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]]>It’s madness pure madness. The Tomatino, the world’s biggest tomato fight held in Bunol near Valencia in Spain is such a good laugh you really need to go there once in your life. Okay so getting 10 tons of tomatoes thrown at you for an hour may not be your ideal day out every day, but to experience it once, the complete anarchy is something you will never forget.
People come from all over the world to this tiny white Spanish town once a year to take part in the event. In fairness it is not just the tomato chucking that draws the crowds, it turns into a three-day boozy party when no one gives a shit and everyone is up having a good time.
It’s kind of hard to describe the feeling of being in a crowd of 5000 people waiting for a massive food fight to kick-off, the sense of anticipation is immense but in fairness people don’t usually wait for the tomatoes to turn up, as the Xtreme Gap Year group has a massive sangria party before the main event, and whilst you have several litres of sangria at your disposal to down (at eight in the morning of course) in reality this usually gets chucked everywhere.
There are all kinds of nationalities at the Tomatino, but there’s a surprising number of Australians and Japanese who attend. Why? I guess because it’s just such a ridiculous event it really appeals to them.
Is usually an early start as some years there have been up to 40,000 people attend the event so to get the prime spot, right in the centre next to the greasy pole (more on that in a minute) you have to be up early. From 2013 the town hall sensibly started to regulate the numbers of people who could attend, so now there is a maximum capacity of 5000 at the actual event, which means early booking is essential to secure your Tomatino tickets as these will sell out well in advance.
So we will leave Valencia in the morning, we get bussed into the town, there’s not a lot else to do in Buñol in fairness, so it’s best to be based out of Valencia which is an amazing city.
We start off by having a massive sangria party, there is usually around 150 in the group and there are several litres available for everyone.
Around 930 we wake way into the main square, where people will be already attempting to climb up a greasy pole in order to secure the prized Jamon. Once this has been taken off the top pole (not easy considering it’s covered in fact in Grease and about 20 foot high) the carnage starts. It is utter madness, the Tomatino Is in full effect. It goes on for an hour with trucks driving through delivering fresh squishy tomatoes, as they get hurled at everyone.
You would expect the locals to get really irritated with thousands of foreigners turning up once a year to desecrate their town, but on the contrary. They absolutely love it and are the first to start chucking tomatoes around.
After an hour of the entire town just resembles soup, with people everywhere stinking and dripping in tomatoes it is really very funny.
As the buses do not park back to Valencia until two there are massive street parties all around. The atmosphere is incredible.
In the evening there is the Tomatino after party, 3 1/2 thousand people in an outdoor club dancing the night away it’s the perfect ending to the most ridiculous day you will ever experience.
You can book your Tomatino experience with Xtreme Gap Year make sure you don’t miss out.
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]]>The post Review Xtreme Venezuela Experience appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>Ramon, UK
I had a blast there. We had an amazing group of people from all over the world and together we’ve seen loads of the country. We’ve been kayaking, hiking, and done loads of roadtrips. Everyday we had 2 hours of lesson on Spanish. You were put in a group according on how far your knowledge of Spanish is. And had some amazing local teachers to learn it to you.
Liz Silver, UK
At the programme they take serious care of their students. Before each trip/adventure we had a meeting where they’d go through the whole trip and allow for questions and discussion, during the trips we had guides around at all times and after the trips we were asked to make a review of what was good/bad during the trip.
The food is good, I never found any reason to complain. Even during the trips the food is better than I’d do myself (granted, I’m not a chef).
Spanish classes are excellent, but it depends on which teacher you get and how you feel you want to learn the language – what works for some doesn’t work for others. But they does make sure that you get your hours, though nobody will stop you from skipping classes.The staff were great, and as I was there for so long we got quite close. We simply had a really good time together!
Venezuela as a country is really nice, but face the fact that without guidance it can be dangerous. For example, don’t be outside the camp after dark unless you know the area and have a good reason. But if you follow the rules you’ll be safe, I never had any incidences during my stay there (and I didn’t always follow the rules, no).
Oh, if you stay here for some time – bring books. You won’t be able to find a good bookstore with English books, and if you do (in Merida for example), the selection is very limited. I never visited Caracas though, might be different there.
In short, it’s a trip I feel I could send my 20-years-or-so kids on without worrying (if I had any), despite what everybody have heard about Venezuela. It’s definitely worth it!
