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Monteverde Travel Guide: Reviews, photos, & videos
It doesn’t take a genius long to figure how Monteverde earned its name. Monteverde means “green mountain” in Spanish; lush green mountains and rich and diverse emerald forests surround this small but welcoming town located in Puntarenas, Costa Rica; mystery solved. But it’s not enough just to stand awe-inspired at the natural beauty of Monteverde, one must experience it up close and personal. The first step would be to visit the Monteverde Cloud Forrest. Straddling the Continental Divide at 1440 meters, the Monteverde Cloud Forest is a lush and dense rain forest with over 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds and 2,500 species of plants. Acclaimed as one of the most prominent wildlife refuges in the New World Tropics, the forest is not only the perfect spot for nature lovers but also a key destination for adrenaline junkies.
Take one of the numerous exhilarating zip line and canopy tours at one of the many spots scattered throughout the Cloud Forest and experience the sensation of flight through this lush rainforest with the ground – and the rest of the gravity shackled population - a hundred feet below! After flying through the forest, why not hike through it? Drawing over, 70,000 tourists a year, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve boasts some of the most impressive array of plants and animals in the ecosystem including the largest orchid population in the world with 34 of its 500 species originating in this region. And for those who’d rather witness pristine Monteverde in a more exciting fashion, there are numerous horseback tours offered throughout the rolling countryside, but be forewarned, Costa Rican horses are much more ill-tempered than your average American horse. Trust me, I know from experience! So fly, walk or saddle up to see Costa Rica’s prize land of Green Mountains; because no matter how one decides to experience Monteverde, the wonder, amazement and beauty are always the same.
