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punta mona
property
description: The farm was originally part of the village of Punta Mona
and had a number of home sites and cleared areas. These cleared areas have become vast exotic fruit orchards mixed with a plethora of other tropical food crops. The property has two creeks running through it and has primary and secondary wet tropical rainforest throughout it.
Our structures include one large main house (2 large bunk rooms accommodating 16 people and a comfortable private bedroom with a double bed), a large dining room located on the ground floor of the main house, industrial sized and equipped kitchen, shower facility (3 showers with tiled walls and floors, mosaics and hot water), bathroom facilities (3 separate cubicles each with flushing toilet), a large yoga center with thatched roof and beautiful hardwood floors, a newly built house for interns and volunteers (accommodates up to 20 people) supply and storage facility and 3 small cabinas scattered around the volunteer residence.
Surrounded by primary rainforest and fronted by
the pristine, coconut fringed Caribbean Sea, Punta Mona is an ideal
retreat for student travelers and groups wishing to connect to the land,
its resources, and its people.
Punta Mona is accessible by hiking a long an incredible forested path or traveling by boat along the
jungle clad coast. The farm has over 150 varieties of tropical fruits,
spices and medicinals, in addition to other tropical goodies. The buildings are constructed entirely with fallen local trees, all energy
is provided by solar panels, and methane gas is produced from the septic
system to fuel our kitchen.
Punta Mona aspires to be an example of sustainable living and a model for which others can learn the benefits of living in accordance with the principles of nature.
The History of Punta Mona
The Afro- Caribbean people first settled the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica
in the mid 19th Century and lived in small farming and fishing coastal
villages. Punta Mona existed as a typical coastal village with nearly 40 Afro-Caribbean families until the early1970's. At that time, most of the families moved to neighboring
towns in search of work. By the early 1980's just one resident remained in Punta Mona- a fisherman named Blas Martinez, better known as Padi.
In 1995 Stephen Brooks began working with North American high school
students in Costa Rica. In planning the first program, he searched for a remote beach that would offer the students a diverse experience
with nature. In November he was brought to Punta Mona and introduced to
and wise Afro-Caribbean elder by the name of Padi. While harvesting pigeonpeas in a garden next to a small wooden house, Stephen met Padi for
the first time. Stephen felt an instant connection to Padi that led him to
frequently camp in Padi's front-yard for the years to come. In 1997 he
arranged to purchase the land from the landowner adjacent to Padi in an
effort to develop the property as an example of sustainable living and
organic agriculture.
About the Punta Mona Center Land
Punta Mona is located about 5 km south of the town of Manzanillo on the
Southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica. The farm is 12.8 hectares(30.72 acres) and runs horizontally in front of the Caribbean Sea
with virtually no elevation change. The farm was originally part of thev
illage of Punta Mona (see History above) and had a number of homesites and cleared areas. These cleared areas have become vast
exotic fruit orchards mixed with a plethora of other tropical food crops.
The property has two creeks running through it and has primary and
secondary wet tropical rainforest throughout it. Our structures include
one large main house, outdoor shower and bathroom facilities, a bunkhouse, a yoga center, a newly built volunteer space, and 3
small cabinas scattered around the main house.
Punta Mona is a growing community of farmers, teachers and activists.
We always have many ecological projects running throughout Costa Rica and
the World. We are constantly seeking out new people to help with these
projects. Its a win-win for everyone. You have the skills and passion
that we need and you get to trade your work for a stay at one of the most beautiful places on earth.
location:
Directions to Punta Mona from San Jose
Pass through customs at the airport. Before you exit the building, look to your left. There is a small counter from
the bank where you can change some money. The exchange rate is about 470
colones for the dollar. It would probably be good to change around $40 when you
arrive for your travel expenses. A lot of places do accept dollars but not the
bus station and maybe not cabs.
I would suggest taking a cab from the airport to the bus station or if it is at night you should stay in San Jose and travel the next day.
