| |
 When
Wolfgang Bissinger decided to devote himself to a project that was from
his heart, he didn’t know how all encompassing the task would be. After
purchasing 10 hectares of land abutting Cahuita National Park on the
southern Caribbean coast, he began the formidable task of nurturing his
vision into reality. Two years and $330,000 later, in December, Cacao
Trails opened to the public. It is still a well-kept secret, and the
trails meandering through the vast property are tranquil and serene,
unencumbered by the hordes of tourists clogging other, more well-known
attractions.
On the eight hectares
comprising the public tour, Bissinger has planted and cultivated more
than 350 varieties of local plant life. This is a one-stop learning
experience where the rich and interesting plant and wildlife of the area
is available for viewing and education purposes. Many of the plants are
marked with their common and botanical names so that wanderers can take
their time enjoying the ambience while learning.
“What this is, more than
anything,” says Jean Guirein, general manager of the site, “is an
educational experience – to teach people about the everyday foods they
eat and the history of the plants.”
Most people don’t know
that the word “banana” comes from the Arabic word for “finger,” for
instance, or that vanilla is the only edible orchid, or that iguanas
drop 50-150 eggs at a time, or that the male howler monkey may kill
babies of other males if given the chance. These facts and more are
abundant at Cacao Trails, and the enthusiastic guides who among them
speak five languages love to bring alive the mysteries and history of
the region.
The trail begins with a
stroll through the front garden, where common bushes and flowers sit
prettily, offsetting two lagoons stocked with crocodiles and their food,
a tropical fish called tilapia. The first animal display sits behind
protected meshwork containing varieties of poultry, such as Japanese
hens. This short walk is just an appetizer of what is to come.
The property is divided
into several sections. The first garden, a special favorite of
Bissinger’s, is the Orchid Garden. More than two dozen varieties of the
bromeliads are on display here and, with luck, one of the orchids will
be in bloom, a rare and delicate flower that normally lasts no more than
a week.
A section for medicinal
and herbal plants has also been cultivated. Costa Rica, particularly the
Caribbean coast, has a dizzying variety of medicinal plants that many
locals still use to heal ailments. Knowing how to recognize the plants
and their uses is a valuable introduction to life in the tropics.
Markers telling the story of the plants and their benefits make this
portion of the garden a definite winner.
Plants are not the only
focus of Cacao Trails. A serpentarium housing several local varieties of
snakes is included on the tour. Here visitors can see boa constrictors,
the dreaded fer-de-lance and the deadly yellow eyelash viper, as well as
innocuous varieties such as the frog snake. Miniature frogs, found in
all parts of this lush jungle countryside, are also on display, their
neon-colored skin advertising their toxicity.
Two areas of Cacao Trails
form perhaps the most unique parts of the attraction. One is the small
outdoor Indian History Museum, holding remarkable pottery pieces, some
of which were excavated from the Talamanca Mountains, where human
inhabitants have lived for thousands of years. These same mountains hid
a complete cacao-drying machine that Bissinger brought down, cleaned and
polished, and is now on display at the Cacao Museum, the second area
providing a unique look at the anthropology of the region.
Cacao, its history,
culture and taste, is the raison d’être of the development. Until the
1970s, when monilia pod rot, a fungal disease, brought an end to the
thriving cacao industry on the Caribbean coast, cacao had been the
region’s main crop and source of income for 100 years.
“Now local people don’t
realize it was a complete culture, and know little about it,” says
Bissinger, who hopes to provide a place to educate area residents as
well as tourists.
To this end, he has
invited area schools to bring classes to the property for day trips. “In
the end, this is all for the kids,” says Bissinger, who has organized a
one-week boot program for school holidays and is planning a tent camp by
the river for overnight stays, as well as children’s classes on the
natural history of the region.
The property used to be a
cacao farm, and it is a delightful surprise to taste a piece of the
delicious chocolate served after each meal. As part of the tour,
visitors can see how cacao is processed to produce pure ground chocolate
(see box). There is also a banana plantation, a heliconia garden, an
organic farm and a remarkable collection of indigenous but rare trees,
such as cotton and teak.
And if all this isn’t
enough, a canoe tour along the Río Carbón is also offered. This river,
named after the chunks of charcoal that dot its sandy bottom, meanders
through Cahuita National Park amidst quiet, uninhabited byways all the
way to the Caribbean Sea, where it merges with the deserted beaches
unreachable except by foot or boat.
Canoeing quietly down the
silent curves of the river is a rare pleasure. Water birds such as
egrets, herons and ibis abound. Freshwater shrimp can be seen jumping up
out of the way of the many fish that ply the waters, such as sardines,
tarpon, river bass, roncador, guapote and guabina. Monkeys, caimans,
coatis, iguanas, pacas, porcupines and sloths live along these banks and
can be seen at various times.
Back at the main area, a
refreshing, kidney-shaped swimming pool is available for all guests to
relax and enjoy. From the sun-warmed waters, a view of the tree-lined
hills across the way soothes and beckons.
The open-air rancho is
also an inviting way to relax and get fortified, before, during or after
the tour. This spacious, palm-thatched structure can seat up to 200
guests. Banana stands hang invitingly around the restaurant, and the
huge kitchen area gleams in front of the buffet. Breakfast and lunch are
available, as well as a refreshing variety of natural drinks.
The lovely tile work in
the bathrooms is worth a peek.
“This is the first thing
we built,” says Bissinger, who believes clean, spacious facilities are a
must. The cool, shady interior of the rancho also houses an inviting
boutique, stocked with local crafts, artifacts and souvenirs.
The extensive grounds
that form Cacao Trails have been cultivated into an impressive
collection of flora and fauna that will only get better with time.
“On a scale of one to
100,” Bissinger says, “we are only a five.” There is still much to be
done and more exciting projects to come. Under construction are a
farmhouse to display the farm life of long ago, and a viewing stand to
observe the private wildlife sanctuary. Bungalows for overnight guests
are also in progress.
One of the distinguishing
characteristics of this new project is the dedication and enthusiasm of
the staff, who go out of their way to provide quality service and
friendly smiles.
Source: official site of
Cacao Trails (2016)
|
|
