Courses
1 Day Course
In the 1 Day Jungle Experience course you can expect:
Guided tour around our private 8 hector permaculture farm exploring our food forests, cacao orchards, and much more.
Learn more about the wildlife, medicinal herbs/plants, fruits and vegetable that we grow here on the farm.
Harvesting what is ripe for a delicious farm-to-table lunchtime feast followed by a swim in the freshwater natural swimming pool.
Learn more about our sustainability efforts and eco living as we explain how we live, our water systems, ponds, lakes and pools, the structures we’ve created and our natural swimming pool! why and how we do things and a short history of the farm.
We will also gather and process cacao working through all the steps to create a delicious end product… the bar of chocolate!
Time: 8am - 4pm
What’s included: Lunch, drinks and snacks.
5 Day Course
In the 5 Day Jungle Experience course you can expect everything from the 1 Day Course as well as:
BJT (basic jungle training) including workshops on machetes, jungle fire making, hammock camp setup and a solo night where you’ll put all your newly acquired skills into setting up your sleep systems, foregoing and cooking food from the land on a fire you’ve made!
Learn more about what we grow on the farm, how to harvest and prepare. Cooking techniques, food fermentation and preservation.
Morning trip to Ara Macaw Research Base, learning more about these incredible birds and the efforts to keep them safe.
Kayaking down the mystical river in punta uva starting on the beach and working your way up the river.
Jungle arts and crafts, carving, weaving and creating arts from the plethora of natural materials the jungle provides.
River night walk looking for Costa Rica’s finest wildlife… Learn how to spot wildlife, setup camera traps and identify various tracks left preserved on the river banks.
3 delicious, healthy and nutritious meals per day. Drinks and snacks. Evening fires/BBQ’s and the occasional movie night on our large screen projector.
Time: 5 full days
What’s included: Accommodation, food and drinks. We can also provide machetes, hammocks and bashers. Please see kit list attached.
10 Day Course
In the 10 Day Jungle Experience course you can expect everything from the 5 Day Course as well as:
Extensive BJT (adding in basic jungle navigation, water filtration, jungle sensory and primitive technology (shelter building)
White water rafting the pacquare
Full day hiking adventure to Kokoldi waterfall exploring indigenous territory with our friends that live there.
Visit to a family-run chocolate farm learning about the Bri Bri tribe culture, history and traditional cacao processing.
Time: 10 full days
What’s included: Accommodation, food and drinks. We can also provide machetes, hammocks and bashers. Please see kit list attached.
Itinerary
Over the 10-day experience you can expect:
Foundational Workshops: Start with the essentials of jungle living, from using machetes to the art of fire-making, camp and hammock setup. Then spend a night of wild camping beneath the rainforest canopy.
Introduction to Permaculture: Begin your journey into sustainable farming, understanding how nature's patterns can guide efficient, holistic agricultural practices.
Flora and Fauna Tours: Delve deep into the vibrant rainforest ecosystem. Spot the playful monkeys and tranquil sloths. Get a better understanding of the structure of the rainforest and all the fascinating wildlife that lives amongst it.
Culinary Adventures: Daily explorations with freshly made cacao. A journey into harvesting and foraging, focusing on cacao, vegetables, fruits and roots. Extend your expertise with a spotlight on mushrooms and medicinal plants. Learn food preservation arts like Kimchi and kombucha creations. Build a BBQ pit and learn clay baking.
River Kayaking - A local kayaking excursion on the Rio Punta Uva. Starting at the coast we paddle up stream on this calm and stunning river, spotting a variety of different local wildlife. Keeping an eye out for the sloths, iguanas, monkeys, turtles and much more. A fantastic way to travel and a stealthy way to get closer to the wildlife.
Cultural Insights: Bond with our friends at the chocolate farm and soak in the indigenous Bri Bri tribe's history and craftsmanship.
Crafting and Creating: Experience crafting with giant fruit shells, weaving with local vines and jungle jewellery making.
Optional Morning Yoga: Start with a serene session to sync with the rainforest's rhythms.
