As we traveled from the bustling town of Heredia to the rural mountain side of Monteverde, I watched the townhouses turn into farms, which then turned into jungle. When I first arrived in Heredia, I was surprised by the silence and tranquility of the area, but now, sitting here in Monteverde, it is even more peaceful. Instead of hearing the rumbling of car engines in the night I hear cicadas in the surrounding jungle. The infrastructure around Monteverde is a lot smaller compared to Heredia, a grocery store in Monteverde would be considered a mini market in Heredia. There is also little to no light pollution in Monteverde, so I can get a clear view of the night sky. Without the light pollution the night hike tomorrow will be even better than expected. The morning and night hike are the two activities I have been excited for the most. I am hoping to see some wildlife, which is hard to find in Heredia and maybe I will even see jaguar. 

The first activity we did when we arrived in Monteverde was a guest speaker who was the son of the original pioneers that built Monteverde into the thriving destination it is today. His father and mother along with around 50 other quakers traveled here to avoid war and start a new life. They dug the road we drove up, they built each of their own houses and even started a lucrative creamery. All of this helped benefit the local economy by supplying the locals with jobs and opportunities to buy and sell goods. Now Monteverde relies on eco-tourism and focuses their efforts on conservation. The people that currently live here are a mix of bi-lingual families from around the world. It was disappointing to hear that the Quaker community has actually shrunk from their original size almost 100 years ago because the younger generation is moving back to the US or elsewhere. I don’t know who would want to leave such a beautiful place.