Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, three hours from San Jose
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is a three hour journey from San Jose, set in a high elevation which gives it its name. When the conditions are ideal the canopy is wreathed in dense patches of cloud, wrapping itself around the treetops which teem with wildlife. Monteverde and neighbouring Santa Elena are well regarded regions to visit for bird watchers, as they are home to the resplendent Quetzal, a vibrant bird of the brightest shades of scarlet and emerald green.