Authentic Travel.And

21/11/2023

Memories from Java island 🇮🇩

Borobodur Temple is the biggest Buddhist temple in the world: 1200 years old, 80 years to build it and 2 millions volcanic stones needed. Enjoying a delicious breakfast while admiring its lotus flower shape and visiting it was absolutely magic.

Later, we moved to impressive Prambanan Hindu Temple that reminded me so much of all the previous knowledge I acquired about this religion during my last trip to India.

In Java the majority of the population is Muslim, this is just an exemple of the incredible diversity of Indonesia and its cultural richness. Learning the pillars of these religions makes you aware of the true values in life that sometimes we tend to give for granted.

26/09/2023

Some of my favourite souls in the world 🧡

10/09/2023

5 friends, 1 island, 88km, 9 mountain huts, 1000 wonderful landscapes and a lot of fun ! Thanks GR20 🏔️

GR20 in Corsica was an incredible adventure. This trek is considered one of the most spectacular ones in Europe. It’s also quite difficult (especially the beginning) because of the considerable elevation gain and technical parts that needs some climbing.
GR20 is made of 16 stops in total, but we decided to do just the northern half from Calenzana to Vizzavona.

The beauty of the mountains after the effort, the sea always on the horizon, the satisfaction at end of the day, feeling your body while facing great challenges, wonderful people met along the journey, the chill atmosphere of the mountain huts, enjoying a Pietra (beer from Corsica) and some card games in the evening, the taste of typical cheese, the cold showers, the thrill of waking up in the dark and observing the sun rising in front of you… Unforgettable moments from Mother Earth 💚

09/07/2023

Jodhpur, the Blue City 🔹

With its majestic fortress overlooking the city and the pastel blue colours of its city center buildings, Jodhpur is without any doubts one of my favourite discoveries in this Rajasthan journey.

Stepwells are ponds with a long corridor of steps that descend to the water level. They played a significant role in defining subterranean architecture in western India from 7th to 19th century. The aim was to supply locals with water for drinking and other daily needs, especially during dry summers, as well as crop irrigation.

You can’t miss:
📌 Beautiful Mehrangarh Fortress located on a hill
📌 A Jeep tour to meet the Bishnoi community in the countryside of Jodhpur and their traditional heritage
📌 A walk through the main streets of the city center to discover the local market, the beautiful haveli homes and the blue buildings with traditional paintings

14/05/2023

Delhi 🇮🇳

Colours, sounds, smells, its typical hustle and bustle immediately makes you feel like you’re in another universe.

Old Delhi is so vibrant that your eyes can’t even decide where to have a look, there are so many things going on at the same time. We enjoyed a guided food tour in Chandni Chowk accompanied by a local chef that brought us into some of the most authentic street food vendors of the city: kachori, samosa, fruit sandwich, chole bahature, kulfi… Delhi-cius!

What to do:
📌 A food tour in Old Delhi to get to know the local flavours
📌 The Red Fort, a 17th-century Mughal fortress built in towering red sandstone
📌 The Humayun’s Tomb, an opulent red-sandstone tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun that inspired the architecture of Taj Mahal
📌 India’s Gate, a commemorating arch for the Indian soldiers killed in the WWI

10/10/2022

‘’Sicily is a land of contrasts and contradictions, but at the same time of culture, art and ancient flavours, all these elements are capable of giving us back emotions that feel good to the heart, and to the palate’’ 🇮🇹

17/05/2022

San Andres Island & 7 shadows of blue 🌊⁣
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This paradise island in Colombia is famous for its seahorse shape and 7-colour sea. ⁣
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San Andres is a raw diamond. The colours of the seaside and the marine richness are incredible, but hide many problems: social inequality, waste collection, mass tourism, lack of cultural valorisation and low quality customer service. ⁣
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The island is very touristic and pretty expensive, so I really recommend to avoid high season and to book your accommodation in advance. There are cheap flights from Cartagena of about 1h30. We rent a golf cart to explore the most remote areas of the island and this was definitely one of my favourite activities! We stopped in a wooden shack along the beach and met wonderful women from the island, guardians of the local gastronomy. ⁣
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🚤 One thing you can't miss is a boat tour to reach el Acuario, Haynes Cay and Johnny Cay Natural Park. Make sure you do it early in the morning to enjoy snorkelling with colourful fishes or sunbathing on a white sand beach, the clearest I've ever seen!

