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Now Entering: Monteverde Cloud Forest<\/h2>\n
Above a cloak of the misty rainforest, mountains soar up above the clouds. Temperatures start to fall around 3,000 feet and the warm air from the forests below transforms into an ethereal fog. Moss- and lichen-draped trees add to the Lord of the Rings<\/em> aura. This is a cloud forest\u2014or, in Spanish, bosque nuboso. Specifically, Monteverde Cloud Forest.<\/p>\n Here, situated atop Costa Rica\u2019s Continental Divide at the bottleneck of North and South America, the fog nourishes the plants and trees, releasing that moisture into small creeks that flow to larger streams and rivers. Think of a cloud forest like a sky sponge or a living aquifer. This sponge effect has been considered sacred by many civilizations, including the Indigenous peoples of Luzon in the Philippines, who were strongly against deforestation in their region.<\/p>\n There are cloud forests the world over, including Panama, Pakistan, Cambodia and, of course, Costa Rica. All told, these rare forests cover approximately 1% of global woodlands in tropical and subtropical mountain environments.<\/p>\n Three-wattled bellbird<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, established in 1972 and now encompassing more than 35,000 acres, is flanked by pristine and remote beaches on both the Pacific and the Caribbean. It comprises eight life zones, more than 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds and 1,200 species of amphibians and reptiles. Six species of cat live here: jaguars, ocelots, pumas, oncillas, margays and jaguarundis. Here, too, live the endangered three-wattled bellbird and resplendent quetzal. Supporting 2.5% of the biodiversity on Earth over a landscape of rainforest, hazy mountains, rushing rivers and active volcanoes, Monteverde is home to many indicator species, which means they are sensitive to environmental changes and can throw up a figurative red flag when an ecosystem is threatened.<\/p>\n One of the rainforest\u2019s most inviting aspects for conservation- and nature-centric travelers is Monteverde\u2019s proximity to San Jose, Costa Rica\u2014about three hours by car. With more than eight miles of trails available for exploration, the reserve lends itself to intensely authentic experiences like those you can have on our Natural Jewels of Costa Rica<\/a>\u00a0trip.<\/p>\n![\"Three-wattled](\"https:\/\/d4g0cdul6yygp.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Three-wattled-bellbird.jpg\")
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