Food at Finca Ara Oko
At Finca Ara Oko, food isn’t just nourishment; it’s an experience. Our meals are lovingly crafted by a local Italian chef who brings a masterful touch to each dish. Every meal showcases the best of Spain’s seasonal, organic produce sourced from nearby farms to bring you vibrant flavours that honour the land and the seasons.
From handpicked vegetables and sun-ripened fruits to fresh herbs and locally pressed olive oils, each ingredient is carefully selected for its quality and taste. Our chef combines these with the warmth and authenticity of local cuisine, creating meals that are as delicious as they are nourishing.
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House Guidlines
Please take a minute to read through our house guidelines, as living at a place like ours, off-grid, is not like living in a house in a city or a town. There are several important considerations regarding living habits you may have to change while you are here to protect our home and environment. Please take the time to read through these guidelines before you arrive.
WATER: There is a serious water shortage in Spain. We do our best to conserve water by collecting rainwater and water from the outdoor shower. Please consider reducing your shower time or using our outdoor shower (cold) to minimise water waste.
**NO TISSUE DOWN THE TOILET**: Our septic tank uses a filtration system that purifies waste. If it becomes contaminated with tissue, it will stop working, and we will have a severe problem.
**NO HARSH DETERGENTS**: All the water from the main house showers runs onto the land – however, it is not collected like the outdoor shower – therefore, we use natural soaps and shampoos. We can provide these if requested.
THE PLUNGE POOL: Like in all swimming pools, the water is filtered and recycled. Please wash before entering the pool to stop the build-up of oils in the water. NO GLASS IN THE POOL AREA
ELECTRICITY: We use solar power. This means we can’t use certain electrical items such as hairdryers, irons and washing machines unless we have a full day of sun. Please check with us if you would like to use any of these items.
SMOKING: No smoking inside the house. If you are a smoker, we will designate a smoking area. Fire is a serious hazard in Spain, so please extinguish matches/cigarettes carefully.
RUBBISH: Please empty your toilet bins regularly and take them and any general waste to the black bin by the garage.
RECYCLING: There are three main recycling categories: 1) Glass, 2) Paper/card, 3) Cartons/plastics/tins. Inside the garage are larger bins to dispose of your recycling.
CHORES: You will be expected to help clear and wash dishes after each meal. We will put together a rota so this is fairly distributed.
NOISE: As this is supposed to be a retreat for everyone, it is very important that those attending can sleep without being disturbed. Curfew on making noise at night and in the morning is based on when people go to bed and wake up. Please be mindful of talking/laughing in close proximity to those wanting to sleep. We also have a siesta time between 3-5 pm.
BEFORE YOUR LEAVE: Please strip your beds, put all your dirty linen in a pile, and dispose of all your rubbish (see above).
Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you have any questions, let us know.
Travel Information
Flights:
Almeria: 1:20mins drive
Granada: (1: 30 mins drive
Malaga: 2:40 mins drive.
Fares range from £50-350 return. Malaga is often the cheapest and has the most frequent flights.
Airport transfers:
Public transport, unfortunately, is rubbish. Coordinating your flight times with others attending the course is the cheapest way to travel to the Finca. We will help facilitate this and may suggest a flight time.
Taxi prices
Taxi to/from Almeria (7-seater) – €110.
Taxi to/from Malaga (7-seater) €170.
Bus to/from Malaga to Motril (Alsa bus company) – €10
Taxi to/from Motril €80.
Taxi to/from Granada €110
Transport during your stay.
Some of you may wish to hire a car during your stay. It is a lovely place to drive with good roads and no traffic. If you choose this option, please let us know, as we have plenty of experience of not getting ripped off by car-hire firms.
Travel insurance:
Please make your own arrangements.
Extra nights accommodation
If you wish to stay longer than seven nights, please check with us to see if we can accommodate you. If we can’t for any reason, we can suggest places to stay nearby.
Extra lessons:
1-1 lessons may be available or if you would like help organising other activities; horse riding, cycling and water sports activities, please let us know beforehand.
Learning Outcomes & Student Levels
Here is a chart giving a guideline of musical skills our students can expect to gain from attending our courses and workshops when combined with home study.
| Level 1 | |
| Drum Technique | Hand positions on various drums.
