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San Gerardo Station (Children's Eternal Rainforest)

Park · Monteverde · hidden gem

A field station on a grassy ridge in the northern sector of the Children's Eternal Rainforest, with trails through mossy forest and views over the cloud forest toward the Arenal side; far quieter than the reserves near Santa Elena.

Time there
3 h
Best time
morning
Kids
4 / 10
View
8 / 10
Crowds
1 / 10
Swimming
0 / 10
Effort
5 / 10
Location
10.3683, -84.78488 — Google Maps
Ratings
4.7 on Google (340) · 4.6 on Tripadvisor (283)

Tip

Plan it as a half-day trip with a 4x4 or a driver, and ask the station about trails and whether lunch is available.

Be careful

Weather turns fast at this altitude: start early and bring layers and rain gear.

Getting there

Reached by a rough road; visits are best arranged in advance with the Children's Eternal Rainforest office.

Places nearby

  • Selvatura ParkTours & Adventure · takes 1 h–2.5 h · from $13.50Large cloud forest adventure park near Santa Elena with ziplines, hanging bridges and wildlife exhibits.
  • Treetopia ParkTours & Adventure · from $49Cloud-forest adventure park (also known as Sky Adventures Monteverde) with a gondola tram, zipline, six hanging bridges and a tree-climbing course, on nearly 300 acres with only a small part developed.
  • 100% Aventura CanopyTours & Adventure · from $45Family-owned Costa Rican canopy park with a long superman zipline (site says 1,590 m), a Mega Tarzan swing and a guided hanging-bridge walk.
  • The Original Canopy Tour MonteverdeTours & Adventure · takes 2 h–2.5 h · from $80Monteverde's original zipline tour since 1994, run in small groups and including a climb inside a giant hollow fig tree.
  • San Lucas Treetop Dining ExperienceFood & Coffee · from $172Special-occasion tasting-menu dinner served in glass pods high in the cloud-forest canopy, built around Costa Rican ingredients and the sunset.
  • Finca Lantana Night and Bird ToursParks & WildlifePrivate biological corridor in the middle of Monteverde with small guided night, bird and natural-history walks.

Sources: Wikidata Q106610064 · https://wanderlog.com/place/details/5665051 · https://wanderlog.com/place/details/788990 · https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q106610064 · http://montetours.com/blog/free-activities/