Mirador La Ventana, Reserva Bosque Nuboso Monteverde

The free shuttle from the visitor centre drops you at the preserve entrance, where the walk begins. Sendero Camino, a broad track, leads east into the forest to the preserve's hanging bridge, a steel walkway at canopy height across a ravine. Beyond it the path climbs gently through forest heavy with mosses, bromeliads and orchids towards the continental divide, where the trees grow short and twisted in the constant wind. A short spur leads up to La Ventana, a viewpoint on the divide that looks down both the Caribbean and the Pacific slopes when the cloud lifts. The return follows Sendero Bosque Nuboso, one of the old research trails, back west through tall, dripping forest.

It is 4.1 km round with 130 m of ascent; allow about 1½ hours, or the preserve's own estimate of about 2½ hours if you stop to look for birds. The grade is Easy: a gravel track and well-made paths, with roots, steps and mud.

Numbers are limited, so book a time slot ahead and arrive 15 minutes early. The preserve opens at 7.30am and closes at 4pm. Umbrellas are not allowed on the trails: bring a rain jacket, as it is cool and often wet at 1,500 to 1,600 m.

Everyone parks at the Harriett Powell visitor centre, 1.5 km below the entrance, and rides the shuttle up and back.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.