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Join us in our home and for a language exchange in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Costa Rica
Last activity : 13 Sep 2025

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80 %
Last replied
10 Aug 2025
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7
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Availability

2025

Min stay requested: at least a week

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What's this?

Details

Description
We are an Italian Argentinian couple with 3 fantastic sons Franco 29 Galo 27, and Isabella 25. We have local staff that helped us in our glamping hotel daily activities, Jeannete in the kitchen, Rosa, Yorleni and Cristina the cleaning ladies, German and Roberto in maintenance and gardening.
We are Martin and Celina a Vet and a Psychology ex-manager travelers adventurers entrepreneurs. Celina loves cinema, travel, and good books, I love rugby, motorcycles, and fishing I'm also a certificated Fly casting instructor. Galo traveled to 50 countries, lives in 5, and studied marketing in Austria, now he works full-time with us, and he is a super friendly host.
We want volunteers because we love the work away experience!! first as workawayers and now as HOSTs
After traveling in more than 60 countries we discovered Puerto Viejo and fell in love, with the Caribbean style, wildlife, jungle, international community, fantastic beaches, surf, and more...

We love to share experiences and our house. Here you will find a friendly international environment 1,5 km from the beach by bike, you will learn Spanish and Italian also. If you want more information drop me a line will be a pleasure to know more about you.

PS provide 3 meals a day for 25 hours help., let us know if you have some dietary restrictions. We love yoga
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Teaching
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
Movies & TV
Self development
Pets
Sustainability
Vegetarian or vegan
Events & social
Fashion or beauty
Culture
Carpentry
Architecture
Cooking & food
Gardening
Languages
DIY & crafts
Books
Art & design
Animals
Camping
Water sports
Adventure sports
Cycling
Beach
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Many stories and experiences and chats to share with you, we are a couple that left the " the comfort zone" to emigrate from Argentina to Europe and again with 2 top jobs left it all to follow a dream. We have been in 60 countries from being attacked by crocodiles to survive a storm in the Indian Ocean. Happy to teach some Spanish and Italian, Celina is learning English so we can arrange for some classes.
Help
Plenty of small activities include painting, sanding, restoring furniture, and language practice and yoga learning
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
French: Intermediate
This host offers a language exchange
We would like to learn french and yoga
Accommodation
A small room or a room in a small house for 2 people with a shared kitchen/bath
What else ...
Plenty of things to do in Puerto Viejo, beach, surf, trekking, walking, relaxing. Visit the Jungle and Cahuita National Park. Enjoy a beer in the many bars. Puerto Viejo is 5 kilometres by bicycle and 1,5 km from Cocles beach.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have a fantastic fiber optic internet at 10Mb download upload
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
My animals / pets

Host ref number: 546168253588

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Feedback (5)

18 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Katharina ) for host

In the Colina Secreta I didn't find a workaway but I found my costarican family. Omg I don't even know where to start but staying with these people for an entire month has been such an amazing experience and a very memorable time for me. Actually time went by way too fast and it feels like I've arrived there yesterday. Celina, Martin and Isa (and… read more also Piru) gave me a feeling about being at home from the very first moment . We had so many nice conversations, meals, movie nights or just afternoons together. I also learned a lot during my time there which I'm very grateful for. Not only did I get the chance to improve my spanish everyday by a little bit but they also shared so many amazing travel stories from all over the world with me which I found super inspiring. It just felt like I've known this place and the family for all my life and I kinda got adopted.
Jeannette and Raquel made the time for me even better. The two of them are an amazing team in the kitchen and I was just living in heaven trying all of their delicious meals and especially postres. I don't know how I'm going to survive now without eating like a queen everyday.
Puerto Viejo and the surrounding area is such a nice laidback place and there are about a million things to do so I never ever got bored.
For everyone wondering what to expect in terms of helping out here is a quick summary of stuff I "worked" on. So usually your main job will be everything connected to the very unique breakfast of the Colina Secreta. You start by preparing the tables in the morning. Then the guests arrive and you'll serve them and make sure everyone is happy (which every single guest automatically is as soon as they see the food that they receive). Afterwards you'd help with cleaning up and organizing for the next morning. I also loved helping out if there were guests having dinner e.g. in preparing Jausen ;)
Generally the work is not hard at all and you get the chance to meet and chat with guests from all over the world. It's a plus if you speak different kind of languages. Spanish is good too to be able to communicate with the staff although they are trying to learn english as well.
Thank you guys so so much I'll never ever forget the amazing time that I had and eventually we will meet each other again. "No es un adios sino un hasta luego".
There is no way someone could have a bad time with this family since they are so open minded and they made me feel so appreciated and comfortable.
Muchas gracias por todo y muchos besos y abrazos - Kathi :)

(Excellent )

26 Dec 2023

Left by Workawayer (Amy ) for host

Hello,

I had a wonderful time. I was able to spend a week there and felt very comfortable. The family is very warm and you always feel welcome. The work was fun and the other colleagues were very nice and friendly.

All in one. It was very nice and I can only recommend it.

Kind regards
Amy

(Excellent )

16 Oct 2023

Left by Workawayer (Alexandra) for host

An absolute dream Workaway. I would highly recommend Colina Secreta to anyone who is searching for an amazing and welcoming family, a surreal location surrounded by nature, the best homemade food you will taste and an unforgettable experience of self-discovery during this cultural exchange. First and foremost, the town of Puerto Viejo and the… read more

(Excellent )

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These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.

Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)

Cultural exchange:
(5.0)

Communication:
(5.0)

18 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Katharina ) for host

(Excellent)

26 Dec 2023

Left by Workawayer (Amy ) for host

(Excellent)

16 Oct 2023

Left by Workawayer (Alexandra) for host

(Excellent)

3 Nov 2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Morten Joon)

It was a pleasure to have Morten in Colina Secreta, he stayed with us for 3 month but the original plan was one month. His work was to prepare a social media plan and a business plan, he is so skilled in his work as a social media manager and a business consultant we made a fantastic work!. Morten is a cheerful guy, it´s so easy the communication… read more

(Excellent)

2 Nov 2020

Left by Workawayer (Morten Joon) for host

This review has been long in the making, but I wanted to do it right. It deserves no less. It doesn't really feel like a review, more like I am writing a letter to my friends.

So this was my first Work Away experience. Little did I know when I got of the bus, that I was on my way to get a second family. These amazing people found their way to my… read more

(Excellent)

25 May 2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Manuel)

Fue un grandissimo placer tener a Manuel con nosotros y lo recomendamos vivamente. Con solo 18 años Manuel tiene la madurez de un joven de 28, responsable, trabajador, buena conversación curioso y siempre respetuoso en su modo de hablar. Es la primera vez que tenemos un workawayer tan joven y estamos muy contentos de haberlo elegido, la… read more

(Excellent)

9 Mar 2020

Left by Workawayer (Manuel) for host

Tuve una experiencia enriquecedora trabajando con Martin y Celina, el trabajo de los primeros días fue duro pero en cuanto empezamos a trabajar en la carpa se puso divertido e interesante, desde luego me llevo conmigo a casa mucho conocimiento y recuerdos bonitos.

Convivir con Martin y Celina fue muy fácil, son gente muy abierta con mucho… read more

(Excellent)

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Join us in our home and for a language exchange in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Profile information

Host rating

Last replied

Feedback

Email verified

Badges (3)

Find your perfect host

Availability

Details

Description

Types of help and learning opportunities

Interests

Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

Help

Languages

Accommodation

What else ...

A little more information

Can host digital nomads

How many Workawayers can stay?

My animals / pets

Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host

Feedback (5)

Photos

Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host

Feedback