Monteverde Cloud Forest Guided Tour with Expert Naturalist

Elier was our guide and we absolutely loved him. He was clearly very knowledgeable and passionate. Thanks to him we were able to see a quetzal, the majestic bird, and learned so much about it and why it is endangered. To compare, another group was close by and when they asked their guide what is that she simply replied "a bird". I felt sorry for that group for not having a guide like Elier. We didnt read the fineprint and realized once we got there that we had to purchase the ticket to the park on top of the guided visit ticket so be aware of that. When we were done we just walked back to the parking instead of waiting 30min for a bus. It took us 10min to walk it.

Our experience was disappointing. We ended up in a different location than where the group collected via google maps. Instead of actively thinking about a solution, we did not receive a call or other attempt to contact us when we did not appear. No alternatives were offered either. The only message we received repeatedly later was that “under no circumstances would a refund be granted”. We expected more customer focus and willingness to work together to find a solution. The result was that we lost our money and could not participate in a tour. Finally, the next morning we booked the same tour with another provider, where everything went smoothly. In addition, please note that entrance to the park is not included in the price of the tour. For our family of four (two adults and two children) these entrance fees were USD 90.

This was an awesome experience! We learned a lot about the flora, insects, birds, and mammals of the cloud forest. We saw a teeny tiny frog, coati, many birds (tons of hummingbirds, Buff Fronted Quail Doves, etc.), caterpillars, centipedes, and millipedes. We also saw many species of orchids, and a rattle snake plant, which when touched, grabbed a stick! Our guide Mauricio was excellent!

Great experience. Our guide Elbert was so enthusiastic, he spotted so many creatures and had so much information on the cloud forest.

A very beautiful excursion. The guide for the three brothers was very professional. We have seen animals of all kinds including the wonderful quetzal.

Great experience!! Parking and shuttle at the park was easy, remember to buy tickets to the park ahead of time because it is not included in the tour. We did the heart of the forest loop, tour ended up just being my partner and me, and it was beautiful! Our guide was very knowledgeable about the forest, plants, and animals!

We spent a few unforgettable days in Monteverde with Alex Fuentes from Three Brothers Tours, and it honestly ended up being the highlight of our entire trip to Costa Rica. From the beginning, Alex was super easy to communicate with and always responsive as we planned things leading up to our stay. When we finally met in person, it felt less like a tour guide and more like being shown around by a local friend who genuinely loves where he’s from. Our first experience was a nature walk at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. Alex took his time explaining everything — from the unique cloud forest ecosystem and continental divide to the birds, plants, and wildlife of the area. His knowledge is incredible, but what really stood out was how passionate he is about sharing it. You could tell it wasn’t just a job for him. After that, he took us through Santa Elena, introducing us to local food spots and sharing history about the town and the region. Later, we visited Café San Luis, a coffee plantation tour that he organized, which was extremely well done and gave us a great look into local coffee production. One of the most memorable experiences — and the highlight of our trip to Costa Rica — was the night walk at Finca Lantana. Alex provided everything we needed — flashlights, gear, the whole thing — and it turned into one of the most special parts of our trip. The forest at night is something you really can’t describe until you experience it. The next day, we explored the Curi Cancha Reserve with him, and it was just as incredible. Every moment felt like something new was happening, and Alex made the experience engaging and fun from start to finish. Across all of our time with him, we were lucky enough to see an incredible range of wildlife, including pit vipers, tarantulas, glass frogs, blue morpho butterflies, toucans, ornate hawk-eagles, and buff-fronted quail-doves. Overall, it was an amazing experience from start to finish. Alex is kind, knowledgeable, and clearly deeply connected to Monteverde and its culture and wildlife. I can’t recommend him and Three Brothers Tours enough. We’ll absolutely be back, and we’ll definitely be reaching out to him again. ¡Pura vida!

Bring your own monoculars to see the wildlife while others are looking through the guides monoculars.

Great introduction to the Cloud Forrest. Did a self guided tour later on a different track, so was able to take the new knowledge on that track

I booked the tour on Wednesday. I got an email stating that I had to purchase an entry ticket in advance(I didn't know that you had to reserve a ticket, and it had to be for your tour time.) When I went to purchase the ticket for the time of the tour. None were available for that time. I reached out to the tour company. I stated that I couldn't get a ticket for that time. Basically, I was told that there was nothing they could reschedule for me as a solo. I couldn't cancel and get refund, because per their policy I had to cancel several days in advance not 24(which is what I saw when I booked). *****IMPORTANT**** You're basically paying for a tour guide separate from the actual tour. That's why it needs to be clarified on the tour website. People need to check to see, if a ticket is even available for the time the want before booking the tour. Also, the tour company should also put on the site upfront that cancellation is not 24 hrs. I'm only writing this review for those that are considering booking this tour with this company. That way you're informed. If I had ALL THE INFORMATION in advance, I could have proceeded differently. My advice if you're want to take the tour, especially if you're going alone. Go to the park's website, book your ticket, and do the self guided tour. Just my two cents.