from 975€

Great 4.4rating (78)

Organic Farm & Sustainable Tourism

location
2 - 24 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Great 4.4  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Good response rate

Highlights

  • Get to know how sustainable farming works
  • Help protect our planet earth
  • Become more passionate about sustainable farming & tourism
  • Boost your CV with international volunteer experience
  • Visit amazing places throughout Ecuador during your free time

Especially suitable

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+

About the program

Volunteer Work on an Organic Farm. The eco-farm offers everything to switch off from hectic everyday life, to get to know a completely new world and to find yourself.

The 10-hectare organic farm in the mountains of Ecuador is much more than that. Here you will find a wonderful ecological place where volunteers and tourists do not exploit nature, but observe it very closely and live according to its rules. The organic farm is located in the middle of magnificent ...

About the program

The 10-hectare organic farm in the mountains of Ecuador is much more than that. Here you will find a wonderful ecological place where volunteers and tourists do not exploit nature, but observe it very closely and live according to its rules. The organic farm is located in the middle of magnificent landscapes close to the Pacific coast of Ecuador with its dream beaches. The farm runs an eco-tourism project and hosts guests from Ecuador and abroad.

The owners, from New Zealand and Ecuador, are real experts in sustainable agriculture and tourism. Together they have created this oasis that fascinates guests from all over the world. They also run an environmental education project, to teach next generations about sustainable agriculture and environmental protection. 

You are in the right place on this organic farm if you can tackle things firmly if you are ready to embrace new things, enjoy getting to know other people and are willing to learn from them. While doing agricultural work, you will learn a lot about sustainable planting methods and environmental conservation. While attending tourists or local guests you can teach and learn - in any case, you get out of your comfort zone and immerse yourself in a completely new reality of life. This volunteer experience will broaden your horizon and probably shift one or the other priority.

On the farm’s property, you will find typical local forests, orchards, pastures, alternative energy models, rotation areas for the rearing of large and small animals, holiday homes for tourists, communal accommodation, a large open-air kitchen, and cozy hammocks. 

The eco-farm offers everything to switch off from hectic everyday life, to get to know a completely new world, and to find yourself. As if that weren't enough, wonderful beaches at the Pacific are only a few kilometers away.

Typical day

When volunteering on the organic farm you will have a wide range of tasks. The responsibilities are redistributed on a weekly basis. You can indicate preferences if you are particularly interested in a work area. 

The working day on the farm is around 7 hours. The sun rises early in Ecuador and so ...

Typical day

When volunteering on the organic farm you will have a wide range of tasks. The responsibilities are redistributed on a weekly basis. You can indicate preferences if you are particularly interested in a work area. 

The working day on the farm is around 7 hours. The sun rises early in Ecuador and so does the workday. Before breakfast, volunteers help to water the plants and, if necessary, harvest some fruits for breakfast. The well-deserved breakfast at 7:30 a.m. tastes even better after this morning routine. 

The second morning shift is all about farming and planting: sowing, transplanting, composting, weeding and so on. The volunteers work hand in hand with the farm staff and the owner's family and are guided by an experienced person in the respective task.

The afternoon work revolves around the various projects: community work, arts / crafts, teaching, gardening, maintenance and construction projects ... there is something for everyone. At about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, work is over and everyone can enjoy their free time. On some days there are cultural offers or film evenings for the volunteers.

Possible tasks on this farm stay in Ecuador can be:

  • Participation in sowing, planting, watering and fertilizing the plants
  • Helping with weed and pest control
  • Helping with the compost production
  • Supporting with feeding and caring for the animals
  • Participation in the production of honey
  • Participation in the harvest
  • Supporting maintenance and construction work on buildings
  • Assisting with the maintenance of the trails and gardens
  • Participation in the creation of new gardens
  • Participation in PR and fundraising measures
  • Updating social networks
  • Art projects
  • Collaboration in the environmental school
  • English classes for locals
  • Tutoring for children in the community
  • Attending tourists and day guests
  • Other tasks that may arise
Note: The tasks may vary. They depend on factors such as the number of volunteers, season, current needs of the project, as well as self-motivation. Not every volunteer may be fully involved in all these tasks.

Free-time activities

The organic farm is located close to the Pacific coast, about 400 km west of Quito, the country's capital. The region is characterized by hills covered with forests and agricultural land. Here you can immerse yourself in the authentic rural life of Ecuador, where the distances are longer, the clocks ...

Free-time activities

The organic farm is located close to the Pacific coast, about 400 km west of Quito, the country's capital. The region is characterized by hills covered with forests and agricultural land. Here you can immerse yourself in the authentic rural life of Ecuador, where the distances are longer, the clocks tick more slowly and the priorities are completely different than in hectic, modern cities.

