Tamara Clarkes Travel Blog: Villa the Leyva Short Break with More Local

Thursday, 19 April 2012

Villa the Leyva Short Break with More Local

by Emily Dornin Travel / Travel Reviews (submitted 2012-04-08)

Colombia travel at it´s best.

My travels through Colombia have allowed me to discover really unique places.

Villa de Leyva and Guasca may be considered pretty common "tourist trips" here in Colombia (I had been to Villa de Leyva before), but the crew from More Local has created a totally unique short break trip that exposed me to the beautiful traditions and practices of the local way of life in this region.

It's not every day that you get to wrangle and shear a sheep under the supervision of the local women who have kept the tradition of sheep-raising alive and thriving in Villa de Leyva. Or feast on sweet, gigantic strawberries in the presence of charming local farmers whose organic crops have proven a viable treatment for certain cancers.

The team at More Local has struck a perfect balance between supporting these incredibly unique ways of life and welcoming "outsiders" to partake and learn through this rural adventure.

Even if you've been to this region before, it is well worth taking a "second look" through the local tours offered by More Local.

The entire trip was such a perfect mix of meeting local people, experiencing the beautiful Andean countryside, hands-on education and exploration, and of course the most amazing culinary delights. Our guides' intense dedication, local knowledge, and genuine passion and enthusiasm for local culture permeated our experience from the start of the trip to the very end. This adventure not only expanded my perception of all the wonderful things my host country has to offer, but has inspired me to continue to seek out opportunities in my daily life here that will enable me to really experience local Colombian culture".

My Amazonian adventure with More Local was like stepping into a dream for a week…every minute of this trip was a magical, out of this world experience - from fishing for piranhas, to playing football with village kids from a tiny community of 250 people, to snatching Caymans from the river in the middle of the night, to traversing the imaginary borders between the remote jungles and rivers of Peru, Brazil and Colombia via crazy modes of transportation.

It would be impossible to access this level of intimate local life without the expertise and organization of the LARGE minority team and most importantly, the mutual relationships they have fostered with the local families, communities and businesses in the Amazon. These guys are passionate about sharing the splendor of their country with travelers while simultaneously supporting local projects to ensure the sustainability of this type of tourism. The Amazon experience is simply a must for anyone living or traveling in Colombia!

About the Author

I have the joy and privilege of spending a year in Bogota, Colombia as an Ambassadorial Scholar with Rotary International. This year will include an abundance of my favorite things: travel, Latin America, learning Spanish, learning in general, teaching, writing and growing as a result of being "happily displaced" in a new environment.

Emily Dorn