Be Local Explorers

06/11/2023

Kazimierz Chronicles: A Journey Through Time and Tradition. 😎👌

Recently, I had the pleasure of guiding a small and enthusiastic group through the captivating streets of Kazimierz, the Jewish Quarter of Krakow. What an incredible journey it was!

Kazimierz is a place steeped in history, with a unique blend of culture, art, and traditions. Together, we delved into its rich tapestry, uncovering the stories that make this neighbourhood so special.

Our adventure led us to charming local cafes, where we sipped on aromatic coffee, and to vibrant galleries, where we marvelled at the creative expressions of talented artists. Each stop was a unique opportunity to engage with the heart and soul of this fascinating area.

The Jewish Quarter of Krakow is a true treasure trove of history and heritage, and our small-sized group had the privilege of experiencing it in a truly immersive way. From the historical synagogues to the narrow cobbled streets, every corner revealed the hidden beauty of Kazimierz.

Exploring this neighbourhood was a reminder of the power of travel and cultural immersion. It allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of a community's past, present, and future. It's moments like these that remind us of the beauty of travel and the importance of connecting with different cultures.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to share this unforgettable journey with a wonderful group of explorers. It's moments like these that make travelling so enriching.🗺️🌍

23/10/2023

16/10/2023

A group of explorers is discovering Poland with us. This adventure began in the beautiful and historical town of Gdansk!

Where else will the road take them?

Poznan, Warsaw, Krakow, Tyniec (they will sleep in an Abbey), and Zakopane. Stay tuned!

10/10/2023

Porto sunset from a recent adventure with two explorers from the US.

" O Porto não é para mim um lugar; é um sentimento"

Translate that phrase and you will understand what Porto means to many 😉

21/09/2023

Two cousins went on a northern Spain adventure with us and a stop at the Guggenheim in Bilbao was mandatory. This artsy pic is called "little red man with white background" 🧐

19/09/2023

The Costarican Caribbean coast never needs filters...from Cahuita to Manzanillo, today we did some serious beach hopping. This is Pura Vida 💚🧡💙

12/09/2023

Have you ever heard about the Guanches, the aboriginal inhabitants of the Canary Islands? If you haven't, go and looked them up. Their origins are a mystery (although evidence tells us they were of Berber origin) and so is how they made their way to the islands as they did not know navigation. What they did know was how to mummify their dead and you can see some of the best examples at the anthropology museum in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

05/09/2023

What can be better than a freshly made smoothie to start your day?

Thank you Nestor and family for joining us on another local adventure!

30/08/2023

Very few historical quarters have managed to integrate art and trends as well as Kazimierz in Krakow. This historical district was an independent city and a place where for centuries, ethnic Polish and Jewish cultures coexisted. Today it is a center of cultural life.

27/08/2023

Last Sunday, Hermosa beach in Guanacaste gave us this sunset. One of those moments when all your problems become trivial and you just enjoy the present 💙🧡💚

23/08/2023

Costa Rica's Pacific side sunsets are just difficult to beat...Pura Vida!

www.belocalexplorers.com

08/08/2023

We are planning the most amazing self-guided trip for 2 cousins who want to discover northern Spain.

This trip will cover the Basque Country, Cantabria and Asturias. They will go on guided hikes, visit small villages, eat pintxos, discover the Covadonga lakes and much more...it goes without saying all of this will be done by bus and train!

06/08/2023

We were asked to put a 5-day Roman adventure based on its history and more specifically, gladiators.

That is what we did - We arranged for our explorers to ride an e-bike on the ancient Apian Way, visit St Callixtus catacombs, see many of Rome´s monuments and become gladiators themselves!

27/07/2023

Daniel Phillips has explored Central Portugal and Southern Costa Rica with us - he is an explorer.

He is someone you can talk with about pretty much any topic and he will be well-informed and always have exciting and thoughtful opinions. He is also one of the most passionate foodies we have ever met (and a bit of a chef), an avid traveller and someone who shows an authentic interest in local cultures (he studied Portuguese and Spanish and used it during his trips ). Most importantly, he is a kind person.

Daniel is also a neurodivergent. However, this has never stopped him from doing what he loves the most: travelling the world. From Costa Rica to Japan, he has adapted and overcome the challenges of being autistic to explore his favourite places.

He has now written a post for us explaining what the journey has been like and today we are sharing the result. We hope this inspires others to follow his steps.

https://www.belocalexplorers.com/post/the-autistic-traveler

Thank you, Dan. Keep rocking and exploring!

