Essentials
- City
- Monteverde (Santa Elena), Puntarenas, Costa Rica
- Population
- Approx. 7,000
- Internet Speed
- High-speed fiber optic available, 100-200 Mbps in Santa Elena center
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 515 CRC (Colones). ATMs: BCR and Banco Nacional in Santa Elena
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and excellent quality
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets (same as USA/Canada)
- SIM Card
- Liberty or Claro (best coverage in the mountains); Physical SIM or eSIM available at SJO airport
- Banking for Expats
- Cards accepted almost everywhere; Wise/Revolut work at most terminals
- Accommodation
- Eco-lodges, Airbnb cabins, and Selina Monteverde for co-living
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, major cards (Visa/Mastercard) accepted in 90% of shops
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, VRBO, and local Facebook group 'Monteverde Community Board'
- Budget Accommodation
- Hostel Casa Batsu (~$25/night) or Pension Santa Elena (~$30/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Santa Elena Center (walkable to shops and restaurants)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Cerro Plano (quieter, halfway between town and the reserve, better views)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Local delivery via WhatsApp; no UberEats/Rappi in the clouds
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Olla de Carne (Beef and root vegetable stew) at Sabor Tico
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Orchid Coffee Shop (Great veggie wraps and plant milks)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Monteverde Cheese Factory (Fresh ice cream) or ChocoCafé Don Juan
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Super Compro or the weekly Farmers Market (Feria) on Saturdays
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Unimart.com (National delivery) or Amazon (requires Miami-based courier like Aeropost)
- Grocery Delivery
- Supermercado Santa Elena via WhatsApp
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Santa Elena Center bars (e.g., Amigos Bar)
- Local Brewery
- Monteverde Beer House (Craft beers brewed on-site)
- Wine Bars
- The Green Leaf (Selection of South American wines)
- Street Food Stalls
- Empanada stands near the main bus stop in Santa Elena
- Popular International Cuisine
- Taco Taco (Mexican/Fusion) - famous for huge tacos (~$12)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
- Cooking Classes
- Life Monteverde (Farm-to-table cooking and coffee experience)
- Art Galleries
- Galeria Extasis (Wood carvings and local paintings)
- Historic Buildings
- The original Quaker Cheese Factory
- Local Heritage
- Conservation and peaceful neutrality (Quaker influence)
- Museums & Art Venues
- The Bat Jungle (Live bat exhibit and education)
- Historical Sites
- Quaker Meeting House (Central to Monteverde's modern history)
- Religious Sites
- Santa Elena Catholic Church
- Annual Events
- Monteverde Music Festival (usually Jan-March)
- Cultural Districts
- Santa Elena Town Center
- Theater Venues
- The Monteverde Institute occasionally hosts performances
- Local Markets
- CASEM (Artisans' cooperative selling local crafts)
- Music Scene
- Live jazz and folk at Tree House Restaurant
- Street Art
- Nature-themed murals around the Santa Elena school
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve (less crowded than Monteverde Reserve)
- National Parks Nearby
- Children's Eternal Rainforest (Bajo del Tigre sector)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Sendero Tranquilo (Guided or self-guided forest trails)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The 'Mirador' on the way to Tilarán (Best sunset spot)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Curi-Cancha Reserve (Best place to see the Resplendent Quetzal)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated campfire pits at Selina Monteverde
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Correos de Costa Rica (Santa Elena branch)
- Tech Repair Services
- Taller Celular Monteverde (Mainly mobile phone repair)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Selina Monteverde common area
- Language Classes
- CPI Spanish Immersion School (Monteverde campus)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Monteverde Community Library
- Community Centers
- CEC (Educational Center for the Community)
- Gaming Lounges
- None; most gathering is outdoor or bar-based
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None available (Strictly regulated in the region)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $2,100 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $84,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $1,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $60,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,900 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $114,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $1,300 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $78,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $144,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $1,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $96,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Progressive up to 30%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 15%
- Tax System
- Territorial tax system (Income earned outside Costa Rica is generally not taxed)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 25% for individuals
- VAT
- 13% (IVA)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC rules currently in place
- Property Tax
- 0.25% of the recorded value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx. 1.5% - 3.0% including legal fees
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Digital Nomad Visa offers 0% tax on foreign-sourced income for 1 year (renewable)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Selina Monteverde (CoWork daily pass approx. $15-20)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Stella’s Monteverde (Great garden, reliable Wi-Fi, excellent pastries)
- Networking Events
- Monteverde Institute lectures and sustainability workshops
- Social Events for Expats
- Friday night social hours at Monteverde Beer House
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber is limited; use official Red Taxis or 'Rides Monteverde' WhatsApp groups
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Monteverde E-Bike Rentals (~$40 per day due to steep terrain)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Playa Doña Ana near Puntarenas (approx. 2 hours drive)
- Top Regional Airline
- Sansa Airlines (Flying into La Fortuna or Quepos)
- Top International Airline
- United, American, or Avianca via San José (SJO) or Liberia (LIR)
- Highway Access
- Route 606 (recently paved but winding mountain roads)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Transmonteverde Bus Terminal in Santa Elena
- Public Transport Passes
- No digital passes; cash (Colones) paid directly to bus drivers
- Regional Travel
- Public bus to San José (~$6, 5 hours) or Jeep-Boat-Jeep to La Fortuna (~$40)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Clinica Monteverde (Private) for basics; Hospital Monseñor Sanabria in Puntarenas for emergencies
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Monteverde Yoga (Classes ~$15) located in Cerro Plano
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Gimnasio Monteverde (Santa Elena center, monthly pass ~$45)
- Laundry Services
- Lavanderia El Sol (Approx. $2 per kg, wash and fold)