Journey Latin America is excited to announce our next event in this year's drive to raise funds for El Rio Foundation in Buritaca, Colombia...

On 5th October we'll set off on a 20km walk from Tower Bridge to Hammersmith (where our offices are based), crossing the River Thames across several of its iconic bridges.

At Journey Latin America, we believe meaningful travel goes hand in hand with meaningful connection. In the places we know and love, we’re always looking for ways to give back, and one of the most important ways we do that is through our staff-led fundraising campaigns.

In 2025, we’re proud to be supporting the El Rio Foundation, a grassroots initiative based in Buritaca on Colombia’s north Caribbean coast. The foundation was created with a clear mission: to uplift the local community through education, environmental action and inclusive, joyful programmes for young people.

El Rio is based at the award-winning Rio Hostel, named Hostelworld’s 2024 Community Hero. From this colourful space, the team delivers free, fun and inclusive weekly activities for over 600 local children and teenagers. These range from academic tutoring and English lessons to art, dance, sport and wellbeing support.

As well as helping young people thrive, El Rio also runs reforestation and waste management projects, ensuring that its impact reaches both the community and the land they call home.

This year, our fundraising efforts, from sports days and sponsored walks to bake sales and team challenges, will go towards supporting the foundation’s academic tutoring programmes. These sessions offer vital support to local children and young adults, helping them build confidence, pass exams and open doors for the future.

We’re excited to play a small part in the foundation’s inspiring work, and to continue building connections with the communities at the heart of the continent.

Our support of El Rio is facilitated by The LATA Foundation. The Foundation was set up in 2007, by members of the Latin America travel industry to give back to the continent that they are so passionate about. The mission of the Foundation is to use tourism to drive positive impact in Latin America. We do this by supporting social and environmental grassroots projects that help transform lives. Focusing on building capacity in local NGOs to ensure long term sustainability, the Foundation aims to demonstrate that tourism can be a powerful force for good in local communities.