Monteverde makes it to many Costa Rican itineraries and there’s a good reason for that. Whether you stay for a day or take your time exploring the area over a week, you’ll find plenty of things to keep you busy. There is hiking, adventure sports, and so many guided tours that it can be hard to determine what to do with your time, especially if you’re short on time like I was.
So, in this post, I’ll cover the best things to do in Monteverde Costa Rica. Plus, I’ll give a bonus two day itinerary so you can plan an awesome visit.
The Best Things to Do in Monteverde Costa Rica
I visited Costa Rica as part of an 9 Day whirlwind tour of the country. During that time, I had about a day and a half to explore and do as much as I could. That may not seem like a lot of time, but I crammed several awesome activities into this short time. I visited what I consider to be the highlights, but there are definitely more things to do in Monteverde.
Ziplining Through the Forests
For those who love adventure sports, you’ll find several adrenaline filled things to do in Monteverde. I stuck with a classic zip line so I could still get an adrenaline fix, while also keeping it simple. There are numerous companies offering ziplining and most are the same. For me, I wanted it to be more about the experience of flying through the forests. Speed and all of the other gimmicks weren’t as big of a draw for me. However, maybe had I focused on those thrills, I would have had a better experience.
My experience was good. I got exactly what I want. I zip lined through the tree tops and got to see some beautiful scenery. That part was great. The part that wasn’t great? I was traveling solo and signed up for a group tour and was the only person in my group. It was literally me and the two guides. In some instances I could see this being a good thing, but honestly, it felt incredibly awkward.
Full disclosure, I picked the earliest time slot in the day (with a 7:30 am pick up time), so I could fit in some other activities throughout the day and not feel rushed. I did get my wish because the experience was quick and efficient, but it would have been nice if there was at least someone else.
I booked my zip line tour in online in advance through Original Canopy Tours, but there was really no need. I easily could have booked it through my accommodation. The experience lasted about two hours and cost $45 when I did this in 2020.
Walk along the Hanging Bridges
I asked my brother and several of my friends (who had all been to Costa Rica previously) what their favorite experiences were. Nearly each person said the hanging bridges, so it was a no brainer to add it to my itinerary. Now having done it, I think it’s one of the best things to do in Monteverde (and Costa Rica in general).
Trees and forests surround the area so one of the best things you can do is walk on the hanging bridges to really see up into the trees. You will hike through the woods (but don’t worry, it’s not a difficult hike) and periodically you’ll find yourself crossing bridges suspended both through and above the treetops. Take in the incredible views and keep an eye out for all the animals that live here.
If you really want to make the most of your time, you can take a guided tour of the hanging bridges. The benefit of going with a guide is you’re more likely to spot some of the animals that call the forest home. I’m not an animal person and was here for the views, so a self guided tour was sufficient. Plus, I met a very nice older Danish woman and ran into a German girl who I did another tour with the day before. The three of us formed our own small group and hiked through the forest together.
You can book your tour online in advance, but there is no need. I booked my tour through my hostel a few hours before I went. The hostel was able to arrange not only my ticket, but also the transportation to (and from) the hanging bridges.
Butterfly or Hummingbird Gardens
You’ll find gardens all over this area and many are combined with other attractions. I didn’t have plans to do a hummingbird garden, but when I booked the hanging bridges tour through my accommodation, I was also given entrance into the hummingbird gardens (apparently there was some agreement between my accommodation and the company who operated the hanging bridges).
This can be a quick visit, or you can spend an hour here watching the birds if that’s your thing. The gardens aren’t big, but there are hummingbirds everywhere. Nectar is set out so the hummingbirds flock to it.
Unless you have a keen interest in birds or butterflies, I don’t think it’s necessarily worth seeking these activities out. But if you are able to get it included with one of our other activities, it can make for a fun thing to do in Monteverde.
Orchid Gardens
This was another thing that wasn’t on my initial itinerary, but I’m glad I visited. My hostel was in the center of Monteverde and just down the road were orchid gardens. I had time between my zip line and my hanging bridges tour, so I decided to check it out.
These gardens offered tours (in fact the tours were really the only way to get into the gardens). I was a bit early for the tour, so they let me wander and take some photos. I came back to the front area fifteen minutes later when the proper tour started.
