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TOURS IN MONTEVERDE AND SURROUNDINGS
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Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve
Skywalk
Skytrek
Selvatura
Wildlife Refuge Ecological Farm
Monteverde Butterfly Garden
Original Canopy Tour of Monteverde
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Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
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The Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve has earned its fame as one of the most outstanding wildlife sanctuaries in the New World Tropics. Positioned atop the Continental Divide in Western Costa Rica, the Preserve extends down both the Caribbean and Pacific slopes. The resultant combination of climatic and geographic factors creates temperature and humidity gradients which change dramatically over relatively short distances. The variable climate and large altitudinal gradient has helped produce an extremely high biodiversity. There are over 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, 120 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 2,500 species of plants ( among them 500 different species of orchids ), as well as tens of thousands of insect species. Spectacular wildlife includes the Jaguar Ocelot, Baird´s Tapir, Three-wattled Bellbird, Barenecked Umbrellabird and Resplendant Quetzal.
The tour consists in a hike in one of the trails of the Preserve for about 2
hours, escorted by a naturalist bilingual local guide trained to point out interesting
birds and animals, as well as to introduce you to the natural history of this
magnificent Cloud Forest. After the hike you will have time to enjoy the multi-colored
hummingbirds in the Hummingbird Gallery.
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Skywalk
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It is a combination of suspension bridges and platforms built in the cloud forest, that offers an opportunity to explore the forest canopy in a safe and easy manner. The tour includes 2,5 kms of trails and six suspension bridges across deep canyons at the level of the tree tops. The longest bridge is about 243 meters ( 800 feet ) in length.
Skywalk allows a vision of the forest from a different perspective which starts
with a walk on the ground through the forest, and takes you up to explore the
tops of the trees.
Everyday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Guided tours: 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
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Skytrek
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It is a secure system of trails and zip lines, in the Monteverde Cloud Forest that offers visitors the opportunity to observe and appreciate the nature from different vantage points.
It is similar to other canopy tours in Costa Rica, but incorporates some significant
differences, such as being of larger scale, metal platforms covered with mesh-covered
and steel rails which prevent falling or sliding.
The tour includes 4544 feet of trails, eleven transversal cables ( from 131
feet to 2525 feet ) long, and two observatory towers for a panoramic view (
360° ) of Guanacaste, San Carlos and Puntarenas lowlands. The tour takes
around 2,5 hours.
Every day, 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m.,
2:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Reservation must be made in advance. Transportation
hotel / Skytrek / hotel is available at a very reasonable fee.
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Selvatura
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Selvatura is a conservation project located in Monteverde, Costa Rica a location world famous for its cloud forest. Selvatura comprises a wide variety of activities that can be enjoyed by persons of any age and physical condition.
Selvatura´s Canopy Tour is one of the safest and most thrilling adventures
of all time. In this tour the visitor will be able to see the marvels of the
virgin cloud forest from the canopy perspective. Our tour consists on 14 platforms
connected by stainless steel cables on which our visitors cruise through virgin
cloud forest while being attached by a top class security harness. The total
length of the tour is 1,8 miles ( 3 kilometers ) cruising through altitudes
of up to 300 feet ( 100 meters )
Selvatura´s Suspension Walkways provide a tour in which all visitors can
walk through our bridge system and peacefully admire the wonders of the virgin
cloud forest form the level of its canopy. Our tour consists of 8 bridges of
various lengths ranging between 204 and 480 feet ( 68 and 160 meters ). The
total length of the tour is about 1,8 miles ( 3 kilometers ). All bridges feature
a 4 foot width making them not only the most comfortable bridges but also the
most secure available.
If you are looking for a surreal experience, Selvatura´s Butterfly Garden
is a must. Selvatura features Central America´s largest butterfly garden.
Inside the garden a controlled environment hosts a magnificent collection of
butterflies from over 50 different species found throughout the tropics. You
can also experience the beauty of our indoor waterfalls and admire more than
60 different species of tropical plants. All these marvels are located within
a dome within a dome with an area of 8100 square feet ( 2700 square meters ).
Another attraction is Selvatura is the Hummingbird garden where our visitors
can observe over 14 different species of hummingbirds among a peaceful setting
inside the forest. This hummingbird garden is the perfect choice for those who
want to wander about in a beautiful environment or simply for those who want
to wait and take pictures of these curious and beautiful birds.
Selvatura is a project that has been developed under rigorous engineering supervision
to provide the best safety and security possible in all our activities.
