Monteverde
Several of our internships are located near the town of Santa Elena which serves as the commercial center for the surrounding wilderness. Main street has all the expected pizza restaurants and tour agencies. It also boast two well-populated discotecs that are larger than one would think for a wilderness outpost. So, there is nightlife apart from that of insects and bats.
The region lays claim to some of the best-kept cloud forests in the entire country and is a paradise for bird watchers. Several nature preserves have sprung up to make sure this stays the case. Because of the beauty of the area, it is only natural that Monteverde has become a major part of the Costa Rican tourist trail - despite the poor roads leading up to and through it..
Considered by many as the world's premier cloud forest, Monteverde straddles the continental divide and rides the Carribean winds in grand fashion. Here, massive figs are enshrouded in a cascade of orchids, bromeliads, mosses, and ferns. Amidst this humid wonderland no less than 2500 plant species thrive. Some 400 species of birds, both resident and migrant, have been identified. Add to this mix a 100 species of mammals some 500 species of butterflies and you have a forest of unequaled value. The altitude offsets the otherwise oppressive humidity found at the coast and creates comfortable temperatures that range between sixty and seventy-five degrees.
The region was first settled by a handful of Costa Rican families who emerged from the gold mine fields and a determined community of Alabama Quakers who traveled by foot across Central America. Both groups took to dairy farming and their pasturelands border the preserve. In recent years, Costa Rica's farming industry has taken over many of the dryland forests that once thrived in the shadows of Monteverde. We will explore this trend of deforestation and the transformation of parks into islands of biodiversity. Recent studies have shown the importance of maintaining biological cooridors that link the highlands with the lowlands. Species included the celebrated quetzal move vertically along the mountain to forage. These cooridors are also necessary to serve as a bridge for the ninety species of North American birds that winter in Monteverde.
In the Guanacaste Region, a few hundred meters in elevation changes the forest-type altogether. Pre-montain environments are more conducive for viewing mammals including the raccoon, coati, and olingo among others. Toucans are also frequent visitors and create a cacophony around their favored perches.
The main attraction is Reserva Biologica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde at the Southeastern end to the East of Monteverde proper, which is an enormous nature reserve. But usually only the area around the park entrance is visited. There are trails further inland though, where one can also stay overnight on platforms in the trees. It is even possible to cross the entire park to the Arenal Volcano, though this needs good planning and for those who are not used to jungle trekking it is advisable to go with a guide. If only because they tend to spot much more and will point out animals that one would likely never have spotted. Of course this also goes for other nature areas here and elsewhere (provided the guides are experienced, which they generally are here).
To the West of Monteverde proper lies the Bosque Eterno de los Ninos, a project in which schoolchildren from all over the world protect this area that is not really in the cloud forest and therefore better for some animal-observations. Guided night-walks can be done here.
Farther North, nearer Santa Elena, are a butterfly garden, a serpantarium and ranarium (frogs). Past Santa Elena, is the Reserva Santa Elena. Nearby one can do the Sky Walk, with seven suspension bridges (see photo), some as long as 300 m. This is a unique opportunity to see the forest from a completely different angle; from above. A less tranquil way to go through the forest (not for nature lovers but for thrill seekers) is th Sky Trek in which one zips through, and occasionally above, the forest along cables. Other activities include horse riding and mountain biking.
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