Take a cab to the Gran Terminal del Caribe (The Caribbean bus terminal). There is a bus to Puerto Viejo at 6am 10am 1:30pm 3:00pm . From Puerto Viejo there are 4 buses a day
to Manzanillo, but plan on arriving to Manzanillo before 2pm in order to arrive safely to Punta Mona before
dark. The walk in is beautiful but best done with a guide for the first time. Ask atMaxis Restaurant or Aquamor Dive shop for someone to walk you in (15$
per person), or, if you have too much luggage or can't walk, ask for a boat (10$per person if 3 or more people, 15$ for 2, 30$ for one person ). There are scheduled boats that leave Manzanillo at 9:00 am on
Mondays, Wednesday and Saturdays and return from Punta Mona to Manzanillo in
the afternoon at 4:00 pm. If you need a boat on a different day it will cost $60 minimum or $20 a person with a 3 people or $30 a
person for 2 people, $20 a person for more than 3 people. We are trying to minimize boat use and are
trying to be more sustainable with the boat trips.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL OF YOUR THINGS WHILE IN THE BUS STATION. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME THEFTS THERE. NO ONE WILL HURT YOU BUT
MAKE SURE YOU ARE ALWAYS HOLDING YOUR BAGS SECURELY. IF YOU PUT THEM DOWN FOR
ANY REASON, PUT THE STRAP AROUND YOUR LEG OR ARM! Have your money and passport
and plane ticket securely put away in a hidden pouch or fanny pack or
something like that.
When you reach the station you need to keep going to the building to buy your ticket. If you are looking at the building,
there are all kinds of restaurants and food stands in front. If you walk over on
the right-hand side past the food there is an entrance to the inside part of
the station. Go in on your left. When you are inside, the ticket booths are on
your right. There are different windows for different buses. You want the
window that says SIXAOLA. (I think it is the 3rd window down.): At the window, ask
for a ticket to Puerto Viejo. It costs about 2600 colones (about $6). Then you
need to go to back outside where all of the buses are parked in order to get on
the bus. There are benches in front where people wait before boarding. If you lookup, all of the "tracks" are labeled with where their bus is
going. Remember, you are looking for the bus to SIXAOLA. They usually start to
board about 1/2 hour before departure. You will get an assigned seat on your
ticket. They don't always enforce that, though. If you want to put a bag underneath
the bus (which they will probably make you do if it is over a certain size) you
just need to give it to them with 100 colones per bag (about 40 cents). They
will give you a claim ticket and ask you where it is going.
The bus ride is about 4 1/2 hours. You will be going through Braullio Carillio National Park which is the country's largest national park. It is gorgeous cloud forest so don't sleep through this part. Keep your eyes open for the gushing waterfalls
and giant elephant ear plants. Then you'll be in the Atlantic Lowlands heading
due east towards the port city of Limon . Usually they make a 15-20 min. pit stop in
Limon. You can use the bathroom and buy snacks here. Take your carry-on bags with you and watch them. Then it is about another 1 1/2 to 2 hours due south along the Caribbean Sea (another time to keep your eyes opened!!) You will drive mostly along the main highway which is full of potholes! But the bus
does pull into one other town along the way called Cahuita.
From Cahuita, it is about 20 more minutes until Puerto Viejo. You will pass the Black Sand Beach and then the bus will stop right near another
beach. If you are not sure that you are in Puerto Viejo, just ask anyone! Don't forget to get your bags under the bus! You should arrive between 4 and 4 ½ hours later.
To get to our farm you need to take the bus to Manzanillo. There are only 4 a day. They leave Puerto Viejo at 5:30am , 7am , 12 noon , 4:30pm .These times may not be exact... please check at the bus stop. Manzanillo. Or taxis to Manzanillo from Puerto Viejo cost@ 5000 colones. Manzanillo is the town at the end of the road. Once you get off the bus (around 30 mins. away). Ask for Bako at the restaurant. He is our boat captain and he can take you out
with your stuff to Punta Mona. It just may take a while to get going...enjoy Manzanillo!The boat ride is about 20 minutes.
See you in Punta Mona, Land of Freedom!!!!!
pricing:
Full pricing information can
be obtained directly from the punta mona (contact details below).
Interns 1-month $300 ($10
each additional day)
Volunteers 1-week $125 ($15 each additional day)
Guests per day $30
Includes bunk house accommodations (private rooms available on request) and 3
yummy mostly organic meals
Day Tours per day $35
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
This includes:
- roundtrip boat
- tour of the farm
- use of kayaks, off-shore or in the river
- a delicious organic lunch
*Dolphins tours are optional at an additional cost*
contact
details:
eMail:
info@puntamona.org
www.puntamona.org
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