Directly outside the cities of the Central Valley lie neighborhoods which are significantly less dense with buildings and people. These communities on the outskirts of the cities seemed to be scattered and consist of very small houses. Primarily the only stores seemed to be family owned and based out of the houses on the side of the road. Beyond the outskirts of the city lie more industrialized communities which seemed to contain large warehouses, residential houses, and factories. Once we began to climb into the mountains farming seemed to be more prevalent: there were coffee and sugarcane plantations as well as cattle ranches alongside the route of the bus. So, as we moved from the densely populated cities we moved to increasingly less dense and most likely lower income neighborhoods. Then, potentially the least desirable neighborhoods were the factories, which gave way to farming which requires wide open spaces. From this general trend of communities, it can be inferred most people in Costa Rica live in urban areas. It also seems neighborhoods increasingly far from the cities become increasingly less populated and increasingly less-desirable to live in with fewer stores, tighter roads, and smaller houses. Additionally, from the bus in the areas farthest from the cities, I could see that the farming land was increasingly becoming more prevalent. With new plots of land being deforested to make way (presumably) for pastures.

Throughout my time in Costa Rica I have come to understand the uniqueness and beauty of the country. The agriculture in Costa Rica is deeply rooted in the economy of the country. The agriculture is very unique to Costa Rica and completely dependent on climate and topography. The tropical climate in Costa Rica is found all throughout the country, but the country is divided into multiple regions including mountainous and lowland areas. The mountainous areas with the higher altitude, cooler climates, and volcanic soil are perfect for farming coffee and bananas. Moreover, the topography and climate, which is pertinent to the economy, also make Costa Rica a suitable habitat for a great number of species, many of which are completely endemic to Costa Rica. The economy, animals, and way of life in Costa Rica are all interrelated and brought together by the land and climate. 

Foreigners in Monteverde had a heavy influence on both the economy and culture. Originally Quakers from the United States came and built building including a cheese factory. The quakers brought a new item into the economy; for decades Monteverde produced cheese in the local factory and sent it to communities throughout Costa Rica and even other countries like Nicaragua and Panama. The Quakers also brought English. The Quakers respected the Spanish culture, so they opened bi-lingual schools. In later years, tourism became popular in Costa Rica which prompted Monteverde to change the businesses to take advantage of new economic opportunities popular in Costa Rica. Monteverde began to open more restaurants, souvenir shops, and businesses which offered unique experiences for tourists.