Martine... I've been trying to write a blurb for you for two weeks. I can't find the words. I made a list instead.
Here is what I miss about my StepOut Experience: - Falling asleep to the lull of the ocean - Waking up to the flutter of a hummingbird feeding footsteps away from my bed - Every meal from the garden that I LIVE in - NO fluorescent lights, grey cubicles, or buzzing blackberries - Hiking to a waterfall on Day 1, then to a Bigger waterfall on Day 2, and RAPPELLING down a BIGGER waterfall on Day 3 - Monkeys watching me during my yoga practice - A green volcano birthday cake - No walls - New friends - Dancing under a Disco ball lit by a flashlight
Step-out Experience was the best week of my life. Hands down. I had so much fun and felt healthier than ever before. Living in the rain forest for a week is the ultimate cleanse for both the body and soul. Laying in bed at night, hearing only the sounds of the jungle, then waking up in the morning with the sunrise is as beneficial as 1000 spa days. The salt air makes your skin glow. All stress goes out the window--even though there are no windows, only open-air cabanas (not to worry, mosquito nets do their job well). I'm pretty sure I never stopped smiling the whole time! Well, except when my friend slapped my sunburn, which was my own fault for getting in the first place.
Our guides Martine and Chris are like Park Rangers meet Ultimate Adventurers meet Spiritual Advisors. Throw in the fact that they are both hilarious, and you have yourself the most incredible guides OF ALL TIME. It seems like it would be difficult going from living in New York City to the middle of the jungle with no electricity or contact to the outside world, but it was surprisingly easy. I was used to this new, more natural way of living within 24 hours. Humans were not meant to sit behind a desk staring at a screen for 8 hours a day, we were meant to be outside, living with wildlife, not just taking from it. I realize it is impossible for everyone to quit their jobs and live in the jungle, but Step-out taught us that living sustainably is possible, and it is important to be conscious of the environment.
Oh, and I can't leave out that we totally partied at night, Chris & Martine are some rockin' bartenders/dance partners. When every day is full of beautiful hikes and beach time during the day, and jungle parties at night, what more could you ask for? Nothing. That's what.
We had an adventurous 2nd week at Samara and Malpais, but nothing to compare with the fascinating week at Finca Exotica. We enjoyed ourselves tremendously. I regaled my coffee group with tales of our activities, meals and sightings of squirrel monkeys, macaws and sloth, etc.
I hope your 2nd week with the ladies went well, and that your future groups are as compatible a mix. We went to the ZOO AVE in Alajuela on our last day and got some close-up shots of birds and animals we had glimpsed elsewhere, as well as some I had missed in Guatemala. Nowhere was as beautiful as your part of the Osa Peninsula.
I'm glad you encouraged us to speak with your staff as it served as welcome introduction to CR approach to life. We continued to meet friendly, helpful, relaxed citizens. Our last taxi driver from Casa Roland, when he learned where we had visited, said, "There, you have been to the three most beautiful spots in Costa Rica!" ( There must be a school to train these guys in how to deal with tourists.)
Thank you for the time you took to ensure our comfort and well-being. We had a glorious time.
Love to you both and a special thanks to Marcus and Gabriella.
We are home safe and sound but a bit (a lot ) sad to be away from you all and the Finca. We can't say enough about how you made this an unbelievable trip for us. Every day was an adventure and we have so many memories that we will cherish. But it was you two made the trip so worthwhile. Your warmth and enthusiasm made us all feel special and cared for- from the beginning emails with all the questions right through to our last hours in Puerto Jimenez. We did so much and yet also relaxed and had some very special family moments- even if they did involve some yelling in the dark. We have lots of stories to share but mostly it is a feeling that can't really be put into words. To be in such a beautiful place with all the sights and sounds - animals and stars -how lucky are we that we got to be there. Our kids will take all that we experienced and who knows where it will lead them. It doesn't take long to get immersed in the world of technology and television but we know that we can live well without them and enjoy life even more!
StepOut Experience is a wonderful concept made exceptional by the two of you. So thank you so much and we look forward to seeing you in Toronto. You really are invited to stay with us any time- it would be our pleasure!
