Size: 187 ha, 63 - 164m ASL

Location: La Gamba, between the Tropical Field Station La Gamba and the Finca Modelo towards the Río Bonito.

Vegetation at purchase in hectare: Forest 100, pasture 29, gallery forest 5, fern fields 4, mixed vegetation 8, wetlands 28 and reforestation currently 8 ha.

Date of purchase: 23 February 2024

Funding: Austrian Rainforest Association, Pro-Evolution, Nature Fund, private donations.

Planned projects:
renaturalization through reforestation
creation and conservation of wetlands
natural succession, observation tower

With an area of 187 hectares, Hacienda El Dorado is by far the largest property in La Gamba. The former owner, Don Victor Cachorro, was once considered the wealthiest resident of La Gamba and farmed his land with cattle and cultivated rice. After his death, the property was acquired by a group of investors who operate a marina in Golfito (hence the former name Finca Marina). Initially a golf course was planned, then a housing estate for American retirees and later an oil palm plantation, but the land was too wet, the price of palm oil fell, and the investors ran out of money. We informed the investor group that we were looking for suitable land for the La Gamba COBIGA biological corridor, and they offered us the land at a fair price.
The property is located between the Tropical Field Station La Gamba and the village of La Gamba, and borders directly on the Piedras Blancas National Park (Rainforest of the Austrians). The property is well structured and consists of species-rich lowland rainforest, gallery forest along the Quebrada Negra, fern fields with Dicranopteris pectinate (Gleicheniaceae), tropical moors and wetlands as well as pastureland.
The area is ideal for creating further wetland biotopes and for reforestation with native tree species. The initial planting in the northern hill area took place on  July 10, 2024 when 720 trees from 53 species were planted. Volunteers from La Gamba, including pupils and young people from the school project, students from the University of Vienna, the COBIGA team and staff from the La Gamba Tropical Station took part in the project.
The plan is to plant up to 5.000 additional trees in the region in 2024. A detailed plan on how to deal with the hacienda (especially the pasture areas) should be available by spring 2025. The reforestation and natural succession on the Hacienda El Dorado are being scientifically monitored by the University of Vienna and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences.