A brief history…
Rob first started working with the community in Drake Bay while backpacking through Central America in 2009. After working on the sea turtle conservation project as a volunteer and research assistant, using his background as a biologist, he ended up running the project for six years. Patrolling the beach each night with the locals looking for nesting sea turtles, the people of Drake Bay taught Rob how to speak Spanish and how to live more sustainably in harmony with nature. In the community, he became known as Rob Tortugo – the turtle man.
After a few years living in Puerto Jiménez, where he met the girl of his dreams, Rob returned to Drake Bay with his wife, Rebe, a Costa Rican psychologist, vegan chef and yoga instructor from San José. Rob, now a naturalized Costa Rican citizen, also brought new skills to the Drake Bay community, having learned how to design and manage regenerative farms, and manage farm-to-table restaurants.
They set about creating a new social enterprise, eco-village and tropical sanctuary in Ganadito, Drake Bay, bringing together five other international families who bought lots and became community members. At Finca Ganadito, they combined everything they had learned about bringing international volunteers together with the community: how to conserve nature, grow organic food and produce farming inputs; how to make coconut milk, oil and natural cosmetics; and how to reduce our carbon footprint and dependance on unsustainable industries.
Rebe is the General Manager and Chef, and produces delicious, plant-based meals with farm-to-table ingredients from the finca. Rob is Director of Programs and oversees delivering the regenerative tourism and educational activities. Between them, Rebe and Rob have traveled to over 50 countries and worked around the world in many different sectors, so they are also a great source of knowledge and advice for backpackers. They are both bilingual and love to share the experience of living on the edge of the jungle, while also eating healthy food and engaging in wholesome and productive activities that promote positive change in the world.
Photography by the very talented Gabe Shakour.
