My first time in Monteverde

I wanted to visit Monteverde for a long time.  A few years ago, the place was not that popular.  As a matter of fact, it was thanks to foreigners that the natural reserves were found.

Did you know it was not until the late 60s that the forests started to be protected? It  was thanks to the Quakers, foreign biologists, and the government that the higher lands in the mountains begun to be noticed.

I find the history of Monteverde impressive. I think everyone who knows the roots of the development of this region finds it amazing that the place was unknown to everyone for so many years, and even today that it is a world known destination, the magic of the place remains.

Why is Monteverde so popular?

You have to realize Costa Rica is a tiny country – it only occupies 0.03% of the earth’s surface (51.100km2) – but it contains nearly 6% of the world’s biodiversity.

Of that percentage, Monteverde accounts for 2.5%! Why do you think so many people want to visit now? It is not only its breathtaking views, but the variety of wildlife that you get to see, and that incomparable fresh air it lets you breathe.

Understanding the beginnings

So, as I mentioned, it was just recently that Monteverde started to be more accessible to everyone.  At the beginning, the towns were not really prepared for the touristic growth that the region has seen, and I was told tourists even slept in the residents’ houses so that they could get to see the beautiful reserves that had just been founded.

It fills my heart with happiness to know that the support provided by so many countries has helped in conserving a vital corner of our planet. This is a place where thousands of animals choose to live at some point of the year, and where locals get a chance to provide for their families by helping nature all along.

This is not only about getting adventurous in a very tropical destination, but about finding freedom and cooperation across neighbors who love their home as much as you will.

Tips for your first visit to Monteverde

To help you a little bit with your planning, these are a few basic tips that may come handy on your trip to Monteverde:

1. The roads: this should be one of the main concerns when planning your trip here.  Roads to Monteverde are not the best in the country.  Although many locals use sedans to get to the area, based on my experience I do not recommend you as a tourist to go without a 4WD car.

There are two main ways to get there, we tried them both late April 2018, and I can conclude that:

• • I prefer the road from Las Juntas (145), even if some parts are very bumpy, and full of holes, it gets better after 30 minutes of driving and is less stressful overall.

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• • Route 606 was under construction when we went. This means that they close the road at certain times, and you need to plan accordingly.
  • Apart from this, yes, this road will get you a little bit faster to The Interamerican highway, but it is in a bad condition at the time of writing this post.  Full of rocks that will make you want to go back, and imagine if it rains! – The views though are spectacular!! The first picture below shows the road closing times (back then), check if construction is still ongoing before you visit!
  • I do not recommend driving any of these routes by night if you’re not familiar with the area.

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• • There is a super complete article that will help you decide what route to take in this blog: link

2. Where to go? If you already started searching for ideas on what to do in Monteverde, you probably realized by now that there are a lot of activities to choose from! What I can tell you is that no matter what you do, you will have a great time!  There are though, some mandatory visits while you’re there, and my picks are:

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• • Hanging bridges
  • Ziplining
  • Night tour in one of the reserves – more info
  • Cable car
  • Ficus tree climbing
  • Canopy
  • Enjoy  the many restaurants and cafes!

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3. Check the weather:  We were really lucky to have perfect sunny days when we went to Monteverde, but the reality is that the majority of the time it is rainy.  This does not mean that you will not enjoy, but do take this into account when you are making your plans (like what to pack, what activities to do, and what car to rent!).  If you are visiting during rainy season (June to October) I definitely recommend packing a rainy coat and comfortable hiking shoes to avoid any surprise.  Find useful information on the weather in Monteverde here

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In summary

Unfortunately, I only spent two days in Monteverde.  This was enough to convince myself I have to return, do everything that I did again, and explore new places in the area.

I’ll talk about my itinerary in another post, but thought of sharing my overall feeling of the place here.  Do not think twice about visiting Monteverde, it is a must when you are in Costa Rica.

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