Join our team at our hotel in the jungle by a secret surf spot in Tangalle, Sri Lanka

Details

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  Description

  My name is Mahalia. I’m originally from France and in 2018 I built my dream — a small boutique hotel in the jungle by the ocean on Sri Lanka’s south coast.
  
  This sits in a private jungle garden in Unakuruwa, a quiet fishing village between Tangalle and Hiriketiya. We have four jungle cabins, two villas, and a purpose-built open-air yoga shala. Three beaches are within walking distance — including Silence Beach, one of the most beautiful and uncrowded beaches on the south coast.
  
  We welcome two types of Workaway contributors:
  
  🧘 YOGA TEACHERS
  We host one yoga teacher at a time, year-round. In exchange for teaching one morning class per day (8am, approximately 60 minutes), you receive a private room and access to the property and its community. This is a serious teaching residency — our guests pay for quality yoga and we take their experience seriously.
  
  We are looking for teachers who:
  — Hold a recognised yoga certification (200hr minimum)
  — Have experience teaching to mixed-level groups
  — Are committed to staying for a minimum of one month
  — Are looking for a grounded, immersive experience — not a stopover
  
  📸 CONTENT CREATORS
  We also host photographers and videographers in exchange for a defined package of content delivered before departure. This is a structured exchange with clear deliverables agreed in writing before arrival.
  
  We are looking for creators who:
  — Have a strong portfolio of professional-quality work
  — Own quality equipment (DSLR/mirrorless camera minimum; drone is a strong plus)
  — Are committed to delivering agreed content before leaving
  — Understand this is a working exchange, not a free stay
  We do not host general travellers, social media hobbyists, or people between trips looking for a base. If you are not sure whether you qualify, please read the requirements carefully before applying.
  
  HOW TO APPLY
  
  We receive many applications and review all of them carefully. To be considered, please send the following to our email after messaging here:
  
  🧘 Yoga Teachers:
  — Short introduction and teaching background
  — Yoga certification (school, style, hours)
  — Link to video of you teaching or leading a class
  — Instagram handle
  — Proposed dates and length of stay
  
  📸 Content Creators:
  — Short introduction
  — Portfolio link (photos, reels, edits)
  — Equipment list
  — Instagram or other platform handles
  — Proposed dates and content deliverables
  
  Applications without a portfolio or certification will not be reviewed.
  
  CULTURAL EXCHANGE
  Unakuruwa is a traditional Sri Lankan fishing village — still largely untouched by tourism. The villagers will know your name within a week. Local food is extraordinary and cheap. Hiriketiya and Tangalle are ten minutes by tuk-tuk. Yala National Park is an hour away.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help around the house

  Hospitality/Tourism

  Light maintenance

  House & pet sitting
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  You won't be bored and will get experience managing a hotel with the necessary staff as well as teaching yoga to small groups.
  
  Locals are beautiful people, the village is walking distance, Tangalle is a city 10 min drive in tuktuk. There is plenty of surf around as well as cultural activities, you will definitely not struggle to fill up your free time around here :)
  
  I am looking at having people staying long term, (you get a 1 month visa automatically when you land but you can request a 3 months visa in advance in your country before coming here and extend up to 6months)

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  Help

  For Yoga Teachers:
  One morning yoga class per day (8am, 60 minutes) for our guests. Classes should be well-structured and suitable for mixed levels. Occasional help with guest hosting and check-ins may be requested but is secondary to teaching.
  
  For Content Creators:
  Delivery of an agreed package of professional content before departure — typically 60–80 edited photos and 8–10 reels showcasing the property, yoga shala, rooms, beaches, and daily life. All content must be delivered in full before leaving. Specific deliverables are agreed in writing before arrival. We expect consistent daily shooting throughout the stay, not a last-minute rush before departure.
  In both cases we ask for a minimum commitment of one month, reliability, and genuine care for the place and its guests.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  WHAT YOU GET
  — Private room
  — Access to daily yoga classes
  — Use of the shared kitchen
  — Access to Silence Beach, Paradise Beach, and Unakuruwa surf point
  — Immersion in authentic Sri Lankan village life
  — Surfing at some of the south coast’s best uncrowded breaks

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  What else ...

  Your life outside of work
  
  This place is not just a place to volunteer — it’s a place to live well for a month.
  
  Your mornings are structured around the class or your shooting schedule. Your afternoons and evenings are yours entirely.
  
  Three beaches are a short walk away — Silence Beach for long empty walks and dramatic scenery, Paradise Beach for bonfires and sunsets, and Unakuruwa Bay for surfing and snorkelling. If you surf or want to learn, our local coach Chami is on site and sessions can be arranged at cost price for volunteers.
  Hiriketiya — one of Sri Lanka’s most beloved surf and café scenes — is ten minutes by tuk-tuk. Tangalle town is the same distance with local markets, restaurants, and everything you need day to day.
  
  Further afield, Yala National Park and Udawalawe are both within an hour — some of the best wildlife watching in Asia. Mirissa, famous for whale watching, is forty minutes away.
  
  At the property itself you have access to daily yoga classes, the jungle garden with hammocks, the terrace, and the communal evening energy of a boutique retreat. Accommodation is a private room. The shared kitchen is fully equipped for self-catering, and within walking distance you’ll find local restaurants serving fresh Sri Lankan food for a few euros a meal.
  
  The village of Unakuruwa is still deeply authentic — fishermen, fruit trees, birdsong, and locals who will know your name within days. This is real Sri Lanka, not a tourist bubble

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  WiFi available or SLT 60gb to host post for 10€

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

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