Tourist Activities: Tours, Parks & Adventures

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You are standing at the entrance of the Valle del Cocora near Salento. A guide holds a sign that reads "Caminata al bosque de palmas de cera - salida a las 8:00." Your friend turns to you and says: "¿Vamos? Cuando lleguemos al mirador, vamos a ver el valle entero." Two different future constructions in one sentence - cuando lleguemos (subjunctive - because you have not arrived yet) and vamos a ver (ir a + infinitive - a planned future action). Planning tourist activities in Colombia requires you to talk about the future fluently - making plans, describing what will happen, and coordinating with others.

Planear actividades turísticas en Colombia es hablar del futuro en todas sus formas. (Planning tourist activities in Colombia means talking about the future in all its forms.)

In this lesson, you will master the simple future tense, the ir a + infinitive construction, and temporal clauses with subjunctive - the three tools for planning any activity in Colombia.

B2 Language Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Use the simple future tense for predictions and firm plans (visitaremos, saldremos)
Use ir a + infinitive for immediate and informal plans (vamos a hacer)
Form temporal clauses with subjunctive (cuando llegue, antes de que salgamos, después de que termine)
Book tours and plan activities using natural Colombian Spanish

1. Two Ways to Talk About the Future

At B2, you need BOTH future constructions - and you need to know when each sounds natural.

Simple Future (futuro simple): Add endings to the infinitive: -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -án.

Infinitive	Yo	Nosotros	Usage
visitar	visitaré	visitaremos	Firm plans, predictions
salir	saldré	saldremos	Irregular stem: saldr-
hacer	haré	haremos	Irregular stem: har-
tener	tendré	tendremos	Irregular stem: tendr-
poder	podré	podremos	Irregular stem: podr-
venir	vendré	vendremos	Irregular stem: vendr-

Ir a + infinitive: Conjugate ir in present + a + infinitive.

Subject	Construction	Example
yo	voy a + inf	Voy a reservar el tour mañana.
nosotros	vamos a + inf	Vamos a hacer la caminata a las 8.
usted	va a + inf	¿Va a necesitar guía?

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When do Colombians use 'vamos a hacer' vs. 'haremos'?

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'Ir a + infinitive' is more common in everyday speech and for immediate/near-future plans: 'Vamos a salir temprano' (we're going to leave early - tomorrow, this weekend). The simple future sounds more formal or is used for predictions and firm commitments: 'El tour saldrá a las 8 en punto' (the tour will depart at 8 sharp - official, certain). In casual conversation, Colombians overwhelmingly prefer 'ir a + infinitive.' Use the simple future in writing and formal planning.

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Why do some future tense verbs change their stem?

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Twelve common verbs have irregular future stems - they drop a vowel or change the infinitive ending: salir→saldr-, tener→tendr-, poder→podr-, hacer→har-, decir→dir-, venir→vendr-, poner→pondr-, saber→sabr-, querer→querr-, haber→habr-, caber→cabr-, valer→valdr-. The endings (-é, -ás, -á, -emos, -án) stay the same. These are the same stems used in the conditional (saldría, tendría).

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Quick Check-in

2. Temporal Clauses: Subjunctive for Unfinished Futures

When you combine a future plan with a time expression (when, before, after, until), the time clause uses subjunctive - because the event has not happened yet.

The rule: cuando / antes de que / después de que / hasta que / en cuanto + subjunctive (for future events)

Temporal Clause	Example	Why Subjunctive?
cuando + subj	Cuando lleguemos* al parque, descansaremos.*	We have not arrived yet
antes de que + subj	Antes de que salgamos, revisen el equipo.	We have not left yet
después de que + subj	Después de que termine* el tour, almorzaremos.*	The tour has not ended yet
hasta que + subj	Caminamos hasta que anochezca.	Night has not fallen yet
en cuanto + subj	En cuanto llegue* el guía, partimos.*	The guide has not arrived yet

Compare with indicative (past/habitual events):

Cuando llegamos al parque, descansamos. (When we arrived - past, it happened → indicative)
Cuando lleguemos al parque, descansaremos. (When we arrive - future, hasn't happened → subjunctive)

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Why does 'antes de que' ALWAYS require subjunctive?

