Facilities : 7 cabanas with balconies and hammocks, each with either a nice view of the river or the garden (35 people max.)

Río Muchacho is an Organic Farm and Eco-lodge which offers a unique and ecologically friendly haven for guests to stay, relax, and explore. It’s name comes from the surrounding community as well as the nearby river, both of which are also named Río Muchacho. Opened in 1992, it was the first agrotourism project in Ecuador. 

Dario Proano-Leroux from Ecuador, and his wife, Nicola Mears from New-Zealand, are the owners of this incredible place. They have completely reforested the land, which was almost desert when they purchased it. Thanks to their efforts the farm now produces a wide variety of organic fruits and vegetables.

Río Muchacho has always been involved in many projects that support the surrounding communities. These projects aim to promote prosperity and ecologically conscious practices. For example, the owners have conducted workshops on recycling as well as sustainable agriculture. They also created and ran an environmental school with a unique curriculum for local children. The school was open for 23 years, but was sadly closed due to new governmental policies. Currently, Nicola and Dario are refocusing their efforts on the farm itself by inviting people to come and learn. In fact, the farm is now a school part-time, hosting intensive permaculture courses, student groups, other farmers, and teachers, all in an effort to provide the tools people need to live and grow food in harmony with nature.

Bungalow-style accommodation was constructed entirely from local materials and meals are prepared using fresh fruits and vegetables harvested from the farm. The farm is practically self-sufficient in terms of food. Everything on the farm has a purpose ; All human, vegetable, and animal waste is recycled (through composting, dry composting toilets, the biodigestor, etc). Used water is also recycled by being redirected, and sometimes additionally filtered, to water plants. 

Río Muchacho also offers a wide range of activities, including horseback riding to a monkey forest, making chocolate, learning about agroecology and permaculture, enjoying a medicinal clay face mask, going on a guided or self-guided tour of the farm, creating unique jewelry from vegetable ivory, making bowls and spoons from the mate gourd, recycling paper, or simply relaxing, meditating and practicing yoga while surrounded by trees and peaceful bird sounds.

It is also possible to volunteer at Río Muchacho, preferably for a one month stay, in order to help farm while learning more about sustainable agriculture. In addition, volunteers may be able to teach english, help in communications and design. 

Río Muchacho is a wonderful example of an organic farm, an alternative tourist destination, and a center for Ecuadorians, foreigners, farmers, travellers, students, and school groups to come together and learn how to live in peace with nature while cultivating food sustainably. 

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We invite you to watch the video above to get to know them also !

Click on the bottom-right icon to activate the subtitles.

Welcome to Ecuador,

We look forward to welcoming you !

16 good practices:

Name		Tags	Category
	Agritourism	agritourism, agritourisme, animals, animaux, circuits courts, local, produits locaux	Agriculture and catering, Local Development
	Biodigester	biodigester, chauffage, gas, recycle	Agriculture and catering, Construction and Lay out, Energy, Waste Management
	Biogarden and Biofilters	biofilters, garden, gardening, nature, organic	Construction and Lay out, Waste Management, Water Management
	Cloth Bag VS Plastic Bag	bag, gift, plastic, plastique	Waste Management
	Creation of an educative center or a school	centre éducatif, école, educative center, school	Heritage and Biodiversity, Local Development, Social Responsibility
	Do our own compost	compost, do it yourself	Agriculture and catering, Waste Management
	Dry composting toilets	bathroom, composting toilets, dry toilets, toilet	Construction and Lay out, Waste Management, Water Management
	Experience-based and interactive walking tour	Parcours Expérientiel, walking tour	Heritage and Biodiversity, Travellers Awareness
	Farm products	-	Agriculture and catering, Heritage and Biodiversity
	Homemade jam	breakfast, DIY, food, fruit, meal	Agriculture and catering
	Local recruitment	employé, employee, human ressources, management, staff	Local Development, Social Responsibility, Transport and Green mobilities
	Organic garden	food, garden, honey, local, meal, miel, potager	Agriculture and catering
	Outdoor games for children using tires	pneus, tires	Construction and Lay out, Waste Management
	Permaculture & Responsible Agriculture	permaculture, Responsible Agriculture	Agriculture and catering
	Vermicomposting	compost, compostage, composting	Agriculture and catering, Waste Management
	Volunteering Programs	Volontariat, Volunteering	Heritage and Biodiversity, Social Responsibility, Travellers Awareness