Treetopia Park Monteverde, Costa Rica - adventurous hanging bridges in the mystical cloud forest

We drive along bumpy, potholed roads into the Monteverde cloud forest in northern Costa Rica. Near Santa Elena, we visit Treetopia Park Monteverde. A tour on the skywalk over adventurous hanging bridges brings us up close to the lush greenery of the cloud forest. Afterwards, we visit the bats of "The Bat Jungle".

The drive from La Fortuna to Monteverde isn't long, but it's time-consuming! We begin by driving along Lake Arenal. The road is narrow but easy to drive. But then the asphalt turns into a gravel road. That alone wouldn't be a problem, but treacherous potholes require full concentration and slow progress painfully. Luckily, we drive an SUV with increased ground clearance and finally reach Santa Elena, the tourist center of the Monteverde region.

The Monteverde cloud forest is a very special ecosystem. The warm air from the Caribbean and Pacific rises and condenses here on the mountains, which can reach up to 1700 meters in height, forming clouds and mist. The high humidity and frequent rain are ideal for dense vegetation, especially for epiphytes such as orchids and bromeliads. Birdlife also thrives here. During our stay, it rains almost continuously, but that's not bad luck; it's simply part of the experience.

At Treetopia Park Monteverde, we take a guided tour on the Skywalk. A central element of the park are the hanging bridges, which extend through the treetops at various heights. These structures provide a perspective on the forest, revealing the upper layer of the canopy and its inhabitants without disturbing the ecosystem. And you can enjoy a view of the cloud-covered landscape with its mystical atmosphere. The hanging bridges are safe, but you shouldn't be afraid of heights. In addition to the hanging bridges, there's also a cable car and ziplines that allow you to whizz across the forest landscape at high speed. However, we prefer the tranquility of the hanging bridges, which fits the mysterious atmosphere much better. It's pouring with rain. That's probably why we don't see any other animals besides birds. They obviously prefer to stay at home in this weather! 😁

Then we go to the Bat Jungle Monteverde. After an introduction to the world of bats, we immerse ourselves in artificial darkness. We observe these nocturnal animals. They are very social, and it's cute how they cuddle with each other. And here it's not raining!

The Monteverde region has even more to offer! Soon we'll learn how a cocoa fruit actually becomes delicious chocolate, and a coffee cherry becomes a delicious drink.

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You can find the complete channel playlist for our stay in Costa Rica here:    • Costa Rica  

Visit in February 2025

Chapter:
00:00 Intro
00:35 Drive to Monteverde
01:42 Treetopia Park Monteverde
08:57 Drive to Santa Elena
10:21 Bat Jungle Monteverde
12:32 Outro