Costa Rica Guide
The Central Pacific and southern Nicoya
Monteverde
Though generally associated only with its eponymous cloudforest reserve, Monteverde actually covers a larger area, straddling the hump of the Cordillera de Tilarán between Volcán Arenal and Laguna de Arenal to the northeast and the low hills of Guanacaste to the west. Along with the reserve, you'll find the spread-out Quaker community of Monteverde, the neighbouring town of Santa Elena – with the majority of the area's amenities and budget accommodation – and further afield its own cloudforest reserve, and several small hamlets, including Cerro Plano. Throughout the region, the enchanting charm of the cloudforests is magnified by a combination of tranquil beauty, invigorating weather and the odd mix of Swiss-style farms and tropical botanical gardens.