Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Protected area in Monteverde Canton, Costa Rica.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is a private reserve along the Cordillera de Tilarán, spanning the Puntarenas and Alajuela provinces of Costa Rica. It covers over 10,500 hectares (26,000 acres), about 90% of it virgin forest across six life zones. A red metal mesh suspension footbridge with low red railings and tall red suspender cables runs into the dense forest, ending at a small dark portal.
Quakers from Alabama settled the area in 1951 and named it Monteverde. In 1968 Joseph Tosi and Leslie Holdridge advised them to preserve the surrounding forest for water and wind protection. In 1972 George Powell secured a promise of 328 hectares, acquired in April 1973 for one colón, with backing from biologist Adelaida Chaverri and the Centro Científico Tropical, which has administered the reserve since.
The name Monteverde means green mountain and refers to the moist forest canopy shaped by fog drifts that remain visible throughout the year. Visitors today experience trails where scientific observations take place, while tropical bird species such as the quetzal appear among the treetops.
The site offers 8 miles (13 kilometers) of walking trails that pass through several forest layers and includes a visitor center with restrooms and information panels along the routes. Waterproof clothing and non-slip footwear help since paths often stay wet and fog rolls in quickly.
The reserve sits at around 5,033 feet (1,534 meters) elevation, where Caribbean winds meet the mountain range and transform into permanent fog drifts. These moisture veils nourish rare mosses, ferns, and orchids that grow on tree bark without touching the ground.
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