Today we had a long travel day from the Central Valley up to the chilly, misty mountains of Monteverde. We had a rest stop where we got to see lots of farm animals and ate lunch. As we climbed higher, the scenery transformed to lush greens, winding roads, and tiny mountain towns with roadside vendors selling fresh fruit. Monteverde is nothing like I expected. First off: no mosquitoes. That alone makes this place a dream. The air is much cooler, the views stretch forever, and it feels like we’ve entered a quiet little pocket of the world. Even the wildlife is unique! For example, there’s an orange toad that lives only in these mountains!

When we arrived in Monteverde, we had a nice chat with Ricardo Guindon, who is the son of one of the original Quakers! He told us all about how a group of Quakers from Alabama settled here and impacted Costa Rica. The introduction to dairy farming was a big one in particular. While few Quakers are still here, their legacy remains. Monteverde now thrives on eco-tourism and local farming. Especially the two main dairy farms that keep the cheese factory that we visited going strong. I’ve also learned that community here is everything. On the first Sunday of every month, local families hold a potluck. Since arriving in Costa Rica on Saturday, my views have shifted. It is not just tropical beaches and lush jungles.