Saturday, May 28, 2011

The Monteverde Cloud Forest

By Nestor Botbot


In 2007 Monteverde was voted as one of Costa Rica's 7 Wonders. Monteverde is a small town in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. It is considered a major tourist destination in Costa Rica. There are many famous tourist attractions in Monteverde, One of it is the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. The variable climate and large altitudinal gradient have helped to produce an amazingly heterogeneous set of creatures that live here. Some of these include the jaguar, ocelot, Baird's Tapir, three-wattled bellbird, bare-necked umbrella bird, and the famously elusive resplendent quetzal.

A total of nine nature trails are situated within the reserve, each with its own distinct characteristics and highlights. One of the prettier trails is the Sendero Bosque Nuboso (Cloud Forest Trail) it is one of the most popular trails because it's extremely pretty and has good examples of strangler fig plants. El Camino (The Road) is preferred by Bird-lovers. El Camino is wilder and more open than the other trails, allowing for more sunlight and thus more butterflies. This trail is also excellent for bird watching. Sendero Brilliante (Shining Trail) which gives the hikers an excellent view of the elfin forest and bamboo. Sendero Rio (River Trail) leads along the Quebrada Cuecha and has a short trail to a breathtaking waterfall, where there are several zapote trees.

To suit your particular needs, you can opt for a variety of tours. Group tours are offered in English and Spanish. Private guided tours are available for visitors who want to experience the beauty of the reserve on their own, but paying a little more is required. An interesting alternative is the Bird Lovers tour. The objective of this tour is to spot as many birds as possible while making your way through the different areas on the way to the reserve.

Not contented with simply hiking through the trails? Then try the Sky Walk and the Sky Trek. The Sky Trek allows more adventurous visitors to be suspended on zip lines flying through the air above the forest canopy. Sky Walk meanwhile, allows you to walk along bridges that are suspended above the forest, allowing you to get a birds-eye view of the reserve.

Backpackers have a choice of accomodation as there are three backcountry huts available for use. However, these are subject to availability and have to be booked in advance. There is also a restaurant, a souvenior shop and an art gallery. Travelling to and from the reserve is easy and affordable as there are hourly buses from the Banaco Nacional in Santa Elena, Monteverdo. Taxis can also be hailed to get to and from the reserve at affordable rates.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment