What is a cloud forest anyway? I imagine puffy clouds atop sturdy tree trunks. It turns out a cloud forest is very much like a rain forest. In certain spots on Earth, the air currents meet mountains creating ideal spots for clouds to congregate, creating cloud forests. I witness the clouds rolling in, blanketing a clear view within a minute.
I sign up for the early morning guided walk in Monteverde Cloud Forest reserve. This is one of the first cloud forest protected sites in the world and continues to be one of the most significant cloud forests. I had a few minutes to spare before my guided walk, so popped over to the hummingbird gallery. These birds zip by at lightning speed, so do appreciate the non-blurry photo that I managed to get for you. Our guide, Eduardo is friendly and talkative. Though the fauna was pretty spare this morning, the walk through the shrouded forest was memorable for its ambiance. We see a walking stick, an insect that looks like a small twig. However, we did see one thing that made the whole trek worth its while and more. WE SAW A QUETZAL!!!!! This bird--resplendent is part of its name-- is rarely spotted, and is even rarer in the current season.
The wait for the next bus back to town would be a while, so I bummed a ride from the 3 German guys on my walking tour. I stop off at Stella´s bakery, a charming spot, perfect for a midmorning brunch and cake.
I walk back to Santa Elena, enjoying the stunning vistas of the Eternal Forest of Children and the distant gulf and Pacific Ocean. Remember coming across children raising funds for rainforests? Well, this is what they bought: 22,500 hectares of pristine rain forest, most of which is protected from human intervention and tourists. I walk through the clouds, an experience likened to walking through a perpetual rain mist.
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