Free or cheap: lookouts, waterfalls
and hikes

How to use this guide

This is for seeing Monteverde without paying for a reserve every day. The free plans are the Hummingbird Gallery, next to the Monteverde Reserve entrance, the climb up Cerro Amigos and a walk around Santa Elena town. The cheap ones are the Cerro Pinocho lookout, for ₡1,000, and the shop of the CASEM women’s craft cooperative, in Cerro Plano. El Tigre Waterfalls, at $33 per adult, and San Luis waterfall take most of the day.

Plan the day around fog and light. Climb Cerro Amigos early, before the fog comes in: it is about 2 km each way and 400 m of climb, so allow about 3 h round trip. Afterwards, stop at the Hummingbird Gallery, open from 8:30 to 16:00. In mid-afternoon, CASEM sits next to Caburé, The Bat Jungle and the Café Monteverde coffee shop, so several stops can be linked on foot. For sunset, the Cerro Pinocho lookout opens from 15:00 to 19:00 and faces the Gulf of Nicoya.

With a second day, pick one waterfall. El Tigre Waterfalls are a self-guided trail of about 8 km with four waterfalls and ten bridges; last entry is at 13:30. San Luis waterfall drops about 100 m and is about 3 h on foot from Monteverde. On a tight budget, skip El Tigre and eat a casado at a soda in Santa Elena.

Tips

• Reaching Cerro Pinocho takes a 4x4, especially from May to November. Bring a warm layer for the wind and drive slowly on the way back, after dark.
• On Cerro Amigos the gradient is around 20%: wear shoes with good grip.
• The road to San Luis is steep and gravel: use a high vehicle and wear boots, as the trail is often muddy. If you swim, the water is very cold.
• At El Tigre, arrive early for fewer people; an optional naturalist guide costs $40 per person.
• The Hummingbird Gallery is free, but a purchase at the café or shop is appreciated.