Formerly a cattle farm, PachaMama Eco Village was a 500-acre land comprised mainly of grassland with very few patches of forest when the founders arrived.
Through the community’s reforestation efforts, it has undergone an immense transformation: thousands of trees have been planted, including rare and endangered species. Now that the land is healed, the wildlife, butterflies, insects, and birds have returned and the ecosystem is thriving.
Costa Rica is famous for its rich diversity of birds and wildlife.
This diversity creates a unique balance between the powerful inner journey and the rich surroundings. PachaMama is located in the dry sub-tropical forest of the Nicoya peninsula. Now that the land is healed from its past as a cattle farm and the forest is lush again, the birds and wildlife have come back. This land is home to almost 300 different species of birds that fill the air with exotic sounds every morning as the forest awakens.
There are several families of Howler Monkeys certain to be seen and heard daily as they live among us in the trees. There are many other mammal friends who share this land: White-nosed Coatis, Nine-banded Armadillos, Hairy dwarf Porcupines, White-tailed Deer, Common Possums, Squirrels, Tayras, Agoutis, Kinkajous, Anteaters, Raccoons, Bats…. and if you are very lucky you might spot an Ocelot or a Jaguarundi wild cat.
A few minutes drive from PachaMama is Ostional Wildlife Refuge Beach, the world’s most important nesting site for the Olive Ridley Sea Turtles which come ashore in huge numbers every year to nest and lay their eggs. This phenomenon, known as ‘arribadas’, takes place almost every month and lasts three days. Two months afterward, thousands of small turtles will hatch from the eggs and run to the ocean. Truly an amazing sight to see.
Being a passionate Wildlife photographer and naturalist, Tyohar periodically offers early morning bird tours and night wildlife tours for up to six people in each group.