O Projeto Riza , Vegan Animal Sanctuary .

Hello, and welcome! My name is Chiara, and I’ll be your host. I’m a full-time volunteer at our animal sanctuary, nestled in the historic city of Coimbra.

Our project is dedicated to rescuing farm animals and giving them the love, care, and dignity they deserve. At the moment, our sanctuary is home to a wonderful family of animals, including 4 pigs, 2 donkeys, 6 goats, 15 chickens, 6 cats, and 2 dogs.

As a sanctuary, one of our core principles is to honour the lives we protect, so we kindly ask that only vegan food is brought or consumed within the sanctuary and the house.

Coimbra itself is a UNESCO World Heritage city, surrounded by stunning natural beauty. You’ll find nearby beaches, rivers, hiking trails, and plenty of other hidden gems to explore during your stay.

We’re thrilled to have you here and can’t wait to share this special place with you!

Volunteers will actively engage in the daily care of our animals, with tasks that include feeding, cuddling, and cleaning their stables. You may also take part in additional projects like building compost boxes, setting up fences, and more. A typical volunteer day might look like this: - **8:30 AM:** Start the day by feeding all the animals. - **10:30 AM:** Clean the stables to keep the animals’ environment safe and comfortable. - **11:30 AM:** Take a well-earned break and head back home. - **4:00–5:00 PM:** Return to the sanctuary for evening feedings and final clean-ups for the day. Every day is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference while connecting with these amazing animals!

Top Host
This host receives a lot of worldpackers and has a high average rating.

Reviews

5.0
(14 reviews)14

Staff & Host

5.0

Hours & Tasks

5.0

Hostel

5.0

Learning & Fun

5.0

Germany

5

It was my first worldpackers experience ever and I am wondering if anything will get even close. The work hours were very respected and on my days off I explored Porto and other close by cities.Work consists of cleaning, feeding,etc and I ALWAYS had fun. The animals are all so sweet and everyone has their own unique personality.Thank you Chiara,Sharna,Sandra and Ale for being so kind and teaching me so much. I have learned so much in 4 weeks, it’s incredible. They are doing such an important work and I am so honoured that I had the chance to help them.Plus: The food was always very good 🤍

10 days ago

United Kingdom

5

Chiara, Ale, and Sharna were amazing hosts and we had a great time getting to know them. The accommodation was self contained and we had our own kitchen and living space that was shared with 1 other volunteer. The lunch was provided each day and was amazing - mainly consisting of pasta - which was delicious! Breakfast and dinner you make your own and the groceries are provided for this. All the animals are so cute and we had a great time learning about all of them. The day mainly consisted of shovelling poo, feeding, collecting hay, and chopping grass. Thank you! Stella and Lottie x

about 2 months ago

Ireland

5

This was the most incredible experience. From the second we landed into the town we were treated so well and looked after with such respect and care! Chiara is one of the most amazing people you will meet. The work is great you get to feed and clean 2 times per day with a lovely break off in the middle! The accommodation was so nice and it really felt like a home away from home! You’re also only 1.5 hours from Porto and a 10 minute uber into Coimbra! The work they do is incredible and the animals are so lucky to have them! Miss ye all already!!!

2 months ago

Australia

5

Chiara, Sharna, and Sandra are all passionate individuals and a pleasure to work with. The eco-conscious team is always looking for better ways to improve and is proactive in their projects. I had a great time learning about the pigs, goats, chickens, cats, donkeys, and dogs, and hearing their individual stories. The animals’ routines, including feeding and cleaning, were well thought-out. We stayed in a self-contained accommodation that had all the essentials and the house was very comfortable. I also thoroughly enjoyed the abundance of healthy and sustainable food! Overall great experience.

4 months ago

Spain

5

O Projeto Riza is a small project led by very big hearts. Everyone is involved a 100% and devotes their time to the well-being of the animals. Whatever time is left, they use it to make sure that the volunteers feel welcomed and taken care of.

I encourage everyone to try this experience; even if it’s your first one, you won’t regret it. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to come back to ;)

4 months ago


Perfect for you if you're looking for

Contact with nature

Vegetarian / Vegan

Rural

Contact with animals

Wilderness