Reserva Santa Elena

Top choice in Monteverde & Around


The exquisitely misty 310-hectare Reserva Santa Elena offers a completely different cloud forest experience from Monteverde. Cutting through the veiled forest, the reserve's 12km of dewy trails see much less traffic, retaining a magic that is sometimes missing at Monteverde. A recently upgraded observation tower in the reserve offers views all the way to the Arenal and Miravalles volcanoes (on a clear day). Open since 1992, Santa Elena was one of the first community-managed conservation projects in the country.

The reserve has a simple restaurant, coffee shop and gift store. Note that all proceeds go toward managing the reserve, as well as to environmental education programs in local schools.

The reserve itself is about 6km northeast of the village of Santa Elena; the reserve office is in town. A private shuttle service offers transportation to the reserve with pickups from hotels, departing at 6am, 8:30am, 10:30am and 12:30pm. Return trips from the reserve are at 9am, 11am, 1pm and 4pm. You can book the service by phone or directly through your hotel.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Monteverde & Around attractions

1. El Arbol Hueco

1.71 MILES

There's no sign, no website, and last we checked, nobody was collecting any money for this delightful roadside attraction. It's simply a hollowed-out fig…

2. Jardín de Orquídeas

2.05 MILES

This sweet-smelling garden in Santa Elena has shady trails winding past more than 500 types of orchids. On your guided tour, you’ll see such rarities as…

3. Bat Jungle

2.07 MILES

The Bat Jungle in Monteverde is a small but informative exhibit, with good bilingual educational displays and a habitat housing almost 100 free-flying…

4. Herpetarium Adventure

2.08 MILES

For those who prefer their reptiles under glass (or at least behind it), a guide will show you around and introduce you to more than 50 species of…

5. Iglesia

2.11 MILES

A local landmark in the center of Santa Elena. The adjacent roasted-chicken shack apparently has no religious affiliation.

6. Ranario

2.23 MILES

Returning to its former glory as the Ranario, or Frog Pond (it's changed names a few times), this place also features an insect house. The frogs are still…

7. Butterfly Garden

2.27 MILES

Head here for everything you ever wanted to know about butterflies. There are four gardens representing different habitats; they're home to more than 40…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "costa-rica/monteverde-around/attractions/reserva-santa-elena/a/poi-sig/1198217/1340176",
      "destination": "Monteverde-&-Around",
      "continent": "Central-America",
      "country": "Costa-Rica",
      "region": "Monteverde-&-Around",
      "position": "superzone"
    }