Colombia
Language and Culture
During this program, students will have the opportunity to see first hand the biodiversity, culture and landscapes of the country, including Bogotá, the Coffee Region and the Caribbean Coast. During the first couple of days, we will learn about the colonial history of the country while exploring downtown Bogotá. We will then visit coffee farms and hike in the Cocora Valley. On the last days of the trip, students will visit Cartagena and Baru, to see first hand the impacts of tourism on social dynamics in the city.
Throughout the trip, students will engage in cross-cultural exchanges and design challenges with local students from private and public schools who will share with them diverse perspectives of the past, present and future of their country. Students will come back with an increased understanding of the different narratives and perspectives around a country with a complex history such as Colombia.
Program Notes
- Please note: This trip conflicts with the June 3 SAT test date.
- This trip is unplugged. Students will be asked to leave their electronic devices at home. Students and faculty leaders will update families and friends at home through our Notes From The Field blog.
- Families are responsible for transporting their students from a U.S. based airport to their home destination for the remainder of the summer.
Program Dates
May 30 – June 9, 2023
Program Eligibilty
This trip is open to all current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students with a preference towards those who are currently enrolled in Spanish II or above and have an interest in Colombian history and culture. All interested students are encouraged to apply by November 6. Financial Aid is available to all qualifying students.
Faculty Trip Leaders
Yoel Castillo Botello; Haley O’Neil
Approx. Trip Cost: $5,250 (*INCLUDES ESTIMATED ROUNDTRIP AIRFARE FROM NY BASED AIRPORT)
Deerfield Academy’s Center for Service and Global Citizenship strives to make all of our travel programs affordable and accessible for all students while ensuring a high quality global education experience. While the costs of travel around the world have been rising steadily over the past several years, all of our trips are subsidized, and thanks to the generosity of many we are able to provide robust financial aid for qualifying students.
Helpful links
- CDC and State Department briefings on travel to Colombia.
2023 Itinerary
* This itinerary is subject to change
Day 1: Bogotá
- Flight from NY based airport to Bogotá
Day 2:
- Explore downtown Bogotá
- Meet with CLN Alumni & Cultural Trust for the film Encanto
Day 3:
- Morning language class
- Afternoon visit with Alianza Educativa schools (with Los Nogales Students)
Day 4:
- Morning language class
- Los Nogales Design Challenge with Alianza Educativa students
- Zona Cafetera (Salento, Quindío)
Day 5: Arrive in Armenia, drive to Salento.
Day 6 & 7: Hike in Valle del Cocora
Day 8: Coffee Farm visit
Day 9: Cartagena (Costa Caribe)
- Arrive in Cartagena
- Visit NGO Social Reconstruction
Day 10: Barú (Costa Caribe)
- Morning drive to Barú
- Visit with Amor por Barú and Enseña por Colombia
- Drive back to Cartagena
- Explore Ciudad Vieja and Getsemaní
Day 11: Program Closure and flight back from Bogotá to NY based airport **
** Families are responsible for transporting their students from a U.S. based airport to their home destination for the remainder of the summer.