๐ณWelcome to the Jungle! ๐ณ
Hey there, nature lovers, freedom seekers, and eco-adventurers!
If youโve been dreaming of living off the land, connecting with nature, and being part of something thatโs actually helping to heal the earth, welcome to our little slice of paradise in the Ecuadorian Amazon!
Weโre rewilding 3.5 hectares of land here, transforming what used to be cattle pasture and monoculture farmland into a thriving, abundant organic food forest, packed with tropical fruits, native plants, and big jungle vibes. Think: Garden of Edenโฆwith machetes and pineapples.
What youโll be doing ๐
We only ask for around 15 hours of help per week, leaving plenty of time to enjoy yourself and the surrounding nature. Thereโs always something going on and youโre free to choose how and what hours you want to help, a few hours of sharing your love with the land and the rest of the day to chill, explore, or get creative.
Projects may include:
- Gardening & Food Forest Care: planting, pruning, weeding, composting, harvesting, chopping grass with a machete like a jungle ninjaโฆ ๐ฟ
- Natural building & DIY projects: crafting with bamboo or other natural materials to build furniture, garden tools, structures, or whatever you dream up! ๐ก
Got a cool project idea? Letโs hear it!
If it supports the land or the space, weโre all for it.
Whatโs growing here ๐
Weโve got a growing list of tropical treats like bananas, plantains, pineapples, cacao, coconuts, limes, sugar cane, and more โ and weโre always happy to share whatโs in season. Learn how to harvest, process, and even make your own chocolate straight from the tree!
Help plant fruit trees and reforest the Amazon in Ecuador ๐ฑ
Living here ๐ก
Our setup is super simple and back-to-basics โ think jungle glamping without the glam.
Weโve got:
- A volunteer house with a kitchen, running water, compost toilets
- Electricity & Wi-Fi (enough to stay connected, but not get lost in it)
- Bug nets, mattresses, bedding
- No fridge, washing machine, TV, jacuzzi, etc.
- No private couple accommodations (single sleeping pads + bug nets)
- Several peaceful streams, fruit trees, and a whole jungle out back to explore. Beautiful rivers, waterfalls, and lookout spots are all a short walk away.
๐ฒ Food & daily life:
Volunteers provide their own food (super affordable here โ about $1โ$2/day). Thereโs a local food truck, small shops, and occasional market runs. Plus, weโll share whateverโs harvestable from the land!
This is an alcohol-free space, no cigarettes, no animal products, and no chemicals. Just good clean living, surrounded by nature and cool people.
The community ๐
Weโre surrounded by local Ecuadorian farmers (โcampesinosโ) and indigenous Kichwa communities. Youโll get a real sense of the culture here โ and weโre happy to introduce you to the locals, help with Spanish or English, and even teach you guitar or percussion if thatโs your thing.
We welcome folks from all backgrounds and walks of life โ no matter your age, size, gender, orientation, or dance skills. Just be kind, open-hearted, and respectful.
We love swapping stories, ideas, and dreams. Whether youโre on a long journey, a short escape, or a soul-searching adventure, weโd love to hear what brought you here.
๐ Interested in joining us?
If this speaks to you, shoot us a message! Tell us a bit about yourself, your interests, and what draws you to this project. Weโd love to get to know you and welcome you into this peaceful jungle family.
Letโs plant seeds โ in the earth and in our lives โ and grow something amazing together ๐ฑ
With love and good vibes from the jungle,
โจ The Food Forest Crew โจ
Help plant fruit trees and reforest the Amazon in Ecuador ๐ฑ
What category best describes your hosting arrangement? ๐ก
- Private/Individual/family
Location โ Where is your volunteer project located?๐
- Loreto, Ecuadorย ๐
What are you looking for help with?
- Building ๐
- Farming/Gardening ๐ฟ๐
- Film-Making ๐ฅ
- General Help ๐โโ๏ธ
Whatโs the mission of your community? ๐ฏ
Our mission? To reforest, regenerate, and reconnect โ with the earth, with each other, and with ourselves. We live simply, sustainably, and in harmony with the land and all the creatures on it. We believe in radical abundance, animal liberation, and living freely in peace with nature
๐ Why weโre here:
The Amazon is under serious threat, mostly from animal agriculture and deforestation. This project is our way of saying โenoughโ โ weโre replanting, rebuilding, and showing that there is another way. We hope this land becomes a model for others in the region, and weโre excited to welcome people who want to help us create something beautiful and lasting.
Volunteersโ age restrictions ๐
- We can host volunteers of all ages (senior volunteers and minors are welcome) ๐ช
Volunteers with disabilities โฟ
- Volunteers with disabilities are welcome โฟ โ
Note about the restrictions โ
We host volunteers who:
- Are 100% vegan (required โ this is a fully vegan project ๐ฑ)
- Avoid chemical products (pharmaceuticals, commercial soaps, perfumes, etc.)
- Are curious about food forests, permaculture, natural building, and slow living
- Enjoy the quiet life, the wild life, and the weird life ๐
- No experience necessary โ just bring an open mind and a willingness to learn.
How many volunteers could you host? ๐
- A couple of volunteers
When do you usually need volunteers? ๐
- Year-round
Are accommodation and food included? ๐ ๐
- We can offer only accommodation
What type of accommodation can you provide? ๐
- Dormitory/shared rooms ๐
- Private Room ๐
Diet โ nutrition information ๐ฅ๐ฅค
- Vegan
Fee transparency ๐๐
- Volunteers donโt pay any fees, just provide their own food (inexpensive here, around $1-@2 per day)
VISA SUPPORT โ Are you able to assist with visa support, information, or provide invitation letters? ๐
- No, we cannot help with VISA but we can offer assistance ๐โโ๏ธ
Volunteersโ benefits ๐๐
You will be surrounded by local Ecuadorian โcampesinosโ (people living in the countryside), and there are many indigenous (Kichwa) people nearby and in the town of Loreto that you can interact with. You will learn about the culture and lifestyle of the local farmers as well as the culture of reforestation and food forest creation, nature-based living, natural building, and other creative activities.
What are the available activities during free time? ๐ด๐ฃ๐ฆ
There are some beautiful rivers and streams within walking distance that you can enjoy for swimming or cooling off in, as well as a mirador (lookout) with great views of the Amazon rainforest, and we share this land with many birds, butterflies, and other interesting animals and insects. Most of the time itโs quiet here with plenty of time to ourselves, and sometimes we get together to share food, explore nature, play games or music, etc.
Language ๐ฃ๐ฌ๐ง
English, we also speak Spanish, French, and Vietnamese
Geography ๐ณ
This project is in the Amazon of northern Ecuador surrounded by farms and jungle. The weather is usually very nice all year-round with a constant mix of tropical sunshine and rain, with daytime temperatures usually in the low 30Cs (high 80Fs) and nighttime lows in the lower 20Cs or high teens (60Fs)
How to get to your site โ ๐บ
There are several buses every day from major cities like Quito and Tena, you can also hitchhike, cycle, or walk if thatโs your thing ๐
Is there internet access? ๐
Yes!
CONTACT DETAILS ๐๐ง
Email: FincaDelSoul@proton.me
Official Website:ย https://amazonrestore.codeberg.page/volunteer/
Instagram: Finca Del Soul Instagram