The other day while I was lying in a hammock and forced to look skyward, I noticed a bit of commotion up above the canopy. There seemed to be an amazing amount of bird traffic.
A group of Scarlet Macaws were making the rounds from one fruiting jungle tree to the next. They always fly in two's, sometimes more, as they mate for life and seem to enjoy nattering at each other all the time. If we can picture the skies above Finca Exotica as a neighbourhood, the macaws would be your noisy-always-complaining but yet colourful neighbours. They are definitely loved for their looks and not for their ability to wake everyone up with their squabbling. If you listen long enough you can almost convince yourself that they are actually gossiping to each other about some trivial community hearsay.
Frigatebirds are always way up high. They like to move with the air currents and often look down right lazy. Just floating around looking down on the neighbourhood with an almost snobby attitude. Big wings, small bodies. They are the neighbours who inherited a beautiful house on the hill that overlooks the community. And they would like everyone to know just how special they are. Think Paris Hilton.
Pelicans are a strange group. Sometimes you see them on their own. But mostly they fly in these large groups, often surfing the waves or flying just above the coconut trees, while maintaining that v-shape formation. And they always seem to be going somewhere, always passing by like they have no time to talk. I consider them as the local police force in a small town where no laws are broken. You see them mostly in the early morning and late afternoon, as if they are doing the rounds. And they are really quite quiet and confident, often freaking me out when I am surfing.
Toucans are the devious ones in the community. They are not to be trusted. Yes they look beautiful, but sound eerie, almost unnatural, and they like to eat other defenseless birds. They are the neighbours who have the expensive house down the road, always dress well, but yet, don't seem to work hard. They may be related to those financial guys on Wall St.
Mealy Parrot are beautiful, like to fly high in the sky, make little noises, but don't get involved with anything in the community. They would be the ones who rent expensive, never buy cheap, are friendly with small talk, but you never really get to know. Yuppies!
Laughing Falcon is often heard but sometimes not seen till it is too late. They like to soar or sit or watch. Always watching. Watching watching watching. But doing very little. They would be the politicians, the ones you vote in because they look like they should know something. But once in office... well they watch, and laugh. And the community, still convince they know something, gives them the respect that they probably don't deserve.
The Turkey Vulture is our trash man. He is always picking up after others. One day a cow died along the road back to town. Two days later it was gone. And I am sure the vultures must have got help, because it was all gone. Unlike the trash in Toronto these days. And the Vultures like all dead stuff. Today, from my hammock, I could see them sitting in a group on the dead branch of an old tree. But they were making me a little nervous when they looked back at me. I swear they were smiling.
This neighbourhood of the birds on the OSA is incredible. I have only touched on the birds I saw in that moment from my perch in the hammock. Supposedly, the rare Harpy Eagle was seen on the OSA last week. And the other day we had this Bare-throated Tiger-heron sitting on the bed in our tent. This bird stands about 2 feet tall and has been seen guarding the gardens of Finca Exotica. It probably was just looking for a place to weather the rain. He wasn't too happy when I convinced him to step outside. Where are those darn Pelicans when you need them!
Pura Vida StepOut Experience at Finca Exotica www.stepoutexperience.com www.fincaexotica.com
Imagine with me, you're lying in a hammock on the beach, you feel the soft sand running through your fingers, you look up to see a pair of scarlet macaws flying through the blue cloudless sky, you smell the fresh clean air with the scent of newly bloomed flowers and you can hear the waves rolling in and crashing down. Now you peel your yummy, sweet banana and take a bite...you bring it to your mouth for another bite, but a monkey swoops down and takes it! Honourable judges, teachers, fellow students and guests today I will be talking about a place where all your senses come alive, Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is a beautiful place and last summer I had the privilege to visit it. Let me tell you about my travel to get there. My mom, brother, dad and I started off our journey on a big plane, and when we got to San Jose we switched over to a small plane, it was small and only seated six people. At first I thought, there is no way I am getting on that plane, but I had to. After it took off it wasn't that bad, it was actually fun. When we landed in a town called Puerto Jimenez, about one hour later we switched again to an open jeep. We sat in the back under a canopy for about two hours, while it drove us on a dirt road through the rainforest and rivers to our destination, a jungle eco-lodge.
