Learn Spanish in Playa Colorada, Venezuela 

On the Caribbean coast between Puerto La Cruz and Cumana, the mountainous Mochima National Park is one of the most spectacular tourist destinations in Venezuela and home to the famous Playa Colorada which is a beautiful beach of golden red sand (hence the name), palm trees and crystal clear water.  Standing on the shore, you can see some of the 32 deserted islands of the Mochima National Park, which can be reached by boat.  This is a warm-weather location with stunning mountain scenery, beautiful beaches and idyllic islands, offering exciting snorkelling, fishing, kayaking and diving opportunities.

Our school is housed in a traditional lodge next to the Playa Colorada beach, in the heart of the Mochima National Park.  With palm trees all around and a series of sandy beaches on the doorstep, this is an idyllic location to study and offering accommodation too, a great base camp for expeditions to other exotic destinations such as the Orinoco Delta and Gran Sabana.

Courses are available all year round for a variety of ages and levels and all include accommodation.  Please click on one of the options below for more details:

• General Spanish Course
• Spanish + Volunteering
• Discover Venezuela
• Scuba Diving PADI Programme

Accommodation is included in the course fees and is based in the same location as the school, just by the beach.  It has been developed over a number of years in the style of a Warao indigenous commune, offering either hammocks or beds (hammocks recommended due to heat!) and open recreational areas, in traditional tropical gardens, including a 12m high climbing wall.

Transfers: arrival transfers are included from Barcelona (Venezuela) Airport.

Visa: UK visitors to Venezuela do not require a visa to study for periods of up to 90 days.  However, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date in Venezuela.  Upon arrival at Caracas Airport, you will receive a tourist card which entitles you to your stay (of 90 days).  For those who wish to study for longer, a visa may be required, in which case you must contact your nearest consulate for further information. 

School Closure: 1/15 Jan, 20/21 Feb, 5/6/19 Apr, 1 May, 24 Jun, 5/24 July, 12 Oct, 25 Dec 2012.  The school will be closed on these public holidays and no classes will be held.  All classes will be rescheduled to a mutually convenient time for both students and teachers.

General Spanish Course in Playa Colorada

This course is designed for those who wish to learn general Spanish.  The course covers the four elements of language learning: reading, writing, listening and speaking, and focuses on developing communication skills to use outside of the classroom.  Use of role play, situational dialogues and work projects help students to speak Spanish from the first day.  Course fees also include accommodation (Mon-Sun), breakfast and dinner, and all course materials. 

2012 Start dates: 16 Jan, 12 Mar, 7 May, 2/30 Jul, 8 Oct, 3 Dec 2012

School info [top of page]

Spanish + Volunteering in Playa Colorada

This award winning programme involves studying Spanish and carrying out local volunteer work.  In the fishing village of Playa Colorada, there is a project involving conservation work to protect the local environment and wild animal species.  The other project starts in Playa Colorada but involves being based at a remote location in Orinoco Delta, working in a school for the indigenous Warao population.  For both projects, the programme fees include Spanish tuition, volunteer placement and support, half board accommodation for duration of programme (breakfast + dinner included, with use of kitchen facilities to prepare own lunch).

5-week Programme

8-week Programme

Additional Volunteering

*Please note that for the project in Orinoco Delta, there is an additional one-off transport fee of £75.

2012 Start Dates: 16 Jan, 12 Mar, 7 May, 2/30 Jul, 8 Oct, 3 Dec 2012

School info [top of page]

More volunteering options

Discover Venezuela

This is another award-winning programme which offers a unique combination of Spanish study and the opportunity to travel on adventure/culture expeditions.  Venezuela is a great location for such an adventure, being a country of huge diversity with spectacular beaches, exotic jungles, mysterious mountains and ancient indigenous cultures.  Participants are based at the lodge in Playa Colorada, travelling out on adventure expeditions and learning Spanish en route.  So, no stuffy classroom, just the great outdoors and a taste of the real South America!  And just in case you were concerned, you do not have to be extremely fit to take part in this programme; all you need is a sense of adventure and the wish to experience life! 

Adventure/Culture expeditions, for example: jeep safari to the amazing Gran Sabana; climb Mount Roraima; sea kayak amongst untouched Caribbean islands and through the exotic Orinoco Delta jungle; introduction to rock climbing and abseiling at waterfalls; visit and learn about local coffee and fruit/vegetable farming; introduction to the cultures of the Warao and Pemon indigenous people; experience life out in lush primary jungle and savannah terrain.               

*The Scuba Diving PADI programme can be taken in conjunction with the 8-week Discover Venezuela programme

2012 Start Dates: 16 Jan, 12 Mar, 7 May, 2/30 Jul, 8 Oct, 3 Dec 2012

Minimum age: 18 years

Fees include: Spanish tuition, all trips, half board accommodation (full board whilst travelling), use of kitchen facilities at Playa Colorada lodge to prepare your own lunch whilst at base, arrival transfer from Barcelona (Venezuela) Airport.

School info [top of page]

More Discover programmes

Scuba Diving PADI Programme

This diving programme can only be taken in conjunction with the 8-week Discover Venezuela programme, offering diving tuition to work towards two PADI scuba dive qualifications, as well as pleasure diving in some of the best diving spots in the world.  Also based at the lodge in Playa Colorada, this diving programme takes place during two weeks prior to the scheduled start date for the Venezuelan Adventure.  If, for whatever reason, it is not possible to complete the full diving programme during that time, then the sessions can be rescheduled to during the Venezuelan Adventure.  This programme suits divers of all abilities as you may select from various PADI certified qualifications as well as a set of pleasure dives, based on your previous experience. 

Complete Beginner + Novice divers: train for PADI Open Water + PADI Advanced Open Water certificates, plus enjoy some amazing pleasure dives in the neighbouring warm Caribbean waters. 

PADI Open Water Certified: train for PADI Open Water Advanced + PADI Rescue Diver certificates, plus enjoy10 amazing pleasure dives in the neighbouring warm Caribbean waters. 

PADI Advanced Open Water Certified: train for PADI Rescue Diver certificate* plus enjoy 15 amazing pleasure dives in the neighbouring warm Caribbean waters. 

*Please note: in order to train for the PADI Rescue Diver certificate, you will need to have completed the Emergency First Response (EFR) course in your home country, before arriving in Venezuela.

2012 Start dates: 2 Jan, 27 Feb, 23 Apr, 18 Jun, 16 Jul, 24 Sep and 19 Nov 2012.

Fees include: all diving instruction by a PADI registered dive school and qualified instructors; course materials; 100 hours of Spanish tuition; all trips on Venezuelan Adventure; half board accommodation ((full board whilst travelling), use of kitchen facilities at Playa Colorada lodge to prepare your own lunch whilst at base, arrival transfer from Barcelona (Venezuela) Airport.

School info [top of page] 

If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact us by:

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