September 4, 2020, 4:27 pm

We know times have been hard lately with COVID-19, quarantine, not being able to travel or see family and most importantly trying to stay busy and sane. As promised, we’ve put together a list of fun things to do during lockdown, things that you can do at home, with kids or alone and that will bring you a little closer to Colombia.

There is something here for everybody!

This article will be split into two blog posts and will cover topics such as Dance, Music, Art, Food and much more.
We hope these Colombian activities keep you busy for a little while until you can travel to Colombia and experience all these wonderful things in real life. For now, get ready to travel from home!

Dance lessons at home to turn you into the next Shakira!

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

With the lockdown, it is especially important to get your body moving and let’s be honest nobody wants to do jumping jacks or push-ups for hours on end. Dancing is a lot more fun, can be done by anyone no matter your level and will get you moving and sweating all the same. The added bonus with these videos is that you’ll be getting ready to shake those hips in Colombia like a local … or almost!

With so many different types of dances and moves available there’s definitely something here for you.

Zumba
Created by a Colombian dancer and choreographer Zumba is perfect to get your heart rate up and your whole body moving. We’ve found for you this Latin Dance lesson that will have you feeling great in just 30 minutes! Who said you needed to run to get your cardio going?
>  30-Minute Cardio Latin Dance Workout

Cumbia
A lot of Colombia’s culture lives in its dance moves and particularly this one. A folkloric genre that blends together 3 cultures; African, Indigenous and European. In this video you’ll find the basics of the dance to give you an idea or just help you improve.
> Cumbia Basics (Part1)

Salsa
Perhaps one of the most known dances from South America and maybe the one you always dreamt of knowing. Now is your time to shine with this beginner’s guide. You don’t need any experience at all, so put your dancing shoes on and let’s get going!
> Beginner's Guide: How To Salsa Dance

Champeta
We’ve talked about her before and now you can learn how to dance with her … It’s Shakira with a champeta dance tutorial! Now we can hear you saying “Champeta? What’s that?” well it’s a seductive type dance that you can do alone or with a partner and will have you feeling sensual and sexy in no time. There’s nothing better for nights at home.
> Shakira: Champeta Dance tutorial

Reggaeton
Last but definitely not least here are some basic reggaeton steps that add up perfectly for a great choreography! Although not the most Colombian dance this style is a huge part of Latin America and no dance list would be complete without it.
> Reggaeton - Basic Steps

If you’ve enjoyed one (or all!) of these tutorials and dances feel free to share your new-found skills on social media and tag us, we’d love to see how you get on!

Practice your dance moves with these Colombian tunes and music tips

Colombia just wouldn’t be the same without the colourful carnivals and upbeat music that get your body moving. Now that you’ve got your moves ready it’s time to get the party going with these carnival videos, playlists and quarantine activities to build your own instruments.

The perfect playlist to dance at home
Going slightly crazy with your working from home routine or because of the same old songs you’ve heard 100 times on the radio already! Why don’t you check out this Colombia top 50 playlist? Updated daily with new hits, you’ll be ready to sing them all during your next visit!
> Colombian Playlist

Relive the best moments of the battle of flowers
Alright we know you can’t leave your house but perhaps you can get inspired for your weekly clap for health-workers and people on the frontline of COVID-19 with the best moments from the “Batalla de Flores 2019”. Get your pots and pans ready and maybe get your neighbours dreaming of a festival in Colombia too?
> Battle of flowers - Barranquilla's Carnival

Teach your kids how to play music with homemade instruments
Now this one is really perfect for the kids; Martin Vejarano, a multi-instrumentalist performer shares his skills on how to make your own instruments at home and brings the rhythm of Columbia into your life. With his “Global Arts for Global Kids” project Martin makes music from wooden spoons to plastic bins so grab what is around you and let’s get started.
> Colombian music for kids

Time to relax with some of the best Colombian movies!

You’ve worked out a sweat after practicing your new dance moves and now you deserve a break. Sit back, get some snacks (we’ll get to that in the next post), put your feet up and enjoy these Colombian movies. Often associated with drugs and violence, this is now far from being representative of Colombia, these movies bring out the true colours and culture of the incredible country.  

El Sendero De La Anaconda
Learn about some of the most remote communities that live a peaceful life hidden in the Amazon Jungle with this documentary.

Embrace of the Serpent (El Abrazo de la Serpiente)

This Colombian film was the first to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film and is based on the travel diaries of Theodor Koch-Grunberg. A stunning film that takes you on a journey to find a healing plant.

The Wind Journeys (Los viajes del viento)
From the same director as the “Embrace of the Serpent” this movie tells the story of a musician and a potentially cursed instrument. He embarks on a journey to return the instrument to his owner and takes us on a trip through the diversity and culture of this region in a beautiful and poetic way.

The colors of the Mountain
Shot from the perspective of kids, follow these three boys through the Colombian countryside as they navigate life, armed military and chase their dreams. A dramatic but great watch!

Colombia Magia Salvaje
This documentary will leave you in awe at the beauty and uniqueness you can find in Colombia. If you are a wildlife lover or want your kids to discover animals they’ve never seen before than this is the perfect movie. As expected some breath-taking shots of the wildlife, rainforest but also things you wouldn’t expect to find in Colombia … get watching to find out!

A few more things before you go

Whether you are a Colombian away from home, a Spanish speaker that wants to practice or just a little curious we’ve got a last link for you.

Here you’ll find virtual museum visits, conferences, musical activities, a book club and much more. It also has a bunch of activities for kids that are perfect for learning whilst having fun at the same time. It will also keep them busy so that you can have more time to enjoy those movies or get ready to cook some delicious food with our next post.

And if now you can't wait to visit Colombia, have a look at our tours!

Share with your traveller friends!