Bellavista

Finca Bellavista is a very special place to call home… therefore, we have a unique set of amenities to help meet the conventional and not-so-conventional wants and needs of those that live and visit here.

Though we are providing an experience for humans to dwell, interact, and grow within the treetop realm, we remain committed to being stewards of this land and our environment. Everything we do at Finca Bellavista is done with consciousness, caution and care. Finca Bellavista isn’t for everyone... if it were, there would be hundreds of communities like this in the world. For starters, Finca Bellavista is a pedestrian-access community. Primary means of accessing homes are via the community’s ground or Sky Trails. Energy needs here are and will be met through alternative resources, and all structures must be either arboreal or stilt-built in nature to allow terrestrial migrations through this critical wildlife migration corridor.

Though the finca is a bit more rustic and simple in nature than most people are used to, there are certain creature comforts to be found here. We believe there is beauty in simplicity. Simplicity also seems to allow people to fully enjoy the wonderful ambiance of what Mother Nature has provided here at Finca Bellavista.

Community Center

Nearly anyone can build a treehouse in the woods, become a hermit, and disappear forever...At Finca Bellavista, social interaction is an important component of our community. We are proud to offer a community center at our 'base camp' where people can gather for special or every day occasions. The community center includes a spacious dining area, barbecue and coffee lounge, and open-air rancho ,which are available for residents and visitors to use. (On occasion, we have movie nights in the rancho, or poker and game nights in the dining areas.) There is parking area, multiple garden areas, and a campfire ring. We are also in the process of building a river-fed, stone-lined pool for residents and overnight visitors to enjoy safer swimming during the rainy season.

Carbon-neutral, off-grid electricity

In keeping with our vision to live sustainably at Finca Bellavista, we have opted to utilize the natural resources present on site to provide our residents access to carbon-neutral electricity. This decision made sense as the thought of tying into the country’s national, monopolized grid (with its rolling brown- and black-outs) seemed reason enough to go with an alternatively sourced power system. However, after more research on the country’s traditional power generation and its underlying social and environmental impacts, alternative energy seemed to be the only way we would bring electricity to Finca Bellavista. We are proud to currently power our community by harnessing the energy of the sun, using a 1200-watt photovoltaic DC power system to operate FBV’s ‘base camp’ and community amenities. Our future energy needs will be met with a combination of solar and hydro assets, which we are in the process of manifesting.

Living within our means on alternative energy sources often means having to make lifestyle adjustments. Though many people are accustomed to using items like televisions, air conditioning, and hairdryers on a daily basis (or on a 24-hour basis), they aren’t necessities and actually take large amounts of electricity that alternative energy systems cannot provide.

Small and large adjustments must be made when considering a move towards using alternative energies and living off the grid. Very small things, such as using a traditional Costa Rican “coffee sock” to make a morning cup of Joe versus a pot of coffee in an electric coffeemaker, hanging laundry out to dry instead of using a dryer, and unplugging lamps, computers, and other appliances while not in use really make a difference in conserving energy, and are ‘laws of the land’ here at the finca.

SKY Trail Transportation Network

Construction began in 2007 on a network of zip lines and platforms throughout Finca Bellavista that allows residents and visitors a unique and adventurous view of life in the rainforest. Many areas of the Finca Bellavista community are accessed by these aerial trails and canopy platforms. This transportation system is for the exclusive use of residents and their guests and is NOT a commercial canopy tour. Eighty percent of life in the tropical rainforest resides in the upper level of the canopy and residents can enjoy this incredible realm of biodiversity with ease. SKY Trails not only allow residents of Finca Bellavista to have a fun and adventurous "commute" in and out of their rainforest homes, but also provide an exhilarating escape from the terrestrial realm and an amazing view of life in the rainforest. Imagine having a picnic lunch high above the jungle floor while surrounded by the natural glory of the birds, flowers, and other animals of the rainforest canopy.

This network of aerial trails has been designed with a primary focus on the transportation benefits, minimal ecological impacts and the aesthetic values of the surrounding environment. In addition to the great network of ground-level trails around the community, the zip lines provide an exciting and efficient means of accessing various parts of the unique preserve that is Finca Bellavista. Just think, no more boring, grid-locked commutes… only zippy ones!

Gardens

Felo, Adrian, and Miguel are the finca's master gardeners that have green thumbs and magic hands. They have creative ownership of and take care of Finca Bellavista’s bountiful grounds, gardens and trails. Their creations have transformed the community’s grounds into a peaceful and colorful Garden of Eden that people come from far and wide to enjoy and photograph. Many collections of heliconia, orchid, vine and other tropical flowers can be found in the numerous garden areas scattered throughout the finca.

For the majority of people, the novelty of having fresh fruit and colorful blooms year-round never wears off. Having access to farm-fresh produce year-round is another element of awe at Finca Bellavista. Much of the community’s garden areas are reclaimed pasture and have a variety of mature fruit and nut trees that are not only beautiful, but provide delicious additions to a daily diet. We have mamones, bananas, papayas, cacao, lemon, lime, orange, mango, cashew, almond, pejibayes, avocado, carambola and plantains to name a few of the trees. Some other fresh garden offerings include spinach, mustard greens, butter lettuce, celery, ginger, squash, chayote, naranjilla, yucca, tomatoes, papas de la montana, passion fruit, palmito, eggplant, mushrooms and numerous herbs (basil, oregano, lemongrass, mint, and rosemary among others) and a collection of pepper varieties. For a small fee, our gardeners can harvest and provide boxes of farm-fresh produce for owners and guests.

Learn more about our gardens and food production on our *Finca Fresh* link!

Communications

While we are off the beaten path and feel far removed from the rest of the modern world, the majority of parcels at the finca have 3G cellular service (the tower is in Piedras Blancas, which broadcasts up the Piedras Blancas river valley). For our base camp and current needs to run the Finca Bellavista office, we have installed a 3G antenna and amplifier system to amplify the existing 3G signal into a designated area. We now operate all of our communications equipment, including Internet and telephone, through this amplified 3G signal. Many parcels and treehomes within our community have a direct 3G signal, enabling treetop WIFI and cell service. For those that live at Finca Bellavista, telecommuting and chatting with friends and family abroad can be done from the comfort of a treehome!

Hiking Trails

Finca Bellavista is a pedestrian-accessed community. As such, your feet will get you most places that you want to go within the community. We have created a system of scenic ground trails and routes for owners and guests to access portions of the community, and to enjoy the ambiance of the rainforest. Those with a hankering to wander about the jungle will find that our trails are a great way to explore the terrestrial flora and fauna of the finca.

Property Management Services

A treehouse in the rainforest makes for a very unique home… and many people want to spend their precious vacation time at Finca Bellavista as well. With that in mind, many of our owners expressed interest in renting out their homes when they weren’t here to enjoy them. Therefore, we created a property management entity of Finca Bellavista to manage rentals for our owners to take care of things on this end while they are away. It’s becoming a great way to share the “quintessential Costa Rica experience” of Finca Bellavista with the rest of the world and share the treetop Pura Vida.

On-site Construction and Project Management Services

Finca Bellavista now has an in-house construction company that can manage and enact construction projects for our owners. Sourcing and purchasing materials (from lumber and lightbulbs to plumbing fixtures and native landscaping) for any type of construction in the Southern Zone can be challenging and time-consuming at best. We cut out the headaches and help our owners dream, create and implement their own ideas for treetop living. Click here for more exact information about building at Finca Bellavista.