After a long Bus journey from San José, we disembarked in Monteverde, the Green Mountain where we planned a "Monteverde Night Tour". The roads to reach the mountaintop paradise of Monteverde were treacherous. We were happy to have chosen public transportation from the terminal 7-11 in San José. At only 2845 pesos, we could relax and admire the scenery along the winding dirt road. Private shuttles cost much more for roughly the same driving time. The only advantage was the air conditioning which was a non-necessary luxury in March.
Upon arriving in the quaint town Santa Elena/Monteverde, the sky was bright blue. The small town was surrounded by an extensive reserve of green lush. A very light rain was constantly falling from the verdant forests. We checked in at the familial hotel Santa Fe. The charming accommodation was at a walking distance from the centre where we found numerous cute cafes, bars and restaurants.
Our goal in Monteverde was to spot the animals in the natural habitat. The green oasis was brimming with plants and animals. But since 80% of the wildlife was nocturnal, a "Monteverde Night Tour" was the best option to explore the unique beauty and diversity of the Cloud Forest.
We booked a last minute "Monteverde Night Tour" from our hotel, freshen up, ate Costa Rican food, geared up and waited for the bus shuttle. Our tour began at 5:30 PM just before nightfall when most of the creatures began to wake up, look for mates, and hunt. The clouds forest really came alive at that time.
Equipped with a flashlight, we made our way through the windy forest trails. The group was too big with another 10 fellow explorers. Therefore, we stayed close to the local guide. We were incredibly lucky to see a lot of amazing insects, birds and mammals such as armadillo, opossum and 2-toed sloth. We learned that only 2-toed sloths live in Monteverde. 3-toed sloths don’t have enough fur to live up in the cloud forests.
We strolled through the private reserve for almost 2 hours and we highly enjoyed our Monteverde Night Tour. The experience was enthralling, as we would have never encountered so many insects and mammals during the day.
Practical information on the Monteverde Night Tour
- $25 per person including transportation, entrance and guide.
- The walk is almost 2 hours. The trail is easy unless you have issues walking for long periods of time.
- Wear good walking shoes and long pants to protect against the branches, trees and the mosquitoes.
- Bug repellent is a must.
- Bring water even though it's only 2 hours.
- Always follow your guide’s instructions.
- Don’t walk off the trail or touch the trees or bushes. You don't want to touch a green Viper!
- The guide provides flashlights for everyone but there are weak and mainly for walking. You can also bring your own headlamp if you want.
- Do not use flash unless allowed by the guide.
- A good lens for your camera will make a huge difference to get the perfect picture of the sloths hiding up in the trees.
- Manage your expectations. You are not in a zoo. Animals will be up in the trees or be hiding...