The receptionist explained each and everything minutely with patience. The zip lines guides were very kind and helpful. Oscar and his colleague explained everything properly during zip lining. Oscar also agreed to my decision of doing the superman pose at the last moment. Everything went very well and I enjoyed. The hanging bridges were awesome!! I got beautiful photographs taken by photographer as well!

I have nothing more to add that hasn’t been shared by hundreds of other reviewers but suffice it to say that this is a sacred place that you HAVE to visit if you are in Monte Verde. I did the suspension bridge tour and it was phenomenal. Didn’t see a lot of wildlife but the rainforest / jungle is sacred and awe-inspiring. The restaurant “El Jardín” was pretty good too but don’t get the burger. Just go for the Casado!

We did the canopy tour here and it was an amazing experience. We decided to do it here because this tour goes through the primary cloud forest, something most other tours don’t have. The views were amazing while flying through the forest. You leave with quite a big group but after a few tracks the group gets spread more and you don’t have to wait too long. The staff is very friendly and works very quick so that everything runs smoothly. They follow all safety protocols and we never saw anything dangerous happen, the gear is in good condition. The Tarzan Swing is included in the price but you have to pay extra for the Superman. The long track over a canton is very cool, it takes at least a minute and during that time you can really enjoy the views. The tour is quite expensive but it is definitely something you should do in Costa Rica!

The park was nice! We did the hanging bridges and the butterfly sanctuary and we’re not disappointed by either. Our only complaint is the cost; we booked in advance through a travel agency for the hanging bridges and they didn’t offer any combo packages so we had to pay full price for the butterfly garden. Also even though we did a guided walk through the bridges, we were not allowed to walk through them after unless we paid the full entry fee again. A little disappointing but still beautiful!

We visited Selvatura Park mainly for the famous canopy tours, which were every bit as amazing as promised. Soaring over the cloud forest is something we’ll be talking about for years. But what really surprised us was how much we loved the butterfly sanctuary. It’s the one part most people seem to skip, which is a real shame because watching the whole transformation from caterpillar to butterfly up close is simply magical. We wandered among hundreds of butterflies in all shapes and colors, even spotting a few just emerging from their chrysalises. It felt like stepping into a living storybook. We also stopped by the sloth sanctuary, which was peaceful and heartwarming. Seeing these gentle creatures slowly do their thing (mostly nap and snack) was oddly soothing. Selvatura might be famous for the adrenaline, but don’t miss the quieter corners — they made our day even more special. Highly recommend taking the time to explore it all.

Zip lines we're great! Very helpful and friendly staff. Bridges and wildlife was meh. I suspect the Zipline traffic, bridges, and noise has driven out most of the birds and animals that would typically be there. Reduce your expectations if you want to see animals out in the wild.

This was a wonderful experience, despite the wind and the rain and the poor weather conditions. We did the 13 leg zip line and the sloth sanctuary. We came back the next day and did the hanging bridges and it was a little bit clearer day. I enjoyed all of the activities, even being thrust into a windy cold storm at fast speeds. The guides made you feel safe and secure. The slots were clean and well taken care of and it was beautiful to see them up close in person. The hanging bridges was a very nice experience as well. Recommend doing the whole park pass!!! Just do it!!!!

Our private guide, Lucia, was very nice and knowledgeable. It is a beautiful forest environment. We did not see a lot of wildlife, but that just happens sometimes. We did get a good scope view of a tarantula. Our tour started at eight in the morning and the trails were not busy. You might have to start a little earlier to see much wildlife. Note that the road to get there is very, very rough and takes about 25 minutes from the town.

Gorgeous, well maintained trails! Seriously better sign posted than some of US national park trails we’ve been on. A good first day hiking outing to warm you up for more challenging hikes (e.g. El Tigre waterfall, another I’d highly recommend). We did the blue trail, took about 1.5 hrs, there was a tree fallen right at the half way point but it didn’t take long to go around and take the shortcut through. We didn’t pay to enter, had lovely staff out front to answer questions and recommend trails. Nature abounds, we didn’t see many animals but I’m sure a guide would be able to point plenty out. Also a decent size parking lot if you drive!

