It's often the little things that make you happy. The spontaneity that takes up more space in everyday life and the fact that you are content with what you have.
Tim's journey through Latin America from January to September 2024 was an enriching experience. After a year of volunteering in Thailand, he decided to get to know new cultures and people in Peru and Colombia. With the support of WanderWorld, he worked in hostels. There he looked after the guests, organized activities and gained many new experiences. In his free time, he explored the surrounding area, hiked to Machu Picchu and enjoyed life to the full. He was very impressed by the open, relaxed way of life of the locals. For future participants, Tim recommends being open to new things and getting involved in local encounters.
I completed a year of voluntary service in Thailand. During this year, I realized that a longer stay abroad in combination with work or other projects was the best way for me to really get to know interesting places, exciting cultures and new people. As I had never been to Latin America before, I did some research on the Internet and soon came across WanderWorld. When I returned to Germany from Thailand, I still had four months to prepare for my next adventure. This was more than enough time. During the preparation period, I was very well looked after by WanderWorld. I always felt that I was in good hands, as WanderWorld had already looked after many participants in Latin America and I would be working in a place where many volunteers had been before. Everything went according to plan and I could hardly wait to get started.
I arrived in Lima the day before the introduction day and met other WanderWorld participants at the hostel. We talked a lot, had a look around the city and went out to eat together. The next day we really got going - we met our contact person, who showed us around the city and ate with us. I always had a good feeling as I was never alone and all the people I met were very nice. On my first day at work, everything was explained and shown to me. I quickly made friends with everyone who worked at the hostel, especially the other volunteers, and also quickly got to know the guests. I never felt alone because there were always cool people around me. After a few days, I had already developed a kind of routine and got to know the immediate surroundings of the project a little. As the people in the hostel were all very open and friendly, it was easy for me to make friends.
At the hostel, it was mainly my job to make sure that the guests felt comfortable. I mainly worked at the bar in the evenings and looked after drinks, music and other activities such as games or special events with a colleague. I really liked the atmosphere in the hostel bar and the working atmosphere was great. It was mostly about creating a good atmosphere and positive vibes among the guests. I learned a lot of new things, such as how to mix cocktails, and had countless interesting conversations with other travelers.
I worked on the farm in the mornings. The aim there was to grow vegetables in a sustainable and traditional way, which are sold in the farm's own store after harvesting. Another task was to maintain the grounds: Paths were renewed, weeds were removed and benches and chairs were painted. I was also able to feed the animals and take part in activities such as volleyball and workshops. There were always a lot of volunteers from different countries and organizations in this project, which is why I spent a lot of time with the other volunteers.
I mostly spent my free time with the other volunteers. During the week, we explored the city and the area surrounding the project together. We often went to the beach, visited markets, cafés or simply walked around. There was always something interesting to see. In the evenings, you could meet new people at the hostel bar or go into the city to really immerse yourself in the nightlife.
On our days off, we went on day trips to interesting places and often stayed overnight. I climbed an active volcano, visited various national parks, went partying and explored nearby towns and attractions. The excursions with my local colleagues were particularly enjoyable. I spent a weekend visiting family in another city. This allowed me to get to know the country and its people from a completely different perspective.
The people in Latin America are very warm, welcoming and helpful. I had the feeling that people live more in the here and now and have a more relaxed way of life. Things don't always have to go faster, higher and further. People work as best they can with the resources available and are satisfied with the result. It's often the little things that make you happy. Not everything is always taken so seriously and spontaneity plays a greater role in everyday life. Life takes place much more outside on the street and the general mood of the people is more lively than here. The family plays an important role in people's lives. People are not at all selfish or impatient, but go out of their way to help you - even if you come from a completely different country.
Reaching Machu Picchu after a breathtaking five-day hike through the Peruvian Andes was a very special moment. Arriving at one of the most famous wonders of the world in South America and completing the hike as a group at the same time was a wonderful feeling.
What I remember most, however, are the great people I got to know on my trip. I had the best conversations with other WanderWorld participants, volunteers, work colleagues and travelers and experienced incredibly wonderful moments in everyday life.
The hostels I stayed in were always located in the tourist areas of the city. Everything you needed for everyday life was easy to get and reach. I felt very comfortable and safe in the accommodation. The accommodation was a bit simpler than I was used to in Germany, but it was clean and offered everything you needed. I was accommodated in a shared room with the other volunteers, the staff and sometimes also the guests. That was the biggest difference for me, as you were never really alone and hardly had any privacy. However, the advantage was that I never felt lonely and was always able to meet new people.
I felt safe at all times and nothing ever happened to me. There was never a situation that I would have classified as critical. Even when I was traveling alone, I never felt uncomfortable. If you follow a few rules that are important in any foreign country, there is little risk of dangerous situations. You should keep an eye on your valuables and stow them in bags that remain in your field of vision. It is advisable not to wear flashy jewelry, avoid contact with questionable people on the street and avoid dark, lonely alleys at night. Basically, it's about behaving like a normal, decent person and not walking the streets inattentively. With this attitude, everything should be fine. Contrary to some preconceptions, I found Latin America to be a destination well worth visiting, even if you are traveling alone.
Founder of Wanderworld Travel
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