Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
3 Jul 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 8 days
Feedback
10
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
We run an ecoturism hammock&camping site and ranch located in Pantanal, an wetland area, with incredible nature and wildlife.
We take care of the sheep and cows and train our young horses. During the last couple of years we are also raising bufallos.
You will work together with our permanent staff that manages the fazenda, real Pantanal cowboys.
At the ranch the staff only speaks Portuguese (basic Portuguese would be good but it is a nice place to learn from beggining or improve your language skills).
I (Olivia) live at the ranch but I am not be able to help you because I stay more at the house since I take care of my child and my mother.
We are looking for volunteers to train our young horses and who want to practice their horsemanship knowledge. We breed lusitano and pantaneiro horses for work with the cattle at the ranch and ecoturism at the lodge. We are looking for help from suitable people to help with feeding, training, handling young horses and breaking in as well.
Experience in milking cows is appreciated. But you can also learn with us.
You will need to have experience with horses. We do not have permanent staff on site to take you horse riding if you are beginners.
- It is important to be aware that the life in the farm starts very early. Usually we wake up and sleeping according the sunlight. If you are a nocturnal person than maybe here it is not a good place for you.
- The internet usually works but is better not to count always with it. It is a remote area.
We would also appreciatte if you help us with our kid. She is 9 years old and since we are on a remote area with no other children around it is very nice to have someone else to contact with and play:) We are open for any kind of teaching as music, language, climb trees or just being with !
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
Accommodation and meals are simple and rustic (no air conditioner, no hot shower and no laundry).
We live surrounded by nature and share our living space with parrots, insects, spiders, frogs and the occasional bat. Maybe you will have to share a bathroom with other another person. It is your own responsibility to clean your room and bathroom.
There is wifi but due to our secluded location, it does not always work.
The cook provides a simple meal three times a day (meat, rice, beans, bread, pasta are the main components). Fruit and vegetables are scarce.
No problem if you are vegetarian . We have received many vegetarians at the farm but than you will be responsable for buiyng/ cooking your own food (if you neede it).
We find that volunteers at the fazenda are in need of several items:
- a mosquito net to hang over your bed (we can borrow for you)
- a mosquito repellent
- sunblock
- a flashlight
- bed sheets/sleeping bag
- extra jeans and shirts with long sleeves (for the sun, mosquitos and branches during horse riding) are handy
- laundry detergent (we have no machine)
- snacks, dried fruits, granola, chocolate, if you want
- a hat for the sun (chapeu de caranda)
- boots (botinas) for horseriding. These and other items you can buy cheaply in Mercado Municipal (the nearest big city with airport and bus station).
And don't forget to bring enough of your personal items (toothpaste, shampoo, etc). Only once a month we do shopping and you can give us a shopping list and money for personal wishes.
It is wise to check the seasonal weather before coming (and packing) because at times it can be very hot but it can also get quite cold at night.
How to arrive:
To get here you can get a bus (from the bus station: andorinha company) or a shared minivan (the minivan departure from the airport, bus station or at the hotel you are. There is just one minivan from 9 to 10 am/per day. We can contact them to book it).
-Ticket 100 reais/about 5 hours.
Then it is necessary to get a 4x4 private transfer that charges according water level. The cost is sround 600 reais.
According the water level (wet season) if this boat transfer is necessary the cost for it is 200 reais. The private transfer take around 1 hour/ about 20 km and the boat about 20km/ 40 min.
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️from June to December:
is the drough season so usually it not necessary boat transfer
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️Please we do not afford this transfers cost. The transfers are paid direct to each driver (on cash). The boat transfer is paid at the ranch (on cash).These costs are for one way.
So the total cost (one way) is about 700 reais (van or bus+ private transfer) or 900 reais (van or bus+ private transfer+ boat transfer). This is valid for 2025 and can change according transfers availability.
Volunteers at the fazenda we can guarantee the unique experience of life in a beautiful environment. We hope to host motivated people from different backgrounds and as such enjoy a kind of cultural exchange.
For the exchange to be valuable for both sides, we find that it is necessary for the volunteer to stay at least 2 months. This is because it takes time to get used to daily life at the fazenda and to get to know and be able to learn from each other.
We can talk better about it through the emails and videocall
Sometimes we can give you a free ride but we can guaranty it. It is hard to predict when we will have cars.
We think of the volunteer program as a friendly relation, a cultural exchange, so we would like to ask you to kindly respect this month minimum. Exceptions have been made in the past but please communicate your intentions honestly and inform us if there are any problems. Together we can think of a solution.
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️Please keep in mind you will be an remote place and at the ranch and at the lodge.
We look forward to see you!
Kind regards,
Joao e Olivia
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Teaching
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Hospitality/Tourism
Interests
Photography
Drawing & painting
Carpentry
Outdoor activities
Sustainability
Pets
Farming
Music
Gardening
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Books
Animals
Nature
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Improving skills training horses. Learn about pantanaeiro culture.
Au Pair Help
This host is looking for Au pair help.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We would like help to train horses. It is necessary previous experience. We dont have staff to teach it.
Help in baby sitting or teaching for 9 years old kid
Languages
Languages spoken
Portuguese: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
Room with fan and toilet
What else ...
Located in Pantanal, Abobral region, an wetland area, with incredible nature and wildlife.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
My animals / pets
Feedback (7)
She is rare! Precious! Tough as December:), honest, smart and has a great sense of humor!
Important to say that she is a cowgirl, really rural and has this accurate instint to take care of the animals. She is such a good example for our kid and they had great time and adventures together!
Even… read more
My time here was one of the most magical experiences of my life.
João, Olivia and their daughter Cecilia are such special people. They made me feel apart of the farm right from the start. Olivia taught me many… read more
She left before the 2 months to get… read more
I stayed at the Fazenda for 6… read more
Annelin stayed with us for 2 months. She is an amazing volunteer plenty of skills, clever, has good sense of humor but also she is always available to help.
At the farm… read more
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.6)
She is rare! Precious! Tough as December:), honest, smart and has a great sense of humor!
Important to say that she is a cowgirl, really rural and has this accurate instint to take care of the animals. She is such a good example for our kid and they had great time and adventures together!
Even… read more
My time here was one of the most magical experiences of my life.
João, Olivia and their daughter Cecilia are such special people. They made me feel apart of the farm right from the start. Olivia taught me many… read more
She left before the 2 months to get… read more
I stayed at the Fazenda for 6… read more
Annelin stayed with us for 2 months. She is an amazing volunteer plenty of skills, clever, has good sense of humor but also she is always available to help.
At the farm… read more
I spent almost 2 months on the ranch from November to the end of December. My main task was training horses, but I was also involved in other farm activities, like feeding the orphan… read more
Foi bem legal trabalhar nesta fazenda. ! Aprendi muito sobre cavalos e sobre o trabalho pantaneiro. As paisagens, a fauna e a flora são absolutamente incríveis! É bom ser independente o suficiente para vir, porque leva tempo para se sentir integrada. No entanto, as pessoas que vivem no rancho são abertas e amigáveis! Obrigada pela… read more
You can study and get experience… read more
To anyone thinking about coming to work in the lodge or on the farm, think no more and just get on a freakin plane! I worked mostly at the lodge and was also allowed to help a few days at the farm. The people on both the lodge and the farm are truly… read more