Beautiful! Saw very few other people there while hiking. Easy to follow trails thru the cloud forest, sound of rain falling, misting, birds - was recommended over Monteverde as less crowded quiver option and was perfect!

We had a fantastic tour with Orlando, who was super knowledgeable! This is definitely not the place to spot loads of animals due to the dense jungle, but the cloud forest experience is very unique compared to all the other well-known national parks at lower levels. Orlando did show us a hummingbird nest though! Well worth the trip.

Absolutely beautiful park. It felt so moody and magical. Unlike any other place I've hiked before. We didn't come across too many people.

The observatory on the Youth Challenge trail is an absolute must-see. In good weather conditions, you’ll get an amazing view of the surrounding area and the Arenal Volcano. The trail is well marked and easy to follow. I visited the park at the opening hour and, besides at the information center, I did not see anyone else on the trail. Halfway through I even managed to spot monkeys jumping across the trees.

A beautiful mountain rainforest. It’s almost impossible to see any animals, but the forest itself is amazing — one of the best places I visited in Costa Rica. I highly recommend going early in the morning, when the mist is rising — the whole forest feels magical. One big advantage: compared to Monteverde Park, Santa Elena is much less visited, so you won’t be walking in crowds. On the more distant trails, you’ll likely be completely alone. Just a heads-up: in the morning, the forest can be quite cold and damp, so I suggest bringing a light jacket.

Monteverde Cloud Forest is a famous destination, but there are a few important things to know before you go: 1.Ticket Location Confusion Make sure you go to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve Parking Lot to buy your tickets — not directly to the entrance! The entrance (called “Entrance to Monteverde Reserve”) is further up the road, but you can’t buy tickets there. If you go straight to the entrance without a ticket, you’ll have to go all the way back to the parking lot. 2.Free Shuttle Included There’s a free shuttle that takes you from the parking lot to the entrance, and it’s included in your ticket price — convenient and easy! Pricing Entrance fee is $26 USD per adult, and if you want a guided tour, it’s $23 USD extra per adult. 3.Road Condition The road leading to Monteverde Cloud Forest is quite rough and bumpy. Considering the relatively high entrance fee, I think they could invest in improving the access road a bit! 4. Getting There from town You can get to the parking lot by driving, taking public transport, or using a local shuttle service like PyP Transportations (about 4000 CRC round trip). All options are manageable, but some planning is helpful. 5. Bonus: Free Wi-Fi! One pleasant surprise was the free Wi-Fi available at the reserve — not something you’d expect in the middle of the cloud forest! Overall Experience Personally, I found the experience quite similar to rainforests in La Fortuna — lush and beautiful, but not drastically different. If you’ve already visited other rainforest areas in Costa Rica, this might not feel like a must-see. But if it’s your first cloud forest experience, it’s still worth checking out.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A breathtaking and essential visit for nature lovers The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is absolutely beautiful. I visited in November — it wasn’t a sunny day, but that made the experience even more magical. I was lucky enough to see the Resplendent Quetzal and several other bird and wildlife species among the lush trees, vines, and dense vegetation. Yes, the entrance fee is higher than in other reserves, but it’s important to remember that your visit directly supports forest conservation. It’s worth every cent for those who truly love nature. If you’re not a nature lover, maybe it’s not for you — but for those who are, this place is paradise. Monteverde is one of the few remaining true cloud forests on Earth — a rare and fragile ecosystem that must be protected. Please, visit responsibly: respect the trails, take your trash with you, and appreciate this living treasure. Every step here reminds you how important it is to protect our planet. 🌿

Our tour with Chris was amazing. He was so knowledgeable about the forest, and so excited to share it with us. We saw capuchin monkeys, snakes, and plenty of birds. We went back into the cloud forest after our tour with the included day pass which was fun to walk around by ourselves as well. We did the earliest morning tour, and I would recommend going sooner than later!

