Costa Rica
Monteverde
Stay two nights for a dawn cloud-forest walk, a canopy or bridges tour and a night walk. We have mapped 3 activities, 3 outdoor spots and 2 places to eat here, each with a reason to go.
- Places
- 9
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Dec – Apr
- Warmest month
- April
- Coolest month
- November
- Wettest month
- October
3 Do · 3 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink
Costa Rica Pura Vida
from our route notes
27°C / 80°F avg high
21°C / 69°F avg high
about 289 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Monteverde
9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
Do
3 activities for when the group wants to do more than look in Santa Elena.
Photo: Jeremy Gatten · CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Erik van Beek · Google
Photo: Don Juan Tours Monteverde · Google
Outdoors
3 outdoor spots for fresh air across Monteverde and Santa Elena.
Photo: Haakon S. Krohn · CC BY-SA 3.0OutdoorsMonteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
Cloud-forest reserve with quetzal habitat.
Tip Arrive at opening with a guide to see quetzals.
Photo: Reserva Bosque Nuboso Santa Elena · Google
Photo: Cephas · CC BY-SA 4.0
Eat
Where we would book a table in Monteverde across Monteverde and Santa Elena.
Photo: Flying Squirrel · Google
Photo: Tree House | Restaurant in Monteverde · Google
Drink
Our picks for a drink in Monteverde.
Photo: Henrik Jensen · Google
How to fit Monteverde into a trip
Monteverde is stop 2 of 3 on our Costa Rica Pura Vida route. Follow it as-is or lift Monteverde into your own plan.
Stop 2 of 3
Costa Rica Pura Vida
Volcanoes, cloud forest & Pacific beaches
- Trip length
- 8 days
- Best season
- Dec – Apr
- Pace
- moderate
- Before: La Fortuna
- Next: Manuel Antonio
Getting here and onward
- La Fortuna to MonteverdeLa Fortuna is about 26 km / 16 mi away in a straight line
- Monteverde to Manuel AntonioManuel Antonio is about 125 km / 78 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Monteverde month by month
Average daily highs run from 21°C / 69°F in November to 27°C / 80°F in April. October is the wettest month, with about 289 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan22° / 71°F average high, in our recommended season
- Feb24° / 74°F average high, in our recommended season
- Mar26° / 79°F average high, in our recommended season
- Apr27° / 80°F average high, in our recommended season
- May25° / 76°F average high
- Jun22° / 71°F average high
- Jul22° / 71°F average high
- Aug22° / 72°F average high
- Sep22° / 71°F average high
- Oct21° / 69°F average high
- Nov21° / 69°F average high
- Dec21° / 70°F average high, in our recommended season
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Monteverde weather and the best time to visit →
Near Monteverde
2 other destinations from our guides within about 150 km (93 mi), measured in a straight line.
Monteverde questions, answered
How many days do you need in Monteverde?
Our route notes suggest 2 nights in Monteverde. On our Costa Rica Pura Vida route it is stop 2 of 3 in a 8-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 20 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Monteverde best known for?
Stay two nights for a dawn cloud-forest walk, a canopy or bridges tour and a night walk. Standouts on our list: Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve (Cloud-forest reserve with quetzal habitat); Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve (Higher, less-crowded cloud forest); Curi-Cancha Reserve (Private reserve good for birding).
When is the best time to visit Monteverde?
Our Costa Rica Pura Vida route is best Dec – Apr. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in April (27°C / 80°F), the coolest in November (21°C / 69°F) and the most rain in October (about 289 mm).
What are the best things to do in Monteverde?
Start with Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, Curi-Cancha Reserve, Selvatura Park and Kinkajou Night Walk. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 3 activities, 3 outdoor spots, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café.
Where should a group eat in Monteverde?
Our picks: Monteverde Cheese Factory; Tree House Restaurant (Santa Elena).
What is near Monteverde?
The closest destinations in our guides are La Fortuna (about 26 km / 16 mi) and Manuel Antonio (about 125 km / 78 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Monteverde with your crew
Open the Costa Rica Pura Vida route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.