When we got to the eco-lodge we just sat back and admired how beautiful it was. It was nestled in pure rainforest overlooking the warm Pacific Ocean. It's truly where the rainforest meets the ocean. I learned all about the eco part of the lodge, environmentally friendly is what comes to mind. The lodge was solar powered with a limited impact on nature's playground. There's a quote, "take only pictures and leave only footprints."
The lodge is on the Osa Peninsula which national geographic calls "the most biologically intense place on earth."
I went with Stepout Experience, which happens to be my uncles company. Stepout really allows you to open your eyes, remove yourself from everyday life and experience new things in this exotic adventure.
When I was in Costa Rica I attended a kids eco camp with kids from all over the world. We would go off to camp in the morning and meet up with our parents at lunch. At camp we did all kinds of activities, we went to a farm up the road called Finca Exotica. At Finca they grow all sorts of cool fruits, plants and animals. We also went to help built the turtle hatchery for the endangered sea turtles. We even got a see a sea turtle lay its eggs. Boogie boarding was also something we did quite regularly. I learned a lot from the other kids at camp and the leader. I even learned some Spanish & Dutch!
I have many memories to last a lifetime, but I can only share a few. One very interesting experience was when I went to an animal sanctuary. I got to see monkeys, sloths, and many other animals that had been mistreated, but were being nursed back to health and re-introduced into the wild. Another exciting experience was when I went on a hike into Corcovado National Park. When I entered, I remember looking all around me and seeing green, lush rainforest. On my hike, I saw monkeys and many other plants and animals that lived in this habitat. Corcovado has more plant and animal life than in North and Central America combined.
I had an amazing trip and learned so much in Costa Rica. I wish I could have stayed longer.
Can you imagine now that you are lying in a hammock on the beach and all your senses are coming alive.
Finca Exotica: An Off-the-Grid Garden of Delights on the Osa Peninsula
By Dorothy MacKinnon Special to The Tico Times | editorial@ticotimes.net
Finca Exotica is one garden paradise that lives up to the promise of its name. At the very end of the bumpy road from Puerto Jimenez to Carate on southwestern Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula, this combination organic farm, botanical garden and eco-lodge is notable not only for its focus on sustainable living, but also for the delightful contrast between its remote setting and its sophisticated hospitality.
A quintessentially tropical cabin at Finca Exotic.
The finca, on about 90 hectares, is the creation of Markus Wehrmeister, a German architect turned caterer turned organic gardener, who had a quasi-Utopian vision seven years ago of transforming a worn-out subsistence farm into a model of organic farming, sustainable living and hospitality and natural beauty.
Wehrmeister sums up the guiding principle behind his vision with this aphorism: "In China, they say, 'If you want to be happy for a day, kill a pig and share it with friends. If you want to be happy for a year, get married. If you want to be happy for a lifetime, plant a garden.'"
And plant a garden he did. Over the last seven years, aided by employees and volunteers, Wehrmeister has planted more than 125 species of tropical fruits, a thousand trees, including more than a dozen different species of palms, 15 species of bananas and plantains, seven species of bamboo and countless flowering ornamentals and edible plants.
But Wehrmeister didn't stop at plants. With the goal of being as self-sufficient as possible, he also built a duck house, a henhouse and a pig enclosure. An architect, Wehrmeister couldn't help but infuse even these farmyard structures with elegant design elements. The realities of jungle farming made some adjustments necessary, however. During a heavy rain period last year, a hungry ocelot broke into the poultry houses, ate the ducks and killed most of the chicks and hens. The pig survived with just a chicharron bitten off one flank. Now each of the livestock enclosures is totally enclosed and, Wehrmeister hopes, ocelot-proof.
The blue Pacific is steps away.
A tour of the organic farm and gorgeous garden includes tastes of edible plants along the way. Wehrmeister introduced me to katuk, a spicy salad green reminiscent of spinach. Just rip the dark green leaves off the stem and pop them into your mouth. Another tasty leaf comes from the limon criollo tree - a handful will wake up your taste buds in the morning. Along with the garden tour, the main activities here are boogie boarding and beachcombing on Playa Carate and hiking into Corcovado National Park, just a 45-minute beach walk away.
