Private Full-Day Monteverde Nature Tour
Private
24-hour booking cutoff · admission refundable up to 48 hours before the tour · rain or shine: 50% of the guide service and purchased entrance fees are non-refundable · 2-person minimum, solo guests get 50% of the second-person charge refunded.
- Start time
- Starts 6:00 am
- Modality
- Private only
- Where
- Curi-Cancha Reserve and Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
Photos from this tour
8 photos by our guidesOverview
This premium, all-day expedition was specifically designed for dedicated nature lovers — travelers who want to bypass the typical rushed tourist experience and spend a complete, uninterrupted day walking, discovering, and learning about Monteverde's intricate flora and fauna. Instead of choosing between locations, this comprehensive itinerary brings you into the heart of Monteverde's two most iconic and distinct ecological sanctuaries: Curi-Cancha Reserve and the world-renowned Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. By exploring both ecosystems in a single day, you double your chances of witnessing rare wildlife behavior, as we transition between the open, sun-dappled secondary forests of Curi-Cancha and the dense, mystical, moisture-rich canopy of the primary cloud forest. With a full nine hours spanning two diverse reserves, our targeting scope expands significantly: coatis (nasuas), agouti and agile monkey troops; the Resplendent Quetzal, Three-wattled Bellbirds and dynamic hummingbird species; giant strangler figs, ancient tree ferns and thousands of hidden orchid varieties.
Guided by Nasua Tours' certified naturalist guides, led by founder Oscar Castillo Mejía (license #1090) — read more about the team. Still comparing options? The Monteverde planning guide explains how this tour differs from the others. Travelling for birds? Check the quetzal, bellbird and manakin seasons.
Itinerary
Dawn at Curi-Cancha
We start early in the open, sun-dappled secondary forest when wildlife is most active.
Midday break
A scheduled rest and lunch stop (lunch not included).
Cloud Forest Reserve
Afternoon exploration of the primary cloud forest canopy and trails.
What to expect
Reserve admission can be included in your tour price or purchased separately — choose your admission option when requesting the tour.
What's included
- Professional bilingual naturalist guide, certified by the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT)
- Shared use of a high-end professional spotting telescope for close-up viewing and photography
What to bring
- A high-quality waterproof jacket or heavy rain poncho
- Comfortable, well-broken-in hiking shoes or trail sneakers
- Camera or smartphone fully charged — a power bank is recommended
- A daypack with snacks, plenty of water and eco-friendly insect repellent
Optional or not included
- Lunch and meals
- Transportation
Not a mass-market tour
This is an exclusive experience run in small groups or fully private — never a large commercial departure. You walk with one of our certified naturalist guides, led by Oscar Castillo Mejía, at your pace, with professional optical equipment on the trail and your reserve admission confirmed for you when you choose the all-inclusive option.
- Small groups or fully private — no crowded buses
- Personal attention from a certified naturalist guide
- Professional spotting scope and quality optics included
- Reserve admission confirmed for you when included
What guests said about this tour
Read all reviews“Absolute highlight of our trip! Oscar was an incredible guide with a true passion for ecological conservation and we learned so much from him during our tour.”
Hannah SwiftGoogle · 3 months ago“Excelente tour privado en Curi Cancha (Monteverde) con Nasua Tours. Oscar es un guía extraordinario, con un conocimiento impresionante sobre las aves, sus comportamientos y sus cantos.”
AdrianGoogle · 2 months ago“We couldn't have asked for a more wonderfully guide. Oscar was knowledgeable, interested, energetic, and full of helpful information. He was delightful, pleasant, conversational and fun to be with.”
Jackie Jove-AltmanGoogle · a month ago
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Booking & cancellation policies
These terms apply to every Nasua Tours booking and you accept them before your request is sent.
Booking cutoff: 24 hours
Requests close 24 hours before the tour starts, so admission and guiding can be arranged in time.
Reserve admission is refundable up to 48 hours before the tour
Cancel at least 48 hours before the tour starts and the reserve admission (entrance tickets) is refunded. With less than 48 hours' notice the entrance tickets are no longer refundable.
Rain or shine — 50% of the guide service is non-refundable
Monteverde weather is unpredictable, so tours run rain or shine. If the tour is cancelled, 50% of the guided-service charge is non-refundable, and entrance fees already purchased are non-refundable.
Minimum booking: 2 people (solo guests welcome)
Every tour is sold from a 2-person minimum, so a solo guest books the service for 2. If only one guest travels, Nasua Tours refunds 50% of the extra charge for the second person.
Questions about this tour
- How long is the full-day tour?
- It begins at 6:00 am and lasts about nine hours.
- Which reserves are visited?
- Both Curi-Cancha Reserve and the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve on the same day.
- Who is this tour designed for?
- Nature lovers who want to spend the whole day walking, discovering and learning about Monteverde's flora and fauna rather than a short introductory walk.
- Is transportation available?
- Transportation can be arranged. Mention where you are staying in Monteverde when you send your request and it will be quoted with the tour.
- Are reserve entrance fees included?
- You choose. "Tour with admission included" covers the guided service plus the applicable reserve or activity admission with 13% tax, so there is nothing to buy at the gate. "Tour without admission" covers the guided service with 13% tax only, and you pay the reserve entrance yourself. Infants 0–3 are free on both options.
- How much does the tour cost?
- Both options show a live total in the request panel, with 13% tax already included. Prices per guest depend on group size, whether the tour is private or shared, and — for the all-inclusive option — which reserve you visit, since admission differs by reserve and age. Children 4–10 have their own rate and infants 0–3 are free. You confirm the exact total with Nasua Tours before anything is booked.
- Is a full day too much walking for moderate fitness?
- The walking is spread across the day with breaks, and your guide sets the pace with your group. Mention your fitness, mobility or pace preferences in your request and the route is planned accordingly.
- What happens if it rains during the full day tour?
- Tours run rain or shine — rain is part of the cloud forest, so bring a rain jacket. If a tour is cancelled, 50% of the guided service and admission fees is non-refundable; admissions are refundable when cancelled at least 48 hours in advance.
- Can the full day tour be combined with the night walk?
- Yes. You can request both in the same submission and Nasua Tours confirms the schedule with you — the night walk starts at 5:30 pm, so it can follow the same day or another evening.
Continue your Monteverde experience
You can combine tours to see different sides of Monteverde. These pair well with this one:
Night Walk Tour
Nine hours on the trails is a full day, so book the night walk for another evening rather than the same one.
Private Guided Tours
Prefer a different length or start time? A fully private custom tour can be shaped around your own schedule.
Build a multi-tour itinerary
Send us the tours you like and the dates you are in Monteverde. Oscar sequences them realistically around start times and reserves, then replies with the current rates and one combined plan.
About 9 hours
With or without admission