Eco Vida Pacuare

Instagram : @eco_vida_pacuare Eco Vida Pacuare is a small community project located on the beautiful Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. We are next to the mouth of the famous Rio Pacuare, halfway between Limón and Tortuguero and we are lucky enough to have the jungle, the sea and the river right on our doorstep. Although it is an idyllic place, it is very remote with very few opportunities for work and therefore it is a place which needs a helping hand from those who are willing to give it - which is where we come in! The project has been officially running for less than a year but the ideas and principles of our founders have been implemented in this area for over 30 years! Of course, everyone has to start somewhere, and the project is now at a point where we can start to see some real impact and change by bringing in volunteers from around the world. Our previous volunteers have been integral to the work we do here in Pacuare and share our values for creating an ecologically-conscious way of living whilst making a difference in our small community. There is unlimited opportunity for social development in this area, as well as for the project itself, and we are excited to continue our adventure with like-minded people who share the same vision; that starting small can lead to big things! Our main project aims are to: * look after the local people - by providing opportunities to work directly with us, purchasing local goods and services to help provide income, and providing volunteers to help with other projects such as building repair and land maintenance * look after the local environment - by implementing ecologically conscious ways of living, maintaining clean and safe spaces within the local area, and preserving the environment for future generations * look after the local animals - by cleaning the local beaches and rivers, informing and educating people about how to protect the local animal population, and improving the natural ecosystem of the area. Social Impact Eco Vida Pacuare is committed to improving the lives of the people living in our local community, preserving and maintaining the natural environment and looking after the local wildlife which is what makes this area so special. Over the past 8 years, we have been by running a small coconut fibre production business which has provided work opportunities and has generated income to pay for local goods and services from the people living in our area.  We have been expanding our social impact in the community by bringing in volunteers who have helped to; maintain the grounds of the local school, rebuild and repair neighbours houses after bad weather, clean the beaches of waste which has been sorted and recycled, assist neighbouring animal conservation projects in the area, build and maintain common areas for public use such as a football/volleyball field, plant fruit trees and other native plants that contribute to the well-being of the local animals and the natural environment. We are also aiming to develop a ecologically sustainable project site which so far includes the use of solar panels to provide electricity, conscious water usage from the groundwater supply, and using recycled/reclaimed or building materials to construct our buildings. 

Si te gusta la naturaleza, los animales, el mar, la playa, lagunas y ríos, deseas desconectarte del mundo ?... este es el lugar perfecto para compartir y ayudar a nuestra Madre Tierra. Realmente es un lugar mágico alejado de la civilización. Para llegar a él, necesitas pasar por el parque Braulio carrillo (uno de los parques nacionales más grandes de Costa Rica), tomar un taxibote por aproximadamente 30 minutos disfrutando de los canales, muchísima naturaleza y escenas panorámicas que nunca olvidaras. Nuestro proyecto comenzó hace algunos años. Soy un ex alumno de la escuela de Pacuare, mitad herediano mitad limonense. Mi familia tuvo algunos terrenos en este pequeño pueblo por muchos años, como un lugar para vacacionar, con el pasar de los años cada visita me hizo enamorarme mas del lugar, tuve la oportunidad de visitar varios países de Europa y América latina compartiendo y aprendiendo de cada lugar. Al regresar a Costa Rica, comencé con varios proyectos tratando de mejorar mi vida personal, dando mi granito de arena a nuestra madre tierra, finalmente comenzamos con una pequeña fabrica familiar de abono orgánico de cascara de coco que producimos y vendemos a empresas comprometidas con el medio ambiente, Ever Green, Bio Eco y algunos agricultores de Cartago, zona agrícola de nuestro país. Pacuare es un pueblo pequeño , alejado de la ciudad y comodidades, donde sus habitantes sobreviven de la venta del coco y la pesca artesanal. El rio Pacuare es el encargado de mantenernos trabajando todo el año, nace en los cerros de Talamanca con una longitud de 133 km ,recogiendo en sus aguas desechos naturales, basura y una increíble cantidad de plástico. Nos comprometimos a limpiar nuestra playa y comunidad con el objetivo de conseguir una bandera ecológica. Al mantener la playa limpia ayudamos a las tortugas marinas (laud, verde, carey). Al reforestar ayudamos a nuestros monos cara blanca, congos y un sin fin de animales. Aprenderemos mucho juntos ya que toda experiencia en la vida es un aprendizaje que compartiremos y una aventura que nunca olvidaremos. Nuestro equipo esta feliz de compartir nuestro trabajo, amistad y cariño,asi como aprender de los viajeros .Los esperamos pronto

Top Host
This host receives a lot of worldpackers and has a high average rating.

Reviews

5.0
26 reviews26

Staff & Host

5.0

Hours & Tasks

4.5

Hostel

5.0

Learning & Fun

5.0

Germany

5

Muchas gracias a Roberto y todas las personas en Pacuare 🌴🥥🦥🐒 I had a really good time there - helping the local community for example in & around the school, cleaning the beach, helping Freddy with his coconuts and taking care of our own place to keep it running in the mornings. The afternoons were really relaxed - reading in a hammock on the beach, going for a swim and playing voleyball. We ate a lot of good food and sometimes went out for a drink at Macha's at night. One highlight was going on patrol at night and seeing three leatherback turtles - huge & beautiful animals 🐢 Gracias!!

3 days ago


Roberto alonso replied

Muchísimas gracias por tu colaboración y ayuda, esperamos que hayas disfrutado tú estadía aquí, hayas disfrutado la naturaleza, biodiversidad, y te haya gustado la experiencia en Pacuare, muchas gracias por todo, Pura Vida.✌🏻

United States

5

Beautiful experience. Very rural so you can see lots of beautiful wildlife, crabs and monkeys are chillin everywhere. Hosts were very sincere and kind people. Work can be tough if the weather sucks but you get to eat the locals fruits, coconut water was really good. Local people were very chill and helpful, never felt shady at all. Boat ride to and from the island were gorgeous views, but very expensive so plan on staying your entire trip on the island where there's few to no stores. Really helpful experience as someone who struggles with emotional intelligence.

6 days ago

Spain

5

El lugar es maravilloso nunca he estado en un sitio igual. Me encanto conocer a todos los voluntarios y formar una pequeña familia con todos ellos. Al igual que con los anfitriones. Me llevo un pedacito de cada persona que conocí allí en mi corazón para siempre.

22 days ago

Chile

5

Pacuare es un lugar maravilloso y Eco Vida te entrega la oportunidad de poder aprovecharlo. Vi más flora y fauna que en cualquier otro lugar de Costa Rica, y pude disfrutar de una playa maravillosa no tan concurrida. En cuanto al proyecto, Roberto y Steven nos recibieron muy bien y nos hicieron sentir en casa. Las instalaciones no están completamente terminadas, pero no afectó la experiencia en el voluntariado. Me quedé cuatro semanas y encuentro que fue un timing acertado.

25 days ago

Chile

5

I had a great time at Ecovida Pacuare. Roberto and Steven (the cook) were really nice and welcoming, as well as the other volunteers. You will se more wildlife here than in any national park! Pacuare is beautiful. The working hours are faire, only 4 hours per day and on weekend you don't work. Roberto will always be up to show you more of the Pacuare island and the wildlife. 100% recommend it.

about 1 month ago


Perfect for you if you're looking for

Contact with nature

Rural

Contact with animals

Spiritual

Beach

Wilderness