The lodging here is as exotic as the garden and just as carefully designed. Five quintessentially tropical cabins are built of bamboo, thatch and unobtrusive screening, affording privacy while remaining as open to the garden as possible. The feeling is more tiki than tico : Each cabin looks as though it belongs on a South Seas island, a feeling reinforced by the steady sound of the surf, just steps away. Bathrooms have elegant ceramic sinks, flush toilets and an open window to the garden. Showers are in separate bamboo and cane enclosures in private gardens. Stunning flower arrangements, beautiful batik fabrics and woven-palm hangings add a touch of sophistication. They're the handiwork of Costa Rican artist, potter and teacher Gabriela Madriz, who makes her home here with Wehrmeister.
For the more adventurous - and budget-minded - six platform tents are scattered around two garden areas, sharing open-to-the-sky showers and bathrooms. These are not your standard camping tents. Wehrmeister's innovative design uses translucent nylon that lets in lots of light, with interestingly shaped, zippered windows screened with aphid-proof netting to allow for maximum air flow and privacy.
With his eye for aesthetics, Wehrmeister set his tents on light, portable bamboo frames, topped with thatch roofs. Bamboo decks and entries pebbled with washed-up beach stones complete the idyllic, castaway-island look. Inside, though, these thatched huts have comfortable queen-size or single mattresses, draped in fresh linens.
Staying true to his Chinese aphorism, Wehrmeister also practices what he preaches when it comes to food. The first time I dropped by, a visiting chef from the U.S. state of Wisconsin had just butchered and cooked up the farm pig. I joined other guests in the garden to feast on tender, barbecued pork ribs.
My next, longer visit was a culinary extravaganza. The first night, guests gathered in Wehrmeister and Madriz's handsome house, perched high atop what Wehrmeister calls "Edible Hill," with 360-degree views of ocean and coastline. Designed and built by Wehrmeister, the wooden house is built on horizontal planes reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles Rennie Mackintosh, with built-in cabinetry and cushioned seating.
Wehrmeister and Madriz worked in the open kitchen to produce a truly exotic meal, starting with appetizers of fresh tuna sashimi and seared tuna chunks, followed by red snapper cooked in a spicy Indian paste, accompanied by a medley of spinach and kale braised in a sake, sesame oil and mirin sauce, atop jasmine rice. Dessert was a spicy fruit compote of banana, pineapple and caramelized carambola (star fruit). All the raw ingredients were grown on the finca, except for the fish, courtesy of a local fisherman.
The next night's dinner was down in the garden, a cooperative effort by Madriz, Wehrmeister and his brother Wieland, a chef visiting from Germany, as well as U.S. volunteer Amory Tarr, an experienced organic farmer. The meal was proof that organic doesn't mean boring.
We started with a hot and sour Mexican soup, a favorite of Wehrmeister, who was born in Mexico and lived on a farm there until he was 11. Next came a savory coconut curry chicken padang, flavored with lemongrass, turmeric and ginger, topped with tender curry-plant leaves. Every dinner features a truly tropical salad concocted by Madriz and served on a huge wooden platter decorated with flowers. This night, the salad included colorful chunks of watermelon, avocado, tomato and carrot atop a bed of cabbage and crispy katuk leaves, dressed in a balsamic and honey vinaigrette. Dessert was caramelized carambola and bananas in red wine and coconut milk.
Breakfasts here include excellent coffee, fresh farm eggs, home-baked raisin bread, pancakes, gallo pinto, yogurt-and-fruit smoothies and, of course, fresh fruit. Even the picnic lunch we took on a day hike into Corcovado was out of the ordinary, with chunks of spicy tuna and sauteed onions wedged between grilled slices of dense homemade bread.
Wehrmeister's ultimate dream for Finca Exotica is to create not only a model of sustainable living, but also an educational environment for both locals and visitors, offering seminars on bridge building and organic farming, for example, as well as English lessons. The finca's reception area has a wide-ranging Spanish-language library and a huge pool table, which has been a real draw for locals, helping to turn Finca Exotica into Carate's de facto community center.
The key concept, Wehrmeister says, is to provide a place where people can expand their horizons. For tourists, that can be as simple as taking time to listen to the surf, soak up the natural beauty, sleep well and eat exotically.
