Set in the Cordillera de Tilarán in Costa Rica's central highlands, Monteverde is a nature-lover's paradise: the reserve is alive with countless species of wildlife and vegetation, and organic farming and eco-tourism are prevalent. Founded by North American Quakers in 1951, the town itself is spread out along the cloud forest and embraces the community of Santa Elena - and as long as you don't mind a nightlife limited to a few scurrying animals and the unpredictability of rain or shine, it won't take long to realise you've come to one of the most precious and fragile habitats on earth.