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'Antes de que' (before) ALWAYS triggers subjunctive - even when referring to past events: 'Antes de que llegáramos, llovió' (Before we arrived, it rained). The logic: 'before' inherently refers to an event that has not yet occurred from the perspective of the main clause. This makes it the easiest temporal trigger to remember - no exceptions. 'Después de que' also usually takes subjunctive for future events, but can take indicative for completed past events.

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Reflection

3. Scenario: Booking a Tour in the Eje Cafetero

At a Tour Office in Salento

Agente: "Buenos días. ¿En qué le puedo servir?"

Tú: "Buenos días. Vamos a estar cuatro días en la zona y nos gustaría hacer algunas actividades. ¿Qué tours ofrecen?" → Vamos a estar (ir a + infinitive for near future). Nos gustaría (conditional for polite interest).

Agente: "Tenemos el recorrido por el Valle del Cocora, que sale todos los días a las 8. También ofrecemos una visita a una finca cafetera con degustación de café, y para los más aventureros, hay parapente desde el mirador." → Recorrido = tour/walk. Degustación = tasting. Parapente = paragliding. Mirador = viewpoint.

Tú: "El Valle del Cocora nos interesa mucho. ¿Cuánto dura y qué incluye?" → ¿Cuánto dura? = How long does it last? Essential tour-booking question.

Agente: "Son cinco horas aproximadamente. Incluye transporte, guía bilingüe, y almuerzo con trucha. Cuando lleguen al valle, el guía les explicará todo sobre las palmas de cera." → Cuando lleguen = subjunctive (future event). Les explicará = future (firm plan).

Knowledge Check

The agent says: 'Cuando lleguen al valle, el guía les explicará todo.' Why is 'lleguen' subjunctive but 'explicará' indicative?

4. Scenario: Planning Adventures in Tayrona

WhatsApp Conversation - Planning a Tayrona Trip

Amigo colombiano: "¡Parcero! ¿Vamos a Tayrona este fin de semana? Yo consigo las hamacas y usted se encarga del transporte." → Parcero = friend/buddy (Medellín slang, used nationally). Consigo = I'll get. Se encarga de = you handle/take care of.

Tú: "¡Dale! Pero antes de que salgamos, necesito saber - ¿hay que reservar la entrada con anticipación?" → ¡Dale! = Let's do it! / OK! Antes de que salgamos - subjunctive after antes de que. Con anticipación = in advance.

Amigo: "Sí, toca reservar por internet. En cuanto tenga los datos de todos, yo hago la reserva. El parque cierra a las 5, así que saldremos temprano." → Toca = one must / it is necessary (Colombian - equivalent to hay que). En cuanto tenga = as soon as I have - subjunctive.

Tú: "Perfecto. ¿Y después de que lleguemos, hasta dónde vamos a caminar? He escuchado que la caminata a Cabo San Juan son como dos horas." → Después de que lleguemos - subjunctive. He escuchado que = I've heard that. Son como dos horas = it's about two hours.

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What does 'toca' mean in Colombian Spanish?

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'Toca' (from 'tocar') in Colombia means 'one must' or 'it's necessary.' 'Toca reservar' = You have to reserve. 'Toca madrugar' = We have to wake up early. 'Toca llevar efectivo' = You need to bring cash. It is equivalent to 'hay que' but distinctly Colombian. You will hear it constantly in planning conversations. Informal but universal across social classes.

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🏕️

la hamaca / acampar / la carpa

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In Tayrona and other Colombian parks, accommodation options include: 'hamaca' (hammock - you can rent them or bring your own), 'carpa' (tent - also rentable), 'cabaña' (cabin). 'Vamos a dormir en hamaca' is the classic Tayrona experience. 'Acampar' = to camp. 'Zona de camping' = camping area. Prices range from 20,000-80,000 COP depending on the option.

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Knowledge Check

Your friend says: 'En cuanto tenga los datos, yo hago la reserva.' Why is 'tenga' subjunctive?

