Monteverde, northwest of San Jose, is both a major tourist attraction and an amazing place to learn about the country's nature and culture.
The best approach to one of my favorite areas of Costa Rica, Monteverde, is to come from San José — but even that road can be difficult, especially in the rainy season. If you plan to drive to Monteverde on your own, you absolutely must have a four wheel drive vehicle. Once you leave the highway, the roads to Monteverde are steep dirt roads, often with lots of potholes. Specialty vehicle rentals are expensive but in this case necessary.
Another choice is to buy a package and let someone else do the driving. It takes several hours to drive to Monteverde from San Jose so you should plan on staying at least one night. Two nights would be ideal.
Monteverde’s Quaker Community
The name Monteverde refers to two different things: the Quaker community of Monteverde as well as the adjacent cloud preserve. The history of the community is interesting and bears repeating. Back in the early 1950’s some Quakers from the state of Alabama were jailed for refusing to register for the draft in the U.S. and decided to move to a more peaceful country whose military policy coincided with their Pacifist beliefs. Costa Rica, having no army, fit the bill. There were 44 original settlers from 11 different families. Some flew to San José while others drove from Alabama, a three-month journey. Eventually they settled in the Monteverde area where land was cheap and plentiful. They supported themselves through dairy farming and cheese production. Today their modern factory supplies cheese to all of Costa Rica. The Quakers have been instrumental in keeping Monteverde and the surrounding area in its pristine state. They are respectful of the land and its fragility.
There are several art galleries and craft centers to visit in Monteverde as well as the cheese factory, called La LecherÃa. The Hummingbird Gallery (see Costa Rica’s Defining Moment) is a must-see. Being completely surrounded by buzzing hummingbirds is one of Monteverde’s fun experiences. You can also arrange for horseback riding and guided wildlife walks. Because of the Quaker heritage English is widely understood in this area. There are several lodges in the Monteverde area as well as in the nearby town of Santa Elena. Most will sell out during the busy winter and summer season. You can reserve these properties on a room only basis as well as on a package basis. We recommend you reserve ahead.
Monteverde’s Cloud Forest Preserve
This privately owned and operated cloud preserve is the major attraction of Monteverde. You can hike it on your own – there are several trails – or you can hire a guide for a half day or more. Guides run about $15 for a half day and we recommend going with a guide (Guides are not included with entrance fee). The cloud forest is a very misty place and it is hard to see wildlife. The guide can point out things you would ordinarily miss on your own. Other special tours may be offered or can be arranged upon request, such as night tours of the preserve or birding tours. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded at Monteverde, including the resplendent quetzal. There is a limit to the number of people who can enter the preserve at one time. During the busy season we recommend you arrive as soon as possible after the opening time of 7:00am. Admission is about $13.00 with discounts for students and children. Children ages 10 and under are admitted without a fee. For more information contact Monteverde Info (506/645-7070). [Editor’s Note: The cloud preserve can be muddy and wet so bring raingear and boots.]
Volcan Arenal National Park
Located a few miles west of the town of Fortuna, this national park contains one of the most active volcanoes in Central America, the Arenal Volcano. There are only a few visitors services at the park; the main attraction is viewing the smoldering or fiery volcano, especially at night.
If the volcano is active, you will be able to see the eruptions from outside the park. Day Tours are available to see the volcano and often include other activities available in the surrounding area. This is an all-day trip from Monteverde.
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Trekking In Nepal is one of the most popular tourist Activities. Trekking in Nepal generally involves walking on trails with beautiful views for around 6 to 8 hours a day. In a trek, a trekker walks along routes with the variety of land topography including passes, river, high altitude routes, and much more. Travelers enjoy trekking in Nepal because they can enjoy the beautiful nature and sceneries of the country.
Nepal is a land of wonder and home to 8 breathtaking mountains above 8000 meters. These include Mt. Everest (the tallest mountain in the world), Mt. Annapurna, Mt. Machhapuchhre, Mt. Kanchenjunga, Mt. Dhaulagiri, etc. Needless to say, these are some of the tallest mountains in the world. These mountains and the wonderful trails nearby make trekking in Nepal a delightful prospect.
All of these mountains are well-protected. Besides, the area and surrounding forests form a part of many national parks and conservation areas. There are many lakes, gorges, waterfalls, and culturally significant places nearby these trekking areas. Thus, people from all over the world dream of trekking in Nepal.
There are many trekking in Nepal, Some of these treks are short in length. These treks last anywhere from a day to one week. On the other hand, there are also longer treks that can take anywhere between a week and a month.
Annapurna Circuit Trek, Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Mardi Himal Trek, Everest Base Camp treks are some of the most popular treks in Nepal. These treks are moderate in their length.
Langtang valley trek, Everest view trek, and Ghorepani Poonhill trek are some of the popular short treks. Due to their short span, these Short treks in Nepal tend to cost a lot less than longer treks.
As you trek to the high altitude, high Himalayas and their beauty will greet you. Panoramic mountains and the beautiful sunrise/ sunset amidst the soaring mountains will be a delight.
Most trekking areas are also declared as national parks and conservation areas. These are home to beautiful species of birds and animals. You can get to see some exotic animals, butterflies, and birds during your trek in Nepal.
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