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100 %
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29 Apr 2025
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Description
Welcome to A Slow Adventure in Colombia
We are a family-run language hub and cultural lodging project located just outside the small town of Acacías, in the foothills of Colombia’s eastern plains. We're Stig (Norway) and Johana (Colombia), and we started this place after years in corporate jobs – with a shared dream of building something with real purpose.
So we built this place: a space where people come to learn, share, stay, and feel at home – whether they’re students, travelers, locals, or volunteers. It’s not always perfect, but it’s real. Some days are calm. Some are full of dancing, rain, kids, projects, and mangoes. Most days are full of meaning.
Our mission is to:
- Provide low-cost language classes to students of all ages
- Offer a welcoming, inspiring place to stay, learn, and grow
- Create a community where learning happens through language, food, and cultural exchange
This is a social business: part language school, part guesthouse, part gastrobar. We run English and Spanish classes, host cultural events, and welcome guests from near and far. Volunteers are essential to making it all happen - to create a unique learning platform where people can participate free (sponsored), paid or as a volunteer.Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Hospitality/Tourism
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
SustainabilitySelf developmentFarmingEvents & socialCultureCharity workWritingPlant carePhotographyPerforming artsMusicLanguagesDIY & craftsDrawing & paintingGardeningHistoryCooking & foodBooksArt & designAnimalsYoga / WellnessOutdoor activitiesNatureMountainHikingCyclingDancingCultural exchange and learning opportunities
Here cultural exchange is not only a side activity – it’s part of everyday life. You’ll be surrounded by Colombian Spanish, local rhythms, family routines, and spontaneous storytelling. You won’t just teach English – you’ll share meals, make jokes, learn local sayings, and discover what life is like beyond the tourist trail.
You’ll gain:
- A deeper understanding of Colombian culture, hospitality, and community
- Real-life Spanish practice through daily conversation and shared tasks
- New teaching and communication skills
- The chance to explore traditions like llanero cooking, music, and nature walks
- A new perspective on what learning, helping, and living together can mean
We believe languages open doors – not just to jobs or travel, but to real human connection.Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We ask for a minimum stay of 4 weeks, to provide consistency for our students. Work is typically around 15 hours per week, depending on the season and your skills.
Possible tasks include:
- English teaching and class preparation
- Supporting workshops and cultural exchanges
- General maintenance and organization
- Creative projects: mural painting, music nights, video reels
- Being a positive presence in a shared home
We’re also developing a small curriculum and teaching method, so we’ll give you a friendly induction if you’ve never taught before. The most important thing? Be open, social, and respectful.Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Norwegian: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
We focus on learning by doing – especially through language, food, and community. Volunteers often say they came to teach English, but ended up learning much more: how to cook sancocho, how to ride a horse, how to laugh at their Spanish mistakes, and how to slow down. You’ll speak Spanish with locals, cook with our team, join local events and explore what life is really like in rural Colombia – far from the usual tourist path.Accommodation
You’ll stay in a shared volunteer dorm (max 3 people) with a private bathroom and fan. The volunteer rooms are on the second floor of the guesthouse, and you’ll have access to:
- Swimming pool
- Hammocks and chill areas
- Outdoor shared kitchen
- Wi-Fi (Starlink – strong enough for calls and light work)
- Shared workspace and library
- Laundry service once a week
- Restaurant with volunteer discount or meals included for coordinators / extra time volunteering
Private rooms are avalible for extra cost.What else ...
Acacías is a small, vibrant town surrounded by rivers, waterfalls, and farms. The people are warm and curious, and this part of Colombia (El Llano) has a strong cowboy culture, open skies, and a slower pace of life.
We are a short walk from town, but surrounded by green. Local highlights:
- 2 min to the river
- 5 min to shops, cafés, karaoke
- 15 min to fruit market and bus terminal
- 20 min to central park
Spanish classes are offered at a symbolic price (about $5 USD/class), which helps fund English classes for local students. All teachers are experienced locals, and lessons are tailored to your level.A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Yes. We have Starlink internet, airconditioned cowork area and two cozy meeting spaces. For heavy downloads or video editing, local co-working spaces are available in town for a low price.
Space for parking camper vans
Sure
Can possibly accept pets
Indeed
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (119)
Is how we describe our experience having Jolina as a volunteer. Great people person, outstanding communication and team work skills, really willing to help and contribute and super smart girl. The team, students and us felt so lucky to have her as a volunteer. Thanks Jolina, remember this place will always be a home for you.
