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Host rating
90 %
Last replied
17 Jun 2026
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 6 days
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Description
CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR
At the moment we are mainly looking for two long-term volunteers (minimum stay around 1 month, preferably longer).
🧹 From around 27th June, we are looking for one person who enjoys helping around the house and shared spaces, such as:
- helping to keep the shared spaces clean, tidy and harmonious
- regular cleaning tasks around the house
- helping with general household tasks
🌿 From around 20th July, we are looking for one person who enjoys practical outdoor help around the place, such as:
- helping with gardening tasks like watering and weeding
- supporting outdoor and creative projects around the place
- occasional practical tasks and simple maintenance
- caring for plants and the natural surroundings
Couples or friends are very welcome.
More important for us than specific experience are reliability, self-responsibility, a good attitude and a genuine willingness to contribute.
⸻⸻⸻
Hello everyone,
we are Désirée & Markus, and for around 14 years we have been welcoming volunteers in different projects and places. During the last years we have been hosting volunteers at our current place here in Andalusia.
Our place is a peaceful and nature-connected home in the countryside near Zahara de la Sierra, surrounded by rivers, a lake, gardens and beautiful Andalusian landscapes.
We enjoy welcoming people from different countries and backgrounds and appreciate the different perspectives, experiences and cultural exchange that naturally arise through sharing the place together.
🏡 QUICK OVERVIEW
- Vegetarian and alcohol-free place
- Quiet natural setting near Zahara de la Sierra
- Small and personal atmosphere (not a large community project)
- Longer stays are preferred
- Best suited for people who enjoy independent, respectful and mindful living
🌿 DAILY LIFE & ATMOSPHERE
Life here is generally quiet, grounded and connected to nature, although depending on the season and what is happening around the place, the atmosphere can sometimes also become more lively, social and dynamic.
This is not a party place or a highly social hostel-like environment, but rather a smaller and more personal setting where people often appreciate slowing down, spending time outdoors, reconnecting with nature, focusing on their own practices or simply taking a break from fast-paced everyday life.
Markus lives on the property and mainly takes care of daily life around the place, while Désirée lives separately nearby and comes by from time to time.
Usually there are around two volunteers staying here, sometimes only one during the quieter winter months and occasionally up to three during spring.
Because this is a smaller and more independent environment, daily life here is generally quite calm and self-organised. While there are naturally moments of connection, conversations or shared meals together, this is not a place with constant organised activities or permanent group interaction.
Many volunteers appreciate the peaceful atmosphere, the connection to nature and also having space and time for themselves.
Many volunteers enjoy using their free time for their own yoga, meditation or other personal practices, creative activities, hiking, swimming in the lake, or running around the lake, relaxing by the river, exploring the surrounding white villages or simply enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the garden.
Four cats also live here and are part of daily life here.
If volunteers do not have their own car, we usually go together once a week to the nearby village for grocery shopping.
🌱 WHO THIS PLACE IS FOR
This place is best suited for people who:
- enjoy nature and a quieter lifestyle
- appreciate cleanliness and respectful living together
- feel comfortable both with social moments and time alone
- enjoy mindful, grounded and relatively independent living
- appreciate peaceful surroundings and a slower rhythm of life
We are a vegetarian and alcohol-free place and ask volunteers to respect this atmosphere while staying here.
Volunteers who enjoy sharing their own skills or creative offerings are also welcome. Occasionally there can naturally be opportunities around the place to share things such as massage, yoga, creative activities or other mindful practices independently.
🕒 PRACTICAL DETAILS
During summer, the exchange is usually around 5 hours per day, 5 days a week in exchange for accommodation and food.
During autumn and winter, it is usually around 3 hours per day, 5 days a week in exchange for accommodation only.
The weekly rhythm is usually organised from Monday to Friday, although occasionally days may shift slightly depending on what is happening around the place.
🛌 ACCOMMODATION
Depending on availability, volunteers usually stay either in a private volunteer room inside the house, a caravan on the property or occasionally in a glamping bell tent.
The house has shared common spaces, a kitchen, bathroom, and outdoor we have a additional outdoor kitchen, a compost toilet and an outdoor shower.
🤝 CULTURAL EXCHANGE & EXPERIENCES
For us, hosting is not only about practical help, but also about meeting people from different cultures, sharing experiences and creating meaningful human connections.
