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Building, gardening, maintenance

4.5
(53 reviews)53

The experience

We are in process of building a bed & breakfast in Caribbean Costa Rica. We also have a beautiful garden on the same place and chicken, cats, dogs. Everything is still in process, so we would need help in any fields here; construction, gardening and domestic animal care. The place is not luxury, but we have nice rooms, running hot water and a community kitchen. We do not need receptionists, bar tenders and we do not cultivate bio and perma!

What you offer

22 hours of help per week

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

What you get

2 days off per week

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.

Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.

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

Basic Internet Access: Basic speed internet for you to work remotely

Requirements

Beginner Spanish or Intermediate English

Over 28 years old

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

Be from outside Costa Rica

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

We have had some not so favorable reviews lately. However, the individual responsible for managing the programme will no longer be in charge. I (Jan) will be assuming responsibility on site.

We need dedicated people! In exchange this is not a labor camp, you will have the freedom and time to enjoy this beautiful place. But if you apply and decide to cancel, please at least tell me why! I am not a very social person sometimes. I am busy working to be able to maintain the project. Please don't write that I need to improve on social interactions and leadership, because I dedicate my little free time to my family, friends, animals and my physical and mental well-being.

Activities & Shift

Currently, I would need gardening, painting, and cleaning up. Mostly maintenance. You set your schedule, but normally working is better in the morning hours because of the sun, so we have our regular shifts from 9 AM to 12. Apart from the 3 hours of work daily, we require 30 minutes daily dedicated to cleaning your space and common areas in the house.

People come here and complain about many things, but we offer you a room that is rented for 40-50 USD on Airbnb each day. That is the same as a monthly minimum wage in Latin America counting a 2 weeks period, and you only have to work a few hours a day in a flexible schedule. You just need to come with the right attitude! We have colibries, sloths and monkeys in the garden, and there is a waterfall in the jungle that is a few kilometres away, as well as the Caribbean Sea. Nobody will make you happy but yourself!

Rules

No drugs and excess use of alcohol! This is not a hotel. I need some dedication. No showing up, looking around, and leaving for another option, please!

Water is scarce sometimes, so it should be spared. In drier periods (nothing to do with Pacific weather) we only use water for certain periods of the day.

Bring a mosquito net if you are sensitive to bugs, or mosquitos. Some people find it difficult, while others are fine.