Social Impact Travel

January 30, 2014

Horseback Riding in Costa Rica

It was our first full day in Costa Rica and we were already diving into exciting adventures with our guide Hector and a few locals from the village. Arienne and I were on an 8-day mission for #goCostaRica and Visit Costa Rica to find out what makes this destination the happiest country in the world. In Turrialba, it means absorbing […]

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On a recent trip to Jamaica we did our very first “all-inclusive”! What a terrible concept, all you can eat but thumbs up to all you can drink. It was a fam-jam trip, and a different kind of travel for us since we’re used to more local travel but Dan and I managed to scratch our itch and take one day to get off the resort and explore the real Jamaica. Yes! Even on an "all-inclusive" you CAN get local. We took a half day @jamaicaculinary food tour of Jamaica in Falmouth. Unfortunately Falmouth is merely known for its seaport where ships dock for cruise travellers, yet rather than off loading tourists to explore the city, tourists are bused to other more marketed places like Ocho Rios or Montego Bay on the island’s north shore. In Falmouth, tourists don’t normally stay. In brochures, the city is mentioned on a mere, inconspicuous line.

But this is the part of Jamaica I think visitors should spend more time exploring. Falmouth is where you can find an authentic way of Jamaican life - not to mention the tastiest jerk chicken, beef patties and coco bread you can't get on the resorts. So for all you "all-inclusive-ers" it's easy (and safe) to go beyond the resort and explore when you @visitjamaica. Link in bio! .
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EDITORS NOTE: I got some asks about this resort. We stayed at @JewelRunawayBayJamaica. If you have little rugrats like my 6 and 9 year old nieces and fancy a fam-jam trip this resort unleashed all their craziness. This pic is one of the few I took at the beach because we spent most of our days at the splash pad instead. I rarely get beach time by an ocean and we probably went there only 2-3 times but I didn't care because I was over the moon tubing with my nieces all week. After all they're only little once and time is so precious.
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. #visitjamaicanow #visitjamaica #foodtravels #jamaicanfood #caribbeanbeach #caribbeanbeachresort #lifeslittleluxuries #instaviews #makemoments #instatravel #openmyworld #postcardfromaroundtheworld #travelgram #sunscape #wander #beachesnresorts #bestplacestostay #instagood #dreamplaces #traveltheworld #travelblog #travelbug #travelersnotebook #travelmore #igersjamaica

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"Keep opening new doors and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity leads us down new paths." - Alice in Wonderland

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Good morning Sunshine! There are some places in the World that are just meant for the soul. Kick up your feet and take a moment for yourself today. Sometimes it's the simplest things that can lift you up. #sunshineforthesoul #thereef28 #thereefresorts @thereef28 @thereefresorts #placestotravel #wheretotravelnext #visitplayadelcarmen #lifeslittleluxuries #travelmexico🇲🇽 #igersmexico #instaviews #makemoments #instatravel #playadelcarmenmexico #openmyworld #postcardfromaroundtheworld #travelgram #uniquehotels #sunscape #luxresorts #wander #beachesnresorts #bestplacestostay #wellnesswednesday #instagood #dreamplaces #wander #traveltheworld #travelblog #travelbug #travelersnotebook #travelmore

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We're constantly traveling but views like this remind us to slow down and enjoy the moment. This incredible vista doesn't get better than this. @thereef28 offers the highest rooftop view in all of Playa del Carmen, Mexico making it easy to relax and be in the present. #placestotravel #wheretotravelnext #visitplayadelcarmen
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#lifeslittleluxuries #instaviews #instatravel #makemoments #allfuninclusive #instavacation #viewsfromabove #bestrooftop #thereefresorts #thereef28 #travelmexico #playadelcarmenmexico #expediapic #openmyworld #postcardfromaroundtheworld #travelgram #culturetrip #uniquehotels #sunscape #travelmexico🇲🇽 #luxresorts #wander #beachesnresorts #littlehappymoments #instagood #dreamplaces #wander

