$The image depicts a serene beach scene with a lush forest in the background, featuring a prominent treehouse labeled \"Zephyr\'s Treehouse\" and a gray sky above.$

$The image depicts a coati in its natural habitat, surrounded by lush greenery and trees, with the animal\'s distinctive white markings on its face and tail visible.$

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Build a beachfront treehouse in remote Cambutal, Panama

Panama
Last activity : 28 Jul 2025

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100 %
Last replied
26 Jul 2025
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Availability

2025

Min stay requested: at least a week

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What's this?

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Description
You'll stay in a handcrafted, beachfront treehouse surrounded by thousands of trees and the sounds of the Pacific Ocean. Our off-grid hideaway sits on 2 hectares of wild, lush land with 160 meters of coastline.

Nature is next level beautiful in the green season, so long beach walks and river exploration are a must. A surfer, musician, artist, writer, fisherman, birdnerd, hiker, or outdoor enthusiast would do well here. This a wonderful place to un-plug and re-wild.

UPDATE JULY 2025: Looking for a couple or two friends for 7-10 days. Projects include 2nd coat of interior paint, gardening, light maintenance. We’re easy going, love music and good food, and appreciate people who are kind, self-motivated, and curious.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
LGBTQ
Self development
Pets
DIY & crafts
Architecture
Animals
Sailing / Boating
Dancing
Sustainability
Events & social
Plant care
Music
Gardening
Cooking & food
Carpentry
Yoga / Wellness
Water sports
Outdoor activities
Nature
Beach
Adventure sports
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
...
...
What's this?
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Cambutal community culture is proudly Santeño. Our neighbors are happy to have a chat in Spanish.

In Rainy Season (now), the Horcones River can become impassable. This means you'll have long stretches of beach to yourself. It helps if you are down with quiet time and doing your own thing.
Help
In exchange for ~20 hours/week, you’ll stay in the treehouse! We'll provide big, colorful, home-cooked meals on days you work. Dietary restrictions like GF, vegetarian can be easily accommodated. We are looking for a couple or two friends for 7-10 days. Projects include 2nd coat of interior paint, gardening, light maintenance.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Accommodation
Zephyr’s Treehouse is a private, off-grid cabin perched on a jungle cliff with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Surrounded by nature on all sides. The sleeping space is a 24 ft x 12 ft open room with two beds (can be set up as one king or two twins), mosquito nets, organic cotton sheets, WiFi, and ocean breezes through sliding glass doors. There's a small kitchen, full-size fridge with, and a covered outdoor walkway that leads to a private jungle-style shower and toilet.

The treehouse is 100% off grid and powered by solar. It is set away from the main house — you’ll cross a scenic footbridge and follow a path through huge trees and tropical plants.

Rocking chairs on a shady deck overlook the surf. it’s just a 5-minute walk to the beach.
What else ...
Past Sustainable and Eco-projects include...
-Alvaro built our breezy surf-view home and then the Treehouse. He utilized wood, light-weight construction and minimal concrete.
-We are completely off-grid. Alvaro installed our solar panels, marine-grade inverter, charge controller, batteries and home electric. We recently built a structure for 16 solar panels and the PowerHouse for batteries, inverter, etc
-For the first 10 years, we relied solely on rainwater capture. Our WaterFarm captured and stored enough rainwater to last us all year. Now we have a well, and our garden got extra lush.
-We got super inspired by Bill Mollison's Permaculture books. We planted fruit trees, made compost, created nutrient-rich swales, and made it a goal to live a sustainable lifestyle. Last year, I had the crazy goal of planting 1000 trees and flowers, which I made with the help of workawayers.
-We built a gorgeous bridge across a ravine to access to our biggest trees and wildest natural area.

