As treehomes emerge across the Finca Bellavista canopy, progress continues on planning, infrastructure, access and amenities to bring the world its first modern treehouse community! Though still in its infancy, the FBV community has experienced many positive changes in the past year and is continuously evolving. Excitement continues to build as the dream of creating an Ewok village is rapidly becoming a reality that people can now see, feel, and experience on their own.

For those that have never been to Finca Bellavista (or for those that haven’t visited since we broke down the tarps at base camp!), it’s hard to describe how much things have changed in the past year to make FBV a more comfortable place to be. It feels as though the finca is growing out of its awkward teenage years and is maturing into the beauty that we have all envisioned in our imaginations!

We started out 2009 putting the finishing touches on our superb new community center at the FBV base camp. With a spacious kitchen area and dining hall, a cozy barbecue and coffee nook, a bath house and an open-air rancho/lounge, the center has definitely become THE place to gather! Whether in the mornings over coffee, with a happy hour cocktail or an evening Scrabble session or movie, the center has quickly become a great place for people to kick off their shoes, relax with family and friends, and take in the ambiance and energy of the finca. Several cabinas grace the base camp as well, along with the majority of harvestable edibles in the Eden-esque gardens. A pedestrian bridge over Rio Bellavista, several new stone trails and pathways, and the majority of the River Route of the SkyTrail network have also been in use throughout 2009. The interior access road was extended and improved, and is now a pleasant walk through the woods as opposed to a steep, slippery, muddy luge! Perhaps the most pivotal changes for Finca Bellavista have been in recent months, as a handful of owners have completed their dream treehomes, and several others are moving forward with plans to build during 2010. Meandering on a trail in the rainforest and happening upon one of these treehomes for the first time is an experience beyond words. Matt and I are so excited that people can feel the finca energy, and have started to implement their own visions of treetop living while breathing life into the FBV community.

Three treehomes were recently completed at the finca and give great examples of the possibilities for those interested in exploring, buying, building and living here in our rainforest enclave. Treehouses are like snowflakes… no two are alike! All are unique places to experience ‘treetop Pura Vida” and have their own special perks and quirks to enjoy.

El Castillo Mastate is a sight to behold. The bedroom suite is an octagonal dwelling perched 90 feet off the forest floor in a giant Mastate tree. An 80-foot-long suspension bridge connects the lofty lair to a raised knoll on the forest floor, and a stilt-built structure that houses amenities like a full kitchen and dining area and a full bathroom. Hardwood bamboo floors, custom tile finishes and bright skylights bring comfort and a bit of convention to this home that is truly one of the architectural wonders of the world!

The Rainforest Bungalow is a cozy one-bedroom “jungalow” that is laid out similarly to a studio apartment. The beauty in this home lies in its simplicity and the delicate and inviting artistic touches of carved wood on the front veranda.

Casa del Mono is a fantastic one-bedroom, two-story treehome that captures the energy of the rainforest and brings it indoors with an open and inviting floor plan. The architectural centerpiece for this home is its full bathroom, which is built around a tree and features spectacular custom tile work. The views from the front porch give visitors a glimpse of how peaceful and lovely rainforest immersion can really be.

The community’s model home, Mis Ojos Miran la Catarata was finished in 2008 and has had a revolving door of guests in 2009. Mis Ojos is a two-level treehome perched in a trio of trees in the Rio Bellavista corridor. Open, arched entryways, a retractable staircase and an outdoor shower overlooking a 40-foot waterfall are just some of the special features of this treetop gem. A garden gazebo and hammock lounge were recently added to increase the chill factor of this home.

Seeing is believing, and if you want to explore options for your very own treehome and experience what treetop Pura Vida is all about, we encourage you to visit. We have overnight and long-term rentals for those interested in staying on site and exploring on their own. You can see pictures of our rentals on the website at www.fincabellavista.net/rentals.html with more rental options being added in the next month or so.

