About Us

Get to know us! Whether we're sharing a big family meal that you helped pick from the garden, or piling into the back of the pickup with the dogs to go to the beach, El Cerrito is all about quality time. Hosting visitors from all over the world, we value the rich exchange of skills and ideas.

Meet The Team

Lisbeth

Lis is a healer, herbalist and licensed massage therapist who has studied with Indigenous tribes across Latin America. She can show you the exact medicinal plant for any need, will tend to you both body and soul, and cooks delicious traditional meals using plants from the property.

Danger

Danger grew up on this land and knows every tree like the back of his hand. He is a builder, specialized in using natural materials. He built the cabins you'll stay in as well as much of the furniture. Apprentice with Danger to learn when to cut bamboo, how to build a chair, and the full planting-harvesting lifecycle.

Allison

Allison is our program coordinator, serving as a bridge between worlds. She will help you plan your stay and make sure you are comfortable in the jungle! She spent years living and learning with Lis and Danger, fully changed by their wisdom and way of life.

You!

Past residents have painted murals, built compost toilets, and helped build the table we dine at. Will you be the next one to leave your mark?

Project History

In 2018, Lis and Danger moved back up to the family farm where Danger grew up in a large agricultural family. Out of 14 siblings who had all since moved away, he decided to come back home and build. Slowly using materials from the land, they built up a beautiful bamboo and wood home that became a home base for the family and surrounding community. In the midst of immense economic pressure for locals to sell their land, it was a powerful move to push back and put their feet even more firmly on the ground.

The same week that Lis and Danger arrived, Allison moved in across the street. More than mere coincidence, they built strong bonds quickly. In such an extreme environment, the ability to share resources and collaborate proved invaluable: if your water system has a problem, come over and use mine. We shared resources and stories, gifting each other the abundance we had. "Hey, I have some extra plantanos, wanna come over for lunch?" With space and fruit to spare, we decided to open our doors to visitors, and before long, many others came to partake in the sharing of skills and knowledge, forming large dinner tables of laughter, tears and beauty.

With our visitors we built structures and furniture from scratch using materials from the land, remade our water system, and tended to countless off-grid unexpected circumstances. We had bonfires, cooked big family meals with ingredients we picked that day, and fit 10 people and dogs in the back of the pickup to go hike to waterfalls. We planted vegetables and herbs, foraged in the forest, and went fishing. For three years, we welcomed over 70 people to share in the ups and downs of jungle living, in an intimate setting where we learned so much from each other and created long-lasting relationships.

When the pandemic began, tourism stopped and the community turned inwards. We participated in local collective farming projects and supported efforts to rebuild circular economy in town.

After a post-pandemic pause, our doors are open again! We look forward to new bright faces, incredible ideas, and the type of quality time that leaves us all better than we found each other. We love slow and deep travel, where you can dive in, stay a while, and have an immersive experience in this gorgeous place with us. Welcome!