This article will list many vegan communities in Ecuador.
If you’re backpacking through Ecuador or you’re looking to move to Ecuador and searching for a like-minded community, this article is for you.
Map of Veg*n Communities in Ecuador
Lumicon
- Website lumiconlife.wordpress.com
- Location Napo, Ecuador
- Since 2015
Lumicon is a vegan fruit forest community located about 20 km south-west of Tena. Started in 2015, Lumicon is one of the oldest vegan communities in Ecuador.
Lumicon accepts volunteers, who are expected to contribute 4-5 hours per day, 5 days per week, plus $10 per day.
Note that Lumicon is an intentionally very rustic community. The drinking water comes from nearby streams, it’s not filtered, there’s no hot water for showers, and there is no washing machine. The WiFi is turned-off at night “for health reasons”.
Terra Frutis
- Website terrafrutis.com
- Location Morona-Santiago, Ecuador
- Since 2014
Terra Frutis is a community located near Gualaquiza, Ecuador. Started in 2014, it’s one of the oldest and most established vegan communities in Ecuador.
Terra Frutis is an explicitly vegan-only community whose main mission is to cultivate hundreds of fruit trees. They accept volunteers, who must contribute 20 hours per week plus $25 per month to cover utilities. The volunteer tasks are decided at weekly community meetings by consensus.
The land’s (mostly fruit) harvest is shared equally among all residents, but you will be responsible for buying any additional foods.
Note that Terra Frutis does not allow consumption of alcohol, and they request that you avoid processed foods and avoid frying in oil.
Evolution Ecovillage
- Website evolutionecovillage.codeberg.page
- Location Morona-Santiago, Ecuador
- Since 2021
Evolution Ecovillage is a community located near Gualaquiza, Ecuador. It is immediately next-door to Terra Frutis.
Evolution is an explicitly vegan-only community.
Note that Evolution is an anti-vax community that thinks that low-power radio waves are dangerous.
Fruit Haven EcoVillage
- Website fruithaven.land
- Location Morona-Santiago, Ecuador
- Since 2016
Fruit Haven EcoVillage is a community located near Gualaquiza, Ecuador.
Fruit Haven is an explicitly vegan-only community.
Note that many residents at Fruit Haven identify as omnivores and have their own kitchens, which has made enforcement historically difficult. They have additional dietary restrictions in common space. For example, oil and processed foods are not allowed.
Las Aguas Risas
- Website aguasrisas.org
- Location Morona-Santiago, Ecuador
- Since 2022
Las Aguas Risas is an explicitly vegan-only community located about 20 km off La Troncal Amazónica (E45) near Limón, which is a 3-hour bus ride from Cuenca.
Las Aguas Risas accepts volunteers, who are expected to contribute 20 hours per week plus $50 per month.
Note that one of Las Aguas Risas’ goals is reducing and reversing non-wildlife population growth, so they’d prefer visitors without children and without the intent to create children.
Peaceful Village
- Website peaceful-village.com
- Location Orellana, Ecuador
- Since 2022
Peaceful Village is a community located near Loreto, Ecuador.
Peaceful Village is an explicitly vegan-only community.
Note that Peaceful Village is a mostly raw vegan community. Cooked food is permitted in private, but it is not allowed in the communal kitchen.
Finca Del Soul
- Website workaway.info/en/host/399799931439
- Location Orellana, Ecuador
- Since 2023
Finca Del Soul is a community located near Loreto, Ecuador.
Volunteers at Finca Del Soul must contribute 2.5 hours/day (5 days/week) and purchase their own food (~$2 per day).
Finca Del Soul is an explicitly vegan-only community.
Honorable Mention
There’s also some vegetarian or mostly-vegetarian communities in Ecuador that explicitly state that they do provide accommodations for vegan residents.
Chambalabamba
- Website chambalabamba.org
- Location Loja, Ecuador
- Since 2012
Chambalabamba is a community located near Vilcabamba, Ecuador.
Note that Chambalabamba is a vegetarian community, but they can accommodate vegans.
Rhiannon Community
- Website rhiannoncommunity.org
- Location Pichincha, Ecuador
- Since 2008
Rhiannon is a community located about a half-hour from Quito, Ecuador.
Rhiannon accepts volunteers, who must contribute 5 hours a day (5 days per week) and $100 per month.
Note that Rhiannon does not have WiFi, and they’re a vegetarian community. They have working farm animals (donkeys and chickens), and they cook with eggs, cheese, etc in the communal kitchen. They explicitly state that they can accomodate vegans.
Merazonia
- Website merazonia.org
- Location Pastaza, Ecuador
- Since 2004
Merazonia is a Wildlife Refuge near Mera, Ecuador.
Merazonia accepts volunteers for 3 or more weeks. Volunteers must pay $620 for their first month.
Note that Merazonia’s communal meals are vegetarian. Their website explicitly states that they can accommodate vegan diets, but it does not state that eating animals is explicitly prohibited.
Un poco del Chocó
- Website unpocodelchoco.com
- Location Pichincha, Ecuador
- Since 2008
Un poco del Chocó is a nature reserve and biological field station in Pichincha, Ecuador
Un poco del Chocó accepts volunteers for 3-6 months. Volunteers are expected to cover their cost of living at $500/month.
Note that Un poco del Chocó is a mostly vegetarian community, but they do occasionally cook and eat dead animals. Their website explicitly states that they can accommodate vegan diets.
Tips?
Do you know of another veg community in Ecuador? Please contact us with their details, so we can add it to this page 🙂