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Travel. Central America. Costa Rica
Monteverde — Where Nature is Behind a Paywall
Costa Rica’s Famous Cloud Forest Comes at a Premium
The high altitude of Monteverde means the forest caresses the clouds, earning its name as the cloud forest. The clouds smother the treetops like whipped cream on top of a strawberry.
It is misty, ethereal, and astoundingly green.
One thing that surprised us about Monteverde when we first arrived at the town was the temperature. It was frigid and the wind bit our noses and sent a shiver down our flanks. It’s not what you associate with lush, tropical Costa Rica, but then you must remind yourself that you are at altitude, so, of course, it’s colder here.
Adorned in hiking boots and thick fleeces wandering around this chilly touristy town brimming with souvenirs, Joe remarked he felt like we were in the Lake District in the UK. The teddies on display were just sloths instead of sheep.
A surprising difference being that in the Lake District, you can hike wherever you want for free, sure there are activities that you can pay to do, but those are optional, you could have full days out on your own steam. You can explore the mountains, waterfalls and lakes at leisure.
