floor via a cable system and then stops where you will take the plunge. I’ve bungee jumped all over the world but have never experienced a bungee jump like this. Being suspended high up on the tram before jumping down definitely added an added layer of excitement to the jump!
This is a true once-in-a-lifetime experience! Note – there is a weight limit of 242 pounds (110 kg).
Make sure this tour is available for your travel dates here!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
6. Visit a Coffee, Chocolate, & Sugarcane Farm
While you’re here, one of the best activities in Monteverde involves three things that this region is famous for – coffee, chocolate, and sugarcane. I highly recommend visiting one of the plantations in the area on a guided tour to see exactly how these products are produced!
We loved our experience on this 2-hour tour. We learned all about the coffee production process and got to try some too of course! We also saw some sugarcane and got the chance to see how chocolate goes from cocoa beans to a finished chocolate bar. You may even get the chance to grind up cacao beans and make your own chocolate!
We think this is one of the best tours in Monteverde since you get to learn a lot about the local exports while also being involved in the process yourself. The tour also departs multiple times throughout the day, but we recommend going in the morning before it gets too hot.
Check availability for this chocolate and coffee tour here!
7. Go Horseback Riding
If you want to explore the Cloud Forest in a unique and relaxed way, a horseback ride is exactly what you need! This 2-hour horseback riding tour gives your feet a much-needed break while you explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest and surrounding area.
We love going on horseback because you can cover a lot more ground in a short amount of time, plus it’s a lot of fun!
Keep an eye out for toucans, parrots, monkeys, and other critters as you experience the rural side of Costa Rica, far from any crowds or traffic. You’ll also get views of the Gulf of Nicoya, coffee and sugarcane plantations, tropical forests, and open fields.
The tours are offered throughout the day with the earliest tour at 8 am and the last tour at 3 pm. The earlier tours are great if you are interested in birdwatching as they are more active in the morning, but the 3 pm tour is great for catching the sunset!
You don’t need to be an experienced rider as all the tours are suitable for beginners. You will have a knowledgeable guide to teach you everything you need to know.
See if this popular tour is available here and book your spot!
8. Go Birdwatching
Costa Rica is an incredible place for birdwatching. The country is home to more than 900 types of birds – for such a small country, that’s a lot of birds! The birds here range from 50 species of tiny hummingbirds to large scarlet macaws and toucans.
While the Monteverde Cloud Forest and the Santa Elena Cloud Forest are good spots for birdwatching, the Curi-Cancha Reserve is considered even better. This private wildlife reserve has natural trails you can explore on your own or on a tour. It is also the best place to see the extremely rare Resplendent Quetzals in Monteverde!
A tour guide is really helpful for spotting birds as they know exactly what to look for and have specialized equipment like a spotting scope to help you see them too. Tour guides will also help you identify the birds which is a huge help!
The top tour I’d recommend is this 4-hour birdwatching experience. It starts early in the morning around 7 am which is when the birds are most active. You will explore the beautiful Curi-Cancha Reserve on a relaxed walking tour while spotting many different birds and learning tons of interesting facts along the way!
We love that this tour has a maximum of only 8 people, so you really get a personalized experience and can ask tons of questions.
Check out the details of this birdwatching tour and reserve your spot here!
9. Hike to El Tigre Waterfalls
This area is named after the Jaguars (whom the locals called “El Tigre”) that live in this forest. Now, it’s the site of an amazing hike where you can see waterfalls and volcanoes!
The hike itself is lots of fun. The 3.2-mile (5.2 kilometers) downhill trail passes by four different waterfalls across nine bridges, including hanging bridges and natural tree bridges, and has a beautiful viewpoint to see volcanoes.
When we went we did this El Tigre Waterfalls combo tour, which includes roundtrip transportation, entrance fees, the hike to the waterfalls, and a horseback ride back up to the top after visiting the falls. We talked to some people who had hiked all the way back up and they definitely wished they would have done the horseback ride instead!
The hike is “self-guided” which means you can really take your time and explore all of the natural beauty of the area. And don’t worry, the trail is very clearly marked so you won’t get lost! Once you reach the end of the trail, a guide will be waiting with horses for horseback riding and then a lunch to follow.
Make sure to wear your swimsuit, as you can cool off along the way with a dip in the waterfall pools. Also, wear good shoes for hiking as this trail has lots of uphill and slippery sections. And don’t forget a rain jacket!
Click here to check out prices and availability for this combo tour!
Related Read: El Tigre Waterfalls is one of the best waterfalls in all of Costa Rica – find out what the others are!
10. Go Whitewater Rafting on the Tenorio River
The Tenorio River river in Guanacaste is an amazing place for an adventure! Located about 2 hours away from Monteverde, you can go on an epic whitewater rafting tour down class III and IV rapids.
