FAQ

Location & Travel

  • We are in the Coto Brus canton, with San Vito as the biggest town.  Our exact address and directions to us will be provided upon registration.

  • We are located in a rural area south of the biggest major city, San Jose.  Traveling by car can take about 6 hours, by bus about 8 hours, or by a small plane is a 1 hour flight and then a 1.5 hour drive.   There’s no good way to get to us that is fast.  The nearest international airport is SJO.  Depending on your budget and needs you may consider renting a car but do know that this can be very expensive, especially if you get the recommended 4x4 vehicle.  

    Driving to us is safe and beautiful.  There is a well paved and easy to navigate highway to travel on.  Mostly all the roadways in CR are just big enough for two lanes only so expect to pass or be passed or to be stuck behind slow trucks.  Watch out for the motorbikes as they drive pretty rogue and quick here.  The drivers in general may not observe the driving rules you are used to so be on extra alert. 

    In rainy weather there may be landslides, fallen trees, limited visibility, or floods.  This is why a sturdier 4x4 vehicle is advised.  The 4x4 is also useful for the dirt roads which is where the majority of residences are located.  You can get to our house with any car you want and this is generally good but do be mindful of the other conditions that may be challenging. 

    It is our advice to not drive at night unless absolutely necessary.  The roads are windy with not a lot of reflectors or lights.  There can be people and dogs on the roads.  Also when it rains at night this can be really hard to navigate because of limited visibility.  There are no shoulders and sometimes steep drop offs.  Plus CR goes to bed early (it gets quiet here around 7 pm) so trying to find civilian help may be hard.

    For group retreats we offer a round trip shuttle to and from SJO.  Full travel details and all of our recommendations will be provided to you upon registration.

  • No. Many guests arrive by bus or domestic flight and use local taxi transportation for the final portion of their journey. If you plan to rent a car, please contact us before arrival for the most current directions and road guidance.

  • Yes. The bus is a budget-friendly option and typically costs about $20 USD, with approximately eight hours of travel time. You will need to take a taxi from the San Vito bus station to Finca Mālama.

  • Yes. Guests may fly with SANSA from San José International Airport to Golfito, then arrange a taxi for the approximately 1.5-hour drive to Finca Mālama.

  • Please contact us directly after confirming your travel plans. While guests arrange their own bus tickets, domestic flights, and taxis, we are happy to share trusted local taxi contacts and help you fine-tune the final details of your arrival.

  • If you are arriving on a long international flight, we often recommend spending one night near SJO or in San José before traveling south. This gives you a more relaxed start to your retreat and makes morning bus or domestic-flight departures easier.

  • Once your transportation is booked, send us your arrival date, estimated arrival time in San Vito or Golfito, number of guests, and your planned transportation route. We will help you prepare for the final part of the journey.

  • We recommend staying at Villa Margarita in La Garita, which typically serves as the departure point for the group retreat shuttle. If the majority of guests are booked near SJO instead, the shuttle will depart from the airport. The exact pick-up location will be confirmed with ample lead time and discussed with you after booking.

    You can also stay at Holiday Inn Express or Hampton Inn.

  • There is a good waterfall hike (Ojo de Kamakiri), Wilson Botanical Garden, Agua Caliente, the feria on Saturdays, birdwatching with the San Vito Bird Club.  You can also hire a local tour guide for more hikes, in particular to Biolley.

  • No, because San Vito is too far away to walk to, and our neighborhood is purely residential.

  • We are 20 minutes from the town of San Vito.

  • 20 minutes via car.

Farm & Retreats

  • Compared to much of the country, San Vito has a more mild climate.  It never gets below 65 degrees F (18 C) or above 85 degrees F (29 C) but it is very humid so that often can make it feel more hot than it is.

    Dry season is from December to April.

    We have a generous rainy season and during such time it typically begins raining around noon and carries on for a few hours.  In our dry season it can be several days with no rain and it is very hot and sunny which is a good invitation to visit the river on our property for a swim.

    The rain can bring thunder and lightning.  The thunder is often strong enough to feel the rumble. The rain is mostly hard and rapid.

  • This is a partial list:

    -       Coffee
    -       Sugar
    -       Cacao
    -       Pineapples
    -       Cassava
    -       Sweet potatoes
    -       Arrowroot
    -       Chayote
    -       Roses
    -       Squash
    -       Corn
    -       Beans
    -       Herbs
    -       Vegetables
    -       Cinnamon
    -       Over 20 different types of fruit trees
    -       Bananas
    -       Plantains
    -       Curry leaves
    -       Avocados
    -       Citrus

  • We are in the mountains but also it is very tropical and jungle-like which brings the bugs and snakes.  This you should be aware of. 

    We recommend bringing a natural based bug repellant.  It is also helpful to wear a lightweight long sleeve shirt and pants while outside for longer periods.  Plenty of people do not do so and are fine, but in case you feel sensitive this may help.

    All of our cabins are screened or in the case of our A frame, we offer a mosquito net for the bed, as the room is not 100% screened in.

  • There have been a few snake sightings on the property of all kinds including the highly poisonous Terciopelo.  For the most part, you can assume you are safe, but it is good to be on alert and take precautions.  This includes using a flashlight to move around the property in the evening, not moving or disturbing large stick piles, being mindful when walking in tall grass (wear rubber boots), and to just be on the lookout as you walk about.

