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Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Costa Rica is the most famous cloud forest reserve in the world and one of the most important protected areas in Costa Rica. It is visited by nature lovers from various countries desiring to enjoy, appreciate and study the abundant biodiversity of its ecosystems. It was created in 1972 to protect the watershed above the village of Monteverde (“Green Mount”), a small town in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. 
Although majority of the reserve is located in the Puntarenas province, however parts stretch to the Alajuela province, along the Tilarán Mountain Range.
It is often considered a major tourist destination in Costa Rica, primarily frequented by ecotourists drawn by the high biodiversity of its numerous reserves, the most famous of which is the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. The area is also frequented by researchers and naturalists who come to study specialized areas of mountain and tropical biodiversity. The Monteverde area has been christened number 14 of the Americas in Newsweek’s 100 Places to Remember Before They Disappear, besides been deemed one of the Seven Wonders of Costa Rica, and also has been called “the jewel in the crown of cloud forest reserves” by National Geographic.
The reserve consists of 6 ecological zones, 90% of which are virgin forest, filled with extravagantly tall trees that range from 30 to 40 meters in heigh, with pathways that are embellished in orchids, bromeliads, ferns, vines, and mosses. The unique landscape is home to over 2,500 plant species, so is also known as the site with the largest number of orchids in the world, as well as has over 161 species of amphibians and reptiles, been known worldwide as the habitat of the golden toad (Bufo periglenes), a species that disappeared in 1989.
The variable climate and large altitudinal gradient has helped produce an extremely high biodiversity, with more than 100 species of mammals such as marsupials, squirrels, porcupines, agouties, deer, monkeys, muskrats and felines such as the Jaguar, Ocelot, Baird´s Tapir, Three-wattled Bellbird, Bare necked Umbrella bird and the famous elusive Resplendent Quetzal. The beginning of the migration of the bell bird (Procnias tricarunculata) is similar to that of the quetzal, with reproduction occurring from March to June, and followed by a post-reproductive move downhill on the Pacific slope during the months of August and September. Besides, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has about 400 bird species, where 21% of them are long distance migratory birds, which reproduce in North America and pass through Monteverde during their migration. Three of these species, the 
Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus), the Piratic Flycatcher (Legatus leucophaius), and the Yellow-green Vireo (Vireo flavoviridis), reproduce in Monteverde and migrate to South America during their non-reproductive phase.
The majority of the bird species in Monteverde are primarily insectivores, given that the plants in the region offer a wide variety of fruit. The epiphytes are important resources for both, frugivores and insectivores in Monteverde. On a global scale, the cloud forests of Monteverde are home to ten species of birds that are considered to be endangered by the Birdlife International Organization, due to their very restricted habitat worldwide.
Resting roughly at 1400 meters above sea level, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is misty and windy, with a mean annual temperature of 18°C (64°F) and an annual rainfall averages around 3,000 mm (118 in), where humidity oscillates between 74% to 97%.
Early in the 50’s, a group of quakers from the United States and their families arrived to Costa Rica. Led by Hubert Mendenhall, John Cambell, Howard Rockwell, and Wilford Guindon, they settled in Monteverde, when colonization in the region was just beginning.
It was in 1972 that biologist George Powell joined Wilford Guindon, one of the Monteverde Quaker pioneers, to promote the establishment of the natural preserve now known as the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, an area of extraordinary beauty and biodiversity; it is today the best-known private reserve on the Central American. The establishment of the reserve was fully backed by the Quaker community. During the first years they helped to obtain financing, and during the construction of “La Casona”, they received scientists and visitors as guests in their homes.
After the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve creation, the Tropical Science Center continued to secure the financial and human resources necessary to expand, consolidate and properly protect and manage the non-profit reserve.
The spectacular Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve feels like walking in a grandiose green Cathedral, where poorly drained areas support swamp forests while parts dissected by numerous crystal clear streams tumbling over rapids and waterfalls. With its unique cloud canopy, Monteverde 
Cloud Forest Reserve is a paradise for nature lovers and avid photographers. It comes as no surprise that people who visited Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve rank it as one of the most beautifully, stunning and breath taking nature reserves in the world.
The number of visitors to the preserve has risen consistently from 471 visitors in 1974 to 70,000 in 2005, so the income derived from entrance fees and charges for scientific research provides the budget to cover the cost of all administrative, managerial, security and educational expenses.
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve offers ideal facilities for research, education and ecotourism. It has a lodging mountain “La Casona” with capacity for 47 persons with an agreeable service of cafeteria and restaurant, a room of audiovisuals and a sale of tickets, a center for environmental education, a scientific laboratory with a classroom of study, administrative offices and a shop of crafts and souvenirs. Other nearby Costa Rica reserve includes the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve.
Getting to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve:
From San Jose take the Pan-American highway North to kilometer 133, then turn right towards Sardinal, 1 km after the Aranjuez River and Cuenca Restaurant, until you reach Santa Elena (about 29 Km). Once you reach Santa Elena, continue for another 6 km following the signs. Now you can also take the new Caldera Highway to Puntarenas and then follow the same directions to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. From Sardinal to Monteverde, you will need a 4×4 car, even during the dry season, since some 20 km correspond to a gravel road.
From Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), drive south on the Pan-American Highway through Liberia, Bagaces, Cañas and Las Juntas to Sardinal. Here, turn to the left at the gas station to Santa Elena (about 29 km). Once you reach Santa Elena continue for another 6 km following the signs. From Sardinal to Monteverde, you will need a 4×4 car, even during the dry season, since some 20 km correspond to a gravel road.
By bus
Take a bus San Jose – Monteverde, which takes about 5 hours (Transmonteverde S.A, Phone: +506 2222-3854). We recommend buying the ticket the day before to secure your space.
You can also take a bus Puntarenas – Monteverde, which takes about 2 hours (Transmonteverde S.A, +506 2222-3854). There is also a bus service leaving from downtown Santa Elena to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.
Location: 6km (3.7 miles) southeast of Santa Elena, district: Monteverde, canton: Puntarenas, province: Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 60109.
Santa Elena GPS Coordinates: 10.317369,-84.824386 (10°19’2.53″N, 84°49’27.79″W)
Size: 17.000 ha (42.000 acres)
Altitude: 1,200 m to 1,600 m
Schedule: from 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. all the year round.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Telephone: +506 2645-5122 / +506 2645-5579
Fax: +506 2645-5034
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192
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