Be a sheperd in Serra da Malcata Natural Reserve

Help a sustainable project: 6 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.
Connect with nature: 20 travelers recommend this experience for reconnecting with nature
Connect with international travelers: 16 travelers recommend this host to meet travelers from all around the world
Accepts couples and pairs of volunteers

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What you offer

30h

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

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

Farming: Plant crops, sow seeds and help in outside tasks.

Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens

Animal Care: Help look after and take care of animals.

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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.

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

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.

Pick Up: We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.

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: 23 days

The Experience

The experience Shepherding cows in the mountains! The amount of work depends on the season and can be different everyday — but the work entails walking to accompany and turn them around, helping to take care of the babies, etc. Get to know this traditional way of keeping cows — which has gotten hard to find in Europe — with a free range group that is indigenous to the Serra da Malcata region. What you offer 30 hours of help per week

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Requirements

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

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?

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Join the host in pursuit of these goals and contribute to building a better and more sustainable future for all.

Responsible consumption and production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Life on land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

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31 Reviews

4.5

Host & Team

4.5

Hours & Tasks

4.5

Farm

4.0

Learning & Fun

4.5

How this experience will transform you

20 Get in touch with nature
16 Meeting international travelers
13 Learning about sustainability
12 Practicing English
11 Developing environmental awareness
10 Meeting locals

This host contributes to Sustainable Development Goals

6 15. Life on land
5 12. Responsible consumption and production

Vincent

France

A unique experience! Absolutely isolated (no internet connection, 10km from the nearest village, surrounded by mountains), the farm offers a great deal of serenity and calm. Working with the cows is very relaxing and requires little investment most of the time. 90% of the time you can sit and read or watch the landscape. But be warned, this trip is not for everyone, so you need to be prepared. Even though the weather was fine during my stay, as soon as the temperature dropped a little it got very cold in the room. You absolutely have to bring a sleeping

11 months ago

Fabio

Italy

The result of this experience only depends by your point of view and your adaption ability. It could be a great opportunity to learn new skills, to face and overcome difficult moments and to know deeper yourself. But if you only will see the bad sides of the farm lifestyle, it could become a real nightmare. Forget comfort like hot water, car/bicycle to move or washing machine for clothes. You will eat the same food for lunch and dinner, always healthy and always different each day (at least for the two and half months that I stayed). PS: PUT AT LEAST A LIGHT IN YOUR BAGGAGE BEFORE TO LEAVE!!

about 1 year ago

Ema

Czech Republic

It was really different experience. I didn't work at the farm as I was expecting but I liked what I did. I helped with reconstruction of a forest school. The amount of work was OK and I had plenty time. Most of the time I was alone on the farm which was interesting but maybe not what I was hoping for, because I didn't actually know what to do with my time. It is deffinetely a good place if you want to be helpful, experience something different and spend time in the nature, but it is not for everyone.

8 months ago

Tatiana

Colombia

It's a hard work, but the hosts gave us more than two days off, if your idea is to go to a place where you can be in contact with nature, it's your place, since you don't have a signal in the place and the nearest town is retired, although, the views are very nice, and now that the springs begins you can see many flowers throughout the reserve

about 1 year ago

Marta

Spain

I'm aware that my expirience was completely influenced by the weather conditions, there was no light for days cause the solar panels don't work when it's cloudy, the house got flooded from the rain and all of our stuff got wet so we had to leave early, it was really hard to dry our clothes cause it was really humid and the wood was wet so we couldn't lit a fire easily. Also I found the amount of food insufficient for the amount of work. I feel like the experience could be better in summer or spring, also Marta and Fernando were really polite to us and I would've love to talk more to them.

over 1 year ago

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About the host

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Hosted by Fernando

Response Rate: This host usually answers to 70% of the messages
Response Time: This host usually writes back in 2 days

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