While many think of white sand beaches & epic surf when they think about Costa Rica, there is actually far more of this beautiful country to be seen inland in the mountainous areas & cloud forests of Monteverde or ‘Green Mountain’. Despite how rural and remote this mountain community is, Monteverde has quickly become one of Costa Rica’s most popular tourist destinations.
Because of its remoteness, reaching Monteverde can be a be a bit of a rocky road. For those renting vehicles & driving themselves, we recommend an SUV 4x4 as well as some level of confidence when it comes to mountainous driving. That said, having a rental car in Monteverde and the town of Santa Elena will make exploring all that much easier & will prove to be a great time saver.
We arrived in Monteverde at Puma Meraki fairly late into the evening & just in time for sunset. It is recommended that you follow the Google Maps directions to Santa Elena first before heading onward to Puma in order to avoid being led up the rough & rocky back roads … as we were.
Puma Meraki is a new & modern apartment rental (two two-bedroom apartments with one above the other) located on the rural farmlands of Mekana Ranch.
Each apartment comes with an open concept living space including a small kitchenette, refrigerator, stove top, and cookware. The shared bathroom looks out on the lush, green forest & both bedrooms open completely to the outdoors & shared spacious balconies.
Exploring the tropical cloud forests of Monteverde is one of the most worthwhile adventures that you can take in Costa Rica. These forests sit more than 5,000 feet above sea level, and the flora & fauna is like nothing you will find anywhere else.
One of the most unique things to do at Puma Meraki is to follow their marked paths through the cloud forest & farmland, stopping to climb one of their giant ficus trees. Ficus trees (also known as ‘strangler trees’) are an entangled ladder of roots left hollow after growing around, and eventually strangling the tree that stood there before it!
If you are the type of traveler who loves a little adventure, then Monteverde is the perfect addition to your travel plans. Leave plenty of time for hikes & zip-lines, and be sure to try some of the local dining as well (Santa Elena has a few not-to-miss restaurants that our hosts at Puma Meraki were eager to share!)
Visiting as a family? Be sure to look into a stay at Puma Meraki for a true Monteverde experience & easy access to some of the best tourist attractions in the area.
Not sure where to start? Get in touch at reservations@tltravel.ca & start planning your next getaway today!