Excursion Trip to Monteverde
The History of Monteverde A three and a half hour drive from the capital of San José, Monteverde rises above the horizon, a surprizing change in elevation compared to its surrounding beaches. At 4,600 ft in height, it is one of the shortest, yet most popular, mountains in Costa Rica. A direct translation of "Monteverde" is "green mountain," which perfectly describes the lush rain forests there. Monteverde is now one of the most famous tourist attractions in the country, largely due to its history. In the late 1940's, an American Quaker group called the Meeting of Friends in Fairhope refused to enlist in the draft for World War Two. After serving four months in prison for their refusal, the eleven families decided to leave the United States in favor of a place that did not participate in the war. In 1949, they moved to San José because it had good farming land and, most importantly, Costa Rica had just abolished its army. Eventually, the Quakers bought 3,500 a...