A familiar saying is to get your head out of the clouds. Not in Monteverde, home of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, where keeping your heads in the clouds is the thing to do.- BY PAMELA GRANT

The earth’s forests are amazing places that support life on earth by producing approximately 28% of oxygen, and they perform other practical duties such as providing a home to some of the most unique wildlife on earth. Forests can seem almost magical with their lush foliage and hidden secrets, especially when compared to urban concrete locales. However, some forests are more special than others, such as the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Here, you can walk solidly on the ground (or not so solidly on a hanging bridge) with your head literally in the clouds. Cloud forests make up only 1% of the earth’s woodlands, because they need special environmental conditions. The Monteverde Cloud Forest in Costa Rica gives even the most experienced eco-travelers a thrill because of the unique experience offered.

The word Monteverde means “Green Mountain” which is the perfect name for this forest located at 4,600 feet above sea level in Costa Rico. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve contains most of the cloud forest in Monteverde. It is a huge 35,089-acre preserve that has virgin and semi-virgin vegetation and an interesting mix of amphibians, birds, and mammals.

Walk with us, as we take a turn around nature’s terrarium.

New Appreciation for Fog

Cloud forests only exist in tropical and subtropical climates because these climates produce just the right mixture of forest canopy, precipitation, and fog. Fog is of course a low-hanging cloud that is thick with moisture. When the fog settles on the forest canopy and mingles with the branches and leaves of the tall trees, an earth-sustaining process takes place.

First, the plant material coming in contact with the fog absorbs the water and other nutrients it holds. The leftover water then condenses and moves down until it reaches the forest floor, where the water sustains wildlife and lower-lying plant material.

Walking at Forest Canopy Level

A cloud forest is different from a tropical rainforest. For one thing, a cloud forest is located at a higher elevation than a rainforest, making it cooler. For the Monteverde Cloud Forest to maintain its unique cloud cover feature, it needs cooler temperatures at the higher elevation, so that fog is formed through evaporation. Another difference between a cloud forest and a rainforest is that cloud forests have peaks and valleys, while rainforests tend to have land mostly at the same elevation. The cloud forest terrain is perfectly designed to accumulate the moisture and water from the water that drips down from higher elevations. During periods of heavier rain, the rivers in the cloud forest can run fast over rocky beds, creating even more moisture that contributes to the fog and mist.

Hiking through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is a delightful excursion through lush greenery. There are currently 10 hiking trails ranging in length from 0.1 mile to 1.2 miles. Hiking the Sendero Bosque Nuboso or Cloud Forest Trail is a good half-day excursion. You ascend to La Ventana (The Window) Lookout, where you can view the Continental Divide. The clouds here are thick and fast because the warm air of the Pacific slope meets the moisture-filled trade winds of the Atlantic slope. If you are a lucky eco traveler, you may spot the colorful Resplendent Quetzal bird, which is an endangered species. The Reserve has been instrumental in increasing the bird population. After leaving the lookout point, you can continue along the Sendero Pantanoso (Swamp Trail) and the Sendero El Rio trails. You are walking at the forest canopy level, a unique experience that allows you to spot a lot of wildlife you could not see from the forest floor. They include the coati, the white-faced capuchin monkey, and a variety of birds.

This is just one example of hiking opportunities. You can also walk the must-see hanging bridges for a true adventure through the treetop mossy canopy. It gives a unique experience, because you feel as if you are walking through the clouds (which you are). The Selvatura Park and Sky Adventures are good starting points. Selvatura Park includes eight hanging bridges for a two-mile walk, while Sky Adventures in Monteverde Park has six, and also a zip line and tram ride.

Color Among the Green

Spotting wildlife is a colorful joy. The Golden-browed Chlorophonia is feathered in brilliant green and yellow. The Emerald Toucanet is harder to spot because its emerald coloring matches the color of the trees so well. The three-wattled Bellbird has a white head and throat, but its plumage is an unusual chestnut brown. There are 425 bird species identified so far in this remarkable cloud forest.

You will spot a lot more than birds by carefully watching for animals such as the white-faced monkeys, deer, ocelot, coatis, jaguar, margay, Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine, Hoffman’s two-toed sloth, and so much more. There are reptiles, amphibians, and 658 species of butterflies. Many larger animals are nocturnal, so joining a guided spotlight tour is highly recommended. In fact, many visitors recommend hiring a tour guide no matter what time of day you go walking. You contribute to the local economy while making sure you make the most of your cloud forest tour. Monteverde is also just as much a haven for flora as it is for fauna. It is one of the most orchid-rich places on Earth and has over 700 tree species.

Nature Adventure with a Focus on Conservation

An adventure in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is really like no other. There are plenty of hotels near the Reserve, and eco-travelers can find a variety of ecolodges. One suggestion is to book travel through a conservation tour company such as Natural Habitat Adventures. The company specializes in nature adventures with a focus on conservation, but also has access to some lesser-known areas you might not see otherwise. The guides also know how you can enjoy your trip while being environmentally conscious and supporting the local economy. If you have never walked with your head in the clouds, then it is time to do so!