Monteverde, Costa Rica
The words cloud and forest don’t seem to go together except in the world of Avatar. You won’t see blue people flying about in Monteverde, but you wouldn’t find it surprising once you’re there. The cloud forest of Monteverde is a rainforest in the mountains. The clouds roll through the canopies like fog. Crossing hanging bridges when the conditions are just right may have you wondering if there is any actual ground below. You may start looking for blue people. What you will see, however, is the Quetzal, if you’re lucky; the national bird of Guatemala. It’s a rare tropical bird with a pure red belly and jade green feathers, which drape long off the tail tempting the forest floor. The cloud forest is teaming with life. When you’re done hiking around there, you can enjoy a five-star meal in town at one of many eateries. Pack your raincoat and maybe some socks. This isn’t the beachy Costa Rican experience, but you won’t mind. Plus, it’s a small country, you can go to the beach when you’re done.
