• Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve
• Monteverde Coffee Coops
• Children's Rainforest
• Zip Line tours of Cloud Forest Canopy

Santa Elena is located a little over 100 miles from San Jose Costa Rica. You can get there by bus, they say 4 1/2 hours but it often can take 5 or 6 hours. The cost for bus transport is very little around $4.00US. Easier and faster transport is by Interbus which takes 3 hours and costs about $29US. Interbus will take you door to door from hotels in San Jose and Santa Elena.

Santa Elena is a very small mountain town located in the cloud forests of Costa Rica. The main part of town is where three roads come together forming a single block triangular center to the town. Everything in Santa Elena can be seen on foot. Busses and taxis queue up along one street for transport to nearby Monteverde and the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve. In the center there is also a "discoteque" which offers music, a bar, and karaoke. Although it can be a fun time it is often occupied by drunk locals looking for a good time with a female tourist.

There really isn't too much in the way of tourist junk to buy. There is a local super market and many hostels, several places to eat and a bakery.

• Kako's Pizza serves pizza, Italian food, and Casados for reasonable (if a bit touristy) prices. Service, while typical Tico service (they take their time!) is friendly and not terribly inefficient. It is located behind the bank, up a driveway. If there is a futbol game on the TV, the staff can get caught up in that instead of cooking however!

• M&F Burgers located just below the center of town serves typical Tico food. The special burger comes on a tortilla, with ham and many interesting toppings not found at McDonalds! Also, very cheap casados.