The boat tour is definitely the best way to admire the 7 shadows of blue that characterise the sea around San Andres!⁣
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06/05/2022

Piedmont is a concentration of natural resources and diverse landscapes, of cities marked by an industrial past, of deep faith, great wine and ancient traditions... Here some highlights you can't miss! 🍷🌿🥾⛪️

Piedmont is a concentration of natural resources and diverse landscapes, of cities marked by an industrial past, of deep faith, great wine and ancient traditions...

29/04/2022

Local and exotic suggestions to eat, out-of-the-beaten tracks activities, street art, nightlife and much more to discover Paris as a local! ✨

Paris, the so called City of Lights (La Ville Lumière), is a special city that slowly conquers you for its majestic architecture, the rich cultural and historical heritage, the artistic streets, the elegant Haussaman style buildings and the smell of fresh croissants early in the morning. If Paris w...

26/04/2022

You’ll never be entirely back from a journey, part of you will remain there forever 🔖

La Guajira is the biggest desert in Colombia and an autonomous territory populated by the indigenous community Wayuu. For many years, they fought to protect their lands from Spanish conquerors, British pirates and the Venezuela government looking for peals.

Today, this area is one of the most critical ones in the country because of extreme poverty, lack of basic resources and political controversy. You'll immediately perceive a deep contrast between the social problems and the enchanting landscapes that will remain vivid in your head forever.

Here, you'll meet beautiful women, guardians of local traditions and culture, while they make the typical Mochilas, artisanal colourful bags from la Guajira 🎨

I strongly suggest you to visit la Guajira with a local agency, we chose to trust that put us in contact with . The tour can be done in 2 or 3 days if you'd like to reach the Northest point of the continent, Punta Gallina. The cost includes transportation with a local driver, accommodation in typical hammocks called Chinchorros (possibility to book a room with an extra cost) and food for the entire journey. Consider about 100 000 COP more if you need an English translator 🇬🇧

The itinerary starts in Riohacha, the capital of Guajira. Here, I suggest you to book a place for the night before the tour in order to be ready early in the morning. Riohacha can be reached by bus with a 3-hour journey from Santa Marta 🚌
Accommodation suggestion: 🛏

Ready to observe the landscapes from the window of the Jeep accompanied by the typical music of Vallenato? 🎶 It’s a unique experience 🌎

22/04/2022

Discover two special villages in Colombia that will make you feel like being in a totally different universe thanks to their authentic soul, the kindness of the inhabitants, the relaxed atmosphere and the cultural and natural heritage that they preserve! 👇

Discover two special villages in Colombia that will make you feel like being in a totally different universe for an authentic immersion!

15/04/2022

Crystalline beaches, the dense forest of the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, the charming historical center of Cartagena, the endless landscapes of La Guajira desert, hidden waterfalls in Minca...

This is just a taste of what you'll discover during this itinerary along the Caribbean coast of Colombia! 🤩

Crystalline beaches, the dense forest of the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, the charming historical center of Cartagena, the endless landscapes of La Guajira desert, hidden waterfalls in Minca... This is just a taste of what you'll discover during this itinerary along the Caribbean cost of Colombia!

14/04/2022

Barichara, eres puro Encanto ✨⁣
If you watched the Disney movie Encanto, Barichara is exactly the village where the story of the Madrigal family could take place.
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Brick red streets with the surrounding mountains as a background, fascinating Andalusian style houses, boutique craft shops, a picturesque and laidback atmosphere: definitely one of the most incredible colonial towns in Colombia! ⁣
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Here some spots that we discovered also thanks to our local friend Emerson Monterrosa for an authentic immersion in Barichara: ⁣
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📝 Taller del papel to learn about the process of making paper with the various materials ⁣

🏞 A cultural walk to explore Parque para las artes Jorge Delgado Sierra⁣

🪦Barichara cemetery and all its artistic thumbs ⁣

🥾Camino Real to Guane on the traces of the pre-Colombian pathways (about 2hours)⁣

🌿 Fundación Escuela Taller Baricharaichara that offers many cultural workshops and a great community restaurant ⁣

⛪️ The beautiful architecture of Catedral⁣
de la Inmaculada Concepción and Capilla de Santa Bárbara ⁣

🥖 The French Backery Nona's Bread

☕️ A delicious coffee at La Casa de Hercilia Cafè ⁣

🌇 El Mirador overlooking the Suarez River canyon ⁣

🏠 The charming accommodation structure Hostal Artepolis - Barichara

👩🏻‍🎨A ceramic class at Taller de Cerámica Terracota

11/04/2022

La compagnie de péniches touristiques parisiennes s’est associée à TotalEnergies pour cette opération.

