Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve

Santa Elena reserve sits slightly higher and slightly wetter than the Monteverde reserve a few kilometres away, and it is run by the local high school, which owns it and puts the entry income into education. That gives it a very different character: fewer visitors, no booking system, and a small trail network of about twelve kilometres through cloud forest thick with moss, tree ferns and epiphytes. A tower and several lookouts face east, and on a clear morning Arenal volcano is visible across the valley with steam on it. Quetzals, bellbirds and the full Monteverde bird list occur here too, with a fraction of the people.

What you actually see

• The cloud forest trails - about twelve kilometres, far quieter than Monteverde.
• The observation tower - Arenal volcano visible east on a clear day.
• Quetzals and bellbirds - the same species as the famous reserve next door.
• The school ownership - entry fees funding local education.

When to go

December to April is drier, though cloud forest means mist and drizzle in any month. Early morning is best for birds and for any chance of the Arenal view. Waterproofs and grippy footwear are essential.

Honest expectations

It is genuinely wet and windy, and the trails are muddy year-round; visitors expecting a comfortable walk are often surprised. Cloud means views are a matter of luck. Wildlife in cloud forest is hard to see and a guide makes a large difference. The road up from Santa Elena is rough.

Nearby

Monteverde reserve is a few kilometres south; Santa Elena village is the base.