Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve

We packed our bags and hit the road this weekend without having decided on a final destination. We drove a full hour and a half before heading to Monteverde.

The Preserve consists of 6 ecological zones, 90% of which are virgin forest. An extremely high biodiversity, consisting of over 2,500 plant species (including the most orchid species in a single place), 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species, 120 reptilian and amphibian species, and thousands of insects, has drawn scientists and tourists since.

Wikipedia

The road to Monteverde is treacherous and some consider it among the worst in Costa Rica.

One’s buttocks are punished by the 17 kilometres of jarring, unrelenting bumps but the eyes are treated to some absolutely spectacular views all the way out to the Pacific Ocean.

In the cloud forest, we enjoyed the treetop suspension bridges which consisted of 3 kilometres of trails and eight bridges of various lengths ranging between 170 - 560 feet.

We also had to allow a little bit of time to play Tarzan.

Everything grows really big in the cloud forest. Naimah wanted to take some of these flowers home with her but we explained that they wouldn’t fit in the car.

And, we had to explain to this bug that tried to stowaway on Gabriel’s sneaker that she wasn’t allowed to come either.

(The fact that I know that the bug is female is a testament to our intensive insect exposure over the last year in Costa Rica.)