Voluntariado en Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka es la perla del océano indio que tiene un clima cómodo con una naturaleza atractiva. Sri Lanka tiene una cultura única, características geológicas, valores históricos, buena biodiversidad y un entorno maravilloso. Hay tantas fuentes de agua dulce en Sri Lanka, como cascadas, ríos y lagos. Sinharaja es la selva tropical en Sri Lanka que tiene una diversidad de flora y fauna muy grande. Una visita a Sri Lanka presenta una oportunidad única en este contexto, habiendo sido incluido entre los 25 principales puntos críticos mundiales para la biodiversidad. La organización de vigilancia ecológica Conservation International ha indicado que hay más de 3000 especies de plantas endémicas, 140 especies endémicas de anfibios, 14 especies endémicas de mamíferos y 10 especies endémicas de aves en Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka es un país rico en lugares históricos y religiosos. Van desde las antiguas ruinas de ciudades, templos y santuarios. Kandy tiene el Templo de la Reliquia de los Dientes Sagrados del Señor Buda. Anuradhapura también una de las ciudades religiosas e históricamente importantes de Sri Lanka. Sigiriya, Yapahuwa, Polonnaruwa también lugares muy importantes en Sri Lanka.

Colombo

La geografía de Colombo es una mezcla de tierra y agua. La ciudad tiene muchos canales y, en el corazón de la ciudad, el lago Beira de 65 hectáreas (160 acres). El lago es uno de los monumentos más distintivos de Colombo, y fue utilizado durante siglos por los colonos para defender la ciudad. Sigue siendo una atracción popular, albergando regatas y eventos teatrales en sus costas. La frontera norte y noreste de la ciudad de Colombo está formada por el río Kelani, que se encuentra con el mar en una parte de la ciudad conocida como el Modera (mádara en Sinhala) que significa delta del río.

What's the best time to go to Sri Lanka? Here are some annual weather facts we collected from our historical climate data:

¿Cuál es el mejor momento para ir a Sri Lanka? Estos son algunos datos meteorológicos anuales que recopilamos de nuestros datos históricos sobre clima:

Sri Lanka tiene típicamente clima tropical y no hay estaciones marcadas reales. El clima en las llanuras y las zonas costeras es muy caliente y a menudo húmedo con una temperatura media mensual de 27 grados Celsius (81o Fahrenheit). La humedad relativa varía de aproximadamente 70% durante el día a 90% por la noche. Las colinas son mucho más frías con una temperatura promedio de alrededor de 20 grados Celsius (68o Fahrenheit).

Sri Lanka ve mucha lluvia. El monzón trae lluvia de mayo a julio a las regiones occidental, sur y central de la isla. El monzón noreste causa lluvias en las regiones norte y este en diciembre y enero.

Volunteers are provided breakfast, lunch and dinner at their accommodation during the week and weekends. Breakfast typically consists of toast, fruit, eggs, cereal accompanied with milk, tea or coffee. Dinner usually includes: meat (cow, chicken), potato, rice, vegetables, spaghetti and a variety of western food. Volunteers can be away from their accommodation mid-day so they take a lunch bag or they go back home. We recommend budgeting between US$5 and US$10 per day to purchase lunch if you don't return to the host family, let the host family know if you change the lunch plans. If you have specific dietary requirements, our local teams and home-stays can customize to you but be flexible as well.

Once in country our local coordinator can help you find the most reliable and safe tour agencies for weekend trips, you can pay in cash or in most locations with a credit card. These tours are not part of the ABV fees.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Cave Temples Private Day Trip

Visit two UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Golden Temple of Dambulla, on this private day trip with a personal guide — a must-do activity when visiting Sri Lanka. You’re chauffeured in the comfort of your own vehicle for the approximate 4-hour drive from Negombo, Colombo or Mount Lavinai. Climb the 5th-century fortress on a sightseeing tour of the 8th Wonder of the World. After lunch, tour the impressive cave temple and marvel at its Buddha statues.

