Costa Rica is about exploring the mountains, the sea, and all the fantastic activities and landscapes in between. It is beautiful, small, and has a good road system that can take you to its farthest corners in just a few hours. Thanks to all these very motivating reasons, Costa Rica is more than often on eager travelers’ bucket lists and consistently is on the best destination to visit rankings.

Selvatura Group is a Costa Rican company that offers both the mountain and the beach as part of their experiences. Let’s see how to explore the mountain and the sea with a Selvatura Group Experience during your travels to Costa Rica.

This select group focused on offering unique, local experiences is made up of four fantastic properties, including the Selvatura Adventure Park, Ficus Sunset Suites, Hotel Heliconia, and Jaguarundi Lodge. All are located in the mountaintop sanctuary of Monteverde offering a true experience of this close-to-nature hideaway in the cloud forest.

Papagayo Golden Palms Oceanfront Suites is the beach element of the group. This fabulous beachfront hotel is in the world-famous Gulf of Papagayo just across from the Papagayo Peninsula.

Let’s look at 3 itineraries that take you from the mountains to the sea and in between!

City, Clouds and Coast

This itinerary is about Costa Rica’s history and the beauty of nature in one itinerary. Visit the Central Valley, the Cloud Forest, and the Pacific Ocean coast.

Culture in the City

Enjoy the historical and cultural traditions of Costa Rica during your visit to the capital metropolis of San Jose. This bustling city is easily walkable as its center is quite small yet filled with museums, theaters, restaurants, parks, and restored colonial buildings.

During your stay in San Jose, it is the perfect opportunity to visit a live volcano too! Choose between the Poas Volcano or the Irazu Volcano, both overlook the Central Valley and are a picturesque drive away. Wind up through coffee plantations, farmland, quaint rural towns before having the opportunity to peer down into a crater.

A walk in the clouds

Leave the bustle of city life behind and start your way down onto the Pacific Ocean coast. Drive down the mountain and past the ocean before starting your ascent up to Monteverde, home to the magical cloud forest.

Staying at Ficus Sunset Suites offers a modern twist on the traditional Swiss Chalet. It is conveniently located in the heart of Monteverde and just a short walk to restaurants and the small town of Santa Elena.

Explore the Monteverde cloud forest in one of the many reserves that protect this delicate ecosystem or push your comfort zone to new levels by visiting Selvatura Adventure Park! Ziplines, Tarzan swing, hanging bridges, wildlife sanctuary, and exhibitions all in the cloud forest is what Selvatura is all about. A day of adventure in nature.

The coast is calling

It is time to explore the spectacular Costa Rican coastline so let’s continue our adventure and head for Guanacaste and our favorite beach, Playa Panama. Papagayo Golden Palms Oceanfront Suites sit on this relaxing beach with its amazing sunsets. Fun in the sun is what the coast is all about here.

Take out a kayak or a SUP on the calm waters of Playa Panama or do some beach hopping to the best beaches in Guanacaste. Some necessary relaxation time by the refreshing pool or in your spacious suite is also a must while enjoying Papagayo Golden Palms.

Perspectives of the Pacific

Costa Rica’s Pacific coast extends 1015 kms, and it is as diverse as it is long. Explore this beautiful coastline and its perspectives from different locations and enjoy its treasures.

The Northern Start

Start your Perspectives of the Pacific adventure in Costa Rica at the northern Pacific province of Guanacaste that covers most of the Nicoya Peninsula. This golden coast is filled with light and white-sand beaches, water activities galore, and lots of surf beach towns, each with its unique vibe.

Selvatura Group has the perfect beachside hotel to stay at during your perspectives of the Pacific adventure. Papagayo Golden Palms is just 20 minutes from the Guanacaste international Airport and is beachside. Soft, tropical waters, a delicious, refreshing cocktail, fresh seafood lunches and dinners, and spacious suites are the perfect beginning to your journey.

The Pacific Views

While Monteverde is not on the Pacific Coast, what you do get are the most amazing sunsets and views of the Pacific coastline. This stunning perspective of the Pacific coast means you have panoramic views of the Gulf of Nicoya and its multiple islands.

