Where There Be Dragons Reviews

Going on a trip with Dragons was such a positive experience for me. I learned so much and became so much more independent. I was able to get out of my comfort zone with the help of the instructors. They were incredibly supportive. All three of my instructors were very kind and interesting. They spoke both English and Spanish which made learning and communicating easy. Meeting locals while traveling was also a highlight, and I was welcomed into so many homes. It was a great way to learn more about another culture.

I chose Dragons as part of my gap year between high school and college. Best decision I could have made. Traveled with a great group of people and made lasting connections in the various communities I lived in. Gave me the tools to affordably travel solo in the future. You will have to be flexible with plans changing on the fly and experiencing some discomfort. Hearing about the things you will experience may sound daunting, but as long as you are willing the rest will follow. Spent a lot of time learning about conservation on multiple different scales and in different settings. Snorkeling, light trekking, and language learning throughout the trip.

I absolutely loved my time with Where There Be Dragons. I learned a lot about hiking and safety in wilderness. Through my home stays, I interacted with locals who I will now always keep in touch with as well as improve my Spanish skills. I came into the program not being able to speak a word of Spanish and left at level A2. I received immense support from my instructors guiding me to through any challenges I faced. I developed life long friendships with my fellow dragons on the program. I am so grateful for my time with Dragons.

I loved my four weeks in Guatemala traveling with Where There Be Dragons. I went into the program scared, it was my first time traveling by myself, and I was not very confident in my Spanish skills. But I knew I would regret not taking the chance when it was given to me. Being able to wake up, and help make tortillas before walking to the Chico Mendez Reforestation project was life-changing. Treking for three days in the highlands and sweating my butt of just to watch the sunrise over Lake Atitlan was worth the price of the hiking. My most memorable time was my homestay in San Juan La Laguna, where I made friends with my six-year-old homestay sister, Willa. We played Uno, watched YouTube, and went on late-night tortilla runs down the street. I was accepted into the family first by my homestay mother, then my siblings, then the sister, then my grandparents, then even more family and friends. I felt so loved and cared for while learning Spanish and getting ice cream with the other students, and walking down the streets at night.

I got to learn Spanish, culture, history, friendship across language barriers, and more about myself, even through all the hard moments.

This Bolivia trip was without a doubt one of the most enriching and beautiful experiences of my life. I traveled with a group of 7 other students and 3 instructors, staying in home stays for two weeks, camping for a couple nights, and staying in hostels and hotels the rest of the time.

I often feel out of place within a dominant American society that doesn't want to challenge the status quo. I traveled to Bolivia in part because I wanted to learn about the country's social movements and different political/cultural traditions and systems. I learned a lot about different ways of being and knowing on this trip, and we learned about social movements and protests such as the Water Wars in Cochabamba. I found the culture of Where There Be Dragons to be perfectly fitted to the critical lens I like to look at the world through-- during mid-course and orientation, we got to reflect and frame our trip and discuss what we'd experienced so far in the context of the wider world and our home countries. These discussions were some of the most powerful I've ever been part of.

I am beyond grateful for the group I traveled with. The 7 other students are some of the most interesting, passionate, and engaged people I've ever met. Through the intense travel and long van rides, we all bonded so much and it was so beautiful to be part of such a tight-knit community. Our instructors were super amazing too, and really knowledgable about Bolivian culture and customs-- they helped us out but also gave us more and more independence as the trip went on, which is intentional because that independence culminates in students planning a few days of the trip during X-phase. They also facilitated discussions and reflections on the trip that helped us all think more deeply about the implications of the land we were on.

I always felt very safe in Bolivia; our instructors and our host families and our fellow students were always there for us, but traveling and learning travel skills also gave me the confidence to feel capable and safe in many new kinds of situations.

