Monteverde Conservation League

The Monteverde Conservation League, MCL, is an independent, non-profit association dedicated to the conservation, preservation and rehabilitation of tropical ecosystems and biodiversity. The MCL manages the Children’s Eternal Rainforest and the Bajo del Tigre trail system and visitor’s center, situated in Monteverde near the Cheese Factory.

The league was created in 1986 by a group of local and international scientists with the aim of protecting the area of forest surrounding the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve to prevent it becoming an ecologically isolated island. In 1987 the MCL embarked on an innovative land acquisition program begun by group pf Swedish schoolchildren who raised money to buy and protect threatened land. Since then the league has worked with schoolchildren and other organizations in more than 40 countries around the world to form what is now Costa Rica’s largest private reserve, The Children’s Eternal Rainforest – Bosque Eterno de los Ninos.

The Children’s Eternal Rainforest straddles the continental Divide, encompassing 22,500 hectares of virgin and secondary forest, as well as several areas of reforestation in which the MCL has planted over 700,000 trees as forest connection and conservation corridors on both the Pacific and Atlantic slopes. The league is also involved in environmental education and research activities in collaboration with international scientists and with local schools and communities; in addition they manage protection programs for threatened species including the Three Wattled Bellbird, Baird’s Tapir, jaguar and puma.

Within the Children’s Eternal Rainforest the MCL operates two biological stations; San Gerado, situated at 1220m, 7km from Santa Elena town, has a beautiful view of Volcan Arenal and offers sleeping for up to 32 people, a classroom and 5km of forest trails; Poco Sol, 13km from La Tigra de San Carlos, at a lower altitude of around 800m, is surrounded by pre-mountain forest, has a beautiful lake, waterfall and 10km of trails. Both are open to student groups or independent travelers. Reservations must be made.

Bajo del Tigre, a part of the reserve located in Monteverde itself, offers a 3.5km system of trails, particularly suited to families, as well as a visitor’s information center, store and children’s house with various environmental education activities.

Bajo del Tigre is an area of forest in the transition zone from pre-mountain wet to seasonal moist forest, its location and specific altitude on the Pacific slope make it a unique habitat distinct from other reserves in the zone, home to a range of unusual flora and fauna, including thirty species of tree recently identified as new to science as well as toucans, mot-mots, white faced-monkeys, agoutis and more.

A guided ‘Twilight Walk’, on which visitors will see a variety of nocturnal birds, insects and mammals, runs daily from Bajo del Tigre at 5.30pm and dawn walks can be arranged.

The Bajo del Tigre trails and visitor’s center are open everyday from 7.30am to 5pm. Prices are $7 for adults and $4 for students, or 800C for Costa Rican nationals.

Volunteer opportunities may be available with the MCL, for information email acmcr@acmcr.org.

Twilight Night Walk Tour Schedules, Rates, and Online Booking Forms
Twilight Night Walk Tour	The Monteverde Conservation League (MCL), offers a daily Twilight Walk from its visitor center and trail system at Bajo del Tigre, located in Monteverde near the Cheese Factory.