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]]>The post Review Spanish And Culture Argentina appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>Anton, England
The school is an 11 out of 10. I don’t say this lightly, but I have studied Spanish in Guatemala and Spain and there is no comparison. They are very, very good at what they do. I am now fluent in Spanish and they are one of the main reasons why.
The quality of instruction was excellent and the school employees were very helpful outside of the classroom too!
What are some pros and cons of the school’s location? Not only is it a great school, but it’s in one of the great cities of this world. You can’t have more fun than in Buenos Aires. It caters to all interests and all age groups. The school is in one of the best parts of town, and is easily accessed by walking in my case, but also by bus and subway.
I also like the home stay family, I learned a lot staying with them. It was excellent. And I always felt safe.
The school really caters to all age groups, with the exception of children. Its amazing, but the environment is really congenial even though there is a wide age range.
Shannon, USA
Walking into the Spanish school in down town energetic Buenos Aires, I was immediately impressed with the organization and professional facilities. The entire building appeared brand new and decorated with tasteful colors and bright white walls. It was comfortable and inviting, something I believe is important when learning a language.
I started my Spanish course with a well-constructed exam to make sure I was placed in the correct class. By the way, It doesn’t matter if you cannot speak one word of Spanish, as there are classes for all levels. My teacher was an impressive instructor from the north of Argentina who approached our class with a professional and energetic attitude. Definitely never a dull moment throughout the whole time I stayed there.
I feel that part of learning a language is learning a culture, and this is why this programme sounded so appealing to me. There was an abundance of cultural activities and information throughout the institute, this helped me making friends and learn the Argentine culture even better. Great facilities, friendly staff, quality teachers and fun activities!
Simon B., England
Since arriving the staff and students have been incredibly friendly. It is a very social school and there are lots of activities and socials to enjoy alongside learning Spanish. I will definitely recommend this programme to friends.
Virginia, Switzerland
I met a lot different people all over the world. The classes were really mixed with every ages and nationalities. The lessons were very intensive, I learned a lot. If you are not happy with the class or teacher you have, you are able to change. The school is also very interested to make the best of your stay. So whenever there was a question or a problem they helped you. And there are also lots of activities after school, so you wont get bored. It was a great experience to visit a language school in Buenos Aires
Elisabet
I’m glad that I booked this programme because I learned so much more in two weeks here that I did with two years of high school Spanish. The teachers are very nice and helpful. They want you to learn and succeed. I also liked meeting people from other countries who were here with the same goal.
Anthony, USA
The staff, teachers, and students, all super friendly. I am leaving with a lot of friends and a better understanding of the language and the culture. Great time, great school, wonderful activities and fun! I would recommend to anyone!
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]]>Annie, UK
This was the best thing that happened to me this Christmas! I came to Ecuador in December and I’m still here enjoying the great beaches of Santa Elena, I had the best time at Quito, I studied for 2 weeks, and it was great, I made such amazing friends there, and I had all kinds of adventures! Quito’s nigh life is incredible so many restaurants and coffee shops all in the same place, I loved it.
Patrick, UK
Only in Ecuador you will be able to find mountains, jungle, rain forest, and beaches all at only a 4 hour drive away or 30 minutes by plane! This is a beautiful country and its people are the best! They are so gentle and willing to help! One experience I’ll never forget is learning Spanish at the Spanish schools, the teaching is very professional and the teachers have some of them more than 10 years of experience!, my teacher Tomas knew so much about history that I always stayed longer just to hear the histories about Ecuador he had to tell, I not only learned Spanish but learned a lot about south American culture.
Russell, USA
Hello, I’m Russell I’m from Georgia, USA I came to Ecuador for a 2 week trip, I’m finalizing my stay here, sadly I wish I could stay longer, this experience has been amazing, more than I could ever imagined. I decided to give it a try and it was the best decision of my life!
This is a great school I’ve learned a lot of Spanish in only a few days! And the atmosphere here is really nice, I like that everyone is always willing to help. I highly recommend this trip!
Susan, Germany
I came to Andean Global studies with my daughter, Lucie she is 17 years old and I’m 48 years old. We were both interested on learning Spanish and traveling around Ecuador, therefore we took a program that allowed us to have our lessons on a different city each week, this program was really great and very well organized that we hardly felt the difference between schools this was an unforgettable experience for Lucie and me we shared time together and discovered a new culture.