Communication with Johana also worked well right from the start. We had weekly meetings about the… read more
Acacias is a perfect town to practice your spanish and feel a part of everyday Colombian life. The accommodation in the hotel is awesome, so many plants, animals, and the pool! Walking distance to town and the river.
Joana… read more
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Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.7)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(4.5)
Is how we describe our experience having Jolina as a volunteer. Great people person, outstanding communication and team work skills, really willing to help and contribute and super smart girl. The team, students and us felt so lucky to have her as a volunteer. Thanks Jolina, remember this place will always be a home for you.
Communication with Johana also worked well right from the start. We had weekly meetings about the… read more
Acacias is a perfect town to practice your spanish and feel a part of everyday Colombian life. The accommodation in the hotel is awesome, so many plants, animals, and the pool! Walking distance to town and the river.
Joana… read more
He was our volunteer coordinator for over six months, managing communications between the team,… read more
Whereas the location is slightly out of town, allowing me to watch the sunrise surrounded by green scenery every day, it's relatively close to the center of the town with many amenities.
I spent a lot of time working remotely for other company; recently set-up Starlink internet gives more… read more
The schedule is great and gives you loads of free time and time to prep - 3 classes a week with a set group (or teaching private lessons) in the evening (6-7pm),… read more
We spend six months each year in Norway, working diligently to fund and grow our project here. It has come to our attention that… read more
The school was incredibly disorganized and chaotic, with no actual teachers present, no guidance, and no supervision. I feel bad for the students, who get a subpar experience, while paying quite a lot (compared to average Colombian… read more
In just 6 weeks, I felt like I became part of a family of volunteers, staff, and locals. The people of Acacias are… read more
My stay was a fantastic opportunity to practise my Spanish and to slow down after travelling quite quickly for the previous few months! Thanks to classes with Santi, I felt a great… read more
the team of teachers was big, 10 people, so that was really fun being there. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who wants to try the… read more
I met so many amazing people, felt part of a lovely group of volunteers but was also invited to birthdays, a kindergarden graduation and many other special events by the local staff there. I am still in touch with many of the people I met here… read more
For future host, we totally recommend Caden.
stig and johanna run this hotel-school-restaurant with kindness, motivation and hard work. This is my 6th work away and I can say with a full heart the communication was top notch. The school got back to work at the… read more
- We came as the old organiser was leaving. The new organiser did not know how to manage things at all. The low point was when a new female volunteer was left outside the hostel on her own on a country road at midnight… read more
Kind, beautiful, passionate and amazing to work with. Thats how the team described her. We are all very happy and thankful for the time you used in our project. Students were lucky to… read more
I stayed an extra two weeks because I enjoyed it so much. Come with an open mind and you will leave a better person.
Thank you so much, dear Emily, you will always have a house in Acacias-Colombia!
With so many positive reviews I am not sure how much I can add, but I will say that if you don't speak Spanish this is an excellent opportunity for you. I had never tried to learn Spanish before and still my trip was very smooth, I was… read more
This was my first Workaway experience and I would 200% recommend it to everyone! It turned out to be much better than I… read more
Everyone is really friendly and teaching was such a great experience.
Couldn't recommend it more.
Staffy express… read more
Kerri was one of the online teachers during the corona pandemic. Before she started volunteering she had no experience in teaching, let alone online. She was very eager to learn and asked a lot about how to teach, it was clear that she was very motivated. This was also shown by the fact that she would love to come… read more
I'm so glad I went here, It was a experience I will remember forever. Most of the time I spent here was during off season, which I knew before I came. I worked with lesson planning for 15 hours /week, which gave me lots of time to explore. There are great waterfalls,… read more
I volunteered here in June 2019 and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I was there for 5 weeks fully immersed within the Colombian culture that the place is so full of. I was comfortable from the beginning, there is an amazing support network from Stig & Johanna, Diana &… read more
Rebecca came to that project with an amazing disposition, ready to help with anything and to put at our service her wonderful abilities. A creative girl, organized, disciplined and excellent work team element. Despite not having much experience as a teacher, she did better than any… read more
Like this is Daniel someone positive , willing to give in exchange for a smile. He came to us to teach English and did an excellent job, and was also an active part of the group, always ready, responsable and kind. Please accept this guy for whatever… read more
I was there one month in July 2019. As half Swiss half Colombian and wanted to rediscover my beloved country, Colombia.
If you want to discover what Colombia is really about, I can highly recommend you go here. You will meet a lot of Colombians; you will experience the Colombian heart. Forget… read more
I… read more
I could recommend this place to anyone who wants to practice teaching skills whilst getting very good Spanish classes in return! Also, you get a chance to work and live alongside very warm and open Colombian staff members who help you whenever they can and… read more
You are one of a kind! the best luck in your trips!
