Travel with Purpose: Building a Positive Footprint in 2025
- By:
Johanna Alvear
At Rebecca Adventure Travel, we believe that travel with purpose is more than a motto—it’s a mission. In 2025, that mission became tangible through Huella Positiva, our initiative dedicated to creating a meaningful impact across the Latin American destinations we offer our travelers: Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Argentina. Every booking turned into a seed of transformation, growing hope, sustainability, and opportunity where it was most needed. Through purpose-driven travel, our guests didn’t just explore landscapes; they also contributed to nature conservation, empowered women, supported education, preserved culture, and fostered local entrepreneurship. In this blog, we’re celebrating what traveling with a purpose truly means and leaving a testament to how journeys with purpose can build a legacy far beyond the itinerary. Read on to learn how we’re using travel as a force for good.
Table of Contents
What Is Huella Positiva and How Does It Work?
Meaning “Positive Footprint” in Spanish, Huella Positiva is our model for sustainable tourism that turns every traveler into a changemaker. It is the ethical engine behind every trip we design. With every booking, we channel resources into carefully selected community projects that align with our values as a Certified B CorporationTM. This isn’t charity; it’s a partnership with our clients.
Every traveler contributes simply by choosing to travel with us, and gets to see their impact through personalized certificates detailing exactly how their tour supported local development. Whether it’s food access in urban communities, school gardens in rural villages, women-led enterprises, or environmental initiatives, journeys with purpose become a powerful force for good. And for those who wish to go deeper, we offer the chance to choose the cause closest to their heart. Each traveler decides how to travel with purpose, be it preserving native ecosystems or protecting endangered wildlife species.
Travel with Purpose Impact Snapshot: 2025 by The Numbers
Through our Huella Positiva’s impact tracking, we were able to measure the positive outcomes from our 2025 bookings. These figures represent more than numbers; they reflect communities strengthened, futures inspired, and tangible support delivered through every purposeful journey.
| Metric | 2025 Total | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Number of days local guides were hired. | 770 | Sustained work for professionals like Angelito. |
| Number of nights in family-owned hotels. | 903 | Incomes via food, lodging, education, and artisan products. |
| Number of contributions to local communities. | 136 | Economic stability through locally sourced services. |
| Number of contributions to National Parks. | 171 | Enhanced conservation efforts and protected critical ecosystems. |
These numbers reflect more than statistics: they capture aspirations realized, opportunities unlocked, and lives transformed through traveling with a purpose.
Where Huella Positiva Made an Impact in 2025
The stories that emerged from Huella Positiva in 2025 are rich with determination, resilience, and hope. Each one showcases how purpose-driven travel can spark real transformation.
Ángel Rea: From Law Student to Tourism Leader
When Ángel Rea first arrived in Quito in 1993, he had one goal: to become a lawyer. Coming from Guaranda, a small highlands city nestled in Ecuador’s Bolívar province, Angelito saw education as a way to uplift himself and his family. During a part-time job at a hotel’s front desk, he discovered the joy of meeting travelers from around the world and began learning English. Conversations sparked in him a passion for connection and storytelling that overshadowed his interest in what he was studying at university.
In 1998, he pivoted completely, enrolling in the national tourism guide training program. He loved sharing his country’s landscapes, history, and heart so much that, eventually, he co-founded Quinde Adventures with Guillermo Valencia. In 2015, a chance encounter with our founder, Rebecca, at the airport led to a collaboration that transformed both businesses. After investing in a small fleet of vans and 4x4s, Angelito now leads our tours, always with his signature dedication and joy. His story is one of courage, proof that travel with a purpose doesn’t just benefit travelers; it builds futures.
Katerine Suárez: From Kitchen Dreams to Culinary Empowerment
Katy Suárez arrived in Ecuador in 2015 with a heart full of hope and a handful of recipes. Leaving her native Colombia, she came to Quito looking for fresh opportunities and began cooking for neighbors. Her meals, inventive and full of flavor, quickly made her a favorite in our office’s neighborhood. Driven by her determination, she started knocking on office doors to offer homemade lunches. That’s how she met the team at Rebecca Adventure Travel, who have enjoyed her food twice a week for nearly three years. With an ever-growing clientele, Katy is looking to purchase an industrial range to replace her old home stove. Through a microloan with Rebecca Adventure Travel, she will be able to expand her business. What Katy serves is more than food. It’s warmth. It’s dignity. It’s proof that traveling with a purpose can reach into kitchens and improve livelihoods, one meal at a time.