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Wild Life Refuge Ecological Farm
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The Ecological Farm is a wildlife refuge operated by a Costa Rican family that offers you walks along short or long trails through a forest with panoramic views, 2 beautiful waterfalls, coffee and banana plantations, and opportunities to find more than 150 species fo birds. At this site it is common to see many different mammals such as coatimundis, agoutis, porcupines and is one fo the best spots in Monteverde to sloths. You can also come just to picnic and rest in the natural surroundings of a serene tropical forest.
The Ecological Farm started in 1992 with the idea of protecting 75 acres ( 30
hectares ) of forest located on the pacific slope in Monteverde. The Ecological
Farm has a great biological diversity in types of plants and animals that inspired
Don Jorge Rodriguez to create a protected area in which tourists could observe
wildlife and walk different trails. In addition to a forest that is very different
than the cloudforest reserves of the zone, on e hectare of the Ecological Farm
previously was used for the cultivation of bananas, coffee, beans and vegetables.
Now the real activity of the Ecological Farm, is ecotourism and the entrance
fee is used to maintain the area and its conservation projects. Our objective
is to preserve and regenerate the forest and show that we can live in harmony
with our natural surroundings
Twilight Walk:
It´s is an original night hike that begins just before the sunset and
finishes at night giving the hikers an opportunity to compare diurnal and nocturnal
wildlife at the Finca Ecológica.
Every day: From 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Twilight Tour: From 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
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Monteverde Butterfly Garden
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While in Monteverde be sure to visit our botanical gardens where you can see hundreds of tropical butterflies. Our nature center includes an extensive collection of butterflies and displays on their biology. Both in the all-weather greehouse and in the screened flyway garden, you will find many of Costa Rica´s most interesting and colorful species. Because we hand raise all of our butterflies, it is easy to observe all the different stages of their life cycle. Learn about butterfly ecology form our bilingual guides, or just sit quietly and enjoy the array of colors and flight patterns.
Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Entrance fee includes guided tour.
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Original Canopy Tour of Monteverde
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The Original Canopy Tour at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Lodge was the first canopy tour in existence in Costa Rica. The location at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Lodge is perfect and we are very close to all the attractions that this area provides, including the town of Santa Elena and the Monteverde biological reserve.
The reserve consists of approximately 70 acres of primary and secondary tropical
rainforest and cloud forest, which is extremely rich in its biodiversity. There
are over 5 kilometers of trails through primary and secondary rainforest and
cloud forest. This eco-system contains a variety of Bromeliads and Epiphytes,
among other species of plants, animals, birds and insects on the huge branches
of the trees. Here we have constructed a series of observation platforms and
traverses that will take you through the canopy layer of the rainforest. As
of January 2002, the tour includes 2 suspended walkway sections (some call them
hanging bridges or sky walk ways), 11 tree platforms, 8 traverses high in the
treetops, and 2 rappels, which are vertical descents on ropes assisted by our
highly trained personnel.
The tour starts with a short guided hike through the private reserve of the
Cloud Forest. The first part of the tour will take you through secondary and
primary forest and then a climb up a ladder to the first platform, about 8 meters
above the ground where an ingenious series of cables connecting the trees awaits
you. After a soaring through the tree tops on horizontal traverses and platforms
suspended in the tree tops you will rappel back to the forest floor and hike
another 50 meters where you will have a spectacular climb up a rope ladder through
the inside of a huge, hollow strangler fig. This is the only one in existence.
Dangling from 22 meters off the ground the eight-meter-long walkway (that winds
around the various trees that the strangler fig has consumed in its lifetime)
makes for an unbeatable vantage point for observing the surrounding rainforest.
You will then continue your tour from platform to platform, assisted by our
expert guides, and finally have a second rappel which takes you a long way down
back to the forest floor.
The platforms vary in height from 8 meters to 28 meters above the forest floor.
A cloud forest generally has several layers to the canopy rich in biodiversity,
all of which can be seen on the tour. The climate in the Monteverde area is
generally warm to cool. It is not often a "tropical heat" that people
expect in these parts. In fact, in the nights the temperature can go down to
7 or 8 degrees above zero (Celsius, which is about 48 - 52 degree Fahrenheit).
Shorts can be worn, but jeans are also comfortable. Hiking boots are a good
idea, as it rains frequently.
Insect repellant, cameras and binoculars are also recommended.
Participants must bring a passport or other ID. The Canopy Tour takes about
2 to 2 1/2 hours to complete.
Reservations are required. Transportation from and to the hotels in included.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve
Skywalk
Skytrek
Selvatura
Wildlife Refuge Ecological Farm
Monteverde Butterfly Garden
Original Canopy Tour of Monteverde
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