Holistic health, Art, Meaningful Work Retreat In great location

Help a sustainable project: 7 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.
Immerse yourself in the local culture: 9 travelers recommend this host for those looking for a local cultural immersion
Connect with the locals: 9 travelers recommend this host to have close contact with locals
Accepts couples and pairs of volunteers

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What you offer

20h

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

Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens

Arts: Help with painting, graffiti, sculpting or drawing.

Painting & Decorating: Help with painting or decorating the property facilities.

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

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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.

Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.

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

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

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

Fast Internet Access: High-speed internet for you to work remotely

Dedicated Workspace: Specific space for you to work remotely

Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.

Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.

Free Tours: We’ll take you on tours and rides around town. For free!

Holistic Therapies: You can take part in any of our therapeutic activities for free.

Bikes at your disposal: You can use our bikes any time you want.

Name: Finca Ganadito will offer you a volunteering certificate.

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

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Stay at least: 10 days

Stay up to: 84 days

The Experience

The place is an 11 unit Apt complex in T or C. Close to Stupa & Dharma Center, near town center w/ hot springs & natural wonders. WPers stay in private apt, or nice shared dorm rm. All have basic furnishings: bed, linens, kitchen, bath, appliances. Ideal for rest & enjoyment. We have balance of work & fun. Basic lunch provided on workdays - mostly Asian healthy stuff, sometimes vegetarian. You can add/contribute items from your apt's kitchen too

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Requirements

Beginner English or Beginner English
Between 21 and 59 years old
Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers
United States Visa

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.

3. Good health and well-being

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

7. Affordable and clean energy

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

11. Sustainable cities and communities

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

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12 Reviews

4.5

Host & Team

5.0

Hours & Tasks

5.0

Holistic Center

5.0

Learning & Fun

5.0

How this experience will transform you

9 Immersing in the local culture
9 Meeting locals
7 Learning about sustainability
6 Creating true social impact
5 Get in touch with nature
5 Developing social awareness

This host contributes to Sustainable Development Goals

7 3. Good health and well-being
5 7. Affordable and clean energy
5 11. Sustainable cities and communities

Karin

Israel

Third time here and evermore in love with this place, Josh's beautiful vision and project in this unique little town. I recommend for travelers to immerse themselves in his vision and company, that makes this world packers experience very profound and fruitful. From learning while working on projects, while practicing mindfulness in different ways and while conversing and spending time with Josh and other beautiful locals. Such precious time in a precious environment... Thank you and till next time, all the best!

2 months ago

Lilia

United States

My experience at the Center was great! The host, Josh is really nice. he made sure I had everything I needed when I got there. He's very understanding and wanted me to ask him any questions I had about the work. He's also really smart and we had a lot of interesting conversations together. It was so fun and we ate delicious and comforting meals all the time! The area of the Center is in the most perfect spot in T or C! It's about a 10 minute walk from all the art galleries, cafes, and my favorite, the springs!!! I'm sure I'll be going back again:)

3 months ago

Lindsey

United States

I learned a lot at my stay at the Center with Joshua! I adore the town - please take every opportunity you can to connect with locals! My room was basic but cozy and meals were provided as promised. I overall enjoyed the work and Joshua was good about teaching how to do different projects, but there were several days we worked more than the posted 4 hours/day which I only realized after the fact. Communication in general could have been stronger so please clearly voice your needs and boundaries. Overall, I had a lovely time in this magical desert town. Thanks Joshua!

3 months ago

Joshua replied

Thanks for your feedback Lindsay. I reread my listing and saw it did say "people choosing two days off can work like 4 hours per day". But it also said and still reads "the timing of shifts and activities relates to what projects we are co-creating & the skills of all involved." It had the word "like" and I see it is confusing. It read "people choosing 3 days off a work week can work longer days and for people choosing two days off can work like 4 hours per day", but I just deleted that sentence because It gets tricky when people especially in your situation when you ended up here shorter than one week due to the bus arriving the day after our initial plan. I always make the hours based on a per week basis. So learned that i should not make my listing state things that could create unclear expectations. Also we made a mistake, it was very a very short time between our initial contact and interview and your bus ticket purchase and when you changed your arrival day to a day shorter making your stay only 6 days long and we should have spent more time discussing the schedule at the start. I will reflect more on this and make it better for future world packers. I have done more longer stays where me and worldpackers get to know a work rhythm of a place. i think i might not accept as many shorter stays especially under 1 week long in the future because it makes scheduling harder. So I learned a lot. thank you.

Naomi

United States

I was expecting the opportunity to develop more skills and be creative. I primarily cleaned and organized. I am helpful in this regard, so I see why my time was largely utilized this way.

3 months ago

Joshua replied

I have become aware of a dynamic of hosting people that I was not aware of before. In this instance the worldpacker and I were talking about longer stays / extending the stay from the start during even before the stay in the initial interviewing. I usually do not do this but I think I did this because the person really voiced they wanted to stay longer. Upon reflection I see this is unwise to even discuss because it puts pressure on the relationship. Therefore I am going to be more aware of this in the future, because I rather Worldpackers have a clear plan of travel and a clear idea of the duration of their time here and not have a lot riding on staying longer or me extending. Upon reflection I see when person is staying hoping to have their stay extended that they might not communicate any problems when they are arising because they want me to feel they are useful and beneficial so then I will be more likely to extend their stay. Then when the stay is not extended as in this case, they might leave neg reviews. However because I think it is always important in all situations to bring up issues when they are arising is better, so that they can be resolved in a healthy manner, I will avoid accepting worldpackers who are wanting me to promises or make extension plans. I rather there not be a sort of reward punishment or expectation of extension which affects the relationship dynamic. My profile and listing describes what I like to share and give, I do try to bring out the best in everyone and their creative capacities, however I do expect worldpackers to not be reliant on this stay as fulfilling all kinds of needs, the work projects we are doing is based on the work that needs to be done. I believe the relationships and work stays with worldpackers work best when the people are realistic and have intentions in line with the intensions and mission statements described in the worldpackers website.

Steven

United States

Josh was very welcoming and found projects that matched my skills and help me learn new things as well. He is a great cook and very willing to explain and teach how to cook excellent meals. He checked in regularly to make sure I had what I needed to complete projects. At times we worked together on projects and other times projects called for us to focus separately. It was a fun and fulfilling experience. The location is great with a lot of restaurants, hot-springs, parks , art galleries, museums and nature near by. A great town with very welcoming people.

6 months ago

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