Lukas, UK
I had and awesome experience this last summer, I traveled to Ecuador, I spent 4 weeks there and I learned Spanish!
I stayed with a family of 3 boys so it was great to have 3 brothers! They took me out to wherever they went! I got the chance to feel as another son and that’s how I learned more about Ecuadorian families and Ecuador’s culture in general!
It was a really nice thing that the school arranged my accommodation that well, they actually took in consideration my age and what I like to do in order to put me into a nice family! That was great!
Kristine, USA
I studied Spanish in Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Mexico but the one I loved the most was Ecuador, because since it’s a small Country you can travel from one city to another totally different in a matter of just a few hours, I believe was the best way to learn and travel, it was called “traveling classroom” it was great cuz I took one week of lessons in each city! I got the chance to visit amazing churches in Quito and great diving spots at montañita! Plus I forgot to mention that this program included some activities do It was great, compared to the other school I went it was the best regarding prices and professionalism.
Maria, Sweden
Two of my nephews went on the 6 month traveling classroom a few years ago and had the time of their life. It was an awesome adventure and the highlights were the kayak trip into the Orinocco Delta and the two week expedition to Roraima. They also had a great time on the work exploration volunteering in an animal sanctuary and doing community projects. Both of them came back speaking great Spanish so the lessons must have been good!
Have a great time on your adventure, you are going to really enjoy yourself
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]]>The post Review Spanish and Surf Ecuador appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>Matt from the UK
Yeah its been great thanks. The trip to Montanita was absolutely incredible, without a doubt two of the greatest weeks of my life (definitely the best two weeks of my time spent in South America). Not only would I recommend it to someone interested, I would recommend it to people who had never even thought about doing it. The two weeks I spent gave me the perfect opportunity to immerse myself in the language, surf in some incredible locations, stay in luxury accommodation and meet some amazing people.
Thanks again guys,
Matt
Ian from the UK
Ian joined the program for 3 weeks in November and December 2011. “Largely it was amazing. Great fun. Montanita is a big party town and the cocktail alley will force you to miss class once in awhile (especially if you have 8ams!). I can recommend this amazing experience to everybody!” Read more from Ian about the school, the cabanas and the activities below.
At the school there are some great teachers and the program is very beneficial. It depends on what you want to do and how long you have to stay. If you are there for a long time and wish to become fully fluent, take the normal classes and practice alot! I went for survival spanish (that was what I needed) before travelling. I also took some privates. Its more expensive, but you will get to use the Spanish more… and learn what you need to know!
The cabanas are great (the pool is a huge). They are more expensive, but essential for building friendships with other students. The shared kitchen is key for lowering costs and having a nice dinner in. The staff is great and responsive – especially David is amazing! The mosquitoes can be really bad… just use lots of spray and do not lounge at dusk (or dawn). There is a bakery (someones house) next door that sells the best banana bread ever! Overall it is quiet, but sometimes there are midnight skinny dips or can hear very loud music playing from the neighbors, so bring ear plugs. I should not put you off, because it is a great place!!!
The activities we did will make sure you will never get bored. On most nights and days there are things to do, like scheduled surfing, yoga, diving, salsa, cooking classes, pool and billards tournaments. And not forget visiting the Cocktail Alley.
Overall it was the start of my travels and was the best decision I made. My Spanish is workable and makes my travels easier… I can even carry on conversations! I made great friends and had a blast and I learned to surf too!
Roos, 21 years, from the Netherlands
“Thank you for everything that I have learnt here: the stories, expressions, grammar, vocabulary, verbs, the delicious coffees. the ambiance, interesting conversations, photos, songs, jokes, and everything else. They were 2 marvelous weeks. Big kisses and see you next time.”
Fluff, 26 years, from the UK
“Just want to write a little something to say THANK YOU for everything you have done for me.”
