About Jakera

Testimonials

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  I came to Jakera for the 12 week Travelling Classroom and had the best time of my life. I met people from all over and made friends that will last a life time. I had just graduated University and wanted to travel. The Travelling Classroom appealed to me because it seemed different than any other program I had found, and it is! Outdoor classrooms, adventure travel, and beautiful beaches, it doesn’t get much better than that. After just one week Jakera really felt like home. The environment in the camp is really friendly and fun. Everyone helps out and gets involved and it makes getting to know people fun and easy. It’s the best program to learn a new language, see new places, get into shape, and of course have fun!
  - Kaitlyn McDowell - San Francisco, USA

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  I came to Jakera on a 12 week Travelling Classroom, but ended staying there for half a year. I remember that I immediately felt at home in the beautiful camp it was like arriving in paradise with flowers and fruits everywhere. Everybody in my new group were really nice, it was surprising how much we all had in common and the various activities/parties soon bonded us together. We had some AMAZING adventures and I think that the guides were really good at challenging us, both as group and as individuals. Everybody had a great time, whether you were into diving off waterfalls or “just” wanted to play with the native children. The teachers were really enthusiastic and the classes were both interesting and fun. And soon I was hanging out with the local fishermen on the beach and chitchatting with the girl in the little fruit stand. I also joined the volunteer program where we helped build new sport facilities for the local kids, and did environmental education at the school. It was really rewarding to give something back to the local community. I don’t think I’d ever learned so much and had so much fun in half a year. Thanks Jakera!!!!!
  - Thor Jensen - Copenhagen, Denmark

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  "Como es la vida en Venezuela?" When you ask me, beautiful! I wanted to learn Spanish, but I wanted to learn it in a different way then sitting in a class room and get board by learning too much grammar. So that’s why I joined the 3 month program with Jakera. Now I definitely can say; it was the best choice. When I arrived in Venezuela I could not speak one word of Spanish, I did not know what to expect, I did not know the culture of Venezuela and I could not dance salsa at all. So I had all the signs to feel like a stranger, but I didn’t because we had a great support. Our guides and Spanish teachers made sure that we settle in as quickly as possible. Spanish lessons everyday, Salsa lesson and getting to know the area around Playa Colorada. It didn’t take me long to settle in. The first bigger trip we went to was the Delta Orinocco. Uh jungle I said to my self sounds a bit scary but really exciting, and it was! We kayaked for 10 days through the jungle not only to see wildlife that you never seen before, as well to meet the Warao, the Indians of the Delta. It was agreat experience for me to be 10 days far away from civilisation. It was just amazing. The Gran sabana was the next bigger trip and yes it was a challenge to climb Mount Roraima, especially for me. I really had the luck with my feet that I got 10 blisters. It was not too hard to get up, but I knew that I have to get back down as well. Uh that was quite tough, but thanks to my group and the guides they gave me all the support to get down again. I learned a lot what teamwork means on that trip. As my work experience I chose to work for the local newspaper in Merida. That was really interesting. I had the chance to go along to interviews and was in charge of taking the photos for the newspaper. Not only that I could improve my Spanish a lot more, I learned as well a lot about the political situation in Venezuela. At the end of my work experience I had the chance to write an article, which they published later on. Now I have a great memory of my working experience...my name in a Venezuelan newspaper. So what are you waiting for? Its time now to pack your backpack for some adventures!
  - Isabel Mauderli - Switzerland

