Ruka Ñuke Curacaví

💧 Water

Imagine waking up to the murmur of the water from our natural pool and the sound of the morning irrigation.

Ruka Ñuke —which in Mapudungun means “Mother's House”— is a family eco-plot in Curacaví, where we seek to live in harmony with nature. Here we share learnings about agroecology, animal care, composting, and the restoration of the native dry forest.

We are surrounded by beautiful mountains that you can explore on foot or horseback, and nature is part of daily life.

🌱 Earth

Life here revolves around the earth.

We cultivate gardens, care for animals, compost, and work on landscape regeneration. The diet is mainly ovolactovegetarian, with vegetables from the garden and local products.

We share daily tasks: working in the garden, caring for the animals, cooking together and keeping the common spaces.

We use ecological dry toilet, as part of our commitment to water care.

Volunteers stay in a simple volunteers' cabin, with bunk beds and single beds, surrounded by trees and nature.

🔥 Fire

Ruka Ñuke is not a hotel nor a tourist destination.

It is a real rural life experience, where learning happens by working together, sharing meals and building community.

Here we value deep respect among people. We strive to create a safe space where all voices matter and where respect for women, children and diverse genders is part of daily coexistence.

💨 Air

Community life is an important part of the experience.

Most nights we cook and eat together, sharing stories, learnings and different cultures.

Small gestures — such as cooking together, taking care of water or harvesting vegetables from the garden — are part of the daily magic of the "Mother's House".

If you love nature, simple living and practical learning, you will probably feel very good here.

About us

Ruka Ñuke is the home of Paula and her two children, and for more than ten years we have welcomed volunteers from different parts of the world.

Paula works as Environment Manager in the Municipality of Curacaví, so in addition to caring for the plot she also works on environmental projects for the community.

Here volunteers integrate into the daily life of a Chilean rural family: sharing meals, learning by doing and taking care together of the space we inhabit.

Ruka Ñuke is the home of Paula and her two children. We are a family living on this plot in Curacaví, learning and working day by day to care for the land and develop a life project more connected with nature.

Paula works as Environment Manager in the Municipality of Curacaví, and also coordinates the activities of the plot together with volunteers.

We are not a company nor a hostel: here volunteers integrate into the daily life of the house, sharing simple tasks such as working in the garden, caring for animals, cooking or keeping the common spaces.

We try to create a respectful, calm and collaborative environment, where everyone can feel safe and valued. We believe in open communication, mutual respect and shared learning.

Many volunteers end up feeling part of the family during their stay, because we share not only the work, but also meals, conversations and daily life.

Each day starts early: we cook together the fruits of our garden, learn to recycle and to take care of water, energy and common spaces. Your support in these tasks is fundamental for this project to keep growing and keep its living spirit.

We will guide you with warmth in using our low-impact dry toilet — an ecological toilet that turns waste into compost — and, while we collectively build the new house for volunteers, we dream together of the eco-hostel and restaurant that will sustain Ruka Ñuke sustainably. Each care gesture for the plot and order in the common spaces reinforces our commitment to the earth.

We have been hosting volunteers for eleven years as part of our eco-community family. Here you find a safe space where equity and mutual respect are daily practices: all voices matter and we particularly ensure that women, girls, boys and diverse people feel protected and valued. Come with your energy and willingness, and let's make this shared adventure bloom!