Previous volunteers often appreciated:
- the peaceful atmosphere and beautiful natural surroundings
- having time for their own practices and personal reflection
- meaningful conversations and exchanges with people staying around the place
- improving language skills through daily life and conversations (depending on the people staying here, communication at the place is usually in English or Spanish)
- discovering Andalusian village life and local festivities
- exploring nearby nature, lakes and mountains
- experiencing a slower and more nature-connected rhythm of life
Sometimes there are spontaneous shared activities, trips to nearby villages or the sea, creative exchanges or gatherings happening naturally around the place depending on the season and the people here at the time.
🏞️ LOCATION
Our place is located around 3 km outside of Zahara de la Sierra in a quiet rural natural setting surrounded by rivers, a lake and beautiful landscapes.
The area offers many possibilities to enjoy nature, hiking, swimming, canoeing, paddleboarding, cycling or simply slowing down and enjoying the Andalusian countryside.
We usually go grocery shopping together once a week in the nearby village. Depending on the season, volunteers either prepare their own meals or food is provided while everyone cooks for themselves.
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Désirée & Markus
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Light gardening
Creative DIY projects
Farmstay help
Help around the house
Light maintenance
Interests
Yoga / Wellness
Dancing
Beach
Vegetarian or vegan
Self development
Music
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will have the opportunity to experience life in a quieter rural part of Andalusia, surrounded by nature and mountains near Zahara de la Sierra and the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park.
For many volunteers, the experience here is less about tourism and more about slowing down, reconnecting with nature and experiencing a different rhythm of life.
Depending on the season, there can be opportunities to experience local village life, discover nearby white villages, enjoy nature activities, meet people from different countries and backgrounds, exchange ideas, experiences and perspectives, improve language skills naturally through daily life and conversations, and sometimes also learn new practical or creative skills around the place.
People interested in conscious living, creativity, mindfulness, yoga, meditation or nature-connected lifestyles often appreciate the atmosphere here and the inspiration that can arise through conversations, shared experiences and daily life around the place.
Many volunteers also enjoy having time and space for their own practices, reflection, creativity and personal projects while staying here.
Help
Depending on the season, volunteers usually support with a variety of practical everyday tasks around the place.
This can include things such as:
- helping with gardening tasks like watering or weeding
- helping around shared spaces
- helping to keep the shared spaces clean, tidy and harmonious
- regular cleaning tasks around the house
- helping with general household tasks
- supporting outdoor and creative projects around the place
- occasional practical tasks, DIY projects and simple maintenance
- caring for plants and the natural surroundings
Sometimes larger outdoor projects also happen naturally depending on the season, such as planting, collecting stones, working with wood or improving different parts of the land.
Volunteer help is focused around our private finca and shared living spaces, and does not involve services for paying guests.
Usually there are two volunteers staying here, and during some periods in spring occasionally up to three, so tasks can often be shared depending on skills, interests and the current rhythm around the place.
We especially appreciate volunteers who are reliable, respectful, relatively independent and happy to contribute in a mindful and responsible way.
This place is best suited for people who enjoy quieter surroundings, nature-connected living and a slower rhythm of life.
Depending on the season and workload, the exchange is either:
- around 5 hours per day, 5 days a week in exchange for accommodation and food (usually summer)
or
- around 3 hours per day, 5 days a week in exchange for accommodation only (usually autumn and winter).
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
Accommodation
Depending on availability, volunteers usually stay either in a private volunteer room inside the house, a caravan on the property or occasionally in a glamping bell tent.
The house has shared common spaces, a kitchen, bathroom, compost toilet and an outdoor shower.
In your free time you can enjoy the garden, the river, the nearby lake and the small pool during summer.
What else ...
We offer a stay in beautiful natural surroundings with a peaceful and welcoming atmosphere.
Our place is located around 3 km from Zahara de la Sierra (approximately a 45-minute walk), in a quiet natural setting outside the village.
The next bigger village with supermarkets, restaurants, different shops and a bus station is Algodonales, which is around 5 km away on foot (approximately a 1 hour and 15 minute walk).
We usually go grocery shopping together once a week in Algodonales. Depending on the season, either volunteers buy and prepare their own food (usually autumn and winter), or food is provided while everyone cooks for themselves (usually spring and summer).
