What to do in Monteverde

“Pura vida”, the Costarican motto, means pure life. Monteverde, located a mere 50 kilometers from the Gulf of Nicoya, the gateway to the Pacific Ocean, is the very embodiment of this expression. The main attractions of this eternal green jungle are zip-lining through trees and hiking through the rainforest; paradise for naturalists.

Monteverde was discovered during the 1950’s, by a group of American Quaker pacifists who fled the the United Stated draft before the Korean War. The land where they settled and established farms is now known as the Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde, a major tourist attraction.

The biological preserve is 10,500 hectares of luxuriant greenery. The altitude of Monteverde, the humidity, and warm weather has made the region an incredible breeding ground. At Bosque Nuboso, probably the most attractive spot, you will hike through endless jungle and in the natural habitat of more than 100 species of mammals, 120 amphibians and reptiles and 2,500 different types of plants! The undisputed king here is the elegant ancient Mayan sacred bird, the quetzal with its remarkable white, pink and yellow colors.

Swing from tree to tree on a zip line during a canopy tour, you’ll finally be able to let out your best Tarzan yell! In Monteverde, the canopy tour is one of the most popular activities. Other extreme and non-conventional activities include bungee jumping over a spectacular canyon and rope swinging, whichever option you choose you're sure to be captivated by the outstanding scenery.

Another popular outing in the area is mountain biking from the Arenal Volcano to Monteverde. Costa Rica has some of the most-beautiful scenery for mountain biking, and this particular trial offers an incredible view of the astonishing volcano while descending exhilarating trails.

The ticos, the nickname given to Costaricans, are interesting people; their motto is engraved in every aspect of their lives and they truly live by it. “Pura vida” means enjoying the privilege of being alive and caring for the environment.