Join us on this mission
VOLUNTEER program
Finca la Quimera offers an educational volunteer program since 2020 in which our volunteers work for about 5 hours a day, from Monday to Friday in tasks such as:
-Improvement and maintenance of the Vegetable Garden area and all its elements. (mainly fixing beds and steps, weeding, mulching, fertilizing, spraying liquid mountain microorganisms...).
-Preparing growing beds.
-Feeding the chickens, cleaning and maintaining the chicken coop.
-Cleaning the volunteer's cabin and common areas ... (fixing details, cleaning)
-Giving maintenance to trails. (Opening new trails, cleaning, weeding, putting signs up).
-Improving the common areas and kitchen (decorating, organizing, varnishing...etc)
-Organizing and tidying the workshop, and cleaning the tools.
-Preparing meals, cooking and cleaning the common kitchen .
The farm receives up to 8 volunteers at a time for a minimmum of 2 weeks. ( We ideally prefer 3 weeks or longer)
Volunteers can be of any age and gender, over 18, with the compromise of being caring and respectful to all other people and beings around the farm. They are expected to maintain a healthy attitude towards the farm, neighbors and the environment. Please let us know of any health condition in advance.
Details
What is included
All main meals on our working days are included (Monday-Friday).The food provided by the farm is non dairy vegetarian with a wide variety of local fruits, vegetables, legumes, eggs from our own chickens or from other local farmers, etc.
On weekends, volunteers provide their own meals. They can still use any food and ingredients still in the kitchen and the common kitchen facilities to organize and cook their meals as they prefer. They can also harvest any fruit or vegetables that may be available around our garden.
Local support
In any case, and to support local businesses, it is recommended to have one of your weekend meals at one of the closest local businesses.
The closest one to the farm: "Soda el Almendro" is open every day, about 600 m from us, and is run by our neighbor Alicia.
In Jicotea town (+- 1.5 km) there are also two small restaurants.
Accommodation/Cabins
The volunteer accommodation is a newly built wooden cabin, independent from the common area, with a front room and two rooms that volunteers share. The cabin has an outside dry toilet and outside shower overlooking the forest. There is also a front space outside with a couch, chairs, and hammocks. The beds are new and comfortable and sheets and blankets are provided.
The farm also counts with a large wooden cabin in the forest for rent for groups, families or volunteers who may want a more private experience. The cabin is a 85m2 space consisting in a big livingroom, two rooms, a 35m2 terrace with views of the mountains and outdoor showers and dry toilets with a beautiful design integrated into nature. It has space for up to 7 people.
What a farm day is like
A normal day carries on as follows:
We all meet in the common area at 6:30 a.m. to prepare breakfast and organize our day.
Then we start our daily tasks at 8 am. We usually do most of the farm work in the early morning, with a 30-minute break for coffee/tea around 11 am , after that,
we continue with some gardening tasks while other volunteers start preparing lunch for the group.
Lunch takes place around 1:00pm after which we clean and tidy the kitchen together.
Afternoons are free, as well as weekends ;-)
Prices
• Farm Volunteer Program- ideally min 3-4 weeks (min 2 weeks)
Accomodation at the Volunteer Shared Cabin:
-¢65.000 colones(+-118$) per week at the volunteers shared cabin.
-¢55.000 colones / week (+-100$) for stays 3 weeks or longer .
* Reduced amounts for volunteers staying 15 days or longer comming from volunteer platforms, (Worldpakers, Volunteer World, Helpex.)
Volunteers Accomodation at Private Cabin
Cabaña Oropéndola:
• ₡100.000 (+-180$) per week Single person.
• ₡160.000 (+-290$) per week for 2 people.
₡75.000 (+-$136) per week extra person.
*Check accomodations page.
-Reservation of the Private cabin upon payment of 20% of your stay.
-Amounts to be paid in local coin.
Tips and other practical information
Location
Closest store
Resources
Situated at an altitude of 800m, we enjoy a privileged climate, usually warm during the day and cool at night. Therefore, we recommend warm clothes for some cool mornings or to sleep in the hummid cold nights.
The farm is located 600m from the main road down a fairly steep slope, this road to the farm is accesible for 4x4 vehicles only.
Resources
Closest store
Resources
The farm is a compleatly Off Grid site. We have no general electricity.
However we have very recently managed to install a small solar panel system at the hosts house that has allowed us to have some electricity access and internet services at limited times during the day. We offer this service in a common space for thouse interested.
Our closest neighbor up the road, the owner of Soda el Almendro, offers laundry and also weekly electricity and wifi services .
Closest store
Closest store
Cleaning and waste management
There is a very small store in Jicotea town for basic items, snacks, phone charging... etc. A couple of towns away there is also a small supermarket. The last place with a bank, pharmacy and bigger supermarkets or shops is the town of La Suiza, about 12 km away, (more or less 30 min by bus).
If there is anything you need for your stay or weekends it is recommended to get them before you arrive.
Cleaning and waste management
Cleaning and waste management
Cleaning and waste management
Laundy service is offered at the closest business. However If you prefer to wash your clothes by hand on the farm, please bring and use an environmentally friendly soap as at the farm there is no sewerage system, all our water comes from a spring on the property and all our gray waters are managed at the farm.
We separate our waste to take it to a recycling station in the city of Turrialba.
Since there is no garbage service in the whole area, I have to ask visitors to take care of what they bring in and to take back anything that can't be separated for recycling in the farm, as we can't manage these things nearby.
Living in nature
Cleaning and waste management
Living in nature
As a precautionary measure, I ask all volunteers coming to the farm to have medical insurance with coverage in Costa Rica.
I would like to remind our visitors that we live in a natural environment where it is common to find insects, reptiles, small mammals... etc in every corner, be respectful and cautious at the same time. We live in harmony with them and our pets. (We have 2 happy dogs that are always around us ).
All our cabins and the common kitchen are non-smoking areas. If you want to smoke, please do it outside and make sure that everyone is fine with that ;-)
Transportation/Tours and Activities
Transportation options
We offer private direct transportation from San José or airport area to the farm or vice-versa for 85.000 colones, +-150$ (+-3-4h drive Depending on traffic conditions )
We also offer private transportation from Turrialba city to the farm or vice versa for 20.000 colones, +-50min drive.
What to do/Places to visit
Currently, we offer transportation to many of the following places and also the option to arrange official tours through the farm.
- Hikes around the active volcanoes of Irazú or Turrialba
- Coffee tours at an Local´s certified organic coffee farm.
- Whitewater rafting on the Pacuare or Reventazón rivers.
- Guayabo National Monument.
- Hiking in Tapantí National Park.
- Hikes and visits to some of the indigenous Cabécar Towns.
- Visits to Turrialba´s waterfalls.
- Visit a local "trapiche" (a traditional sugar processing farm).
- Visit to the Caribbean beaches. (+ 3.5 hours)
Plan your visit to rest and revitalize in nature while getting hands on the project !
Contact us for more info!
Discover Turrialba´s beautiful mountains, home to some Cabécar indigenous communities and the Pacuare River Valley. Gift yourself a true life experience by working and learnning about Permaculture with us , indulging with the beauty that sorrounds us as our guests or taking a tour at the Farm.
Nature is waiting for you!
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