08/04/2022

If you're looking for an off the beathen track authentic itinerary in Colombia, this is the article for you!

To me, the perfect example of what tourism should mean. Discover los Montes de Maria with Escucha Colombia 👇🇨🇴

If you're looking for an off the beathen track authentic itinerary in Colombia, this is the article for you! Discover los Montes de Maria, a region in the North-East part of the country about 3 hours away from the Pearl of the Caribbean, Cartagena.

01/04/2022

Discover the peacefulness and strong cultural heritage of the Colombian coffee region: El Eje Cafetero! 👇

The quintessence of Eje Cafetero: greenish hills, strong traditions, relaxing rain, the smell of a good coffee and the wax palms of Cocora!

01/04/2022

Une bonne initiative, dommage que pour l'instant la solution pour compenser les émissions semble seulement celle de planter les arbres...

A terme, des voyagistes factureront entre 1 à 17 euros par passager pour financer des projets permettant d’absorber des émissions de gaz à effet de serre. Un projet qui naît sous l’impulsion du Seto.

30/03/2022

Mira el cielo de la Guajira 💙

‘Thanks, because you made us dreaming through your pictures’. To me, this is the biggest happiness and satisfaction when sharing my responsible travel experiences around the world.

Also, the main message that I try to transmit is to realise that travelling is much more than planes and hotels, it’s about experiences, people, feelings, cultural exchange and respect for the visited destination, its inhabitants as well as the natural and cultural heritage. To me, it’s like a virus which is hard to put into words: a deep curiosity and strong willingness to discover, to feel immersed in another culture and to share moments with other people.

I’m more and more convinced that I work in the best sector of the world, tourism, and I’m glad to inspire you to travel in a responsible way 🌍

15/02/2022

Mompos, a place where time seems to have stopped ✨⁣
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Its poetic streets, colourful churches and beautiful colonial architecture make it a unique authentic destination in Colombia where you can feel the magic realism as described by the Nobel price Gabriel Garcia Marquez. ⁣
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Mompos was a prosperous port until the main commercial road was shifted to the other side of the Magdalena river in the XX century. A slow decline of the city started back then. ⁣
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Mompos is an example of how a place can reborn through culture and passion from its own inhabitants. Here, we met amazing people and projets:⁣
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🌻 highlights the richness of the fauna and flora along the Magdalena river through a sunrise boat tour ⁣
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🌻 a foundation that promote the cultural identity of Mompos through artistic events and education ⁣
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🌻 an amazing colonial house owned by a British journalist that felt in love with this village, and his wife ⁣
🌻 restored by a passionate Canadian after the death of his grandfather that lived all his life here in Mompos ⁣
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🌻 an authentic restaurant of typical food from the region with a familiar atmosphere. They also give cooking classes! ⁣

Magic moments and encounters in this enchanting village that I invite you to discover!

11/02/2022

This place is a true paradise!

If you’re looking for a volunteering don’t loose this opportunity ☀️

Hacemos la Invitación a tod@ a participar en esta gran minga, donde trabajaremos en comunidad y compartiremos todos juntos esta gran experiencia con la comunidad Misak
Para más información e inscribirte, ingresa al siguiente link.
https://forms.gle/GUEwAaC3keLLSiw5A

Fecha limite de inscripción 24 de febrero.
CUPOS LIMITADOS.

08/02/2022

One of the most powerful feelings of solo travelling is the ability to keep those curious eyes wide open, to let you surprise in each moment by what’s around you and to spread energy and positivity wherever you go. ⁣
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When you leave alone, nobody knows your past and you’re an open book ready to be explored. You see yourself in the eyes of foreigners and that’s the best way to know yourself deeper and deeper. ⁣
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You have to make decisions, to face harsh situation by yourself, to be autonomous. But that’s what makes you wake up each day feeling blessed and proud of what you’re doing, of the person you’re becoming.⁣
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Because this is the quintessence of a traveller’s soul: cultural exchange, discoveries, positive energy and human connections.

