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Ex-truck Driver Builds Cabins Alone on Family Land, Invests Up to R$ 150 Thousand per Unit and Charges Daily Rates of R$ 400 to 500 in Cabins in the Middle of the Woods Year-Round
With 4 Airbnbs in the middle of the woods, an ex-truck driver who builds cabins alone transformed the inherited family land into a hospitality business that earns about R$ 20 thousand per month in daily rates. What was once a farm and nearly forgotten area has become a destination for couples and families seeking tranquility, nature, and a hot water bathtub.
The turnaround did not come from an architect’s project or a large construction company. He plans, buys the material, erects the structure, and finishes each cabin with his own hands, balancing a heavy routine of construction, maintenance, and guest service in a business that operates, in practice, 30 days a month.
From Truck to Airbnb in the middle of the woods
Before becoming a host, he drove as a trucker on the highways and also worked as a gardener. Today, he defines himself first as a host, someone who lives off what he created on his own land. The profession changed, but the willingness to do hard work remained the same.
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Since the land already belonged to the family, there was no need to buy it. The space, which had previously been used for agriculture by his father and grandfather, was repurposed to accommodate the cabins, with minimal deforestation. The idea has always been to make use of the existing nature and fit the constructions into the scenery, not the other way around.
How He Builds Cabins Alone and Reduces Costs
From the first build, the choice was to do everything by himself. He builds cabins alone from start to finish, researching materials, buying directly where he can save money, and overseeing each stage of the work. Instead of hiring a large team, he takes on the roles of mason, construction manager, and his own boss at the same time.
The routine is simple to explain and hard to repeat: start work around 6 AM and continue until dark whenever the weather permits. When it’s sunny, he is on the job, sanding, nailing, raising walls, or adjusting finishes, at a pace that shortens deadlines and controls costs.
How Much It Costs to Raise a Cabin and How Long It Takes to Finish
The numbers show why the model works. The first rustic cabin he built cost around R$ 120 thousand. Another, with a taller structure and more complex foundations, approached R$ 150 thousand. A third cabin made from a bus structure was around R$ 100 thousand in investment.
The average construction time is around four to five months for each unit, always with him leading the work day-to-day. Instead of starting from scratch on each project, he accumulates experience: with each cabin, he learns new solutions and applies them to the next, making it more viable to continue building cabins alone without relying on large contractors.
Daily Rates of R$ 400 to 500 and Revenue of R$ 20 Thousand per Month
The daily rates for the cabins range from R$ 400 to R$ 500, depending on the space and the concept. The first units, more rustic and set in the woods, tend to be the favorites among guests, but the more modern ones also achieve good occupancy. With two cabins performing well, he already sees gross revenue of around R$ 10 thousand, and with all four units and the larger house, the jump approaches R$ 20 thousand per month.
It is important to remember that this is gross revenue: cleaning, utilities, maintenance, and small repairs are part of the equation. The advantage is that since he builds the cabins himself and handles most of the maintenance, the actual expenses are more controlled. What he saves in labor during construction and repairs translates into a higher margin for the business.
Year-Round Operation and Stronger Seasons
The cabins operate year-round, with fluctuations in occupancy throughout the months. The peak periods run from the end of May to September, when the colder weather matches the fireplace and bathtub, and from December to March, when many people take vacations and extended holidays.
Even in the “midway” months, when it is neither winter nor summer, occupancy remains reasonable. He knows that there are no weekends or holidays off: if there are no guests, it’s time to take care of painting, reviewing the structure, cleaning outdoor areas, or adjusting details for the next check-in.
Themed Cabins and a Different Experience for Each Stay
Each cabin was born with a different concept. The first is more rustic, set deep in the woods, with decor full of wood and details that evoke childhood and the dream of having a “little house in the forest.” This one tends to be the guests’ favorite, precisely because it delivers the feeling of an isolated retreat.
Another unit has a more modern style, designed to reach an audience that prefers comfort with a more urban vibe, yet still surrounded by greenery. The bus cabin is almost like a movie set: an old bus structure, fully restored interior, a hammock facing the water, and the combination of a bathtub and nature around. In all of them, he follows the same logic: he builds cabins alone but creates different experiences in each.
Freedom, Demanding Routine, and the Other Side of Being a Host
From the outside, the business seems to have only advantages: living in the middle of the woods, in flip-flops, close to family, and making money with the cabins. In practice, he admits that there are no free weekends or guaranteed holidays, because there are always guests arriving or leaving, beds to make, outdoor areas to organize, or urgent repairs to handle.
Still, when asked if he would do it all over again, the answer is yes. The feeling of building cabins alone, seeing each project come to life and fill up with people, and at the same time being able to work at his own pace, weighs more than the fatigue. The next step is likely to expand the space with another creative cabin, taking advantage of the 9 hectares of land and new ideas that are still just in his mind.
And you, after getting to know this story of someone who builds cabins alone and lives off 4 Airbnbs in the middle of the woods, would you have the courage to drop everything and start a hospitality business like this too?
O repórter não disse como contatar e nem onde fica. Lindas cabanas.
Li reportagem, mas em momento algum se falou do local das cabanas
Como entrar em contato com esse empreendedor?
Tenho disponível uma área de 5 alqueires em Angra dos Reis – RJ. Mata Atlântica, com cachoeira, nascente e muita área verde.