Authentic Explorer and Sports Enthusiast

location
1 - 8 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Outstanding 5  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Good response rate

Highlights

  • Explore authentic districts of Colombia and neighborhoods you normally wouldn't have access to.
  • Visit interesting and heart warming foundations, Interact with children and teenagers and share many special moments as well as educational, sporty and fun activities with them
  • Visit a Colombian prison where you can talk to prisoners in their re-integration program and and get surprised by their positive actitude and the possibility of the foundation to change their lifes.

Highlights

  • Explore authentic districts of Colombia and neighborhoods you normally wouldn't have access to.
  • Visit interesting and heart warming foundations, Interact with children and teenagers and share many special moments as well as educational, sporty and fun activities with them
  • Visit a Colombian prison where you can talk to prisoners in their re-integration program and and get surprised by their positive actitude and the possibility of the foundation to change their lifes.
  • HAve many great adventures and excursions like observing South Americas biggest canyon from the air with a paraglide, lagoon hikes, coffee farms and much more.
  • Learn Spanish from certified and local teachers


  • Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Couples
    Families
    Groups
    50+

    About the program

    Support our foundations with sport, music, dance or other fun activities, learn Spanish, learn to dance salsa, explore Colombia authentically and have a lot of fun.

    Our program is important to support the development of children in fragile districts as well as other foundations. With sports or music activities, we improve the spare time and the personal developments of our participants. 

    For our volunteers, the program offers the perfect combination of explore, ...

    About the program

    Our program is important to support the development of children in fragile districts as well as other foundations. With sports or music activities, we improve the spare time and the personal developments of our participants. 

    For our volunteers, the program offers the perfect combination of explore, adventurous, social, fun and learning activities. We invite you to explore Colombia as authentic as possible. We will bring you to places you would never see on your own and you will meet interesting foundations and local people. You will improve your Spanish with local teachers, stay in a nice and popular hostel or if desired with a guest family, enjoy many hikes and activities and learn a lot about the Colombian culture, their games, their music, their dances. Most important, you will participate in the following interesting projects:


    - Foundation "Goles por la paz": A project, which interacts with children and teenagers in vulnerable districts: Have sports sessions, dance classes, music activities, play games, support on homework, teach english - or whatever your heart desires - every talent is welcome. If you just want to visit and have a cultural exchange, that's also welcome. 

    - Foundation "Capaz": Explore authentic Colombian neighbourhoods and districts where you normally wouldn't have access to. Interact with the people and with the children of the foundation. 

    - "Nuevos Horizontes" - A re-integration program of a Colombian prison. Motivated prisoners are working for their second chance in freedom. Interact and exchange with them or even help them to get fit with sport sessions, play table games like chess with them, play football, have music or dance sessions, or bring your own ideas and talents.

    In your volunteer activities, we don't expect you to do work you don't like. You decide by yourself the time you want to spend with the foundations and the activities you would like to offer. In our program, it's all about you having an interesting time and an unforgettable experience! 

    You will live in Bucaramanga's most popular Hostel, where you will meet many likeminded people who also participate in the activities with you. The hostel is located in the center and in the most vibrant area of the city, with many nice restaurants, bars and clubs. 

    If you like it more authentic and adventourous, you can stay with a Guest family in a district where you normally shouldn't stay too long. Our foundations make it possible to have a safe and interesting stay there. 

    Most of the volunteer activities will take part in the north of Bucaramanga, where you will find a football court, a classroom and a kitchen. 

    You will work with the participants, which will be mostly children and teenagers, and also participants in the prison between 25 and 40 years of age. If you don't want to participate in one of these foundations (e.g. in the prison), that's no problem. 

    In the activities, you will be supported by local professionals. 

    Our program is mainly to interact with interesting people and with the foundations. It's not about you working for us. This explains also the price of the program. It's an authentic and social experience, not a work agreement. We don't expect anything from you. You can bring your talents and execute the activities you feel comfortable with: For instance have sport trainings, dance sessions, music sessions, English lessons, or other activities. 