I realized today that I didn't tell anyone about my trip to the treehouse community. It is located on the other side of the Golfe of Dulce, just north of Golfito. I am telling you the location as this was our first... challenge. To cut through the timeline, we ended up convincing this dollar-driven taxi driver to venture into the unknown and drive us to the location. All went well till we turned off the so-called highway. How should I describe this situation... old 4-wheel drive, uncertain driver, oblivious passenger(us), and a mountain of mud. Half way up we bailed. Luckily met up with the property caretaker and he drove us the rest of the way. More red mud.
The couple who own the lodge are young confident Americans. After a short talk and a showcase of some of our work, we were inspired to take a ride. They felt this would be the best way for us to see the tree houses deep in the forest. And now here is the tricky part. I am not usually prone to lying but when two women, who are freely putting on their gear, ask if you have ever gone zip-lining , you have to automatically say yes. I mean it's the law of the jungle. So I watched them, and I mean watched them, and just did the same. At this point it did not seem important to tell them of my complete inexperience.
The view from the top of a giant-jungle-tree overlooking the rainforest is quite the sight. And there you have one small, or so it felt, cable going out over this immense rainforest. The last time Martine went zip-lining, she ran into a spider monkey having a great time swinging up and over the cable. Anyway, off the girls went, just like that. The leaning out over and letting go wasn't the hardest part. It is remembering not to put your hand on the cable in front of the metal wheel zipping you out over and slightly down through the jungle. Also if any of you have seen the movie 'Cliffhanger' where the girl falls, well that is the image going through my head all the way across.
There where 8 of these... challenges. But the best was saved for last. And you know how I knew this, because the owner Erica told me this last one still scares her. This is the point where I wanted to break down and tell both Martine and Erica I have never ever zip-lined in my life and I don't want to die. Yes I know, over-exaggerating. Not really.
This last one went over an open river valley with this raging rocky water below and a cliff along it's side. No soft land in a jungle bed of vegetation. This is how I tricked myself so far. But across this Costa Rican Grand Canyon was the treehouse. You zipped right into it.
I just thought how cool... don't look down.. and remember, chris, you had a good life.
I recently read a quote that seems to describes the fundamental nature of this place, "When there is not much money to be made, no one goes rushing around for it".
Martine and I have been back on the OSA for 4 months. Over the last couple of years our company, StepOut Experience, has immersed itself into the local culture. At first we felt that the involvement in the Sea Turtle Volunteer program would be the extent of our cultural connection to this area. Yet today, it is much more.
Sitting on the front deck of the beach house at Finca Exotic Rainforest Lodge, we have the rare privilege of watching the OSA walk by. Local people here walk to work. They are in no hurry and seem lost in the morning ambiance. Where they are going we do not always know, but they never fail to wave. They always smile.
You know how you can stand next to someone in the subway and feel their stress. Well here you feel a sense of ease, a quiet comfort from the locals of knowing who they are, and how they see their lives. Don’t get me wrong, they strive for more, but they do not see money as the main motivator. What defines this culture is its commitment to family and community, a commitment that does not exist to the same extent in North America. Would you support your local hardware store or drive 20 km’s to Walmart to get the same thing, just that much cheaper?
Our goal is to look beyond what most tourist destinations want you to see, their cultural Disney World, and to offer our guests an authentic experience by bursting the tourist bubble and revealing the true culture of the area.
We, at StepOut Experience, will continue to look for ways to give back to the communities in which we visit. To add our energy to theirs and to get a chance to experience a life, where family, friends, and relationships are the true assets.
To our entire StepOut Experience family who have felt the magic of the Osa, and to those who have fallen in love with other rainforests on our planet, we have something special to tell you...
What's So Special You Ask?
Combine a StepOut experience with the bonus of joining our documentary team as we gain special access to the Rainforest Aid Music Festival June 19-21st on the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. Celebrate the lungs of our planet with music and organic food - enjoy three magical days in the cool shade of the rainforest with Costa Rica's best rock, blues, and reggae bands.
New Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSoRH-w4BkA
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In case you're not so much into the music scene, try one of our other eco-experiences.
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