Monteverde with Kids: Family Activities

October 30, 2026

Planning With Children

Monteverde is cool, misty and often wet, so pack layers and rain jackets for everyone. Most family outings are short walks, bridges and gardens, with a few zipline options for older children. Age and weight limits vary by operator, so check them before you book. Never let children feed or touch wildlife.

Easy Forest Walks

Essence Trail, Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve: 1.4 km, about 1 hour, easy, with centennial ficus trees and the Cuecha Cascade. It has no bridge. Tickets are for one timed circuit, booked online. Expect about $29 for foreign adults, about $16 for children 5 to 11, and free entry under 5. There are no restrooms on the trails, so visit before you start, and eat after the walk. Umbrellas and pets are not allowed.
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve: children 8 to 12 pay 5,500 colones (about $12) in 2026. The Mundo Joven trail is built to the Costa Rican accessibility standard, and the 13 m observation tower on the Youth Challenge trail suits older children.
Bajo del Tigre: self-guided entry costs $10.80 for children 6 to 12, and under 6 is free.
Curi-Cancha: children 5 to 20 pay $15 and ages 0 to 4 are free. Under-18s must stay with an adult, and climbing trees or swinging on vines is not allowed.

Bridges and Cableways

Selvatura hanging bridges: children 4 to 11 pay $34.30 (adults $49). The route is about 3 km with 8 bridges, and the wheelchair-friendly sections are limited. Posted prices add 13 percent tax and fees.
Treetopia Sky Walk: $49, open to all ages, with wheelchair access to the sixth bridge. The Tree Tram cableway ($59) is a 1 mile round trip of about 20 minutes, and any age may ride.

Animals, Insects and Orchids

Selvatura Sloth Habitat: $40. Twelve sloths live freely among the trees, and guides lead a visit of 30 to 40 minutes. The rule is to look and never touch.
Selvatura Butterfly Garden: $25, with 30+ species.
Monteverde Butterfly Gardens: adults $20, students $14, youths 7 to 18 $12, children 4 to 6 $6, and under 3 free. Guided tours run daily from 9am to 3:30pm.
Monteverde Orchid Garden: about 300 m of accessible trail, and a guided tour is included in entry. Guides help children find the miniature orchids that make up about 80 percent of wild species.
Bat Jungle and Frog Pond: both are captive indoor exhibits, so check hours and prices before you go.

Ziplines and Adventure for Older Children

Treetopia’s Sky Trek zipline has a minimum age of 5. Selvatura’s canopy tour takes children from age 4 and riders up to 125 kg, and its Tarzan swing has a 90 kg limit. Monteverde Extremo’s Longest Canopy starts at age 6, its horseback ride at age 5, and its bungee at age 14. Extremo is in La Cruz de Abangares, with a $10 transport option from Monteverde. Zip-lining is often excluded from travel insurance, so check your policy.

Night Walks

Night walks suit children old enough to stay quiet in the dark. Curi-Cancha charges $35 for adults and children 5 to 20, and Bajo del Tigre charges $22.80 for children 6 to 12. Bring warm layers for nights of 12 to 14 C, and keep flashes off.

Find family tickets on GetYourGuide . Official rates are at selvatura.com and treetopiapark.com .