What’s Included
You’re getting 180 hours of Spanish classes total, that’s 15 hours a week, 3 hours a day, Monday to Friday, in a small group of no more than 8 students at a language school in Cartagena’s walled city. Volunteer work, about 10-15 hours a week, focuses on education projects like tutoring kids or environmental efforts like beach cleanups, with placements tailored to your skills. Cultural activities include weekly dance classes, like champeta or salsa, and guided historical tours to sites like Castillo San Felipe. Your homestay with a vetted Cartagena family includes a private room and two meals a day, breakfast and dinner, perfect for practicing Spanish daily. Airport transfers from Rafael Núñez International Airport are covered, both ways, along with a welcome orientation and a group dinner at a waterfront restaurant. The program team’s got your back with 24/7 support for any hiccups.
Month-by-Month Breakdown
Month one kicks off with your arrival at Cartagena’s airport, where a driver whisks you to your homestay, and your host family greets you with maybe a glass of jugo de maracuyá or a warm hug. At the welcome orientation, you meet your group, about 6-10 folks, grab a map of the city, some safety tips, and a rundown of the three months ahead. Your first dinner with the family’s your chance to try some Spanish, probably tripping over a word like “voluntario,” but they’re super patient and welcoming.
Week one dives into Spanish classes, 3 hours each morning at a school in the walled city, where native teachers get you practicing real-life convos, like chatting with kids at a volunteer site. The classes are lively, focusing on grammar, vocab, and Caribbean slang, so you’re ready to talk like a local. Afternoons start your volunteer work, maybe tutoring kids in English at a community center, and you’re using Spanish to connect with them. Another day’s a cultural tour to Castillo San Felipe, learning about pirates and practicing Spanish with your guide. Evenings are with your homestay family, chatting over arroz con coco, maybe fumbling “champeta” but soaking up the coastal vibe.
Month two keeps Spanish classes rolling, 3 hours a day, and you’re starting to toss out phrases like “qué bacano” with ease. Volunteer work continues, maybe switching to an environmental project like planting mangroves or cleaning beaches, and you’re speaking Spanish with locals to coordinate efforts. One afternoon’s a dance class, learning champeta’s high-energy moves, and you’re picking up vocab for rhythms and steps. Another day’s a historical tour to La Popa Monastery, with killer views and Spanish practice describing the city. Homestay dinners are cozy, with your family serving up fresh fish or sancocho, and you’re chatting more confidently, maybe swapping stories about Cartagena life.
Month three’s Spanish classes have you speaking smoother, maybe even joking in Spanish about the dance moves you’re still mastering. Volunteer work feels rewarding, whether you’re helping kids read or joining a community garden project, and your Spanish is key to connecting. Afternoons include another dance class, maybe salsa this time, and a final historical tour, like exploring Getsemaní’s street art. The weekend’s free, so you might hit a beach with your group or chill with your homestay family, practicing Spanish over a Sunday meal of cazuela de mariscos. The group dinner’s at a seaside restaurant, digging into Caribbean flavors and toasting with your group, nailing slang like “chévere.” The last day’s for goodbyes—your host family might slip you a woven bracelet or some Colombian coffee, and your airport transfer’s covered, so you leave buzzing with Spanish fluency and a heart full of impact.
