Experience life on a former henequen plantation on the Yucatan Peninsula in Seye, Mexico

Informationen

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  Beschreibung

  ¡Hola! We are seeking Workawayers for December 2026. We would like volunteers who can commit to at least three weeks or more. Couples are ideal; however, we welcome any volunteers who are respectful, mature, flexible, independent, and willing to assist us at our hacienda. At this time, we can accommodate two volunteers (or two volunteer couples) at a time.
  
  ABOUT THE HOST
  We are a new, small, and modest community of individuals who seek to live a peaceful and sustainable life. Your host, Jameelah, is a retired Spanish teacher from Chicago who moved to Mexico after working for the Department of Defense in Japan to continue her research on Mexican Spanish. She holds a master's degree from the UNAM in Mexico City, where she studied Hispanic Linguistics and Mexican history and culture.
  
  OUR HACIENDA
  Our lush yet modest property includes several small fruit orchards (lime, orange, grapefruit, plantains, banana, avocado, guayaba, guava, pistachio, mango trees, and some local treasures like chicozapote, nance, anona, chaya, jicaro, guaya, and tamarindo). We also grow medicinal trees such as neem, kalanchoe, and moringa, offering a connection to the natural health traditions of the region. Additionally, our land is rich with fossilized seashells and remains of ancient Mayan life, making it a fascinating spot for history enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. We have a bamboo garden that adds a touch of serenity to the landscape. Finally, since purchasing our property in 2023, we have planted over one hundred fruit and moringa trees.
  
  OUR PROJECTS
  As a new community, we are aiming to build the property's infrastructure, and we need your help. The projects mostly include tasks such as planting, watering, weeding, pruning, and landscaping. Some light building of structures may be needed as well. However, our most important and ambitious project is the restoration of the henequen trail and tracks, which were built in the 1880s. Over the centuries, the trails and tracks used to transport the henequen for shipment worldwide have been covered by the rainforest and are no longer visible. But, with your help, we can rescue the remains that are left.
  
  ABOUT THE PROPERTY
  Stepping foot on our hacienda is truly like stepping back in time. Volunteers who work on our hacienda will have the unique opportunity to experience three distinct eras of history, all within the same landscape.
  
  1. The Mesozoic Era — Over 60 million years ago, an asteroid hit the Yucatan Peninsula and wiped out the dinosaurs and other living creatures on Earth. As a result, on our land, volunteers can discover fossils. Often, our volunteers find fossilized seashells. I always say, Ïf you find a relic on the land, this is a welcome sign". And yes, you may keep what you find as a souvenir.
  
  2. The Ancient Maya Era — Explore ancient trails called 'sacbe ' that were used by the Maya three thousand years ago. These 'calles blancas' (white roads), according to historians, were used to connect communities and even as roads for pilgrimages to archaeological sites and pyramids in the surrounding region. This is a discovery we made recently, and we are simply fascinated by being exposed to this ancient history on a daily basis.
  
  3. The Henequén Industry Era — The Yucatán was once the global center of henequen production, a fiber known as oro verde "green gold" that was used to make ropes, textiles, and other materials. During its peak in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the henequen industry brought prosperity to the region and shaped much of its cultural and architectural heritage. Today, our property stands as a quiet reminder of this fascinating era. Luckily, today in 2026, there are a few working henequen haciendas near us where volunteers can visit, such as Hacienda Aké and Hacienda Sotuta de Peón.
  
  Together, these layers of history make our hacienda a place where volunteers can literally walk through thousands, and even millions, of years of the past. Finally, if you are a history buff, like me, you will be in heaven here.
  
  LOCATION
  Located about an hour south of Mérida, Yucatán, on the Mérida-Cancún highway, the area is surrounded by working farms, including a cattle farm, pig farm, coconut farm, and dragon fruit farm, giving you a true taste of rural life in the Yucatán. Additionally, we are located about 10 miles from the new Tren Maya (Teya Station). Local taxis are waiting in front of the station. Finally, we are also located about an hour from Chichen Itza, one of the most famous and iconic archaeological sites of the ancient Maya civilization. Chichen Itza was a major political, economic, and religious center from the 7th to 10th centuries and is renowned for its incredible architecture, including the towering pyramid of El Castillo. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
  
  We recommend that volunteers fly into the Mérida International Airport, which is approximately one hour from our hacienda. Although it is possible to fly into the Cancun Airport, it is a long drive of about three hours.
  
  HOW TO GET TO OUR PROPERTY
  Getting to our property depends on your starting point. Most volunteers fly into Merida. Once you are in Merida (or at the Merida airport), you can take an Uber or a taxi to our property. The cost is roughly $35-$40 USD. We live about 45 minutes south of Merida. Additionally, from Merida, you can take the bus company called Oriente from the centro (downtown) to get to the town of Seyé. From the Oriente bus station in Seyé, you can take a mototaxi to our property (about a 20-minute drive). Tell the driver you want to go to Nohchan. Finally, the Tren Maya (Teya Station) provides taxi services.
  
