Peru
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We have a small farm on the coast of the department of Arequipa (600 km south of the city of Lima, 400 km north of the city of Arequipa), at a place called Las Lomas Atiquipa, at the foot of the beautiful and wild beach Jihuay.
From the ecological point of view, Las Lomas de Atiquipa is a unique place, an oasis in the middle of the Peruvian coastal desert. From a historical standpoint, the site is the only Inca settlement at the foot of the sea, and still retains many archaeological remains.
Our main interest is having a place in the country where we can live in harmony with nature, doing agriculture, raising small animals and preserving the beach Jihuay and magnificent environment.
We need volunteers with some skills and practical experience, to help us in the farm and which can carry a message about the value of the place and the importance of preserving it. The scenery is beautiful and very peaceful, surrounded by hills and at the foot of the sea; the Incas and other pre-Hispanic people, who have left traces of their existence in the area, formerly inhabited the site.
We ask each volunteer a contribution of US$ 5 (S/. 17 in local currency). This money is used to afford the cost of raw food and gas for kitchen and refrigeration, there is no any profit for the farm. Once a week we go to the local town market with volunteers to do the shopping for the week.
We have established a minimum stay time of 2 weeks, but the experience showed us that this is a too short period to learn about the different tasks of the farm, therefore, we are keen to receive volunteers that want to stay a longer period
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
Farmstay help
Help with Eco Projects
Help around the house
Animal Care
Hospitality/Tourism
Art Projects
Teaching
Volunteers can have cultural exchange with the responsible of the farm and with the locals of the neighboring towns in the area. As well, the volunteers may participate in the weekly shopping visit to the city of Chala.
We have been in Jihuay since 1998 because we love to live in contact with nature , and the place felt wonderful since we met it for the first time.
We have small plantations of olives, taras and other trees, we need to improve our orchard and gardens. We also have some ducks, chicken and guinea pigs. As the site is arid , everything lives because we irrigate it with water coming from a spring .
Concerning facilities, in the farm we have basic confort but we don´t have connection to the electrical network (just our own solar pannels), no telephone or internet connection (we have to walk up hill for 15 minutes to get connected with a smartphone). We use the water of a nearby spring, it is a precious and scarce resource and we have to use it with a lot of responsibility.
In general, we need volunteers having practical skills in construction, repairing, farming and gardening, house keeping, and cooking. However, the most important is to have a good attitude, to participate, to be proactive and and liking to live and share with the others.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
This host offers a language exchange
no specific spanish lessons, just learning while communicating during stay in the farm
Currently we have 1 rustic house, with the basic facilities required. Typically volunteers are accommodated in this house. Occasionally volunteers should sleep in tents outdoors, but they can access the facilities of the farm. We are working to improve our facilities in the new volunteers house we have to finalize. We require every volunteer bring its own sleeping bag.
The place is beautiful and there are many places to visit, archaeological sites, beaches, hills, climbing sites, fishing spots, etc. A milestone for all volunteers, is to climb to the summit of Cahuamarca, the highest point of Atiquipa, where the most important archaeological site in the area is.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
I think there is enough place to park campervans or mnotorhomes
I have big dogs, I am not against pets but could be risky for them if something happens
More than two
5 hours per day, 6 days a week
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:
(4.8)
Communication:
(4.5)
