Voluntourism Tours in Cartagena?

[wish-I-wascruisinTN]

Does anyone have information about the tours offered by Friends for Colombia? My family is traveling to Cartagena on March 22 and wanted to get some feedback from others that have done this. Was the bus nice? What did you do? Did you feel safe?

[David985]

Hello wish-I-wascruisinTN

Earlier last month we returned from a Western Caribbean Cruise aboard the Celebrity Equinox which included a stop in Cartagena, Colombia.

This was our second visit to Cartagena. On our first visit we had taken a typical Celebrity offered tour of the scenic highlights of this beautiful city which we enjoyed very much.

On this visit we took a tour offered by Friends For Colombia, http://www.friendsforcolombia.org/ having learned about them from postings on CruiseCritic.com

Our hosts, Dan & Berit Wick met us at the pier and took us in a modern, air conditioned mini bus to visit Grantios des Pas in the Rafael Nuñez barrio of Cartagena to see some of the projects that Friends For Colombia are involved in and to visit with some wonderful Colombians ranging in age from very young to much older . Dan and Berit are a wonderful couple, knowlegeable, friendly and very committed to helping. We were very impressed by them and the work that they and the organizations that they work with are doing. We felt perfectly safe at all times.

This experience was a highlight of our cruise and we would recommend that anyone ( especially if they have visited the city before ) who would like a unique opportunity to get to know and experience the real Cartagena by seeing some of the work this non profit foundation, Granitos de Paz (Grains of Peace) is doing and by getting a chance to meet and interact with wonderful Colombian people consider this tour.

We would invite anyone to consult the website http://www.friendsforcolombia.org/ and if you are interested from there email Dan and Berit for more information.

We expect that if you take the tour you will find it a very rewarding, educational & fun day, as we did !

As we said " It was a highlight of our Cruise" !

David & Alice.

[jimjoe]

We also experienced this excursion in Cartegena. As Dave said above, we enjoyed this time spent with the Colombian people. Everyone we met was very friendly. We enjoyed meeting young and old alike. We shared stories, a birthday party, dancing and singing, and I even learned how to play dominoes! The people were eager to show us their homes and gardens, and shared flowers and hugs for all. It was a great way to meet "real people" away from the typical tourist shopping spots. The garden project was fascinating and seems to be a real way to lift people out of poverty. We highly recommend this tour.

Bob and Roxanne

[farmersdtr]

My family really enjoyed our visit to the Rafael Nunez neighborhood sponsored by http://www.friendsforcolombia.org/. First of all, Dan and Berit Wick picked us up in a big, AC bus with cushy seats and took us straight to Rafael Nunez which is supported by a foundation called Granitas de Paz. They had lined up some of the local folks to greet us. I don't know who was more excited, the kids or the seniors. While the kids hugged on our daughter, my husband was a big hit with the lady seniors. We really appreciated this opportunity to meet Cartagenian citizens, and we felt quite safe.

Afterward Dan and Berit handed out bottled water and we headed to Productive Patios, my favorite part. We got to see the raised gardens that the neighborhood has built and is now profiting from. By raising basil, lettuce, arugula, spinach--produce that we can easily pick up at the grocery store--they have become self-sufficient. They now sell their goods to local restaurants, thus creating a self-sustaining circle of trade. The growers are so proud of what they've accomplished. It's touching to see good works performed by good people.

[photom]

Originally Posted by wish-I-wascruisinTN

Does anyone have information about the tours offered by Friends for Colombia? My family is traveling to Cartagena on March 22 and wanted to get some feedback from others that have done this. Was the bus nice? What did you do? Did you feel safe?

Two words: DO IT!! You will not regret it.

My story is different from most in that I met Dan and Berit on my first trip to Cartagena. I was on a Celebrity cruise and experienced some chest pain. I was "dropped off" the ship in Cartagena and spent a few days in a local hospital. I knew NO Spanish, and only one or two doctors in the hospital spoke English.

Dan and Berit are volunteers there and met my wife as I was being admitted. They literally adopted her for our entire visit. Dan came to the hospital every day to make sure I knew what was happening.

When I got out we stayed another couple days (with them) - and they showed us many of the non-profits they support. I vowed to do a couple things: a) Learn to speak Spanish and b) Come back to help them.

We have been back twice - once on a working trip where my wife taught art classes and I took photos for several of the non-profits. It was a very rewarding trip that I'll never forget.

We went back again, this time on another cruise, and experienced the same tour that has been described on this thread. It was fantastic! Everyone on the trip had similar comments to those posted on this thread.

Finally, we will go back to help again, not sure exactly when, but we will!
Maybe after more Spanish classes. I have been taking them since I last left there two years ago. Ahora yo hablo español más que un poco.

So: GO, DEFINITELY GO!!

[ChimiChanga1020]

Is there an minimum age of a child you that would recommend for this opportunity? My son is 9, and he's a little nervous about going to Colombia.

[wish-I-wascruisinTN]

Photom-

You were right! We all loved it so much. Dan and Berit were so great and we were able to interact with the people of Colombia. This was so much better than just touring the city. It was the highlight of our trip. I understand now why you liked it so much and went back. My 9 year old cousin, 83 year old grandmother and everyone in between thought it was wonderful. There was something for everyone and Dan and Berit catered to what we wanted to do and were so kind and generous. If we ever make it back to Colombia on a cruise or otherwise, we will be calling them. Such an enjoyable day for all of us. The highlight for me, for sure! Thanks for reassuring me before we went!