It is a beautiful and well maintained reserve. We had our guide through "Three Brothers," and Mauricio was excellent. He helped us see Quetzals, baby birds in nests, an abandoned hummingbird nest, lizards, and many other birds. He had a wealth of knowledge about the plants and animals of the area and helped us get pictures and videos of the animals on our phone through his telescope. We also saw spider monkeys during our hike. I recommend going here and I highly recommend having a guide as we would not have seen what he showed us on our own. The food was also good at the Cafe on site.

1. Get a guide. It's worth it. 2. Dont trust google maps! Parking is 1km away from the entrance down at the base of the hill, and charged at $5. They run shuttle buses from the lot to the gate. We saw so much that we would otherwise have walked right past. You can come and go through the day with one ticket. The hiking trails are well mapped and easy.

The tour was informative and our guide was knowledgeable about both the local wildlife and the ecosystem of the reserve. That said, we didn’t see much wildlife during the tour—so if spotting animals is your priority, I’d recommend checking out Curi Cancha Reserve instead, which tends to offer more opportunities for wildlife viewing. Still, the trails in Monteverde are absolutely stunning and worth exploring. I’d definitely suggest doing some additional hiking on your own after the guided portion to really soak in the beauty and tranquility of the cloud forest. A solid option for nature lovers, especially those interested in learning about the history and environment of the area.

Monteverde cloud forest is one of the icons of climate change research. This is the place where it was first established that climate change has a direct relation with species extinction with the extinction of the now famous golden toad. Many biologist and environmentalist visit and study this place. So when visiting this forest you need to come with the right mindset. To experience the beauty of a forest where most species survive on the unique phenomenon of clouds watering the forest rather than rain. If you come thinking you will see a bunch of animals or do a zip line or see a beautiful hanging bridge then unfortunately you would be disappointed. The canopy is very thick in Monteverde so animal sighting is harder than other reserves. How to experience this forest? Just peacefully walk through it , listen to the sound of nature and meditate. There is a point in the trail where you can see both the Caribbean and pacific side, do go see that if you can. I see a lot of people complaining about ticket charges and true if you expect something else you would be frustrated but note that your contribution is helping preserve this ecosystem which is already under decline. Try to not treat this as some entertainment spot, and trust me you will have a good time. It’s pretty much where the earth is truly breathing and coming alive. It’s magical and beautiful

The food was good but terribly overpriced, the portions were not big either. Menu variety is not great either

Cold ham slice and a tablespoon of eggs for breakfast. For a $20 priced breakfast or an included meal, either way it was cold gross and unfilling. Only place in all of Costa Rica we weren't served real juice. Some syrupy fake version like sunny d. No pulp or pretending it was juice. Coffee was good, couldn't get a refill. But really, they couldn't be bothered to heat the deli meat straight out of the package? Dinner ... ignored food allergies in group despite clear understanding. Menu stated sweet potato fries, they served white potato fries covered in flour. Chicken covered in cheese though it was asked for plain. Burger seemed to be frozen. Lunch... cold vegetable plate the size of a small side for $18 USD. The aoili mentioned on menu never showed. Shrimp were extremely overcooked to beyond toughness. Three meals and several entrees & opportunities to get it right. Despite being only party in restaurant for 2 of 3 meals service was minimal. We had to chase off the local raccoon ourselves several times. Went inside after requesting check and 20 mins of raccoon continuing to come back. Then had to wait inside again for check another 10 mins while lady took call in orders. One redeeming quality is the location. Beautiful view. Don't choose El Establo based on dining options. The other restaurant is closed and Laggus will not endear you to staying longer. Too bad really because we really had very high hopes for the hotel and Monteverde.

Amazing food! The Ahi tuna tower is fantastic and eaten before the picture.

Difficult to understand reviews over 2 stars. A $20 breakfast was one of the poorest out of all of our trips to CR. Fake juice, tasteless eggs and fruits. We only had breakfast here to safe time to enjoy the surroundings. Will def not eat here again and probably never stay at this hotel. From the positive: the view was good as well as the wine selection, staff was friendly and attentive. But prices out of the range, could have had a way better deal even in a corner Soda place.

