Another update from one of the co-founders: " Once again, I must report that after my most recent six-week stint camping out on the Finca, I continue to be amazed by the natural wonder that is Finca Bellavista. During this trip I continued to be blown away by something new almost every day. From tapirs and peccaries, to monkeys and flocks of huge green parrots and scarlet macaws, to the amazing power of the rivers during a heavy rainstorm, Finca Bellavista continues to amaze the senses.

This most recent album of photos illustrates some of the highlights from this most recent trip, including progress on the first stilt-built house at the base area, as well as improvements to the road, trails, and parking areas at the base area. During this trip we planted dozens of new fruit trees and native ornamental grasses and flowers… It is amazing to see how quickly things grow in such a fertile environment. For example, the heliconias (Birds of Paradise flowers) and platanillos that we planted all around the base area in December were already 6 to 8 feet tall when we arrived in the middle of April after only 4 months of growth (I can’t wait to see how much things will grow during the rainy season over the next few months)!

Another segment of this photo album is dedicated to the 59 school children (ages 6 to 14) in the nearby village of Florida. When I arrived to FBV in April, I stopped in and asked the headmaster of the school to provide us with a “Top 5” list of necessities for the school as it is located in a rather impoverished area of the region and the children were lacking in many simple school-related necessities. Rather than a “Top 5” list, she gave me a 5 page list as I was driving by the school a few days later. Fortunately, the five page list was filled with mostly affordable items that most kids in the U.S would take for granted such as pencils, crayons, protractors, rulers, paper, notebooks, folders, dictionaries, etc.

When we arrived bearing gifts for the children, we were greeted by such honest gratitude and excitement from the children, it reminded us that our role in the community needs to be much more than just residents who live in the rainforest up the hill. After presenting the kids with the less “fun” school supply-related gifts, we brought out chess boards, a volleyball set, and soccer balls… When the soccer balls came out the kids went nuts and we had to accept their challenge to go outside and play a game. Needless to say, 2 hours later the old white guys were absolutely exhausted and the 8-10 year old boys were only getting warmed up. Regardless of pulled muscles, sore legs, and overworked lungs, we were reminded of the friendships formed on that soccer field every time we drove by the school or through the village as all the children in a 100-yard radius came running out waving to us as we drove by (and asking when we could have a rematch).

As a final note pertaining to the schoolchildren in Florida, if anyone reading this has any interest making a monetary contribution or any donations of school supplies, please contact us through the website and let us know. We will make sure that everything is coordinated and the children get the much needed supplies. Potential donors should know that any donations will be going to a great cause, and that even the smallest things that we take for granted here in the 1st World, can make a huge difference in lives of many in the 2nd World and the region surrounding Finca Bellavista.

Until the next update~ Pura vida!"