As it was my first volunteering I could not ask for a better place than this one.
Starting with nice experiences in teaching English to the Gringo Friday (and all these events) this place just provides the unique opportunity to get involved in a remarkable cultural… read more
My experience was amazing and challenging foa sho but overall, I was really bless to be apart of an amazing program. I love teaching English and… read more
For whoever that read this, I want to say it was a pleasure to have summeth as a volunteer, he was teaching English to 3 years old students, who loved him for his kind and charismatic way to be. As a team member is a perfect complement, a good listener, willing to help and… read more
We were so fortunate to count with Maddy in our team, she came to Acacias with positive vibes, willing to help us teaching English, spreading Cultures, sharing knowledge and make a better place! Everything was asked to do, she did, very good to work in teams and very… read more
For me this Workaway was full of little challenges and different learnings: starting to teach English for the first time and to learn Spanish, building nice wooden furniture for the restaurant or cooking amazing dinners for family night! And its not called family night without a reason: living here you get a big family very… read more
and for anyone we have to say Eunice is a great volunteer, an amazing person with a beautiful soul and huge… read more
This guy energy is extra positive always with a smile in his face an a great attitute, B, helped us teaching English, Cleaning, and building a great restaurant, using his amazing construction and artistic skills, he built tables and chairs… read more
We Highly recommend him. He was teaching English classes, his accent and English skills are great , he also did… read more
Stig and Johanna (and Valery :) )are simply amazing people , they treated me as a family member since day one!
This is an Amazing project that will give you more than you can expect!
Acacias and the surrounding are just amazing and last but not least the people!! ...i truly believe that this place… read more
Johanna and Stig treated us like family from day one.
We had a lot of fun teaching and getting to know Acacias and the suroundings.
The area has a lot to offer (Go rafting if you have a chance!).
Thanks for everything. Hope to see you again some time!
And for whoever that reads this post I will… read more
This guy was an excellent volunteer, hardworker, organize, commited and overall a great person, first week here he offered to cook in our family dinner for around 20 or more people a delicious Curry, one of the best I have eaten!! everyone in the team loved him and me (johanna) and Stig Trust him to put… read more
Keep an open mind, keep a clear line of communication, and you… read more
you made possible to have a great event for the closing of the academic year, for the first time, with all the good and hard work, helping us with construction, cleaning, planning, and teaching! Having people like you make this… read more
You guys were some our greatest Volunteers we have had...and thats a lot to say cause we just have had amazing people here! students talk about you still, about how enjoyable and organized were the classes, you were not proffesional teachers but you did better than if you were! estamos muy agradecidos por el tiempo… read more
In the 5… read more
Sophia was our volunteerns for 3 weeks in October, and did a great job for us, with the classes, with the projects, maintanance and in general a very adaptable, easy going and friendly person. you will always be welcome, thanks again!
Larissa stayed with us for almost one month, teaching english and helping us with general cleaning and maintanance, the students were very happy to have her as a teacher, saying that she was lovely, patience and very good teacher! great to work with and as part of a team was always willing to collaborate and… read more
I would totally recommend Pauline with any work , she did teaching, cleaning, decoration, and did everything with good and possitive attitud, being very responsable and commited. she was great social skills and is always willing to help!
Thanks a lot… read more
Gemma and Amy were in our Project for more tan a month, Gemma came, then went travelling and then came back, they are loving, friendly and so helpful, always smilling, is so easy to work with them, cause with their possitiviness they make days better, all the students loved them and we are so happy we got to meet… read more
While I was there I had cleaning duty, some construciton work and teaching English. I enjoyed working in different projects around the place and the language exchange/teaching with the students was an amazing experience.
Acacias is a… read more
Ben volunteered for a bit more that a month and we were so lucky to have him! He is a fantastic person, teacher and a big help with anything you need, a strong man! he helped us with gardening, construction, teaching and cleaning! Now known in town as the American with the best flow , thanks to his great salsa skills! Thanks… read more
The hostel is situated in an ample property with beautiful chillout-areas, giant papaya and mango trees as well as a luxurious pool. On the weekends, we explored the area: Johanna and Stig organized a rafting tour, a salsa lesson and a Tejo night for both volunteers and students.
The classes were… read more
The work load was really easy and you always end up working on different things. It's a good place to learn Spanish and take care of yourself. It's really interesting to be in touch with… read more
We were happy to have Lucie in our project and learn from her, her art skills and overall her positive energy, as we are just starting the project we got some issues with organization and punctuality, which affected the experience, but Lucie helped us to improve and understand… read more