How to plan the ultimate family trip to Monteverde, Costa Rica

Think of Costa Rica and the images that first come to mind are of untouched rainforests teeming with wildlife and dotted with waterfalls cascading into clear blue pools. It’s the first tropical country on the planet that has actively reversed deforestation and now protects a quarter of its territory — one of the largest proportions in the world. Hidden away in the Tilarán Range in the country’s northwestern interior, misty Monteverde is a canton with serious environmental credentials. Nearly half of Costa Rica’s biodiversity is found within its surrounding virgin cloud forest, which is protected by several reserves.

Monteverde’s main attraction is its wildlife, ranging from the red-eyed tree frog to the country’s huge variety of colourful birds. Travellers of all ages will be equally awed by treetop bridges and nighttime walks, which make for a magical introduction to the region’s unique ecosystem, the cloud forest. Here’s how to plan an adventure-fuelled family trip.

What to do

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is the nature reserve that put the area on the map. Arrange your ticket in advance — as only 250 visitors per day can explore the reserve’s paths, which weave between evergreen trees slung with bromeliads and strangler figs. The trails are quieter, however, at the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve further north. Keep your eyes peeled for white-faced capuchin monkeys perched up in the canopy and groups of coatis (raccoon-like animals also known as coatimundis) trundling along the paths. What’s more, on clear days, you can spot the huge conical Arenal Volcano looming in the distance.

Next, experience the rainforest from a perspective normally reserved for birds and monkeys at the 850-acre Selvatura Adventure Park. Eight hanging bridges are suspended within the forest’s mist-veiled canopy and form part of a 1.9-mile trail that is suitable for all ages. Families can join a guided tour of the forest for the chance to learn more about it from a biological and ornithological perspective. Dusk falls early, so even the youngest travellers will be awake for a guided night walk through the Children’s Eternal Rainforest reserve. The family-friendly trails turn into a buzzing metropolis of creatures you’re unlikely to see in the day — if you’re lucky, you might spot golden-orb spiders, pit vipers and even slumbering toucans.

Where to eat

For a relaxed brunch, stop for a coffee, freshly made pancakes or a typical Central American dish of huevos rancheros (eggs with chillies, tomatoes and peppers in burritos) at the excellent Stella’s Cafe, a low-key cafe surrounded by greenery and darting hummingbirds. If you need a sweet treat after an active day, book a tour at Don Juan, a nearby coffee and chocolate farm. You’ll learn about the coffee and cocoa bean growing and harvesting processes, before watching the real magic happen as cacao is turned into chocolate. A tasting is included, of course. A late lunch or early dinner is best enjoyed on the terrace of the hillside Restaurante El Sapo, where the choice ranges from salads to pastas, all featuring locally sourced ingredients. Its ‘Mini Explorers Menu’ is designed for smaller appetites and is a hit with youngsters — crowd-pleasing options include burgers and mac and cheese.

What to see

More than 400 species of birds inhabit the Monteverde region, but its most prized resident can be elusive. Rise early for a dawn walk with a naturalist guide in the Curi-Cancha Reserve to search for the resplendent quetzal. With an iridescent plumage of shimmering green and red, half-metre-long tails and a feathery mohawk, the quetzal’s are simple to identify, but surprisingly challenging to find. Fortunately, Monteverde ranks as one of the easiest places to spot these remarkable birds. If you visit during mating season (February through July), you can increase your chances of seeing them.

Smaller critters are well-represented in Monteverde, too. On the edge of the area’s main town, Santa Elena, the Monteverde Butterfly Gardens are best visited on a sunny day — encounter a riot of colour as the huge iridescent blue morpho butterfly and 29 other species flit and flutter around the enclosures. Next, spend an hour or two in the Ranario Monteverde Frog Pond, with its glass terrariums housing numerous frog species, including the poison dart and the boldly colourful red-eyed tree frog. A little further south, the Bat Jungle is similarly enthralling. Bats comprise over half of the region’s mammal species — catch them feeding and even listen in on their conversations using the sanctuary’s ultrasonic microphone.

Where to stay

Nothing beats waking up to a spectacular dawn chorus, which can be heard at the boutique Koora Hotel. This 24-bedroom hotel has suites with plunge pools, bungalows and spacious family rooms nestled into the cloud forest. Enjoy hot chocolate and marshmallows by the fire, relax with a board game or watch the wildlife — such as monkeys, coatis and birds — that regularly visit. The hotel also offers a family-friendly tour planning service to take the hassle out of plotting your adventures in Monteverde. The adjoining Aguti Wildlife Reserve has 2.5 miles of private hiking trails and is home to grand old trees and a host of interesting characters — including its namesake rodent and cousin of the guinea pig, the agouti. Head into the quiet reserve on a self-guided tour or enlist the expertise of a tour guide to learn more about the flora and fauna.