Eco Group Experience

location
1 - 8 weeks  ·  Age 14 - 50+

rating  Outstanding 4.9  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Excellent response rate

Highlights

  • Experience a self-sustainable life at our ecofarm
  • Learn about bioconstruction, agroforestry and organic farming
  • Practice Portuguese and English with people from all over the world
  • Enjoy the landscapes, waterfall and the life in a community
  • Explore Rio de Janeiro or enjoy the nature


Especially good for

Age 14+
Families
Groups

About the program

The great advantage of this is that we customise your programme to your interests. We can organise bioconstruction, organic farming, and permaculture workshops.

Eco Caminhos receives groups from around the world, offering customized programs that allow groups to experience what a self-sustaining eco farm is all about while exploring the region’s rich flora and fauna. Eco Caminhos is situated in the beautiful mountains of the Atlantic Forest on the ...

About the program

Eco Caminhos receives groups from around the world, offering customized programs that allow groups to experience what a self-sustaining eco farm is all about while exploring the region’s rich flora and fauna. Eco Caminhos is situated in the beautiful mountains of the Atlantic Forest on the outskirts of the Três Picos (“Three Peaks”) State Park, close to the city of Nova Friburgo. It is the perfect base from which to go on hikes with stunning views and to visit waterfalls and natural pools.

You will also have the opportunity to participate in several workshops in agroforestry, bioconstruction, organic farming, renewable energy, permaculture, and more! Whatever your interests are – our experts in the field will guide you through the learning process as you discover new ideas and develop new skills with hands-on training and practical experience.


here some of the activities you can choose from: 

  • Experience life on an Eco Farm.
  • Hands-on experience in bioconstruction and agroforestry
  • Live at one of the most beautiful and best build bioconstruction houses of Brazil
  • Delicious food and drinks prepared with organic ingredients from our garden.
  • Learn about permaculture, bioconstruction, and agroforestry in theory and practice.
  • Hikes in the mountains, parapainting, horseback riding, wild camping, campfires, tour of the region, and bread baking.
  • Meet the people of the international Eco Caminhos community.



Typical day

Eco Caminhos is situated at the outskirts of the 3 Picos Natural Reserve, part of the atlantic forest Ecosystem. It is a beautiful mountain region where you can do hikes, camping weekends, horseback riding and other outdoor activities. Every week we organize movie nights, games nights with a ...

Typical day

Eco Caminhos is situated at the outskirts of the 3 Picos Natural Reserve, part of the atlantic forest Ecosystem. It is a beautiful mountain region where you can do hikes, camping weekends, horseback riding and other outdoor activities. Every week we organize movie nights, games nights with a campfire.

  • 7:00 AM - Breakfast
  • 8 AM  - 12 AM - Introduction to Bioconstruction, Organic Farming or Agroforestry
  • 12:00 PM - Lunch & Break
  • 1 PM - 4 PM - Work in Bioconstruction, Organic Farming or Agroforestry/Yoga, games or Brazilian cooking workshop
  • 5 PM - 7PM - Free Time
  • 7 PM - Dinner
  • 8 PM - 10 PM - Games Night/Brazilian Cinema/Groups Dynamics/Campfire

Free-time activities

You are free to do or go anywhere during the free time, still we organize extra activities they can choose to participate on, some free such as some hikes, campfire, cinema nights, tour of the region. Other activities such as horse backriding, parapainting, rafting have extra expenses that need to ...

Free-time activities

You are free to do or go anywhere during the free time, still we organize extra activities they can choose to participate on, some free such as some hikes, campfire, cinema nights, tour of the region. Other activities such as horse backriding, parapainting, rafting have extra expenses that need to be paid for.
While we are committed to creating a complete and unforgettable eco experience for your group, you are welcome to organize your own events here as well.

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 14 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 14 years old on the program start date.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Criminal Background Check

required

Nationality Restrictions

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

Other Skills

motivation

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Eco Caminhos

Prices are considered for groups of 6 people.

Included
  • Food: Full Board or access to kitchen facilities in the restaurant
  • Eco-sports: Beautiful hikes, horseback riding, waterfall tour
  • Workshops: Bioconstruction, agroforestry, Organic farming, Permaculture, Renewable Energy, Yoga and Meditation
  • Campfire: We enjoy organizing campfires and meals under the stars, which can be part of an overnight stay in the mountains.
  • Basic or luxury accommodation
  • Swimming pool & sauna
  • Event or sports area
  • Caminhos In Action: We organize social actions in the region for people who need our help. For example, we built a vertical farm for an impoverished school and refurbished the house of a poor rural family.
  • Customize your program: It is possible to use our facilities while organizing your own program, workshops, or courses.
NOT INCLUDED

To guarantee your safe and comfortable arrival, our trusted driver from Nova Friburgo, Dutra, can pick you up and drop you off at Eco Caminhos' doorstep. He will wait for you at Arrivals with a small name plate. Dutra charges  R$ 1800 per leg (approximately € 338). We can also arrange for you to be dropped off at a specific location on your day of departure.

