“A wonderful deep encounter with jungle life and community. There is a richness and aliveness few other places offer.” – Donna
“I had an amazing time at Finca Bellavista. The volunteer experience is humbling, awakening and rich.” -Lance
“It was truly amazing and I have dreams about it, almost every night. I am in the process of figuring myself and life out and what I want, but being at the finca made me not so worried. While I was there I knew I was excatly where I was meant to be.” – Carolyn
“Through volunteering, I found a side of myself that had never appeared before. I learned how to communicate with others with more than just words, and felt a renewed sense of adventure grow inside” -Lance
“Learning that I have the inner strength to accomplish anything I want.” – Donna
“My highlight was being so surrounded by nature. It made my heart so happy and I felt so peaceful at all times. I’ve always been a girly girl but I also have always enjoyed outdoors activities. I thought adjusting to cold showers and no electricity, no hair or makeup done would be a bit weird or uncomfortable…. But I totally loved it. The best part of this experience is how raw and exposed you are, being outside of your comfort zone.” – Carolyn
“The most difficult aspect of volunteering is letting go of the everyday world. Instead of alarm clocks, you will awake to birds and insects. You connect with nature and the environment more than your facebook friends. Life is real at Finca Bellavista” -Lance
“The stifling heat and “no see ums” who enjoyed my flesh nightly. However, the stifling heat taught me a lesson in appreciating the rain and wind. I now enjoy whatever type of wind comes to visit.” – Donna
“Walk-outs. Bringing the guests to their jungle homes was a highlight especially when it rained or during off-hours because the jungle was engaged too. There is nothing better than immersing the guests in their first experience in the jungle. It is an opportunity for them to really respect and appreciate the vastness of the jungle.” -Donna
“The garden was my favorite thing. Half the time I would be lost in my music singing to my plants and that alone is fun to me. But the other half the time I liked the silence of the garden, and the stillness. And the breeze. And watching the plants grow. It was like since I gave them water and love, when they would grow I felt like I did that. I made something come alive… And that was so rewarding.” -Carolyn
“I loved engaging with guests at mealtime. Finca Bellavista is a meeting point for travelers all over the globe. You never know who you will meet next.” – Lance
“Silk liner insert for sleeping bag to use alone as some kind of covering. Didn’t use once. Didn’t need sheets either as they were available in the bunkhouse. Oh, and don’t need to bring laundry detergent.” – Donna
“I definitely didn’t need to bring three suitcases of clothes. But besides that, I didn’t use my mosquito net because there already was one.” -Carolyn
“I do wish I had brought sandals or water shoes, a rain jacket, and a speaker for music in the bunk house. I thought my phone and GoPro would be fine but I wish I had brought my digital camera.” – Carolyn
“Hydrate myself more, love my feet more by not wearing the boots at base camp, elevating them, and giving them more breaks. My feet were often swollen, a condition a few of us had.” – Donna
“I wish I would have been harder on myself to sit down one full hour a day and actually practice my Spanish by reading and writing and maybe making flash cards or having full conversations with the workers. I didn’t try hard enough to further my Spanish, I just let myself get by with what I knew. I also wish I would have watched the girls cook more because that was something I really wanted to learn.” – Carolyn
“If you volunteer at Finca Bellavista, you will have the opportunity to live an amazing, humbling and diverse lifestyle. You will awake feelings inside yourself that may not reveal in everyday life. The chance to live in the jungle is simply life-changing.” -Lance
“Set aside expectations of what you think your volunteer experience is going to be so that you come open-minded and ready to immerse yourself in the experience completely. Divide your time when possible between alone time and being with other volunteers. There are lessons and rewards to receive from both experiences. Also check in how you feel mentally, emotionally, and physically throughout the day. Our bodies acclimate differently and to have an optimal experience is knowing when to do more or less (when possible).” -Donna
“I would tell the other volunteers just dive into it, try to learn and see and do as much as possible and don’t be shy about it. Make the most out of your time by having hobbies and projects to keep your mind and body moving. Help out as much as you can. Also always check your bed for bugs. And bring clothes that dry fast. And bring a hammock because they are awesome.” -Carolyn
my highlight was being so surrounded by nature. It made my heart so happy and I felt so peaceful at all times. It was so cool to feel like even though there is a whole world going on, I was just in my own world there, just the jungle and my friends not worried about the outside world. Carefree and blissful so often.
I’ve always been a girly girl but I also have always enjoyed outdoors activities. I just thought adjusting to cold showers and no electricity, no hair or makeup done would be a bit weird or uncomfortable…. But I totally loved it. I came to the finca with a huge fear of even seeing a cochoaroche. and now… I could care less if one was right next to me!!! The best part of this experience is how raw and exposed you are, being outside of your comfort zone. Your total experience is organic in the fact that it’s not made up and it’s not fake. It’s how u take it all in and make it. I’m not u