PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE (PDC)
Hands-On Ecological Design Training in Costa Rica
Join a transformative, two-week (72-hour) Permaculture Design Certificate Course (PDC) at Finca Tierra Education Center, located on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast.
Learn how to design regenerative systems for food, water, energy, and community resilience through a blend of classroom learning and hands-on fieldwork in a fully functional permaculture farm.
Taught by experienced instructors with over 15 years of tropical design experience, this internationally recognized course gives you the knowledge and confidence to design sustainable systems anywhere in the world.
You’ll Learn:
Permaculture principles and ethics
Site analysis and landscape design
Soil regeneration, composting, and biochar
Water harvesting and management
Organic farming and tropical food forestry
Renewable energy and natural building
Ecological waste systems and closed-loop design
Local economies, regenerative communities, and ecovillage planning
Each student completes a one-acre homestead design project and leaves with the tools to build and manage productive ecosystems — from backyards to farms.
Course Information, Fees & Enrollment
Tuition: $2,000 USD
Early Bird Tuition: $1,850 USD (save $150 when full payment is made at least 30 days before the course start date)
Deposit: $400 USD (non-refundable)
Reserve your place with a $400 deposit.
Remaining balance can be paid as:
Early Bird Balance: $1,450 (paid 30+ days before course start)
Standard Balance: $1,600 (paid within 30 days of course start)
Limited Space: Only 12–16 students per course.
Language: English
Includes: All classes, hands-on training, accommodation, and farm-to-table meals.
Excludes: Airfare or transportation to/from Finca Tierra.
Final Balance Due: 2 weeks before course start date.
Accommodation:
Private bamboo cabinas are available on a first-paid basis (no additional cost).
Refund Summary:
The $400 deposit is non-refundable. Tuition (minus the deposit and a 10% transfer fee of the remaining balance) is refundable up to 30 days before the course start date.
If Finca Tierra cancels for any reason, students receive a full refund.
We recommend purchasing travel insurance.
For full details, see our Terms & Refund Policy.