The Spanish word ‘Monteverde’ means ‘Mount Green’ and correctly as well as literally defines the town in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, famous for ecotourism. This small town (recently voted one of 7 wonders in Costa Rica) is surrounded by a number of forest reserves which are home to a very wide range of animal, bird and plant species.
The warm and humid climate in and around Monteverde as well as the abundant year round rainfall is highly suitable for the propagation of tropical plants, which is conducive for the biodiversity seen in that area.
The area in and around Monteverde traces its roots back to some thousands of years BC, when native Indians inhabited villages there. As the centuries passed, simple agrarian life progressed to more complex and developed forms, with some wars thrown in. There were frequent fluctuations in the population levels, coinciding with the level of activity of the nearby Arenal volcano. The Spanish invasions decimated the indigenous people in that area and this was followed by the arrival of a large number of people from the Caribbean.
Ecotourism and Monteverde
The present day town of Monteverde has its origins in buildings constructed by pacifist US citizens who migrated to Costa Rica in the 1950s. The farms on which they had cultivated crops were turned over to conservationist who managed to create what is now known as the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve and Monteverde Nature Centre. As mentioned earlier, Monteverde and the larger town of Santa Elena (located close to each other) are now one of the biggest tourist destinations in Costa Rica. Spanish is the primary main language though basic English is heard for the benefit of foreign tourists and literacy, as in the rest of Costa Rica, is almost 100%.
While vacationers fuel the tourism which is the growth industry in and around Monteverde, agriculture remains the primary source of income for most, with coffee and dairy products contributing the most. The most well known of the nature reserves around Monteverde is the privately owned “Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve“. There are a large number of trails, some less accessible than the others inside the reserve along with self contained scientific research stations having accommodation arrangements.
Children and schools from around the world are part of the project that funds the largest nature preserve in the area, called Bosque Eterno de los Ninos. The ‘Santa Elena Reserve’ is another nature park situated close to the town by the same name. The biodiversity, whether of plants, birds or animals, in all these reserves is truly phenomenal! Other places to visit include Monteverde Nature Centre with its butterfly collection, serpentariums, etc. Tourists can also go mountain biking and do some horse riding.
There are well appointed hotels, restaurants and bars to provide visitors all levels of comfort. These facilities are available more in Santa Elena as compared to the much smaller town of Monteverde and tourists stay as per their individual priorities; ecology related or plain sightseeing. Anyway, considering myself a responsible member of this planet Earth, I am all for enjoying my next vacation at this most idyllic of places – Monteverde!