Last Year's Projects ticked off the list thanks to Workaway were.....
-carpentry
-Solar project: Wiring up new system
-Windows and doors for the treehouse
-Al's new workshop
-the Bezerker!
-Large scale sewing project to make roll down curtains
-Permaculture projects
-Painting and installation of siding
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Starlink!
Space for parking camper vans
Parking for campervan available. Spacious flat area surrounded by nature.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets

Host ref number: 956687636687

Website Safety

Feedback (9)

24 May 2024

Left by Workawayer (Tatjana & Christoph) for host

Benni, Al and Zephyr are a lovely family who are super nice, flexible and make your stay in the middle of the jungle so pleasant. They love nature and are so open and welcoming that you immediately feel at home. We were always able to arrange when we wanted to work and were always able to consult with them about any work. We learned a lot about… read more

(Excellent )

22 May 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Tatjana & Christoph)

When Tatijana and Kris contacted me, I knew they'd be a great match for us. The two of them are an incredible team and work well together. They crossed so many things off our To Do list that had been on our minds forever. They bleached my fridge, did a deep clean of the kitchen cabinets, painted siding, cut and installed wood trim, and did dishes… read more

(Excellent )

18 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Paula) for host

We stayed in the treehouse for three weeks and it was just amazing!!
Benni showed us the property, the area around and the river behind the corner right in the beginning. So we got many possibilities in our free time: a quick swim in the ocean, chilling in the cold river in the morning during low tide, surfing, walking around the place and the… read more

(Excellent )

15 Mar 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Paula)

Paula is talented and easy going. First day, we had a little meander up the river with the kiddo. We showed her the different swimming pools and chill spots to hang. Definitely encouraged her to explore further up, wander around, come here all the time . She took advantage of the low tides most days to cool off in the Pedregal. She doesn't have… read more

(Excellent )

18 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Judith Metje) for host

Our stay in Cambutal at Benni and Al’s were just wonderful!
We spend 3 weeks living in the treehouse and helping around with building tasks they had for us. Some drywalls for the treehouse had to get attached which was a good job to do.
The treehouse we stayed in was just amazing and we were stunned when we first arrived!
Also Benni and Al with… read more

(Excellent )

15 Mar 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Judith Metje)

Judith was fantastic. Hard working, precise, adaptable, and could tackle our project. She worked really well on her own, which meant that Alvaro and I could do other projects alongside her. She was easy to be around, good conversationalist, kind, stoked, good attitude. Clean n tidy. Really loved it when we went to the river together and we made… read more

(Excellent )

View all 9 feedbacks

Photos

$The image depicts a serene beach scene with a lush forest in the background, featuring a prominent treehouse labeled \"Zephyr\'s Treehouse\" and a gray sky above.$

Show all photos

$The image depicts a coati in its natural habitat, surrounded by lush greenery and trees, with the animal\'s distinctive white markings on its face and tail visible.$

Feedback

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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)

Cultural exchange:
(5.0)

Communication:
(5.0)

24 May 2024

Left by Workawayer (Tatjana & Christoph) for host

(Excellent)

22 May 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Tatjana & Christoph)

(Excellent)

18 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Paula) for host

(Excellent)

15 Mar 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Paula)

(Excellent)

18 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Judith Metje) for host

(Excellent)

15 Mar 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Judith Metje)

(Excellent)

20 Jan 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Kolbjörn)

Oso came to us and we got along great from the beginning. On his first afternoon, he saw baby turtles hatching and making their way to the ocean. A couple days later, more crazy wildlife. We needed a carpenter. We had posts in the ground for our new shower and bathroom area. We asked him to use his skills to frame up the walls, window, put on… read more

(Excellent)

20 Jan 2024

Left by Workawayer (Kolbjörn) for host

Great experience, living at the end of the road in my place with a sea view. Great work and easygoing people, super delish food, and lots of opportunities.

(Excellent)

15 Jan 2024

Left by Workawayer (Tyler) for host

Words can't describe the experience and what Al, Benni, and zypher are. Incredible, inspiring, loving and just plain amazing. I went out to their beautiful home to work on trees they had growing over and leaning over their home. AL worked side by side with me like we had been on the same crew for years. Benni is an incredible cook and Zypher is… read more

(Excellent)

12 Jan 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Tyler)

We had a tree that was slowly falling towards the treehouse and needed an arborist . Tyler showed up, super good vibes, and helped us tackle the beast. It was confidence-inspiring to see him carefully plan and execute each cut. He worked on a ladder safely and you could see his knots were thought out. Smart guy. He also helped us do the footings… read more

(Excellent)

7 Nov 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Hugo)

I absolutely loved dear Hugo. He was such a great addition to our crew here at the end of the road. Our first day, I had 'em on the side of a hill pulling these massive grasses out of my flower patch. He was such a trooper as we chugged water and were sweating it out. He put on some music and I really dug it. He was dj after that, as I am so tired… read more

