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Join a family-run project where the days are centred around horse riding and life on an organic farm. With the Farm & Building Volunteer programme, you’ll help with all the daily tasks on the farm, including looking after the animals, gardening and helping with building work. This placement might be of interest to you
An equestrian centre where both natural and classical riding are practised
Life on an organic farm. The farm, situated in the heart of the jungle, comprises three houses, a 20×40-metre riding arena, numerous fruit trees and pastures. The farm’s aim is to practise traditional horsemanship as well as Natural Horsemanship. Natural Horsemanship enables you to understand horses better. Using this technique, you can learn about the natural behaviour of the herd and the language of horses, so that you can become a good partner for your horse. You will learn how to train your horse’s body correctly so that it can be ridden without injuring itself.
Farm & Building Volunteer Programme
As well as horses, the farm is home to dogs, cats, chickens and cows. The whole family strives to maintain a simple lifestyle that respects nature and lives in harmony with the animals. The equestrian farm offers various accommodation options, including eco-volunteering stays. By volunteering at this farm in Costa Rica, you’ll help to protect the horses and a 5-hectare primary rainforest, as well as supporting the local community and a Spanish language school. Volunteers can also get involved in the local community by teaching English to local people or organising workshops to share their skills. With the Farm & Building Volunteer programme, you’ll help with all the daily tasks on the farm, including looking after the animals, gardening and assisting with construction work.
What eco-volunteers do: gardening, building…
You’ll help look after the farm’s vegetable gardens, tend to the fruit trees and animals, milk the cows, and make cheese, bread and so on. You’ll also help build fences, work on construction projects and take part in artistic projects… In the mornings, you’ll work alongside Milton to learn all about building, organic gardening, permaculture, fruit trees, composting and so on. In the afternoons, you can sign up for a Spanish course or take some time to relax.
An example of a day as a volunteer
- 6–8 am: working alongside the Costa Ricans in the cowshed, cleaning, feeding the animals, grooming and milking the cows.
- 8.00 am: breakfast
- 9 am – 12 noon: agricultural work, construction, etc.
- 12.00: Lunch and a nap
- 2.00 pm: Afternoon activities of your choice. For example: Spanish lessons, free time, a stroll through our rural village, a guided tour.
- 6.30 pm: Dinner and socialising
- Approximately 5 hours’ work per day during the week is required
The farm is delighted to welcome families. It has even put together a special programme just for them. As a family, you’ll be staying in the guest house (Casa Perla). Children can join the pony club. In the mornings, they can come to the stables to groom their pony and go for a ride twice a week, whilst learning natural horsemanship for children. In the afternoons, the team organises workshops for children with their parents, such as painting, baking, hiking, and so on. We have a trampoline and plenty of toys and animals. If parents also enjoy horse riding, it’s possible to tailor your family retreat on the farm to suit your needs. Families can join in communal lunches during the week.
If you’d like to learn Spanish, you can book the Spanish course as an extra.
Prices: $750 / €686 per week
- All year round
- At least 1 week
- 1 week: US$310 / €284*
- Subsequent weeks: US$230 / €210
- From the fifth week onwards, $150 / €137 per week.
- Airport transfer: $110 / €102 each way
- * Prices in euros may vary depending on the exchange rate
Included in the price
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tap water, homemade fruit juice, fresh milk, tea, coffee.
- Accommodation in the volunteers’ house.
Not included
- Insurance
- Flight tickets
- Aged 18 and over
- Volunteers must be physically fit.
- Families are welcome as part of the special family programme
- Language skills: Spanish and/or English (basic knowledge)
- Accommodation: You will be accommodated at the Casa India volunteer house in a shared room. Options for couples and semi-private rooms are available.
Spanish courses available
- You have the option of taking Spanish lessons
- Basic: $50 / €46 per week (3 lessons)
- Standard: $130 / €120 per week (9 lessons)
- Intensive: $400 / €368 per week (30 lessons)
- 1 lesson is equivalent to 40 minutes of learning
There are plenty of excursions you can go on from the farm
- Guayabo Monument
- Cartago Tour & Irazú Volcano
- Waterfall Adventure Tour
Tous les avis sur les missions Finca Soley
About the partner
The farm was established in 2014 to provide a place where people, horses, animals and nature can grow and thrive. It is a family-run business that offers a welcome to travellers seeking experiences off the beaten track, in various forms, including eco-volunteering stays. At the heart of the farm’s project is the art of horsemanship, particularly natural horsemanship. Isa, Millton and their family wish to live in harmony with nature, consuming what they produce. By staying at this farm in Costa Rica, you will be helping to protect the horses and a 5-hectare primary rainforest, as well as supporting the local community and a Spanish school. The projects with Finca Soley
