Estancia Ranquilco Volunteer Program

  Argentina

• All Other Regions of Argentina: 
El Huecu (Neuquen)

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: year-round

Description: Volunteers live and work at Estancia Ranquilco, a 100,000 acre working ranch in Patagonia. The minimum stay is 30 days, and can be scheduled at any time year-round. Our concept is to interface with volunteers, offering various areas of contribution and discovering where the interest lies. The work week is four days only, respecting the gaucho hours (8 hours a day), with the remaining three days for free time to enjoy the lands and explore personal growth. Both English and Spanish are spoken at Ranquilco. Volunteers are not required to be bilingual and in fact can work on their language skills by living here in an "immersion" environment.

A volunteer fee covers room and board. For volunteers interested in riding horse during their stay, there is also a required horse familiarization course.

There are many kinds of ranch activities to get involved in and everyone is invited to take part in the areas of their interest. We feel that it is of great value to embrace the lifestyle at the estancia and to have the free time and relaxation to open up to the timeless messages of nature.

We welcome input about appropriate technology, gardening, orchards, animal husbandry, vineyards, weaving, alternate building techniques, etc. and hope that you would also explore your interests while you are here.

There will always be opportunities to create and participate in community events: volleyball, talent shows, dress up nights, music playing, dancing, and entertaining commercial fishing and riding clients.

Oftentimes our volunteers share a special area of knowledge or schooling by putting together a workshop or project during their time at Ranquilco. Things such as that are greatly encouraged and supported.

There is a volunteer house with a fireplace, kitchen, and wood heated shower/bathroom where volunteers live, taking care of themselves (cooking, baking, washing clothes). Most work and projects will be alongside the gauchos who speak absolutely no English. Thus it is a very effective "de facto" immersion course in Spanish and seems to work quite well.

Highlights:
- working with gauchos
- learning horsemanship skills
- exploring personal interests
- being outdoors
- experiencing estancia life

Qualifications:
- physically healthy
- open to life on a remote ranch
- not chemically or technologically dependent
- at least 18 years old

Cost in US$: $540-790

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Many volunteers are university-age students who have or will be studying or traveling in South America and would like to experience a real working Estancia, unplug from technology, be outside, learn new skills and share their skills. We welcome travelers of all ages interested in a unique life-changing experience.

Age Range: 18 and up

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Argentina Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups of 2-8

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Estancia Ranquilco's Mission Statement: To provide an experience that surrounds you with nature and helps you realize your potential.

Year Founded: 1978