(Excellent)

21 Jun 2023

Left by Workawayer (Alina) for host

To say that our workaway at Benni and Al's beautiful home was perfect sounds a bit uninspired for what we experienced there. It's one of the best places we've stayed in so far and if we ever come back to central America, it'll also definitely be the first one we'll visit again. Before we even arrived there, Benni made 100% sure that we would be… read more prepared for our stay and answered all the questions we didn't have to ask 😆 From the first contact/message she was caring and enthusiastic about us coming and ready to give everything to make sure that our time in Cambutal was fun and full of different experiences. Benni and Al's level of hospitality is above and beyond anything you could expect - whenever we entered their house we were cheerily welcomed, had all our problems sorted within seconds and a glass of iced water in our hands 🤗
The accommodation in the treehouse was fantastic and so was the food! We bought and prepared our own meals on days off, as well as all of our breakfasts and suppers on work days, but everything else was prepared by Benni - the queen of colorful veggie dishes 😎 we didn't just get 'bomb ass' lunches - we were also treated to fruits, snacks and sometimes even chocolate in our breaks. Doing the shopping was a bit tricky, but with a bit of planning no problem at all: There was a little shop in the next town and bigger shops an hour's car drive away. Fresh fruits and vegetables were delivered in Benni's order every Friday.
One of the things we appreciated most about Benni and Al was their idea of how the workaway stay works - they always told us their plan for the next day and were very generous about work hours and our time off. They had work to do and we felt helpful, but they weren't desperate for help and we were able to properly enjoy our time off as well.
Our work was a bit of everything - some carpentry, maintenance like changing screws or painting, some gardening and entertaining Zephyr, their 5 year old son.
Zephyr, who could easily be mistaken for little Mogli or Tarzan, was very easy to entertain - in fact, he probably entertained us far more than we entertained him. He's super comfortable with people and in nature, he has the toughest feet in the country and a deep love for animals. On one of our walks together he spent ages watching little tadpoles in the river, making sure that they were okay and moving rock after rock to create a path from one pool to another in order to reunite the tadpole families that had been cut off from one another. He's just as energetic and fun as he is cute.
All three family members are very sociable people, so even though their house is completely off-grid and you can only reach it by driving through two rivers and along the beach, it's never lonely. Benni and Al made sure they invited us to all the events they were hosting or attending, and they introduced us to all their friends. We were always welcome to use their bikes to get into town independently. The town is a very cute place with lots of surfers from all over the world, some just visiting and some living there permanently. There are some hotels (which serve delicious smoothies) and a café (which serves amazing cake).
If you surf, this is the perfect place to be! If you don't surf, this is the perfect place to be.😆 We were in the second category, but tried standing up on a board a few times - our hosts' enthusiasm about the sport was just too much not to see what it was about. Al taught us very patiently and every little step was celebrated like a huge improvement. All three of them are very encouraging and loving.
Before this gets too long for anyone to ever be able to finish reading it, we just want to say that Benni, Al and Zephyr are lovely and very inspiring people and we wouldn't want to miss a second with them.
We wish you guys all the best and really hope that we'll manage to see you again one day! Thank you so much for making our last few weeks in Panama our favourites 🤗

(Excellent)

23 May 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Alina)

Alina and Hannah gave us such great vibes from the very beginning. I told them that the treehouse was rustic (it was yet to have walls) and they told me that's what they wanted. "Prepare as though you are going camping and you will be pleasantly surprised with the roof and a stove," I said. They needed to meal plan for 10 days, which was easy for… read more

(Excellent)

23 May 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Hannah)

We were so grateful that Hannah and Alina found us. They had a passion for treehouses that made them a perfect match for our scene. One the first day, 5 year old Zephyr and I took them to the river for a swim. They told me that our spot was a dream and they immediately began planning their next outing. they adventured all over our area, explored… read more

(Excellent)

30 Jan 2022

Left by Workawayer (Adrian) for host

The experience I had in this place was incredible, have the opportunity of live this style of live in the jungle, participate in that kind of beautiful work, share the experiences, waves and moments with Al and Benni its something that make me feel so grateful. They have a really inspirating live and brings you the opportunity of learn of them. Al… read more

(Excellent)

25 Jan 2022

Left by host for Workawayer (Adrian)