Everyone has made the last 8 weeks an incredible experience. For David and everyone who works at the Cabanas, you are very beautiful. For Rosamellia and Waz who practical organized my life for the last 8 weeks. For the professors for all of your help, maybe one day I will speak fluidly in Spanish – Ara I love your food and your smile – Steffi I love your personality and thank you for teaching me frazes to use on the street, I used them well – Nancy, Erika, Ivonne, Jenny for explaining everything clearly. For the lady who makes the breakfast for all of us in the morning. I hope that I will not forget anything! Maybe one day I will return here, and because of that, until next time. All of my love and good luck for everything in the future. Fluff xx
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]]>Theo, 22 USA
they told me that the programme was a good mix between studying Spanish and adventure and that is what I liked about it. And it was true! We went to places like Caripe, Orinoco, we went to Mochima National Park and other awesome places.
The coolest were thejeep safaris and the kayak through the jungle. Also we learned about the culture which I would never have done if I was travelling alone, I would not know where to go, how to get there and…how to speak Spanish!
I met lots of people from the US and also from Europe. it was a nice mix, most people were between 20-24. The accommodation was something else and very adventurous as we slept in beds, tents, very comfy sleeping hammocks.
Tara, USA
I went on the 6 month travelling classroom program. It was awesome. We did so much – sea kayaked to remote Caribbean islands, jeep safari to the Gran Sabana, went to Angel Falls, kayaked the Orinoco Delta and meet the Waor Indians. Highly Recommended. Thank you Brendon Chris and the team!
Tim, Belgium
I had a great time – thank you Nat (my Spanish teacher) for being soooo good and patient with me. The programs are awesome – I had three weeks of Spanish, Adventure and of course Salsa! Merida is a great place- the people are friendly, lot and lots to do, and excellent nightlife. loved it! Best way to learn spanish as i went over knowing nothing at all. And now quite confident in Spanish. The atmosphere is great and the people are great. I would love to return again one day.
Frankie
I had a great time here. The teachers were very professional, and my Spanish improved out of site. There were many activities to become involved in. I spent my time Salsa, horse riding, rafting, paragliding and had an amazing wildlife trip to Los Llanos. Merida is a fun, and safe city, with many students enjoying themselves. Thank you!
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]]>Although one of the original pirate islands of the Spanish Main 350 years ago, today Roatan has become a laid back tropical paradise, and SCUBA Diving Mecca. Surrounded by part of the second largest barrier reef on the planet, this 40 mile long island offers fun and adventures galore. Zip Lines / Canopy tours, Jungle Hikes, Butterfly Gardens, Horse Back Riding, Para-Sailing, Swimming, snorkeling, and just about any activity you could dream up on a tropical island are available here.
West End village, originally a sleepy fishing village, has become the island’s SCUBA Diving center. Located within the Roatan Marine Park and Reserve, the surrounding protected reef is vibrant, full of life, and easy to access. 40 moored dive sites within 10 minutes of your dock await exploration by certified divers. For those wishing to try or become Scuba Divers, many qualified dive centers are available, offering globally recognized training and certifications.
Even the hardiest of divers must spend some time on land! West End comes out at night also, and the many restaurants and bars offer dining and entertainment in open air atmospheres. Hanging out and making new friends with like-minded fellow travelers, watching the sunset with a cold beer and a possible green-flash, and looking forward to tomorrows adventures, are what life on Roatan is all about.
Find out more about diving in Roatan on our Honduras Divemaster programme.
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]]>Cuzco is a major backpacker melting pot, one of the main backpacking hubs in Peru and the staging ground for people contemplating doing an Inca Trail trek or visiting Machu Picchu. Whilst it was a major city for the Incas, the Spanish colonial style is firmly entrenched on the city.
Just take a stroll round La Plaza De Armas and check out the impressive colonial cathedral, and you soon get a sense that this city has had an interesting and varied past, especially when you see the ancient walls built out of huge stone blocks by the incans, thought to be the first earthquake proof construction in the history of mankind.
There is a great nightlife scene to Cuzco as well, as you would expect with backpackers having returned from successful three-day Inca Trail treks, loaded up on excitement and enthusiasm with travellers tales about where they’ve been and what they’ve seen, with plenty of other backpackers willing to listen to their stories in nervous anticipation of their own treks that lie ahead. You can easily spend a week here, even if you’re not going to do the Trail there are plenty of day trips that you can enjoy and is not a bad place to rest up if you’ve been on the road for awhile.
If you’re new in town, make sure you head to the Cross Keys pub located on the corner of the Plaza de Armas, you’ll be sure to meet some backpackers in there.
