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Description
This is a family's eco farm with seasonal reforestation, daily agricultural projects and regular farming duties, in a beautiful location away from crowds and big towns. We love to do everything as green as we can and learn from others about Eco and sustainable living.
If you’re looking to experience a non-touristic destination in Costa Rica that offers plenty of wildlife, nature and unique experiences, head South to a town named Sabalito in Coto Brus, Costa Rica.
This area is widely unknown to tourists and has some very special gems that makes it a great destination in Costa Rica to experience rural tourism and off the beaten path places.
What we look for:
We prefer workawayer who are 23 years old and older.
Non-Smokers.
We like workawayers who are travelling either by themselves, or with friends only. We rather don't take couples.
We like to give everyone an opportunity to change their minds, so, we always use week number one as way to get to know each other, and if everything works well for everyone, we all continue for two, up to four weeks, when possible.
Here is our guide to Coto Brus to help you plan your visit:
Location: Coto Brus is a county located in the Puntarenas province of Costa Rica. Sabalito is a town in Coto Brus, about 277 kilometers (174 miles), or 5+ hours drive from San Jose. It is locally known to be located in the Southern South of Costa Rica. The Panamanian border is only 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from Sabalito, which makes is it convenient when volunteers want to change countries or need to explore more options in the Panamanian highlands (Boquete, Volcan etc).
How to get there:
Driving; You can use Google Maps or Waze as your GPS to get to Sabalito and our farm. It is about 5+ hours drive from San Jose with no traffic or stops. This route goes on the main highway and the fastest is Via Route 2 and then Route 237. It is a quite a drive, so we recommend to break it up, or make it a whole travel day. You can stay a night in San Isidro del General or stop for lunch there if driving in one day. This route has gorgeous views so we definitely recommend taking it slow either way so you can enjoy the views, and many places you can visit on the way.
By public bus: There is a public bus from San Jose to Sabalito, everyday at 6AM, 8:15AM, 12PM and 4PM with Empresa Tracopa (company) leaving Calle 5, Ave 18-20. This bus takes 7 hours. There is also a public bus from San Isidro del General at 5:30AM and 2PM everyday leaving from Calle 3, Ave 0-2 with Empresa Tracopa. This bus takes 5 hours.
About the area:
The history of Coto Brus founding is very interesting. Back in the 1950’s, a group of Italians came to that area looking for a new place to live and enjoy peace. They discovered the agricultural potential of what was known back then as Rio Java and decided to create a new colony there. Lumbar and farming would be the backbone of the colony’s economy, later was coffee and cattle.
After settling, they brought more Italians over to Coto Brus and many of them went on to marry Costa Ricans or Panamanians. From then on, the town grew and flourished to what it is today.
Today, Coto Brus is a very normal Costa Rican area with a heavy Italian influence. Tourism is rare here, making it an excellent place for visitors to experience a real Costa Rican cultural experience.
Sabalito town sits between 800 to 1500 meters in elevation (3280 -5000 feet) inside the Coto Brus valley surrounded by lush rainforest, mountains and rivers, it has plenty to offer the off the beaten path traveler in terms of nature and wildlife, especially birdwatching.
About the weather:
Coto Brus experiences the typical tropical season, rainy and dry, but sitting higher in elevation makes it cool and breezy. Tropical dry season is typically from late November until April; its rainy season is from May until November, still most mornings are sunny with clear skies.
Temperatures fluctuates throughout the year between 16C – 24C (52 F to 72 F) with an average of 21 C (67 F).
The sunniest and driest months are mid December – end of March. The rainiest months are October and November.
Things to do in Coto Brus, Costa Rica:
Nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts will love Coto Brus. Here are the best things to do! For tours and guides, the best way to arrange them is to ask us for help, since we also run adventure based experiences all over Southern Costa Rica.
Waterfalls:
In Coto Brus, there are some of the most spectacular and undiscovered waterfalls in Costa Rica.
Birdwatching:
Although Monteverde is widely known as the best place to see Resplendent Quetzals, the best viewing time are February and March. In Coto Brus, you can see Resplendent Quetzals nearly all year round! In addition to the Quetzal, there are many other prized birds to see like hummingbirds, toucans and more.
When it comes to birdwatching in Costa Rica, Coto Brus is one of the best places to go for fewer crowds and more Quetzals.
Wilson Botanical Garden and Las Cruces Biological Station:
This is a must see. The botanical garden and Las Cruces biological station offers a wonderful opportunity to see all sorts of beautiful flora and fauna with over 2000 native Costa Rican flower, tree and plant species and many animals. It is recommended to take a guided walk of the garden and reserve so you can learn more about the nature from a local guide. The garden is only 6 kilometers (4 miles) from downtown Sabalito. You can also stay overnight at the Las Cruces reserve.
Coffee Tours:
Although Coto Brus doesn’t have as many big coffee plantations as the Central Valley, they produce very good coffee via small family farms. It’s very common for local families to own a couple hectares of land dedicated to coffee farming. Many indigenous communities also rely on coffee picking as income.
Coto Brus Day, and multi Day trips:
From Coto Brus, there are several day trips you can do to hot springs, coffee farm tours, and amazing hiking trails in the nearby national parks.
You can also go on a humpback whale and dolphin watching tour, sea kayaking, mangrove kayaking, canyoning, caving, hiking, beach camping, snorkeling, sport fishing, and waterfall rappelling, in Golfito (70 minutes away), or go on a boat ride or river fishing down the Terraba River (60 minutes drive).
Another must do is a visit to La Amistad International Park, a park shared between Costa Rica and Panama. You can hike amazing trails in the park through the cloud rainforest and then enjoy a local hot springs afterwards. If you have a car, drive to the Sector Pittier of the park and hike on your own.
Overall, our Eco farm and Coto Brus are the correct area to come and enjoy a real Costa Rican experience.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Work, enjoy, relax and share knowledge in an Eco Farm located in an amazing area of Costa Rica.
Traveling is learning, specially when done in areas that aren't touristy and where real culture can be experienced.
Because of our location, we are part of a small community where people work together and help each other in every day duties like milking animals, agriculture, feeding animals, planting, and cutting pasture, bringing water, working with water systems and sometimes construction and maintenance.
When volunteers visit, they are part of our lives by working together in many different ways, but when downtime comes, volunteers will have their own space and privacy in our rustic cabana free of charge, or you can choose our Workaway special deal (%30 off) and stay in one of our luxurious domes.
In general our location is known for good weather year-round, lovely and hardworking people, natural wonders like La Amistad National Park, Mineral Hot springs, amazing birdwatching, and great coffee. Golfo Dulce (Dolphin and Whale watching), the Osa Peninsula (Corcovado and Drake Bay), and other amazing locations by the Southern Pacific coast, are only 60+ minutes away from our farm. We are looking forward to meet you and work together! Be well.
Help
Farming, planting, using Farming machinery, Eco farming, working with tools, construction, concrete work. Teaching, lenguaje, teaching skills.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Italian: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
We love to practice languages, and to let others practice their Spanish also.
Accommodation
We have a wooden house with a kitchen, a bathroom with a shower.
We provide all Lunches, but breakfasts and dinners have to be prepared and cooked by the volunteers themselves.
What else ...
We love to create and collaborate as a team, so our expectations are to work hard and to rejoice doing the best we can as long as it as sustainable as possible.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Yes, we offer specialty services and deluxe accommodation (Glamping domes) for digital nomads, for a price. Workawayers get a weekly deal!
Space for parking camper vans
There is an area in the farm where a motor home can be parked, with access to water and electricity, for a daily fee.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week
