Eco Caminhos Brazil

Located in the peaceful city of Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Eco Caminhos is an eco farm with the intention of becoming a fully self-sustaining community in Brazil. We welcome people from all around the world; volunteers bring creativity to our organization, live a sustainable way of life, and, after leaving, spread the knowledge and skills they gained to other parts of the globe. At Eco Caminhos, you will learn about natural building (bioconstruction), organic farming, agroforestry, permaculture, make lifelong friendships, and have the opportunity to practice different languages like Portuguese and English. All of this while surrounded by beautiful landscapes.

We believe that immersion in the beauty of nature, rural life, and manual work are excellent aids for reflection, relaxation, facilitating the flow of your thoughts, fostering a greater connection with yourself, and freeing your mind from the stresses of city life. These are among some of the reasons why so many people come here and find peace and fulfillment.
To make this work as well as possible, and to make these experiences accessible to everyone, we have developed four types of programs - you can choose the one that best fits you:

- Eco Experience (1 - 4 weeks):
Our Eco Experience program balances volunteering and ecotourism. The program is designed for people who want to enjoy an authentic, active experience at our eco farm in a beautiful green mountainous area in Brazil. You will be staying with a local Brazilian family, so you can immerse yourself in Brazilian rural culture. You will have the opportunity to practice your Portuguese, learn about local customs, and enjoy typical Brazilian cuisine. Believe us, Brazilians are very welcoming and the food is delicious! The program is very flexible. You can work 3-5 days per week at the eco farm in natural building (bioconstruction) or organic farming and agroforestry. Eco Caminhos also organizes a number of activities, including: Portuguese classes, hikes, campfires, sightseeing, horseback riding, and more.

- Short Term Volunteer (4 - 12 weeks):
The short-term volunteer program is designed for younger or inexperienced candidates, or for people who simply lack the time to join us for an extended period of time. Volunteers are expected to contribute 24 hours of work per week and the program is adjusted to their personal interests and preferences. After completing the short-term program, there is a possibility to continue in our free long-term volunteer program. This, however, depends on the motivation and growth of the volunteer in the first three months and on availability in the volunteer houses.

- Long Term Volunteer (+ 1 year):
This is a demanding program which requires very mature, motivated, and responsible people. The objective of this program is to become part of Eco Caminhos and to eventually generate your own income, so that you can stay with us for as long as you want. You will be offered accommodation, food, and internet until you generate your own income to live independently. These volunteers are expected to work 40 hours per week, show motivation, and be an example to others.

- Group Experience:
For groups of a least 6 people, we can design special volunteer group experiences for up to 2 weeks. We can completely custom design the program to your interests. Besides natural building (bioconstruction), agroforestry, and permaculture workshops, it is also possible to do a social development project for the community. Some example projects include reforming the house of a 90 year-old local farmer, reforming a school building, and implementing an organic garden in a school for underprivileged food-insecure kids. We can offer both basic and highly comfortable accommodation.

We accept people all year round!
Fill out our questionnaire or contact us to visit or work with us. Check the prices and details of the programs: https://ecocaminhos.com/volunteer-opportunities/