Finca Amanecer

This is no ordinary hostel, please read before booking. We are closed for remodelling until Dec 26, 2010. Enjoy an eco-lodge adventure on 7 acres of 'Eden', 10 miles EAST of Quepos. An authentic back country adventure, Finca Amanecer, is an organic spice FARM offering funky, clean and comfortable accommodations in a Rustic Tico home.

Finca Amanecer is an intimate (5 rooms) Eco-Lodge experience with breakfast at hostel prices. We offer clean comfortable rooms in a rustic farm house, on seven acres, east of Quepos. Live, learn and grow with us as we transition into a sustainable Eco-Village. Here you can experience sustainable tourism and discover the real Costa Rica in the typical Tico pueblo of Londres. Londres is pretty laid back, safe and quiet with the exception of Karaoke at Robin Hood on the weekends. This is ideal for single travelers, "a place to meet life long friends". (Mark Easter)

Finca Amanecer is located 10 miles EAST of Quepos in Londres. We are not on the ocean, but situated on 7.5 acres of tropical gardens in the Rio Naranjo watershed, in a tropical rain forest zone with 500 feet of creek frontage. The house is located 150 meters south of the London Bridge over Rio Naranjo; and 150 meters before you reach the center of Londres.

Relax and refresh your soul in our "swimming hole" or retreat from the world on our 28,000 square meter “Garden of Eden” where you'll be surrounded by the sounds, birds, and plants of the Rio Naranjo ecosystem: see Scarlet Macaws and toucans, be seduced by the fragrance of Ylang Ylang, El Lirio and fall asleep to the profusion of Night Blooming Jasmine. You'll delight in the beauty of gardens filled with tropical gingers and heliconias and our ever popular “ducha del ambiente” is a 4 headed garden shower. Relax by the creek, run the rapids May through November. Float or fly fish in Rio Naranjo from Christmas to Easter, or just hang out in a hammock and watch the Fiery-billed Aracari toucans, tanagers and humming birds or Green Iguanas in the trees, there's plenty to enjoy at Finca Amanecer.

The hostel is in the original farm house from the early days of the Finca, plus an “in-law” house, a large community patio, and a Rancho out back for camping. The 4 private double bedrooms and the dorm provide a rustic but clean and comfortable lodging experience in keeping with life in the tropics. Rates begin at $15 per person including breakfast, and taxes. You are invited to “pick your own breakfast” and beautiful tropical flowers for your room. Vegetarian and Vegan meals available at the hostel through prior arrangements.

The building and grounds provide examples of sustainable design: solar clothes dryer; a “Tico semi-automatic washer”, recycled and native materials; and the rooms open to the gardens. Most walls are only one sided for a good reason; less places for nests! Here you’ll enjoy the Bali or Hawaiian feel, there is no need for glass in the windows, all rooms have fans and you’ll enjoy the sound of the rain on the tin roofs. We are remodeling with giant bamboo from the finca. It’s all about leaving a smaller footprint on Mother Earth.

Across the street is Rio Naranjo with world class III/IV rafting May-Nov, and it becomes a lazy river Christmas to Easter. It is 40 minutes to the world famous Manuel Antonio National Park and adventure tours abound. I can even provide a map for a free hike to Bridal Veil Falls. There are 3 or 4 restaurants in Londres and 2 Mini-supers, all within walking distance.

Finca Amanecer is perfect for those students desiring Spanish immersion, as Londres is a small pueblo where 95% of the population speaks only Spanish. You might even want to volunteer and spend the afternoon at the High School offering them an opportunity o practice their conversational English. It's also a great place to meet other adventurous travelers and plan the rest of your stay. Your hostess Elena Ross v co-authored "Discovering Costa Rica with GPS" in 1996, and she will help with all your travel plans.

Accommodation Information

The room configurations are as follows:

En suite doubles: Poetry Room has a double bed, one garden view window and sky lights providing very sunny mornings, and shares a semi-private, tiled hot shower with the Sunset Room. Sunset has an orthopedic Queen bed, sink and 2 garden view windows providing sunny mornings.

The Hummingbird room has a double bed with a mosquito net, a sink and an east facing garden view windows with sunny mornings.

The Vanilla has a soft Queen bed with mosquito net, the best ceiling fan and it has one window opening to the patio.

Cacao DORM has two sets of bunk beds, made with teak from the farm, a private entrance and one window to the patio.

Hummingbird, Vanilla and Cacao share the community bathroom with a tiled, hot shower, 2 toilets and the “Periwinkle Pila”, a large tiled utility sink. There is also a small salon with a computer, books and games. WiFi is generally available.

Location Information

Sleep to the sounds of the Rio Naranjo 10 miles EAST of Quepos, in Londres, the Tico version of Mayberry RFD. We are on Rio Naranjo, we are NOT on the beach.

We are located on a RURAL DIRT ROAD with scenery so fantastic, local ATV tours charge $95 to experience this, "dirt road from hell, on a road to no where", adventure. You can appreciate the same scenic beauty during the 40 minute bus ride for only a dollar. (My Daddy always said, "Sell the sizzle") "You can relax and enjoy 7 acres listening to the sounds of nature while those tourists return to noisy overcrowded hotels in smelly Quepos". (quote from Charles McKenna, he stayed here while biking from the Arctic Circle to Tierra del Fuego) Enjoy nature's own aromatherapy; nightly Ylang Ylang known as the Chanel #5 tree; and if you are lucky you'll be intoxicated by the fragrance of Night Blooming Jasmine. Que Rico! This is still my favorite experience.

The Londres Bus leaves from the Quepos Mercado. RECOMMENDED: The 2:30 SABALO leaves from the CURB (not a queue) direct to Londres, costs a dollar. It is the quickest bus (40 minutes) arriving before dark. The remaining buses are about 60 cents (300 colones) to LONDRES: 07:00*; 09:00, Noon; (up to 75 minutes). Then 2:30; 4:00 pm and 6:00pm* (generally 40 minutes) (*except Sundays). NO service on Good Friday. Or a 20-25 minute taxi ride, around $15.00. Simply tell the driver Finca Amanecer--(Londres ABAJO) 150 meters despues el Puente. We are 150 meters after the London Bridge the first gate on the right. Airport pick-up from the Quepos airport is available around $15.00- $20.00 per trip.

Driving from Quepos: At PALI, go east, about 4 km, towards the Airport, do NOT turn on to the newly paved highway. Go straight on the dirt road, 10.5 Km. thru Naranjito, keep right at the fork in the road, cross the London Bridge and go 150 meters, we are the first entrance on the right. Look for the holiday lights at night and our sign during the day.

For buses around the country, visit: http://www.visitcostarica.com/ict/paginas/LEYES/pdf/ItinerarioBuses_en.pdf