Curi Cancha Reserve Guided Hike

Curi Cancha Reserve Guided Hike

The Curi-Cancha Reserve is a birdwatching paradise for those interested in highland and cloud forest species! Located near the world-famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, this independently owned reserve is quite similar but is not as well known. This means fewer people and more animals! Birdwatchers will be delighted as over 200 species of birds have been observed within the reserve! Resplendent Quetzals, Blue Crowned Mot Mots, Three Wattled Bellbirds, Orange Bellied Trogons, and Emerald Toucanettes are among the many species that pass through here at various times of the year. Many mammals call the reserve home or pass through occasionally, such as Two-Toed Sloths, Kinkajous, Armadillo, Agouti, Pizote, and even three species of monkeys; Howlers, Capuchins, and rare Spider Monkeys. With a little luck and cooperation from Mother Nature, your bilingual naturalist guide will help you spot some of these amazing animals.

The day starts off when you are picked up from your Monteverde area hotel at 7.00am. After picking up some other tourists in the air-conditioned tour van, you’ll be brought to the Curi-Cancha Reserve. This impressive reserve is home to both primary and secondary cloud forest, with groomed trails winding throughout the 205 acres of protected reserve. Towering trees are covered with beautiful bromeliads, vines, and plant life, creating mini-ecosystems in each tree!

As you make your way through the reserve, your guide will educate you about the cloud forest and its relationship with the local people and animals. Using a spotting scope, your guide will find, identify, and show you colorful birds and possibly exotic animals. There are seven kilometers of trails within the reserve that vary in altitude from 1,450 – 1,615 meters but you will not pass through all of them. Your guide will preselect the trails based on recent sightings and preferred habitat by the wildlife at that time of the year.

An average day at the Curi Cancha Reserve Guided Hike will yield the ability to observe approximately 30 – 40 species of birds. Of course, some days are better than others and a lot of it has to do with the time of year you are traveling. With that said, this is one of the best places in Costa Rica for cloud forest birdwatching and often a trip highlight for nature lovers and birdwatchers!

This half-day morning trip usually lasts around 3 – 4 hours, including transportation from area hotels. The tour includes a naturalist guide, entrance fees, and transportation. We suggest that you bring appropriate rain gear and keep in mind that it is often rainy, windy, and cool in Monteverde. You should also bring hiking shoes, binoculars, and a camera. We recommend that you bring a dry bag to protect your camera and for anything else that you would like to keep dry.