Thinking about Colombia to many means thinking about drugs, the FARC and unsafety. A huge Colombia fan myself, I can say none of this is reality. Well, at least not in the world of an average backpacker or volunteer. Unlike other South American countries, Colombia has not been discovered yet by the crowds. Incredible because it has so much to offer to travelers and volunteers.

“Dos Manos Latin America” offers a number of volunteer projects in Laeticia, on the border with Peru and Brazil. We have some projects in Medellin, one for streetkids, among others. There are possibilities to work with elderly, or kids in social projects or in educational projects.  After volunteering it is time for you to start exploring the beautiful Colombia.

One thing that you should definitely not miss are the Caribbean beaches of Colombia. Both Santa Marta and the Tayrona National Park will leave you breathless. Beautiful white sanded beaches as far as the eye can see, lovely water temperature and unlimited snorkeling possibilities. Another good beach is Playa Blanca, close to Cartagena. Again white sanded beaches and clear blue water. Make sure you don’t go during the weekend though. At the end of the week you won’t be able to see any of the white sand, because it will just be crowded with local and foreign tourists. Going during the week you should be all right. Stay a few days and experience a tropical night in a hammock, eat fresh fruit while lying on a beach bed and have a good massage from one of the massage ladies strolling along the beach. This is paradise!

Can’t get enough of the heat? Go to Cartagena! This is probably the hottest place you will find in Colombia. The temperature is not too bad, between 24°C and 31°C throughout the year, but the humidity is unbelievable! The yearly average is around 90%, when I was there it was often 95%. For a person that can handle the heat pretty well, the humidity could bring even me down. You will be sweating all the time! Even taking ice cold showers will not help you feeling cool for a long time. Imagine going out and dance in pubs at night! You would expect it to cool down when the sun goes down, but no way. It will be hot at night too. Cartagena is definitely a place where you don’t want to cut costs and choose a cheap hostel without air conditioning. Most hostels have AC, the ones that don’t, have a fan, but I guarantee you, you will want AC! Apart from the heat, Cartagena is also known for its colonial history; you will find impressive old buildings. Last but not least, Cartagena is the place to go if you are in for a sail to Panama and the beautiful San Blas Islands. A group of beautiful islands in the middle of the Caribbean Sea.

My personal highlight in Colombia is a place called Minca. This town with about 1,500 inhabitants is located on top of a mountain, overlooking Santa Marta and the beaches. In this jungly hot paradise there is a lot of hiking to do. Luckily most of the hikes are close to the river, which is a relieve to cool down in. You will be surrounded by hummingbirds, the sound of Tucans and other tropical birds and insects. There are some nice waterfalls to visit. Minca is not crowded by tourists yet, but I’m sure it will grow. There are a few hostels and restaurants and the locals are super friendly.

Colombia, and Cali in particular, is known for its Salsa. There is no way you can go to Cali and not get submerged in the Afro-Caribbean dance. Also there is a vivid nightlife and there are plenty of restaurants serving tasty food. Apart from the parties happening in this city, Cali is interesting for its history too. In the historical center you will find old buildings and sculptures. This city is definitely worth staying a few days.

There is so much to do in Colombia, it never gets boring. As far as I’m concerned, this is a perfect country to do volunteering and travelling!

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