I’m not usually one for tours, but this was very interesting. There were so many species of orchids and the information was incredible. I learned so much from taking this tour. So while my photos of the orchids are cool, the tour ended up really surprising me and I recommend it if you’re looking for something a little different. I felt it was one of the more unique things to do in Monteverde (at least compared to my other activities).
Tour a Chocolate Farm
I’m sure that this activity will top a lot of itineraries in Costa Rica. It seems as if you can’t visit Costa Rica without touring a chocolate and coffee farm. So I have to include it as one of the best things to do in Monteverde.
There are several options, but I booked with the tour offered through my hostel since I would then be guaranteed transportation to and from the farm.
Again, I’m not one for guided tours, but here’s where I make an exception. On this tour, you’re taken through the entire process of making both chocolate and coffee, from picking the beans, to processing them, the enjoying the samples at the end. A highlight is making your own caramel by hand that you can take with you. But also, there are samples along the way and it’s quite difficult to resist quality chocolate and coffee.
I took my tour with El Trapiche and booked through my hostel when I arrived in Monteverde (as my hostel was able to arrange the transportation as well as the tour). In 2024, the tour costs $40 USD per adult.
More Things to Do
If you’re still looking for more things to do in Monteverde, you have a few more options.
There is a lot of hiking you can do in this area, although in order to reach some of these hikes, it’ll be best if you have a car. If you aren’t keen on driving, look into guided hikes.
If you’re a nature lover and want to see more wildlife, consider going on a night walk where you’ll get a chance to see the animals that only come out at night.
There are also numerous horseback riding opportunities if that’s your thing.
How Long Do You Need In Monteverde?
I spent a day and a half in Monteverde (two nights) and felt like I got to see a lot. Here’s what my itinerary looked like:
Day 1:
1:00 – Arrive in Monteverde and Lunch
2:00 – Chocolate Farm Tour
5:00 – Arrive back in Monteverde. Dinner and shopping in town.
Day 2:
7:30 – Zip lining
11:00 – Lunch in Monteverde
12:00 – Orchid Gardens
2:00 – Hanging Bridges Canopy Tour
5:00 – Arrive back in Monteverde. Dinner in town.
If you have two full days, you could easily add one more activity in the morning of day 1. I’d consider adding some kind of guided hike in the area.
Booking Tours in Monteverde
You can absolutely book everything online by yourself. This is normally what I do. However in Monteverde, it’s really not necessary. Your hotel or hostel will be able to help you with any bookings and if they can’t, there are several tourism offices in town that will be happy to help arrange any tours.
The prices were very rarely different than what I would find online. Plus your hotel may have some agreements that will allow you to get extras included (like my free extra for the hummingbird gardens). Don’t forget, if you don’t have your own vehicle, the person doing your booking can help arrange your transportation to and from your accommodation since nearly all of these are outside of town.
Getting to Monteverde
I arrived in Monteverde from La Fortuna via the popular Jeep-Boat-Jeep tour. If you want some stunning views of the mountains and a boat ride across Lake Arenal, look into this option. It takes three to four hours to make the journey from La Fortuna to Monteverde (and vice versa).
From Monteverde, I took a shuttle to Manuel Antonio. This is the more expensive option, but it offers an air conditioned van and door to door service between hotels. A much more economical option is to take a public bus.
Final Thoughts
Monteverde, Costa Rica has a variety of activities to keep travelers busy. Unless you’re here for a week, I don’t think it will be possible to run out of things to do in Monteverde. So get out there and enjoy it.
Continue Your Adventure
Getting to Monteverde: If you’re coming from La Fortuna, the easiest way to get to Monteverde is via the Jeep-Boat-Jeep Tour.
La Fortuna: One of the best activities is visiting Arenal Volcano and Fortuna Waterfall.
Manuel Antonio: This national park on on the southwestern coast is a favorite among travelers. Learn how to plan a perfect visit to Manuel Antonio National Park.
Costa Rica Travel Guide: For everything you need to plan the perfect trip to Costa Rica, check out my Costa Rica Travel Guide.
Itineraries: For the perfect introduction to Costa Rica, check out this 9 day itinerary.