Selvatura Park
Selvatura Park is found amongst 850 acres of protected forest and one of the main attractions in Monteverde. It is a place for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike with activities including ziplining into the cloud forest and being up close and personal with some of the most famous Costa Rican animals.
Here's why Selvatura Park should be on your Costa Rican Itinerary. You can:
Zipline through the clouds on the canopy tour with over 15 platforms and a series of thrilling ziplines. The sensation of flying through the misty treetops is unmatched and the panoramic views of the forest and surrounding mountain make for an unforgettable experience
Walk high above the forest on the hanging bridges where you can have a unique perspective of the forest below. The series of hanging brides offer a bird's-eye view with some bridges reaching up to 50 metres above the ground. Along the way you can see plenty of wildlife too
The butterfly garden is a great activity for adults and children alike with a wide variety of local butterfly species in a controlled environment which matches their natural habitat. Learn about the life of a butterfly and see them up close and personal
Meet the reptiles and amphibians including colorful frogs, snakes and lizards inside Selvatura Park and learn all about their life in Costa Rica
It wouldn't be a trip to Costa Rica without seeing sloths and Selvatura have their very own sloth sanctuary with 11 female sloths who live peacefully together, climbing and enjoying their food. Sloths are extremely hard to see in the wild without a telescope or binoculars as they like to stay high up in the trees so this is a great option to make sure you see these amazing creatures up close
We visited Selvatura Park and experienced the hanging bridges and the sloth sanctuary. You could spend multiple days at Selvatura Park however doing all of the activities above. The hanging bridges trail was manageable for all abilities but if you are travelling with a little one we would recommend having them in a carrier rather than taking the pram as it is through woodland and uneven ground. Our daughter loved walking along the bridges, seeing the views and the wildlife.
The sloth sanctuary is the perfect activity for families and animal lovers where you can witness these slow-moving animals eating, crawling and getting on with their day-to-day relaxed life! They are fascinating to watch and we also learnt a lot from our guide.
Selvatura park is open from 7am-4pm everyday and they have a number of activity packages to choose from, see here.
Treetopia
Treetopia is an eco-friendly park that blends adventure with the beauty of the forest offering visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the natural world in an entirely new way. Treetopia is deeply committed to sustainability and the park's design emphasises harmony with the environment using sustainable building materials and eco-consicous practices throughout it's operations.
We knew we wanted to zipline during our time in Costa Rica but didn't know how to manage this when we had a toddler in tow. Treetopia offered the perfect solution where one of us did the ziplining and the other took our toddler on the cableway which takes you through the canopy and offers amazing views. The TreeTram cableway is a 1-mile round trip and allows a completely different perspective of the forest below. This is perfect for all ages and allowed us to experience adventure with our baby.
The zipline tour was out of this world. We have ziplined in the past but never somewhere as interesting as the cloud forest. The day was windy and cloudy so you ziplined through the clouds. You could not see the zipline in front of you and it was such a unique and thrilling experience. We watched as the other zipliners disappeared into the clouds. The tour is 1.9 miles long and there are 7 ziplines in total ranging from 460-2460 feet in length. On some of the ziplines we went in twos to make us go even faster and it was so much fun! We would recommend this experience to anyone visiting Costa Rica.
At Treetopia you can also experience the hanging bridges and a treetop challenge course where you are suspended 40 feet in the sky and have to negotiate monkey bridges, a tarzan swing and even ride a 656-foot zipline bike. This one is definitely for the thrill-seekers.
Night tour
To ensure that you see the very best of wildlife Costa Rica has to offer, make sure to join a night tour whilst you are here. There are a number of night tours in various destinations around Costa Rica but from our research the best are found in Monteverde and La Fortuna/Arenal. Many of the animals in Costa Rica are noctural so this will give you a unique opportunity to see animals and insects which you would not usually get to see during the daytime.
We joined the Finca Lantana night tour in Monteverde which started at 6pm and allowed us to see the forest come to life at night. It was also a 2 minute walk from our hotel Heliconia. You will receive a torch and your guide will have a large torch to find the animals hiding in plain sight. We were able to see frogs, spiders (including an impressive banana spider), snakes, frogs and much more. This was a once in a lifetime experience and a must for your visit to Costa Rica. The tour is $34 per person.
Monteverde butterfly garden
The Monteverde Butterfly Garden is located in the cloud forests of Monteverde, Costa Rica. It's a popular destination for visitors interested in exploring Costa Rica's rich biodiversity, especially its vibrant butterfly species. The garden is dedicated to conserving local species and providing educational experiences about butterflies and their ecosystems.
Here you can see 40 species of butterflies including Blue Morphos and Glasswing Butterflies, join a tour to learn more about these impressive insects and immerse yourself in nature. The tours are from 9am-3:30pm and tickets start from $20 per person.
Monteverde cloud forest reserve
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is one of the most renowned ecological preserves in Costa Rica, located in the mountainous region of the Cordillera de Tilarán. It's a popular destination for ecotourism, offering visitors the chance to experience the biodiversity of one of the world's most biologically rich environments with over 2500 plant specifies, 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds and 1500 species of amphibians and reptiles.
Here you can explore the nature, walk to several well-marked trails and suspension bridges and take guided day and night tours.
Please note this reserve is extremely popular and tickets sell out so you will need to book at least 2 days in advance. The reserve is open 7am-4pm everyday and tickets start from $26 per person.
Santa Elena reserve
The Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve is another stunning protected area located in the Monteverde region of Costa Rica. It is known for its lush biodiversity, cloud forest ecosystem, and commitment to conservation and sustainable ecotourism. The reserve is part of the larger Monteverde Conservation Area and offers visitors a more tranquil, less crowded alternative to the nearby Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.
This reserve offers longer trails and you could turn up on the day and be able to visit (unlike the Monteverde Reserve). The reserve is open 7am-4pm and tickets start from $18 per person.
Curi Cancha Reserve
The Curi-Cancha Reserve is another beautiful and biodiverse protected area located near Monteverde in Costa Rica and another alternative to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Curi-Cancha provides a more intimate and less crowded experience, making it a great spot for nature lovers and birdwatchers.
The reserve is open 7am-3pm and tickets start from $25 per person.
Rio Celeste
Río Celeste is one of Costa Rica’s most famous natural wonders, known for its striking turquoise blue waters. Located in the Tenorio Volcano National Park, this river is a must-visit destination for those exploring the country’s natural beauty. The unique color of the river is caused by a combination of natural chemical reactions between volcanic minerals and the water.
Inside the Tenorio Volcano National Park you can see the picturesque celestial falls, complete the hiking trails, Heliconias hanging bridges trail and natural hot springs. The park is extremely popular meaning it is very busy.
Rio Celeste is a 2 and a half hour drive from Monteverde (in the direction of La Fortuna) and it is recommended to book your tickets in advance. Opening hours are 8am-2pm and tickets start from $12 per person.
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