Sit back with a delicious Costa Rican coffee, a local beer, or a specialty cocktail after a day of adventure in the cloud forest and enjoy the sunset and the views of the Pacific from your Gulf-views Suite at Hotel Heliconia. This classic chalet-style hotel is cozy, inviting, with its signature restaurant serving delicious breakfasts.

South Pacific Seas

This rainforest-laden coastline is an incredible contrast from the drier, sunnier northern coast. High mountains drape onto the coast that is dotted with beaches and with higher humidity, this is the ultimate representation of the green of the tropics.

The land of adventure

This is the ultimate Costa Rican adventure trail with visits to a sleeping volcanic landmark, the magic of the cloud forest, and the sounds of the waves in Guanacaste.

Adventure wonderland

This sleeping giant is a masterpiece of nature. A near-perfect cone-shaped volcano is an ever-present companion during your stay. An adventure wonderland awaits with close-to-nature activities in the air, on the land, and in the water. After a day of adrenaline, finish it off with a relaxing bath in the thermal springs courtesy of our sleeping beauty.

Adventure Mountain

From the lowlands to the magic of the clouds in the sky on the Monteverde mountaintop. Its rightful claim to fame is the cloud forest and its intense beauty. Hike the trails, zipline through its canopy at Selvatura Adventure Park for a day of thrills in the hills.

The Jaguarundi Lodge sits within the only forest in the heart of Santa Elena which means that you can enjoy its beauty from the comfort of your traditional rustic cabin. It is also just a short walk to the restaurants and local community-based cultural and artistic activities that Monteverde does so well.

Adventure under blue skies

Time to move from the green mountaintop of Monteverde to the sweeping lowlands and Pacific Ocean of Guanacaste. This northern province not only boasts some of the most beautiful beaches of Costa Rica, but it also has some adventure-filled volcanic slopes.

This means your sun-filled days at Papagayo Golden Palms can be spent at the beach or by the pool and rappelling, tubing down a river, or horseback riding on the slopes of the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano. This is a trip overflowing with adventure the Costa Rican way.

Selvatura Group has your travels to Costa Rica covered with a wonderful selection of mountain and beachside hotels and an adventure park that guarantees a day of fun and thrills in the cloud forest! Which itinerary did you like best?

They say a family that travels together stays together. Selvatura Adventure Park in Monteverde can’t guarantee that, but it can certainly guarantee a day of absolute fun and a lifetime of memories and stories of the day. Imagine a day of adventure in the beauty of the mystical cloud forest, high up in the mountains of Costa Rica. Add to the image, thrills, different perspectives of the forest, and wildlife observation up close and this is a Family memory-making vacation in Monteverde for all ages.

Monteverde is a small close-knit community on the top of a lush mountain that is one of many along the American Continental Divide. What makes Monteverde extra special is that it is home to the cloud forest; a delicate, yet incredibly beautiful ecosystem, that conjures up images of forest elves and nymphs, that dwell in the undergrowth and dance between the trees. What wonderful stories will your family make up while walking through the misty clouds that weave through the forest, while searching for mystical or real creatures? Some imagination makes your exploration all the more entertaining!

Just as the elves and nymphs, the Monteverde community has dedicated decades to the conservation and preservation of the cloud forest and the wildlife with love. This is definitely a community effort, and through fundraising and the purchase of extended areas, much of the cloud and surrounding forests are now protected within a network of private reserves and parks. This means that there are lots of ways to enjoy the forest, whether it is adventure-filled or not. A perfect solution for all the family to enjoy.

Have stories to tell, not stuff to show: Flying through the clouds

Ready for an adventure in the sky? Canopy or Ziplining could well be the highest point of your family adventure in Monteverde literally and metaphorically. This thrill ride is a favorite adventure for everyone, children included and there will be stories told after it. The Selvatura Adventure Park’s zipline is the only one in Monteverde that runs through the cloud forest too!

With special safety equipment, you will be able to fly through the cloud forest’s canopy at exciting speeds between treetops, and guarantee one of the most exciting and exhilarating experiences of your life. For the younger ones and more cautious older ones, you can opt for an expert ziplining guide to tandem you through the course of cables, platforms, rappels, and Tarzan swings.