Adrian has been with us for almost two months! We have had so much fun surfing together and enjoying each other's company. Adrian is very reliable, happy, kind, proactive, and smart. He is easy to talk to and is pleasant to be around. He helped us in so many ways, including sanding, sealing and varnishing a huge pile of wood. These floorboards are… read more

(Excellent)

27 Nov 2021

Left by host for Workawayer (Ashley)

I had been communicating with Ashley for weeks before her arrival. She just seemed like the kind of person I wanted to spend time with. When she finally arrived, it was perfect timing. Ashley is a smart, funny, compassionate, and remarkable person. It was fascinating to hear about her recent phD. She applied this knowledge to our surfbreak and… read more

(Excellent)

30 Jul 2021

Left by Workawayer (Caterina & Niklas) for host

The 5 weeks we stayed with Benni and Al were just perfect. We lived in a place you rarely get to see when you are a tourist, a once in a livetime experience. We lived in a house at the beachside and were the only people in a whole bay. Here you can really experience living off-grid and what it means to live far away from civilisation. But you wont… read more

(Excellent)

23 Jul 2021

Left by host for Workawayer (Caterina & Niklas)

Cati and Niko are an incredible couple and dynamite as individuals. Some of my favorite times with them were….. hiking around the Pedregal River, climbing the avocado tree in search for juicy fruit, planting hundreds of Hibiscus on the hillside beneath the treehouse, eating Niko’s bread, creating delish meals together, constructing the treehouse,… read more

(Excellent)

27 Jul 2021

Left by Workawayer (Damien) for host

Where to start,

Trying to withold good reviews as i want this little secret all to myself and no one else. In todays world, for me, it doesnt get better than this really. Ive decided to stop searching as what Benni, Al and zeph have introduced to me is exactly what ive been looking for. A perfect balance. A place where you can really isolate… read more yourself with nature and work on things to better a simplified, functional lifestyle.

This little family have built something very special that is really worth getting into. Benni is full of life, always up for a hoot, never dull in excitement to create some kind of delcious meal from local fresh goodies. She will always look after you whether its your stomach, present well being, future wellbeing and the rest is for me to keep and appreciate myself! Al, "my man" as benni likes him! Is one seriously modest dude full of knowledge about all the things i personally take interest in so i was learning things everyday which kept me incredibly motivated to help them with absolutely whatever they needed, this in turn resulted in them helping me even more than i was helping them. This power couple really know to to rock this kind of living, they're showing off really! Without even knowing it...

Zephyr their little tarzan kid, the coolest wildest animal in corto town. Also the luckiest kid in the world, possibly winning the lottery for kids of - where and how to be brought up, Also possibly growing up surfing triple over head waves at 12 years old, riding his horse into town to visit one of his girlfriends with his board strapped to his horse. He is on such a high all day with all the nature around him - its so satisfying to see. When a 3 year old kid sits with you in the morning while you drink coffee and looks at you and says. "Its a beautiful day huh, damo?" What killed me is his turn to look at me, waiting for my approval to confirm that indeed the day is beautiful. And the days/nights are sure frickin beautiful Zephyr, you are one wise little dude.

The carpentry was awesome, the gardening was all so satisfying, the laughs were long and hard, the beers were cold, the food was so so delicious, i could go on for hours.

If you love to share REAL moments with REAL people and surf ya brains out while learning about things that will ALWAYS help you in life. Then this wise little family is your key to minfullness and living right.

Thanks a million to you guys for your endless supply of patience, love, jokes and adventures. To a thousand more xx

(Excellent)

23 Jul 2021

Left by host for Workawayer (Damien)

We got so much done with Damien! He stayed September to May and was an absolute legend. Some of my favorite times with him were the bonfires on the beach, long talks about life, surfing our brains out, and hiking up in the hills. He made a huge impact on the construction of the treehouse, from digging the foundation to putting in posts and laying… read more

(Excellent)

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Build a beachfront treehouse in remote Cambutal, Panama

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Last replied

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Find your perfect host

Availability

Details

Description

Types of help and learning opportunities

Interests

UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

Help

Languages spoken

Accommodation

What else ...

A little more information

Can host digital nomads

Space for parking camper vans

How many Workawayers can stay?

My animals / pets

Feedback (9)

Photos

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