A multimedia show—Rhythms of the Cloud Forest—is offered daily at 4 p.m. at the Monteverde Lodge [1] ($5). The Hotel Belmar has a slide show at 8 p.m. Saturday–Thursday ($5).
Bromelia’s (tel. 506/2645-6272, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily) hosts live music and occasional theater in the Monteverde Amphitheater, an open-air performance space. Bring a cushion to soften the iron-hard seating.
In Santa Elena [2], Restaurante Don Juan (tel. 506/2661-7115, www.donjuan-restaurant.com [3]) has live music upstairs (7 p.m. Fri.–Sun.).
For a taste of local working-class color, wet your whistle at Bar Amigos (Monteverde, tel. 506/2645-5071, noon–midnight daily) or at Unicornios (tel. 506/2645-6282, noon–midnight daily), a rough-and-tumble bar facing the soccer field north of the village. Both have pool tables. Unicornios has karaoke on Thursday.
The grooviest dance spot midweek is Taberna (tel. 506/2645-5883), on the east side of Santa Elena, with a nightly disco (free).
You can pick up some moves in advance with salsa lessons courtesy of Javier and Mia at Dulce Marzo Bakery & Café (tel. 506/2645-6568, 7–11 p.m. every Thurs., $4).
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/costa-rica/guanacaste-and-the-northwest/monteverde-and-santa-elena/monteverde-hotels
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/costa-rica/guanacaste-and-the-northwest/monteverde-and-santa-elena
[3] http://www.donjuan-restaurant.com