The greatest legacy we can leave our children is happy memories: Take a Walk

Monteverde has a variety of nature reserves that will take you into the cloud forest and the rainforest for a morning or afternoon walk. Each reserve offers different trails that vary in length, difficulty, and landscapes so there is a trail that will work for all the family members.

Try the Monteverde Biological Reserve, the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve just to name a few. On all the walks through the different forests, animal spotting will be inevitable and is always fun for everyone. The lower the altitude, the more animals but the cloud forest is where those elves and nymphs would be.

Traveling in the company of those we love is home in motion: Family-friendly stays

Not only does Monteverde have lots of private reserves, but it also has a variety of places to stay! When traveling with the family, it is important to stay in a hotel that offers the modern conveniences of a “home away from home”.

As its name implies, Ficus Sunset Suites is THE place to the vibrant colors of the sun that will change as it sets creating a visual spectacle that the whole family will enjoy. Whether it is from the spacious terrace of the airy room or from The Fig Restaurant that overlooks the Gulf of Nicoya and the quaint town of Santa Elena in the near distance. Enjoy a sundowner drink with the kids to seal a day of family fun.

An equally family-friendly stay is the Hotel Heliconia. This beautiful Alpine-inspired chalet, with its characteristic decorative wooden carvings, large windows, and spacious terraces, invites you to inhale the magic of Monteverde, where time takes on a different rhythm. The hotel’s ideal location will offer a myriad of opportunities to get out and explore the surrounding town streets dotted with restaurants, cafes, and shops.

Memories made together last a lifetime: Where the wild things are

Costa Rica is home to some of the most diverse wildlife in the world. Monteverde is alive with animals of all shapes and sizes, and that will fill your family vacations with squeals of delight, and get everyone engaged with the daily activities. Why not include an activity where you have the opportunity to get up-close and personal with some of its most famous residents at the unparalleled wildlife exhibitions at Selvatura Adventure Park?

Colorful, butterflies fluttering from one flower to another in the gardens, snakes, frogs, and lizards in their terrariums offering 360° views, and the sloth sanctuary will give you up-close observation of their habits and habitats. Just as ziplining, the possibility to see the diversity of wildlife will always be a highlight for children young and old. Unforgettable memories for the family to cherish forever.

Selvatura Adventure Park invites you and your family to enjoy the very best of Monteverde, a family-friendly destination where nature is front and center and can be enjoyed in lots of different and fun ways. Monteverde is a family memory-making destination and we look forward to sharing its magic with you, imaginary elves and nymphs included!

When people ask us when the best time is to visit Monteverde, we are happy to say that Monteverde can and should be visited at any time. It is a destination that is worth singing its praises about! What we definitely add to the answer is that there has to be a time to visit because Monteverde is a bucket list, a must-visit place. Monteverde is a place that has a special rhythm, and it plays to a unique beat of its own drum. Nature and conservation lovers understand this music and it is bustling with eager, nature-lovers for much of the year reaching some high notes during certain months. This versatile destination has certain characteristics that make it a year-round worthy place but let´s delve a bit further into the magic of Monteverde to find the time that is best for you to visit!

What is a must during your stay in Monteverde is to live and experience nature through adventure, and this is where Selvatura Adventure Park becomes music to your ears. This one-stop, adventure park has ziplining, suspension bridges, nature trails, and animal exhibitions all within its 850 acres of protected forest. It is also the only park that will have you ziplining through a cloud forest!

Monteverde is located on a mountaintop that forms the continental divide. This mountain range that runs down the Americas is majestic and magical. Thanks to its altitude and location, it is also home to the cloud forest, a delicate ecosystem with distinctive features. Some of these include low-level clouds, an abundance of mosses, and epiphytes like orchids and bromeliads. It is also rich in animal species including endemic and migratory species!

Singing in the Rain

Costa Rica is within the tropical zone of the globe. This means it is warmer, moister, and with lots of dense vegetation. Monteverde has the added element of altitude, straddling the mountain at 4660 feet, which means it sits within these clouds and as a result the cloud and rainforests of Monteverde thrive inside these moisture-laden puffs.

While Monteverde weather can change within minutes, there will be sun, shade, light rain, mist, and showers, sometimes all on the same day, but that is part of the fun. What does Selvatura Adventure Park recommend? Some good rain gear, water-proof walking or hiking boots and quick-dry clothes so you will be ready for all the range of weather possibilities that Monteverde has for you!

