Before I lay out the details of this amazing vacation spot I would like to give you the back-story of how The Farm of Life came into creation and how Finca de Vida and its proprietors came into my life.
I am just now returning from my third life changing stay at
Finca De Vida and it has been, by far, the best one yet. Coming back each year and seeing how the Farm
has grown has been an amazing experience in itself. Since I first visited, new structures and
amenities have been added, new healing modalities have been incorporated, and
the now matured farm has begun to produce more varieties of fresh, delicious
fruits and vegetables. It has grown into
a thriving health food, healing center, and nature retreat.
Brian and Jody Calvi
– Owners, Friends, Teachers, and Proprietors of Finca De Vida
Brian and Jody are extremely good friends of mine and I
consider them family. Their Stories are
amazing and it is part of how we met originally and how we reconnected and
became friends several years later.
Brian and Jody both healed chronic disease (fibromyalgia and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) and recovered completely
by changing their dietary habits, reconnecting with the earth, and adopting and
living a lifestyle that encompasses real nutrition (healthy food, water, air,
movement, relationships, etc.) that allowed them to heal and regain their
health. They are now vibrantly healthy
and have dedicated themselves to educating anyone struggling with heal issues
how to do the same.
My Story - The Short
Version
When I was a freshman in high school I became very sick. I
was diagnosed with Lymphoma and my parents were told I had 3-6 months to live
unless I started chemotherapy immediately.
Unaware of natural healing methods, and having no other options at that
time, I was thrown into conventional treatment.
In the attempt to poison cancer cells out of the body, chemotherapy is
administered intravenously; but, it has side effects that are often not even
worth the treatment.
As most of you may
already know, chemotherapy makes you very sick and severely compromises the
immune system. This made school difficult to
say the least. I probably missed a month
of school simply because I was in the hospital having tests done. During treatment I missed at least one day a
week plus any days where I was too sick from the drugs to even get out of bed. My teachers were very sympathetic and helpful
overall. My Spanish teacher and Honors Biology teacher actually came to my
house to tutor me and help me with science experiments and homework. My parents
and I were very grateful for this. I
worked hard to get my work done, but sometimes I was just too tired.
Funny enough, Brain Calvi (aka Coach Calvi) at the time, was
my Political Science teacher that semester freshman year of high school. He was just returning to health through his
own healing journey and recovering from fibromyalgia. Most people do not know true loss until they
lose their health. Some of the most
successful people in the world have said on their death beds that they would
give up all their money to have their health back. The bottom line, if you lose your health, you
lose everything. Brian, having been sick himself, understood my situation and
was by far one of the most loving, empathetic, and supportive teachers I
had. Sadly, he couldn’t say much to me
at the time (legally). He told me to eat
more fruits and vegetables and to reduce my stress (no one can argue against
that!). He told me to forget about my
homework and to sleep and get well. He
even made an attempt to talk to my mom about my diet and other aspects of
healing, putting him in a position to get fired. He took a leadership role over the other
teachers and played a huge role in me getting through school that year. My mother remembers him standing up in a
faculty meeting regarding my health issues and passionately stating, “We have
to do everything we can to get this kid well”. For this I was extremely grateful, because I
remembered what he said.
Many random thoughts arose during this new journey of mine. One day, while chatting with an old high school
friend, Brian came up in conversation. I
thought, “What the heck.” Everyone is on
Facebook now,”… so I decided to randomly search for him on Facebook simply to
thank him for his love, support, and wisdom as a teacher. I emailed him explaining who I was, and
thanked him for his kindness and for being an awesome teacher. We eventually met up one day at a small café
in Atlanta, Georgia, where we reconnected and became good friends. The rest is history.
Finca De Vida – The
Farm of Life
This being my third trip to Finca De Vida (two personal
trips and one as trip leader of a college ecotourism retreat) in itself should
tell you how I feel about this place. Brian
and Jody are two of the most loving people I know. You could easily exclude all local attractions,
hang with them at the Farm, laugh your ass off, and have an amazing time. Whether you are sick and wanting to get well
or simply in search of a relaxing vacation retreat, Finca de Vida is definitely
a place to look into.
The Farm has several different room options all of which are
listed on their website - Fincadevida.com. Prices vary based on the room you
are staying in and the meal plan option you choose. You can also choose to stay long or short
term, and come for a simple vacation or for long term and intensive health
coaching. Brian and Jody will help
accommodate you and match you with the best room for you and or your family or
retreat group.
There is an amazing variety of local attractions near the Farm
including horseback riding, waterfalls, the Farm itself, permaculture, foraging
and wild food tours, beaches, mountains, national parks, zip-lines, rock
climbing and rappelling, white water rafting, kayaking, and much more.