    Typical day

    The days are very variable, that's the beauty of our program! One day we will take you to beautiful lagoon hike, the next day you will visit a prison and interact with the participants. Another day we take you paragliding or to another excursion / activity. Another day you will do fun or sporty ...

    Typical day

    The days are very variable, that's the beauty of our program! One day we will take you to beautiful lagoon hike, the next day you will visit a prison and interact with the participants. Another day we take you paragliding or to another excursion / activity. Another day you will do fun or sporty activities with children and teenagers. Also, you will have Spanish classes and dance lessons. 

    Example:

    Day 1: Breakfast at 8am, transport to the foundation at 9am, visit a foundation with children and teenagers, have lunch at 12pm, get a Spanish lesson at 3pm, get a dance lesson at 7pm.

    Day 2: Breakfast at 8am, Pick-up at 9am, Local Barrio and Graffity Tour, lunch at 12pm with a local family in the district, afterwards activities with children, at 5pm transport back to hostel. 

    Other days, you will go hiking, visit a coffee farm, support other foundations. You can get your individual program, based on your preferences. 


    Free-time activities

    You can have as much free time as you like. If desired, we offer the following activities:

    - Paragliding over South Americas biggest canyon
    - Horse Riding on the Canyon
    - City Center Walking Tours with actors telling about the history of Bucaramanga
    - Many beautiful hikes
    - Coffee Farms
    - Football Game at ...

    Free-time activities

    You can have as much free time as you like. If desired, we offer the following activities:

    - Paragliding over South Americas biggest canyon
    - Horse Riding on the Canyon
    - City Center Walking Tours with actors telling about the history of Bucaramanga
    - Many beautiful hikes
    - Coffee Farms
    - Football Game at stadium
    - Fruit markets
    - Ceramics Classes
    - Waterfall Adventure
    - Museums
    - Yoga Classes
    - Spanish Lessons
    - Dance Classes
    - Bungee Jumping
    - River Rafting
    - much more...


    Requirements

    Requirements

    Minimum Age: 18 years

    In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

    Language Skills

    You need to speak English (basic level)

    Required Documents

    Passport and Health insurance

    Nationality Restrictions

    No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

    Other Skills

    Every person is welcome. If you have some talents which could be helpful, please communicate them to us.

    Time Commitment

    Your helping hand will be required on Tuesday and Thursday

    What's Included

    What's Included

    Services by Bucara Voluntours

    The price includes all volunteer and explore activities (visit foundations, hikes, city tours), Transport, Accommodation, Lunches, Drinking Water, In-Country Support, Donations for participating NGO's. 

    Optional add-ons: Spanish Classes from certified teachers, Salsa Lessons (private or group options), Adventure trips like Bungee, Paraglide, River Rafting and more. These activities will be charged additionally if activities are desired. 

    Price is for shared rooms (4-Bed Dorm with bathroom). Private options available (+ USD 90.00 per week)

    Airport Pickup at Palonegro International Airport

    All transportations are included. You will be picked-up at the airport, we will check your flight number which you have to provide to us. During activities, we drive you safe to all places in a car. 

    Accommodation

    The prices listed include a shared room (16m2) in a nice and popular hostel or if desired with a guest family. The bathroom are usually shared by max. 4 people, they are clean and provide warm water. You will always have access to drinking water during your stay.

    Private room options available (+ USD 90.00 per week).

    Food & Beverages

    Lunch (meat, fish & vegetarian options) included as well as drinking water. 

    Internet Access

    Good access at the project site

    What's NOT included?

    What's NOT included?

    Flight Tickets

    The nearest airport is Palonegro International Airport (BGA) in Bucaramanga. We assist you to find cheap flights to Colombia. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

    Travel Insurance

    Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Colombia provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

    Vaccines

    If you are intending to volunteer in Colombia you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Colombia. VACCINE CHECKER

    Details on arrival

    You can start whenever you feel ready. Our program start is flexible. We will have an exchange with you before arrival, create your individual program with you and pick you up at the airport your first day, where you will receive all further instructions and start your adventure. 

