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Highlights
Choose from two fulfilling volunteer projects
Explore colonial Cartagena's gorgeous buildings
Visit the famous salt cathedral - worship services still take place here, deep underground
Discover the wild and beautiful Tayrona National Park
Stay in charming boutique luxury colonial accommodation
Your "Taste of Volunteering" Project
Project 1:
In recent years the government has been successful in turning the tide and cracking down on the Colombian drug trade and general lawlessness. However, increased government control comes at a price and doesn’t only impact on the drug lords. It is the poor farmers, in this case coca leaf (used to make cocaine) growers, that have suffered the most.
In order to provide these farmers with a sustainable income stream, the government is helping them develop a tourism project near the stunning Tayrona national park. Situated on the beautiful Caribbean coast the project aims to capitalize on Colombia’s growing tourism industry and will provide accommodation, restaurants and tours for visitors.
However, the divide between farming and tourism is great and fascinating stories about days gone by will not bring in the tourists. There are also many opportunities to help these farmers develop language, hospitality, IT and marketing skills, so that they can make the project compelling and self-sustaining.
Get to know these warm and friendly people and play your part in helping them develop a new livelihood and secure future.
Project 2:
Another fabulous volunteer project involves a group of Colombians that also experienced significant upheaval over the past few years. It seems that coffee growing is not perceived as worthwhile by the younger generation. Instead they are setting out in search of wealth in the cities. Without this labor many of the smaller plantations are feeling the strain.
However, some are fighting back. Partnering with other fair trade growers they are adapting a ‘slow food’ style ethic. Focusing on quality and experience over convenience, they are renewing interest in coffee growing and local coffee consumption.
Meet the growers as you work along side them on a small family run fair trade coffee plantation. Help inject passion back into this dying art and who knows; perhaps one day you’ll see the very coffee you picked on the shelves of your favorite coffee deli.
Local Trivia: In Colombia you could be forgiven for thinking that everyone travels by goat, as the word 'chiva' (meaning goat) is also the name given to the colorful local buses.
Trip Summary
Warm and genuine people, stunning landscapes and fascinating if chequered history, have made Colombia a real jewel for those looking to step off the well worn tourist path.
Colombia is a beautiful and diverse country. Situated on the equator, it stretches from warm costal regions, through tropical rain forests, high into the permanently snow capped Andean mountain ranges.
Your guide will help bring Colombia's history to life as you explore Bogota. Monserrat, the famous church overlooking the city and a museum dedicated to Botero, the infamous painter and sculptor are just some of the fascinating sites that await you.
In Zipaquirá you will marvel at the magnificent Salt Cathedral. Built 200m below ground in an old salt mine it started life as a small sanctuary where miners would pray prior to commencing work. Since then it has transformed into an architectural masterpiece that sees up to 3000 people attend Sunday mass.
Another sensation is Tayrona National Park, which has long been considered one of the wildest and most beautiful corners of South America. Soft sandy palm-fringed beaches, framed by sea-sculptured boulders form the costal border for this stunning mountainous jungle. The area is teaming with wild life and is studded with archaeological sites left by the Koguis and the Arhuacos tribes dating back to pre-Columbian times.
Complete a stunning and rewarding trip by unwinding in the soothing volcanic mud of ‘Volcan de Lodo el Totumo’ and exploring the gorgeous colonial city of Cartagena.
Of course there are many other wonders to visit in Colombia:
The Coffee Zone (suggested time: 3 days)
The Amazon Jungle (suggested time: 3-5 days)
Colonial Vila de Levya (suggested time: 3 days)
Providencia Island (suggested time: 3-7 days)
*Comfort Level: You have 8 nights in boutique luxury hotels, and 5 nights in simple yet tasteful en-suite accommodation whilst volunteering.
This is an extra amount to pay in addition to the trip price if you are traveling on
your own and either (1) would like a room for yourself, or (2) there is no one of the same sex to share a room with you. We try to get these surcharges waived on your behalf, but this cannot be guaranteed
The price is per person, based on 2 people sharing a room. We can tailor-make a trip to meet your exact requirements.
With one person booking, please contact us for the price of your trip.
Dates
You can choose your own trip start dates. Please contact us if you would like to proceed or require any further information.
Suggested Itinerary
We would be delighted to tailor-make this to your requirements.
Day 1: Arrive Bogota (D) Day 2: Bogota and Montserrat tour (B) Day 3: Salt Cathedral (B)
Day 4: Fly to Santa Marta, city tour, transfer to volunteer community (B,D) Day 5-9: Volunteering (B,L,D) Day 10: Tayrona National Park (B,L,D) Day 11: Drive to Cartagena (B) Day 12-13: Cartagena (B) Day 14: Fly to Bogota (B)
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Videos
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With one person booking, please contact us for the price of your trip.
