My Volunteering Experience In Portugal

When I first decided to travel volunteering, I didn't know what to expect. Trading skills for accommodation sounded like a dream, but could it really work out that smoothly?

Finding the Right Host

The platform I used most was Worldpackers. It felt safer because they verify hosts and offer insurance if things go south. I spent days scrolling through opportunities ranging from hostels in Paris to eco-farms in the hills of Portugal.

Ultimately, I chose the eco-village. I wanted a total disconnect from city life and to learn something completely new: permaculture.

The Daily Routine

Life was wonderfully simple. Wake up at 7 AM, have a communal breakfast of freshly baked bread, and head out to the fields for 4 hours. By 1 PM, the "work" part of the day was over. The afternoons were spent reading, hiking, swimming in the nearby river, and exchanging stories with volunteers from Germany, Argentina, and Japan.

"You don't travel to see different things, you travel to see things differently."

Why You Should Try It

If you're tired of the 10-day rushed tourist itinerary, slow travel via volunteering is the antidote. It grounds you in a community, saves you thousands of dollars, and leaves you with skills you never thought you'd learn.