S7. | E11. Finca Victoria | Vieques, Puerto Rico | Sylvia De Marco Invites Travelers Into A New World Of Ancient Wellness

“And I got so addicted to my creativity. The more I create, the more praises I get. I'm doing a movie, but I'm also doing three restaurants where everybody's eating in those restaurants, and then I'm also doing the wine list for those restaurants. So it was really rich and amazing and beautiful, but I didn't know that I was depleting myself to a point of exhaustion. And then I had this spiritual awakening.” We’re in great company with Sylvia De Marco, the Founder of Finca Victoria, an Ayurvedic boutique hotel and retreat center, perched atop one of the highest points on Puerto Rico’s island of Vieques. Once a charming destination that changed Sylvia’s life, she has now transformed into the perfect place for travelers to be nourished, to reset and restore through her Panchakarma practices, culinary flavors and grounding experiences.  In this episode, as we approach the sometimes stressful holiday season, dreaming of New Year's resolutions and future travels, tune into the words and wisdom that Sylvia shares from her own personal journey and how she invites us all to find our way as well.  Top Takeaways [1:50] From childhood, Sylvia recognized her joy in sharing spaces and building community, expressing her creative spirit in a variety of mediums, flavors, and passions.  [5:15] Sylvia’s wellness journey began at a dark moment in her life when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017, acting as a blessing in disguise for the self discovery and healing that would ensue.  [9:20] Ayurveda, “knowledge of life,” is the oldest medicinal system known to man. Listen as Sylvia so clearly explains its history, purpose and presence in modern day society - as a preventative practice striving for balance within the body and its surroundings, as opposed to modern medicine which only isolates the problem. [18:50] Finca Caribe was Sylvia’s serene escape from her daily life as well as her inspiration for stepping into the world of hosting. How it came into her hands and underwent a complete transformation to become Finca Victoria is a story of fate and good fortune.  [26:00] Begin your morning with a nourishing and flavorful Ayurvedic Caribbean breakfast, spend your day discovering the beautiful beaches and wild horses roaming the island of Vieques, and end your evening kayaking the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world.  [32:10] From the cabins to houses, treehouses to airstreams, every room tells a story at Finca Victoria, as Sylvia lovingly conceptualized and mindfully designed each to blend into the stunning nature that surrounds them.  [41:40] What the future holds for Finca Victoria and how we as listeners can learn from Sylvia’s appreciation for moments of pause and learnings from a state of flow.  Visit For Yourself Finca Victoria Website | @finca_victoria La Botánica Website | @labotanicahotel Stay In Good Company Website