Activities at Ecocostel

A walk through the village of Rosu

Read this blog in French Portuguese Russian Romanian German

The village of Rosu is a picturesque place to relax among, far from the hustle and bustle of city life. From lounging in Costel's garden to traveling on a 50-year-old train dating back to Soviet times, the Moldovan countryside offers many unique experiences. Here are some of the activities that you might enjoy while staying atCostel.

Moldovan home-owners take pride in decorating their homes in a traditional and colorful manner. Just outside the gate of Costel place, you’ll see fences of all colors, and home exteriors painted to depict flowers, clusters of grapes, and other flourishes. On every street there are functional water wells, each decorated in a unique manner. Rosu’s villagers are welcoming and curious about the visitors who come to Costel. They’ll wave and greet you with a hearty Bună ziua, and they might even invite you inside their garden for a glass of wine, made with grapes grown in the neighborhood’s many vineyards. The villagers sometimes offer products for sale such as free-range eggs, honey, and homemade wine.

Each season offers something special, and Rosu is the perfect backdrop for this ever-changing natural art. In the springtime, the fruit trees and Acacia flowers are in bloom, scenting the air with a beautiful perfume. From the glorious greens of the summer months, to autumn colors during the harvest, winter with lots of snow and definitely not too cold. Rosu is a lovely place to appreciate nature and witness agricultural customs in the Moldovan countryside.

In the center of Rosu there are 2 bars and 2 small markets, where it’s possible to buy food, water, and other items. If you’d like to travel to Cahul for even more products and services, it’s easy to ride there via the Mini Bus #7. A one-way ticket costs 3 Lei (about .015 Euro cents) and the bus stop is approximately a 10-minute walk from the Costel's place.

A walk through the city of Cahul

Though Cahul is Moldova’s third-largest city, it has a relaxed atmosphere, with a minimal amount of cars and noise. The city has a beautiful park, an Ethnographic Museum, University, theater, and a cultural center where concerts and meetings are regularly held. There is also a football stadium, a lake for swimming, and WWII monuments including vintage armaments on display.

An important transportation hub, Cahul has a train and bus station with connections for onward travel. Cahul is home to Moldova’s most-famous spa, the 'Nufarul Alb Sanatorium' (White Nymphea). You can visit the spa where it’s possible to drink healing mineral water which has a pH of 7.6. Every two years, Cahul hosts the White Nymphea Festival, which features traditional dancing and music. The city also offers ATM machines, restaurants and bars, a modern supermarket, and outdoor market brimming with fresh fruit, vegetables and household items.

Travel on a Soviet-era train

For those wanting to experience history and journey back in time, train travel in Moldova is a must! AtCostel owner, Constantin, will be happy to accompany you on a trip to his uncle’s home in the village of Slobozia Mare where you can spend the night. The 40 km. journey takes about 2 hours, and a one-way ticket costs 5 Lei (about 0.25 Euro cents). Along the way, you’ll see beautiful views as you travel through Moldova’s Prutal de Jos Nature Reservation. (For some reason this summer, the train suspended the activity.)

Cycling & hiking

Explore the surrounding countryside on foot or by bicycle and birdwatching. Costel has two bikes that you may borrow.

Various Activities

The Costel's garden is the ideal place to soak up the sunshine, admire the Moldovan countryside, play games, or engage in interesting conversation.

Constantin is passionate about Permaculture and has transformed his home's yard into a productive and sustainable garden. He has been recognized locally as an authority on the subject of Permaculture and sustainable living and incorporates the fresh fruit and vegetables from his garden into the healthy meals that he prepares. From teaching others about how to make traditional Moldovan dishes, to explaining Permaculture principles, he’s eager to share his knowledge with his guests also volunteers. A wooden table and chairs placed below the garden’s walnut tree offer the perfect place to chat and exchange stories and knowledge.

Volunteer atCostel guesthouse

Volunteer at our guesthouse and learn about Moldovan way of life with Constantin. I need help of one person, with cleaning in the house, or feeding the cat and dog when I am not at home for several days. Volunteers could also accompany guests on walks throughout Rosu or Cahul. In exchange, I can offer a private bedroom and food. Main rule is to stay here from two weeks to around 3 months, but definitely everything is flexible you choose when to leave. I always teach you about work here, and to have great experience of life in the village. Here in Moldova, the food is generally organic and less expensive than in other parts of Europe. I practice permaculture in my garden, and incorporate raw, vegetarian, and vegan principles into my diet. Some time is also possible to cook together. You must know that I accept assistants/volunteers not only people that follow plant based diet for personal nutrition, vegetarians, vegans, raw vegans, fruitarians are welcome, any way you have chance to try eating like that here if you want it, because I share time to time only this kind of food.

On a clear night, Constantin might fire up the home’s BBQ to cook potatoes, tomatoes, corn, eggplant, carrots and onions. And for those wanting to work out their muscles, the garden has a chin-up bar and dip-down bar. Constantin would gladly demonstrate some exercises that he enjoys and even do a workout with you, if you’re interested. Besides there is a summer shower and Eco toilet outdoor.

Our services are not charged, we appreciate if you can support us with a donation.

Reserve your room atCostel by contacting Constantin. Thank you for your interest!