Nicoya, Monte Alto Nature Reserve
If you have enough of the heat and dust of Guanacaste you can quickly have a complete change of scenery. A 60 min drive from Samara, or 20 min from Nicoya brings you into green mountains with cool winds.
Monte Alto is a nature reserve located 480 - 833 m above sea level. It serves the combined purpose of protecting wildlife and nature, as well as important water resources such as the headwaters of the Rio Nosara. The project was founded in 1992 by the local communities. Deforestation had caused the Nosara river to loose 90% of its original amount of waters which resulted in a severe lack of water during dry season.
After years of successive land acquisitions and re-forestation the reserve today covers 346 hectares of premountaine moist forest which is in transition to humid forest. Rare species like small wildcats roam the thickets and scientists discover yet unknown species of plants.
Monte Alto forms part of the "Cuenca" a continuous stretch of protected forest in the mountainous interior of the Nicoya Peninsula. It belongs to the biological corridor of Costa Rica and connects to other nature preserves like the Karen Mogenson Reserve.
One of the biggest attractions for visitors to the reserve is its vast array of orchids. 67 different species of orchids thrive in Monte Alto.
 |
The orchid trail is well maintained and easy to walk. The path winds 500 m through the forest and is flanked by trees and posts, festooned with all kinds of orchids displaying intriguing shapes and colors. Small bridges lead over the creek which later becomes the majestic Rio Nosara. Large blue Morpho butterflies flap around and you can watch colonies of leaf-cutting ants doing their labor. With some luck you might see howler monkeys, agutis and coatis. Or look up into the trees - there are 157 different species of birds in the reserve.
Other trails in Monte Alto lead to a waterfall and to the Cerro Romo at 833 meters altitude. From there you have panoramic views over the canopy to the Gulf of Nicoya to the east and the beaches of Samara to the west.
Monte Alto offers accommodation in a two-storey wooden lodge in the middle of the forest. The
5 rooms on the first floor have bunk beds for up to 4 people, each room with a private
bathroom. The second floor is a big area for communal use which opens to the west and gives view
into the mountains. Guests of the lodge can have traditional meals, served in the nearby rancho.
Monte Alto is a great destination for nature lovers and eco-tourists who can learn about the intricacies of the jungle on guided tours. It is also well suited for groups and educational activities, offering a meeting room for up to 30 people with audiovisual equipment.
For more information contact: Miguel Mendez, Tel. (506) 2659 9347,
How to get to Monte Alto:
The reserve offers easy access and is on the way from Nicoya to Samara.
From Nicoya drive to La Mansion and then uphill to the pleasant little town of Hojancha.
500 meters after Hojancha a road to your left goes 6 km to Monte Alto.
Coming from Samara drive via Carrillo and Santa Marta to Hojancha. This is
an alternate route to the paved road from Samara to Nicoya. The road is little traveled
although it is normally in good condition. It's a scenic drive through the hilly and sparsely
populated countryside.