Monteverde Cloud Forest

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History of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve

In April, 1951, during the hottest time of year, a small group of Quakers from the United States in search of a peaceful new home, struggled some 20 miles slowly up a tortuous dirt ox cart trail that served as the road into the mountains. The road was hot and dusty in the summer heat, and smoke from farmers burning the dry vegetation of the forests in the lowlands to clear land for fields obscured the magnificent vistas of the low hills and Pacific Ocean in the distance. As they climbed uphill the temperatures grew cooler, the land became moister, and when they reached their destination on a broad level ridge around 4500 feet elevation, they found a spring-like climate, clean clear air and a beautiful lush green forest. Returning later to settle with their families, they were delighted with their new cool and moist mountain home-which contrasted starkly with the dry brown landscape below-and named the area Monteverde-Green Mountain.

To support themselves the Quakers cleared land on the lower slopes around their village to establish dairy farms to produce milk for making quality cheeses to sell to the cities. By community consent they left the forest at the top of the mountain as a watershed to produce clean water for drinking and electricity via a small hydroelectric plant they built.

In the 1960's the forest at the top of the mountain was being studied by a researcher, George Powell, who was impressed by its remarkable plants and wildlife. Growing concerned with the accelerating rate of deforestation in Costa Rica in the surrounding areas, Dr. Powell gathered community support to permanently protect the forest by declaring it a forest preserve. In 1972, with government approval, this forest became the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve.

Today the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve is one of the world's premier ecological destinations-perfect for your Costa Rica ecotourism adventure. Encompassing almost 26,000 acres (10,500 hectares), the preserve protects many rare and unusual plant and animal species found only in limited mountain habitats of the region. The preserve lists over 100 mammal species, 400 bird species, 120 amphibians and reptiles, and 2,500 plant species including 420 orchids that are protected here. This outstanding diversity results from the preserve straddling both Caribbean and Pacific slopes on the Continental Divide in the Tilarán Mountains of northwestern Costa Rica. The preserve contains six different vegetational communities in a short distance. It has elevations of below 2000 to over 6000 feet, and contains rainforest on the lower eastern slopes, gnarled and dwarfed "elfin" forest on the highest peaks, cool moist forests in protected coves and drier forests on the western slopes. The preserve contains an extensive trail system open to visitors for walking and hiking in Costa Rica, yet most of the park remains a wilderness to protect the wildlife and its habitat.

What is a Cloud Forest?

A cloud forest is a rare type of mountain rainforest that is frequently bathed in mist from low-lying clouds. Only about 2.5% of rainforests are classified as cloud forests. The abundant mist, which often covers the forests in the afternoons and during the night, not only moistens the forest, but also deposits minute amounts of fertilizer that accumulate over time to produce an extremely rich and dense forest. Characteristic of a cloud forest is the abundance of small plants that grow on other plants known as epiphytes. In cloud forests, epiphytes may account for up to 63 percent of the total number of plant species! Can you see why this area fits well with your plans for a Costa Rica nature tour?

Thick green "carpets" of epiphytic plants form over decades covering the trees trunks and limbs with mosses, blueberry plants, bromeliads (members of the pineapple family), ferns, orchids and others. Orchids occur in their greatest numbers in cloud forests. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve is dominated by old-growth forest. Massive oak trees, wild avocados, and bizarre strangler fig trees which take decades to slowly wrap themselves around host trees, are just some of the tree species here.

The cloud forest wildlife includes species from lower elevations such as howling monkeys, white-throated capuchin monkeys, and coatimundis. However it also protects species of fauna (and flora) found only in mountain forests including olingos, the resplendent quetzal (the bird worshipped by the Aztecs and Mayans which breeds here in March-June), black-faced solitaires (cousins of the robin which sing beautifully), emerald toucanets and many others. A bird watching vacation in Costa Rica could certainly include Monteverde!

Altogether, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve protects not only a cloud forest of outstanding beauty but also an area of great ecological importance.

Other Area Attractions

There are many attractions other than the Preserve in Monteverde. For quiet contemplation or bird watching, you can simply take a walk along a country road in the farming communities. To experience drier forests with different plant and animal species, take one of the forest trails for hiking outside the reserve lower on the Pacific slope. This cool mountain area is ideal for horseback riding, and several local stables rent horses. There is also an excellent tropical butterfly garden with local species flying in large enclosures and guided tours are available to explain the fascinating butterfly life histories. Also nearby are a reptile zoo (Serpentarium), frog exhibit (best visited in early evening when the little frogs become active and start singing), and an orchid garden featuring many of the local orchids at eye level (in the forest most orchids are high up in the forest canopy).

If you want to see orchids in their natural setting, local canopy bridge walks are the key. Walking along trails on the ground and bridges that span over ravines, you can go at your own pace through the tree tops to observe blooming orchids and other plants, birds and sometimes monkeys at or below eye level. If a thrilling ride is what you want, then a "zip line" cable canopy tour is the answer. On this entertaining ride, you will be attached to a harness connected to a pulley that rolls along a cable, giving the sensation of flying through the trees, and on some tours, hundreds of feet over the forest floor!

After all these activities, take a break by eating in one of the many excellent restaurants in the communities outside the Preserve, or go shopping for locally-made gifts with themes related to the area, or stop in at the Cheese Factory for their own brand of incredibly delicious ice cream. In Monteverde, there is plenty to do-you just have to brave that old ox cart trail that leads up to the area. Over the years it has been improved-slightly.

l  Tortuguero l Arenal Volcano lMonteverde Cloud Forest l Guanacaste l Puerto Viejo de Limon l Carara National Park l Tiskita Jungle Lodge l Corcovado National Park l Manuel Antonio NP l