The mountains of Monteverde, world-famous for its unique cloud forest. Located at 1400 m altitude Monteverde is surrounded by breathtaking landscapes. Monteverde was founded in 1951 by the Quakers, a Protestant religious group from Alabama (USA). They started raising dairy cows and created Costa Rica’s best Monteverde cheese. In addition, the Quakers have been champions in nature conservation. Their commitment to preserving half of their property resulted in today’s protected cloud forest.
Your hotel
You will stay at the elegant Hotel Belmar. Since the hotel was founded in the 1980s, the family Belmar has been well aware of the environmental impact, and social commitment that running a hotel entails. To balance this, they have always been involved in various projects of ecological conservation and social welfare, which have contributed to the integral development of the local community.
Explore the area
At San Gerardo de Dota in the Cerro de la Muerte. This mountain range separates the Caribbean and Pacific Coast. Before reaching the highest point of the road (3300m/11000 feet) descend into a beautiful green valley carved by the river Savegre and enjoy the breathtaking scenery before arriving in the charming, small town of San Gerardo de Dota (2500m).
Bijagua is a charming small town nestled in a lush volcanic valley. The village is the perfect stop-over to visit the Rio Celeste River and Tenorio National Park. According to a local legend, the Rio Celeste became so blue after God painted the sky blue and washed his brushes in the river.
Located on the southern Caribbean coast, Manzanillo is a peaceful village at the end of the road and renowned for some of the most beautiful unspoiled beaches in the country.
The area is also known for its great cultural diversity of Latinos, Bribri, and Cabecar Indians. The Afro-Caribbean culture came with the Jamaicans in 1872 when the railroad between San José and the port of Limon was built.
The elegant Hotel Belmar. Since the hotel was founded in the 1980s, the family Belmar has been well aware of the environmental impact, and social commitment that running a hotel entails. To balance this, they have always been involved in various projects of ecological conservation and social welfare, which have contributed to the integral development of the local community.
The Rafiki Beach Camp, also managed by the Boshoff family that runs Rafiki Safari Lodge, is a sublime destination in the quiet village of Matapalo on the Pacific coast. Being an off-the-beaten-track location, you will have the beautiful beach almost to yourself here.
© Green Circle Experience2025