From Cuzco most people had South after the Trail to find Lake Titicaca and then end up in La Paz the capital of Bolivia.
With Xtreme gap years backpacking in South America trips, you will most likely end up in Cuzco on the following adventures:
Lima to La Paz via Cuzco, Inca Trail trek and round the world South America.
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]]>During the Ecuador to Peru Travel Pass one of our personal highlights is the included 3 day Amazon Experience.
Set at an adventure lodge on the banks of the Napo River, you can stay in the rain forest and soak up the sites and sounds of the jungle. During your stay you will trek through the jungle with native guides, learn about the ecosystem and really grow to appreciate what life is like in the amazon. In the evening you will be staying in pure luxury, as the adventure lodge is well set up, but eco friendly at the same time.
Arrival to the Lodge in the afternoon. After the long drive we can relax for a while in our beautiful spacious bungalow built in a rustic native design surrounded by gardens full of amazing jungle plants and flowers. A delicious dinner will be served in a romantic candlelight setting at the attractively decorated restaurant. Afterwards we will enjoy a special welcome drink, relaxing ourselves around the elegant fireplace, to coordinate and discuss next day’s activities with the local crew. We’ll feel absolutely comfortable in this lovely peaceful setting filled with nightly sights and sounds of the Amazon jungle.
After breakfast, we depart by canoe upstream for ten minutes, arriving to a small shore where we begin a fun and thrilling one hour walk, marvelling ourselves with the jungle’s secondary forest diverse flora and fauna. After our short hike, we’ll find ourselves in a breathtaking cascade “La Cascada de Latas” where we will take a refreshing bath in its clear crystal waters and enjoy the surrounding views, which, mixed with the jungle sounds, makes it a unforgettable experience. We return along the same way to have lunch at the lodge.
After lunch we put on our “wet gear” (rubber boots & rain poncho) to start an exciting walk in the rainforest ready to find the secret wonders of the mysterious hidden jungle, finding amazing plant species with medicinal properties, which will be explained in detail by our expert native guide: their characteristics and how the jungle inhabitants used them in ancient times. We’ll also observe a great variety of insects, small groups of monkeys weaving around the giant trees; though we will need some luck to observe them, we must stay very quiet to admire these beautiful creatures. Dozens of curious colourful birds tag along with us during our walk whistling enchanted notes delighting our senses. After about three hours of walking we come back and arrive to the Lodge. At night, dinner and gathering around the fireplace. It’s time for a good and peaceful rest delighted by the nightly sounds of the jungle.
After breakfast, we will have to prepare our return trip. End of program.
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]]>During the Spanish and sun intensive Spanish language course, you get to visit a couple of great locations just outside Malaga. The two other cities that you will visit are Granada and Seville. Granada is often the highlight many of our students because it is a truly beautiful city and there is plenty to see and do their.
Granada like Seville and to a lesser extent Malaga, has strong Moorish influences, nowhere is this more obvious than in the famous Alhambra Palace, a Moorish Bastian overlooking the city of Granada. Granada is higher in out to them Malaga because it sits in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, it might surprise you to know you can actually ski in the Sierra Nevada as late as May because it sits at 3000 m. On a clear day (which there are many) you can actually see the coastline from the slopes and in one day you can be skiing and then and the next you can be on the beach.
During the Spanish and sun program, you won’t be skiing because it takes place in August in Midsummer, when days reaching 35°C are not uncommon, however this amazing warm weather does lead well to another activity that we love at xtreme gap year.
If you’re not familiar with canyoning, this is a one-day adventure where you follow the path of the canyon, jumping off waterfalls abseiling down cliffs and drifting down rivers. It certainly makes for one action packed break from your studies.
The city of Granada itself definitely has a bohemian feel to it, with narrow alleys Moorish architecture, and plenty of influence from Morocco with teashops cake shops little markets selling everything from Moroccan slippers to exotic spices and of course hundreds of bars, tapas bars and places to hang out.
you can spend hours walking through the old town and if you head up into the Alacin, the old quarter you are rewarded with incredible views of the Alhambra, and an unrivalled Vista of Granada city itself.
During the Spanish and sun course we just do a day trip to Granada, however an overnight trip can be arranged as well as the canyoning adventure if we have four people who want to participate.
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