The lovely town of Canoa beach is only a few kilometers away. So on days off you can unwind on the beach, plunge into the waves or take surfing lessons. At the weekend there is also some nightlife in the bars and salsa clubs.

The nearest bigger city, Bahía de Caraquez, is further south of Canoa on the Pacific, about 37 km from the farm. Bahía de Caraquez is a modern holiday resort popular with tourists from the capital with very good infrastructure, a beautiful beach and surrounding forests.

There are also a number of walks that can be done upstream from the farm or to Canoa through the mountains or other nearby towns and beaches. Canoa offers paragliding, horse riding on the beach, cycling, surfing lessons. Special features are the peaceful sunsets and the rich seafood food.

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level) or Spanish (basic level)

Required Documents

CV and Application Form

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 07:30 - 16:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by South America Inside

  • Shared room in Volunteer House
  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Airport pick-up in Quito and overnight stay in Quito*
  • Advice from our experienced staff
  • On-going support via WhatsApp, phone or mail
  • Elaboration of your application profile in Spanish
  • Your placement in the volunteer project
  • Pre-departure information
  • Packing list
  • Country handbook
  • Intercultural guide
  • Orientation upon arrival
  • On-site volunteer coordinator
  • 24/7 emergency number
  • Advice on travel insurance
  • Certificate of participation
* The costs for the bus ticket to the project are not included.

Airport Pickup at Mariscal Sucre International Airport

Depending on the day of arrival in Ecuador, the program includes one to two nights in Quito (including full board).
Before you continue your trip to the volunteer place, you will take part in an orientation meeting with our local team in Quito.

Accommodation

While volunteering on the organic farm in Ecuador, you will live in a shared room in the volunteer house with shared bathrooms. Like all buildings on the farm, the Volunteer House is a rustic, but very functional and beautifully designed, wooden structure. The toilets are compost toilets and the water for the shower is heated with solar energy. 

You are asked to only use biodegradable shampoo and detergent on the farm and therefore bring them with you, as the farm depends on filtered rainwater and its own water treatment. For a small fee, you can also have your things washed and buy eco-shampoo on site.

There is internet on the farm that you can use outside of working hours.

Food & Beverages

The farm stay includes daily breakfast, lunch and dinner - and in this case most of the food comes straight to the table from the farm's garden. You will probably even harvest your lunch yourself one morning.

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) in Quito. We assist you to find cheap flights to Ecuador. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Ecuador provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Ecuador you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Ecuador. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

Check-in at the project site is always on a Monday. Always full weeks are charged from Monday to Sunday, independent if you stay the 7 days or less. Volunteers need to start the program with an orientation session in Quito with the volunteer coordinator. Overnight stay (s) in Quito in a Homestay (single room, half-board) is included. 

Therefore the minimum stay is 2 weeks + 1 day!

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

2 weeks (min. stay) 975€
3 weeks 1,138€
4 weeks 1,302€
5 weeks 1,465€
6 weeks 1,629€
7 weeks 1,792€
8 weeks 1,955€
9 weeks 2,119€
10 weeks 2,282€
11 weeks 2,445€
12 weeks 2,609€
24 weeks (max. stay) 4,569€
Average fees 339€/week

Program fees

339€ per week 2 - 24 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

2 - 24 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with South America Inside during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

South America Inside

Great 4.4 rating (78 reviews)

Agency - founded in 2003

Verified by Volunteer World

  Good response rate

Coordinated by

Marion

Spoken languages: German, English, Spanish

About the project

South America Inside promotes intercultural, linguistic and educational exchanges. Its volunteer programs are addressed to students, professionals and retirees.

Meet your organization

South America Inside is an intercultural management agency, founded back in 2003, which specializes in the promotion of programs abroad, language travel and educational programs throughout Latin America.

Since 2007, to enrich the experience of our global-minded clients and to provide them with even more possibilities, South America Inside has been expanding their program offerings throughout South and Central America.

Working together with some of the best language schools in Latin America, South America Inside provides high quality language courses in almost every Latin American country.

Thanks to a professional team of motivated and friendly staff, South America Inside has been very successful over the past several years and have been able to establish an outstanding network of what we call "Insider Contacts." To enrich the experience of their clients and to provide them with more possibilities, South America Inside has been expanding our program offerings throughout Central and South America, in addition to our well-established Chilean programs.

Volunteer Work

Do you dream of staying abroad while doing something positive? Are you looking for a unique experience that will leave a mark on your life? Then a Volunteer Work program in South America or Central America is perfect for you!

