While living in Monteverde the last 10 months, I have been fortunate enough to do a lot of exploring. Although there are so many places I have come to love here, this one is especially magical. This past weekend Dan and I visited the El Tigre Waterfalls. This was an excursion we had been wanting to do since first arriving in Monteverde so with only a few weeks remaining, we made it a priority to get there.
There's a few different ways to book your hike at El Tigre. You can do so through the website, on WhatsApp (the number is listed on their website), or perhaps your hotel/accommodation can assist you. We booked the night before and there were plenty of openings. Due to rainy season, they suggest visiting in the morning as the afternoons are more prone to rain. We booked our hike for 8am.
There are two different booking options. First is the full package which we chose. The cost is $59 per person and includes the entrance fee, horseback riding for the final part of the hike, and lunch. We chose this option as we heard how fun the horseback riding was. The other option is "The Big Hike" which is $29 per person and includes the entrance fee. El Tigre also offers round trip transportation for only $10 a person. This is ideal for those without a car. We chose to do this and I'm glad we did as it's a bit out of town and I'm sure a taxi would have cost even more.
Once arriving, the staff at El Tigre are all very kind and welcoming. We got checked in and chose what we wanted to eat for lunch off of their menu so it would be ready by the time we returned from the hike. They gave us some instructions and then we were off!
The first part of the hike is all downhill. It's steep at times but nothing too crazy. After the first 20 minutes, the waterfalls will start appearing. There are 4 big waterfalls throughout the hike and many small ones. They were breathtaking and the trail offered incredible views. We were able to get up close to them as well!
Throughout the hike, there were 10 hanging bridges many of which only allowed one person on at a time. The bridges were one of my favorite things about this hike!
El Tigre offers several natural swimming pools as well. Dan and I came prepared in swim suits and found an excellent spot to swim in. However, the water was freezing! We did a quick polar plunge which ended up feeling really good.
At the third checkpoint, we had to use the walkie-talkie stationed there to call in and tell the staff we were on our way to horseback riding. This was super fun to do as I haven't used a walkie talkie in years.
Once arriving at the stable, Dan and I were given a helmet and were allowed to pick our horses. My horse's name was Chocolate and Dan's was Perla. A guide came with Dan and I on his own horse and was kind enough to use my phone to take pictures and videos of us. This last part was almost completely uphill which made us glad to have the horses! Although cloudy, the views were beautiful! On a clear day, you can see Lake Arenal and two volcanos during the ride.
Once returning to the main office, it was time to eat lunch and we were ready! I got a vegetarian chifrijo and Dan ordered his favorite, Arroz con Pollo. Read my blog post on the best food in Costa Rica here! Speaking of the best food, I told the staff this was the best food I've had in Costa Rica! The vegetarian chifrijo was absolutely delicious but what made it the best was the deep fried cheese! Being from Wisconsin, I have quite the love for cheese and this was the closest thing I've found to cheese curds abroad!
After eating, we had less than an hour before the shuttle would bring us home so we took a walk around the gift shop. We each found t-shirts to remember our adventure and we also found a new friend! Teddy, the cat who lived at the office, let me pet him for a while and reminded us of our cat, Nala.
Overall, I truly consider the El Tigre Waterfalls to be one of Monteverde's hidden gems. We had an amazing time and I would highly recommend to anyone who visits Monteverde. Be prepared for a workout though, the hike is not easy. However, it is moderate especially if taken slowly. Can't wait to return someday!
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