January through to April are the driest and warmest months in Monteverde, which attracts more fellow nature and hiking lovers. It also heightens the possibility to see more wildlife and fantastic sunsets. You will also enjoy some colorful rainbows as light rain is probable at some time.

September and October are when you will see the most rain which can also mean seeing lots of wildlife is a bit harder as they stay undercover and out of sight to avoid the rain. This is also a great season to enjoy the nature trails to yourself which is an upside to the additional rain.

The songs of birds

Monteverde is a very popular temporary home for hundreds of local and migratory birds attracting the lovers of these feathery friends with their binoculars and birding books in hand. Come prepared to view up to 500 different bird species and hear their song, filling the Monteverde sky and forests. So when is the best time for bird watchers to visit Monteverde?

While many birds can be spotted and enjoyed during the whole year, May and June are the high-flying months for bird lovers and enthusiasts. This is when the majority of the migratory birds converge in the canopy of the cloud forest that sits along their migration route. Some will reproduce, and others will rest and feed up before continuing their journey.

Other bird species including the elusive Resplendent Quetzal, a favorite, can be seen during the months of March and April. Many people consider Monteverde to be where one of the most beautiful birds in the world comes to court, reproduce, and nest. Fruits are bountiful including the wild avocado tree, a favorite of the Quetzal, and the Three-Wattled Bell Bird, another desirable bird.

What a wonderful world

Louis Armstrong certainly summed up embracing the environment and the beauty of nature in this song. Selvatura Adventure Park believes it embodies Monteverde and all it offers to visitors that come and experience the forests protected within the multiple nature reserves.

There are times of the year when visitation to Monteverde is higher and the nature trails, restaurants, and hotels are busier and bustling with eager walkers, birdwatchers, adventure-seekers, and nature-lovers. This usually is during the drier months from January to April. Depending on your travel preferences, this could be the perfect time to join in on the fun or a reason to plan your trip when the nature trails are less lively.

Whichever way you see yourself enjoying the greenery, the wildlife, the rainbows, the clouds rolling in, the sound of the rain, and all the beauty the Monteverde holds, it is always the best time to visit Monteverde. Selvatura Adventure Park invites you to enjoy Monteverde with all its natural treasures, fantastic trails, fun adventures, the mystique of the cloud forest, and the thrill of the ride.

Monteverde is famous for its misty cloud forests, and rightly so! This magical forest is full of surprises, and exploring it is an experience that activates your senses. This quaint mountaintop sanctuary is also an adventure lover’s paradise where the cloud forest can be enjoyed from many perspectives and adrenaline levels. This means Monteverde has an adventure for everyone! Let’s delve into the top 5 amazing adventure tours in Monteverde and see which one best suits your thrill-rush level.

So, get your adventure gear ready, as this is going to be lots of fun! Let’s begin our journey of thrills on our favorite misty mountaintop, Monteverde. Selvatura Adventure Park leads the way when it comes to thrills and squeals of fun!

1. Ziplining

Ziplining could well be the hands-down favorite adventure activity for everyone, whatever the search for a thrill may be. Flying through the forest canopy will always create a myriad of emotions as ziplining is more than just the sense of flight. It is a mixture of speed, height, landscapes, cable lengths, braking systems, and additional thrills like rappels, Superman cables, and why not a Tarzan swing!?

One of the most exciting sensations that will make you tingle while ziplining in Monteverde is that you will be traveling through a cloud forest with all its magic. Selvatura Adventure Park boasts the only zipline that actually is within the cloud forest in Monteverde. So not only can you explore the cloud forest from its floor, but you will also have the privilege and joy of viewing it from above!

With 13 cables, including one 1km long and a Tarzan Swing, this is 2.2 miles of absolute and total adventure and thrills. The Selvatura Adventure Park zipline also offers an optional Superman-style ride for those wanting to upgrade their adrenaline rush even more. So harness up and enjoy the ride!

2. Night Hike

Did you know that 60% of the cloud and rainforest animals are nocturnal? That means a night tour is the best time to spot the diversity of animals inhabiting Monteverde’s forests. Like the many types of forests on the Monteverde mountaintop, there is a richness of animals too. From the insects to the amphibians to the mammals, a night walk will showcase many of them. Exploring the Monteverde signature cloud forest will take on a new meaning after dark!

