Costa Rica: Volcanoes, Beaches, and Forests in Two Weeks

Arrival

Monteverde is readily accessible by car, but be prepared with a GPS as the route from Liberia is not well signalled at all locations. In addition, there are some very steep hills and narrow roads, so be prepared to take it easy on the 2-3hr drive.

Day 1-2: Cloud Forest

The main appeal of the Monteverde region is that it is situated at a high elevation, creating a forest that literally lives off the clouds. The scenery is spectacular just about anywhere you go, but the two locations we visisted are:

• Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is, as it's name suggests, a nature preserve. While smaller than the adjacent Bosque Eterno de Los Ninos, it is significantly more accessible. The views you can get from some of the observation points are absolutely unreal, as you can see all the way to the Pacific Ocean on clear days. The reserve has multiple trails to explore, and if you are lucky, you might catch a glimpse of some local wildlife on the canopy above.
• Sky Adventures is an adventure park that offers zip lines, rafting, guided tours and more, but the big draw at this specific location is the Skywalk. While this can be done as a guided tour, you can also just wander the trails on your own for about $40 a person. This trail network has six suspension bridges up to 300m in length at various levels along the canopy, letting you see a side of the forest that is not otherwise accessible. 

Additional shout-out to Tico y Rico for some fo the best/cheapest grub in the town of Monteverde.