Day Excursions to Udawalawe From Colombo

Spot elephants at Udawalawe National Park on this full-day tour from Colombo. Depart from your hotel in a private vehicle and make your way to Udawalawe. Accompanied by a guide, ride a jeep through the national park and see the wide variety of wildlife that lives there, possibly including wild buffalo, spotted deer, crocodiles, and butterflies.

Full-Day Private Sigiriya and Dambulla from Kandy

The Golden Temple of Dambulla and the Ancient City of Sigiriya are two of Sri Lanka’s most impressive UNESCO World Heritage sites and this private tour from Kandy visits both in one day. Climb the dramatic rock fortress of Sigiriya, tuck into a delicious curry lunch (optional), then explore the Buddhist cave complex of Dambulla with its gigantic rock-carved Buddha.

Udawalawe National Park Safari trip from Galle/Mirissa/Ella

Prepare to ‘get wild’ on this full-day safari in Sri Lanka’s Udawalawe National Park. Scout for elephants, crocodiles, birds, and more, and take an optional side trip to Udawalawe Elephant Orphanage. All national park fees and a safari jeep with a driver-guide are included.

Private Day Trip: Horton Plains and Pedro Tea Factory from Nuwara Eliya

Get an in-depth look at the beautiful landscapes of Sri Lanka’s hilly interior during this 8-hour private day trip. Explore Horton Plains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, before enjoying a guided walk to scout for wildlife as you journey to ‘World’s End.’ You’ll also visit Baker Falls, enjoy an included lunch, and visit a tea plantation and factory.

Day Excursions To UNESCO City ANURADHAPURA From Colombo

Make a multi-stop tour focusing on UNESCO World Heritage sites easy with round-trip transportation. Visits include the ancient city of Anuradhapura, Isurumuniya, Sri Mahabodi, and Mihintale. Along the way, enjoy personalized attention from your private guide and listen to engaging commentary.

Shore Excursion Mangrove Boat Tour To Negombo From Colombo Port

The journey of your tour starts from Colombo Port & enjoy the Private Mangrove Boat Safari Tour in Negombo City. After the tour you will be safely return back to Colombo Port.

1. Sinhala & Tamil New Year

Usually around mid-April every year the entire country is enveloped in a festive atmosphere to mark the Lunar New Year. Amongst all festivals in Sri Lanka, the Sinhala & Tamil New Year is especially celebrated with great pomp and show to mark the end of the harvest season and spring. People get busy cleaning and decorating their homes, preparing traditional sweets, enjoying meals with the family and showing off their new clothes. The celebrations also involve anointing children with herbal oils, bursting firecrackers and organizing competitive games to add to the fun quotient.

When: 13-14th April
Where: Entire island

2. Vesak Poya

Commemorating the three important milestones in Buddha’s life- his birth, enlightenment, and nirvana – Vesak Poya is one of the most prominent Buddhist festivals in Sri Lanka. Celebrations begin on a full moon day and continue up to a week, filling every home, street and shop with the magical light of colorful lanterns called Vesak kudu, depicting the light of Buddha. Cities like Colombo and Kandy sparkle with lit-up pandals displaying elaborate panels from the Jataka stories, while tiny clay lamps brighten up villages throughout the festivities of Vesak festival in Sri Lanka.

When: full moon of May
Where: Across the island, but celebrations in Colombo are on a grand scale.

3. Kandy Esala Poya Perahera

Another important one amongst religious festivals in Sri Lanka, The Festival of The Tooth pays homage to the sacred tooth relic of Buddha enshrined at the famous temple in Kandy. The grand celebrations include a spectacular procession of traditional dancers, drummers, and elephants dressed up in rich finery through the streets of the city every day for a week. The excitement, fervor and festivities on the last night must be seen to be believed. It is recommended to book a seat in advance through some local agencies to enjoy the spectacle in its full glory.

