Dear Airbnb guest,
Thank you for choosing my home to rent through Airbnb. The Fusion Home website belongs to my good friends Matt and Amy who reside full time within the community - here you can find a wealth of information pertaining to your stay at Fila Tortuga and the Finca Bellavista Neighborhood. Please be sure to pay attention to all the details, this is not a resort or hotel - the experience can best be described as glamping.
The next steps will ensure you are fully prepared for your upcoming jungle adventure:
1. Please sign up to the Fusion Forum and post your arrival date in the 'Community Meet and Greet' section. Please include your confirmation number (found in the airbnb message) and rental house name. A member of the community will respond with further instructions. It is recommended to inform the community as soon as possible and no later than 3 days prior to arrival.
2. Please complete and sign the digital liability waiver. You cannot explore the property (which includes crossing the river to get to my home) if the form is not completed by you and your party.
3. If you have questions or need more information to prepare for your trip, please ask them through the Fusion Forum in the 'Questions for the Community' section. The Forum consists of residents, owners, current and previous guests, private consultants and work exchange applicants. They can assist you in real time and provide you with information that I may not be aware of as I do not live in the country.
4. Come with a sense of adventure. The Finca Bellavista community is not a resort or hotel. Being prepared will ensure an experience like no other.
The Fusion Home owners have extended the use of their website to myself and other private owners within Finca Bellavista. They have no association with your rental and are not responsible for your stay or experience at my home. The Fusion Forum is used to help provide current and accurate information about the community. If you have special requests or need additional help, please direct any questions through the Forum where you will find myself and other community members. If you need immediate assistance for any cleaning or maintenance related issues, please use the following contacts:
Cleaning service
Francis Mora Zúñiga
Whatsapp: +506 6205 2064
Email: fraymora2002@gmail.com
Maintenance
Jesus Amado
Whatsapp: +506 8962 8528
Email: amadojesus451@gmail.com
Thank you again for booking my home, Fila Tortuga. I hope you have a wonderful time in the jungle. As I do not live in Costa Rica, I would appreciate any suggestions, concerns or ideas regarding my home so other renters may be aware. You can share your experience through my profile on the Fusion Forum.
Safe travels
Adam Rayfield
There is no office on the property or onsite staff. The Neighborhood is made up of private home owners, residents, occasional work exchange applicants and guests.
There is also no phone signal coming up the road to Finca Bellavista or at the car park so a time to meet with a member of the community needs to be prearranged. Please sign up to the Fusion Forum and share your booking reference number and arrival date here.
Finca Bellavista is not a resort or hotel. The experience is not for everyone so please be sure to do your research before arriving. If you have questions, please use the Fusion Forum and ask your questions directly. You will need to sign up before you can post a question or communicate with any of the community members - it's free and simply to do. Once you have access you can find a ton of information about Finca Bellavista and the surrounding area.
An available community member for your arrival day will introduce themselves by responding directly to your post and make themselves available to meet you in the car park. Once you have been put in touch, you will be able to update them on any changes to your arrival time directly through the forum. You can also share your email/whatsapp number with them if needed.
My home is prepared for your arrival and includes linens, towels, soaps, shampoos, cooking utilities, gas for hot water and cooking. It is recommended to bring food and drink with you - water is safe to drink from the tap. If you need more supplies there are several shops in the town of Piedras Blancas - less than 20 min from the car park.
IMPORTANT: Please keep in mind that my home has no power and no refrigeration. Please bring flashlights and plan your meals accordingly.
Remember that a 4x4 vehicle is required to reach the community car park . Once you have parked and prepared yourself, you will be escorted on foot to my home (about a 30 min hike). You will need to cross a river on foot - pack lightly (backpacks work best, small duffel back is ok - but do not use traditional luggage!) and wear shoes that you don't mind getting wet.
Adam Rayfield first visited Finca Bellavista back in 2014 and dreamed of calling it home ever since. His dream became a reality as he became the new owner of Fila Tortuga in 2021. Born and raised in Oro-Medonte, Ontario, Canada, Adam spent his childhood outdoors hiking and exploring the forests around his home.
Currently, Adam is the Head of the Physical Education Department and Sports Coordinator at an international school in Caracas, Venezuela. In his spare time, Adam enjoys hiking, camping, bird watching, scuba diving and practicing improving his nature photography skills.