Open Fire Evening BBQs: Conclude your day beneath the canopy, enjoying farm-fresh dishes and bonding over tales of the day's adventures.
Wellness Interventions: Beyond daily yoga, indulge in curated workshops including chocolate face masks and rejuvenating sound baths.
Nature Conservation: Embark on a journey to Ara's conservation initiative and learn about the efforts to conserve the great green Macaw.
A typical day would look something like this:
7am - 8am: Breakfast
9am - 12: Workshops, activity or adventure
12-2pm: Lunch, chill time
2pm -5pm: Workshop, activity or adventure.
7pm - 8/9pm: Dinner
Kit list
Some things you’ll need to bring with you:
Towel
Head torch
Trainers/boots
Sandals/sliders
Long sleeve shirt/t-shirt
Light weight trousers
Biodegradable soaps/shower products
Mosquito repellent
The Experience
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PEOPLE: Connect, Learn, and Grow Together
Embarking on this journey, you'll be in the company of up to nine other spirited adventurers, all driven by a shared passion for nature and personal growth. It's an intimate group, allowing for genuine connections and unforgettable shared memories.
And guiding you through this transformative experience are our phenomenal course leaders. With their vast knowledge, warm personalities, and incredible stories, they're not just instructors but catalysts for change, ensuring every moment at the retreat is enriching and inspiring.
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WORKSHOPS: Crafting & Foraging
Jungle Essentials: From wielding machetes to mastering the art of fire-making.
Rainforest Harvest: Explore our bounty, gathering cacao, fruits, vegetables, and more for our culinary sessions.
Creative Hands: Immerse in crafting bowls from giant fruit shells, weaving with local vines, moulding clay pottery, and crafting jungle-inspired jewellery.
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FOOD & MEALS: Finca-to-Table Delights
Three nutritious meals daily, brimming with freshness and flavour.
Cacao drinks, invigorating smoothies, and memorable open-fire BBQ evenings.
Workshops on fermentation and preservation, where you'll delve into the art of making food like kimchi and kombucha.
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NATURE & WILDLIFE: Your Rainforest Doorstep
Discover the wonders of our finca – where vibrant flora meets curious fauna. Marvel at playful monkeys, gentle sloths, and a myriad of creatures in this lively symphony of life.
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ACCOMMODATION: Luxurious Minimalism
Nestled within nature, our thatch cabins strike the perfect balance between rustic charm and modern comfort. Relax, rejuvenate, and wake up to the gentle chorus of the rainforest.
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WELLNESS: Tune In, Zone Out
City life can be overwhelming. Here, we strip it back. With optional morning yoga, soul-soothing sound baths, and chocolate pampering, we'll help you refocus, reconnect, and really feel again.
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EXCLUSIVE TRIP: Ara
Embark on an exclusive journey to witness the efforts at Ara – a sanctuary committed to reviving the almost-extinct great green macaw. Witness conservation in action, up close and personal.
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LOCAL AREA: Pura Vida
Discover Puerto Viejo in all its glory, beautiful beaches with great surf, bustling local town and nightlife.
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UNDERSTANDING ECO: The art of permaculture
Learn about the holistic approach to agriculture that aligns with nature's rhythms, emphasising sustainability and harmony with the environment, ultimately fostering a healthier planet for future generations.
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CHILL TIME
Relax between workshops and activities. There will be plenty of time to enjoy the finca grounds, Taking it easy in the hammock district, frolicking around in the food forest, enjoying the many different viewing platforms or just cooling down in our one of a kind organic swimming pool.
Our small local Caribbean town Puerto Viejo has plenty of bars where you can grab a cold beer, meet new people or crack open a coconut by the ocean.
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ORGANIC POOL
This organic pool was built was built for both humans and nature alike. soft rainwater gently filtered by many different aquatic plants, oxygenating bubblers and a cleverly designed regeneration zone creates an ideal and natural environment for all to enjoy. Watch the birds feeding from above catching small insects on the surface or enjoy the playful fish, tadpoles and water life from underneath the surface. The ultimate way to cool down and watch nature thrive.
