Humanities: Colombian Caribbean

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Overview

Expand your students’ knowledge of pre-Hispanic communities, sacred traditions, and remarkable ways of living.

Students will immerse themselves in Colombia’s Caribbean indigenous communities, tracing their development through unique cross-cultural workshops and sacred rituals.

Each student will explore the stunning beauty of La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Cartagena and feel the color, vibrancy, and music of its people.

 

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Impacted

Trip highlights

Visit Tayrona National Park

Jungle walk

Mangrove conservation

Kayak alongside monkeys

Swimming in ocean

Canoe in the mangroves

Native bag weaving workshop

Afro-Caribbean drum workshop

Cumbia & champeta dancing

Example Itinerary

Day 1: Arrivals & introduction to the program (Santa Marta)

Our friendly team meets you at the arrivals gate before a private airport transfer Hotel check-in. Welcome dinner, and a tour of Santa Marta’s beautiful historical center. Overnight in Santa Marta.

Day 2: Overnight stay in archaeological site (Ciudad Antigua)

Travel to the region’s recently rediscovered archaeological sites – Ciudad Antigua. Expert-led tour around the ancient city that dates back to 700 CE. Dinner with the local family. Exclusive overnight stay in a reconstructed native house.

Day 3: Indigenous cultural immersion (Ciudad Antigua)

Today students will learn from our native guide, the fascinating traditions and sacred customs of communities descending from the Tairona people. Visit a coffee farm and organic cotton plantation before a refreshing swim in a jungle river. Travel along the coast to La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Arrive at the jungle-embedded eco-lodge.

Day 4: Discover ancient native traditions (Don Diego)

Learn the sacred bag-weaving techniques directly from women of the Arhuaco community.  Visit an organic cacao farm that produces award-winning unique species and uses the very latest in agroforestry techniques. Dinner in the eco-lodge. Overnight in Don Diego.

Day 5: Tayrona Park visit & jungle walk (Tayrona Park)

Trip to Tayrona National Park as students hike along Pre-Hispanic sone paths and to Caribbean beaches. Free time to swim in the warm waters before a delicious fish lunch and an expert-led workshop detailing the fascinating ecological formations of this National Park. Overnight in Don Diego ecolodge.

Day 6: Colombia's Caribbean Gem (Cartagena)

Private transfer to Colomba’s Caribbean gem – Cartagena. After the hotel check in, we enjoy an expert-led walking tour around the historical centre – a UNESO-listed heritage site. Listen out for live Caribbean music and extraordinary dance shows. Overnight in Cartagena.

Day 7: Afro-Colombian social drum workshop (Cartagena)

Today we explore a traditional fishing village called, la Boquilla, where we will immerse into the Afro-Colombian culture with a drum workshop and cumbia dance class. After a fish lunch, we jump in a canoe on a tour around the mangroves. Final dinner together in Cartagena’s old town.

Day 8: Departures

Students will have some time to pick up hand-made gifts for family and friends before we take them to the airport in plenty of time for their flight home.

Essential information

  • Locations visited: La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Cartagena
  • Duration: 4 days +
  • Number of participants: Flexible
  • Date: Flexible (best time to visit Feb-March, Oct-Nov)
  • Cost: From $599 per person (not including international flights)
  • Teachers: Teachers travel for free
  • Language: Spanish or English
  • Popular for: Anthropology, Archaeology, Social Studies, Humanities.

  • Anthropology Field Trip Included
  • All meals (we’ve chosen varied dishes to give a real taste of the Colombian Caribbean)
  • Accommodation (rooms are shared but privates are available on request and at an extra cost)
  • Private transport – buses and small jeeps depending on the size of the group
  • All scheduled excursions and activities
  • Local guides and translators
  • Safety documents – risk assessment, safety protocols, liability cover
  • Health Insurance
  • One Kagumu guide for every 8 students

  • International flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Snacks
  • Any additonal activities

We have worked out that this trip generates an average of 72 kg of CO₂e per person. This includes all the carbon equivalent emissions (CO₂e) from your trip including accommodation, food, transport, guides, and staff operations.

Extra potential CO₂e emissions from your journey to and from Santa Marta. (Measurements from atmosfair)
New York – Santa Marta – 1,176 kg (round trip)
London – Santa Marta – 2,558 kg (round trip)
Santiago de Chile – Santa Marta – 1,712 kg (round trip)
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You can read more about how we measure our carbon emissions by reading our climate action page.

 

Book this itinerary or tailor one to suit your curriculum by contacting us.

Fully Customizable

Remember we customize every itinerary to your curriculum. If you have a specifc academic focus in mind, allow us to tailor a trip for you.

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