Today, we left our host families in Heredia to travel to a hotel in Monteverde. Because most of the population in Costa Rica is concentrated in the central valley, life outside of that area looks much different. Towns are much more spread apart, and you can see a bigger emphasis on agriculture. The towns branch off from one major “highway” (even though it is one lane each way). This differs greatly from the endless blocks of Heredia and San Jose. Because these towns are much smaller, the shops within them are commonly sodas, which are mom and pop restaurants, typically under or added onto a home. Everything is more local, and there are no big chain supermarkets or general stores. As for the people, they seemed perhaps even more laid-back than a typical Tico. I did not see many locals, but dogs and other pets were able to roam the streets and several people were at sodas, giving these small towns a relaxed mood.
The next thing to talk about regarding the trip to Monteverde is the scenery. Coming out of the central valley, we started to head downhill to the Pacific Ocean. As we declined, the temperature and humidity both increased. In this region we encountered a troop of over twenty howler monkeys. It was so different seeing wildlife right off of a road, something I am not accustomed to in the United States. When we were near the coast, we turned north to approach Monteverde. We steadily traveled uphill, and eventually had great views of the elevation. It was amazing to see the valleys and mountains so clearly.
Since we have arrived, I have observed some more aspects of Costa Rica. One of these observations has led me to appreciate traffic laws and regulations in the U.S. In the U.S., drivers are passive the majority of the time; this is not the case in Costa Rica. Drivers are very aggressive and impatient with walkers. A lack of crosswalks, stop signs, and enforcement spells disaster. Walking around Heredia is a little stressful; the drivers do not accommodate walkers. I continue to see Costa Rica as a laid-back country (at least compared to the U.S.), but its drivers seem to say otherwise. Aside from the slightly humorous road aspect, I am starting to understand that Costa Rica is at a turning point agriculturally. I already knew that coffee was a huge part of Costa Rica’s economy, and I am becoming more aware of the labor struggles experienced by coffee growers and all agricultural operations. I say Costa Rica is at a turning point because it must find a way to efficiently grow crops without using manual labor, the very aspect that makes their coffee premium. This brings up a dilemma, and companies must find a way to satisfy all parties.
Finally, we had a lecture on the influence of Quakers in Monteverde. One of the impacts the Quaker’s had on Monteverde was the idea of conserving forests. At the time, the forests around Monteverde were rapidly cut down, and the Quakers thought that the forests could be valuable in other ways than cutting them down for wood. This would be the idea of ecotourism, a staple of the Costa Rican economy. By conserving the forests on the beautiful land with all of the wildlife, Costa Rica would attract visitors from all around the world. Costa Rica’s newfound emphasis on ecotourism would lead to many hotels and resorts in locations like Monteverde. This along with the idea of the homestay perhaps led to the welcoming culture of Ticos towards their visitors. In order to attract tourists, Costa Rica must offer a unique experience and a welcoming environment, and they have successfully done that with ecotourism.