The Monteverde Frog Pond is run by a team of biologists, naturalists guides and conservationists, and is much more than a zoo of amphibians. It provides education and the opportunity to become acquainted with and change our attitudes about these attractive small animals..

Our specialized guides will point out the most important aspects of coffee, its harvest and processing.  They’ll take you through the history of this crop from its beginnings in the Arab African countries and Ethiopia, and highlight they they’ll highlight the importance the “golden bean” (grano de oro) has had in the social, cultural and economic development of Costa Rica.

In 1953 Quakers families from the United States founded the Cheese factory of Monteverde with 2 employees and 9 share holders. Nowadays it provides work for about 160 people. Since 1954 the factory is making cheese.

Costa Rica has about 1200 species of orchids, more than any other Central American country and many more await discovery. Unlike temperate orchids, the vast majority of tropical species are epiphytes. They can be found from the shoreline to the tops of the highest mountains, but they grow in the greatest profusion in the cloud forest, where wind blown mist and frequent rain provide a perfect environment.

Costa Rica has 15 different species of venomous snakes, among which are the fer de lance, the godman montane pit viper, slender hognosed pit viper, jumping pitviper, black speckled palm pit viper, eyelash palm pit viper, the rainforest hognosed pit viper, side palm pit viper, the mute rattler, neo tropical rattlesnakes, cantils, corals, red tailed coral snake, chinilla, and selagic sea snake.

These insects also diminish cattle populations and are harmful to crops. Nevertheless, it may be our fault that so many flies exist. As French author Martin Monestier says in his book Flies are Humans Worst Enemies "when man is most destructive to the environment he lives in, flies prosper proportionately, the more miserable the living conditions of humans, the more the fly population is strengthened."

We begin with a walk on our farm where our guests will learn about the production of sugarcane, coffee, and the traditional ways of cultivating bananas, arracache (a local legume), avocado, macadamia nuts as well as other products.  Also one can observe our Tilapia fish project and a small-forested area where it is possible to see various flora and fauna of the Monteverde zone.

During this Night Tour, you will walk the cloud forest trails surrounded by thick jungle where you can observe sleeping birds, tarantulas, spiders, grasshoppers, crickets, lizards, frogs, sloths, porcupines, white/nose coatis, olingos, kinkajous, snakes and more.

This exciting tour starts in our facilities located only 3 kilometer a way of the town of Santa Elena in Monteverde; where our receptionist will welcome you and help you with the requirements and formalities necessary to star this adventure (helmets, rain coats, safety equipment).

Many people are skeptical about riding horses in Costa Rica due in part to negative press on the subject, not all of it unfounded. The reason to be weary is that some people only see short-term profit and to them a horse is just a means to make money. The more tours the horse does the more money they make. This practice by some has given a bad reputation to the horse industry of Costa Rica.