Basic drum sounds – open and bass. Playing and understanding of 1 or 2 clave patterns with the pulse. |
| Drumming Styles | Afro-Cuban Folkloric percussion -An understanding of simple polyrhythmic drum parts for rumba, batá and makuta with one variation.
Salsa Percussion – An understanding of simple polyrhythmic drum parts for son, chachacha and salsa. |
| Context | A basic understanding of how drum patterns enter and fit with associated songs. |
| Level 2 | |
| Drum Technique | All sounds – slap, open, bass, fingers and muffled.
A deeper awareness of different clave patterns as a rhythmic structure and how drum rhythms interlock. |
| Drumming Styles | Afro-Cuban Percussion – A more complex understanding of rumba – yambú, guaguancó and columbia including some variations. The ability to play more complex batá toques including conversations and variations on okónkolo and itótele. An understanding of other styles such as palo and güiro.
Salsa Percussion – A more complex understanding of charanga, son and salsa and their variations techniques and ensemble context. |
| Context | A larger repertoire of songs including some simultaneous singing and playing. |
| Level 3 | |
| Drum Technique |
Clarity of sound and fluency of technique (i.e. effortless movement between tones at speed).
|
| Drumming Styles | Being able to understand and remember drum parts and how they interconnect.
Playing rumba with fluency and at higher tempos. An understanding of some quinto phrasing. Learning and remembering complex batá toques on all 3 drums. Appropriate drum language for songs. A more complete level of playing in other styles – palo, guiro etc, including lead drum phrasing.
|
| Context |
A wider repertoire of song sequences and their contexts. Simultaneous singing and playing.
|
Reviews
If you love drumming, sunshine, good food, delightful company in the middle of nowhere then look no further, you have found paradise. Finca Ara Oko is exactly that, but not only is the place wonderful you will also be looked after lovingly by Vicki and Dave. I have just returned from one of my best holidays ever. Don't think just click and sign up!
Wonderful experience at Finca Ara Oko, top class teaching, amazing food and great hosts. Incredible location away from it all, but also plenty of opportunity to get out and see the surrounding area. Can’t wait to get back, see you soon! 🤩
Thank you Vicky and Dave for your warm welcome and your generosity. I had an unforgettable and timeless stay. Looking forward to coming back soon.
A modernized modular rental space in the countryside with a garden around it, terrace space, drinking water, Wi-Fi connection, parking, full of light and color.
I had an incredible time at Finka Ara Oko. The place is ideal to get away from the routine and immerse yourself in the courses offered while enjoying the tranquility of nature. The courses are of very good quality and Vicky and Dave really did everything to make everyone feel comfortable both from an organizational and musical point of view. I loved it!
Amazing musical glamping experience in a magical part of Spain. If you like almond trees, mountains and afro Cuban rumba, this is probably the place for you... Dave and Vicky are lovely people and fantastic musicians, as well as very experienced teachers. And its all set in a beautiful traditional country house with delicious and healthy catering, an outdoor shower with views of the mountains and valleys and a plunge pool. I had a wonderful week there.
It's a wonderfull setting up the mountains of Granada perfect for a drum retreat and in full nature at its best the organisers David and Vicky are very welcoming and warm hearted Which for me was perfect the house and rooms and utitlies were just what is needed for a drum retreat
I learned that in July 2024 there would be a masterclass held by Omar Puente and, without even thinking or checking what or where Finca Ara Oko was, I hurried to sign up. I have been to other Masterclasses held by Oma Puente in Cuba, France and London and I believe that Omar is the best music and life teacher in the world! Even if the masterclass had been held in a chicken coop I would have been extremely happy with how informative and exciting Omar Puente's masterclasses ALWAYS (without exception) are. But more: Finka Ara Oko is the door to Paradise (perfumes, colors, sounds and surfaces like those you find at Finka Ara Oko are those you imagine you would find in Paradise). Plus: Vicky and Dave added their delightful presence, their organizational skills, their unforgettable ability to mix foods to create unforgettable breakfasts, lunches and dinners, their immense knowledge of Cuban rhythm and music. Not to mention that the other students of the masterclass have become my dearest friends! Wren, Zoe, Nigel, Nano... wonderful people! I've been glamping and I think glamping at Finca Aka Oko should be included in the humanitarian bill... Hey, maybe I've been living a dream, in which case, don't wake me up! Let me know how it went, although I already know that you will find it wonderful too.
