FINCA VERDE We are a self sustaining organic farm.
WHERE WE ARE LOCATED
Finca Verde
The farm is about 19 hectares / 45 acres and is near the protected area of the Podocarpus Park.
At an elevation of 1409 M it is located in "a cloud forest", in the province of Zamora-Chinchipe. It is about a 2 ½ hour breath taking bus ride South from Vilcabama, and then about an 1 hour walk to the farm house. Approximately 50 miles from the Peruvian border.
Some consider this sector one of the best in Ecuador.
South America, northwestern sector
We are located in Ecuador, 3 hours by bus south of Loja
Town and Valley of Vilcabamba
Vilcabamba, Loja, Ecuador
Also Known As The Sacred Valley of Longevity,
Vilcabamba is a village in the southern region of Ecuador, in the Loja province, about 45 km (28 mi) from the city of Loja. The valley of Vilcabamba is located near to Loja, only 40 minutes far, up to 5,000ft (1500-1600 mts) above sea level, by being on the equatorial divide it maintains a spring like temperature of 65 to 82 degrees Farenheit (18 to 28 degrees Celsius) year round. Most travelers enter Vilcabamba by way of Loja, a southern Sierra city of about 130,000 inhabitants.
The etymology of the “Vilcabamba” apparently derives from the Quichua “huilco pamba.” Huilco denotes the sacred trees, Anadenanthera colubrina, that inhabit the region and pamba is a word meaning “a plain.” (cognate with pampa) The area has been referred to as the "Playground of the Inca" which refers to its historic use as a retreat for Incan royalty. The valley is overlooked by a mountain called Mandango, the Sleeping Inca, whose presence is said to protect the area from earthquakes and other natural disasters.
Vilcabamba is comprised of two words in the Incan dialect that is spoken by many of the indigenous people of Ecuador. First is the word huilco which means “sacred” or “God”. The second word bamba means “valley”. So huilco bamba with a little migration of sounds becomes Vilcabamba or “sacred valley”. It is clearly a sacred valley in a magical location. Mandango which towers over the town from most perspectives displays the profile of a face looking toward the heavens. Perhaps it was this profile that contributed the sacred part of the name. From other vantage points it appears as a sleeping man or woman. The Quichuas believe Mandango is a sleeping Incan king.
Located in a historical and scenic valley, it is a common destination for tourists, in part because it is widely believed that its inhabitants grow to a very old age. Locals assert that it is not uncommon to see a person reach 100 years of age and it is claimed that many have gotten to 120, even up to 135, which would make it an area with the oldest inhabitants in the world. It is often called the Valley of Longevity.
The reasons for this claimed longevity are not very clear. French studies have shown that the diet and lifestyle of the inhabitants may be a factor. Dr. Richard Laurence Millington Synge, a Nobel Chemistry Prize winner and the man who discovered amino acids, claims that there are remarkable medicinal qualities to be found in the plant life in certain places near the Equator .... with the valley of Vilcabamba being one of these areas. Due to scientific chemical assay techniques, analysis has now shown that the fruit, roots and herbs of this particular Equatorial sub-area offer some of the strongest anti-oxidant protection in the world. In 1973, Dr. Alexander Leaf of Harvard Medical Schoolintroduced these remarkable people to the world for the first time in his cover story for National Geographic Magazine.[1]
In 1981, the Ecuadorian government hired medical journalist Dr. Morton Walker to study these people in depth. In his book, "The Secret to a Youthful Long Life", Dr. Walker reported that his research showed the mineral rich water that the Vilcabambans drank was key to their long lives and health. Laboratory analysis of the Vilcabamba water determined that the unique balance of enriched colloidal minerals in the local drinking water was ideal for promoting optimum human health.[2]
Medical researchers have confirmed that the retinas of 100 year-old residents are often comparable with those of 45 year-old city-dwellers.[3][dead link] Others suggest that the climate in the region, which is reasonably steady without much variation, or the mineral content of its drinking water is particularly healthful and explains the advanced age of its inhabitants.
Mandango, the Sleeping Inca
There are two seasons, the rainy season which lasts from October to May, and the dry season which lasts from June to September. There are strong winds in July and August causing it to get quite dry. Two rivers flow through the valley, the Chamba and the Yambala, and they become the Vilcabamba. These rivers keep parts of the valley green during the dry season.
The soft and slightly surreal peaks which practically en-gulf Vilcabamba make for excellent day hikes from town. Furthermore, nearly every other building has a sign out front advertising massages and facials, a trend started by a few hotels and later picked up by the rest of the resident population, a large percentage of which are foreigners who couldn't bring themselves to leave.
. The town also offers access to some of the most biodiverse sections of Podocarpus and is a good stopping point en route to or from Peru via Zumba.
The climate of Vilcabamba is temperate sub-tropical; sometimes proudly referred to by locals as “perpetual spring”. At lower elevations, the temperature ranges between about 13 and 24oC (55 to 75 oF), with anaverage around 20oC (68oF). In this climate, papaya, banana and chirimoya flourish alongside blackberries (mora) and oranges.
Vilcabamba has many activities to offer such as: walking, hiking, horse trekking, mountain biking, an ideal location for photographers, painters, biologists and bird watchers.
You will find a high percentage of English speakers here due to the ever increasing population of American and English settlers as well as French, German, Canadian and a sprinkling of other nationalities. For a small town in the southern reaches of Ecuador the population is surprisingly international.
A taxi ride to anywhere in town or nearby area was $1.00. A taxi is almost always a pickup truck which makes a trip into Loja to pick up supplies easy and convenient.
There are many excellent restaurants and good clean accommodations available in town and nearby environs.
Lots of spectacular hiking trails accessible from Vilcabamba means as long as you can walk there will be something new to see. These trails are rated from very easy to medium difficult. Whatever they are rated, sunscreen is a good idea.
There is a zoo and orchid garden just out side of town. Mountain bikes or horses can be rented in town. You can also find guided tours of the rainforest and Podocarpus National Forest. Two to three day ecotours are also available.
Lest you forget - Vilcabamba exists in two (or more) worlds. Burrows and computers, neon crosses, agricultural methods that date back to the days before the Incas and paved highways. Almost every arena of life in Eucador is a waltz between the ancient and the modern and then back again.
ON THE WAY TO THE FARM
DON'T EXPECT THE BUS TO BE ON TIME
IF YOU ARE IN SHAPE IT'S LESS THAN AN HOUR WALK FROM THE BUS STOP
A WATER FALL MARKS THE ENTERANCE TO THE FARM
DON'T FORGET YOUR BOOTS AND RAIN GEAR