Accommodation

The foundation does not provide accommodation. However, Santa Marta and its nearby villages of Taganga and El Rodadero are known spots for tourists and the area offers plenty of affordable accomodation possibilities. Hostel accomodation costs from about 10.000 COP (pesos) (about 5 USD) to about 25.000 COP (13 USD) per person per night. There are also plenty of hotels. Some hostels offer discounts for volunteers.

We can help to find you a homestay if you would like to live with a Colombian family. You get your own room, and the cost of this is 28,000 COP (16.50 USD) per night including food, lodging, and internet. Contact us if you are interested in this option and we can put you in touch.

A third option is to rent a house in Oasis barrio, the area where we have one of our learning centres. The house is very simple, with a 'bucket' style toilet and shower. The cost of this is $70 per month, and gives a real opportunity to integrate with the local community, run evening English classes and become part of local life. We recommend this option for couples and men only as Oasis barrio is a marginalised area with more associated risks than the city centre. Contact us if you would like to know more.

Prices of accomodation get higher during busy periods. When staying for a longer period, it can be a good idea to rent an apartment and share with other volunteers. Apartments cost about 300.000 COP to 400.000 COP per month.

Costs

Here’s an example of a budget for a month’s volunteer stay with us (excluding your airfare, which will of course vary). Figures are in US dollars and are approximate.

Mariposas Amarillas program donation:                                                                                     $70

Spending money for food etc:                                                                                                    $165

Accommodation (shared apartment)                                                                                          $250

Equipment and school supplies                                                                                                  $80

Transport to and from schools                                                                                                    $20

Total                                                                                                                                           $585

Scholarships and Grants

There are various programs that provide grants and scholarships to volunteers. Click on the links for more information:

LIV Fund scholarship: provides a one-off grant of up to $500 for volunteers in Latin America. Two grants per month.
GO! Volunteer scholarships: one grant of $1000 per academic year.

Visas

Fundacion Mariposas Amarillas does not arrange visas for volunteers. Our volunteers are in Colombia on tourist visas. These can be extended after the first 60 days for up to six months in one calendar year. We do not have the resources to arrange work visas.