El Cerro — Where the Forest Has a Soul
When people think of Costa Rica, they often think of heat. And yes, we are an incredibly tropical country. But for such a small piece of land, Costa Rica is astonishingly rich—not only in biodiversity, but also in climate.
Within just an hour on the road, you can go from 32°C to 18°C, from sunshine to clouds, and from dry landscapes to rain.
One of my favorite places in Costa Rica has always been Monteverde, home to the famous Cloud Forest.
A beautiful disruption in the middle of the tropics.
Monteverde simply broke all the rules.
Here, the forest seems to have a soul and a personality of its own. The wind never seems to tire of telling stories we cannot quite decipher, filling this rebellious corner of Puntarenas with an almost mysterious character.
Along the way, endless shades of green roll across the hills, opening occasional views toward the Gulf and reminding us just how small we are as human beings in the immensity of this planet.
It is a humble kind of introduction—a reminder that before we enter this forest, we must first arrive with the right sense of wonder.
I could continue writing an idyllic poem about this beautiful place and the countless adventures I have had here: nighttime walks through the forest, unexpected encounters with wildlife, and a cup of coffee whose flavor has stayed with me for days.
But today, I want to tell you about my most recent visit.
This time, I was traveling with my mother and my two nephews.
Golfo de Nicoya views
We packed a few sandwiches—made, of course, by my mother—which gave us the perfect excuse to stop along the way at a beautiful viewpoint. By then, we had already begun to notice the change in climate and feel the deliciously cool air waiting for us higher up.
After two hours on the road, we reached our destination.
A pair of binoculars and a camera became our bridge into a different world.
For two little explorers, six and eleven years old, growing up in a world that is increasingly digital—and therefore increasingly artificial—these simple tools became a way to rediscover something wonderfully real: the natural world that exists just beyond our screens.
Sunshine, rain, and wind seemed perfectly synchronized with the gentle movement of the hanging bridges as we made our way through the treetops.
My niece wanted to capture every single moment with a camera she had learned to use in less than a minute.
My nephew, meanwhile, kept looking farther and farther into the forest through his binoculars, discovering details that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.
There was something beautiful about watching them experience nature this way.
Not through a screen.
Not through a video.
But by actually being there.
We returned home that same day, tired and happy, carrying with us an adventure I know they will remember for a long time.
And perhaps that is one of the things I love most about traveling: planting a small seed of curiosity and adventure in the people who allow me to share these places with them.
This time, it was my nephews.
Tomorrow, perhaps, it will be you.
At Allan the Guide, we believe that Costa Rica is not simply a destination to visit. It is a place to experience—to slow down, to get curious, to step outside the familiar and reconnect with the natural world.
Monteverde is only one of the many places where that magic happens.
And it would be our privilege to introduce you to it.
