In Santa Elena you will find a selection of cheap accommodation, restaurants, shops, galleries and some bars in the lively city center. Many travelers use this cozy town as a base to explore the Monteverde region and its endless attractions. Most tours and packages, such as zip lining or guided hikes through the area's two majestic cloud forest reserves, are available here.

​

Visitors to the area often overlook the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, adhering to the more popular Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. The Santa Elena School Board maintains this reserve, which encompasses 765 acres of protected land, and entrance fees and donations are split between the reserve and the local school. The reserve offers stunning views and on a clear day, you can expect to see the distant Arenal Volcano from one of its observation decks.

The city of Monteverde is located further up the road to the world-renowned Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. This majestic reserve is a short drive from Santa Elena, and only 3 percent of its territory is open to visitors, while the other 97 percent is monitored and protected. The Monteverde Reserve is famous for its ancient forest covered in epiphytes and its exuberant wildlife and birds, in particular the resplendent Quetzal.

​

In addition to bird watching or hiking through the Santa Elena and Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserves, Monteverde is the zipline capital of Costa Rica, with a variety of options to choose from. However, if hanging from a cable in a harness over the forest and going from one platform to another is not your thing, try suspension bridges, a slower and more meditative option that also allows you to observe life in the treetops. forest. A children's favorite is the mini-train ride through the cloud forest.

​

Dotted through the Monteverde region as well as in the town of Santa Elena are several beautiful mid-range hotels and ecolodges to choose from. All-inclusive luxury resorts and hotels are not found in this small rural area. Some of the mid-range hotels we recommend include Hotel Ficus, El Establo, and Hotel Poco a Poco located inside Santa Elena. Somewhat upscale hotels include the Hidden Canopy Treehouses Boutique Hotel and Hotel Belmar. For budget travelers, we recommend Monteverde Country Lodge, Hotel Heliconia, and Claro de Luna. Look in our Hotels section under Monteverde and you will find all the details about these hotels and other lodgings we recommend in the area. Swimming pools are not typically found here as you are more likely to be needing a blanket at night.

​