Volunteering in Portugal
Spend a week restoring the native dune habitat on the cliffs of Portugal. Help the Mossy Earth team on invasive species removal projects.
Portugal | 7 days, 6 nights | 8 volunteers | £500 per person
What’s included
GUIDES
You will spend every day with Mossy Earth biologists, teaching you everything they know about nature
TRANSPORT
Transfers from and to Lisbon, and everything in between
ALL ACCOMMODATION
6 nights at a local hostel in a beach town
MEALS ARE NOT INCLUDED
You can cook your own meals at the hostel or try the restaurants in the local town
EQUIPMENT
Gloves and tools will be provided
FUN EXCURSIONS
8 volunteers maximum per trip, all passionate about nature. Solo travellers are welcome!
Week schedule
On Sunday, our team can pick you up in Lisbon and drive you to your hostel so you can settle in. We’ll all gather for a welcome meeting and dinner.
From Monday to Friday, our team will pick you up from the hostel every morning and drive you to the dune restoration site, where we will do hands-on work until about 1pm. Our team will drive you back for lunch. There is a kitchen available at the hostel and many grocery stores and restaurants within walking distance.
The afternoons will be free, so you can relax, hike or go to the beach. One day, we will also go on an excursion to visit the gorgeous ranch we purchased nearby. On Friday evening, we will enjoy a goodbye dinner altogether.
On Saturday, you are welcome to leave whenever suits you. We will organise one drop off back to Lisbon.
The work
On
Where you’ll stay
You will sleep in a dorm room at a local hostel.
Getting there
During our trip, we will be based in the small town of Odemira, Portugal. Don’t worry, we have plenty of options to get you there comfortably.
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We will organise a group pickup at the Lisbon airport on Sunday at 4pm and drive you to Odemira.
To get to Lisbon, we suggest you look at coaches or trains, there are lots of options from France or Spain for example. If that doesn’t work, you can find flights to Lisbon airport.
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You can also travel by bus to Odemira. There are several companies like Rede Expressos that sell bus tickets to Odemira bus station from Porto, Lisbon, Faro… In this case, we will pick you up from Odemira bus station.
Meet your guides
Meet the wonderful team of humans who will spend the week with you, sharing their knowledge and passion for nature.
Pick your dates
If the trip you wanted to join has sold out, register to the waiting list and we’ll contact you when we open up new spots.
By booking you agree to the trip Terms and Conditions.
Join our team and take part in the transformation of our land in the Mira basin, from degraded landscape back into a thriving native ecosystem. This trip is a one of a kind opportunity to learn from Mossy Earth’s biologists on the ground, from wildlife tracking to habitat restoration.
Join our team and take part in the transformation of our land in the Mira basin, from degraded landscape back into a thriving native ecosystem. This trip is a one of a kind opportunity to learn from Mossy Earth’s biologists on the ground, from wildlife tracking to habitat restoration.
Join our team and take part in the transformation of our land in the Mira basin, from degraded landscape back into a thriving native ecosystem. This trip is a one of a kind opportunity to learn from Mossy Earth’s biologists on the ground, from wildlife tracking to habitat restoration.
You’ve got questions,
we’ve got answers
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This trip is for anyone who loves nature and wants to learn more about rewilding techniques to restore natural ecosystems. Many guests say one of the reasons they join the trip is to meet other, like-minded people.
Our trips are made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2, with most in their 30s - 50s.
We will be doing moderate physical activities, like hikes in nature and kayaking. Please make sure you are physically fit to participate in these activities.
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Of course! Many people join as solo travellers and make friends along the way.
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If you are a European Union citizen, you do not need a VISA. Just make sure you bring a valid ID with you.
If you are a non-EU citizen, you may need a VISA that can last up to 90 days. Please check the requirements for your nationality.
You will also need a valid passport. That is, your passport should have been issued in the last 10 years and should be valid until the end of your stay plus 3 months.
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There is no mandatory vaccine requirement to travel to Portugal.
You can check the CDC recommendations here: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/portugal
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Yes. We require all guests on our trips to book their own travel insurance.
Your travel insurance must provide protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation or repatriation, your personal items, and the specific activities planned in this trip.
To get travel insurance, you can first check if your credit card company offers anything. Otherwise, you can check online for travel insurers.
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If you would like to cancel your trip, please notify us by email.
You may be entitled to a refund, as set out below:
Under UK law, if you purchase goods or services from us online, you have the right to cancel your order within 14 days without providing a reason. In this case, we will issue a full refund
If you cancel more than 24 weeks before the scheduled start date for the trip, we will refund you 75% of the Trip Price you have paid us;
If you cancel less than 24 weeks before the Trip Date, but more than 12 weeks before the Trip Date, we will refund you 50% of the Trip Price you have paid us;
If you cancel less than 12 weeks before the Trip Date, we will not provide you a refund.
We may issue a voucher or refund if we can find someone else to take your spot, in which case we will charge you a £50 administrative fee.
Note that if your cancellation is within the terms of your travel insurance policy, you may be able to make a claim.
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All our staff is certified in first aid, and we maintain a small number of guests per trip for close supervision. Every day, our team runs through risk assessment checklists to ensure we have all the equipment needed and are ready in case of any emergency. We will also ask you to tell us about any allergies and medical needs so that we can ensure your safety.
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We pick the dates for our trips to optimise for the best weather forecast. However, in case of rain or extreme heat, we have alternate activities planned. We appreciate your understanding as we adapt to Mother Earth. We’ll communicate any schedule changes via Whatsapp. Don’t worry - we’ll find a way to have fun!
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You will be sharing a room with someone else on the trip.
The rooms are spacious and will include two single beds, so you have a bed each. You will share a bathroom with the other person.
If you are travelling with someone you know, you can ask us to share the same room in the enrolment form after you’ve booked.
If you are a solo traveller, we will pair you with someone of the same gender and similar age.
If you feel really uncomfortable sharing your room, please reach out to us and we may be able to arrange a private room for an extra fee.
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A generous breakfast buffet, sweet and savoury, will be served every day at the hotel
A packed lunch will be provided by the hotel
A dinner will be served at the hotel. On one evening, we will go to a local’s favourite restaurant by the sea
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We recommend bringing the following:
T-shirts you feel comfortable walking and kayaking in
Jumpers for the evening and chill days
Shorts
Long trousers, to hike
Closed shoes, to hike
Swimming suit, for kayaking
Sunscreen
Sunglasses and hat
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The hotel provides free WiFi. During the activities in nature, you may not always have phone service depending on your provider.

