"You realize you're not the only one asking questions - and that immediately connects you with the others."
From the Horse Ranch in northern Peru to the Hostel Experience on the beaches of Costa Rica - Marla's five months in Latin America were characterized by new challenges, countless encounters and unique moments. She started planning her trip with the WanderWorld Travel team a year before her departure and says she couldn't get the selected projects out of her head. When she arrived in Peru, the first few days were overwhelming, but she quickly settled into the volunteer community. Marla was then able to gain a lot of new experiences - starting with the ranch, where she learned a lot about handling horses. In Costa Rica, Marla worked in hostels, looked after guests and was able to improve her language skills. And she enjoyed her free time with all kinds of activities: Horseback riding, surfing, excursions with new friends. Marla was particularly impressed by the open mentality, the joie de vivre and the cultural characteristics of Latin America. Unforgettable experiences - from Machu Picchu to dancing in Mancora - have made her more independent, more open and also a little more relaxed. Her trip showed her that with openness and commitment, you can make friends anywhere and create unforgettable memories.
I've always wanted to visit South and Central America. The stories told by my Peruvian nanny at the time and the Latin American songs we used to sing together on our bikes on the way home from school made me think about traveling to these countries. I planned the trip a year in advance so that I could prepare everything in good time. After reading up on the Wanderworld website, I couldn't get the Horse Ranch in Peru and the Hostel Experience in Costa Rica out of my head. In the end, I opted for the latter and spent one month in Peru and two months in Costa Rica. I mainly thought about what I should take with me in terms of clothing and medication. The packing list and the phone calls with Wanderworld helped me with this.
When I arrived in Peru, I initially felt very overwhelmed by the many new and unfamiliar impressions, such as the noise. But when the introductory event started, I slowly got used to the environment and was able to observe and enjoy everything. At the hostel, I immediately got to know the other volunteers with whom I spent the next day. I really enjoyed getting to know them and you realize you're not the only one asking questions and having thoughts about things that are still unclear, such as whether it's safe enough to carry a bag open or to hide it under your clothes.
At the ranch, all the volunteers got up at around 9am every day. After breakfast, which the owner brought fresh every morning, we trained with the horses, washed the dogs, lay out in the sun or did any work that was currently pending on the farm. Sometimes we went for a ride or went on excursions with the guests. There were also 5 French people the same age as us on the farm at the same time, which made us a big group and we went to the village together every evening.
Everyone was very friendly and helpful. One worker on the farm in particular was very funny.
My project in Costa Rica was in two hostels. First, I worked at reception and learned a lot of new things. In the next hostel, I worked at the pool and looked after the bar. As a result, I came into contact with a wide variety of people and was able to improve my Spanish and English.
In terms of tasks, we were able to help train the horses at the horse farm, some of which were still very young. At the hostel, I was able to contribute my personal ideas and develop a good rapport with the guests. Excursions with them were also a lot of fun. I'm still in contact with some of them now. The special thing is that you come to an environment that you don't know, get to know people who are in the same situation as you and through the cultural exchange, for example through cooking, speaking and playing, you come together and benefit from new knowledge in all the areas mentioned. You simply take away so many new things, but you can also give a lot at the same time.
I really admired the mentality in South America, as people do everything with much more calm and passion. The way they can dance and always welcome you with open arms is also very nice. I tried to learn something from that.
Some things that surprised me were the shopping streets, which are always organized by product. So you only have hairdressers for a whole street. In addition, the cab drivers sometimes allow 6 people in a 4-seater cab, which rarely happens in Germany. I was also surprised by the strong emphasis on Christianity and the regular ceremonies of the Catholic Church.
I was also always happy to see familiar faces from hostels in the next town in Peru and also in Costa Rica.
Of course, I experienced a lot of beautiful and different moments, all beautiful in their own way. From horseback riding in the Peruvian fields, to dancing at the bar in Mancora, to hitchhiking and surfing next to an island in Puerto Viejo, hiking to Machu Picchu and seeing my friends who visited me in Costa Rica again, I have so many memories that I will keep in my heart.
I was particularly fascinated by Peru: I love the fact that it is not yet so Americanized and that there are a lot of local products and traditional clothing. The tourist offers are also still adapted to Peruvian needs. I found the city of Arequipa very beautiful. In the valley, in the city, you have a warmer climate and lots of stone buildings. From the Plaza de Armas, you can look out over the snow-capped mountains, such as Misti Mountain or Chachani. I felt very safe there and I particularly enjoyed the wide range of cultural activities on offer, such as the many museums and workshops.
I had a wide variety of accommodation in the 5 months I traveled. Starting on the horse ranch, where we shared a room in twos or threes, where the beds were equipped with mosquito nets and we had a small living room, a gas stove and a small sink. After that, I traveled around Peru for 3 weeks, always sleeping in shared rooms with 8 to 15 people in hostels, which you quickly get used to. In Costa Rica, I slept in a shared dorm during my first program, but sometimes it was completely empty, so I had time alone. In Puerto Viejo we had a staff room, which I thought was cool because it was a change. You learn to pay more attention to the things you have with you. You also realize whether you are a person who can live with others or not. For me, the former is the case. What was the same in all hostels was the air conditioning. I always had to protect myself from it so that I didn't catch a cold, but you could always ask reception to turn it down.
The openness of the people, the many other travelers with whom you can exchange ideas: In Peru in particular, there is a route that many backpackers take (from Lima to Cusco or vice versa), where you can meet people again and again and set off together with others. You'll also get lots of good tips that even the internet can't give you in advance. So be sure to talk to several people about your plans and you'll get lots of good tips. I've also heard from many people that they highly recommend Brazil and Chile. My next trip will probably be there!
In Peru, I moved around with the volunteers from the farm. If you're worried about whether you can go out on your own or not, you should always ask the locals, because they know best. You should also be aware that tourism means that prices are always higher for tourists than for locals. That's why we often negotiated the prices, which also led to funny conversations with the cab drivers, for example.
This trip has not only taught me to make decisions more independently, but also to assess situations better. I have also learned to deal with situations that are not what I expected, but I try to make the best of them. You just have to take into account that not every place is like the one you imagine. Volunteering has taught me how to ride Paso horses and generally how to navigate everyday life on the farm. The hostel experience contributed to my open nature and made it possible for me to approach and get to know everyone, regardless of their first impression. As a result, I experienced many funny coincidences and was able to share one or two exciting stories.
The typical tip is always: "Don't take too many clothes with you", etc.. That's true, of course. But one tip I would like to give everyone is to take things with you that make you feel comfortable: for example, a warm blanket or a hammock. Something that also helps you to stay in a kind of routine. As you get into a completely new routine abroad, it's good to be reminded from time to time of the routine you're used to at home. So you take some "me time" and sit down in a quiet place, covered up, in your hammock.
If you are planning to take part in a volunteer project, you should definitely show commitment and be open-minded. Simply have the courage to approach people and immerse yourself in new and unfamiliar situations. In Peru, you are in good hands if you love nature and hiking, in Costa Rica especially the "Pura Vida" lifestyle.
Founder of Wanderworld Travel
Advice and travel preparation
Here we can plan your trip together and talk about your ideas.
Sign up now for our WanderWorld consultation. We look forward seeing you!
All without obligation and free of charge.
MO - FR 09:00-18:00
Or apply here for a consultation appointment by phone or video call.