I never thought I was capable enough to do an adventurous trip like this. But this program looked so amazing, I decided to give it a try-- and I am so so grateful I did. If you are considering this program, I will say: what matters most is that you are INTO IT and fully engaged, ready to think critically, and give your all for this precious month. If you are worried about other challenges you anticipate having on the trip, but feel super excited about the idea of going, reach out to the Dragons staff-- they are really helpful and reassuring. For example, I'm a vegetarian, and had a conversation with a Dragons person before even applying for this trip about Bolivian food and if I can bring food (you can; I had a giant ziplock of protein bars but rarely had to use them because Bolivian food is delicious and homestay families are really good at cooking.)

Overall, the feeling I take away most from this trip is this amazing feeling of unconditional love: for my group, my Bolivian families, the mountains that held us and the forests that let us wander through, the activists and artists and permaculture specialists we learned from, and for myself-- because I decided to push through my fears by going on this trip, and found the most wonderful experience of my life on the other side.

When else would you get to stay in a stilt house far from an average mainlanders life while exploring the uncharted sea with your spears as you dive for fishes? When else, other than Sampela ofcourse! Thanks to the incredible experience with WTBD in Indonesia this summer, I've managed to backpack across many cities and mountains and even had the lucky opportunity to stay in homestays with a family in the village of Sampela, Wakatobi Islands. I've seen a side of culture so unexplored and hidden and been able to dive into many parts of Indonesia that have been unexplored or not talked about enough! Really a unique experience 10/10 recommend!!!!

My study abroad trip to Senegal was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. At first, I was nervous about the language barrier and living with a host family, but over time, I learned how to communicate through a mix of French, Wolof, and body language, as well as simply being open and willing to learn. My host family welcomed me with so much kindness and patience, and I grew really close to them. We shared meals, laughs, and stories that helped me feel truly at home. I also connected with many people in the community—neighbors, classmates, and local shopkeeper. who always made me feel included. Being in Senegal made me feel genuinely happy. I loved the rhythm of daily life, the warmth of the people, and the deep sense of connection I felt everywhere I went. It was more than just a trip. it changed the way I see the world and myself.

I had the most amazing time on this trip. I saw incredible things from the bustling streets of Taipei to black sand beaches on the coast of Yilan to the beautiful mountainous landscape behind my host family house. I met amazing people and will remember this trip for the rest of my life. I ate amazing food. For bubble tea lovers, it’s everywhere. Taiwan is clean, beautiful, and calming. The people are very nice to foreign travelers and the culture as a whole is just perfect. My instructors were amazing and my group buddies were so nice. These trips help you make so many new friends and at the same time, you get to learn more about the world around you. You understand a culture that is vastly different but at the same time, parallel to your own. It’s an amazing experience that will make you never want to leave.

I just got home from 2 weeks in Guatemala. It was a great trip with some really fun kids. We did 4-hours of Spanish classes almost every day, which was definitely more than I was expecting. But I learned a lot in a short time. I expected more hiking but there was only a pretty easy day-hike up a waterfall- my favorite day. The homestays were great & the towns we visited were really cool. I really liked when we got to meet some rappers in Xela. The bus ride to Lake Atitlan was not easy & I wish I’d taken dramamine. Mostly the people made it a really awesome trip and we had a lot of fun.

The Dragons Indonesia summer program was an incredibly valuable experience on multiple levels. The instructors were so helpful and supportive throughout the month and I learned a large amount from them. I appreciate how they supported our group in pushing us to try new things and challenge our own perspectives in a positive way. My group was amazing and I definitely made friendships that I will continue to nurture in the future. For me, the homestays were truly the most amazing experience. Throughout the month I had two homestays. I learned so much from each family and the connections that I made with them will be something that I cherish forever. One thing that I love about Dragons is the importance of really being immersed in the culture. I experienced this through language classes every morning, group discussions, my ISP, and so much more. I had the opportunity to do martial arts (Silat) for my ISP and it was amazing! The skills and lessons I learned in Indonesia I will definitely take with me into the future!