The FLB community members own their own homes but also share resources, including over 150 acres of forests, year-round rivers with numerous waterfalls and community center buildings and facilities.

We practice low impact green building practices with a sustainable orientation.

 

An ecologically focused community overlooking the Pacific Ocean

We have twenty-six lots (11 still available) on 150 pristine acres (over 90 acres permanently preserved). FLB has shared community resources, including community center, and miles of trails. Two year round rivers with many falls on the property provide authentic water adventures.

Hundreds of fruit trees and bamboo groves have been planted to provide a food forest experience and a future sustainable building material source. 

No social orientations exists aside from doing right by the land and the local people. Our construction is self-funded and we own the entire property. We have no bank loans and we’re here for the long haul. This natural and scenic property is a legacy to our children.

Imagine being part of a private sanctuary – mountain views of the coastline, horses grazing, kids in hammocks, miles of hiking trails, waterfalls and swimming holes, and meals supplemented from the hundreds of fruit trees planted as a food forest in the living areas. 

“I think that the sustainability issue is the most important aspect of FLB. I practically have to pinch myself when I realize that my family is part of something this special.” Dave – Long Island
 

The vision of this unique community pictures a place where like-minded people can relax together, interact with the local community, and enjoy the natural beauty of an unspoiled and non-commercialized place.

The phrase "Pura Vida" (pure life) is a saying used everywhere in Costa Rica. It summarizes the philosophy of living peacefully in a calm, unflustered manner, appreciating a life surrounded by nature and family and friends.

This community is currently off-grid. This is remote Costa Rica. It is rugged, it is hard. It definitely isn't a resort. But it is a magical place.

60ft "Corral Falls" on one of our year round streams

Ben takes a break on our community center couch (mud floor, plaster walls and couch mixed with clay from the finca)

Howler monkey, photo taken next to our community center

Tent cabaña next to community center used for guests

North water falls on the property

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60ft "Corral Falls" on one of our year round streams

Overview of this Costa Rica nature-based residential community

 

One of our objectives as a community is to improve the land; to become curators of this beautiful property and help bring back the tropical dry forest in this area. Costa Rica is a beautiful country with strong environmental laws and with almost 25% of the country currently in park or preserve. However, it is also a slash and burn agricultural and ranching culture with the world's heaviest use of pesticides. One of the ranchers we purchased the property from squatted his land and made his living over the years by cutting down old growth trees. Today, the old trees are almost all gone. In the early years it would take him three days to drag a tree to Nicoya by oxen to sell, a trip we now make buy auto in 30 minutes. The roads and the transportation have accelerated this destruction and many of the forests have been replaced by corrosive teak farms. 

 

The photo above is a recent aerial view of a section of a rancher's finca just to our east. His house is shown on the top center and that is our easement road that goes through his property. The road on the bottom is considered a public road (all property in Costa Rica has to touch a public road to be sold). One generation ago, this was lush tropical forest, now it is all gone and it only supports a few cattle. Erosion spills into the head waters of the one of the larger rivers in the area that then become the Rio Frio in the valley of our property.

The other rancher used the land to graze brahma cattle for at least 40 years leaving pasture compacted and susceptible to erosion. Once the land was cleared and then used for cattle the annual tropical rains washed the minerals from the top soil. 

The property does have strong secondary forest along the rivers, but hunters from the outside frequented the land during the dry season because it is one of the few places in the region with two flowing rivers falling from the hills above us. Because the rivers join and then flatten in the middle of our property along with several other year around running streams, our property once was the   the location of a horrible but common practice of pouring poison in the fresh water to harvest river shrimp.

We wanted to change all of that by changing the land usage, help bring back the tropical dry forest and protect the watershed for generations to come.

Our mandate is simple: "Heal the land."

We are right near the source of two year round rivers. Rio Frio (“Cold River”) and Rio Naranjalito (Little Orange) flow through the property and their riverbeds follow the paths of ancient lava flows; forming picturesque waterfalls and authentic “swimming holes.” Ranging from 750 feet to 1,300 feet above sea level, the farm offers cool breezes and spectacular ocean and mountain views. The plentiful “quebradas” or springs provide fresh, unspoiled water.

“I wanted to be part of something good for the environment, provide an adventure for my son in an unspoiled natural place, and leave an environmental legacy for future generations.” Ray – Tampa

We enjoy an abundant wildlife community – Howler Monkeys visit us over locally grown morning coffee. Parrots, armadillos, coyotes, coatimundis, wild cats, peccories, river otters, iguanas, butterflies, numerous birds, and many other creatures will be respected as we politely become their neighbors.

The flora is plentiful – mango trees, water apples, guanavanos, matapalos, guanacastes, gourd trees, and numerous other exotic trees take up residence at the community. We have also planted over 700 fruit trees and large groves of giant bamboo (guadua) for use in future community construction projects.
 

Wild oil palms mango trees, water apples, guanavanos, matapalos, guanacastes, gourd trees, and numerous other exotic trees take up residence at the farm.

"We are so thrilled to be moving out of this concrete jungle into a Real jungle where we can be connected with the earth and our neighbors, living together in true community!" Susan - Colorado
 

Our own yoga and massage platform is planned above the falls.
 

A re-forestation project is also taking place on much of the land that were previously grazed by cattle.

“The level of environmental awareness, open-mindedness, and independent/self-reliant mindsets of the people made the decision to be part of this endeavor a no-brainer for me.” David – Greensboro, NC

 

Location of Finca Las Brisas

Finca Las Brisas is off the main road about 10 minutes north of Playa Samara, Costa Rica.

From the Liberia airport drive 90 minutes south through the town of Nicoya. Drive another 30 minutes out of Nicoya toward the beach town of Samara to Finca Las Brisas. 

See: http://www.samarabeach.com See also : Local area Google maps

Continental (Houston), American (Miami), US Airways (Charlotte) and Delta (Atlanta) offer non-stop flights to the Liberia airport. 

Most airlines, including JetBlue, fly into San Jose. It is a 5 hour drive from San Jose to Finca Las Brisas. With the new highway it is now about 3.5 hours during non-peak times traffic times.

Click on the button to download a detailed driving map to the farm and then on to Samara and Nosara.

Click on an item to read about:

“I had already fallen in love with the land and the sea, but then in the first week I was there a foal was born right in the main square in Samara, it was a beautiful moment and reflected with the unique natural state of the place and our aspirations to build a special community in a creative and authentic way.” Sally – London

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