Location
  • Spain
    • Ibiza
General grants/scholarships
Health & Safety

Program Details

Language
English
Age Min.
18
Timeframe
Spring Break Summer
Housing
Lodge Tent

Pricing

Price Details
Accommodation in rustic on-site housing & 3 vegetarian meals per day
Emergency medical insurance for the duration of your program
Arrival transfer service from Ibiza airport
Project supervisor and emergency staff available 24/7
Orientation pre-departure and upon arrival
What's Included
Accommodation Meals
Aug 01, 2018
Nov 08, 2016
7 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Greenheart Travel’s volunteer program in Ibiza, Spain is ideal for volunteers who have an active interest in sustainable living and are committed to protecting the environment. Ibiza draws crowds of tourists to its Mediterranean beaches every summer. The dedicated group of activists volunteering at Casita Verde focus their efforts on the environmental damage of heavy tourism and how it affects the island.

Volunteers will have a chance to help:
--Maintain and improve the project facilities
--Install alternative energy systems
--Promote environmental awareness among visitors and participate in beach clean-ups and events
--Cook delicious, organic meals for guests and the project community
--Learn permaculture farming techniques

Program fees: (request additional pricing for longer program lengths on our website)
1 week: $1,030
2 weeks: $1,360
3 weeks: $1,690
4 weeks: $2,030

This program is no longer offered. View more programs from Greenheart.

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

We appreciate that everyone has a unique worldview and value everyone regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender or gender identity, ability, military status, religion, sexual orientation or political view. We are committed to building relationships and ensuring everyone we encounter feels welcomed, respected, and accepted. Greenheart is committed to helping anyone find the best program fit and will go the extra mile to make sure our participants feel safe and supported wherever they end up.

LGBTQIA+ Support

Greenheart Travel welcomes travelers identifying as LGTBQ+, and is committed to helping you find the best program for you. We can provide information on the cultural norms of our destination countries and are prepared to advise you on the best programs based on your needs and interests.
While most of our programs could be a good fit, we also know that certain cultures and countries are more accepting of and prepared to host LGBTQ+ people than others. We are committed to working with LGBTQ+ people to determine which experiences may be the right fit for them. Please reach out if you want to discuss which of our programs might fit you best ahead of applying at travelabroad@greenheart.org or set up a phone call with us here.

Neurodivergent Support

Greenheart works with partners who have varying levels of what is considered "good mental health". While we cannot change their eligibility conditions, we will work with participants to the best of our abilities in order to get them the program placement they want. We encourage you to discuss your specific situation with us directly, before securing these documents.

Accessibility Support

Greenheart Travel welcomes students of varying ability to explore their study abroad options! While resources and support differ from country to country, Greenheart Travel staff work with individual students as needed to find program options that will set students up for success.

Impact

Sustainability

We believe in supporting our travelers to make a positive impact in their communities. The Greenheart Club provides Greenheart Grant funding to alumni projects all over the world.
As the leading eco-friendly exchange organization, we are passionate about helping travelers explore the globe while respecting the environment and cultural heritage of the destinations they explore.

Ethical Impact

Greenheart Travel is a branch of Greenheart International, a Chicago-based organization that connects people and planet to create global leaders through personal development, volunteer service, environmentalism, fair trade, and cultural exchange. We provide resources, grants, and experiences to those who want to immerse themselves in another culture and leave it better than when they arrived. Through volunteering, creating relationships and more.

Program Highlights

  • Accommodation and 3 vegetarian meals per day included
  • Medical insurance and 24/7 emergency contact support during your program
  • Airport pickup and drop off to/from Ibiza Airport
  • Pre-departure Orientation and upon arrival in Ibiza
  • Personal Greenheart Travel program manager to assist you before, during and after your volunteer program

Program Reviews

4.50 Rating
based on 4 reviews
  • 5 rating 50%
  • 4 rating 50%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.5
  • Support 4.75
  • Fun 4
  • Value 4.75
  • Safety 4.5
Showing 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Default avatar
Leila
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Beautiful Island, Innovative Community

One of my favorite memories from my time at Casita Verde was harvesting carob from the giant carob tree in the middle of the dining area. We set down huge tarps underneath and whacked the branches with poles to make the carob pods rain down, climbing up to shake the branches on tricky parts. It was incredible time to work together with every single member of Casita Verde to work the land and collect what residents had been nurturing for decades.

