Pic of the Day: Stunning views on the road to Monteverde

The drive to Monteverde isn’t an easy one, so it’s best to have some patience and let yourself enjoy the view.

Some good news for visitors: The 17-kilometer portion of Route 606 between Guacimal and Santa Elena/Cerro Plano/Monteverde is now being paved. You can expect a much smoother ride up the green mountain.

Paving that section of Route 606 has been discussed in some capacity for decades, and it doesn’t come without some controversy.

The paved journey will allow for more visitors to Monteverde, so it projects to be a boon for those in the tourism industry. Many others are pro-pavement simply because they were anti-dust — a byproduct of the dry season, a dirt road and cars.

Those opposed? The group against it is a cross-section of the community: Ticos, Gringos, Quakers, Catholics, newcomers, old-timers, and so on. Their view is that adding people to an area already experiencing issues with the water supply, trash disposal and development may generate growth, but that growth is going to come at the expense of the quality of life of residents, and the environment.