FINCA COCA
Twenty years ago, Martijn stumbled upon a piece of land near Alicante, somewhere in the campo, quite by chance. There was a small shed and a "for sale" sign. "It took a bit of imagination to see anything in it... or maybe just a lack of common sense," he jokes. He bought it. "Yes, it was quite impulsive. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. Think twice about that kind of decision; it saves you a lot of unexpected fun and adventure," he says with a smile.
Obra menor
When Martijn first moved too the finca, there was nothing more than a small hut. Over time, though, that little hut slowly transformed into something much more. Armed with imagination and determination, he gradually expanded it into a proper farmhouse. “It took a bit of vision—and a lot of trial and error.”
Vivir en el campo
Imagine this: a bright, sunny day in Spain, the sky is blue, and the young olive trees are shimmering in the sunlight. There, with his feet in the soil and a smile on his face, is Martijn, the owner of Finca Coca, at work. Life on his self-built finca is a joyful mix of fun activities (work) and enjoying the great outdoors.
Martijn, once an adventurous sailor traveling the world’s seas, has left his maritime life behind and settled down in the campo just above Alicante. With a background full of exotic destinations and exciting stories from his seafaring days, he has now found his passion for country living and nature. Olive trees? He has planted hundreds! And who would have thought that rabbits could be so pesky? But Martijn, ever the optimist, has learned to outsmart the cute little critters by letting the weeds grow. "They can eat as much as they want," he says with a wink, "as long as they leave my new saplings alone!"
Though he sometimes reminisces about the starry nights at sea, Martijn now revels in the tranquility and beauty of the nature around him. "Living close to nature is the best choice I’ve ever made," he says with a broad grin as he takes a sip of his coffee. "And who knows, maybe some years from now I will bottle my olive oil... or maybe not!"
Critters on the Finca
Three years ago, Martijn came across an unexpected find on his land—four tiny puppies, abandoned and left to fend for themselves. After a visit to the vet, it was clear they were just about seven weeks old and didn’t stand a chance without help. The vet suggested putting their pictures up for adoption in the waiting room, but by then, the puppies already had names. And as Martijn says with a grin, "Once they’ve got names, you’re done for." So, they stayed—three lively girls and one boy, Híboy, who turned out to be deaf but doesn’t seem to mind. Now, they’re part of the everyday rhythm of life on the farm, bringing a mix of joy and a little chaos.
Not long after Martijn moved into the small hut on the finca, a cat appeared, prowling the kitchen at night, looking for food. "She was searching for something for her kittens, but I’m vegetarian," he says. He bought some cat food, and from that moment on, Martijn always had cats around. Most were skittish, and it took time for them to trust him enough to eat from his hand.
Then came one fearless cat. "She would jump on your head out of nowhere," Martijn recalls. She stayed, had seven kittens, and to prevent more, the vet stepped in to sterilize the whole lot. Some of them are still living at the Finca, bringing their own blend of chaos and charm.
We have set up some camping spots in our garden. If you would like to stay with us for a few nights, please check the availability on Campspace or the HomeCamper site.
Campar en el campo
We are listed on the following booking websites