Accommodation

Groups can choose to stay at an all-inclusive luxury guest house with incredible facilities or go for the cheaper and more basic option of staying at a local farm. While we are committed to creating a complete and unforgettable eco experience for your group, you are welcome to organize your own events here as well.

Food & Beverages

We will provide food in the Brazilian style. Full Board or access to kitchen facilities in the restaurant.

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Airport Pickup at Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport

An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) in Rio De Janeiro. We assist you to find cheap flights to Brazil. 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 Brazil provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

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

Details on arrival

The tropical weather at Eco Caminhos allows us to recieve groups all year long.


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

Program fees

1 week (min. stay) 596€
1 week 3 days 711€
2 weeks 1,143€
8 weeks (max. stay) 4,573€
Average fees 584€/week

Program fees

584€ per week 1 - 8 weeks Age 14 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

1 - 8 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 Eco Caminhos during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Eco Caminhos

Outstanding 4.9 rating (76 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2014

Verified by Volunteer World

  Excellent response rate

Coordinated by

Bart

Spoken languages: Spanish, Dutch, German, Portuguese, English

About the project

EcoCaminhos it’s an EcoFarm, a community, one that aims to become fully self sustainable and give back to nature and society following the principles of Permaculture.

Meet your organization

Since 2014 Eco Caminhos has worked as a international volunteer based community that strives to become a role model when it comes to environmental practices, healthy human development and self-sustainability. We are located in one of the ecosystems with the highest levels of biodiversity, the Atlantic Forest mountain Biome of Brazil.

We believe the current way of doing things is coming into conflict with the world’s natural life sustaining cycles, besides we consider the out of balance and stressful  nature of it to be also the root cause for many of the social and individual problems we humans are dealing with today. We want to help build a more humane and sustainable option where both the environment and people can develop and grow in balance. 

To turn this into a reality at EcoCaminhos we follow the Permaculture ideals, we focus on Organic Farming, Sustainable Bioconstruction, Agroforestry and we believe in working hard and together as a community. We also think that in order for society to take the next step in the right direction all this practices need to be supported by modern technologies but implemented in such a way that their impact is positive, with moderation and responsability.

We are located away from the heptic lifestyle of moder society, in a rural area where we can focus on nature and developing our sustainable community, but still we want to have a positive impact in the life of others and society, and in order to do this we offer a variety of volunteer opportunities, ecotourism experiences and even an apprenticeship programme for brazilian teenegers in need. We do this in order to both carry and expand our knowledge to others and to share the experience of what it is to live here with us to the world, it is not for personal or financial gain but instead to keep moving forward this community with which we truly believe we would be able to help heal the wound that we as a species have inflicted against the environment and hence against ourselves. 

Our Volunteer Opportunities combine hands-on experience with introduction theoretical presentations on Organic Farming, Bioconstruction and Agroforestry. We also organize a variety of tourism experiences such as trips to the city, sightseeing,  hikes, horseback riding, movie nights and others. Volunteers can come for both short term and long term and we even organize Experiences for entire Groups

At Eco Caminhos we want to make a difference and help to positively change the world and the life's of all the people and volunteers we come in contact with, both from our local community and abroad. 

“If you assume that there is no hope, you guarantee that there will be no hope. If you assume that there is an instinct for freedom, that there are opportunities to change things, then there is a possibility that you can contribute to making a better world.”― Noam Chomsky

76 reviews · rating4.9

Spending 2 weeks at Eco Caminhos was an amazing experience. Their vision to regenerate the forest and develop a sustainable model for others to follow is inspiring. The setting is beautiful - we woke up to a view of the mountains and Atlantic Forest each day. The people are knowledgeable, ...
I spent a week at Eco Cahminos and it was definitely one of my favorite times in Brazil during my month there. I feel like I learned so much in just a week from Bart and the other staff. Everyone is welcoming and really cares about the great work they are doing. The work is tough but very rewarding ...
Valuable, impactful and unforgettable volunteer experience in an incredibly bio diverse part of the world. You have the opportunity to learn about sustainable agriculture and building practices with people of all ages and backgrounds while also exploring the local area. The community at Eco Caminhos ...
Noelma Alcantara rating5

2024 at Eco Experience on an Eco Farm

Incrível incrível!!! Pessoas incríveis!!! Ter a oportunidade, de conhecer e crescer em prol da natureza, da vida e do futuro e sentir-se em família!?! realmente é um previlégio. *** english *** Incredible incredible!!! Incredible people! To have the opportunity to get to know and grow for ...
Dammn, had such a meaningful experience at Eco Caminhos. Couldn't spend these two weeks anywhere better. Nice staff to work with, and a stunning landscape to work in. Besides working there is also some time to explore the beautiful region! I think it's a very promising project where there is also a ...
Zeer mooie plaats, fantastische mensen en wonderschone omgeving. Dagelijks een nieuw avontuur, veel geleerd en beleefd op het ritme van de natuur. Met Ecolibrium hebben ze hier de komende jaren een superboeiend project. *** english *** Very beautiful place, wonderful people and wonderful ...

Location

Americas > South America > Brazil > Nova Friburgo

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Contact Bart
  Excellent response rate
Spanish, Dutch, German, Portuguese, English

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