Peaceful Homestead & Retreat in Ecuador

Ecuador

the original sheppards cabin is tucked into the banana orchard

13 reviews • Updated 10 days ago

NOTE: we have had a couple wwoofers think we are full because of the calendar layout - but we have comfortable room for 12 people - the more the merrier! Bienvenida! A shangri-la is 'a remote beautiful place where life approaches perfection; a hideaway of idealic beauty and tranquility; where everything is pleasant and you can get everything you want.' That's the goal! We are peaceful freedom lovers - Doug & Crystal. We share the land with our sweet shihtzu Rawsha, our new puppies Grizzly, Snarles Barkly & Heliconia, Jose the cat, a happy flock of chickens, and our 2 friendly mules: Ferris Mueller & Atilla. We started homesteading in Canada on 2020, and within a year were 100% self sufficient in growing our own fruits and vegetables. We relocated to Ecuador in August 2023, to continue our food self sufficiency goals in a year round growing climate - and for the adventure! We have a 35Ha retreat of Jungle, fresh spring water and clean air. We are on the Amazonian side of the Andes mountains. We do not have a wet / dry season. Rather, we receive rainfall year - which means everything is always green and lush. The property is bordered by small rivers and cascadas. Some of the land was used for cows in the past, and we are inviting the jungle to grow back in these areas. THE SPACE We have built cabins that can accommodate 12 people. We built them with the intention of balancing privacy and community. Now that the construction is done, we are focusing on creating gardens at each cabin, as well as planting fruit and native trees to help fill in the spaces between the cabins. There are private cabins made for people that want to take care of gardens and create a little home away from home, as well as a dorm style cabin for groups or friends traveling together. There is a large community space for cooking, gathering, yoga, making art, music, and nightly bonfires. There is also a volley ball court! Some things to consider while deciding if the Shangri-la is the right place for you: * We have chosen to live off grid, and free of EMF, as such the internet is joyfully not available or part of life here. * We are also live free of artificial light, choosing to be guided by moonlight, firelight and candles when needed. * We are fragrance free All of this provides a beautiful opportunity to reconnect with nature, with yourself and your own circadian rhythms, and with true human interaction when freed from the distractions of technology. Phones, computers, smart devices (like smart watches etc) can be kept is a secure space in the city. We usually go the city 1x per week. To get to the farm there is a decently challenging hike up the mountain. It takes us an hour, but if can take 2 hours depending on your activity level. But there is no rush. It's very steep in parts, and can be mucky. A combination of good strength and spirit is needed! Due to our remoteness, we are only able to accept people who can stay for a week minimum. And we have a 3 month limit to stays. Sound like a dream? Send us a message - we will respond to everyone - but we only check email 1x-2x per week, so it may be a few days before we get back to you. This is what currently fills our days: *Current gardens need to be maintained and weeded *Planting fruit trees and vegetables *Prepping soil and garden beds for more gardens *Builidng composting toilets *Creating and maintaining trails on the property *Creating our compost system *Digging trenches and building berms *Building swimming pools in the waterfalls LIFE AT THE FARM We always start the day with a leisurely breakfast. Then get into the tasks that call to us or need to be done. A big lunch is somewhere around 1pm and then we usually have a light snack by the fire to finish the day. We are plant based, and look forward to getting back to eating solely from our land! We have naturally raised happy chickens for eggs, and for the love of a good rooster wake up call! We don't believe in working. We take it day by day, get what needs to be done done, and most importantly - enjoy what we are doing. We extend that same freedom to anyone staying on the land. There is plenty of time for personal practices of yoga, reading, meditation, music, singing, fireside chats...whatever makes you happy, but anyone who is interested in self sufficiency should understand that gardens need daily tending, land needs caring for - there is always something to do - we just take it on a leisurely pace. We are not interested in being 'task masters' and anyone coming to join our community, short or long term, should have the desire and self motivation to assist in raising the vibration of daily life, and will find joy in contributing to the family. As time has passed, and we have had the joy of watching the changes in people that stay on the land, it has become clear that we are offering much more than a farm exchange. Just as important as gardening and farm tasks is the opportunity to experience a life guided by your own personal freedom. One person who needed to rest said "Its the first time in my life I took a nap, and didn't feel guilty about it". It felt like such a gift to be able to provide the space for that experience. (This insert is a small note from douglas: Crystal has done a beautiful and creative portrait of our space here in the amazonian highlands of Ecuador, this land is very special to us and for this reason we want to share it with all who are called by intuition. The other day when I was hiking to one of the woofer cabins I had this thought, -it was a kind of dialogue as I was walking along with my machete chopping grass, noticing the dew covered webs of spiders, the tiny mushrooms scattered the path my feet were on, hearing the enormity/intensity of bird songs and distant waterfall, smelling the nectar of orchid and forest and grass, feeling the humid warmth of the amazonian mother hold me as I noticed.- the thought was of a dialogue with someone who just arrived to share space. So excited I am to share with this new arrival all that I have learned in this short time, I know it is not us who grows food, it is Her our mother, we just help by planting a seed and watching, maybe throwing some compost down to encourage. Being in gratitude. Simple tools like the machete for chopping green compost, (side, side, note***also kids, if it has been a lifelong dream of yours of how to sharpen a machete, a local showed me how and I am happy to pass this wisdom along, please ask) the barretta a one meter iron bar with a point on one end and a flat gouge on the other essential for digging rocks, or new holes for trees, and of course hands and feet for feeling the earth and being intimate with plants, insects and funghi. Wow I guess my short note turned into a ramble, I guess more than anything i just wanna say, You are welcome here. To in-joy similar dialogues, amazing food (thanks to Crystals genious with combining plants and sauces), or maybe just to ramble on in the midst of ineffable beauty. in love, douglas) Possible day trip adventures close by: hiking Podocarpus National Park; Swimming in Rio Bombuscaro; Touring the beautiful botanical gardens of Finca Monay (which is between Zamora and our farm).

