The village of Monteverde, located to the south of the cloud forest, was built in the early of 1950´s, by a Quaker community that came to Costa Rica in response to its pacifist ways and its commitment to disarmament. The Quaker settled in the region and began to produce milk and fine cheese. They also decided to protect about a third of their property in order to protect the watershed above Monteverde. In 1972 with the help of organizations such as the Nature Conservancy and WWF, more land was purchased adjoining the already preserved area; this was call The Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, owned and operated by the Tropical Science Center, a non-profit organization for scientific research and education, with headquaters in San José.    

The 10,500 hectare Reserve is acclaimed as one of the most outstanding wildlife sanctuaries. Temperatures range 13-24ºC (55-75ºF), average annual rainfall is 242 cm (97 inches) falling mostly between June and November.

     Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve protects more than 100 species of mammals, more then 400 species of birds, and more than 1200 species of amphibians and reptiles, including the golden toad, an endemic species that is deaf and dumb and lives on the continental divide -the males are a striking bright orange colour.  It is one of the few remaining habitats of all five species of the cat family: jaguar, ocelot, puma, margay and jaguarundi. Insects include over 5,000 species of month, 2,500 species of plants, among which there more over 500 butterfly species are 300 species of orchids that mainly flower in March and 200 species of ferns. The preserve has kilometers of trails, sections of which are not for the weak-hearted. Parts ooze with mud; other sections have been magnificently covered with raised wooden walkways. Because of the fragile environment, the preserve allows a maximum of 120 people on the trails at any one time. The paths are strewn with exotic blossoms, such as "hot lips". Shorter nature trails are concentrated in an area called "The Triangle".

35km southeast of Tilaran, 167km northwest of San Jose.
Monteverde, Puntarenas.
Opening hours: Daily 7:00-16:00