Most people are unaware that I am autistic. When I was younger, I had great difficulty making friends, using proper speech, and following directions. Gradually, I was able to overcome, or at least adequately cope with many of my challenges. Meeting new people, speaking clearly, and paying attention....

25/07/2023

Raquel and Mireya were such great company for our tour leader, Sara. Together they explored the island of Tenerife on a 7-day adventure. 🌊⛰🌠

We arranged activities with locals to show them all the faces this island has to offer. We also took them to some of the local highlights but with a little twist...A night visit to Mount Teide for stargazing is an example and a great way to avoid crowds❗️

Our slow travel approach was also a perfect match, as it allowed them time for remote working and downtime - Success 😎

17/07/2023

Another Portuguese adventure comes to an end! Although Lisbon and Porto were the basecamps (so our explorers were not packing and unpacking all the time), they got to visit Sintra, Obidos, Guimaraes, Aveiro, Peneda Geres National Park and the Douro Valley.

They also got to surf in Matosinhos, see sunsets in Gaia and go to the beach in Cascais!

Where does the next adventure take us? The Canary Islands...and it kicks off tomorrow!

11/07/2023

11/07/2023

Have you heard about "slow travel"? Do you know what it is? Why should you give it a go❓

"Travel that allows getting possession of time again, relieves anxiety and stress caused by hectic paces"

If you like this definition and you want some answers, check this blog post 👇👇👇

https://www.belocalexplorers.com/post/your-title-what-s-your-blog-about

What is slow travel? Why should I try it?

06/07/2023

Some of our explorers are currently discovering what central and northern Portugal have to offer. This trip starting in Lisbon and ending in Porto will take them to medieval towns such as Óbidos and Guimaraes, to Peneda-Geres (Portugal´s only national park), the Douro Valley and more.

Today they are exploring Cascais, Portugal´s royalty summer retreat. Beautiful architecture, a nice lunch and a swim in the Atlantic are part of the plan!

21/06/2023

📢 We are looking for solo travelers who would like to join our new Basque Country Foodie tour in either October or April/May.

ℹ️ All the information about this delicious and amazing tour can be found here:

https://belocalexplorers.com/destinations/basque-country-culinary-treasures

If you are a foodie, you should not miss this experience ‼️

31/05/2023

💚 We want to share the love by sending away our new postcards from our best pictures. They feature our favourite destinations, explorers and locals.

📢 Send us a message with your email address and we will forward them to you ready to be printed.

Also, if you book a tour with us, send us one of these postcards and you will get 10% discount‼️

26/05/2023

"The perfect day, with the perfect host! It was a treat to visit the suburbs of San Jose. The beauty of everyday life featuring great local food, good conversation, and an appreciation for “pura vida” proved to be a rewarding and unforgettable experience!"

"Be sure to get something delicious that sparks joy in your life like my cantaloupe melon mango smoothie! We even met interesting people from other parts of the world with which we will stay in contact. We could see the close relationship our guide had the community. Bravo!"

"Food and people were amazing. Ricardo was an excellent tour guide and we were delighted to spend this time with him learning about Santa Ana and Costa Rica. And now we have a new friend and more reasons to return. Highly recommend!"

21/04/2023

Our new tour is pretty much ready to be launched!

In this foodie adventure, we will be exploring one of the top destinations for those who love the culinary pleasures of life. Join and experience the unique Basque Country region from the city of San Sebastian.

Enjoy traditional and modern dinners, visit a 200 year old cheese maker and make & taste your own Idiazabal cheese, taste the famous Cantabrian anchovies in a small coastal town, visit a Txakoli wine cellar and experience a pintxo crawl, as well as a dessert walk. Do all of this from one of the most elegant and beautiful towns in the Iberian peninsula.

For more info: https://bit.ly/3mVel5m

05/04/2023

Why were our tours in Tenerife such a success? Well, it is an easy formula:

Curious & open-minded people + fascinating locations + local knowledge + great food + enough time to enjoy and digest all our adventures = success!

It is not only us saying it, our explorers said:

"It is difficult to choose. We loved it all - from the fantastic food to the great walks and the stargazing. And a great host."

"This was a great trip. Guide was superb & food is amazing. They take you to local places."

"We had a fantastic time and thank the tour operator for arranging it for us."

14/03/2023

You know that when we get silent it is because we are doing things like this 👇👇👇