Coffee Experience and Nighttime Nature Walk, Monteverde

Combine a chocolate tour with a wildlife hike on this evening excursion! Head to a Costa Rican farm in the Monteverde region to learn about the process behind chocolate production, from seed to chocolate bar. After an overview of the process, you'll have the chance to grind cocoa, make your own chocolate bar, and taste several types of chocolate, such as dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate. Once the chocolate experience is complete, you'll go on a night hike to look for species of frogs and toads in the wild. You might also see sloths, raccoons, and other nocturnal animals. 

Venture into the Children's Eternal Forest, the largest private reserve in Costa Rica, for a nighttime hike. Your naturalist guide will lead you along the park's trails after dark, pointing out nocturnal wildlife in the rainforest. In addition to mammals, reptiles, and insects, the reserve is home to more than 300 kinds of birds. The activity starts right after nightfall, allowing you to watch some animals awakening and others seeking their nests or caves to sleep.

Ideal for nature lovers and science enthusiasts, this hiking adventure in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve introduces you to one of the jewels in Costa Rica's ecological crown. Follow a naturalist guide along forest trails and get an up-close look at the region's remarkable biodiversity as you search for some of the birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and insects that call the 26,000-acre (3,500 ha) reserve home. After an immersive and educational few hours in nature, you'll stop by a local women's artisan cooperative to end the experience. 

Discover the Santa Elena Cloud Forest on a guided hike. While the Monteverde Reserve is on the "must-see" list for most travelers to Costa Rica, the Santa Elena Reserve offers the opportunity to experience this rare ecosystem without waiting in lines for a photo or stepping off the path as large tour groups pass. During your guided hike, you'll have the chance to see an astonishing number of animals. Elusive feline species include pumas, jaguarundi, and the endangered jaguar, while more commonly spotted species include spider monkeys, sloths, bright red poison dart frogs, and tarantulas.

Venture into the cloud forest for an outdoor adventure that involves hiking, zip lining, and more. Start by boarding the open-air Sky Tram gondola at Treetopia Park Monteverde, an aerial amusement park set in the cloud forest. Take in the surrounding scenery as you ride up to the starting point of the Sky Walk. Follow your guide on a short hike along nature trails and suspension bridges, learning about the region's flora and fauna. Next, the exhilarating adventure of whizzing down the mountain begins. Connect to the Sky Trek zip line cable that stretches over cloud forest treetops. Soaring above the canopy is an unforgettable thrill!

Mount up your horse and explore the picturesque back roads and forest trails of Monteverde's agricultural heartland on this full-day horseback riding adventure. Spot sloths and toucans, learn about the area's rich cultural heritage, and enjoy a picnic and a refreshing soak in a secluded clearing by a babbling river. End your journey with a quick stop at a local cafe before riding back to the ranch.

Experience an exhilarating zip line adventure in the country where this thrilling activity was born! Your journey begins with an ascent, guiding you high above the jungle canopy via a network of trails and suspension bridges. Once securely fastened to a zip line cable, you'll zoom down several short segments before encountering the main attraction, the Big One. This colossal zip line cable stretches 5,216 feet (1590 meters) across Latin America's longest. For those seeking an even more superhero-like experience, the Superman zipline allows you to soar through the cloud forest with unmatched freedom. And if you're up for a bungee-inspired adventure, don't miss the Tarzan Swing, among other exciting options!