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Short-Term Volunteer - Bioconstruction & Permaculture

$100-300Program Costs
4.9 / 5Overall Rating
24Reviews
2014Year established

Program Overview

Eco Caminhos is an international permaculture farm and learning community located in the mountains of Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, within Brazil’s Atlantic Forest.

For over 12 years, we have been developing regenerative projects focused on bioconstruction, agroforestry, sustainability education, and community living. Volunteers from around the world come here to learn practical skills while exp...

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Program Highlights

Learn natural building techniques such as cob, adobe, and recycled-material building through hands-on experience.
Contribute to the development of Ecolibrium, our future regional center for permaculture.
Gain practical skills through workshops, trainings, and daily guidance from experienced leaders in bioconstruction and regenerative living.
Improve your Portuguese and connect with people from around the world.
Enjoy nature and adventure activities such as hiking, waterfalls, bonfires, mountain biking, and cultural experiences in the Atlantic Forest.

What's Included

Tuition & Fees

Program Details

Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know

Locations

  • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Available Terms / Availability

  • Years Offered
  • Year Round

Eligible Nationalities

  • All Nationalities

Education Levels & Language

  • Language
  • English
  • Spanish
  • Portuguese
  • Education
  • Any/All Education Levels Accepted

Accommodation Options

  • Group living
  • Home-stays

Application Procedures

  • Disciplinary Clearance Form
  • Phone/Video Interview

Age Requirement

18+

Duration

  • 1-2 Weeks
  • 2-4 Weeks
  • 5-8 Weeks
  • 3-6 Months

Starts At

$100-300

Program Reviews

Hear what past participants have to say about Eco Caminhos

4.9
24 reviews

Rating breakdown

5
21
4
3
3
0
2
0
1
0

Top categories

Volunteer Placement
4.9
Day to Day Life
4.9
Community Engagement
4.9
Program Administration
4.8
Health & Safety
4.8
Living Situation
4.7

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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to all the most common questions about Eco Caminhos.

Volunteers work 8 hours per day, 3 days a week, typically on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The program offers flexible stays from 1 to 24 weeks with year-round availability and flexible start dates. Tuesdays are dedicated to learning sessions covering permaculture, agroforestry, and natural building, while Thursdays feature optional nature-based and cultural activities like hiking to mountain peaks and swimming in waterfalls. Weekends are free.

Eco Caminhos Interviews

Read interviews from alumni or staff

Tim Dubois

Tim Dubois

Participated in 2025

Alumni

Tim, 20 years old, from Antwerp, Belgium, is in his third year of university studying business engineering. He plays a lot of sports, including kite s...

So, I was looking for a two-week experience to do in September, and I wanted to do something different. I've never been to Latin America, but Brazil seems like a very nice country, and I ended up here looking at the volunteer world site.

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