Monteverde

On the 12th of February we moved on once more. This time our destination was Monteverde and the surrounding Cloud Forest in the west of the Tilarán Cordillera Mountains and National Park.

The history of Monteverde began in the early 1950s, when a group of Quaker families from United States arrived to Costa Rica in search of peace and tranquility. Some members of these families were imprisoned by the American government due to the fact that they didn't want to take part in the Korean War. For that reason they decided to settle in Costa Rica, mainly because of its lack of an army and also because of the nature they found.

However, long time before the arrival of these Quakers, the Monteverde area was already settled by a group of Costa Rican farmers, coming from towns like San Ramon de Alajuela, Esparza and Miramar. Their purpose was to establish farms for subsistence living.

Monteverde was founded by these American citizens, to establish their own reserve for conservation and protection of water and nature. In the early 1970s, a vast amount of the reserve was donated to the Tropical Scientific Center (CCT), an organization in charge of the investigation and preservation of the land. This region boasts over 400 different bird species and a massive collection of other biodiversity.

 Blue-gray Tanager © John N Murphy

 Common Tody-Flycatcher © John N Murphy

 Yellow-throated Euphonia © John N Murphy

Social Flycatcher © John N MurphyBlue-and-white Swallow © John N Murphy

 White-tipped Dove © John N Murphy

 Hoffman's Woodpecker © John N Murphy

Brown Jay © John N Murphy