The pace of life and work has picked up rapidly at Finca Bellavista in the last two months with the drier weather and sunshine! So many of the changes are subtle…a new section of trail here, a zip line cable there, but all the improvements are adding up to make it a lot more comfortable here. A few of the zip-lines and platforms are up, functioning and fun! We also have two cabinas that are complete and ready for visitors. Both have porches that overlook Rio Bellavista, so falling asleep to the babbling sounds of the water is now a little more comfortable.

Roderick Romero (www.romerostudios.com) and a Treehouse Workshop crew comprised of Darryl MacDonald, Chris Haake and Bubba Smith are here working on the ‘Waterfall Tree House’. This dream team of builders is getting down and dirty (or, up and dirty?) and are making fast progress on Finca Bellavista’s first arboreal dwelling! Nestled at the base of one of Rio Bellavista’s stunning waterfalls and facing a sheer rock cliff, this will be one of the coolest houses in the world once it’s done! Standing on the platforms alone allows you a glimpse of rarely seen flowers and looking up into the crown of a tree from half-way up really makes you feel small.

Wildlife sightings have also been in full swing with dry season. A group of squirrel monkeys—estimated to be between 30 and 50 members in size—has been hanging around, and have been joined by a few white-faced capuchin monkeys on occasion. Several tamanduas and pizotes have made it a habit to hang out near the hiking trail to the Waterfall Tree House, along with one very noisy and ungraceful turkey. Toucans, trogons and flocks of snowy egrets have been frequently visiting the base area.

Several of our employees recently celebrated their one year anniversary of working here at Finca Bellavista…so in a style both very Costa Rican AND American, we threw a barbecue/pig roast. It was a great day for everyone to bring their families out and show them exactly what they’ve been up to everyday.