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K-wahine
Just had the awesome opportunity to visit Rio Muchacho and can't say enough positive things about it. I haven't found many experiences I can say this about, but it definitely exceeded my expectations. I arrived and was greeted by Nicola, who began the project with her partner Dario. She was very warm, easy going, welcoming and professional and gave me a great outline of what each day would look like while I was there. There was some flexibility in the schedule too as it was rainy or I wanted to just relax on the hammocks for a bit, everyone was totally open to that. I felt extremely welcome and able to just 'be' there. My cabana was tucked away in the forest overlooking a river and fireflies at night, and many cabanas have their own beautiful, clean composting toilets and showers. I wanted an authentic cultural experience blended with some adventure and relaxation and I found it here at Rio Muchacho. You don't simply watch as someone else does everything (unless you want to!), but actually get to participate firsthand in making chocolate, a cool ring from royal palm or tagua nut and a traditional Ecuadorian lunch in a banana leaf with veggies picked straight from the beautiful large garden. Would very highly recommend this place as it is very rewarding for the visitor and supports the local community, along with sustainable living. What more could you ask for?
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shasha333
My husband and I spent 2 weeks volunteering at Rio Muchacho and we loved it! Dario and Nicola are so welcoming, and everyone at the farm was very appreciative of everything we could do to help. We heard about the farm while searching for different places to volunteer throughout Ecuador, and signed up! After two weeks, we were well into the routine of the farm, and knowledgeable enough to be ready to make some changes in our own lives back home. We would love to come back one day! The food was also delicious, and it was really fun to participate in the tours like chocolate making, the hike to the big tree, and ring making!
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440racheld
I spent four weeks on the Rio Muchacho Farm as a volunteer and never wanted to leave. The food is fresh-picked from the gardens, the staff are kind and welcoming, and the owners - Nicola and Dario - are knowledgeable and passionate about organic, sustainable living. I learned so much during the short time I lived there - from caring for animals, to attending the gardens and ecotourism. I also had the opportunity to tag along with some of the guided tours, which I found to be informative and culturally enriching (making chocolate was my favorite activity, although I also enjoyed visiting the giant tree and making rings from palm seeds). I highly recommend this trip to all nature-lovers, culture enthusiasts, and people with a thirst to learn more about sustainable living.
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jaes0ns
Rio Muchacho always grown the best organic veggies! When we are in Bahia we love getting a veg box every week. My favs: Amazing arugula, beautiful beets, perfect peppers, and tasty tomatoes!Make sure to visit the farm when you come here. It is worth it!
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DeeInSthAm
I did the 1 day tour and it was incredible. Edgar my guide spoke great English and was absolutely fantastic. The horse ride was one of the best ever, we cantered/galloped so much. Visiting the farm was really interesting and fun as you're involved in harvesting the veggies and preparing lunch. After a decent hike we finally found the howler monkeys and had an amazing howling session with them! Then had a refreshing dip in the fresh waterfall.
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734mathieul
We decide to go for a day tour after finally finding the office that no one seem's to know it exist in Canoa. After paying 188,00$ for 4 pax and two childrens under 5 years old! We got there and waited 30-40 minutes before having someone that came to us saying we was our guide. (Spanish only) My god he seem's so bored with life and showed us around like it was such a pain for him, we visited a big tree (wow a tree!!!!) made ring out of seeds and made chocolat. I don't understand why they call this a farm after seeying a few plant here and there that were horrible. I know what I'm talking about I grow organic vegetable for living. Why bring people there and making them pay (more than 40$) to see what is obviously NOT a garden. The good part, food was good.
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kevinl668
My Family of 4 had a great time with the Horseback riding excursion to see Howler Monkeys! We harvested Organic Veggies, prepared a lunch meal that was wrapped in Banana leaves, took great Horseback ride, then wrapped up the day by roasting Cacao Beans and making chocolate to eat over fresh bananas! It's my 4th or 5th visit and I always love returning to Rio Muchacho Organic farm! It's always great to see the hosts Dario and Nicola and see the children growing up. Thanks to you two!
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alexrT7045JP
This place is a paradise for many. Despite being considered a "rustic" alternative to tourism, there is a certain feeling of bliss in unplugging for your entire length of stay. Visitors are able to come for days or months. - I personally spent two months there, dividing my time between volunteering, and attending the month-long permaculture course. My experience living there has definitely changed me for the better. -- And the course itself could not have gone better. It was so full of information and ideas, I am fully motivated returning home equipped to take charge of long-awaited projects in my home fields. -- From my experience working in the field, to my nights of tranquility, I learned a new way of existence. I realized how splendidly simple it is to live sustainably; and Rio Muchacho provides the perfect community in which to learn. I met many visitors during my length of stay, and even those who stayed for a few days were all departing with previously unobtained knowledge. There is so much going on at the farm in terms of particular projects or methods of sustainable living, that one can become acquainted with much in a very little amount of time. There is plenty of work to be done, and the owners are very happy to help facilitate newcomers into the routines. Cheers to Nicola and Dario for their glowing energy that shines bright from Ecuador.If one wishes to see excellent examples of Eco-tourism, organic agriculture and agroecology, this is the place to visit. They sewed in me, many seeds of wisdom that I am taking to scatter the earth. I hope you get a chance to stop in and let them rub off on you. Cheers.
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makaveligwu
I did not know anything about the farm until I visited. I intended to volunteer for 1 month but ended up staying 3, as the owners Dario & Nicola do truly care about the environment and ecotourism as a means to sustainability and not just money. The rooms are neat and the whole farm is rather well made, with electricity and water available almost everywhere. I would recommend to anyone who is curious about organic farming, sustainability, permaculture, or even a general idea on how humanity will sustain itself, to visit.
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Chasing_the_Rainbow
Wow! What a beautiful month! This rustic, natural setting is a wonderful place to spend a month, we learnt about Sustainable agriculture for an intensive one month course and thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere, people, animals(horses, pigs, chickens, dogs, worms, bats and a few ducks-but don´t mention the snails) and bird life(Mot-mots in abundance, woodpeckers, and I saw a hummingbird every day). The accomodation was like a tree house, made from bamboo and some rooms did need mosquito nets, but not all, but you aren´t seperated from nature which is splendid, but not always private. Ensure you take organic and biodegradeable shampoo´s and soaps as they are leading the way at RMOF on how to engineer a home that uses all it´s ¨waste¨ products. With all kitchen waste going to the animals or compost and sawdust toilets for humanure (only on ornamental plants) and all grey water resused on the land, it´s fantastic to go if you just want a taste of an environmental community for a few days or a longer stay where you get hands on in the dirt and vege´s. I would reccomend taking a jar of nutela and some coffee if you have a sweet tooth or are a coffee fanatic as they supply you well with fod, but coffee doesn´t actually need to be drunk 3 times a day so they offer it in the mornings but if you want extra, it might be good to bring some extra. The food was actually lovely, always fresh. I found a jar of nutella or something the ants cant come and hijack is good to have for those cravings though. A really special perspective has been gained from our visit.
