Learning in the rainforest, far from the madding crowd
(T2645-5390, http://www.reservasantaelena.org. 0700-1600, entrance US$12, students US$6. It is a long, steep hike from the village. Day time tours leave the information office in Santa Elena at 0730 and 1130 everyday. Alternatively hire a taxi.)
One kilometre along the road from Santa Elena to Tilarán, a 5-km track is signposted to this 310-ha reserve, managed by the Centro Ecológico Bosque Nuboso de Monteverde. It is 83% primary cloudforest, the remainder being 20-year-old secondary forest at 1700 m, bordered by the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and the Arenal Forest Reserve. There is an 8-km network of paths with several lookouts where you can see and hear, on a clear day, Arenal volcano. The ‘canopy tour’ is recommended; you climb inside a hollow strangler fig tree then cross between two platforms along aerial runways 30 m in the air (good views of orchids and bromeliads), then down a 30-m hanging rope at the end. The Centro Ecológico Bosque Nuboso is administered by the local community and profits go to five local schools. It was set up by the Costa Rican government in 1989 with collaboration from Canada. There is a small information centre where rubber boots can be hired and a small café open at weekends. The rangers are very friendly and enthusiastic and there are generally fewer visitors here than at Monteverde. Hand-painted T-shirts for sale.
