Cloudbridge Nature Reserve

We enjoyed the shorter walk as we were with my very fit 84-year-old grandmother, mention this as you do need to be in good physical shape to do the trails.

The spot is beautiful and worth the 4x4 Drive needed to get there.

Cloudbridge is a nonprofit nature reserve dedicated to research and preservation of the cloud forest. Primarily a day destination for hiking and exploring, and home to volunteer researcher assistants, students, and scientists, they also have two or three houses available for overnight stays. We stayed in Casita Blanca, for a few days after hiking Cerro Chirripó. It was spacious and comfortable and had a well-equipped kitchen which we enjoyed to the fullest. The privacy was complete and surrounded by gardens and trees. We hiked several trails to views of the river and massive waterfalls.

Great trails, nice river, streams and waterfalls. A great place to explore.

We had the most incredible experience at Cloudbridge Nature Reserve! We were there from around 8am to 1:30pm and did all of the available hiking trails, which ends up being a lot more than you might think! There is a lot of elevation gain and loss throughout the trails, so be prepared with lots of water and sturdy shoes. We were so lucky to see many different butterflies and birds, including a glass wing butterfly, Tucanet, and a female collared Tocon! I would recommend bringing binoculars so you can see all of the wildlife.

Amazing hikes through the cloud forest. Climbing Chirripó was a bit out of my league, but this place gives you a very impressive experience of the area. Some of the trails I did were pretty strenuous, but some are very easy. They are all very much worth it. Lots of waterfalls, rivers, and wildlife!

Nonprofit forest reserve along the river adjacent to a national park. It is heavily forested so if you go during the day (as opposed to early morning) you are not likely to see a lot of wildlife other than some flying birds. They’re there, just hard to spot. We were lucky to see an ornate hawk-eagle and Chiriqui quail-dove (see photos taken by our guide Oscar).

Depending how far you want to go it can be a moderately challenging hike if you’re not in good shape with the right shoes.

We had a small rental car and the road in was a challenge. A 4x4 would be better for the extra group clearance.

We arranged a tour through the project. Our guide Oscar was a real expert on the plants, birds, ecology, geography, and history of the area. If you want to learn (as opposed to just taking a hike/walk) a guide is very worthwhile.

Beautiful property and challenging hike! Was a great alternative to get a taste of Chirripo. Agreed with others that 4x4 is recommended. Doable with a high clearance 2wd, but requires some skill and a lower gear. We were in a 2wd drive and decided to park at the hotel where the Google directions end. Was an easy, less than 1km walk from there. We hiked the longer 8km loop and thought it was well worth it. Some downed trees and larger streams to cross at the back which made it more challenging. Hiking boots are a must!

The main trail can be about a 5 mile loop, at least 1/2 uphill, making it an excellent tropical mountain workout session💪🏼 🏔 🌴

Very nice hikes into astonishing nature

What a magical place! The road is a little tough, but doable without 4x4 and a confident driver. It’s actually pretty nice until the very last part, where it gets a little rockier. It’s so worth it, though! It’s quiet, beautiful, and really feeds the the soul. This was our second time here and I would definitely go again!

A gorgeous hike. Go counter-clockwise. It's moderate to difficult, not necessarily because of the steepness but because the first three or so hours are constantly up and up, with no rewarding break points with nice views. But magical nonetheless.

Simply amazing! OK so it's gonna take some effort to get there, it's very much off the beaten path. But that's the whole point, no? Getting there you'll go up to 11k ft, the drop back down to 5k on the side of a mountain road. You'll pass through some towns, and then almost have to find your own way there as there are very very minimal signage. Oh and bring thr best 4X4 you can get your hands on as it's pretty much off roading till your there. But once you're there, then rest is spectacular! The guides are amazing! I had Jenna for the night hick and Jeff for the day one. They definitely know their stuff and are super friendly. Depending on which cabin you have, we had the Cosita colibre... Small, cozy, amazing! It has all the amenities. And a deck that was just heaven to sit on, have some wine and chess, and relax in the peach. The waterfall is always in the background and what an amazing sound it is. Birds chrip in the day and the leaves rustle at night. Make sure to stop by Canaan queso on the way there and pickup some amazing cheese. Bring your own wine as there is almost none to be found here. Not anything good at least. Enjoy the serenity of nature at it finest away from everything at an elevation of 5k feet where the air couldn't be any fresher!! Oh and you can also find a couple places to jump into the basin if the waterfall that's right by the cabins.... Wow what a refreshing feeling!! It's a must for sure! Chirripo is right next door if you want to go for the day hike the next day or so. Also a must! Ps there's a chocolate factory right by the cheese place too, might as well!!
OH BTW.... If you have laundry to do, they will do your laundry for like $4 a load and then hang it to dry in the beauty of nature! Don't spend your money anywhere else!! I made the mistake of doing a load at the hotel we stayed at the night before and it was $50us!!

This is a great park to visit for the more adventurous travellers. Raw and pure with a couple of picturesque waterfalls. Few tourists actually make it to the park so you can walk for quite a long time without actually seeing other people. A lot of birds and wildlife if you know where to look.

Beware! the access road is only really accessible by 4X4 and can be challenging when it's raining (or right after a tropical shower). But it's all worth it. Definitely put this on your list to visit!

Absolutely beautiful. The waterfalls are amazing and are a great setting to relax and meditate. The volunteer at the front was very friendly.

Cloudbridge is a beautiful place, with amazing staff and volunteers! Different hike for many levels and beautiful waterfalls.
I have also stayed there last year and Casa Blanca was perfect equipped and great for birdwatching.

She had a wonderful two days hiking here. It’s a wonderful forest with many trails. We went off season so the trails crossing the river were risky and I wouldn’t recommend it for those without safety ropes, if you fall into the current it is certain death. The forest paths are well marked out and there are walking sticks and a information hut at the entrance, we just helped ourselves to a sick. Fauna was in abundance but wildlife is well hidden. The memorial garden is a must see.

4th time at Cloudbridge. Always a pleasure. Saw a coati and various birds. Lovely to see the biodiversity and to have a hike at a relatively cool height - higher than anywhere in our home country of England!

Incredible spot with stunning waterfalls, rivers to swim in, and wonderful views

We had a wonderful few days staying at Casa Colibrí in the Cloudbridge Reserve. The cottage is small, simple but beautiful. It was a great space to spend some time in nature and watch birds and butterflies. The views from the porch and bedroom are fantastic. Having free entrance to the reserve is awesome too. Max was really friendly and helpful and had tonnes of great knowledge on the local flora and fauna too!

Great hiking, steep walking trails along river with waterfalls, great views. Reforestation supported by your modest donation.