  • By car we are a 1.5 hour drive to Ojochal and 2 hours to Uvita.

  • Vegetarian/Pescatarian and gluten free are our standard meals. You can choose to add meat or vegan options for an additional cost. 

    The fish and meat are locally sourced and of high quality.  We seek meat sources that are hormone free and preferably from a local rancher we have a direct relationship with. 

    A good majority of the food we offer is from our farm.  We have grown the food and processed it ourselves.  This includes most of our flours, sugar, coffee, herbs, veggies, root veggies, starches, and fruits. 

    The other foods we use are either imported and sourced organically or are a high quality from Costa Rica.

    For more details, please see the blog post about our Gastronomy.

  • No.  You will not have access to a kitchen for cooking personal meals.

  • You should bring clothing for temperatures within the range of 65 to 85 degrees as well as your personal items of choice.  Here are some additional suggestions for consideration:

    • Waterproof shoes are a bonus. Regular shoes and Crocs/flip flops will suffice in most cases.

    • Long pants and long sleeve shirts (lightweight like 100% cotton) can come in handy.

    • Rain jacket is advised.

    • Headlamp or flashlight

    • An umbrella could be useful but not necessary, especially during dry season

    • Bug spray

    • Salve/medication/remedies for bug bites

    • Swimsuit for the river

    • Menstruation products (for some strange reason CR doesn’t sell tampons or moon cups, so if this is important to you make sure you bring a supply)

    • Reusable water bottle

  • Yes. Full wash and dry service is available for $10 per load, using our housemade natural detergent.

  • The Sol is excellent for doing yoga or other self-directed activities. Bring your mat and take advantage of this amazing space.

    This is a beautiful and great place to go for a walk that can also feel like a serene hike.  We have several walking options available:

    • On our property we have 2 trails that both lead you to the river.  The river is considered public but yet there are typically no people on the portions of the river that line our property.  Both trails are completely different river environments, and we invite you to try them both.

    • On the public road towards the creek you can walk to see a waterfall and the river.

    • In the opposite direction, you can stroll through our neighborhood and eventually end up where you may not see anyone for about a mile.  It's a splendid picturesque country walk mostly downhill, while the way back takes you on a steep incline, making for a perfect workout.

  • Most local cell phone carriers get service here.

  • Yes.  We have wifi in the dining room, all the lodging rooms (except the A Frame), and The Sol.  In order to minimize our access to EMFs, we only offer wifi from 5 am to 10 pm.

  • We have 3 pets: Tika (small dog), Sirius (big dog), and Wailer (cat).  Tika lives in the house with us, which includes the kitchen and dining room.  She is friendly and quite funny once you get to know her.  She is open to forming a relationship with you and spending time on your lap if you desire.  She is also okay with not being so embraced by you.  She is a very protective dog for us, and is always scanning our scene to ensure we are safe.  Upon your arrival she may bark but we do our best to keep that to a minimum.

    Sirius has his own room nearby, and doesn't come into the kitchen or house.  He is a very friendly dog that only has two things on his mind: fun and food.  He loves playing fetch and going for walks with you on the property.  He may bark at you at first, but it’s more because he wants to play with you than out of protection.

    Wailer is mostly an outdoor cat but he takes his meals and generous naps in the house.  He is not allowed on counters.

    Please don’t let the pets in your room, as they can create a habit for them that later guests might not like.

  • Finca Mālama is a healing environment built around presence. Being fully present is what allows this place to do its work, and substance use, even in moderation, can interfere with that. For this reason, our overall preference is no substance use during your stay. That said, we understand guests may wish to use substances during their time here, so we've outlined the parameters we're willing to allow below. All of this must be discussed with us before your arrival.

    • Alcohol
      We discourage alcohol use entirely and ask that it never be used to become intoxicated. If you choose to drink, it must be in moderation and disclosed to us in advance.

    • Smoking and Vaping
      No smoking or vaping of any kind is permitted within 100 feet of any structure on the property. We reserve the right to ask you to stop at any time if we find it disruptive to the environment or other guests.

    • Disclosure
      Any substance use during your stay, for any reason, must be disclosed to us beforehand so we know what to expect and can respond appropriately should your behavior or needs change.

    • Sourcing
      We do not provide or source substances for guests. If you plan to use any substance during your stay, you must bring or obtain it on your own.

    • No Soliciting
      Soliciting substances from our staff, neighbors, or the surrounding community is strictly prohibited. This applies without exception. Any guest found soliciting will be asked to leave immediately, with no refund.

  • Upon registration for a stay, a deposit of $500 is due. This is non-refundable. 

    Half of the remaining amount is due 60 days before the start date. The other half is due 30 days before the start date. 

    There is no refund for cancellation within 30 days of the start date. Prior to that, everything except the deposit can have a one-time transfer to a different date or person. In other words, with over one month lead time, a participant can change their date (assuming we have space available) or have another person take their place, but the $500 deposit is always committed to the original person and date.

  • Mālama is a Hawaiian word which we understand to mean: to take care of, tend, attend, care for, preserve, and protect.  We are giving it our best effort everyday to take care of the land we steward, be mindful about what we send out into the waterways, take care of the insects and animals we share this environment with, and take care of ourselves and one another.  We learn new ways daily in which we can improve upon our choices of yesterday.

    Finca is a word used often in Latin America to describe a farm or an estate.