With South America Inside you can combine an adventure abroad with social commitment, and create lasting memories in Latin America. Support the protection of endangered species; help a local community construct new homes; give new hope to impoverished children.

The possibilities to lend a hand are diverse, as there are the many places where help is needed. We have classified our volunteer projects in different areas so you can easily find the one (or more!) projects that best match your needs and interests.

Why with us

There are many persuasive reasons that speak in favor of South America Inside when it comes to selecting your perfect provider of language, study and volunteer travel abroad. Following, we have prepared a short summary so that you can get us to know a little better.

Our Insider benefits at a glance:

  Regional Experience
Over one decade (established in 2003) of dedication to language, work and study travel programs in Latin America. Thanks to our long standing work and life experience in the South American continent, we know this region really well. Therefore, we can help and inform you in a professional and competent way.

  Multifaceted Offers
Over time we have developed new programs to offer a wide array of work abroad opportunities to our clients. We have been pioneers in launching new exchange programs, as we have been the first in offering Work & Travel/Working Holiday and Farm Stays in Chile and successfully introduced these programs into the market back in 2005. Since 2012, we are the only agency to offer this type of program in Costa Rica.

  Insider Advice
Despite living in the modern era of the internet, we know that reliable and competent advice is still an important criterion for most of us. At South America Inside, you will find the benefits of an internet provider and an independent travel agency. We will be glad to pass on our extensive knowledge and regional experience.!

  Location
It is difficult to run programs when there is nobody “on the ground” to evaluate existing options and search for new opportunities. So, we are located in Chile, on location, and we know everything that is going on first hand. We know what it is like to live as a foreigner in South America and will be happy to assist you in making your stay unforgettable!

  Independence
South America Inside is an independent provider of language courses, internships, volunteer work, Farm Stays and Work & Travel programs in Latin America. We neither depend financially nor structurally on any other company, language school, association or organization. Therefore, we are able to give personalized information in accordance to your needs and availability.

•  Multilingual Team

Our team is multilingual and international! We speak fluent English, Spanish and German, as well as some French and Portuguese. With our customers, we can communicate in their native language and we avoid misunderstandings with local partners by communicating in Spanish with them. You can be sure that there will be an English-speaking contact person for you before, during, and after your stay.

  Customer Service
Excellent customer service is one of the most important goals for South America Inside, and this is evident with the positive feedback we regularly receive from our many happy clients. Emails are answered within 48 business hours and every client is treated with the same friendliness and expertise.

  Gapless and Accurate Information flow
With South America Inside you will have one and the same contact person before, during and after your trip. With that said, we guarantee a gapless and accurate information flow and you will always be very well informed.

  Approved Program Places
Many of our program places, especially in the area of internships and volunteer work, are designed in the way that they will be recognized by most universities, colleges or academies.

78 reviews · rating4.4

lyne bourbonnais rating3.8

2024 at Eco Farm Worker

j'ai bien aimé mon expérience à Antigua qui est une superbe ville facile à visiter. Vivre dans une famille, y prendre les repas est une très belle incursion dans la vie guatémaltèque. et quoi de mieux pour l'immersion en langue espagnole! eco farm: bien qu'au départ je n'ai pas bien saisi ...
GERALDINE QUIRKE rating3.2

2024 at Work in a National Park

When I scheduled volunteer time the indication was that there was a limited number of volunteers based on the projects/work to be done. As more and more volunteers arrived i realized that we were more valued for the money we paid than for the limited amount of work to be done. Also, I felt that ...
Floriana D. rating5

2023 at Local Wildlife Helper

Hey there, I love my experience, it is amazing !!! Tomorrow I am going to visit and I am working, it's going very well ! Thank you for everything!! ...
Ich bin gut auf der Osterinsel angekommen. Wurde von dem Projektleiter am Flughafen abgeholt. Er hatte sogar eine Kollegin mit, die deutsch spricht, sollte ich mit spanisch nicht so gut umgehen können. Echt toll! Die Unterkunft ist gut und ordentlich und groß, sie liegt am Ende der Ortschaft, ...
Emilie Hasni rating4.2

2023 at Help Save Sea Turtles

Magnifique expérience avec les tortues et avec les autres volontaires aussi. Le cadre est magnifique, les couchers de soleil et les balades dans la nature autour du lieu du volontariat sont superbes. Petite info : si tu veux avoir internet, le seul réseau qui fonctionne est Kolbi. Nous on a ...
Laurence M. rating5

2023 at Wildlife Rescue Assistant

The country is magnifique and at this moment all the people who I’ve met are nice. The projet and his place is very cool and the family home stay too! Everything is OK thank you for ...

Location


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German, English, Spanish

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