Vicky and Dave are excellent, thoughtful hosts and looked after us very well. The finca is in a beautiful and peaceful setting in the mountains - a real refuge from every day modern life.The accommodation is very comfortable and the food of a very high standard, with the evening meal prepared by a local restaurant.On this particular retreat we had the opportunity to play with a great maestro, Omar Puente, which was a real treat. The excellent Dave Pattman was also on hand to give percussion input. This was a really enjoyable week socially as well as s great learning experience.
The perfect combination of people, music, nature, and most importantly food! Vicky and Dave are such great hosts that I eagerly look forward to staying with again when I can x
If you like afrocuban music do yourself a favour and go to omthis retreat.Best teachers, best location, best vibe, best food and best everything.
If I could give this place more than five stars, I would. The key word to describe both Finca Ara Oko and Vicky & David, the two beautiful humans who run it, is hospitality.I stayed here at the end of May and beginning of June and I'll surely be back. Accommodation-wise, V&D have struck a note-perfect balance between detachment and proximity. The Finca is isolated enough to make one feel as if there are no other human beings around and yet the closest town, Cádiar, is between ten and fifteen minutes away by car.V&D run music workshops (they're both amazing artists). which makes a visit to Finca Ara Oko a special occasion. Combine percussion classes with a local walk and you'll feel in cloud nine.Oh, and did I mention that sometimes clouds sweep through the house in the evening? 🙂
The retreat was a wonderful communal and learning experience where we were able to relax and develop our percussion skills. I have no hesitation to recommend it to anyone interested in salsa percussion.
Spent a week in July at Finca Ara Oko with Luanda Pau Afro Cuban Dance Retreat. What an amazing experience this was! Alongside fantastic dancing/drumming/singing experience we enjoyed our stay in this old Andalusian farmhouse nestled in the mountains at the altitude of 1.2k meters.Vicky and David were amazing hosts, making sure our stay was comfortable, relaxing and stimulating. Despite being extremely busy with hosting, catering, drumming and singing tuition, Vicky and Dave were extremely personable and always had time to talk and listen, play games and just be there for you.The activities during the time were well planned and organised. Food - amazing, and the rooms we stayed in well maintained, comfortable and clean.I would highly recommend and hope to be back one day for more.
Vicky and Dave are both lovely people that will make you feel welcome immediately. They live in a beautiful, peaceful area where you can relax. I loved the variety of delicious fruit available all day!
A wonderful retreat in a delightful setting with focus on body movement, musicality and technique. Thanks to Vicky, David and Luanda for coming together to produce the amazing immersive and authentic Afrocuban experience!
A beautiful experience! I did the Coro de Clave retreat in June/July 2023. Vicky & Dave are not only expert musicians, but experts at building community. Sharing space in an off-grid farmhouse can present some challenges, but that was more than made up for by the beautiful surroundings, lovely people, delicious food, and soul-stirring music. I hope to return next year!
I had a beautiful week at Finca Ora Oko for the Coro de Clave retreat. Vicky and Dave opened their home and hearts, and shared the music they love with us. I learnt so much and had a fulfilling and joyful experience in the mountains of southern Spain. I would return in a heartbeat to do it again. It really was a special experience that will always stay with me. Truly amazing!
I just got back from a week long retreat full of singing, drumming, and relaxing. Although the dates didn’t fully fit my schedule, Vicky and Dave were very flexible in accommodating me and tailored a couple of custom workshop days to my liking which was incredible. The workshops themselves were just the right amount of challenging with a very comfortable atmosphere to learn, so I could playfully grow my knowledge of Afro Cuban songs and rhythms. The finca is beautifully situated in between almond fields with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and starry night skies - and there’s various beautiful porches and hammocks to enjoy them from during siesta. Special shout-out also to the food, I’m a vegetarian and just loved all the dishes made from fresh, local veggies! Thanks for the perfect week!
