Up in the Cloud Forest

The highlight is the cloud forest as seen from above on a suspension trail or canopy platform. The flora and fauna are unlike the rain forests at lower altitudes. The air is definitely cooler and flowers are more scarce while Spanish moss and enormous strangler figs abound.

Quick Tips:

Weather can change rapidly so layers are a must. Not only do you need good shoes for hiking, but also the main roads. There is no airport. If you don’t drive, your choices are an express bus from Puntarenas or San Jose which take about 4 hours, or a boat trip across Arenal dam followed by a jeep or horsetrek for about 5 hours. All choices cost about one way. Transportation can be arranged via www.grayline.com

Best Way To Get Around:

Taxis and walking are the best within the area. Rental vehicles are rugged and thus a little expensive. There are no street signs or addresses and little pavement. Motorcycles which can be rented are the best bet if you can handle them.

This guided tour begins with a video and then you are taking to room where you are shown different pupa. A cocoon is a moth, not a butterfly. Each butterfly’s pupa is different which enables you to tell what kind of butterfly it is. Some look like a lizard or a dead leaf or other item to keep predators away. As they get closer to coming out, you can actually see the colors of their wings.

We were told that butterflies are shipped every two weeks to many zoos all over the world. They are carefully packed pupa that must be parasite free, not dead, and cannot be about to hatch. Butterflies will enjoy the nectar from different flowers but must have a specific plant, depending on variety, where they will lay their eggs. This is why these butterflies do not reproduce in the zoos to which they are sent. They lack the climate and/or plant, which the butterfly requires.

Next we go to the El Jardin de Mariposa (butterfly garden). Monarchs, the well known Blue Morph from South America and 100’s of other varieties are here as are the native plants that they will require to reproduce. It was really quite interesting to see such a variety of butterflies in such lush vegetation and to be able to walk among them.

Hours are from 8:30-5:00 with tours lasting 2 hours. Information can be found at www.butterflyfarm.co.cr or 506 438-0400. This tour can be combined with a half day Café Britt tour if you have the time.

The Santa Elena Skywalk is a hike with a series of 7 suspension bridges crossing over streams and begins with a climb up a spiral staircase. You are actually viewing the top of the trees that have Spanish moss, bromeliads and wild orchids growing out every nook and cranny. The view of the howler monkeys and sloth is quite up close and personal as you are looking down on them.

The highest suspension is 150 feet from the ground and the longest is 900 feet and do require the use of the handrail as the bridges are not particularly level. The clouds seem to drift in and out the forest so layered clothing is a good idea.

The cost is $12 and is open from 7-4. It is a self-paced tour for which you are provided a map. There is a gift shop and restaurant on the premise.

Skytrek

Unlike other canopy tours, you needn’t go on all the 11 zip lines offered, as there are parallel trails below. Some people do become scared or just tired. There are also 3 suspension bridges and an observation tower. The bridges, trail and tower offer the only real sightseeing on this trip. Even if you didn’t have to watch where you were going to avoid hitting a branch or your pulley, you were moving too fast to seethe flora and fauna. This is a ride for fun and adventure. It is located near the Santa Elena Reserve, costs about $35 for the 2-½ hour activity with tours from 7:30-2:00. Reservations can be made via www.monteverdeinfo.com, mundunet@racsa.co.cr, www.skywalk.co.cr

This forest is about 4 miles from Santa Elena and can be reached by taxi for about $5. The hours are from 7:00a-4:00p, although camping huts are available. If you stay overnight be advised you need to pay the entrance fee of $10 per day twice. Guided tours are available for $15 and last about 3 hours. They can be arranged via guide@monteverdeinfo.com.

There are 9 short trails from ¼ mile to nearly 2 miles in length with a maximum gain of 500 feet. Maps of trails are provided at the entrance.

The cloud forest doesn’t offer the variety of flowers seen in a rain forest. Instead you find fascinating strangler figs, oaks, bamboo, magnolia and even some evergreens. A couple of trails, Sendero Brillante and Sendero Pantanoso (meaning swamp trail), pass through the continental divide with great panoramic views. You can in fact, see the ocean.

The Sendero Rio is an easy mile hike to a waterfall while El Camino with its sunlight is trail for bird and butterfly enthusiasts.

Sendero Bosque Eterno and Sendero Bosque Nuboso have fantastic examples of the strangler figs. They are quite large in height and widths making one feel quite dwarfed.

Begin with the information center and the free trail maps and bird guides. After you have been on the trail you want to return to visitor center to ask questions. When I was partially able to describe what I saw, I was given the full story. A good example was the leaf cutter ants that I saw. I learned they do not bite; they take pieces of leaves into their den until it rots wherein it is eaten. I am told there is no waste in the rainforest and a type of beetle comes along to eat the ant’s droppings. There are three trails ranging from 1km to 3km and are an easy walk. Although these trails offer beautiful foliage, they are more for the purpose of seeing animals in abundance. In additional to the innumerable number of bird species there are porcupine, agouti (large guinea pig looking creatures), coatimundis (raccoon family) and the two toed sloth. There is also a small waterfall along the trails.

Poas Volcano National Park is one of the most frequented parks in Costa Rica. A ¾ mile walk with wheelchair accessibility leads to the viewing area of the volcano. The volcano is filled with beautiful opaque light blue water, which is quite acidic and sulfuric. Steam rises from small cones and vents that are forming on a nearly daily basis. This is not an inactive area. Climbing and hiking are not permitted due to the dangers, but there is a trail that circles about ¼ of the upper rim.

There is a second trail, which lead to Laguna Botas that was formed as a collapsed cone that is continually filled with fresh rainwater. The vegetation surrounding it is such a contrast to Poas, which is less a mile away, it is outstanding. The only real way to grasp this is by getting a postcard that indicates how close these two are to each other.

The entrance fee is $8 and it is open from 8:00a-3:30p. There is a very extensive visitor center that includes slide shows, flora and fauna identification, current monitoring of activity, a Richter scale and much more.