I recommend Casita Verde to people who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty, who come in ready to lead structured workdays, and for people willing to work hard! Harvesting carob was awesome but at the end of the day my arms were so sore from holding a 7ft rod above my head all afternoon! Speaking Spanish is a definite plus— when I was there it was about 50/50 Spanish/English communication for the first half, then when the English-speakers finished volunteering and left we communicated all in Spanish.

What would you improve about this program?
More communication with the volunteers beforehand about the tasks to be expected
35 people found this review helpful.
Scott
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Casita Verde Changes Lives

I am a 54 yr. old Seattle-area resident on a career break from the IT industry, seeking a more sustainable way of life. Through Google, I was brought to Greenheart Travel and Casita Verde, in Ibiza, Spain. I am new to the permaculture lifestyle, which is why I would also recommend it to others who are new to eco-exchange programs.

I didn't know what to expect on my 3-week visit, but was open to the adventure of going to a new country where I didn't even know the language. From the moment I was greeted at the airport by Casita Verde founder Chris Dews, my visit became a trans-formative experience.

Chris' vision is a conscious connection to the earth, and the sustainability of its health. His love for the island of Ibiza becomes infectious to all who meet him. And each week he leads a 3-hour tour of Casita Verde where he shares his passion for sustainability and permaculture techniques. He advocates cooperating and collaborating with others on the island, such as resort operators, in order to bring about incremental changes in the way we interact with the earth and its limited resources.

At the same time, you are learning about new ways of eating sustainable diets. You are meeting and working with a group of around 6-12 international volunteers, most of whom are in the 25-35 age range, but also some like me who are older. Singles or couples are welcome. And because you are all working together to make Casita Verde function as a living, breathing organism, you find that the friendships you forge are some of the best you have made.

You find yourself in educational discussions about important environmental issues impacting the world today. And you learn from others in a collaborative setting about what it means to live sustainably, and to do so with others. And you are living with an open mind as you meet others from around the world bringing their own culture with them.

Through your affiliation as a volunteer at Greenheart’s Casita Verde eco-experiental center, even if you have practically no Spanish or Catalan speaking ability, you will feel welcome at local markets, music jams, and breathtaking sunset gatherings at local beaches.

All this sets the stage for a magical, life-changing experience.

34 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Guy
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Watch my video

The most meaningful part of my experience was to live a completely different lifestyle, and to look at the world in completely new ways. A way that was ecological, sustainable, relaxed, and fun. To meet new people and have new experiences.

Below is a link to a video I made of the place. If the video doesn't convey to you well, know that I absolutely loved my time in Ibiza and it has had a deep and lasting impact on my life - in terms of my outlook, how I live and just me on a personal level. Maybe it will do the same for you?

31 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
kaie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Once in a lifetime experience!

I absolutely love volunteering and I wanted to make my mark across the pond, so I decided to go to Ibiza, Spain. At first I was extremely nervous because it was my first time to Europe alone and I had recently turned eighteen. The thought of going to a different country without my parents was very appealing but also very frightening. When I arrived I was greeted by two smiling faces. I was immediately calmed by their big hugs and comforting words, right then and there I knew it was going to be an amazing experience. Everyone at Casita was so open, kind, funny, smart, and talented. They accepted me into their close-knit family and I quickly considered them very close friends; I love them all greatly. I was in Spain for the last two weeks of the 2011 year and it was one of the best two weeks of my life. Everyday we had a group meeting to designate the activites and then we would go on about our jobs. At about 2 we had lunch, usually a family affair, and then we got on with our activities after. Saturdays we usually went to the market for some free time to shop and Mondays were free days where you could take a day excursion and explore the island. The only challenge I had was being less wasteful; a challenge that many Americans face everyday. I made so many new friends that I will stay in contact with for the rest of my life. I learned so much about the environment and how to take care of it. Everything I learned at Casita Verde I brought back to the States and have incorporated into my everyday life. My trip to Spain changed me and I would go back in a heartbeat.

32 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers