Desarrollo Biodiverso

After several noisy, busy days in cali, we spent time at this stunning spot about an hour from the city. Nature is right outside your cabaña, and the sleeping area is private. At night you can see the colorful stars from your cozy bed. There’s plenty to do during the day: explore the jungle, play soccer, relax at the cabaña, eat well, or take lovely walks. We also had a great time with Robert, Maricela and the Volunteers. Robert speaks english and does his best to help with whatever you need. He has an interesting project/foundation too, where friendly volunteers help around the house and build some ecologically cabañas.

Getting to the beautiful finca from Cali was easy in August/ September 2018, since the Jeep dropped me right at the entrance. I spent a week there, mostly helping develop the finca toward full self-sufficiency. I worked on a second cabin, dug swales on the steep hill to make farming terraces, leveled a spot for camping/ tent, cleared unwanted weeds from some areas, and helped around the house. I learned a lot about permaculture, which I found really interesting. I also joined an ecotour to a beautiful waterfall in a nearby national park, a spiritual session/ chakra alignment at the finca, and the local community market. That monthly market is part of the BDF project, encouraging people from the mountain area to make and sell their own handcrafted/ artisanal products. It’s a great project in a beautiful landscape, with plenty to learn and hands-on farmwork to get involved in.

The food is delicious and balanced, and there’s something new to learn each day. It’s a peaceful place where you can learn how permaculture can be an alternative way to help the environment.

Robert was hospitable and shared some great stories. We also appreciated his work protecting the environment and supporting community projects. It’s an authentic place with an incredible view, and we had an excellent experience.