Summer 2022 Newsletter — Travel With Ann

Stories from Colombia

Earlier this year, I traveled to Colombia, a country on the cusp of significant political change. My friend, Linda, and I organized our trip with a Colombian-owned tour company and social enterprise, Impulse Travel, which works closely with local, often marginalized communities; local tour operators and guides; and mission-driven projects. Storytelling and multi-narrative conversations are a core element of the tours. The tour income generated for the projects helps strengthen local infrastructure and community capacity.

We were grateful to have listened to many stories about Colombia’s past, present, and future. They included graphic descriptions of experiences during and after the decades long civil war; neighborhoods dominated by gang violence; a small community’s fight for survival against the continual expansion of a dangerous urban landfill. Woven through each of the stories were strong threads of healing, resilience and hope.

*Bogotá, Colombia*
*The* *Fragmentos* floor is composed of 37 tons of melted weaponry that once belonged to the Colombian guerillas and Militia fighters. The hand-hammered floor was made by more than 60 women, largely victims of sexual violence during the conflict.

In Bogotá’s Barrio Egipto, we met our 26-year-old guide, Harold. He is one of a group of former gang members committed to disrupting a three decades long cycle of violence through creating walking tours to share neighborhood stories, generate income to support their families, and improve community infrastructure. Colorful murals on many buildings as well as bullet holes also tell stories and provoke discussion. Our tour of Egipto culminated at the communal soccer field where children from throughout the barrio now come together to play. It is a symbol of reconciliation and peace.

*Ann Becker and Harold, Photo by Raul Posse*

During our tour I asked Harold if he would be comfortable recounting his own story. He shared a harrowing biography that includes the violent deaths of his father and brother, revenge against rival gang members, and time in prison. He also proudly introduced us to his wife and two young children who have much to do with his transformation story. When we said goodbye, Harold gave me a huge hug and shed a few tears. So did I. Powerful human connection; mutual appreciation; hope for a better future for family and community. Is it any wonder that the name of this Impulse Travel tour is “Breaking Borders?

In southeastern Colombia, we spent a few days in Guaviare, a region where Amazonian rainforest coalesces with grassland plains. Our hike to and on Cerro Azul offered multiple vistas filled with forests and blue skies and also up close viewing of intricate rock art paintings created by indigenous peoples centuries ago. Many appear to span entire walls of the hill. When carefully rounding a corner, our guide, Marcel, suggested we stop and close our eyes for a moment. When he said "open", Linda and I both gasped. Seeing the detail and expanse of the drawings for the first time was a magical moment.

A small portion of rock art paintings on Cerro Azul, Guaviare, Colombia

The area around Cerro Azul includes farmland used to process coca into cocaine during Colombia’s many years of civil war. Now the residents of the nearby town of La Lindosa manage their surroundings in a different way; they understand the cultural, archeological and environmental importance of Cerro Azul and its value in helping to sustain the social and economic fabric of their community.

When we stopped initially in town, our local guide and other townspeople welcomed and confirmed our advance reservations. They also provided a historical overview of the area and necessary protocols for our hike and the lunch to follow, hosted by the farm owner. We listened to their introductions and discussed the community-designed and managed systems that ensure that the Cerro Azul work is rotated fairly and compensation is equitable. In addition to my tour memories of the expansive rock art and various interpretations of its potential origins, I still recall clearly facial expressions, words and a palpable sense of community pride that brought our Cerro Azul experience to life that day.

Why do stories such as these matter?

Travel stories of and from local people and communities can help us see and understand that responsible tourism is a means, not an end in and of itself. As the stories I’ve shared here illustrate, tourism is a piece of a larger journey–breaking a cycle of violence to create a different purpose and path for living; respecting and protecting nature’s gifts and indigenous history while helping to rebuild community social capital and a local economy.
Conversations with people such as Harold and the residents of La Lindosa expand awareness, spark our thinking, and, perhaps most importantly, build heart-to-heart connections. We share their stories, and they share ours. Hosts and visitors encourage others to reflect, question, and engage. Through our sharing and enthusiasm, we can also inspire action. Sometimes that action can lay the groundwork for peace and reconciliation.
Stories can offer hope. As solutions-oriented writer, speaker and Rooted founder, JoAnna Haugen shared, “Hope is an emotional coping mechanism born from a desire for and belief that an aspirational and improved future can be created. Having hope is essential to defeating those feelings of gloom and fatalism brought on by a problem-focused loop. Hope is what gets us out of bed in the morning, keeps our focus on the future, and helps us tackle the challenges we face, even if they feel insurmountable.”

Taking a more holistic view of the communities we visit and providing financial resources directly to help facilitate self-determination need not feel weighty or burdensome. There is much delight in the intersection of impact travel and fulfilling experiences.

I hope my stories from Colombia inspire you to visit communities near and far, seek out local human connections, and stimulate questions and conversations. I’d love to hear your stories.

Crossing Boundaries: A Traveler's Guide to World Peace

In his book, Crossing Boundaries: A Traveler's Guide to World Peace, National Geographic Explorer and co-founder of Mejdi Tours, Aziz Abu Sarah, uses storytelling, practical tips, and a large dose of humanity to share the myriad possibilities of meaningful experiences across cultural, socioeconomic, and political differences. Whether visiting a neighborhood across town or traveling hundreds of miles away, Aziz's book is filled with insights, humor and manageable action steps for each of us.

More about Colombia

On August 7, Colombia’s recently elected national leadership, the most diverse in its history, took office. With a concrete plan in hand for prioritizing decarbonization and social justice for historically marginalized communities, is this a watershed moment? What role will community-led tourism play?

Skift Editor-at-large, Lebawit Lily Girma, provides context and explores these questions in her recent article, Colombia Tourism is Poised for Transformation under New President.

Diverse Views and Voices

I was asked recently to reflect on some of my travel leading experiences and inclusion and equity in tourism. I focused on the importance of engaging and elevating more diverse voices in the industry and provided several tips on prioritizing meaningful human connections. Check out my contribution and others in “Inclusion and Equity in Tourism: Actions to Prioritize Representation of Diverse Views and Voices,” from TrainingAid.