Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
VOLUNTEERING IN GRANADA
Don't let yourself be fooled - just outside of Granada's beautiful historic center are some seri-
ously poor neighborhoods. Go a little further and you'll find rural settlements that need services
as desperately as any in the country. Thankfully, a range of NGOs is working in the area and try-
ing to alleviate the problems. Following are a few that accept volunteers.
Building New Hope
Runs a variety of programs, including education and school assistance, mu-
sic classes for underprivileged kids, a lending library and an animal clinic. Intermediate Spanish
a must, no minimum time commitment required.
Empowerment International
Works mainly with rural youth providing education assistance to
keep them in school. Also runs after-school programs in computer skills and photography, and
baseball camps. Intermediate Spanish a must, three-month time commitment required.
Hotel Con Corazón
The hotel with a heart is a good place to learn more about volunteer ops.
2552-6695; marielo_q75@hotmail.com; Centro Turístico, 1.5km S)
, which runs several
guided kayak tours (from US$10 per hour). Touts will offer to hook you up with a boat
tour from pretty much the moment you enter the Centro Turístico. If you're on your own
or in a small group, wait around until a larger group forms (unless you want to pay for the
whole boat yourself - around US$20 for a one-hour tour) and the boat operators start of-
fering discount seats just to fill their boat up. For the best bird-watching, you'll want to ar-
range your trip the day before to get out at dawn. Sunset is also quite nice, though the tour
is quicker, with less exploration of further afield corners of the island group. You may be
able to arrange a short sunset cruise to Castillo San Pedro for around US$5 per boat.
Taking a turnoff to the right just after Inuit Kayaks (look for the sign saying 'Marina
Cocibolca') takes you out onto the other side of the Peninsula de Asese to
Puerto Asese
,
where you can also hire boats to tour the
isletas
over this side. This is a less-popular op-
tion, so chances of forming an impromptu group are slimmer. The advantage of tours on
this side is that there are fewer power lines and other boats, so it's a more tranquil experi-
ence, but it involves a fair bit of time in open water. Leaving from Cabinas Amarillas is
good because you get straight in among the
isletas
.
Want to stay overnight in Las Isletas? Almost an hour from Puerto Asese,
Isla Los
Españoles
( 8759-0049;
www.granada-isleta.com
; d/house incl breakfast US$80/300; )
is a
beautiful home converted to a hotel on an island of its own. It can sleep up to 12 in three
