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Since 2021, I've been traveling full-time, lodging in ecovillages and sustainable stays, and it continues to gift me incredible experiences. If you want to travel to ecovillages, read on. Here are the resources I use to visit, stay, and live in ecovillages.
pictured: Nomada, San Miguel De Allende Mexico; Echological Ranch, Jalisco Mexico; Pachamama Ecovillage, Puntarenas Costa Rica
First of all, I invite anyone who wants to live in an ecovillage or build one to make travel plans to one or more ecovillages, especially ones in your country or region.
It gives you a sense of what community life entails, what are your likes and dislikes, and how to build your own community. Even if only for a weekend or a day tour, it will be a valuable experience.
Where to Find Ecovillages to Stay In
My favorite websites to discover ecovillages to stay:
The Global Ecovillage Network
The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) has the largest up-to-date online directory and map of
ecovillages around the world. Use this resource to discover ecovillage's websites and contact
info in order to reach out about available spaces to stay. GEN attracts more people who are
actively dedicated to transforming the world through ecovillage practices, and is an excellent
resource to find ecovillages to stay in while traveling
The Foundation for Intentional Community
Use the FIC's directory to located ecovillages and review detailed information about their
lifestyle choices. You may find it redundant to search both FIC and GEN, but the truth is that
there are some ecovillages listed on either site that are not listed on the other. Also, some
centers and communities do not necessarily identify themselves as an "ecovillage", but do
resonate with "intentional community".
NuMundo
For those of you who are deeply interested in spiritual and holistic destinations, NuMundo is
built to help you discover "transformational experiences" -- everything from permaculture
centers, yoga shalas, farms, spiritual temples, and retreat spaces. The majority, but not all, of
the listings offer stays for visitors and volunteers.
Resources for Long-Term Travel
For long-term travel, I often suggest a volunteer service or work exchange program. These are available at almost every ecovillage, permaculture center, and sustainable community that I've seen. They are incredibly economical -- the typical setup is exchange of work for food and housing, and can include discounts on workshops, trainings, etc.
This cuts costs, give you a stable foundation for a long time, and immerses you more in what you are learning/doing. Ultimately, you walk away with more skills and knowledge of the ecovillage movement.
I suggest WorldPacker.com or Workaway.info. They are both paid services, but they are excellent at connecting with you with undiscovered gems of ecovillage and eco-friendly places that sometimes aren't listed anywhere else!
WorldPackers
WorldPackers is a very well-developed online service that costs $50 for an entire year and allows you to connect with hosts all around the world to exchange labor for lodging and food. The amazing part about WP is that they literally have a section called "Ecovillages" that you can search in order to find work exchange projects hosted by ecovillages and eco-projects.
Workaway
Workaway is a pretty classic work exchange platform, probably more used than WP but just slightly more old school. The cost for a year is $44 for a single traveler and $56 for a couple with a shared profile. Workaway is also an awesome resource. I found one of my favorite ecovillages in Mexico (Cenote Ixchel, Tulum) on here that didn't appear anywhere else, and I didn't even end up work exchanging, I simply discovered the ecovillage on there and connected with their guest lodgings that way.
Other tips:
Investigate the ecovillage's social media, website, etc. Ask if there are any rooms or houses for rent, which are not normally broadcasted about.
Ask directly to intern or work exchange at an ecovillage you want to visit that may not have a program listed online. Chances are that they can make arrangements!
Look for permaculture centers! They often have both short-term guest housing and volunteer programs built for long-term stays.
Hope this guide is helpful and comprehensive! If you travel using any of these suggested resources and find a cool spot, tag us on social media @terrenity.ecovillages or send us pictures of your travels to hello@terrenity.org !