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/