The Finca Colibrí-or Hummingbird Farm-for decades has been a source of water for the community of Carít, an increasingly suburbanized area west of Santiago de Puriscal in the Central Valley of Costa Rica. In the 1990s the top three acres of Finca Colibrí were reforested to protect the watershed, and this land was transferred to the local water committee of the Carít Community Association. Besides the reforesting of this area, the corporation Agropecuaria Colibrí was instrumental in starting a community tree nursery and planting around 5,000 native trees in the community to protect water resources.
Since1989 Finca Colibrí has been utilized as a training center for international volunteer and adventure based learning programs. From 1994 on, high school groups have participated in the reforestation efforts and college interns have promoted sustainable development programs locally. Hernán, "Vito," and Mayela have raised their family at Finca Colibrí and supported the many projects over the past decade.
In February and July of 2000, two high school groups participated in constructing a trail through the reforested area of the watershed. The water committee improved the collection of water and completed the water storage tank. Vito and Mayela obtained financing to build their own home and have moved to their place at the entrance to the road leading to Finca Colibrí. The main road down to Carít is now entirely paved.
In 2001 the shareholders of Agropecuaria Colibrí sold the Finca Colibrí, but Colibrí Adventures will continue the homestay program in Carít and we will continue our work in the watershed. This part of the experience is always one of the highest rated and heaven forbid we tamper with a great thing. The 2001 Mt. Mansfield High School group from Vermont once again worked on the forest trail loop and helped us with our transition from Finca Colibrí to the Rancho Beija Flor in Buena Vista, Guanacaste--the new Colibrí Adventures base of operations.
We invite you to take a look at pictures of Finca Colibrí.
Check out more information about Colibrí Adventures, ICAS, Buena Vista/Rincon de la Vieja, and Costa Rica.