Raices Restaurant

Located in the heart of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, Raices Restaurant offers Costa Rican dishes in an upscale setting. The only thing to keep in mind about this restaurant, for those who don’t usually dine early, is that it closes at 4 p.m., but it’s a great place to have a coffee in the humid Monteverde. climate.

The Green Restaurant

It’s located near Transmontes, the Monteverde Mall, in downtown Santa Elena. According to locals and the restaurant’s website, it opened in 2014. It currently offers excellent meal options that are based on natural, local ingredients. The menu includes Costa Rican dishes, as well as vegetarian options. The Green Restaurant, is a great choice for lunch or dinner in the evening, after which you can enjoy your night with the variety of cocktails they offer.

The Fig Restaurant & Sunset Lounge

As its name suggests, this restaurant is located in the Ficus Sunset Suites Hotel, which we will share more information about below. You can find excellent contemporary Costa Rican dishes and tropical sangria here. The best thing about this restaurant is that you can enjoy spectacular views while enjoying the best Costa Rican fare.

La Casona Lodge

This is a comfortable place to stay, located in the Monteverde cloud forest. If you like rustic style and you’re looking to connect with nature, while minimizing your impact on the environment through sustainability, La Casona Lodge, is the place for you.

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve

According to its website, this reserve, founded in October of 1972, was the first private wildlife conservation area of its kind.

Since then, scientists and tourists have come across high levels of biodiversity, here, including more than 2,500 plant species (including the highest number of orchid species in one place), 100 mammal species, 400 bird species, 120 reptile and amphibian species, and thousands of insects.

You can practice sustainable tourism here in this unique forest that the Science Center has preserved for environmental investigation and education. The reserve is comprised of 10,500 hectares of tropical jungle, and it welcomes around 70,000 visitors a year, according to data provided by the Costa Rica National Chamber of Tourism.

The Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve

According to this reserve’s official website, “it’s located in the Monteverde area, around 8 kilometres from the town of Santa Elena, from which it gets its name. It’s about 1,600 metres above sea level (masl).”

Its cloud system lasts almost all year, which allows a lush diversity of plants to develop, that give life to this always green “Magic Forest”.

It’s part of the Arenal Tempisque Conservation Area (ACAT) and the Monteverde-Arenal Protected Zone, as well as being located within the Bell Bird Biological Corridor. This makes it ideal for hiking and bird watching.

Selvatura Park: Ziplines and hanging bridges

One tourist attraction here that combines nature and adrenaline, and that can be enjoyed as a couple, is this adventure park.

Selvatura Park is located only ten minutes by car from downtown Santa Elena. It’s known for having one of the longest ziplines in Monteverde, as well as the highest and safest hanging bridges in the Monteverde Cloud Forest.

Both of these activities are a great way to enjoy this sanctuary for native species, from up high. Regardless of whichever other trails you choose to visit, these ones are not to be missed.