Though we’ve recently seen a lot of changes, the vibe and beauty of the finca remain indescribable. Only a select few will have the opportunity to live, work and play at Finca Bellavista in the future. Those interested in being a part of FBV can still get in on the ‘ground’ level and be among the first to own and build in this one-of-a-kind community, which is certainly like no other neighborhood in the world!

As Team FBV gears up for another busy dry season of planning and building the community’s infrastructure, we have six parcels remaining in our Phase II offering. Each of these approx. two-acre parcels is being offered at discounted, pre-infrastructure prices between $55,000 and $65,000. These interior parcels boast great access, stunning treescapes, and complete immersion in the flora and fauna of the rainforest. Each also offers a tremendous value for those interested in living or investing in the southern zone of Costa Rica. As further incentive, Matt and I are offering to pay the closing costs on parcels purchased by January 15, 2010 in an effort to raise capital and complete the community’s infrastructure. Please contact me at [email protected] for more information about becoming part of the FBV family. Be sure to spread the word to your friends or those that you think might be a good fit for the finca!

The FBV gardens are flourishing in the subtropical sun and rain, and every season brings a new selection of goodies to enjoy at the dinner table. On any given day our dishes can include farm-fresh yucca, wild potatoes, pejibayes, eggplants, palmito, radishes, mustard greens, spinach, cacao, wild squashes, mushrooms, papaya, hot peppers, bananas, plantains, star fruit, pineapple, lemons, limes, mandarin oranges, mamonchinos, cashew fruits, mangos, cilantro, oregano, basil, lemongrass, hibiscus, mint, mangosteen, cinnamon, almond, and avocado. (Of course, we supplement with goodies from the grocery store and our neighbors, where we are lucky enough to buy farm fresh eggs, chickens, and pigs.) Everything harvested is a little reminder of how blessed our climate and environment is to provide such bountiful options! The flowering plants of the rainforest bring us color year-round, and it has been amazing to watch the landscape’s seasonal changes and surprises unfold.

Finca Bellavista and Western State College of Colorado joined forces in 2009 to offer a specialized, one-of-a-kind “higher education” to some very lucky college students. Fifteen majors in the college’s Outdoor Leadership and Resort Management program lived at the finca during the Spring 2009 semester and earned 18 credits in courses ranging from Spanish and rainforest flora and fauna to SCUBA certification and surfing. While at FBV, students had access to learn with the finca’s dream team of contributors including botanist Gerardo Rivera, conservation biologists Dr. Jan Schipper and Jose Fernando Gonzalez Maya, and FBV general manager Owen Hyams. A new group of students will be at the finca during March and April 2010 with an expanded selection of courses, excursions, and memories to share. WSC professor Dr. Mark Gibson is taking strides to create a permanent home for the program at the finca with a vision to offer research and educational opportunities to other higher-ed institutions.

Finca Bellavista is a treehouse community situated on over 300 acres of primary and secondary rainforest in the South Pacific region of Costa Rica. Uniquely located by the serene Golfo Dulce and the biologically intense Osa Peninsula, the property boasts almost three miles of whitewater river frontage on the Piedras Blancas and Bellavista rivers. Because Finca Bellavista is a special and unique place, a host of community covenants have been created to maintain ecological balance within this idyllic landscape and guide development in an environmentally responsible fashion. Only low-impact stilt-built or arboreal dwellings can be constructed on parcels. Each structure must utilize a rainwater catch system or natural springs to provide water for dwellings while waste is treated with biodigestors. Since FBV is a non-motorized community, residents can choose whether the community’s network of ground trails or its zipline canopy of SkyTrails will deliver them to and from their treehomes. In keeping with the low-impact mindset, a hydroelectric power system, supplemented by solar photo-voltaic panels, will power the entire community. These requirements will not only help to preserve the integrity of the rainforest canopy and its inhabitants, but will also provide an unusual and adventurous lifestyle for human dwellers as well.

Log onto www.fincabellavista.net and enjoy our new photo galleries!