Some content was translated automatically. Show original
🌿 Experience an authentic permaculture life and mountain living in Costa Rica. We are not a work-for-accommodation exchange: you are a collaborator who integrates into a friendly, family-like environment; share and learn. Here you can leave your mark and take away new knowledge, friendships, and experiences, enjoying the nature and culture of Turrialba. The project is sustained by a financial contribution from its visitors.
18 hours of help per week
Farming: Plant crops, sow seeds and help in outside tasks.
Painting & Decorating: Help with painting or decorating the property facilities.
Building & Repairing: Help with a wide range of repairs or building.
Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens
3 days off per week
Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.
Tent: You will sleep in a tent at a camping site.
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.
Permaculture Course: Take part in our Permaculture course for free.
Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.
Certificate: Get a certificate of completion after you finish your experience.
Beginner Spanish or Beginner English
Between 22 and 60 years old
Only hosts solo volunteers (doesn’t accept couples or partners)
Be from outside Costa Rica
Travel insurance
Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa
🌿 Refugio Piedra Grande – School of Life in the Mountains
Piedra Grande Refuge is a school of life in the mountains. Our purpose is to share a different way of inhabiting the earth, based on permaculture, sustainability, deep connection with nature, and cultural exchange.
We are a growing project that welcomes people from around the world to live together, learn, and collaborate in the day-to-day life of the place.
🌱 What we do together
The activities in the project are varied and depend on the season and the space's needs. Among them are:
- Gardening and regenerative agriculture
- General maintenance of the place
- Simple construction and work with natural materials
- Caring for the surroundings and support in daily tasks
Beyond practical tasks, we believe true learning happens through living together, observation, and daily exchange of experiences.
🌄 Mountain life experience
We aim that each person who arrives can:
- Know Costa Rican rural life from within
- Develop new practical skills
- Connect with local biodiversity
- Live an authentic experience in a natural setting
- Schedules are flexible and we always try to maintain a balance between collaboration, learning, rest, and free time.
- Whenever possible, we also share some of the area's most special places, such as rivers, waterfalls, volcanoes, and nature trails. On some occasions, Cabécar Indigenous communities are visited, offering a deeper look at the region's cultural and natural richness of the Turrialba region.
🤝 Our approach
Our model is based on human exchange and mutual learning.
Each person brings their energy, presence and support to the project's development, and in return they gain a different life experience, connection with nature, new friendships and practical knowledge that is hard to find in conventional tourism.
🌿 Project support contribution
To be able to sustain and continue developing this space organically, we request a contribution to support the project, aimed at covering basic costs such as food, space maintenance and continuity of activities.
This contribution can be adjusted according to the duration of stay and the possibilities of each person:
Two-week stay: around $250 USD
Monthly stay: around $400 USD
We know that each situation is different, so this contribution can be discussed openly before arrival. The most important thing for us is that the experience is sustainable and fair for both parties.
🌿 Welcome
If you feel a connection with this kind of life and would like to be part of a growing project in the mountains, you are welcome to write to us.
🌱 What we do together
The activities in the project vary and depend on the season and the needs of the space. Among them are:
- Gardening and regenerative agriculture
- General maintenance of the place
- Simple construction and work with natural materials
- Caring for the surroundings and support in daily tasks
Beyond practical tasks, we believe true learning happens through living together, observation, and daily exchange of experiences.
🌄 Mountain life experience
We aim that each person who arrives can:
- Know Costa Rican rural life from within
- Develop new practical skills
- Connect with local biodiversity
- Live an authentic experience in a natural setting
- Schedules are flexible and we always try to maintain a balance between collaboration, learning, rest and free time.
- Whenever possible, we also share some of the area's most special places, such as rivers, waterfalls, volcanoes and nature trails. On some occasions, Cabécar Indigenous communities are visited, offering a deeper look at the region's cultural and natural richness of the Turrialba region.
🤝 Our approach
Our model is based on human exchange and mutual learning.
Each person brings their energy, presence and support to the project's development, and in return they gain a different life experience, connection with nature, new friendships and practical knowledge that is hard to find in conventional tourism.
🌿 Project support contribution
To be able to sustain and continue developing this space organically, we request a contribution to support the project, aimed at covering basic costs such as food, space maintenance and continuity of activities.
This contribution can be adjusted according to the duration of stay and the possibilities of each person:
Two-week stay: around $250 USD
Monthly stay: around $400 USD
We know that each situation is different, so this contribution can be discussed openly before arrival. The most important thing for us is that the experience is sustainable and fair for both parties.
🌿 Welcome
If you feel a connection with this kind of life and would like to be part of a growing project in the mountains, you are welcome to write to us.
🌿 Rules for coexistence and collaboration – Refugio Piedra Grande
To maintain a calm, safe, family-like and respectful environment, we expect each collaborator:
1. 🤝 Participate with responsibility and a good attitude, respecting the 18 hours per week of collaboration agreed upon.
2. 🌱 Respect nature, animals, plants and the resources of the Refuge.
3. 🏡 Keep clean and organized the spaces you use and contribute to the general care of the place.
4. 🔇 Respect the Refuge's tranquility. Parties, loud music, or behaviors that affect other visitors or collaborators are not allowed.
5. 🚫 No drugs: possession, use or distribution of drugs or illegal substances inside the Refuge is not allowed.
6. 🍺 Alcohol with responsibility: excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages or alcohol-related behaviors that affect coexistence or safety are not allowed.
7. ❤️ Always maintain a respectful treatment towards people, regardless of their origin, culture or beliefs.
8. 🔥 The use of bonfires, tools and other areas or equipment of the Refuge must be done responsibly and following the corresponding indications.
9. 🌿 The person comes as a collaborator, not as a worker. We seek an exchange of knowledge, culture, experiences and goodwill.
10. ✨ We come to share, learn, contribute, and enjoy. We want every person to leave a positive footprint on the project and take with them new learnings, friendships and good memories.
