Monteverde is both a community and forest reserve located in the Tilaran Mountains in north-central Costa Rica. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is a world-famous forest where large trees are nearly completely covered by thick, wet and heavy “carpets” of small plants including orchids, and wild relatives of familiar tropical “house plants”-- philodendrons, ferns and ficus trees-- reach enormous sizes.  The beautiful Resplendent Quetzal spends about ½ the year here during its breeding season and the forest is home to hundreds of other bird and mammal species. The communities of Monteverde, Cerro Plano, and Santa Elena outside the reserve are where a large selection of hotels, restaurants, and other attractions such as butterfly gardens, horse rentals, canopy tours, an orchid garden and an excellent new educational bat exhibit are found.