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  Hola! Como estas? That was all my Spanish prior to arriving to Venezuela. I couldn’t even answer it myself! 5 months later I can answer it, and continue the conversation a lot further than I ever thought possible. Living with the language, the culture, the various people who help you succeed in expanding your Spanish language and the locals who give you credit for trying to speak their language. It’s the fastest and easiest way to learn a language. I learnt German for three years in secondary school. Sitting in a classroom an hour a day, four times a week means you don’t learn enough. You leave the class, and speak English. In Venezuela it’s a whole new playing ground. The teacher understands the whole environment you are in, and works around this to give you the best lessons possible. Perfect English with excellent Spanish combines to make the teachers a true treasure to Jakera. What makes Jakera even better is the fact while you are in Venezuela you get to do once in a lifetime opportunities. One of the main trips involved us to sea kayak down the Orinoco Delta River. It runs deep into the jungle far from the cities and roads. There is nothing out there but great wildlife and adventure. Learning the survival of the jungle. Yet always safe with our two guides, and a local Warao Indian to point out the amazing insects and wildlife living in this mixed tropical rainforest. Living with local Indians in the second half of the trip made you realise the life you lead is so much easier than theirs, and you are greatful for the things you have at home. It’s a touching experience to see people live such an interesting lifestyle next to a river, with a few canoes they have made from moriche trees, sleeping in hammocks all their life under a roof of fern leaves and branches. They really survive on nothing out there. Then 10 days later you hop out of the river back to 'civilisation'. The second main trip and my favourite was the hike up Mt Roraima. Don’t ask why it’s my favourite because sure its tough, but the rewards reep at the top. On top of the world, you can see so far. It really does feel (and looks) like the moon. It’s a fun six days. One trip I will never forget. The two guides and local Pemon Indian guide make it so much better than just a walk up a large 2800m Tepuy. The 2 months of work experience I chose to spend in Merida taking full opportunity of Merida. It’s a lively student city, with plenty of great bars catering for all types of music and people. But not only that, it has plenty to offer for the tourist industry let me tell you! I went parasailing 1000m up one of the many hills surrounding Merida. I wanted to take a weeklong parasailing course, but time wasn’t on my side. I also went white water rafting a few times down some great rivers. I also went off the course for ten days to visit Colombia. Overall Jakera offers an excellent way to learn a language that’s different, and while doing so you can have fun, and have so many opportunities to do the things you have always wanted to do. I shall return someday for another taste of Venezuela.
  - Daniel White - Wellington, New Zealand

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  My partner and I spent 6 months with Jakera learning Spanish, volunteering and doing adventure activities in the amazing country that is Venezuela! The Jakera team are fantastic, thoughtful and friendly, and great fun! We honestly had the time of our lives. Being immersed into Venezuelan culture and the local people really helped us pick up the language, twinned with great Spanish tuition meant we were soon more than capable of spreading our wings and exploring the local area; where there was great opportunity to have a chat with the locals, especially the children at the local 'Jakera club' ( a club set up and run by Jakera students for children in Playa Colorada, where Jakera is based). Jakera club is one of the fantastic opportunities you have at Jakera to put something back into the local community. We helped run the club and did fun activities with the kids, English lessons, dance, drawing, ecology; I must say that the children were better teachers that us at dance and we learnt a great deal too, and I no doubt, gave the kids some amusement laughing at my poor hip shaking attempts! We were on a six month trip, and we're so glad to be able to stay in country for so long, but it must be said that many of our friends who were only in country for a few weeks enjoyed themselves just as much as we did! We didn't want to leave! It's crazy thinking back to all that we experienced when we were with Jakera, we did so many wonderful things, had so many experiences to treasure for life! Kayaking with caymans down rivers on the Orinoco delta and with dolphins in the Mochima national park, piranha fishing, snorkelling on beautiful coral reefs which are on your doorstep at Playa Colorada, abseiling down a waterfall, climbing mountains, slashing our way through jungle, volunteering in a zoo and in Jakera club and just laying on the beaches of the beautiful coast to name but a few! Whilst we were in country, the Jakera team were helping to facilitate the filming of a discovery channel program - 'Out of the wild, Venezuela'. We were really keen to be a part of it, and much to our surprise we were offered a volunteer placement as helicopter dispatchers for the length of the filming! We were based in Paraitepui, an Indian village above the plains in the foothills of the Tepuis (table top mountains), there we were taught how to communicate using radios, were put in charge of ordering supplies from base, managing the film crews accommodation in huts, field kit, porter schedules.. it was a window on a new world! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and made a lot of friends. We were incredibly privileged to be able to do something like this but it goes to show that if there is something you would like to volunteer for then Jakera will do their best to facilitate it! This just added to the experiences which made this a trip we will treasure for our lifetime! We experienced so much, far too much to write on here, but what must be said is that they've got it right at Jakera, as soon as we can we're going back! And we'd definitely recommend it to anyone with a sense of adventure, a passion to learn, take in a new culture, and just have a great time with great people! Go see for yourself!
  - Josh & Carly - England, UK