Program Overview

Trip Summary

Weeks 1,2 and 3 - Learn Spanish, kayak to remote Caribbean islands, swim in crystal waters, rock climb, abseil down a waterfall, explore mysterious caves and caverns, see the rounded mountains of Caripe and explore the flourishing Guacharo National Park.

Our plane touches down in Barcelona where a Jakera representative will meet us and take us to our new home amid the coconut palm trees of the Playa Colorada. Here we will spend the opening fortnight of our adventure learning Spanish, visiting local islands, going on a kayaking adventure, learning to rock climb and abseil, and immersing ourselves into the local culture and atmosphere with some Salsa and Merengue dancing classes!

Each weekday morning we will fit four hours of intensive Spanish tuition around our daily adventure with lessons designed to teach Spanish in a natural and spontaneous fashion by imitating the way people acquire their mother tongue. The lessons are comprised of four 45-minute sessions with 15-minute breaks and focus on developing student comprehension of the four main language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Speaking Spanish from the very first day and practicing it in specially designed exercises such as role-plays, situational dialogues and work projects, will improve vocabulary and accent whilst giving students the confidence to actively use and improve their Spanish outside the classroom. Visiting the area’s vibrant markets and beautiful surrounding towns will provide the perfect opportunity to interact with native speakers whilst immersing us in the area’s colourful South American culture.

Outside Spanish lessons’ we will also get the opportunity to practice our adventure sports skills as we embark on a variety of exciting adventure activities. We will perfect our sea kayaking technique, learn to climb, and even get the chance to abseil down a waterfall! Our culinary skills will also be improved and expanded when we are taught how to cook the delicious local dishes such as Catalina, Calamari, Arepas and Pabellon. A three-day kayaking voyage will take us exploring the beautiful islands that are scattered along Venezuela’s coastline in the warm crystal waters of the Caribbean Sea. At each island we visit we can explore, relax on the golden sands and snorkel in the brilliantly clear waters seeing a kaleidoscope of tropical fish, soft corals, seawhips and dolphins, before camping on the deserted beaches and falling to sleep to the sound of the sea.

We will then head to lush mountains of the Caripe to visit Venezuela’s most famous cave and first natural monument, the Cueva Del Guacharo. The 6.38-mile length of cave harbours incredible stalactites and stalagmites, and is long considered to be one of the most complete cave ecosystems on earth. The limestone cavern is home to a vast array of wildlife that includes a spectacular colony of huge Guacharos birds, the only nocturnal bird species on the planet that feed on fruit. To conserve the cave-system and natural feeding ground of the birds, the Guacharo National Park was created, meaning over 242 square miles of beautiful lush vegetation lie stretched out before you when you emerge from the cave. We can go trekking in the nearby mountain areas, or can explore the surrounding area visiting coffee plantations, fruit and vegetable farms, and the lively local markets famed for selling delicious locally grown strawberries topped with cream! End 3 Week* program...

Week 4 - Final Week 4 Week* Program A week of volunteering in the local community. Jakera Club was started in 2002 and is based in the fishing village of Playa Colorada where our Caribbean Lodge is situated. Projects include replanting of trees in the surrounding hillside (to help prevent landslide), marine conservation at La Piscina and working in a wild animal sanctuary. We work closely with the local community to make Playa Colorada a fun place for all to enjoy – we also organize games and events and help to keep the beach and recreational areas clean and safe. One off projects have included building a Community Centre, a small base ball stadium, a volley ball court and help maintain the football pitch. Local volunteers and students, tackling a different theme each day of the week, work together to make this a very rewarding and successful program.

Weeks 4 and 5 - Final Week 5 Week* Program Explore the Orinoco Delta seeing an abundance of wildlife, kayak to remote Warao settlements, and learn to survive in the jungle like a Warao Indian.

Our fourth and fifth weeks will take us on a spectacular adventure to kayak along the Orinoco River in the Orinoco Delta; an area fringed with beautiful mangroves and freshwater swamp forests. The delta is home to a great variety of species of fantastic scientific and biological importance, which will give us sightings of river otters, crab-eating foxes, the rare manatee, and an amazing colourful spectrum of birds that include parrots, toucans and macaws. The Orinoco Delta is also the home of the Warao Indians, an indigenous people inhabiting thatched roof huts built on stilts along the fertile delta. ‘Warao’ literally translates as ‘The Boat People’, referring to the Warao’s intimate connection to the Orinoco River, where babies often learn to paddle in a ‘bongo’ (a wooden canoe) before they learn to walk.

Living from the river and fertile delta, the Warao are masters of fishing, farming, and weaving, using their skills to turn plants into baskets, hammocks, and other fine products. Visiting the Warao families will give us the rare opportunity to sample their way of life, learning how to cook in clay cooking pits and weave basket trays. Our guides on this unique adventure will also show us how to survive in the jungle with lessons that include how to forage for food, fish in the delta, cook our catch, make shelters to sleep in at night, and live in the spectacular scenery the way the Warao’s have for centuries.

Finally, we return to 'base camp' - our Caribbean Lodge on Playa Colorada to enjoy a final few days soaking up the sun and enjoying the beauty and beaches of Mochima National Park.