In the company of an expert naturalist guide, walk into the darkness of the forest to see and feel how the forest comes alive under the moonlight. With the night sky as their shade, animals of all shapes and sizes will feed, hunt, explore, breed, socialize, and some will also sleep.

The nocturnal walking tour is a favorite experience for Monteverde visitors, especially for the younger generations. The tours usually last a couple of hours, which is the perfect way to finish the day.

3. Hanging Bridges

While walking over the hanging bridges can be done at the best pace that suits you, the possibility of walking through the forest canopy is an adventure in itself. The sweeping views of the cloud forest and beyond, to see down into the forest-laden valley floor and touch the sky, is breathtaking.

Selvatura Adventure Park has its incredible treetop walkway, a series of suspension bridges that take you through the cloud forest canopy and over the undulating mountainous terrain of the park. The eight bridges that range from 170ft to an impressive 560ft in length are at intervals along the 1.9-mile nature trail that takes walkers into the beauty and mystical cloud forest.

While Monteverde and other parts of Costa Rica have more hanging bridge experiences, each one is different in length, number of bridges, and the type of forest they are located. The Selvatura Adventure Park treetop hanging bridges are a favorite for visitors as they are within the cloud forest and can be combined with other close-to-nature activities, including the fantastic animal exhibitions such as the sloth sanctuary! After enjoying the hanging bridges, see how our favorite tree-dwellers chill out and hang about!

4. Bungee Jumping

We can’t talk adventure in Monteverde without mentioning the ultimate thrill ride for the die-hard adrenaline-rush seekers. However, bungee jumping is not for the faint-hearted although it has a keen fan club, and Monteverde has one that pleases!

A moving tram will take you to the center of a valley, and you will have the opportunity to jump off the edge and free fall from 600 feet over the forest canopy. Of course, this is as extreme as you can get and not for everyone, but bungee jumping is an adventure option in the Monteverde portfolio of thrills, so if you are game, go for it!

With adventure in nature comes perspectives, and bungee jumping will give its adrenaline-rush participants a unique vision of the surroundings. Nevertheless, unlike ziplining or hanging bridges, the experience is more intense and is over quickly, so enjoy the views while they last!

5. High-level Hiking

Monteverde is a dream destination for avid hikers, thanks to the number of trails that can be explored in the several nature reserves protecting the cloud and rain forests on this mountaintop. With this said, Monteverde attracts amateur and professional hikers from all over the world, to conquer the endless routes and trails, that twist and turn, up and down, the mountain slopes.

Regarding high-level hiking in Monteverde, the challenge lies in deciding which trails to explore, as there are so many. One day, it is hiking through the cloud forest, the next, through a rainforest. Not only are the types of forests to explore varied, but also their difficulty level and their length.

An example is the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, which has 13km or 8 miles of trails that wind through the cloud forest. Some with observation decks, a waterfall, and even a lookout of the Continental Divide where you can see both the Pacific and the Atlantic slopes!

What is essential is to bring comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots, a rain jacket, camera, binoculars, and high-level hiking in Monteverde is yours to enjoy!

Selvatura Adventure Park has a great hiking trail that is an adventure as a stand-alone activity, although there is lots more to do and see! After a happy hike, enjoy all the nature activities that Selvatura has and make a day out of it! Ziplining, hanging bridges, reptile and amphibian exhibition, the butterfly garden, and the Sloth Sanctuary are what awaits! Monteverde has fantastic adventure activities to enjoy.

Monteverde is best known for its magical cloud forest, and its fame is well deserved. Lush, green forest, misty skies, and enthusiastic travelers exploring the hiking trails and forest canopies come to mind immediately. When the clouds lift and the blue skies appear, enjoy the uninterrupted, panoramic views of the Nicoya Gulf, dotted with small islands. It is also where you can find delicious eateries, so the question may be: Which are the best restaurants in Monteverde? Let´s explore this mountaintop for some great food!

Monteverde has a fabulous collection of excellent restaurants, bars, and cafes that are the delicious beginnings, intervals, and ends of a day of adventure in Monteverde.  This is a journey of flavors, aromas, and innovative kitchens in the clouds!

