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If you are traveling to Costa Rica, then you need to add Monteverde to your list of destinations! Monteverde is a small town in the mountains of northwestern Costa Rica and is a popular destination for ecotourism. It is home to cloud forests, which create a unique habitat suitable for thousands of different species rarely seen elsewhere.
Monteverde’s location in the remote mountains have also made it a destination for something else: extreme sports.
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Where is Monteverde?
Monteverde is located in the Puntarenas Province in the northwestern part of Costa Rica. It is about 150 kilometers (90 miles) northwest of San José.
How to Get to Monteverde
The easiest way to get to Monteverde is from San José, the capital of Costa Rica. San José has a large international airport, making it convenient for international travelers.
From San José, you can either rent a car and drive up to Monteverde, or you can take a tour to Monteverde.
Depending on traffic, the trip can take 3-4 hours. The roads are very windy, so drive carefully!
Monteverde via Public Transportation
For budget travelers, you can also travel to Monteverde via public transportation.
You can get there either from the San José airport bus terminal, or from Terminal 7-10 in downtown San José. The buses leave at 6:30 AM and 2:30 PM every day. The trip costs around 3,000 CRC (about $5.78 USD as of 2024. Find the current conversion rate here!).
Extreme Sports in Monteverde
Here are the most popular extreme sports in Monteverde!
Hanging Bridges in Monteverde
This option is the easiest to consider for those who are a little more cautious. The bridges are very safe and there is very little risk involved. You will need to be physically fit enough to walk about two miles over these bridges to fully enjoy the tour.
These bridges take you through the cloud forest and over waterways, giving you a chance to appreciate the diversity of plant and animal life found in Monteverde. If you are interested in ecotourism, this is a great option for you!
Companies and Tours
Several different companies offer tours using either the terms “hanging bridges”, “sky walks”, or something similar. These tours include a guide and last about 2 hours long. Depending on the company you choose, you could walk across bridges hanging between 36 feet and 180 feet in the air! Most tours charge between $35-$60 for a non-resident adult (older than 12 years old).
You can also book a tour online.
Bungee Jumping in Monteverde
For a truly unique experience, you should check out the bungee jumping in Monteverde. This is the highest bungee jump not only in Costa Rica, but all of Central America!
In order to get to your jump point, you ride a cable car that stretches between two mountains. Once you ride out to the center point between the mountains, you jump from nearly 450 feet in the air into the cloud forest below.
This was my first bungee jumping experience. I am not crazy about heights, but I really enjoyed this. A word of advice: when the guides start counting down for you to jump, you better jump when they reach 1. If you psych yourself out too much, you may choose not to jump and waste an amazing experience.
Extremo Bungee Jumping
The bungee jumping company is Extremo Bungee Jumping. It currently cost $90/person to book this trip. Note: they will attach a camera to your helmet to record your jump. If you wish to keep the footage, you will have to purchase the video. They will not let you bring your own camera.
ATVs in Monteverde
Certain tours may include short ATV rides, but if you want to dedicate more time to riding ATVs, Monteverde is a great place to do it!
After a quick driving lesson from the guides, you will be able to explore the cloud forests, hills, and even rivers in the area on your ATV. Most tours last 2-3 hours, and you can expect to pay anywhere between $65-$130 for your tour, depending on location and the company you use.
Ziplining in Monteverde
Ziplining is probably the most popular extreme sport in Monteverde. This is appealing to people of all ages, physical abilities, and skill levels. There are plenty of low-lying zipline tracks for anyone who may be squeamish with heights.
If you are feeling adventurous, you should definitely consider riding the nearly one-mile long zipline between two mountains. This 5220-foot long zipline is the longest in Latin America. A unique feature about this zipline is you can ride it “superman style”, where the back of your harness is attached to the zipline and you “fly” over the valley to the other mountain. The whole ride lasts a couple of minutes, and it is an unforgettable experience.
Aventura Canopy Tour
There are a couple of different companies that offer this zipline experience. I went with Aventura Canopy Tour and enjoyed the experience. It’s a good idea to look at different companies to see which one provides the best value for your desired experience. Just make sure that the company you choose is reputable and takes you on the longest zipline!
Whitewater Rafting on the Tenorio River
If you still haven’t found what you are looking for, there is always the option to go whitewater rafting on the Tenorio River. This all-day experience requires transportation to Cañas, Guanacaste, where the 10-mile trek on class 3-4 waters begins. You should be in good physical condition and have whitewater experience before embarking on this tour.
This experience costs about $109/person. Pairing this experience with bungee jumping and ziplining makes for a memorable, adrenaline-filled time at Monteverde!
Where to Stay in Monteverde
There are plenty of accommodation options for travelers of all budgets in Monteverde. The nearby town of Santa Elena also offers more budget-friendly options.
Check out the map below to see available accommodations.
