Which Costa Rican cloud forest is a popular ecotourism destination?

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is the Costa Rican cloud forest popular with ecotourists. Located in the Cordillera de Tilarán, the reserve protects more than 10,500 hectares of high-elevation cloud forest and attracts visitors for birdwatching, hiking, research, and its exceptional plant diversity.

The reserve was established in the early 1970s after scientists and local conservationists recognized the value of the forest. In 1973, the Tropical Science Center acquired an initial 328 hectares for a symbolic one Costa Rican colón. The protected area later expanded substantially, becoming one of Costa Rica’s best-known private reserves.

Monteverde’s cool, misty conditions support abundant epiphytes, including hundreds of orchid species, as well as roughly 400 bird species. The resplendent quetzal is a major attraction. The reserve is sometimes confused with Arenal Volcano National Park because the two areas form part of a broader cloud-forest conservation landscape, but they are distinct protected areas.