COSTA RICA has long been called the “Switzerland of the Americas.” Perhaps this is due to its beautiful verdant mountains. It has also been a land of peace. In fact, the army was abolished in 1948, and this country has often been praised for its peaceful way of settling both internal and external problems.

Bordered by Panama on the south, Nicaragua on the north, the waters of the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Caribbean Sea on the east, this Central American republic is divided north and south by a mountainous backbone. To the east and west of these cool highlands and plateaus lie humid, tropical lowlands, the Pacific and the Atlantic coastal plains. But to become better acquainted with Costa Rica and its people, let us accompany a traveling Christian elder (a district overseer) and his wife to four assemblies of Jehovah’s Witnesses in different parts of this land.

VIRGIN JUNGLES ON THE ATLANTIC COASTAL PLAIN

The first assembly is at Puerto Limón, some 162 kilometers (100 miles) from San José, Costa Rica’s capital. Our friends thought we would enjoy the scenic ride on the narrow-gauge railway, instead of a trip on the much faster bus. They were right. Breathtaking mountain scenery on the left is offset by the white waters of a river rushing through its gorge hundreds of feet below us on the right. We swallow hard as the veteran train winds along this stretch of track on a narrow ledge only some three meters (10 feet) wide.

As we descend, the cool, forested mountains soon give way to rolling hills. Now, as if a giant hand has rolled out a green carpet for miles on end, before us extends the dense jungle of the Atlantic coastal plain. Randomly placed in the dark foliage are light-green spots, actually banana plantations.