Depending on the season and the people around the place at the time, there can sometimes also be spontaneous shared activities, trips, creative exchanges or moments of connection.
On their free days, many volunteers enjoy exploring nearby places such as Ronda, Sevilla, Málaga, Cádiz or the coast, hiking in the surrounding nature or simply relaxing and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere here.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have a 20 Mbps internet connection with WiFi, which usually works well. Since we’re in the Spanish countryside, there might be the occasional short interruption every few months—but most of the time it’s perfectly fine.
Space for parking camper vans
We have a space for one camper van.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Kayu
Our pitch-black panther Kayu was found by us on the street.
After what appeared to be a car accident, we discovered him lying in a pool of blood, assuming he was dead.
But when we tried to move him off the road, to our surprise and joy, he began to move — and he miraculously survived.
He only lost one ear and was lovingly adopted by our mama cat Mala.
Trato
The white and grey patterned house cat of Cinco Lunas, Trato, has been living here for about 3 years.
He doesn’t like dogs. They should watch out for him.
Mala
The black-golden brindle mother cat Mala is a rescue cat from a dog sehlter. She was taken in by us along with her five kittens.
Her kittens have since been adopted, but the super cuddly Mala is staying with us.
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (23)
I recommend that anyone who feels drawn to a place that resonates with pure and powerful energy should come here.
I lived with them for four months during the winter period (which I recommend for those who prefer to avoid the chaos). Taking care of this wonderful place and witnessing the slow… read more
From the very beginning, she became a reliable and steady presence in our daily life. She carried out her tasks with great care, responsibility, and independence. Whether it was keeping the house tidy, clean and organized or… read more
Las tareas que realicé fueron variadas y siempre se mostró flexible con… read more
Desiree and Marcus are very friendly, caring and I felt really welcomed.
The nature around this place is stunning and there Garden to. It was perfekt to relax and connect with the nature.
All in All it was just perfect. Im so thankful that I… read more
Photos
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Feedback
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I recommend that anyone who feels drawn to a place that resonates with pure and powerful energy should come here.
I lived with them for four months during the winter period (which I recommend for those who prefer to avoid the chaos). Taking care of this wonderful place and witnessing the slow… read more
From the very beginning, she became a reliable and steady presence in our daily life. She carried out her tasks with great care, responsibility, and independence. Whether it was keeping the house tidy, clean and organized or… read more
Las tareas que realicé fueron variadas y siempre se mostró flexible con… read more
Desiree and Marcus are very friendly, caring and I felt really welcomed.
The nature around this place is stunning and there Garden to. It was perfekt to relax and connect with the nature.
All in All it was just perfect. Im so thankful that I… read more
With their lovely, kind and helpful nature Alessia and Mattia fitted very well into our little community.
Both did every task very well and with a lot of care and also very independently.
From house cleaning, preparing guest rooms, cooking for the team (and making delicious Tiramisu… read more
We initially planned to stay for a month but ended up staying… read more
We agreed that in the near future we will build their house together in Brazil. Muito obrigado
Gonzalo is a very patient and fair person.
We work with gardening, cleaning, weeding etc. We also spent very pleasant moments in our free time, as close friends and even family members.
The Finca has a river of crystal clear fresh water. That… read more
Get up with the sound of the river flowing next to your… read more
What can I say! My best work away experience so far! I’ve been for 3 weeks at Gonzalo’s little paradise. I’ve worked on the garden, flowers and vegetables. And painted every little wall Andalusian white! After work we had lunch together, Gonzalo is a great cook!! And then siesta time. But on Friday it was always different. Then I… read more
Gonzalo m'a accueilli parfaitement. L'espace dans lequel il vit est vraiment calme, reposant, bien entretenu.
La qualité des logements où nous dormions est vraiment bien ! j'ai pu redécouvrir la vie au calme, dans un coin typique de l'Andalousie.
Gonzalo nous met vraiment à l'aise, il est très ouvert, nous prenions la… read more
Gonzalo… read more
Their guesthouse is a beautifully renovated traditional… read more
The farm house that they have put so much thought and attention into has great character and is a great place to stay. We shared some meals with the family but also… read more
There were different kinds of work to do like gardening, painting, cooking, babysitting...a variety of activities.
It's a beautiful, quiet place in the countryside with an eye for details - amazing! Thanks a lot for your warm hospitality!!!
