| Visit Monteverde, one of Costa Rica´s 7 | | | | land owners sold or donated their land to the |
| Wonders and home to a wealth of history and | | | | reserve resulting in the over 10,000 hectare land |
| biodiversity states Costa Rica for Less travel | | | | mass it is today. Locals have also benefited |
| experts Monteverde, or ´Green Mountain`, is | | | | from the park´s protection of this particular |
| located in the Puntarenas area of Costa Rica and | | | | location as it has relieved farmers and local villages |
| infamous for its´ biodiversity. Nearly 250,000 | | | | from erosion and weather related disasters. |
| eco-tourists flood into the Cordillera de Tilarán | | | | Since the 1970s Monteverde has built a great |
| mountain range each year of which over 70,000 | | | | reputation for tourism. The Quaker village of |
| wander the trails of the Reserva Biológica | | | | Monteverde supported these efforts by starting |
| Bosque Nuboso Monteverde, or the Monteverde | | | | local bed and breakfast businesses to house the |
| Cloud Forest Preserve. | | | | early scientists and eco-tourist of the reserve. |
| Founded in 1972 the park has roughly 26,000 | | | | Today tourists stay in luxury hotels and are |
| acres of tropical rainforest, and six main ecological | | | | provided professional guided tours through the |
| zones, the park has one of the largest | | | | cloud forests. The town is relatively bilingual due |
| concentrations of species per acre in the | | | | to the bilingual education provided in the Quaker |
| Americas. But it has only been a marvel of the | | | | schools making travel easier for visiting |
| world for a short period of time. | | | | foreigners. Adventure packages are also |
| The modern history of the area is fascinating and | | | | available for canopy tours, hikes, ATV rides, bird |
| quite unique as well. During the United States | | | | watching tours and museums. |
| draft for the Korean War, Quakers seeking peace | | | | Tourist leave overwhelmed with the splendor of |
| came to the region to purchase farm land for | | | | this region. The rich biological diversity of the cloud |
| dairy production. In Quaker ideology, enlisting in | | | | forests has 878 species of Epiphytes and with |
| the military is contradictory to their pacifist | | | | over 500 species of orchids, it is the largest site |
| core-belief, therefore the Quakers chose Costa | | | | for orchids in the world. Over 150 species of |
| Rica because of the country´s non-violent, | | | | amphibians and reptiles live here and this is a |
| army-free constitution. | | | | major migratory location for North American birds |
| In 1951, this small population emigrated and | | | | and home to the resplendent quetzal. Costa Rica |
| started what is today the town of Monteverde. | | | | also has over 100 bat species; Monteverde Cloud |
| Surprisingly it wasn´t until the 1960s that | | | | Forest is home to more than 50. |
| international biologist started to take note of the | | | | If reptiles and flowers are not your forte, you will |
| importance of Monteverde´s biodiversity. The | | | | also have the opportunity to see three types of |
| first Tropical Science Center was founded in 1968 | | | | monkeys as well as marsupials, muskrats, |
| to work on the conservation of tropical areas | | | | edentates, rabbits, hogs, squirrels, mice, |
| such as this. | | | | porcupines, agouti, wild pigs, mustelides, pacca, |
| The Center worked with the leader of the | | | | canides, deer, tapir and 6 species of felines. |
| Quaker community and national Government to | | | | Recently voted one of the 7 Wonders of |
| ensure the protection of this forest and it | | | | Costa Rica this is a perfect Costa Rica Travel |
| became a national reserve in 1972. Over time, | | | | destinations now equipped for all types of tourists! |