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You’ll be matched with your personal volunteer travel expert who’ll guide you every step of the way.
Meet Your Travel Expert
Receive your welcome pack with everything you need: arrival info, contacts, visa and insurance help, packing tips, vaccines, language basics, and so much more.
Get Ready to Go!
Choose your dream project and apply for free—no commitment, just excitement!
Pick Your Destination & Apply
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Once your dates are confirmed, pay your program fee—choose to pay in full or in easy installments.
Secure Your Spot
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Want to experience authentic rural life while supporting sustainable horse care and community eco-tourism? Our Travel Roots Horse and Rural Life Program in Mexico offers a unique opportunity to work alongside local families who use horses for transportation, farming, and tourism in the peaceful village of San José Manialtepec.
As a volunteer, you’ll assist with the daily care of horses — feeding, grooming, and maintaining their health — while learning about their important role in the local culture and economy. You’ll also support eco-tourism activities, helping to prepare horses for guided rides, maintain trails, and assist with visitors.
Beyond horse care, you’ll have the chance to engage in rural life tasks such as gardening, helping with small-scale farming, and participating in community conservation efforts aimed at preserving local ecosystems. This program offers a rich cultural exchange while contributing to sustainable rural livelihoods.
Key activities:
• Daily horse care: feeding, grooming, and health checks
• Support for eco-tourism rides and trail maintenance
• Assistance with rural farming and gardening tasks
• Participation in community conservation initiatives
• Engagement with local families and cultural traditionsBy volunteering on our Horse and Rural Life Program in Mexico, you will:
• Support the daily care and well-being of working horses in a rural community
• Contribute to sustainable eco-tourism and conservation-friendly livelihoods
• Experience authentic rural life in a welcoming village setting
• Build practical skills in horse handling, trail maintenance, and rural agriculture
• Strengthen cross-cultural understanding through close work with local families
• Enjoy the natural beauty of coastal Oaxaca while making a meaningful impactWhat to Expect: A Day in the Horse and Rural Life Volunteer in Mexico
Each day on our Horse and Rural Life Program offers a balance of hands-on horse care, eco-tourism support, and community activities. While your tasks may vary depending on the season and local needs, a typical day might look like this:
7:00 AM – Morning horse care: feed, groom, give water, and bathe the horses to keep them healthy and ready for the day’s work
8:00 AM – Breakfast with your host family, enjoying fresh local dishes
9:00 AM – Support eco-tourism tours: help prepare horses for visitors, assist on trail rides, and contribute to the maintenance of riding paths
11:00 AM – Join natural area clean-ups: help remove plastic and waste from beaches, riverbanks, and forest paths
12:30 PM – Lunch and midday rest with your host family
3:00 PM – Afternoon activities: teach basic English to local guides, create materials for social media promotion, or deliver environmental workshops at local schools
4:30 PM – Support in “tequio” activities — community volunteer work where villagers come together for tasks such as planting, repairing paths, or maintaining communal areas
6:00 PM – Dinner and time to relax, explore the village, or join local cultural events
Your days off are a chance to explore the region — enjoy the nearby beaches, visit thermal springs, or take a boat trip on the Manialtepec Lagoon to see its famous bioluminescence.
Your Impact as a Volunteer
By volunteering on our Travel Roots Horse and Rural Life Program in Mexico, you directly support sustainable rural livelihoods and community-led eco-tourism. Your work with the horses helps ensure their well-being while supporting responsible tourism that provides vital income for local families.
Every trail you help maintain, every visitor you support, and every natural area you help clean contributes to preserving the unique environment of San José Manialtepec. Your involvement in educational workshops, English lessons, and social media promotion helps strengthen local capacity and build a brighter future for the community.
You’ll be part of a shared effort that blends cultural preservation, environmental protection, and sustainable development — creating a positive, lasting impact for both people and nature.
Your home in San José Manialtepec
Volunteers stay with a welcoming local host family in the village, offering a genuine cultural exchange and insight into rural Mexican life.
Sleeping arrangements
You will stay in a shared room with basic furnishings. The home is simple but comfortable, with everything you need for daily living.What’s provided
• Bed linens and mosquito net
• Shared bathroom facilities with shower and toilet
• Three home-cooked meals per day, featuring traditional Oaxacan dishes (vegetarian options available)
• Access to a shared kitchen for preparing snacks if desired
• A friendly, family environment where you’ll experience daily life, traditions, and local hospitalityStaying with a host family allows you to truly connect with the community, practice Spanish, and immerse yourself in local customs while contributing to rural livelihoods.
