Finca Ganadito

Finca Ganadito is an ecological community and social enterprise that aims to create a sustainable living space and venue for retreats, rentals and service learning. At the heart of the community is an agro-ecological farm that uses regenerative agriculture to produce farm-to-table food, improve soil quality and increase biodiversity.

The project is located in Punta Ganadito - a hidden secret corner of Drake Bay, off-the-beaten-track, with a stellar sunset beach, and surrounded by primary forest reserves, mangroves, sea turtle nesting beaches and waterfalls. The tourist town, Agujitas, is an hour's walk away along the beach or 20 minutes by car, and volunteers get plenty of opportunities to go there. On your free days you can explore round the surrounding foothills and beaches, plus there are local rural tours available and tours to the world-famous Corcovado National Park and the Caño Island marine reserve.

Volunteer accommodation is based in the brand-new, purpose-built ‘Roundhouse’ with 12 bunk beds, hammocks and a bathroom block with compost toilets and showers. Other common areas include the ‘Longhouse’ which has an open-plan kitchen-diner, cinema screen and Bluetooth sound system. There are several deck spaces for yoga and there is high-speed Starlink internet available throughout the property. When there are larger groups, rental houses inside the Finca are used for volunteer accommodation too, which are very luxurious.

Even though Drake Bay is a touristic area, we live and work with Ticos (Rebe and Rob are both Costa Rican nationals) and so volunteers will be immersed in a genuine rural Costa Rican lifestyle. The work activities we have developed for volunteers are focused on learning, science, sustainability and regenerative tourism. You will create regenerative farming inputs and soil, protect nature, generate data and increase biodiversity, so by participating in the program you will leave a positive footprint behind as a genuine ecotourist.

Rebe is a yoga instructor and vegan chef, so you can expect some delicious, plant-based meals with farm-to-table ingredients from the finca. Rob has managed several conservation projects and learnt all of his construction skills and crafts while living here in the Osa Peninsula. Finca Ganadito was born from Rob's vision of creating a model sustainable community, and he will coordinate your work program. Between them, Rebe and Rob have traveled to over 50 countries and worked around the world in many different sectors, so they are also a great source of knowledge and advice for backpackers. They are both bilingual and love to share the experience of living on the edge of the jungle, while also eating healthy food and engaging in wholesome and productive activities that promote positive change in the world.