Now this isn’t for the faint of heart, as class 3 and 4 rapids can be quite challenging, but we think it’s a perfect activity for those who have been whitewater rafting before or for adrenaline junkies. Not only will you transverse the challenging rapids, but you will also go down a huge 12-foot drop (3.7 m) called Cascabel Falls!
To do this you must join a tour. We did this full-day tour from Monteverde and had a great time! The twists, turns, and drops of the rapids definitely got our adrenaline pumping and made for a fun day trip.
If you don’t need the transportation included, you can book this rafting experience instead. This is a great option if you are renting a car and can drive yourself to the starting point.
Whichever tour you choose, make sure to wear clothes that can get wet and bring a change of clothes to wear on the way home!
Book your whitewater rafting tour with transportation here OR without transportation here!
Where to Stay in Monteverde
With so much to see in Monteverde, you’ll need a place to stay! Monteverde may be a small tourist town, but there are a surprisingly large number of great hotels in all budget ranges in Monteverde.
Chira Glamping Monteverde – $$$
If you’re a luxury traveler, I highly suggest choosing what we call a “destination hotel”. These hotels are an attraction in themselves because of the unique experience they offer. In Monteverde, one of the best is Chira Glamping Monteverde which offers luxury camping with the option to have your own private hot tub surrounded by nature. Now that’s what I call glamping!
The view from the property is incredible! Rates begin at $375 USD/night. You can check availability and book a spot on Booking.com.
Camino Verde B&B Monteverde – $$
If you’re looking for something in the mid-range category, I love Camino Verde B&B Monteverde Costa Rica. This boutique hotel has beautiful rooms, a deck with magnificent views, and includes breakfast. It’s a comfortable hotel that comes at a great price.
Rates begin at $176 USD/night. You can check availability and book a room on Booking.com.
Selina Monteverde – $
If you’re a budget traveler or backpacker, there are lots of nice hostels in Monteverde. If you like modern features and outstanding facilities, Selina Monteverde is the best option. The hostel is beautiful, has great reviews, and has lots of activities, including yoga.
The only downside is Selina is a high-end backpacker hostel. Prices begin at $97 USD for a one-night stay. You can book Selina on Booking.com or through Hostelworld.
Getting Around Costa Rica
How you choose to get around Costa Rica is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when planning your holiday here! How you do it depends on your budget, travel style, and comfort level.
Renting a Car
Without a doubt, the number one way to explore Costa Rica is in a rental car. We book rental cars on the Discover Cars website as we have had good experiences with them in the past.
One of the things you need to watch for when renting a car in Costa Rica is the mandatory insurance that the government requires you to have. There are a lot of very cheap rentals that don’t include this mandatory insurance (TPL) in the original booking price, but there are also ones that do. To avoid additional surprise charges when you pick up your rental car, be sure to rent a car that includes the mandatory insurance when you book.
Thankfully, on Discover Cars it’s easy to tell apart the companies that include the mandatory insurance and those that don’t. The trick is you can’t pick any car on their website. In the picture below, you can see this rental car, with pick up in Jaco, includes the TPL. That means the mandatory insurance is included in the price. Any cover you get above that is extra.
Of course, I still suggest getting the full coverage offered by Discover Cars, which covers you even more.
You can browse cars on Discover Cars here.
Book Shuttles
If renting a car isn’t in your budget, you don’t feel comfortable driving in Costa Rica, or you just don’t like driving, shuttles are the next best option. There are hundreds of shuttle routes available all over the country, and they are very affordable.
Shuttles in Costa Rica are specifically for tourists and often include pick up and drop off at your selected hotels and airports. The drivers also speak some English, and the vehicles have air conditioning. You’ll also be guaranteed a seat when you book a shuttle (which isn’t the case with the public bus system.)
To get the best price, use the website Bookaway. They compare all the offers and prices of shuttle companies in Costa Rica so you get the best price! Honestly, we have saved so much money using Bookaway!
You can search for shuttles online on Bookaway here.
Public Bus
Lastly, you can use the public bus system. On short journeys, such as from San Jose to La Fortuna or Uvita to Manuel Antonio, this system is great. However, the longer the journey the more hassle and time spent on a bus. It’s undoubtedly best to save the public bus in Costa Rica for short and straightforward trips!
The public buses are definitely the cheapest way to get around Costa Rica, but they are not always very reliable and schedules often change without notice and delays are to be expected. The buses can also be very crowded and hot – so just be prepared!
It’s also good to speak some Spanish if you plan on riding the public bus since most drivers and ticket booth operators don’t speak English.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind.
Pura Vida!
Monteverde is one of the top tourist destinations in Costa Rica for a reason. Although I love the beaches in Costa Rica, coming to explore the cloud forest and all the other amazing places around here are highlights not to be missed.
I hope you enjoyed reading our guide to all of the fun things to do in Monteverde. If you did, then be sure to browse around and check out more of our in-depth guides such as:
Don Juan Coffee Tour Monteverde – How to Book & My Review!