Comunidad Ecologica Guapilena is a special place on earth. We are 400 acres divided into 20 privately held lots. There are currently 14 houses. I own 25 of those acres. It is legally an ecological reserve bordered on one side by a 100 acre refuge and above by another municipal "animal corridor" so the animals can get from the mountains to the sea. We are limited as to what we can use the land for. Add to that Costa Rica protects certain types of primary jungle trees. What you end up with is a magical jungle paradise. I have seen three types of big cats, herds of peccaries, anteaters, sloths, scarlet macaws, squirrel monkeys, whitefaced monkeys, toucans, 3 foot tall Crested Great Curassow (a big bird), guans, Chachalacas, the list goes on.

Even though you are officially in the jungle, 10 minutes away is the little village of Dominical, and about 30 minutes to the north or south are two small towns with a great variety restaurants, shops and services. It is a wonderful blend of convenience and jungle.

Right in front of the house are miles and miles of beaches. Quite often you can spend the day on the beach and only see 5 other people. There is kayaking, white water rafting, parasailing, fishing all within 30 minutes. We even have a vanilla farm nearby that also grows cacao - the treats at the end of that tour are wonderful.