Nature · 1 min read

Cloudforestorrainforest:what'sthedifference?

Both are green, wet and full of life. But walking through each feels completely different, and most good itineraries include both.

Costa Rica's forests change dramatically with altitude. In the space of a few hours' drive you can move from steamy lowland rainforest to cool cloud forest wrapped in mist. Understanding the difference helps when choosing where to spend your time.

Lowland rainforest

Lowland rainforest, like that of the Osa Peninsula, the Caribbean lowlands and much of the area around Arenal, is hot, humid and tall. Giant trees rise above a dense, layered canopy, and the forest is full of sound: howler monkeys at dawn, cicadas, the calls of macaws and toucans. It's where many people see the animals they came for.

Cloud forest

Higher up, in places such as Monteverde, the forest is bathed in cloud for much of the year. Trees are shorter and every surface is covered in mosses, ferns, orchids and bromeliads. The air is cool, the light soft, and the life more often small and close at hand: hummingbirds, frogs and insects, as well as the famous quetzal.

A red-eyed tree frog resting on a green leaf — In both forests, the detail rewards a slower look.

Which should you choose?

Ideally, both. They complement each other, and the journey between them is part of the experience. If time is tight, think about what matters most: mammals and big wildlife tend to point towards the lowlands, while walkers, birders and anyone who loves atmosphere often fall for the cloud forest.

Pack a warm layer and a light waterproof for the cloud forest.
In the lowlands, plan walks for early morning and late afternoon, when it's cooler and wildlife is more active.
In both, a naturalist guide will show you far more than you'd find alone.