Sights in Monteverde & Santa Elena
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Monteverde Cheese Factory
Until the upswing in ecotourism, Monteverde’s number-one employer was this cheese factory. Started in 1953 by Monteverde’s original Quaker settlers, the factory produces everything from a creamy Gouda to a very nice sharp, white cheddar, sold all over the country, as well as other dairy products such as yogurt and, most importantly, ice cream. Reservations are required for the two-hour tour of the factory.
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Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde
This beautiful reserve came into being in 1972, when the Quaker community, spurred on by the threat of encroaching squatters, joined forces with environmental and wildlife organizations to purchase and protect an extra 328 hectares (811 acres) of land. This fragile enviroment relies almost entirely on public donations to survive. Today, the reserve totals 10,500 hectares (25,946 acres).
Visitors should note that some of the walking trails are very muddy, and even during the dry season (late December to early May) the cloud forest is wet. Many trails have been stabilized with concrete blocks or wooden boards and are easy to walk on, though unpaved trails deeper in the…
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El Jardín de las Mariposas
One of the most interesting activities is visiting the butterfly garden. Admission entitles you to a naturalist-led tour (in Spanish or English) that begins with an enlightening discussion of butterfly life cycles and the butterfly’s importance in nature. A variety of eggs, caterpillars, pupae and adults are examined. Visitors are taken into the greenhouses, where the butterflies are raised, and on into the screened garden, where hundreds of butterflies of many species are seen. The tour lasts about an hour.
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Reserva Santa Elena
Though Monteverde Reserve gets all the attention, this exquisitely misty entry, at a comparably small 310 hectares (766 acres), has plenty to recommend it. While the Monteverde Reserve attracts almost 200,000 visitors annually, Santa Elena sees fewer than 20,000, which means its dewy trails through mysteriously veiled forest are usually far quieter. It’s also much less developed; plus your entry fee is helping support another unique project.
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Bat Jungle
Learn about echolocation, bat-wing aerodynamics and other amazing facts about these (incredibly cute) flying mammals. The stellar Bat Jungle, a labor of love realized by biologist Richard Laval, has terrific exhibits including a free-flying bat habitat, beautiful sculptures and a lot of bilingual educational displays. The bats are most active during feeding times (9am, noon and 3pm). The Bat Jungle makes up part of the new Paseo de Stella visitors center, a modern hacienda that also houses a cafe specializing in Argentine chocolate, a museum of Monteverde history and an art gallery. The wide terrace is a wonderful spot to stop for coffee and a handmade truffle.
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Jardín de Orquídeas
This sweet-smelling garden has shady trails winding past more than 400 types of orchid organized into taxonomic groups. Included with admission are guided tours in Spanish and English, on which you’ll see such rarities as Plztystele jungermannioides, the world’s smallest orchid, and several others marked for conservation by the Monteverde Orchid Investigation Project.
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Ranario
Monteverde’s cloud forest provides a heavenly habitat for amphibians, which, if you’re lucky, you’ll see in the park. But at the Ranario about 25 species of Costa Rica’s colorful array of frogs and toads reside in transparent enclosures lining the winding indoor-jungle paths. Sharp-eyed guides lead informative tours in English or Spanish, pointing out frogs, eggs and tadpoles with flashlights. Many resident amphibians are more active by night, so it’s best to visit during the evening. The adult combo ticket includes admission to the butterfly garden.
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Serpentario
Here you'll find about 40 species of snake, plus a fair number of frogs, lizards, turtles and other cold-blooded critters. Sometimes it’s tough to find the slithering, venomous stars in their comfy, foliage-filled cages, but guides are available in Spanish or English for free tours.
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Valle Escondido
Valle Escondido (Hidden Valley Trail) begins behind the Pensión Monteverde Inn and slowly winds its way through a deep canyon into an 11- hectare (27-acre) reserve. In comparison with the more popular reserves, Valle Escondido is quiet during the day and relatively under-touristed, so it's a good trail for wildlife watching. The two-hour guided night tour is very popular, so make your reservations in advance.
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Mundo de los Insectos
The World of Insects goes beyond just butterflies with its collection of creepy cloud-forest crawlies, from hermaphroditic walking sticks to notoriously venomous banana spiders. During our recent visit, the museum was changing management and undergoing a much-needed remodeling.
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Friends Meeting House
In 1949 four Alabama Quakers (a pacifist religious group also known as the 'Society of Friends’) were jailed for their refusal to be drafted into the Korean War. Since Quakers are obligated by their religion to be pacifists, the four men were eventually released from prison. However, in response to the incarceration, 44 Quakers from 11 Alabama families left the USA and headed for (much) greener pastures, literally. The Quakers chose Monteverde (Green Mountain) for two reasons – a few years prior, the Costa Rican government had abolished its military, and the cool, mountain climate was ideal for grazing cattle. Ensconced in their isolated refuge they adopted a…
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