The strangler fig
Roots forming a hollow tower.
Cephas — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cephas — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cephas — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cephas — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cephas — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cephas — CC BY-SA 4.0
Curi Cancha Reserve is a private cloud forest in Monteverde and a quiet alternative to the area's better-known reserves. Its short trails link dense forest with open green meadows, drawing birdwatchers and walkers who want fewer crowds, and you can finish it in a half day. Sources mention nine named routes, totalling about 5 to 7 km depending on the source. The reserve offers guided natural history and birdwatching tours, along with night tours. A free map comes with your ticket, and the entrance office rents binoculars, according to one source. A guide helps you spot birds and animals hidden in the leaves. You walk an earth path between trunks covered in plants and ferns, then the way opens onto green meadows with scattered trees and soft hills. The forest's highlight is a huge strangler fig, whose roots form a hollow tower you can look up through to the sky. The air is damp, and weather can turn from sun to mist within minutes. The reserve is about 2.2 km in a straight line east of Santa Elena town. Sources give 07:00 to 15:00 for opening, with night tours after 17:30. Paths get muddy in rain, so wear sturdy shoes and bring a light jacket. Keep to the paths and do not feed the animals. Numbers may be limited in season, so book ahead if you can.
Roots forming a hollow tower.
Scattered trees and soft hills.
With a guide after dusk.
Monteverde, Puntarenas Province
Not for the trails, but one helps a lot with spotting birds.
A half day covers nearly all the trails.