In addition to Venezuela, Adam has lived and taught in Egypt, South Korea, China, Thailand and travelled extensively around the world. He considers the jungles at Finca Bella Vista to be the most incredible place he has explored and is excited to share his home away from home with you.
CHECK IN/OUT TIMES
Check in times are 12pm - 5pm. The community cannot accommodate check-ins after 5pm for the day of arrival. There are no street lights, and you will need to cross a river on foot. If you cannot arrive before 5pm, please make alternative arrangements for the night and come the following morning. An earlier check in time may be possible if arranged and agreed with the community member meeting you on your arrival day.
CANCELLATION
You are welcome to cancel with a full refund up until 5 days prior to your check-in date. A 50% refund (minus the first night and service fee) is available up until 12.00 noon the day of your check in.
All guests must sign a digital liability waiver before arriving onsite, you cannot explore the property or take part in any onsite activities unless this is completed.
DIRECTIONS
Please connect with your meet and greet hosts before heading to the community, there is no phone/3G service coming up the road or at the car park
Important: As stated in the listing and above, you will need a 4×4 vehicle for the last 3km to the community. The Finca Bellavista community is 3 kilometers east of the InterAmericana Highway, near the town of Piedras Blancas (in between the cities of Palmar Norte and Rio Claro). Costa Rica signage is lacking, and the Finca Bellavista community does not have signs on the main road due to privacy reasons and inability to accommodate unscheduled visitors.
You can see our location by typing "Fila Tortuga Finca Bellavista" into Google Maps. Many travelers have no problem arriving using my Google location with Google Maps navigation or Waze -- HOWEVER -- I do not assume responsibility for the reliability or accuracy of these systems. Use GPS systems at your own risk, and please be sure to also pay attention to the landmarks mentioned below!
FROM THE NORTH: Head south on the Costenara (34) or on the InterAmericana Highway (2) through Palmar Norte and across the giant bridge over the Terraba River. Continue heading south (30 +/- minutes) through Chacarita, then through the town of Piedras Blancas. Cross over the Piedras Blancas River. Look for a highway sign indicating the town of La Florida, you will see a blue schoolhouse complex on the corner on the left hand side (logged distance from Palmar to La Florida is roughly 39 kilometers/24 miles). Turn left on the gravel road next to the school, engage 4-wheel drive, and head up the road 1.5 miles/3 kilometers.
FROM THE SOUTH: Head north on the InterAmericana Highway from Rio Claro. In 23 kilometers, (after crossing over the Esquinas River and passing the palm oil extraction plant) you might see a small blue telephone sign indicating the village of La Florida on the right-hand side of the road (it's small!) Just beyond the sign, you will see a blue schoolhouse/community center complex also on the right-hand side of the road on the corner ( logged distance from Rio Claro to this point is roughly 14.2 miles or 23 kilometers). Turn right onto the gravel road next to the complex, engage your 4-wheel drive, and head up the road about 1.5 miles/3 kilometers.
FROM THE OSA PENINSULA VIA PUERTO JIMENEZ AREA: Drive to Chacarita, then turn south on the InterAmericana Highway. Drive through the town of Piedras Blancas. You will cross over the Piedras Blancas River, and might see small blue telephone sign on the right-hand side of the road indicating La Florida. You should see a blue schoolhouse/ community center complex on the corner on the left hand side of the highway. Turn left on the gravel road right in front of the complex, engage your 4-wheel drive, and head up the road 1.5 miles/3 kilometers.
Finca Bellavista is a pedestrian community - please be sure to check the average hiking times for each home. Visitors to the community can park next to the old basecamp entrance. From there, you will hike out with your 'meet and greet' hosts, crossing a river on foot (there is no way to get a vehicle across) so please pack light and wear suitable shoes. We recommend rubber boots for exploring the grounds or at the very least, close toed hiking shoes.
There are plenty trails to explore, stunning secluded river spots to enjoy, an incredible waterfall and tons of wildlife. Because you will have the freedom to explore yourself, all visitors must sign a digital liability waiver before arriving.
You are coming to one of the most bio diverse regions in the world, the jungle must be respected. We do not recommend coming here if you do not enjoy bugs, being isolated in the jungle, being with wildlife in its natural habitat or not physically up for the challenge for hiking and adventure.