First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

We finally had some time-off to go and enjoy the property near Golfito we were fortunate to buy back in early September.

Our expectations were high, and they were surpassed. There are a lot of photos. I hope y'all like them.

Our first morning, Dec 21st, the winter solstice, and we wandered down to the pool with a cup of coffee, binoculars and the camera.



We watched the parrots fly by and the moon set.




We went up for breakfast and I made our favorite Huevos con Pinto with eggs we grabbed from the hen house that morning...oh yeah and coffee.



We went on a 3 hour tour of the property line with the caretaker, Esteban. Along the way he showed us one of the many huge trees:



We then learned that we did have a bit of a view of the water(Golfito Bay):



an hour and a half later we got a nice view of the valley an the hamlet of Mona:



We ended the tour by the drive way and a nice matt of bananas. This one was near the water apple tree and it shed the purple flowers like snow:



On another trail near the driveway, Esteban pointed out a naturally fallen tree that was covered with moss. He guessed that it had been there for 3 years or so. It had not decayed as expected. When he cut through it while clearing the trail, we learned that it was a rare purple heart tree:



Here is one of the two ranchos that we will rent when we get a new roof for it:





end of first post

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

Every evening before dinner, we shared a libation and the the spotting scope by the pool and the daytime birds headed home to roost and night time birds began their eerie calls. The tinamous come to mind:



We got acquainted with the normal animals of the farm. The first one we visited was the new bull calf from our herd of 5:



Next we met Mona, the farm's watchdog who kept us abreast of any potential danger she heard in the jungle with here curt barking.



At night we were visited by giant Marine Toads(Bufo marinus) they hopped around the outside of the house and unsuccessfully engaged in Amplexus with the Concrete Toads(Bufo concretus).



We ate well every night. Chicken, snapper, shark with wine and occasionally we had some delicious 23 year old Guatamalen rum.











We did the normal chores like the laundry. It was the dry season, so we saved gas and dried the clothes outside.



Part 3 up next.

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

When you buy property in a foreign land everybody recommends that you hire a caretaker. With 117 acres we needed one for sure. We were very fortunate that our real estate agent had suggested Esteban. He and his family grew up and worked farms in Southern Costa Rica. His wife, Maria, is a saint as well. The boys, Eduardo and Esteban jr, are the most polite and friendly children we have met. I snapped this picture as they left for a Christmas break with relatives:



There are many organizations in Costa Rica that assist the numerous ecological needs. One in our region that inspired us is Yaguará - Wild Cats Conservation Program

They traipse across the Osa Peninsula with Game Cameras and a laptop. The goal is preservation of Costa Rica's big cats, specifically the Jaguar.

We got involved and were able to transport 5 cameras from Amazon.com for them and their work. The leader came to out farm and gave us a great presentation on the work they do.

We had won a game cam ourselves and we set it out on the property.
The first night we got an agouti:





The next night we moved the camera up onto a mountain trail behind the house. That was on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day I went up the hill to check the results. BINGO! We saw the bright eyes and dotted hide of our very own Ocelot:





We were very excited about the ocelot. As Christmas day wore on we awaited Esteban and family as we had left them a few presents.
About 2:15 pm we heard a horrible squawking coming from the forest just past where we dried the laundry. We ran down there an found feathers of one of the chickens. A few feet away we found the corpse of a hen with a neck wound.



When Esteban arrived home we told him of the hen's demise. He responded that it was a Gavilan and that it was normal. He took the refrigerated pollo back to his house for a nice chicken dinner. Life in the Jungle!

Near the pool was a tree that contained a humming bird nest. She was very feisty and one evening chased this red squirrel at me. The squirrel was more afraid of the hummer than me with my camera:



Pele is the farm horse. He often gave me a menacing stare:




But, Esteban said he was "tranquile"...and he was. The boys bathed him while Esteban saddled him up!

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

Simply - you said bought back - so obviously you had owned it before. What is the story! Great pics btw!

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

The property was originally owned by a survivalist. When he realized the world was not coming to an end, he sort of turned the property into a refuge for the endangered red backed squirrel monkey.

