From the town of Santa Elena to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve is a short trip, great for a beginner or half-drunk intermediates and experts. Lot’s of beer drinking opportunities along the way – bars, restaurants and stores – or pack it with you, it’s an easy ride and a six pack of Imperial isn’t really isn’t all that heavy when you consider the energy and sheer enjoyment it’s gonna bring you.
It’s probably only 3 or 4 miles each way and the hardest part is the short grunt out of Santa Elena – at least wait until you top this hill before you start drinking. After about ½ mile the pavement ends and you’re on dirt, or more likely mud – hey, man it’s the frickin’ rainforest, what do you expect. It’s pretty much dirt road all the way, however there are a few trail opportunities that parallel the road but nothing very exciting. The turn around point is the parking lot at the Monteverde Preserve, where you can get a tourist-priced beer in the cafeteria thing or sit out front with your own stash and wait for the Quetzals to show up (I’ve seen em here, twice). The Hummingbird Gallery (100 yards back towards town) is worth checking out too because it’s free and you can check out some pretty cool birds at very close range. The return trip to town is mostly downhill, but it’s worth taking your time and checking shit out. We saw an “agouti” on this road last week. Great warm up ride for the area and one of the few without tons of monster climbs.
It’s probably only 3 or 4 miles each way and the hardest part is the short grunt out of Santa Elena – at least wait until you top this hill before you start drinking. After about ½ mile the pavement ends and you’re on dirt, or more likely mud – hey, man it’s the frickin’ rainforest, what do you expect. It’s pretty much dirt road all the way, however there are a few trail opportunities that parallel the road but nothing very exciting. The turn around point is the parking lot at the Monteverde Preserve, where you can get a tourist-priced beer in the cafeteria thing or sit out front with your own stash and wait for the Quetzals to show up (I’ve seen em here, twice). The Hummingbird Gallery (100 yards back towards town) is worth checking out too because it’s free and you can check out some pretty cool birds at very close range. The return trip to town is mostly downhill, but it’s worth taking your time and checking shit out. We saw an “agouti” on this road last week. Great warm up ride for the area and one of the few without tons of monster climbs.