Vicky and Dave are so generous with their talent and passion to share the wonderful music of Cuba. They manage to make the experience fun and yet with attention to detail and excellence. The beauty of the setting, the vibrancy of the music, great food, excellent company all topped off with the fulfillment of learning new skills. Altogether marvellous
I attended a Salsa Percussion Retreat at Finca Ará Oko and had the most amazing time. Vicky and Dave were very welcoming and great to learn from. The tuitions were fun and insightful, Dave catered to different levels within the group easily and my lovely co-students were also helpful. The finca is homey (there’s even a pool if you’re not nesh!), the views are stunning and the food delicious. We got to do some nice walks around the valley, visited the local bar for some tapas and gazed at stars at night. I highly recommend this retreat and look forward to coming back next year. 🙂
Just back from the salsa percussion retreat Thank you so much Vicky and Dave for a fantastic experience at La Finca Ara Oko, such a peaceful location with stunning views across the mountains, great accommodation with chillout areas including a plunge pool and hammocks (think I'm going to have to buy one). And for making us all feel welcome and at home! Delicious, tasty food every day, eaten on the patio with the mountains in the background, seeing the stars wow! And the lessons - thoroughly enjoyed playing with such a friendly supportive group of people, and a huge thank you Dave for being a great teacher and so so patient. Highly recommend this experience, I'll definitely be back!!
Just back from a glorious week playing salsa at Finca Ara Oko. What an amazing place to escape for a music retreat with stunning views over the mountains and a great feeling of space. Add to that expert and patient tuition from Dave, the generous hospitality of both Vicky and Dave, and great company, and you've got yourself a perfect holiday. I really appreciated the effort that was made to not only accommodate a vegan diet, but to provide really delicious and healthy food. Treat yourself to a week here if you can.
I'm writing my review whilst still here, dangling my feet in the delicious, cooling plunge pool. This place is special in every way, from the peaceful location with its spectacular views, to the beautiful accommodation and lovely spots to chill out and breathe it all in. We've been treated to delicious, wholesome food all week, all shared with a wonderful community of warm, friendly people who now feel like family. But it's not just about kicking back and relaxing. The level of study has been fantastic, immersing ourselves in Afro Cuban percussion for a week with just the right balance of challenge without creating any stress. Various trips out to the surrounding areas have given enough variety for this to be an all round magical experience. I came here with my partner who wasn't participating in the workshops and he was welcomed into the group beautifully and never felt left out.Do we really have to go home?
I went on the batá drumming retreat at Finca Ará Oko in in June 2022 and had a lovely time. The place is beautiful and extremely peaceful (apart from when we’re drumming starts of course!) and a brilliant location to disconnect from day to day life and focus on learning. As a retreat location it’s idyllic, in the Alpujarra / Sierra Nevada mountains with a panoramic view of the area and all the way down to the sea. It’s truly magical - especially at night when you get to see the stars and even the Milky Way at times. I loved the accommodation - I had a spacious apartment with my own privacy which I really wanted, but would've probably been very happy any one of the other shared rooms to be honest. The rest of the finca is lovely, including a plunge pool perfect for dipping in in the heat. The food was delicious and healthy which was great too. The other participants were lovely and I felt really comfortable getting to know new people as well as spending time with Vicky and Dave. The surrounding area was great also - including walks in the hills close-by and I really loved going on a couple of ‘excursions’ during the week to see nearby towns.And this is all before talking about the drumming - which was brilliant! We focussed on learning a sequence of toques which included transitions, variations, calls and responses and singing. It was really good to focus on the batá and then these specific toques to really try to master them. I have been learning for a few years with Vicky and Dave/Bombo Productions and I get a great deal out of learning - from a sense of community to a therapeutic feeling through playing and entering the 'flow' mode. Combined with the beautiful location, the company, food etc, this made a perfect retreat to nourish my soul whilst deepening my skills/ knowledge in Afro-Cuban music which I love. It was an amazing week - I’m definitely going to return at some point in the future!There’s a lot I haven’t mentioned as I’m aware people probably won’t want to read an essay…but trust me that you will get so much if you choose to visit the magical Finca Ará Oko. Thank you so much y hasta la próxima! 🙂
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Bombo Productions is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified when using this website, then you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement.
Finca Ará Oko may change this policy from time to time by updating this page. You should check this page from time to time to ensure that you are happy with any changes. This policy is effective from Jan 2020
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