    Availability
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

    Program fees

    1 day (min. stay) 60€
    1 week 319€
    2 weeks 608€
    3 weeks 898€
    4 weeks 1,187€
    8 weeks (max. stay) 2,284€
    Average fees 352€/week

    Program fees

    352€ per week 1 - 8 weeks Age 18 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES


    Duration

    1 - 8 weeks

    Deposit

    The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


    Final Payment

    Your final payment will be agreed with Bucara Voluntours during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


    Meet your organization

    Bucara Voluntours

    Outstanding 5 rating (14 reviews)

    Non-profit - founded in 2023

    Verified by Volunteer World

      Good response rate

    Coordinated by

    Simon

    About the project

    We offer an all-in program containing social activities (kids, animals, or even in a prison), Spanish Classes, Dance Lessons and many adventure and explore tours.

    Meet your organization

    We are a collaboration of 9 Colombian NGO's. Bucara Voluntours has been founded in 2023, but our foundations already exists for many years and have a lot of experience with their activities and also with volunteers.

    Bucara Voluntours re-united the foundations and created a program which offers the perfect combination of social, exploring, adventurous, fun and learning activities. 

    We are based in the beautiful city of Bucaramanga in Colombia. The area has a lot to offer: Beautiful nature, many great hikes, South Americas biggest canyon and much more. The city is not that much touristic, so you can explore Colombia in it's most authentic way and interact with many locals. 

    Our mission is to support beautiful and important NGO's in Bucaramanga, and at the same time offer an unforgettable experience for our Volunteers. One of our main visions is to give access to English classes to every child in the north of Bucaramanga. 

    Why choose us for you volunteering? We are looking for people searching for an authentic, social but more than all fun experience. We don't expect you to do work which you don't like. You decide by yourself the time you want to spend with our foundations. You can have as much free time as you want, and there are many great activities we will organize for you. 





    14 reviews · rating5

    Monique Bouckaert rating5

    2024 at Authentic Explorer and Sports Enthusiast

    Hola! Hello! The program Simon and Laura from Bucaravoluntours have created is really WONDERFUL and I wish for more people to join the program and have a similar experience I’ve had🥰 I’ve been lucky enough to have traveled quite a bit but this was my first time visiting Colombia ...
    Daniel Román Planas rating5

    2024 at Authentic Explorer and Sports Enthusiast

    The experience and the activities performed in Bucaramanga were truly unique. It allows to see and feel the reality not only of part of Colombia, but the day-to-day of a lot of people across the world Both Simon and Laura are amazing hosts, they were close to us and guided through the visits to ...
    This was my first time traveling solo and volunteering abroad. And it was one of the best experience in my life. Simon and Laura did everything so that I have the best time in Bucaramanga and they succeeded. Everything was amazing, the foundations I volunteered for, the activities to get to know the ...
    Luiza Gonçalves rating5

    2023 at Authentic Explorer and Sports Enthusiast

    I worked with kids teaching basic english and portuguese, and it was amazing. We worked in the mornings helping them with womework and in the afternoon teaching languages, sports and all kinds of amazing things, such as our countries culture and geography. ..
    I made a volunteer program and doscovery tpur wirh Simon Gygax and I can say without any doubt, that that was one of my best decisions regarding travellibg so fare. It was amazingly well organized (probably cause he is swiss) and you really felt that he did it with all of his heart. He brougth us to ...
    Armando Morales rating5

    2023 at Authentic Explorer and Sports Enthusiast

    My first solo travelling was a volunteer program in Colombia with the NGO ""Goles por la paz"" where I had the opportunity to challenge myself in this football school for children. I had the job of taking care of the children, create fun games for the and at the same time to teach them values of ...

    Location

    Americas > South America > Colombia > Bucaramanga

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