Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a small pueblo that travelers use as a base for exploring Monteverde and other attractions of the area. This small town is located in the Talamanca Mountain Range of the Puntarenas province and is only accessible via dirt roads, which are in generally bad condition most of the year. Â There is a wide range of Santa Elena hotels, shops, art galleries and restaurants, making it a popular destination. Visitors also enjoy the natural beauty of the surrounding area as there are butterfly gardens, flower gardens, and wildlife present.
Cloud Forest
The Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve is usually overlooked by visitors to the area. It borders the famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, encompassing some 765 acres of protected land. The Santa Elena School Board maintains the reserve, so admission fees and donations are split between the reserve and local school.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, only a short drive from Santa Elena, is simply magnificent. Only 3 percent of the territory is used to present to visitors, while the other 97 percent is monitored and under protection. This reserve is one of the most famous in the world due to the old growth forest which is covered in epiphytes and the animals that call it home such as the Resplendent Quetzal.
Activities
There are plenty of Santa Elena tours available. While in town there are many tours that one can take part in aside from the reserve. Canopy tours are the specialty here. One can zip from platform to platform via wheel and harness as an adventure activity or walk through the canopy spotting wildlife on hanging bridges. A horseback ride to San Luis Waterfall or along the continental divide is always a favorite. Take a mini train ride through the cloud forest with the kiddies or rappel down waterfalls if you are a thrill seeker.
Weather and Packing List
Located in the cloud forest, the weather in Monteverde is fairly predictable. Expect cool and damp conditions and dress for rain. Daytime temperatures average in the low 70s with night time lows averaging in the upper 50s. The most consistent rain is experienced between the months of May through November with the heaviest rains September through November.
Visitors should pack shorts, tee shirts, appropriate shoes, rain gear, sun block. It is also advised to bring at least one pair of pants, a long sleeve shirt, and even a sweat shirt or light jacket.
Fun Fact: In 1983 a writer from National Geographic Magazine stated that Monteverde was THE place to observe the Resplendent Quetzal. Subsequently, tourists from all over the world began arriving armed with cameras, tripods and binoculars.