When: full moon of July or August
Where: Kandy

4. Poson Festival

Also known as Poson Paya, this is the second most important one amongst festivals celebrated in Sri Lanka by the Buddhists. Since it commemorates the advent of Buddhism in the island in the 3rd century, Poson Festival holds great historical significance too. Just as in Vesak, the celebrations include lanterns, pandals, and alms-stalls across the island in the true spirit of the Buddhist traditions and teachings. The grandest festivities are in and around Mihintale rock outcrop where Buddha’s disciple Mahinda first preached Buddhist doctrines to King Devanampiyatissa.

When: full moon day in June
Where: Mihintale and Anuradhapur

5. Kataragama Esala Festival

One of the most significant Hindu festivals in Sri Lanka, it attracts thousands of devotees from across the island to the holy town of Kataragama in southern Sri Lanka over a two-week period. People from all major faiths seek divine guidance and penance from the deity by indulging in rituals like skin-piercing and acts of self-mutilation. Just like the Esala Perahera, this festival is also marked by processions of dancers, musicians, elephants, fire-eaters and acrobats, all adding up to the religious fervor and festivities.

When: July or August (coincides with the Esala Perahera in Kandy)
Where: Kataragama town in Southern Sri Lanka

6. Vel Festival

Amongst the most important Hindu religious and cultural festivals in Sri Lanka, Vel Festival commemorates the victory of war-god Skandha over evil forces and venerates his trident (vel). The vel is placed in a huge dazzling golden chariot pulled by devotees in white with their faces smeared in holy ash. Accompanied by dancers, musicians and elephants the procession moves across the city to the sound of chants, drums, bells and divine songs reverberating through the streets. The gorgeous procession and the sacred vibes are sure to leave you awestruck & mesmerized.

When: July/August
Where: Colombo

7. Mahashivratri

Devotees of Lord Shiva across the country celebrate padmarajarathri (great night of Shiva) in the month of February with prayers and festivities. Worshippers begin their day with a purification bath, carrying water pots to the temple to bathe the Shiva Linga and then spend the day fasting and meditating at various temples. Some temples like the Sri Kaileshwarar also celebrate with dance and music performances to celebrate this important festival in Sri Lanka. This year the festival will be celebrated on 4th March.

When: March
Where: Across the island

8. Duruthu Perahera

Marking the beginning of Buddhist calendar in Sri Lanka, this grand procession in the month of January (Duruthu) is one of the greatest & most glorious cultural traditional festivals in Sri Lanka, attended with great enthusiasm by devotees and tourists alike. Duruthu Perahera is celebrated to commemorate Gautam Buddha’s first visit to the country 2500 years ago, with 3-day long festivities at Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya. You can witness a magnificent spectacle on the final day with decked up and bejeweled elephants, acrobats, singer, drummers & torch-bearers conjuring up a grand procession.

When: Full moon day in January
Where: Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, Colombo (8 kms away)

9. Nallur Festival

Rivaling the celebrations at the Kandy Esala Perahera, this 25-day long Nallur Festival held in honor of Lord Murugan is a grand and glorious affair worth witnessing. Various festivities and processions mark the celebrations on different days, with devotees from the entire island thronging the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil. On the day of Chariot Festival, ardent devotees carry the glittering deity on a magnificent silver throne around the town. While on other days, there are fantastic processions with spectacular chariots.

When: August-September
Where: Jaffna

10. Thai Pongal

Celebrated for 3 days starting from the first day of Thai (the 10th month in Tamil calendar), this is one of the important festivals in Sri Lanka 2019 where families pay tribute to the sun god for a bountiful harvest. The festivities begin by drawing kolams (rangoli) with rice paste in the front yard of houses and boiling milk mixed with rice, jaggery, and spices. The entire family participates in the festivities to pay gratitude to ‘Surya’ as well as the cattle which play an important role in bringing a good harvest.

When: Mid-January
Where: All across the country