[onepug]

We spent the day with Dan and Berit in April 2011, while on a cruise. I will admit, at first we were leary...but a group from our CC role call talked us into joining them. BEST DECISION I EVER MADE!!! I won't go into details, it has all been said above and I agree with everyhting. If you have a chance to do this...GO! you will not regret it and you ill have an amazing experience. My other half, who does NOT got for this kind of thing, had the time of his life! He could not stop talking about his day, both while back on the ship and once we got home.

We just booked a last minute Panama Canal cruise for this May. The first thing I did was email Dan and Berti...as I could not wait to go with them again. Unfortunately (for us), they will be in the States at that time, as their dauhter is graduating from University. I was heartbroken and my SO was very disappointed. Nothing will compare to meeting and spending time with the people of Colombia, and if I ever get back to Cartagena again, my first email will be to Dan and Berit. DO IT...it will be the higlight of your trip!

[Moby58]

Cartagena is one of the ports we will visit on our cruise. I was thinking of booking a "Highlight of the City Tour", but after learning about Friends for Columbia, I checked out their website, and it sounds fascinating. Can you share what the price is per person? Our family consists of myself, my husband and our 14 year old daughter. Did you bring items to donate to the people? If so, what type of items are recommended? Any other information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

[CruisinGerman]

We spend half the year living in Colombia because of family we have there.

The concept of a "foundation" or "not-for-profit" organization is Colombia is very different from the same concept in the United States or Europe. Many organizations such as these are definitely "for-profit" but have their corporate identities shielded through these vague forms of association such as "foundation".

There are many organizations whose goal is to make money off of tourists by offering tours as if they were NGO's. I'm not saying the company involved in this thread does that, but let the buyer beware.

Instead of viewing the rich history the old city of Cartagena has to offer a first-time visitor, why instead would you rather take a tour of the slums? Would you get off your cruise ship at a port stop in Los Angeles and run to take a tour of downtown LA - skid row?

Paradoxically, Cartagena has one of the highest poverty rates in all of Colombia. I say, paradoxically, because there is no reason for this. Cartagena is also Colombia's main tourist city -- with all of the tax money associated with such status. Why then, does one of the richest cities in Colombia, at the same time have the highest poverty rate? Corruption ........

Colombia is living the biggest economic boom in modern history. Its economy is growing at record levels -- ahead of the United States and, naturally, ahead of most EU countries (except Germany) that have experienced negative growth and extreme contraction recently.

The politicians of Cartagena should be implementing programs to put an end to the poverty there -- they certainly have the money and they should put it to much better use than keeping it for themselves.

Kind regards,

Gunther and Uta

[farmersdtr]

Originally Posted by Moby58

Cartagena is one of the ports we will visit on our cruise. I was thinking of booking a "Highlight of the City Tour", but after learning about Friends for Columbia, I checked out their website, and it sounds fascinating. Can you share what the price is per person? Our family consists of myself, my husband and our 14 year old daughter. Did you bring items to donate to the people? If so, what type of items are recommended? Any other information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Friends of Colombia was a heartwarming tour that my husband, 14-year-old daughter and I enjoyed very much. We didn't donate any items. Dan and Berit assured us that our presence was the gift. My daughter and I learned to salsa with some children and my husband thrilled the seniors by dancing with them. I especially enjoyed visiting the herb gardens that have allowed residents to become self-sufficient. We traveled on an AC bus under safe conditions.

[JMA]

Has anyone else been on this tour recently? We will be in Cartagena on Sat, March 2nd and wondered if others have done this tour lately?
Whenever we cruise, we like to do something to "give back" or "pay it forward".

[JMA]

We just returned from the Norwegian Sun, Feb 27 - March 10th and toured with FriendsforColombia.org on March 2nd in Cartagena. I cannot recommend highly enough taking this private tour with Dan and Berit Wick!

First of all, they met us right at the pier (but they had been there early in the morning, since they are called upon when Norwegian has to disembark passengers who are ill...so they went to the hospital to help translate for the ill patient). What an amazing couple, who really care about the people of Colombia!!

We visited a day care center, danced with little children, gave gifts (that Friends for Colombia provided) to senior citizens , and also saw much of the city that regular tours do not participate in. It was an eye opening experience that I would highly recommend!! It caused us to reflect on how much we have, but also showed us the incredible happiness of people who are joyful with so little materialal possessions.

At the end of the tour they also took us through Old Town and explained much of the history....

Jane

[pat.uk]

We Also took the tour from the Norwegian Sun with Jane on 2 March, Dan and Berit are a truly amazing couple whos love for Columbia and its people is inspiring. It was wonderful to interact with the local people, both young and old and to learn more about Columbia. Most people from cruise ships leave ports of call without any knowledge of the country they are visiting. We had time to visit the Old Town and could have spent more time there if we had wished. Dan & Berit even e-mailed photos of our tour with them
We cannot recommend the tour with Friends for Columbia highly enough
Pat & Bob