Selvatura Adventure Park is where you will work up an appetite. As you explore the nature reserve zip lining through the cloud forest canopy, hiking the nature trails, and walking over hanging bridges inhaling all that fresh air, you get hungry! So, after your day of adventure exploring and experiencing nature up close, you may want to venture out to explore some more and taste Costa Rica from different perspectives!

Let’s explore the five best restaurants in Monteverde with the best dish recommendation for each!

1. The Fig Restaurant

The Fig Restaurant is found at Ficus Sunset Suites, just steps from the center of the town of Santa Elena.  The Fig combines gastronomical innovation with a casually elegant ambiance while delighting in the uninterrupted views of the forest and down onto the coast.

Many of the ingredients come directly from the hotel´s vegetable and herb garden guaranteeing ultimate organic freshness. This farm-to-table concept also represents the traditions and culture of Costa Rica that Fig Restaurant honors in its many delicious dishes that come with an innovative and modern twist.

The Fig serves breakfast and dinner, ensuring a delicious start and finish to your day!  This fabulous restaurant also has a Happy Hour offering a range of top-shelf cocktails and drinks that are a perfect way to enjoy stunning sunsets and a delicious dinner experience.

Recommendation: Tomato Salad, Prairie Rib, or Heart of Palm Ravioli.

2. Celajes Restaurant Monteverde

Celajes Restaurant, located in the Hotel Belmar, is a restaurant, cocktail lounge, and craft brewery all in one. With a generous balcony, you can enjoy the sweeping views of the forest and the Gulf of Nicoya while dining or having a drink to celebrate your day of adventure in nature.

The restaurant’s ambiance is elegant and retains a sense of formality. Celajes is an excellent option if you want to dress up a bit and enjoy a sophisticated menu of curry-inspired dishes and its farm-to-table concept.  This works well in the Swiss chalet-style building the hotel and the restaurant are within.

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Celajes Restaurant´s star of the show is the vegetable and herb garden, which are essential ingredients in the success of the dining experience. This is higher-end dining.

A recommendation:  Burrata Salad, Salt Cured Beef Tenderloin, Pejibaye Agnolotti.

3. San Lucas Treetop Dining Experience

San Lucas Treetop Dining Experience is a gastronomical experience at the top of the forest. It is a 7-course tasting dinner and wine experience and offers a private dinner in a glass box.

San Lucas Treetop Dining Experience is an innovative example of how Costa Rica and Monteverde are becoming increasingly sophisticated in dining. Although Monteverde is about close-to-nature experiences, this could be the place if you are looking for an upscale dining experience.

Recommendations: The Pescatarian or the Vegetarian menus.

4. TreeHouse Restaurant

Hugging a strangler fig tree, Treehouse Restaurant truly represents Monteverde’s. This restaurant emulates a treehouse with a casual ambiance right in the middle of town. If you can zipline and walk in the forest, why not eat in one too?  This is about delicious dining with some fun.

The menu is a fusion of Latin-American dishes emphasizing the world-famous Peruvian specialties, so be prepared for some fantastic fresh seafood dishes.  The Tree House also has pizzas and traditional Costa Rican dishes on its menu.

Treehouse Restaurant is bustling and busy, so it is not a quiet night out, but it is worth visiting!

Our recommendation: Tree House Pizza, Rice with Seafood, Veggie Pie.

5. Morphos Restaurant

A long-time favorite in Monteverde, Morphos Restaurant offers a varied menu of local and international dishes that complements the family atmosphere that has made Morphos so well known and enjoyed. It also boasts one of the best sunsets on the mountaintop too.

As is the case for many of the restaurants in Monteverde, reflecting its focus on well-being and healthy living, Morphos has its own vegetable and herb garden. The harvest of this garden is used in the delicious and generous dishes served in this casual restaurant.

Recommendation: Morphos Chicken, Veggie Burger, Mango, and Tamarind Pork Chop

Selvatura Adventure Park is excited to share some great dining spots you can visit during your stay in Monteverde and at the hotel.  Just as you can enjoy true adventure and thrills in nature at the park, Monteverde is also adventurous in the cloud forest’s kitchens.  We look forward to showing you the very best of Monteverde in the forests and the kitchen!