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Outstanding 4.92rating (33)

Horseback Riding and Ecotourism Assistant

location
2 - 10 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
Verified

Highlights

  • Experience a way of living where horses and people are strongly connected in Manialtepec, they call themselves "caballerangos", the whole village are horses caretakers
  • Learn from a ecotourism project based on hikking and horseback riding. The local group can teach you how to ride a horse, their daily needs in freedom and other activities in nature
  • Show your passion helping the community to learn english, to reach more people through social media for their sustainable development, give environmental workshops to the children, ...

Highlights

  • Experience a way of living where horses and people are strongly connected in Manialtepec, they call themselves "caballerangos", the whole village are horses caretakers
  • Learn from a ecotourism project based on hikking and horseback riding. The local group can teach you how to ride a horse, their daily needs in freedom and other activities in nature
  • Show your passion helping the community to learn english, to reach more people through social media for their sustainable development, give environmental workshops to the children, ...
  • Immerse with a family in the traditional way of living, buying handmade tortillas, eating eggs from happy chickens, drinking milk from free cows...
  • There are plenty places to enjoy in Manialtepec: the bioluminiscence in the lagoon, the thermal waters, the mountain with amazing views, the beach Puerto Suelo, ... And Puerto Escondido is close by!

  • You don't have to pay anything yet

    Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Couples
    Families
    Groups
    50+

    About the program

    Be part of a traditional coastal community surrounded by horses living in freedom. Support with respectful environmental activities and connect with horses and nature.

    Manialtepec is a small village governed by custom and practice. They are their own authority in the village, they produce fruits, vegetables, milk, cheeses, corn, ... They are kind and warm to visitors as they like to show what they built in their community.

    Most of the community were focused ...

    About the program

    Manialtepec is a small village governed by custom and practice. They are their own authority in the village, they produce fruits, vegetables, milk, cheeses, corn, ... They are kind and warm to visitors as they like to show what they built in their community.

    Most of the community were focused on livestock farming and agriculture, but your host family, started to develop ecotourism. They were the first family who started to bring visitors to Manialtepec, showing the community that it's possible to live from the land without exploiting it. After that, many groups started to develop some activities to show the beauty of their community and landscapes, starting ecotourism as a way to live without exploiting their land. Before that, they were using horses to carry tools, harvests, or themselves, and they changed their function to do horseback riding, as a way to do ecotourism a few days per week, while horses are living ifree in nature the rest of the time.

    During the tours, they talk about nature, traditions, the importance of the ecosystems, the needs to care the enviroment and their community... They show the true beauty of the planet.

    This local group owns 50 ha of a forest full of wildlife, where they need hands to make reforestatons and to improve their conservation activities.

    The main activities of this volunteering program are:
    • To support in ecotourism activities such as: caring horses, giving support during the tours, cleaning along the way to the beach or thermal waters, ...
    • English lessons to local guides, helping them with material for social networks, ...
    • To make environmental workshops in the school
    • To support in activities in the land: sometimes, the village and people has to do volunteering work for the community, called tequio, and you will participate in those actions.


    Typical day

    In the community, the day starts very early, at 7, when the sun is rising, you will hear the sounds of the rural life: birds, women making tortillas early in the morning... Let's prepare yourself for the day.

    After having a small breakfast, you will cross the river to check the horses in the morning, ...

    Typical day

    In the community, the day starts very early, at 7, when the sun is rising, you will hear the sounds of the rural life: birds, women making tortillas early in the morning... Let's prepare yourself for the day.

    After having a small breakfast, you will cross the river to check the horses in the morning, giving them some water, and preparing them for the sunset, when it's planned to walk with them to the beach. If you don't know how to ride a horse well, you sill use this time to learn it until you can help the group how to help visitors to manage their horses. Some of the guides can talk a bit in english, but sometimes, your knowledge of the place as you were a bit more than them living in Manialtepec, will help them to explain things that they have a hard time to express

    Enjoy the sunset in the beach, ride with your horse, love the moment, enjoy the people, listen the Pactific Ocean, look at the crocodiles hidden into the mangroves and be amazed by the colored birds along the way. Manialtepec has a lot to offer.

