Root-Covered Trail in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve sits along the Cordillera de Tilarán in northwestern Costa Rica, straddling the Continental Divide between the Pacific and Caribbean watersheds. Established in 1972 by the Tropical Science Center, the reserve protects roughly 10,500 hectares of forest across six distinct ecological zones. Elevations within the reserve range from about 1,400 to 1,800 meters, keeping the canopy wrapped in moisture-laden clouds for much of the year. That constant humidity supports one of the densest concentrations of epiphytes in Central America, with orchids, bromeliads, and mosses covering tree trunks and exposed roots along the trail network.