Cloud Forest | hostel-alquimia-artes

Chosen as one of the seven natural wonders of Costa Rica! Managed by a non profit environmental organization (tropical science center)
Protect and administer over 4’000 hectares; hiking trails are well maintained.
Located about 3 km SE of Casa Alquimia Artes; Buses are heading to the reserve down the street around 6:20 am and 7:30 am.

Self-guided tour with a booklet of the trail can be purchased at the entrance. Trails from 1 hour up to 4 hours. Entrance fee: $ 18 for adults. Opening hours: 7 am – 4 pm
Guided night tour starts at 5:45pm with a duration of approx. 2 hours, prices: $18 for adults, transport $4
Group Tours by Desafio start at 7:00am, 1:30pm with a duration of approx. 3 hours. Prices: $59 for adults, $49 student and $32 for kids. Does include pick-up from hostel, entrance fee and guide.
Bird Watching Tour by Desafio starts at 6:00am, prices on request

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Monteverde Conservation League (MCL), a non-profit organization, helped to create this reserve.
Largest private nature reserve in Costa Rica
22,500 hectares of primary and secondary rainforest
Visitor center and office is in Cerro Plano, 50 meters before Monteverdes Butterfly Garden
Operates two biological stations. San Gerado, situated 7 km from Santa Elena, has beautiful views of the Arenal Volcano and offers sleeping accommodations for up to 32 people. This station also has a classroom and over 5 km of forested trails. The second station, Poco Sol, is surrounded by a premontane forest. It has access to a beautiful lake and waterfall, as well as 10 km of intricate trails. Both stations are open to student groups or independent travelers. Reservations, however, must be made.

Managed also by Monteverde Conservation League (MCL)
Trail system and a visitor center set upon 28 acres of protected premontane Pacific slope forest. It provides 3,3 km of trails.
These trails are particularly suited to families, as there is an information center, a store, and children’s house with various environmental activities

No reservations necessary. Entrance fee: $8 for adults, $5 for students, children under 5 years are free of charge. Opening hours: 8 am – 4 pm.
A guided ‘Twilight Walk,’ on which visitors will see a variety of nocturnal birds, insects and mammals, runs daily from Bajo del Tigre at 5:30 PM. Dawn walks can be arranged as well.

In 1970, the Lowther family purchased th property and is now legally designated a Refugio de Vida Silvestre under MINAE.
Curi-Cancha Reserve is located in the Arenal-Tempisque conservation area in the heart of Monteverde. It protects 83 hectares of 50% virgin forest, 45% secondary growth, and 5% open pasture. Visitors can explore 7 km of trails.
the number visitors is limited to 50 at one time to lower the environmental impact on the trails and the animals

Self-guided tour with a booklet of the trails, available at the entrance. Entrance Fee: $14 for adults, $10 for students and kids over 6 years.
Night Tour: about 2 hours, starts at 5:30 pm, entrance fee and guide: $18
Bird Watching Tour: about 4,5 hours, starts at 6:00 am. Entrance fee of $14 plus $90 for a group of 2 – 4 persons, every additional person pays $20

The Wildlife Refuge Monteverde is located a short drive away from most hotels in Monteverde. The protected area of 30 hectares was previously part of an agrarian farm. It's location between the Cloud Forests of Monteverde and the dry forests of the Pacific which means the forests attract a wide variety of flora and fauna.

The night tours are a fun way of learning about the nocturnal life of the forests. Depending on the season you may see sleeping birds such as the famous Quetzal, Toucans, Bellbirds, etc.
Tour starts at 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm with a duration of 2 hours.
Prices: $25 for adults, $23 for students and $20 for kids (7 – 12 years). It includes admission, transport, naturalist guide, and equipment.