  LOCAL TOURS
  If you would like to travel down the beaten path and discover nearby attractions, you can use Yucatan Expeditions as a starting point. We have not tried them before. However, they have received very positive reviews.

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  Arten von Hilfe und Lernmöglichkeiten

  Kunstprojekte

  Hilfe bei Ökoprojekten

  Leichte Gartenarbeit

  Kreative Heimwerkerprojekte

  Mithilfe auf einem Bauernhof

  Leichte Instandhaltungsarbeiten
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  Interessengebiete

  

  Vegetarier / Veganer

  

  Nachhaltigkeit

  

  Selbstentwicklung

  

  Sprachen

  

  Bücher

  

  Tanzen
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  Kultureller Austausch und Lernmöglichkeiten

  QUESTION
  Ask yourself, "What am I expecting from this experience working on the hacienda in the Mexican rainforest?"
  
  LOCAL ATTRACTIONS and CULTURAL EXPERIENCES
  Volunteering at our historic hacienda is a special opportunity to connect with the land, learn about the fascinating history of the region, and improve your Spanish while surrounded by peaceful, historic charm. Volunteers will learn about the flora and fauna of the Yucatan Peninsula. We have deer, jabalí (wild pigs), and wild turkeys on the property, and many species of birds, including the yellow-throated euphonia songbird.
  
  During your free time, you can explore nearby cenotes (Homún), archaeological sites (Aké, Cucá, Kukab, Acanceh, Izamal, and Mayapan). More importantly, we are about an hour away from the UNESCO World Heritage Site and Wonder of the World, the pyramids of Chichén Itzá.
  
  Additionally, volunteers can visit the local farms and nurseries and learn Mayan planting traditions and techniques. These traditions have been passed down from generation to generation and are effective and sustainable. Finally, volunteers who commit to at least three weeks will receive my book, "Spanish for Expats", for free.
  
  We can’t wait to welcome you, share our language and culture, and work together to make this historic space even more beautiful!

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  Arbeit

  Volunteers are expected to help for three hours a day, five days a week. For example, if you agree to stay for two weeks, you are expected to work thirty hours. If your plans change and you need to leave earlier, you are still expected to work the thirty hours. This can be achieved by doubling up on your hours or working on the weekends. We are flexible. The weekends are free for exploring either the hacienda or the region. The schedule is typically from 6:30 am-9:30 am. There is some flexibility in this schedule, but not a lot. This volunteer experience may not be suitable for digital nomads. However, if your online hours do not conflict with the volunteer hours, there is absolutely no problem.
  
  We are seeking long-term volunteers who are willing to commit for at least three weeks. We'd like to ask you to please confirm your stay at least two weeks before your planned arrival date, so we can ensure a smooth reception. We will have a video call before your arrival so that you can ask any questions you may have and learn more about our projects.
  
  Duties include gardening tasks such as planting, watering, weeding, landscaping, and maintaining our grounds and orchards. Since we live in a very hot and humid climate, sunscreen and bug spray are necessary. Please bring your own gardening gloves and a garden hat, as they will come in handy.

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  Gesprochene Sprachen

  Englisch: Fließend
  Spanisch: Fließend

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  Unterkunft

  In exchange for your help, we offer humble yet comfortable accommodations in a cozy shipping-container house. The shipping-container house has two levels, with each level providing a separate living space for an individual volunteer or volunteer couple. While each volunteer or couple has their own private level, the house includes shared common areas that may be used by other volunteers (the kitchen/ dining area). The shipping container house is equipped with an air bed, hammock, air conditioning, Internet (Starlink), a refrigerator, a stove, and other small appliances.
  
  Volunteers are responsible for their own meals (though we may provide some basic staples such as rice, quinoa, popcorn, beans, and oatmeal, as well as in-season fruit from our orchard, mostly papayas, oranges, chili peppers, and lemons).
  
  Since our hacienda is remote, volunteers can expect a ride to the nearest town of Seyé or the main city of Mérida once a week to go shopping and buy groceries. Finally, we have basic facilities for washing clothes.

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  Was noch ...

  Since our hacienda is remote, volunteers can expect a ride to the nearest town of Seyé or the main city of Merida once a week to go shopping and buy groceries. However, volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to local attractions.
  
  Illicit drugs and alcohol are strictly prohibited on the premises.
  
  Our hacienda is sacred. There is evidence of community life from centuries ago on the property. We ask that you respect their presence. Gracias
  
  If you want to experience peace and tranquility and don't mind being away from most amenities, this is the place for you.

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  Etwas mehr Information

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    Internet Zugang

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    Eingeschränkter Internet Zugang

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    Wir besitzen Tiere

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    Wir sind Raucher

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    Familien möglich

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  Kann Digital Nomads unterbringen

  We have three Australian Shepherd guard dogs. We put the dogs away during volunteer work hours and mostly during the day.

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  Platz zum Abstellen von Camper Vans

  We have ample space for campervans.

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  Kapazität - wie viele Workawayer maximal

  mehr als zwei

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  Meine Tiere/Haustiere

  

  Migui, Kuro, and Shiori (2 Jahren)

  Australian Shepherds

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