Monteverde is AMAZING! Our day began early, as we wanted to get the Cloud Forest hike in before the crowds. The tour guide pointed out bugs and animals, and we got a good look at some of them. We saw howler monkeys like yesterday. There were toucans, Costa Rican raccoons, and birds. It was breathtaking to see all of these animals in front of us. I am not as big a fan of the bugs. Yesterday, we saw many bugs, including tarantulas, up close on our night walk. The night walk provided some background going into today that was useful. There is much to learn about the Costa Rican environment. 

My favorite part of today happened after the tour when we explored ourselves. I took some great pictures and journeyed to the Continental Divide. I love hiking, and walking for miles in the beautiful cloud forest was a great experience. We saw more raccoons and monkeys on our way and got some close-up pictures. The view at the Continental Divide was stunning. We could see trees for miles. On our way back to the entrance, we went on the Sendero El Puente. Sendero El Puente is a long bridge where we got even more great photos. I loved everything about the hike and the scenery, except the bugs. When we were in Heredia, there were pretty places, but nothing like I saw today. I have never experienced anything quite like I did today. 

After a delicious lunch at the hotel, we talked to an expert at the Monteverde Institute. We learned about productivity, conservation, and sustainability in Monteverde. The problems faced by the community are either social, economic, or environmental, and there is overlap between the categories. The first problem he mentioned was gray water: lightly used water from washers, showers, sinks, etc. They have been looking at solutions to separate waste and water from each other after flushing, for example. Sustainability is vital for the community, and experts are looking to improve current methods.

Conservation is also heavily prioritized, which I believe it should be. Costa Rica is the third smallest country in Central America, but there is a lot of marine territory in the Pacific Ocean. There are over 170 species in Costa Rica that are new to science. There is a lot to preserve, and doing so is challenging. A challenge faced consistently is working with private farmers. Years ago, the forests were being chopped down, and people were hunting countless animals. Private farmers had to buy into conserving the land and protecting the animals. They had to believe the conservation efforts helped them. The environmental payment service helps incentivize a select few farmers, but generally, there is no financial incentive. The social aspect is tied to sustainability and conservation. As I observed today in the Cloud Forest hike, the land is beautiful and should be protected. Conservation would be my primary concern. I am eager to see more of Costa Rica because I know I will be amazed.