This place is excellent, we sat outside and listened to the lite rain fall while we ate. The service was great and I had the best Sea Bass dinner I have ever tasted. We were told that reservations were a must, but there would not have been a problem if we didn’t have them. I would highly recommend you seeking out this place if you’re ever in that area.

This restaurant inside the premises of El Establo Mountain Hotel offers buffet style meals. The food is tasty and fresh and has some nice views from their deck area. If you're staying staying the hotel give them a try, is well worth it.

Unsurprisingly Monteverde is slightly more expensive for food than other areas of CR. However, the $15 menu offers good value for money. We ate the Spicy Tuna Tacos twice; they tasted delicious and piled with tuna!

The location and actual layout of the hostel was lovely. Seemed pretty boujee but the layout does not reflect the layout or condition of the shared dorms. We were not provided with any towels, and were only available at a cost. Us as well as who we shared the dorm with used the one towel on the floor outside of the shower to step on repetitively and it got pretty gross not even getting replaced. The shower water was cold, regardless of how long you ran it or fiddled with it. In the kitchen, upon trying to warm something up, I realized there was no microwave and also no kettle. The fridge was also pretty stinky. The restaurant had good quality food but the wait staff was subpar, we had to approach the waitress for everything we wanted (drinks, food, our bill) and honestly were treated pretty snootily considering the money we spent.) Definitely could have been a better experience.

Hotel was supposed to have a restaurant and a bar with happy hour, why we booked. Upon arrival it turned out to be an empty hotel without restaurant or bar. All lights were out at night and nobody was there. After complaining and explaining why we don’t think it was fair to charge a full price; the owner threatened to call the police, who he said would not only make us pay the full price, but do something with our immigration credentials as well. The owner did everything through his reception guy, but refused to talk to us himself. Nice rooms, terrible service and intimidation.

Stayed here for 3 nights - the actual property of the hostel is lovely, there is a jacuzzi on site, a yoga room, and a restaurant. I will preface by saying I came here as a solo traveler that prefers their own room - the private room i received was fine in size and layout, but the walls were so thin that i could hear the people snoring in the room next to me on one side all night, and a couple fighting all day in the room on the other. At that point, i was basically in a shared room but paying 4x the price. The hostel is also quite far from town - so getting to and from town is another cost to consider. For that reason, I give my stay 3 stars and wouldn’t recommend this location for a private room.

I go w school trip. So basically, pay like others. But unfortunately i have a terrible room. It has no windows, look like a store-house but then they make it become a hotel room. i found 2 bugs so far in the room and one of it look like a fat centipedef and one look like cockroach. It doesn’t have hairdryer as well. And that’s is the only room look like that, no windows, look like a warehouse, and no closet or hangers. there are three bunk beds, each bed has an electrical outlet but it doesn't work because the cord isn't long enough to connect to the mains. it's safe to assume this room wasn't originally built to be a hotel room. and the beds seem to be randomly placed in the room. it's room 1001, completely isolated from the other rooms, it's near the reception and next to a staff lounge. it's really bad. i'm so upset because i paid the same as everyone else but the room is terrible. also at night, the wind's noise is terrible, i can't sleep because i am scared of the bugs (im sleep on top of the bunk bed)and also the wind's noise is crazy. as if there was a storm out there. people, service, staffs are friendly, but the hotel room's quality is bad bad bad.

Very unfriendly management. They told us that some breakfast options weren't included although they were shown as included on the menu. Then they told us it would be just 200g and they really worked with a scale in the kitchen! It was a low-light on our trip.

Great experience. A bit more rustic than luxury, but still a great establishment. The service was excellent. My daughter had been sunburnt pretty badly before we got there on a prior beach excursion, and Alejandra at the front desk was kind enough to cut fresh aloe and prepare it to use. It made her much more comfortable. The food was great and the bed was comfortable. The group activities were lots of fun and the hotel was a great place to decompress at the end of a busy day of sight-seeing.

As a solo traveler, I immediately felt welcomed here. Alex at the front desk was super friendly and sweet and Jay at the bar was very personable and attentive. I felt very relaxed staying here and I felt like I was in a winter lodge. The fire and jacuzzi were both so nice. Thank you!!