Quick Check-in

5. Activity Vocabulary for Colombian Tourism

Activity	Spanish	Example Sentence
hiking	senderismo / caminata	¿Cuánto dura la caminata?
paragliding	parapente	El parapente sale del mirador a las 10.
snorkeling	snorkel / buceo con esnórquel	¿El tour incluye equipo de snorkel?
scuba diving	buceo	Vamos a hacer buceo en las Islas del Rosario.
coffee tasting	degustación de café	La degustación dura dos horas.
bird watching	avistamiento de aves	Colombia tiene más especies de aves que cualquier otro país.
rafting	rafting / canotaje	El rafting en el Río Fonce es nivel tres.
horseback riding	cabalgata	Después de que almorcemos, haremos la cabalgata.

Booking Any Tourist Activity

Express interest and ask what's available

Nos gustaría hacer actividades en la zona. ¿Qué ofrecen?

Ask about duration and what's included

¿Cuánto dura? ¿Qué incluye el precio?

Ask about schedule and meeting point

¿A qué hora sale? ¿Dónde nos encontramos?

Confirm and coordinate

Self-Rating

6. Key Takeaways

Two future constructions - ir a + infinitive for casual/near-future plans; simple future for formal/predicted events
Temporal clauses with subjunctive - cuando, antes de que, después de que, hasta que, en cuanto + subjunctive for unrealized future events
Colombian planning vocabulary - toca (one must), recorrido (tour), degustación (tasting), mirador (viewpoint)
The temporal clause pattern - subordinate clause (subjunctive) + main clause (indicative future): Cuando lleguemos, descansaremos
Register in tourism - formal with tour companies (nos gustaría), casual with friends (¡Dale! Vamos a...)

Summary Checklist

Can you form the simple future tense, including irregular stems (saldré, haré, tendré)?
Can you use ir a + infinitive naturally for near-future plans?
Can you construct temporal clauses with subjunctive (cuando lleguemos, antes de que salgamos)?
Can you book a tour by asking about duration, price, inclusions, and schedule?
Do you know what toca means and how Colombians use it?

This Week's Practice

Daily Practice Actions

Monday-Tuesday: Write 6 sentences about a weekend trip using BOTH future constructions. Three with simple future, three with ir a + infinitive. Notice which sounds more natural for each context.

Wednesday-Thursday: Write 4 temporal clauses about travel plans: one each with cuando, antes de que, después de que, en cuanto. All must use subjunctive.

Friday: Write a WhatsApp conversation with a Colombian friend planning a trip to Tayrona. Use toca, dale, parcero and at least 2 temporal subjunctive clauses.

Weekend: Research a real Colombian activity (Cocora Valley, Ciudad Perdida trek, San Agustín ruins). Write the questions you would ask the tour company.

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Spanish Assistant

Tourist Activities: Tours, Parks & Adventures

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Lesson discussion

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1. Two Ways to Talk About the Future

2. Temporal Clauses: Subjunctive for Unfinished Futures

3. Scenario: Booking a Tour in the Eje Cafetero

4. Scenario: Planning Adventures in Tayrona

5. Activity Vocabulary for Colombian Tourism

Booking Any Tourist Activity

Express interest and ask what's available

Ask about duration and what's included

Ask about schedule and meeting point

Confirm and coordinate

6. Key Takeaways

Summary Checklist

This Week's Practice

•••Home

•••Your Learning Path

•••Your Support

•••Bogotá

•••Resources

Spanish Assistant

Tourist Activities: Tours, Parks & Adventures

Loading Quiz...

Lesson discussion

Leave a comment

1. Two Ways to Talk About the Future

2. Temporal Clauses: Subjunctive for Unfinished Futures

3. Scenario: Booking a Tour in the Eje Cafetero

4. Scenario: Planning Adventures in Tayrona

5. Activity Vocabulary for Colombian Tourism

Booking Any Tourist Activity

Express interest and ask what's available

Ask about duration and what's included

Ask about schedule and meeting point

Confirm and coordinate

6. Key Takeaways

Summary Checklist

This Week's Practice

Home

Your Learning Path

Your Support

Bogotá

Resources