Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
16 Jun 2026
Reply rate
81.8 %
Usually responds within 4 days
Feedback
44
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Details
Description
Welcome to our finca in the rural landscape of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Ecuador!
We live and work in close connection with nature, the land, and the community around us. Guided by the principles of Analog Forestry, we focus on restoring ecosystems and protecting biodiversity. Here you’ll learn about different methods of ecosystem restoration, especially Analog Forestry. Our land includes conservation areas, an arboretum, multi-crop zones (featuring cacao and mangosteen), and a food forest.
We also work closely with local farmers, women-led initiatives, and national and international networks, all committed to biodiversity conservation, reforestation, and sustainable livelihoods. As part of the Forest School network, we host community activities like bird-watching trips, composting workshops, English classes, movie nights, and more — especially for local youth.
We’re looking for volunteers who want to reconnect with nature, contribute their skills, and become part of daily life here. Whether you have experience in gardening, eco-building, teaching, art, cooking, or simply a willingness to help and learn, you’ll find a place to contribute.
But it’s not all work and no play! Whether you're into hiking or birdwatching, kayaking, playing ping pong, or simply relaxing in one of our hammocks with a good book, there’s plenty to enjoy. We also share the space with some friendly animals, adding to the diverse life here. Your safety is important to us - our team is WAFA certified, meaning we’re fully trained to provide first aid in the forest. So you’ll be in good hands during your stay.
We look forward to welcoming you!
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PLEASE NOTE: we can only accept volunteers who stay for THREE WEEKS or longer. It takes time to settle in, get familiar with Analog Forestry, and find your own space and role on the finca. A longer stay makes the experience much more meaningful for both you and our community.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Light gardening
Creative DIY projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
Light maintenance
Interests
Charity work
Technology
Sustainability
Self development
Farming
Writing
Drawing & painting
Carpentry
Cooking & food
Gardening
Books
Plant care
Music
Art & design
Languages
Photography
Yoga / Wellness
Dancing
Nature
Outdoor activities
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
- We are an experimental and demonstrative project for the international Analog Forestry network - you'll experience lots of practical skills and not just theory.
- We are one of the first private protected areas in Santo Domingo
- There's lots of (metaphorical and physical) room for creativity and personal development here - if there's any specific project you would like to do (e.g. gardening, build something cool with bamboo, paint a mural, offer a workshop, create new recipes...), let us know and we'll see how we can make it happen!
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Our project has been dedicated to forest regeneration for the past 10 years, and now we’re embarking on a journey of community development and eco-tourism. To make this vision a reality, we’re looking for some extra hands and creative minds to join us.
We’re specifically seeking help from:
- Architects, bio-builders, landscapers, and designers to help us shape sustainable and beautiful spaces.
- Industrial engineers, cooks, or chefs, and anyone with skills in adding value to natural products. (This isn’t for paying customers—it’s all about enhancing our food processes and sustainability.)
We also welcome anyone eager to learn about forestry and gardening: Whether you’re experienced or just curious, we’d love to have you join us in getting your hands dirty and helping out with gardening and building an analog forest.
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PLEASE NOTE: we can only accept volunteers who stay for THREE WEEKS or longer. It takes time to settle in, get familiar with us, and find your own small project on the finca. A longer stay makes the experience much more meaningful for both you and the community.
Languages
Languages spoken
Spanish: Fluent
English: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
Here you can practice Spanish, and we are interested in practicing our English as well.
Accommodation
We have one fully equipped dormitory with 4 beds and its own bathroom. Additionally, we have two rooms especially for couples and an extra bathroom (shared during the day). In both cases, you will have full access to the general shared kitchen.
We offer accommodation and three daily meals during weekdays. Our diet is usually vegetarian or conscious meat-eating, but we can offer a fully vegetarian diet. On the weekends, you will need to cook for yourself (we will provide you with veggies and basic ingredients like rice, beans, etc.).
And of course, you can pick all the fruit you want from the finca whenever you like :)
What else ...
We love welcoming volunteers and are grateful for the experiences we've shared. Since opening our doors a few years ago, we've hosted over 100 volunteers who have helped shape our approach to restorative agriculture and conscious farming. Thanks to their passion and hard work, our food forests have grown and evolved — and now we’re excited to take the project even further. We’d love for you to be part of it!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We work remotely too and heavily rely on good WiFi, so you can count on that ;-) We also have solar panels to ensure WiFi connection even during power cuts. There's a few sitting areas you can use to work.
Space for parking camper vans
We have space for a van or two, but need to plan ahead. Please let us know if you're coming with your own car.
Can possibly accept pets
We can accept people with pets, but they have to be social because we have a dog, a donkey and a few ducks running around the finca. Also, to ensure the safety of wildlife especially during the nighttime, you need to be able to guarantee they won't go hunting at nighttime (e.g. keep them chained or comparable).
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Canela (3 years)
Our sweet and friendly dog loooves cuddles and jumping into the lagoon!
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (26)
The finca itself is incredible. It has a wide variety of plant and animal species while it's biodiversity is maintained and improved by active forest management. I took part… read more
I had an incredible experience with the La Floriana family! This was my first experience as a volunteer, and from the very beginning Galo and Gerlinde were extremely kind, welcoming, and helpful.
The day usually starts by helping to clean a part of the forest before breakfast, you can take it as a meditative activity.… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.8)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.8)
The finca itself is incredible. It has a wide variety of plant and animal species while it's biodiversity is maintained and improved by active forest management. I took part… read more
I had an incredible experience with the La Floriana family! This was my first experience as a volunteer, and from the very beginning Galo and Gerlinde were extremely kind, welcoming, and helpful.
The day usually starts by helping to clean a part of the forest before breakfast, you can take it as a meditative activity.… read more
We want to express our deepest gratitude for the two weeks you spent with us on the farm. Your constant smile and positive energy brightened each day, and your kind and gentle nature left a lasting impression on our community.
It brings us great joy to know that your experience was enriching and that you appreciated the opportunity… read more
There was a lot of oportunity to practice Spanish, learn about "rewilding" and have very interesting and thought… read more
Galo and his mother Ana have created a lovely warm and familiar setting together with Charito and the other workers that… read more
Lovely people with open hard and opend mind.
The Finca is real paradise for me. Work somethimes hard but very inspirative and important.
I highly recomand to the people who are interesting about tropical forest and his… read more
The place itself is truly paradise, and you will… read more
He fed us generously and the lodging was good. On our days off we went with him to visit friends in different parts of the country, getting plenty of cultural… read more
Line o Lina is methodical and organised, everything she touches especially in the kitchen and lab was incredible, not to mention all the new ideas… read more
I really recommend Adam in other projects
She have some good old movies recommendations that… read more
In the other hand they are… read more
The family is so inviting and lovely, I felt at home from day one. While staying there I could practice my Spanish and… read more
In my time spent I was
getting in touch with analog forestry,
collecting fruit and microorganisms,
planting trees,
cleaning with machete and weed-wacker,
feeding the goats, ducks and the occasional chicken,
admiring the leaf-cutter-ants,
going places… read more
