Monteverde, Costa Rica is a small town in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Located in the Cordillera de Tilarán, roughly a four hour drive from the Central Valley of Costa Rica, Monteverde is considered a major ecotourism destination in Costa Rica. The area is perhaps best known for the Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde and numerous other reserves, which draw considerable numbers of tourists and naturalists interested in mountain and tropical biodiversity.
In Newsweek's 100 Places to Remember Before They Disappear, Monteverde appears as the Americas' #14. It has also been deemed one of the Seven Wonders of Costa Rica by popular vote, and has been called by National Geographic "the jewel in the crown of cloud forest reserves".
What is now considered Monteverde was founded by Quakers from the United States whose pacifist values led them to defy the American draft during the Korean War. The majority of the group hailed from Fairhope, Alabama, and it included people who were not Quakers but pacifists and conscientious objectors. The spokesman of the group was Hubert Mendenhall, a dairyman who had visited Costa Rica in 1949 after joining a farmer's tour. These Quakers and pacifists chose Monteverde for its cool climate, which would facilitate dairy farming, and due to Costa Rica's non-violent, army-free constitution. Mendenhall noted that the soil was fertile and the people were friendly as well. The Quakers stewarded and farmed a large tract of land, which they eventually set aside for conservation. This reserve, which was named the Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde (Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve), has become a major tourist attraction.
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While Monteverde is technically the last 3.5 kilometers of the road before the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, people often refer to the whole area as Monteverde while in fact there are 3 separate if somewhat vaguely divided "villages": Monteverde, Cerro Plano and Santa Elena.
The main commercial center is Santa Elena. If you drive just a few minutes outside Santa Elena you will find yourselves in the countryside, so the c center is very small! In Santa Elena you will find banks, a supermarket, a post office, many tourists related businesses and the bus and police stations, plus the main church. . At the time of writing (August 26 2009) a mall is being built next to Santa Elena which will have 30 units are so. Although some people are opposed to this building, it will bring much needed commercial units and offices for the local people as well as jobs and opportunities. At the moment Santa Elena is just full of tourists related business and the local residents have to drive many kms off the mountain to buy many household products. The mall is being built in a commercial area and the forests and reserves of Monteverde just a few kms up the road will remain untouched.
Cerro Plano is a plateau situated on the road between Monteverde and Santa Elena. Cerro Plano is home to the Ecological Farm and Butterfly Garden. After Cerro Plano is Monteverde where you will find Stella's Bakery and the Quaker meeting house and school. Monteverde is mostly made up of a few large hotels and private homes. The road stops at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.
In 1951 a group of Quakers (members of the Religious Society of Friends) objecting to the draft emigrated from the United States to Costa Rica and settled in what was to be Monteverde. Part of the Quaker faith is the belief that there is an inner light in everyone and that this inner light is in essence a piece of God. Most Quakers consider themselves pacifists. The Quakers founded the Cheese Factory, the Friends School and in an attempt to protect the areas watershed purchased much of the land that now makes up the Monteverde Reserve. The Quakers have played a major role in the development of the community and this is one of the things that make Monteverde a special place.
If you're expecting to see people wearing funny hats driving horse drawn wagons you will be disappointed. Most current day Quakers do not look like they do on the Quaker Oats T box and have not since the 1600's. Many people confuse the Quakers with the Amish. Some of the children of the original settlers have integrated into the community and married while others have returned to the United States.
The Quakers of Monteverde practice un-programmed, silent meetings. Worship consists of an hour of meditation where participants try to listen to the (Holy) Spirit, until someone is moved by the Spirit to speak. There is no minister or preacher. Services are Wednesday and Sunday at the Quaker meetinghouse and are open to the public.
In the last 50 years Monteverde has grown into a popular destination for tourists. With the increase in visitors things have begun to change and many people are wondering what is in store. Issues such as the project to pave the roads raise concern as to Monteverde's future. Some work has been done in plans for sustainable development but there is still much more to be done.
There is a divide or autonomy between the top end of Monteverde near the Cloud Forest Reserve (here there are many Costa Rica-North Americans with relatively more money and some potentially useful resources like the Monteverde Institute) and the area of Cerro Plano / Santa Elena where the majority of Costa Ricans live. In the last couple of years some activities and a general increase in the Monteverde area as whole has brought more of a union to the zones.
I would strongly recommend that people visiting the country spend a couple of days here to experience the stunning natural beauty as well as the unique and peaceful atmosphere that is Monteverde
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