Only a few minutes’ drive/hike from the farm and you can
visit some of the most beautiful waterfalls you will ever see including
Diamante, Nauyaca, Peace falls, and some amazing waterfalls on the neighboring
farm Joya del Sol.
There are numerous beach options. Manuel Antonio is a beautiful “touristy” beach
(good for swimming and hanging out, no waves); Dominical is a surfing beach/town
with large waves and choppy water (good for surfing, body surfing, etc.). Also,
if you prefer, there are several more secluded beaches. Some contain caves that
you can explore during low tide.
Note – If you are buying souvenirs always bring cash and shop
around first, the stores are almost always more expensive than private street
or beach vendors. Cash is always
better.
Jody is a master tour planner and can help you set up any
tour that you may want to go on.
My current favorites include all of the waterfalls and
Manuel Antonio national park. The
waterfalls are very close, beautiful, fun, low-cost, and each one provides a unique
experience. The Peace Falls are a new
attraction; the tour is inexpensive, and has a natural waterslide through one
of the waterfalls. Manuel Antonio
National Park has a beautiful beach as well as a nature trail where you can see
various types of monkeys and other animals.
Zip-line tours are nearby as well, if that interests you.
The Farm itself has several beautiful room options, “cool
pools” built into the stream on the campus, a yoga platform with an amazing
view, a spa with massage table, a beautiful kitchen and common area with bamboo
furniture, an extensive library, hammocks, plenty of fresh food, and more. The valley also has a wide array of talent
including yoga instructors, massage therapists, salsa dance teachers, and more,
that you can connect with through Finca de Vida.
Meal plans and food
options
Meal plans can be purchased as part of the room fee, and
meals can be ordered if a chef is on campus during your stay. You will
typically let Brian and Jody know of your dietary preferences before arriving
so they can prepare for your stay. Finca
de Vida can accommodate nearly every dietary need, whether your preference is
raw or cooked food, paleo/pesco/ovo-vegetarian, vegetarian, vegan, or just plain
old fresh, healthy food. The food
options are primarily vegetarian and are limited to fish, eggs and dairy, due
to preference of most guests, availability, quality issues. But if you really want a steak or chicken, it
is easy enough to get at local restaurants.
The Farm has numerous edible and medicinal herbs, edible shrubs,
tropical fruit trees, and a greenhouse loaded with fresh vegetables.
Note-Make sure to try the cranberry hibiscus and the katuk; I
love that stuff!
Transportation to and
from the Farm
The drive from San Jose Airport to Finca de Vida is about 4
hours. The trip is well worth it. I usually fly into San Jose and travel
directly to the Farm. Jody can help you determine the most cost effective
option for your group. There are many
options depending on group size and budget.
The Musoc bus is actually very comfortable and only costs about 5
dollars each way (compared to a 170 dollar taxi ride).
When leaving the country I usually book a room in San Jose to make catching my flight a lot less stressful. Previously, I have stayed at the Hampton near the airport.
When leaving the country I usually book a room in San Jose to make catching my flight a lot less stressful. Previously, I have stayed at the Hampton near the airport.
Currently, I recommend Margerita’s house, and will continue to use her Bed and Breakfast for all my future travels to Costa Rica. (This trip was the first time I stayed at Margerhita’s). She is super nice, she speaks English and Spanish, and has 9 rooms (great for large groups; most rooms sleep multiple people). The food is included and the cook will cater to virtually any diet plan or preference. Margerita’s house is also extremely affordable; 25 dollars a night and includes food (compared to 100+ at the Hampton). A taxi station is located across the street and for 4 dollars you can get to the airport in 5-10 minutes.
Margeritas Guest House Website - http://margaritaguesthouse.blogspot.com/
Want to host your own
retreat?
Finca de Vida is a wonderful place to host retreats. I actually brought a group of college
students down two years ago for an ecotourism, hiking, and healthy living
experience that went extremely well. Contact Jody to set up a retreat for your
business, hiking club, etc., or whatever group you may be a part of.
Past retreats include Dr. Sam’s rawhabilitation.com (physical
therapy, nutrition, total wellness), Nature Bound Club (eco-tourism, hiking),
Yoga retreats, raw food retreats, other seminars and healthy living retreats, and typical
vacation groups.
I will definitely be returning to Finca de Vida. If you would like to know more about health
coaching and extended stays with Finca de Vida, would like to host a retreat,
or take a simple vacation, contact Brian and Jody and they can answer any
questions you may have.
Pura Vida!
U.S. Phone: 404.521.8152
Costa Rica Phone: 506.8893.7407
(From outside Costa Rica, dial 011 for international calls.)
Email: info@fincadevida.com
Facebook: Brian and Jody Calvi
Farm FB Page: Farm Of Life
Skype Contact: jodycalvi
Check out other reviews at TripAdvisor.com - HERE
1 comment:
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