Learning opportunities

Vegetable farming

Fruit or nut farming

Vegetable or fruit preservation

Methods or systems

No-till farming

Permaculture

Host type

Self-sufficiency property

35 Hectares | 86.5 Acres

Accommodation

4+ WWOOFers

Bedroom

Campsite

Cabin / Mobile-home

Children accepted

Pets not accepted

Meals

Vegan

Length of stay

Less than a week

1-2 weeks

3-4 weeks

Over a month

Doug

Member since 2023

Languages spoken: English, Spanish Response rate: 100% Response time: typically within 2 days

December 2025

Open

Planned visit

Closed

MapLibre | Protomaps | © OpenStreetMap

Ecuador

Zamora Bus Terminal, which is 1.5 hours from Loja

Reviews

Thomas

France • November 2025

Thanks Doug and Christal, thanks for the rules you installed, for making it simple, for the good food, for the tips, the sharing, and mostly to open the gate on different life styles. It as been a real inspiring pleasure to be up there in the eagle nest, with you . Love Tom and Leah

Reply from Doug

Thank you guys! The potato bed is planted and should be sprouting any day now!! I hope the rest of your journey is going wonderfully. But....rules?? the only rule is that everyone is enjoying what they are doing moment to moment haha. And no phones etc I guess...but that's more the lifestyle we share than a rule. Love you guys!

Gabriel

Australia • July 2025

Doug and Crystal, thank you so much for this opportunity! Gabe and I enjoyed every moment up in the beautiful high Amazon. Thank you for creating this space for people to connect to themselves, others and the environment. Some of the things that we enjoyed most were: the delicious, fresh and organic meals that you created (chocolate balls will definitely make an appearance in Australia!), learning from the incredible humans that live at CD Shangrila, the stories and conversations we had, the books that you recommended us, the intense volleyball matches filled with laughter and smiles, sharing guitar tunes, enjoying the warmth of the fire at night, snuggling in our cozy cabin listening to the rain, hanging in hammocks, harvesting vegetables in the garden and de- shelling Sacha Inchi nuts and just being. Thank you again, this experience will always hold a place in our hearts. With love…and nectar!! Mimosa and Gabriel :)))

Reply from Doug

Yes! With Love...and nectar. Ahhh we miss you guys! Thank you for all the bright light you brought to every moment. Enjoy all of your adventures!!! LOVE

Jade

France • June 2025

I spend one week at the place and it was a really nice experience ! Here you can do everything that you want, panting, read, play guitare, gard, gardening… And it’s really cool to have to technology ! It’s great to disn’t use the phone :) Thank you verry much for you Warm welcome! Love

Reply from Doug

Thank you Jade! For your lovely energy, your art, and for all the crochet skills you passed along. Camila is still making bags!!

Denisa

Romania • May 2025

Crystal and Doug are amazing people and they created a piece of paradise at Shangrila. Me and my sister spent 2 beautiful weeks there and I don't have words to describe how much I enjoyed the experience. The place has such a good energy, I felt this state of flow and happiness, connected to myself, creative. Living close to the nature, away from technology, waking up every morning with that beautiful view, stargazing before going to bed, enjoying insightful conversations and nights around the fire, learning farming techniques, not knowing what time it is, no constraints, just do what I felt like doing at any moment, it all felt like a blessing. I am deeply grateful for my time at Shingrila.

Reply from Doug

We miss you beauties. I hope your journeys and adventures are flowing smoothly. LOVE LOVE LOVE

Abby

United States • February 2025

Crystal and Doug- you are some of the most kind and open hearted people out there. Same goes for the people I met in my time at Shangri-La. My time at the farm has broadened my capacity to love, create and care for the land. Days were filled with rest, exploring the waterfalls, movement practices, meditation, gardening, painting, eating incredible food, cooking, reading and so much more. There are boatloads of experiences and lessons I will take away from my time there and to anyone questioning if this farm is for you - if you want to unlearn the rush of society, define your own sense of ‘productivity’ and expand your horizons, this is the place. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Reply from Doug

Abby, you sweet love. we miss you and think / chat about you all the time. Love you so much!

Alba

Denmark • February 2025

Doug and Crystal created a fantastic home/community in the mountains that my boyfriend and I feel extremely lucky to have been a part of for 3 weeks. From the first day at the farm, we felt at home. We both learned so much about ourselves and connected with others on a deep level while being immersed in nature. Shangri-la allowed us to decompress and detox from our phones, which taught us so much. Taking our time, feeling ourselves, and going at our own pace without distractions was terrific, and we recommend everyone try it! From reading some great books to painting, building, planting, card games, super cozy (hygge) nights around the fire, hikes, and races (Doug, we are rooting for you), all of that allowed for a fantastic experience that we will forever be grateful for. Love Wyatt and Alba

Reply from Doug

Alba & Wyatt - we miss you soooooo much! 3 weeks wasn't enough. The specialness of the time when you were here is in my heart forever. Ps - Doug is currently in training...and we will keep you updated with the race results!