They built a feeder from bamboo poles and wood on the property and cultivated quadrano(orinoco) bananas. They would hang green bananas from the poles and as they ripened monkeys and others would come to feed.



First there was one Acari:





He ate heartily:





When he did not keel over and die, 2 more came in for lunch:



When they left, the monkeys came in:



and they ate until full....and then rested!



We really had a great time! Even though we love our home in South Carolina, we have a new place to call home 1,600 miles south.

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

I meant that we bought the property 'way back' in early September.

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

Just fantastic pictures Simply - thanks for sharing!

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

I concur with Island Cassie, amazing photos! Please post more pics and info. :08::08::08:

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

Heaven on Earth! Congrats on the purchase!

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

While looking at this thread, I thought for a moment I was watching National Geographic Explorer. Thanks for the wonderful pictures!

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

Thank you for the pics....More please :)

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

Si Si, more pics please... beautiful oasis...

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

wow, wow, wow.. great pictures and a great property. Congrats again.
Hope to get to see it some day... maybe when my kids are a little older, I'll pack the family and rent it out from you guys for a few days/weeks/months or so. :)
Keep those pics coming. I know its tedious to get them online and posted but they are well received and appreciated. Thanks for sharing your lovely property with us city-dwellers. ;)

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

Thanks for sharing the nice photos! Just curious, why do you post photos of Estaban's family, but put a white dot in your wife's face? (I assume she's your wife)

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

Awesome, looks like a lot fun for you guys! Thanks for sharing the pics! :)

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

Great shots! Looks like a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing.

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

I'm just dying of envy !!!!!

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

No reason, other than I posted most of the same pics on a local fishing website that is more salty than this one. The picture was already in photo bucket.

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

Just awesome.... I'm inspired to do some traveling soon! Thanks so much for posting.

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

Man, almost difficult to look at those photos with all the snow piled up outside my window and sub-freezing temps forecast for the next few days. Just beautiful! I really want to go back to Costa Rica. I first went...1995? Then again in 1998. The changes between those years was drastic, but from what I hear I wouldn't even recognize the place. Lots and lots of changes since then. The first time all the roads were dirt or gravel and in poor shape except for the parts of the Panamerican Highway that went through San Jose. When I went the second time more was paved...just poorly with giant pot holes. According to my sister who went last summer there are now giant super highways now. Too bad I was so broke back then. I think beach front property could be had for around $75K!

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

Too cool man! I love all the pics of the wildlife! Thanks for sharing and congrats on your purchase.

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

Simply Bananas... is the area where you are, good for snorkeling, Caribbean or Pacific. I saw the bay in the background
Bo

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

Your pictures are beautiful and interesting, thank you for sharing and for the information! How much will be the rent for one of the guest quarters? Is weekly or monthly? Is that the Pacific coast your farm is near?

Good weather and good growing!! :jalapenonaner:

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

Congrats!!!! That is an awsome purchase! I'm so jealous, thanks for sharing your pics with us. I would love to rent your spot if I could ever find the time/money. Looks like a perfect spot to retire, and "live off the land". Just watch out for the cats.

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

I am sure there is snorkeling nearby, but I have not been yet.

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

Thanks--
We haven't figured out a price structure yet. Probably in the $40-$60 range per night with weekly or monthly deals to be worked out.
We are not quite open for business yet as my wife and I are both working in the states.

The town in about 15 minutes away and is called Golfito.

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica... Updates
 

Dave, our buddy @ Rainforest Properties sent this pic which is perfect for Bananas.org:

Thanks Dave!

This is the new roof we had put on at the beginning of the month. It is actually an artificial palm product called Palmex. It has a 20 year warranty. They even reconstructed the support structure for us. We cannot wait to spend a little more time back down there.

We put a short video up on youtube with some sounds/music of some of the pics above. Its best on the full screen setting.

YouTube - Ocho Verde...Southern Costa Rica!

Finally, our local paper did a story on us last month:
Couple go bananas for Costa Rican property | The Post and Courier, Charleston SC - News, Sports, Entertainment

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

My wife has now made the Ocho Verde website:

OchoVerde.com

Re: First trip to the Farm/Finca Costa Rica
 

WOW!!!