Colombia - closed

Explore Barichara and Create a Community Orchard

You will fly into Bucaramanga airport ourney will start in the amazing capital city of Bogata where you have 2 to 3 days to explore the colourful old town filled with museums, universities, arts, fashion and the houses of parliament. Combine a cultural, visual feast with your first environmental project, organised by Acualos – a local water company which was founded over 50 years ago by the grandparents of our in-country partners, Jakera.

Acualos are committed to helping local communities save water and create more sustainable community practises.They have asked us to help with one of their projects which is to donate and create a community orchard and nursery from scratch.

This will involve a big community, cultural day as everyone gets stuck in together.

Accommodation

Jakera Hostel in Old Town. This is owned and run by our co-ordinators who are responsible for organising the program.

Food

2 meals a day provided. Dinner will be extra in one of tthe many cafes. Budget about $10 per meal.

Adevnture capital of Colombia

You will take the bus out of Bogota to reach the adventure town of San Gill in the heart of the country, and in the Colombian coffee region. This lively Colombian town offers an abundance of traditional cultural experiences, as well as breath-taking outdoor adventures - so get your walking boots ready.

Monday to Friday you’ll be busy in the great outdoors getting stuck into a mix of trekking and whitewater adventures interwoven with community and environmental projects.

Accommodation

You will stay in the Waterfall Hostel which is owned by our project co-ordinator, right in the heart of this groovy colonial town.
Expect dormitory style accommodation with shared bathrooms.

Food

Breakfast and lunch provided during the week.
Brunch only at the weekends.
For supper most volunteers eat in one of the local restaurants or cook in the hostel's shared kitchen.

Adventure Intertwined

Interwoven with your project work during these 2 weeks you will have the opportunity to navigate:

River Fonce - Whitewater Rafting
Nothing like a touch of adrenaline, a day out on the river, through the gorges, to tackle grade 3 rapids.

Chicamocha Canyon Expedition - Second biggest canyon in the world
You will start the trek traversing across the crest of the 120 million year old canyon, stopping for breath taking views and fruit stops along the way. It's about 4 km of canyon crest walking, before you reach the entry point for descent. The climb down is shaded and can be a little technical at points, as it takes you through single track and isolated terrain, passing through tobacco and goat farms on the way down.

Eventually you will reach more level terrain and stop at the 'jacuzzi'' for a picnic - a natural rock pool of fresh flowing natural pools, before a 45 mins final push to reach camp.

The following morning its up early to ensure you get away before the canyon heats up. This time you will trek over a fixed stone footpath, one of Colombia's oldest roads / footpaths, originally built by the Spanish crown, linking Santa Marta on the coast, the original capital, with Bogota. A hugely significant road in Colombia's history. This is about a 4 hour trek up and out. Once at the summit, it’s a jeep pic-up for a celebratory local lunch in the old town, before heading back to the Waterfall Hostel for a rest.

Accommodation

Camping on overnight trek.

Making a difference

Reforestation
Interwoven into the first 2 weeks will be a couple of environmental days run by the National Parks office, focusing on reforestation. Here you will help develop their tree nurseries in the National Parks before planting out the saplings and maintaining the young trees in designated areas.

Community and Environment
In San Gil, you will join forces with a vulnerable kids foundation and the local fire brigade of Pinchote. The plan is to encourage these kids to work with you to replant the wilderness areas which have been destroyed by fire and primitive farming techniques and to clean the river – teaching them about local environmental issues and how they can protect their planet.

Sustainable Housing Project
Last year a project started to create a house for a local family made out of local materials – the

intention was for this to be a sustainable model for house building in the rural areas. However, the project has completely stalled due to lack of funds. Our plan is to resurrect the project and breathe life back into the house which will become a home for the family and an example of what can be built for other rural farmers. It will be a pinnacle of hope and something that can become a larger sustainable housing project, using traditional and easily available natural materials.

Enter the Sacred Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta

Next up it’s time to head North to the beaches of the Sierra Nevada foothills.

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range is considered sacred by the four indigenous groups that live here; Kogi, Wiwa, Arhuaco and Kankuamo.

They all believe the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is the beating heart of the world: what happens here happens everywhere, and when it’s rivers run dry, it’s ice caps melt and it’s endemic species disappear, so do the rest of the world’s. They maintain their deep commitment to restoring equilibrium to the Earth through daily meditations, ritual practices and mental discipline. It is an amazing place to visit.

Lost City Trek and Cartegana Culture and Caribbean

Your final week and it’s time to head North to the Sierra Nevada foothills and Caribbean coast.

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range is considered sacred by the four indigenous groups that live here; Kogi, Wiwa, Arhuaco and Kankuamo. They all believe their home is the beating heart of the world and what happens here happens everywhere – so, if the rivers run dry, it’s ice caps melt and it’s endemic species disappear, so do the rest of the world’s. They maintain their deep commitment to restoring equilibrium to the Earth through daily meditations, ritual practices and mental discipline.

Lost City Trek
One of the program highlights. A 4-day expedition through the inspirational and breath-taking sacred Sierra Nevada valley.

Starting in the morning with a 1 hr 4x4 ride to the 'machete' starting point, before the beginning of a 1.5 day climb to the site through the ‘holy’ terrain of the indigenous people, who will teach you about their traditions as you overnight in their shelters. The site itself is both awe inspiring and spectacular – so get ready.

Accommodation

Camping in tents when out on a trek.

Food

3 meals a day provided when trekking.

Latino - Caribbean Culture
Your final few days will be spent in the hip colonial town of Cartegena, exploring the markets and old town, swimming in the Caribbean and sampling the nightlife, before heading home after an action packed 4 weeks.

The perfect finale...

Accommodation

Casa Romana Hostel.
Shared dorms.

Food

Breakfast and lunch provided.
Dinner will be extra out and and about in one of the many cafes.