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My new favourite thing. #infinitypools. #nofilter Spent the day on the rooftop @thecarmenplaya and was pleasantly surprised. A luxury hotel without the pretentiousness of luxury. The staff was incredibly warm and kind, and allowed us to enjoy their stunning property! Their Red Ruby is tastefully refreshing #thecarmenplaya #bestviewintheworld #instaviews #beautifuldestinations
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#igersmexico #travelmexico🇲🇽 #lifeslittleluxuries #instaviews #makemoments #allfuninclusive #instavacation #travelmexico #playadelcarmenmexico #expediapic #openmyworld #postcardfromaroundtheworld #travelgram #uniquehotels #sunscape #photooftheday #instagood

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More #streetart in Comuna 13. Like most of the murals here, this one has a special meaning. All the artists seem to have a recurring theme throughout their community. Little reminders of positive, encouraging wisdom for residents passing by. Can you guess what this #graffitiart means? #key #birds #humanity #lifelessons #Medellin #Comuna13 #colombia #travelcolombiadeeply

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Some of the #graffitiart walls in #Comuna13. In my last post I told you this neighborhood was once labeled the most dangerous in the world. For many years it was a no-go zone for tourists. The art is example of the incredible transformation happening here and the change from young people to transform bullet-riddled walls to storyful murals like this one. This mural depicts togetherness in the 3 elephants because elephants always stay together like family, a strong representation of this renewed neighbourhood.

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Everyone and every media told us not to go to Colombia. So we went to Colombia. And Comuna 13. One of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the world. Overrun by crime, violence, drugs, poverty, and rebels until very recently in the early 2000s. The murder rate was 170 per 100,000 inhabitants (it has a population of 134,000 people). In 2002 it saw 357 murders. It was a no-go zone. Even locals wouldn't venture off here. Today the comuna is filled with so much positivity, brightness, entrepreneurship, talent, and art. We met a young wife who runs her own cafe, a now tour guide who almost killed a man over drugs, a kid who learned to speak five languages all through mobile apps, and local artists transforming their community walls from bullet holes to beautiful graffiti art. These colourful rooftop views used to be a very dark place. In less than ten years it has become one of the safest, most inspiring community of people who have come together to transform where they live, welcome tourists and prove to the world that change is possible. The coolest part is that this transformation came mostly from young people - 65% of people who live here are under 39 years of age. I've never felt so much love and inspiration in one place. If you're facing hardship or adversity there is light at the end of a tunnel. Even a rainbow. #comuna13 #Medellin #colombia #bestviews #travelphotography #travelgram #instatravel #southamerica #wanderer #explorer #graffiti #GRAFFITIART #streetart #picoftheday #openmyworld #expediapic #gadventures #travelcolombiadeeply #thisismedellin #thisiscolombia #traveldeeper

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One of my favourite places for coffee in El Poblado because the baristas are so damn nice! Pergamino means parchment which is the outer shell of the green bean before it's roasted. The guys behind the counter here also know their stuff which is another reason I like this cafe, ask them about coffee and they will hold up the line to tell you all about their single-origin Lomaverde, locally-sourced direct from their own family farm. It doesn't get more local than this. The coffee is a medium roast, sweet, smooth, and floral. Oh yes and their #latteart is pretty sweet. #coffeeculture #pergamino #specialtycafe @pergaminocafe #Medellin

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If there is one place in the world to explore coffee it's Colombia. I had the most A-mazing day on an #airbnbexperience with @urbaniacafe at their coffee farm in Sabaneta, Medellin. We learned about coffee production at every step of the process - from seed right to cup. From hand picking our own cherries, to separating the beans, washing, drying and roasting. It's a lengthy, laborious process done in small batches to produce high quality specialty coffee (not the Starbucks kind). Next time you order coffee know that it took a lot to get to your cup.
This cup of latte deliciousness is from La Paz, Medellin. One of the most inspiring things about @urbaniacafe is that they support farming communities that were once displaced from their land when the rebels took over; some were forced to grow cocaine crops in place of coffee. By buying La Paz beans Urbania is helping these farmers transition back to a more sustainable living
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It's another reason why I don't buy #Starbucks or #McCafe. When you order a cup of specialty coffee it means you are supporting the work of small, local coffee producers, farmers, and roasters. #coffeeculture #fairtrade #Colombia #Medellin

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