    Most of the days, there will be extra activities that will depend on the community work: you can support in giving some english lessons to people, environmental workshops with the children, making traditional cheese or bread, cleaning hikking routes, reforestation activities, ...


    Free-time activities

    There are plenty of options to enjoy your free time just inside the community. You can go to the river, to the beach, you can hike to thermal waters, there are tours to see bioluminiscence in the night in the lagoon (the water shines!)... You can enjoy living with the community, learning to do ...

    Free-time activities

    There are plenty of options to enjoy your free time just inside the community. You can go to the river, to the beach, you can hike to thermal waters, there are tours to see bioluminiscence in the night in the lagoon (the water shines!)... You can enjoy living with the community, learning to do mexican food.

    Nearby, there is Puerto Escondido, a surfer city full of life, nice bays to swim, and nice restaurants to eat.


    Requirements

    Requirements

    Minimum Age: 18 years

    In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

    Language Skills

    You need to speak English (intermediate level)

    Nationality Restrictions

    No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

    Other Skills

    Any skill that you would like to share will be helpful for us :)

    Time Commitment

    Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

    What's Included

    What's Included

    On-site Services

    With your contribution you will be provided of:
    •  Airport pick-up
    •  Accommodation and food. If you are vegan or vegetarian, or you have any allergies, sometimes you will have to make your own food, since you will eat what your family is eating.
    •  A coordinator who lives in the community and can help you with communication issues.
    •  Horseback riding activities when there is any group to attend.

    After paying the reservation through Volunteer World, the best way to make your economical contribution is Mexican pesos in your arrival date. If you would like to do the payment by bank transfer in euros, is also possible, but it will be 10% more because of currency exchange and bank commissions.

    Airport Pickup at Puerto Escondido Airport

    We can pick you up in Puerto Escondido airport or bus station :) from 9.00 am to 17.00

    Accommodation

    The place where you live will be some rooms prepared for visitors. The owners are people from the community who works for ecotourism with their horses living in a huge land in Manialtepec, You will cook and live with them.
    The rooms can be shared between two or three volunteers. They have two double beds per room.

    Food & Beverages

    Your host family will provide you:
    • Breakfast, lunch and dinner: These meals will be the same as they eat, usually they are typical oaxacan food (entomatadas, quesadillas, soups, pozole, fish, black beans, rice, eggs,...)
    If you are vegetarian or vegan, you will have the possibility to cook your own food, but you will have to buy the things that you would like to prepare.

    Internet Access

    Good access at the project site
    You don't have to pay anything yet

    What's NOT included?

    What's NOT included?

    Flight Tickets

    The nearest airport is Puerto Escondido Airport (PXM) in Puerto Escondido. We assist you to find cheap flights to Mexico. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

    Travel Insurance

    Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Mexico provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

    Vaccines

    If you are intending to volunteer in Mexico you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Mexico. VACCINE CHECKER

    Details on arrival

    We can pick you up from monday to saturday in Puerto Escondido airport between 10.00 to 15.00 

    Availability
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

    Program Fees

    $966 per week 2 - 10 weeks Age 18 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES


    Duration

    2 - 10 weeks

    Deposit

    Reserve your spot with just a few clicks and a small, secure deposit. You can pay by credit card, PayPal, or other convenient methods.


    Final Payment

    You’ll agree on the final payment method with your local organization during the application process. This final payment is only due closer to the start of your trip.

    You don't have to pay anything yet

    4.92
    33 reviews

    Location

    Americas > Central America > Mexico > Santa Maria Tonameca

    Meet your project coordinator

    Beatriz
    33
    reviews
    4.92
    Outstanding
    2021
    Founded

    Verified

      Below average response rate
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    Travel dates

    1. - 1. Jan 1

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