Ilatoa Lodge: A Family’s Retreat With Roots
Marcelo Talbot was once a fast-paced professional in Quito’s business world. But after the pandemic shook his values, he and his wife decided to trade boardrooms for bird songs. With savings and vision, they bought land in the Andes and built two properties: their family home and Ilatoa Lodge, a hotel of eight rooms.
What began as a personal lifestyle choice became a haven for travelers seeking authenticity, where they offer cooking classes to learn to make Locro (creamy potato soup) and Ceviche. Their kids learned to plant native trees, cook traditional dishes, and host guests with heart. The lodge became a home and a classroom. Guests often share birthday dinners, help harvest herbs, or teach English to the kids. Marcelo’s story reminds us that purpose-driven travel is most powerful when it’s personal. One of the most cherished activities at Ilatoa? A tree-for-a-shirt exchange. In 2025, 17 native trees were planted, each representing a guest’s desire to leave something behind.
Pablo Salazar: A Guide Who Turns Purpose into Action
Pablo Salazar has been a dedicated Ecuadorian National Tourism Guide for over 16 years, a profession driven by his deep love for his country and its natural beauty. His journey began as a museum guide on weekends and holidays, before pursuing his formal qualifications as a Tourism Management Engineer, specializing in Environmental Preservation, and later earning a Master’s in Tourism Destination Management. His passion for his country and its natural wonders is matched by his commitment to sustainability. Pablo personally supports forest restoration programs and works actively to reduce single-use materials during his tours, helping minimize the environmental footprint of tourism. His initiatives include creating more efficient travel routes to conserve resources and reduce waste. One of his most notable contributions is his regular practice of collecting waste from hiking trails alongside travelers, ensuring the land remains as pristine as possible.
In 2025, thanks to the growth of our tours and the impact of Huella Positiva, Pablo had the opportunity to take his wife and two young children on their first trip to the Galápagos Islands. This trip was a long-awaited dream come true for his family, which taught his kids how vital conservation work is and why protecting the Galapagos is essential. For Pablo, it was a powerful reminder that traveling with a purpose can benefit not only the travelers and communities we support but also those who work behind the scenes, ensuring that every experience is as meaningful as it is transformative. His dedication to both people and planet underscores the profound impact of our shared journeys, and his personal story highlights the potential for tourism to create lasting, positive change in the lives of those who devote their careers to it.
Seeds with Purpose on Children’s Day
Through the Sponsor A School Program led by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Education, we continue our ongoing sponsorship of Antonio de Ulloa School in Puembo (rural Quito). Each year, we organize an event for International Children’s Day to blend celebration with learning, as we teach 237+ students about their homeland’s treasures and the importance of protecting them. For 2025, we decided to show the children that sustainability can go hand in hand with career development.
Each grade received a garden plot where students learned to plant and grow their own fruits and vegetables with guidance from a local gardener. The lessons went beyond agriculture into collaboration, responsibility, and the economic potential of farming to sustain families through a steady income that doesn’t depend on a degree. Every student walked away with new skills and deeper roots in their community. At the end of the school year, the class with the healthiest garden earned a prize, with the whole school enjoying a treat.
The launch of Seeds of Purpose included fresh snacks donated by local bakeries and dairies, and each child received a gardening hat we had made for them. This is the kind of impact that traveling with a purpose can achieve: nurturing the land and the next generation at the same time. This is the ethos behind Huella Positiva: fostering positive change through purpose-driven travel.
Welcome Kits: Carried With Purpose, Crafted With Pride
Every journey with Rebecca Adventure Travel begins with a welcome kit—but what travelers hold in their hands is much more than a simple giveaway. Each kit is a tapestry of talent, tradition, and empowerment.
The bag itself is stitched by Indigenous women from Guamote, Ecuador. These women, many of whom are graduates of the Inti Sisa Foundation’s skills training program, use their craftsmanship not only to earn a living but to preserve a heritage passed down through generations. For Martha, a former student turned mentor, sewing isn’t just a job; it’s a pathway to independence and influence. She now teaches younger artisans like Mishell, who dreams of becoming a fashion designer. The ripple effect is visible in the growing number of young women who now view handicraft as a viable career.
