Be a sheperd in Serra da Malcata Natural Reserve

Help a sustainable project: 3 travelers confirmed that this host is actively contributing to a more sustainable future for everyone!
Higher chance of approval: This host has recently approved volunteers and is looking for more applications.
Connect with nature: 17 travelers recommend this experience for reconnecting with nature
Connect with international travelers: 14 travelers recommend this host to meet travelers from all around the world
Needs help immediately
Accepts couples and pairs of volunteers

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What you offer

30h

Hours per week: Help out and collaborate with your host only a few hours per week.

Building & Repairing: Help with a wide range of repairs or building.

Farming: Plant crops, sow seeds and help in outside tasks.

Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens

Animal Care: Help look after and take care of animals.

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What you get

Days off per week: Have some time off for yourself, go explore the city or rest for a while.

Team Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other people.

Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.

Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.

Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.

Pick Up: We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.

Support: Get help from the Worldpackers support team in case you need it, at any point of your trip.

Verified Host: This host has been verified by our team before joining the community.

WP Safeguard: Did something not go as planned? Contact our team.; Learn more

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Availability

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Stay at least: 23 days

The Experience

The experience Shepherding cows in the mountains! The amount of work depends on the season and can be different everyday — but the work entails walking to accompany and turn them around, helping to take care of the babies, etc. Get to know this traditional way of keeping cows — which has gotten hard to find in Europe — with a free range group that is indigenous to the Serra da Malcata region. What you offer 30 hours of help per week

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Requirements

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

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Talk to those who have lived the experience

In our community, you can talk to worldpackers who have already collaborated with this host and get your questions answered directly.

You can ask things like:

a) How was your experience with this host?
b) How was your day-to-day routine?
c) How much did you spend on this trip?

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Connect with those who will also be there

Become a Verified Member and exchange ideas before your trip with other worldpackers who will be volunteering in the same place as you.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals

Join the host in pursuit of these goals and contribute to building a better and more sustainable future for all.

12. Responsible consumption and production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

15. Life on land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

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28 Reviews

4.5

Host & Team

4.5

Hours & Tasks

4.5

Farm

4.0

Learning & Fun

4.5

How this experience will transform you

17 Get in touch with nature
14 Meeting international travelers
11 Learning about sustainability
10 Developing environmental awareness
10 Practicing English
8 Meeting locals

This host contributes to Sustainable Development Goals

3 12. Responsible consumption and production
3 15. Life on land

Tatiana

Colombia

It's a hard work, but the hosts gave us more than two days off, if your idea is to go to a place where you can be in contact with nature, it's your place, since you don't have a signal in the place and the nearest town is retired, although, the views are very nice, and now that the springs begins you can see many flowers throughout the reserve

24 days ago

Marta

Spain

I'm aware that my expirience was completely influenced by the weather conditions, there was no light for days cause the solar panels don't work when it's cloudy, the house got flooded from the rain and all of our stuff got wet so we had to leave early, it was really hard to dry our clothes cause it was really humid and the wood was wet so we couldn't lit a fire easily. Also I found the amount of food insufficient for the amount of work. I feel like the experience could be better in summer or spring, also Marta and Fernando were really polite to us and I would've love to talk more to them.

3 months ago

Maarit

Germany

An experience certainly different to everything I was used to! To be honest: due to challenges I did not always enjoy my stay, but still it was a valuable time. If your looking for a nice and easy time abroad it might not be the right place for you. If your looking for a place to learn how to adapt to given circumstances and find out what you actually need in life, I would recommend this host. For some reasons space for review is very limited. If you want to know more, feel free to contact me! I could also give you advice what to bring for the journey.

3 months ago

Frida

Sweden

I had a shorter stay then planed from the beginning, because I arrived at rainy season and had the unfortunate experience that the volunteer house got flooded. There was not much to do about this as we had no heater in the room for drying our clothes, apart from the fireplace, and i think the host did not communicate enough to help us. Also I can see the amount of food insufficient for the amount of work. Apart from all of this, the nature they live in is amazing and I found their way of living facinating, still i think this is something i could find somehere else with better conditions.

3 months ago

Lauren

United Kingdom

An incredible environment, experience and excellent hosts. thank you Marta and Fernando. 10/10 recommend

4 months ago

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About the host

Hosted by Fernando

Response Rate: This host usually answers to 90% of the messages
Response Time: This host usually writes back in Less than a day

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