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Description
Hello there!
We are Kathi and Leo, a German-Chilean couple living on a beautiful and vast 9-hectar property near Pucón, Chile. While I (Kathi) am originally from Germany, my family has owned this land for many years, and I actually grew up here. After 20 years of a "normal German life," including a job in the heart of Munich, I returned to take over and breathe new life into this special place. Leo is Chilean, and together we are deeply connected to this land.
Our place was once a small tourist center, but we are now transforming it into our private haven and a project of passion. While some cabins are rented year-round, our focus is on developing new, nature-based initiatives.
About the Place & Lifestyle:
We don't just love this space; it is a fundamental part of our story. We cherish it for its profound tranquility and pristine nature. It is an ideal spot for reflection, retreat, and for those who, like us, love working with the earth. Life here is entirely outdoors-oriented. If you are looking for a quiet, rustic experience surrounded by forests and gardens, far from the city hustle, you will feel right at home.
It's important to note that the work here is primarily project-based and with the land, not with people. You will be working alongside us and our permanent worker, Fabián, who lives on the property and is an integral part of our small team. Expect to be immersed in the peace of the natural environment.
While we enjoy the quiet of our parcela, the adventure town of Pucón is just a short drive away. We go into town practically every day, so you can easily explore all the outdoor activities it offers on your days off.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Interests
Sustainability
Self development
Farming
Gardening
Plant care
DIY & crafts
Animals
Outdoor activities
Hiking
Mountain
Nature
Camping
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
The cultural exchange we offer:
For us, the greatest exchange happens through shared daily life. We invite you to become part of our routine, where you can experience a genuine slice of Southern Chilean culture, far from the tourist trail.
This includes:
- Authentic Local Immersion: A unique opportunity to occasionally join Leo in his work visiting local small-scale farmers. This is a chance to meet true people of the land and see a side of Chile that few travelers ever do.
- A True Language Practice: Our permanent worker, who is a local from this area, speaks only Spanish. Working alongside him daily is a fantastic and authentic opportunity to practice and improve your Spanish in a natural setting.
- Shared Traditions: Experience our culture firsthand through its flavors, like sharing a classic Chilean asado (barbecue) together.
- Knowledge of the Land: Learn practical skills with us, from organic gardening in the Andean foothills to managing a native forest.
We are always eager to learn from you, too—be it your perspectives, your stories, or a new way of doing things.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
What you'll be doing:
Get ready to roll up your sleeves! The heart of our project is hands-on, outdoor work to maintain and develop our vast property. We are looking for volunteers who are skilled, proactive, and don't mind getting their hands dirty.
The tasks are varied, but they all share a common theme: a deep connection with the land. A typical day might include:
- Forest Management & Firewood: A key task is managing our forested areas. This includes maintaining and clearing overgrown paths, processing already fallen or trimmed wood, and chopping and collecting firewood for the winter. This is essential for our heating and outdoor activities.
- Carpentry & Woodworking: We have several projects building and repairing structures, from simple garden boxes to more complex cabin maintenance. If you have skills here, we'd love to put them to good use!
- Gardening & Farming: Helping us maintain our large organic garden (huerta) is key. Tasks include weeding, planting, harvesting, and general upkeep to ensure it continues to feed us year-round.
- General Land Maintenance: This includes maintaining green areas, taking care of the swimming pool, and other tasks to keep the property beautiful and functional.
How we work together:
You won't be working alone! We firmly believe in working alongside our volunteers. You will be part of our small, dedicated team, working directly with us (Kathi and Leo) and with our permanent worker who lives on-site.
This is a great opportunity for a cultural and skills exchange. We love learning from the people who come to stay with us, and we're happy to share our own knowledge about life in Chile, sustainable living, and the specific tasks at hand. We provide all the necessary tools, protective equipment when needed, and clear instructions for each project.
We are looking for independent individuals who can take initiative, but who also value teamwork and the quiet focus of physical work in nature.
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Accommodation
We provide a clean, secure, and private room for every volunteer. The setting depends on the season and availability, ranging from a room in our family home to a more independent space in a cozy cabin with a shared kitchen and bathroom.
As a bonus, you are welcome to use our swimming pool to relax and cool off during the warmer months!
Regarding food, we see it as a core part of the cultural exchange. We provide all the necessary groceries. Our typical arrangement is to share the main meal of the day together, while you are free to prepare your own breakfast and lunch using the supplies we offer.
What else ...
For your time off: You've chosen a nature lover's paradise!
Our property is your starting point for adventure. We are surrounded by stunning national parks, active volcanoes, natural hot springs (termas), and pristine lakes. This area is a dream for anyone who loves hiking, landscape photography, or simply immersing themselves in breathtaking scenery.
Getting around:
While we are in a tranquil, rural area without public transport at our doorstep, we go into Pucón frequently. We are always happy to give you a lift into town so you can easily arrange tours, rent a bicycle, or catch local transport to the various trailheads and attractions.
A note on our lifestyle:
We live a quiet and nature-focused life. We appreciate volunteers who are independent, respect the tranquility of the place, and are comfortable with the occasional mud and dust that comes with a real outdoor life. We ask for responsibility with water and energy, as we are conscious of our resources.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Depending on your digital needs, we can offer a good internet connection via fiber optics. However, please be aware that we are in a rural area, and the service can occasionally be unstable or experience brief outages. We recommend this setup for tasks like emails, messaging, and moderate browsing, but we cannot guarantee the consistent high-speed reliability required for heavy-duty video conferencing or large file transfers.
Space for parking camper vans
While we don't have a designated area for motorhomes or campers, we can accommodate one vehicle and offer access to a bathroom in our home.
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
My animals / pets
Franz, Lu & Mila
Campari, Azafrán & Aura
Nairo, Lino & Otto
Photos