History
Our trusted partner for this program works with grassroots conservation groups along Mexico’s Pacific coast, protecting sea turtles through community-led initiatives. For over a decade, they have partnered with local families, indigenous communities, and conservation cooperatives to protect nesting beaches, operate hatcheries, and promote sustainable eco-tourism.
Their work arose from the need to reduce poaching and habitat destruction, while providing local communities with sustainable alternatives through ethical conservation tourism.
Mission & Vision
The mission is to protect sea turtle populations through effective nest protection, habitat conservation, and community education. By combining conservation action with responsible eco-tourism, their projects aim to ensure that both wildlife and coastal communities can thrive together.
The vision is a future where marine wildlife is safeguarded by the very communities that share its habitat, creating lasting benefits for both people and nature along Mexico’s biodiverse Pacific coastline.
Program Fees & What’s Included
Program Fee Schedule
Duration Fee (EUR)
1 week €769
2 weeks €1,509
3 weeks €2,200
6 weeks €3,950
8 weeks €5,000
10 weeks €6,200
Payment Terms
• Program fees are due in full 30 days prior to your start date.
• If booking within 30 days of your start date, full payment is required at the time of confirmation.What’s included
✅ Shared accommodation in rural homestay
✅ Three local-style meals daily
✅ Drinking water supply
✅ Airport or bus station transfer on arrival
✅ All training and guidance from experienced local coordinators
✅ Project materials and equipment
✅ Welcome pack full of necessary and useful information
✅ Flexible start dates and free date changes (subject to availability)
✅ Full support before, during, and after your placement✅ Certificate of Completion
✅ 100% Cancellation Money-Back Guarantee
✅ So much moreYour Investment in Horse Care, Community and Yourself
When you join our Horse and Rural Life Program in San José Manialtepec, your contribution goes far beyond covering your stay — it becomes a direct investment in the future of this rural community and the preservation of its culture and environment.
Your program fees help provide stable, fair income to local families who host and work alongside volunteers. They support the care and welfare of working horses, the maintenance of eco-tourism trails, and the development of community-led environmental initiatives — from beach and river clean-ups to reforestation and habitat restoration.
Your support also funds educational activities that benefit the wider community: English lessons for local guides to strengthen their livelihoods, environmental workshops for school children, and promotional efforts that help local eco-tourism thrive in a way that respects nature.
At the same time, your investment is in yourself. You’ll gain hands-on experience in rural sustainability, animal care, conservation, and cross-cultural collaboration. The skills, insights, and memories you build here will stay with you long after your journey ends — and your impact will continue through the positive changes you’ve helped create.
Where you’ll be – San José Manialtepec, Oaxaca, Mexico
San José Manialtepec is a small, welcoming rural community located near Mexico’s Pacific coast, surrounded by lush landscapes of mangroves, rivers, forested hills, and farmland. Known for its rich biodiversity and close-knit community, the village offers a peaceful and authentic setting where traditional ways of life continue much as they have for generations.
Just a short distance from the famous Manialtepec Lagoon, the area is home to unique ecosystems, including bioluminescent waters, diverse birdlife, and coastal wildlife. The tropical climate means warm days, refreshing sea breezes, and occasional rain that keeps the land green and fertile.
Mexico – A land of culture and natural wonder
Mexico offers a fascinating mix of vibrant traditions, stunning landscapes, and world-famous cuisine. Oaxaca, in particular, is celebrated for its indigenous heritage, colourful festivals, and artisan crafts. During your time off, you’ll have opportunities to explore lively markets, sample delicious regional dishes, or simply relax by the sea, soaking up the unique spirit of coastal Mexico.
Free Time Activities
When you’re not on patrol or helping in the hatchery, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to explore and enjoy the beauty of Mexico’s Pacific coast. Your free time is yours to relax, connect with fellow volunteers, or join in optional activities and tours.
• Relax on the beach — Unwind on golden sands just steps from camp, with warm waters perfect for swimming.
• Join a mangrove boat tour — Explore nearby mangrove forests and spot native birds and wildlife.
• Visit local villages and markets — Discover Oaxacan crafts, traditional foods, and vibrant cultural life in nearby communities.
• Take surf lessons or rent a board — The region’s gentle waves are ideal for beginners and fun for more experienced surfers.
• Explore waterfalls and forest trails — Enjoy hikes to hidden waterfalls and jungle paths with breathtaking views.
• Join a yoga or wellness session — Some nearby towns offer classes by the sea — perfect for stretching after night patrols.
• Attend local festivals (seasonal) — If your trip aligns, you may experience colourful celebrations that reflect the area’s rich culture.
Free time is flexible, giving you the chance to recharge, explore, and make the most of your stay in this stunning coastal setting.
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