Each design printed on the bag is illustrated by Carolina Espín, an Ecuadorian artist known for her activism and passion for biodiversity. Her artwork highlights Latin America’s rich ecosystems and cultural resilience, offering every traveler a visual story of the land they’re about to explore. Inside the bag, guests find snacks lovingly prepared by the Association of Self-Employed Women in Lumbisí—a collective of farmers, mothers, and entrepreneurs such as Myrian Sasig, Susana Sacancela, Olimpia Quishpe, and Matilde Quiña.
Affiliated with CONQUITO, an economic development agency that trains small businesses to grow sustainably, these women cultivate organic orchards on family-owned parcels and have run local farmers’ markets for more than 14 years. Their work preserves traditional Quito flavors and promotes healthy eating, all through sustainable agriculture passed from grandmothers to grandchildren. With CONQUITO’s support, they maintain certifications, secure permits, and keep their land thriving. Their children often help in the fields or step into roles at the markets—some even pursue agribusiness degrees, inspired by the opportunities this work creates.
For us, the connection is personal: one of their markets is set up just across the street from our office, so we source these traditional Andean treats directly from them for our welcome kits. What begins as a simple gesture of hospitality becomes a meaningful, cross-generational economic opportunity—and a flavorful introduction to local culture for every traveler who opens the bag. This is travel with a purpose in its purest form: interwoven, intentional, and deeply human.
Why Travel with Purpose Goes Beyond Tourism
For us, travel with purpose is not a campaign or a seasonal project—it’s a permanent lens through which we view everything. Many companies integrate impact into their services; we integrate it into our identity. Because we believe that travel done right is relationship-based. That the strongest itineraries are those rooted in respect. That impact doesn’t need a spotlight; it needs consistency. Our travelers aren’t just guests; they are co-creators of a better world. Whether you came to hike volcanoes or sail the Galápagos, your trip became more than a getaway. It became a thread in a global tapestry of meaningful, equitable travel.
Looking Ahead: Growth with Purpose
As we move into a new chapter, our commitment to meaningful, responsible travel is only getting stronger. This year, we invested in a new office, a bigger, more collaborative space at the center of Quito’s Cumbayá Valley designed to support our growing team and elevate the way we craft journeys for travelers and partners worldwide. More than a workspace, this will be our home base for creativity, innovation, and connection in December 2026.
We’re also expanding what we can offer. Alongside our core destinations—Ecuador, Galápagos, Peru, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, and Argentina—we’re now opening the door to more of Latin America through on-request add-on destinations. Travelers seeking deeper continental exploration can now integrate Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay into their custom itineraries, allowing us to design even more diverse, culturally rich, and purposeful routes.
The year ahead is about scaling impact without losing the boutique, human touch that defines us. With a stronger foundation, a broader regional reach, and a team energized by possibility, we’re ready to build tours that uplift communities, protect ecosystems, and inspire travelers for years to come.
To every traveler who joined us in 2025: you did something remarkable. You turned your adventure into advocacy, your experience into empowerment. By choosing to travel with purpose, you supported a system that values people, planet, and profit equally. You gave back without needing to “do more.” You reminded us that impact is possible at every step—on the trail, in the kitchen, through a school gate, or inside a stitched bag. We thank you, and we invite you to continue down this road with us. The world needs more journeys with purpose. And it starts with you. Every tour we design is fully customized, shaped around who you’re traveling with and how you love to explore. Whether you’re planning a family adventure, a getaway with friends, or a romantic escape for two, we tailor every detail to match your style, pace, and interests—so your trip feels truly yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Huella Positiva, and how does it work?
Huella Positiva is a responsible travel program where your booking helps support local communities. At the end of your trip, you receive a certificate showing where your contribution made an impact.
How do traveler bookings create local impact?
Each trip helps fund education, entrepreneurship, or conservation, depending on your choice of support area.
Is Huella Positiva only for trips to Ecuador?
While rooted in Ecuador, our principles extend to all destinations where we work with trusted local partners.
Can I volunteer during my trip?
Absolutely! There are many volunteer options available that we can work into your itinerary wherever you travel with us. Just ask your destination expert!
How can I stay involved after my trip?
You can donate, follow up on project updates, or book again to continue supporting these communities.
Further Reading
- Your Guide to Purposeful Travel Adventures
- Shaping a Sustainable Future Together
- Women Inspiring Women: The Heartbeat of Rebecca Adventure Travel
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