Every time we come back different, enriched. And to me the secret of happiness is the ability to keep this attitude in daily life, day after day, with those curious eyes and the heart wide open 🌎〰️

07/02/2022

Compagnies aériennes et TMC s’emparent peu à peu des SAF ("Sustainable aviation fuels", biocarburants) dans l’espoir de faire revenir les voyageurs d’affaires dans les avions. Mais les surcharges tarifaires implicitement liées, comme celle qui vient de mettre en place Air France, ne vont-el...

31/01/2022

Tayrona park: tropical forest, white sand beaches & beautiful animals 🌿🌊

Our visit of Tayrona park was an incredible immersion in a place like no others in the world. We started a trek from the entry of Cabelazo and after about 4 hours we left the intense jungle for the unspoiled crystal clear beaches.

Apart from its biodiversity, this park is also characterised by the precious heritage of the Tayrona indigenous population occupying the area before the Spanish conquest.

To really feel the atmosphere of Tayrona, I recommend you to spend two nights in a camping: full equipment available, a lot of fun and the sound of birds to wake you up! 🕊

Cabo San Juan is the most famous beach of the park, but also the most crowded! Don’t stop there, but walk a bit more to reach Piscinas, Playa Nudista and Castilletes which are much more unspoiled. You won’t regret it!

26/01/2022

Cartagena, the Pearl of the Caribbean 💃🏻⁣

The charm of Cartagena will immediately caught your attention for its elegance and relaxed atmosphere. Despite being an important touristic pole, there are some spots that will make you discover the city as a local! ⁣
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📌 Enjoying the colours of the sunset from the city walls ⁣
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📌 Strolling in the narrow streets while admiring the colonial architecture ⁣
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📌 Eating some specialities in an authentic restaurant: Espiritu Santu ⁣

📌 Exploring la Boquilla neighbourhood and meet its Afro-Colombian community through a community based tourism project

📌 Feeling the dynamic vibe of colourful Getsemaní⁣

📌 Experiencing Café Havana for a special dancing night with live salsa concerts ⁣

📌 Visiting Bazurto market to discover the local ingredients and try the most typical Colombian recipes. Just for true adventurers, the market is dirty and fascinating at the same time!

12/01/2022

Postcards from the incredible journey 🇨🇴⁣⁣
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When my dear friend .angulom told me for the first time that he wanted to make a positive change in its region in Colombia through tourism, I immediately felt a special fascination.⁣⁣
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From that moment while drinking a spritz at La Felicità in Paris, many things have changed and we couldn’t imagine to be here now. These past weeks discovering los Montes de Maria were not only a scouting trip, but a real life lesson. We met passionate people with incredible projects that really want to highlight this area and the unique cultural heritage as part of their own identity.⁣⁣
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We’re more than ever convinced that community based responsible tourism is the key to help the development of these communities enabling them to get over the pain and violence due to the armed conflicts through their cultural identity. ⁣
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Culture is a powerful tool for territorial appropriation and deserved to be shared with the rest of the world. Mangrove tours, gaitas lessons, natural pools, cumbia kids show, bullerengue atelier, treks, champeta classes and the time spent in Ovejas with incredible people, moments that I can’t forget. ⁣
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It all felt like a second home. ⁣
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Gracias .angulom, gracias los Montes de Maria. This is only the beginning of the adventure for 💥

09/01/2022

Colombia te quiero, te adoro, te siento 🇨🇴

After one month in this country, I can already feel how much I love its culture, the energy of its people, the stunning variety of landscapes, its amazing musical heritage.

Colombia and the people I’ve met so far are slowly enriching my soul making me a better person. If I think about that little girl at the airport alone that was a big scared, I realise the incredible human strength of this experience.

I know I’m in the right place, at the right time doing what makes me truly happy. Gracias Colombia ❤️

08/01/2022

Visiting the Tuesday market of Silvia, was a true immersion in the life of this indigenous community, the Guambianos or Misak, located in the region of Cauca!

Thanks Jardin Botanico Las Delicias, through this incredible project of community based tourism we managed to have a real cultural exchange.

Visiting the Tuesday market of Silvia, a true immersion in the life of this indigenous community, the Guambianos or Misak, located in the region of Cauca.