# Stories - [Lokal's Guide to Peru](/stories/peru-lokal-guide) - [Living La Pura Vida: 12 Costa Rica Attractions You Can’t Miss ](/stories/costa-rica-attractions) - [Ready, Set, Pack: The Ultimate Costa Rica Vacation Planning Guide](/stories/costa-rica-vacation-planning-guide) — Everything you need to know about planning a trip to Costa Rica, from packing tips to budgeting advice to sustainable travel tips. Get started planning your Costa Rica vacation today! - [Keeping it Real: 3 Costa Rica Travel Tips for Sustainable Travel](/stories/costa-rica-travel-tips) — Learn about sustainable travel in Costa Rica and get 3 tips for keeping it real. Find out why sustainable travel is important in Costa Rica and how you can support the local economy, environment, and culture. - [Lokal's Guide to Mexico](/stories/mexico-lokal-guide) - [Lokal's Guide to Costa Rica](/stories/costa-rica-lokal-guide) - [Lokal's Guide to Guatemala](/stories/guatemala-lokal-guide) - [Top 3 Things to Do in Tulum](/stories/things-to-do-in-tulum) — Discover the best things to do in Tulum, Mexico. From visiting the Tulum Ruins, exploring Tulum Beach, to taking a tour in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, find out what makes this destination special. Book your experience with Lokal today! - [Explore Mexico's Mountains and Oceans: From Sea to Sky](/stories/geography-of-mexico) — Explore Mexico's diverse geography and enjoy activities from adventure sports to relaxation on the beach. From the highest peak in the country to the longest stretches of coastline, discover the beauty of Mexico's mountains and oceans. - [What’s the Capital of Mexico and Why You Can't Miss It](/stories/capital-of-mexico) — Planning a trip to Mexico City? Learn why it’s the capital of Mexico and explore its history, culture, neighborhoods, museums, and top attractions. - [Guatemala History 101: Explore Tikal, the Ancient City of the Maya Civilization](/stories/guatemala-history) — Explore the ancient city of Tikal, the largest urban center of the Maya civilization. Learn about Guatemala history and explore the ruins of Tikal National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Peten area and explore the Maya Biosphere Reserve. - [Where's Guatemala? 5 Facts for the Curious Traveler](/stories/guatemala-facts) — Get the facts on Guatemala! Learn about the geography, culture, seasons, and more of this beautiful country. Read on to start planning your custom trip to Guatemala! - [Discover Guatemalan Food for the Foodie Traveler - Ancient Roots](/stories/guatemalan-food) — Explore the ancient roots of Guatemalan food, from maize and tamales to chocolate and pinol. Learn more about traditional Guatemalan cuisine and how to experience it for yourself. - [COVID-19 Response: Country by Country Travel Restrictions Reopening Policies](/stories/lokals-response-to-covid19-were-all-in-this-together) — A comprehensive guide to travel restrictions reopening policies around the world due to COVID-19. Lokal Travel provides an up-to-date interactive map, travel insurance, and flexible options to help you plan your next trip safely. - [Sustainable Sri Lanka](/stories/sustainable-travel-in-sri-lanka) - [Explorers to Watch: Brianne Miers of A Traveling Life](/stories/a-traveling-life) — In a world where "How I quit my 9-5 to travel the world" blog posts are ubiquitous, it can seem like it's a prereq to jump into a fulltime digital nomad lifestyle if you want to launch a travel blog. Learn more about Brianne Miers of A Traveling Life, her passion for sustainable tourism, and her upcoming plans. - [How a Grain of Salt Can Improve the Travel Industry in Limpopo, South Africa](/stories/how-a-grain-of-salt-can-improve-the-travel-industry) — Discover the power of a grain of salt in Limpopo, South Africa! Learn how the Baleni community has been mining salt for more than 2,000 years and how tourism is playing a tangible role in preserving ancient traditions. Find out how to support local communities and explore off the beaten path adventures with Transfrontier Parks Destinations (TFPD). - [Our Favorite Sustainable Gear for Your Next Adventure](/stories/our-favorite-sustainable-gear-for-adventure) - [3 Common Questions About Sustainable Travel](/stories/common-questions-sustainable-travel) — Confused about Sustainable Travel? Learn how to make a positive impact on the people and places you visit with 3 common questions about Sustainable Travel. Discover unique, impactful experiences from Chiang Mai to Cusco. - [5 Trips to Experience Community Life](/stories/trips-to-experience-community-life) — Connect with local communities around the world with these 5 unique trips. Experience Sami reindeer herding in Norway, Akha village tours in Thailand, artisans in Bucerias, Chari weavers in Peru, and stay in a floating bungalow in the Amazon. Book your experience with Lokal. - [Explore the Brazilian Amazon with Uakari Lodge](/stories/exploring-the-brazilian-amazon-with-uakari-lodge) — Floating in the Brazilian Amazon is Uakari Lodge, a set of five bungalows that offer visitors a unique combination of nature and culture. Immerse yourself in spectacular nature and connect with local communities. Book now for 21% off! - [5 Travel Experiences That Protect & Preserve Our Earth](/stories/travel-experiences-that-protect-and-preserve-our-earth) - [Explore the Osa Peninsula - Costa Rica's Biodiverse Region](/stories/lokal-intro-guide-to-the-osa) — Discover the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica's biodiverse region home to 2.5% of earth's biodiversity. Explore the region's unique wildlife, friendly people and sustainable tourism projects. Book an experience through Lokal's platform. - [Going Beyond Green: The Importance of Travel in Conserving Our Environment](/stories/importance-of-travel-in-conserving-our-environment) — Juan's story in Costa Rica is a valuable lesson for the tourism industry. Travelers can play a vital part in protecting our world, and travel/conservation hybrid efforts can be as simple as booking a culturally immersive experience. - [Exploring Chiang Mai: Must-See's and Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventures](/stories/lokal-guide-to-exploring-chiang-mai-thailand-sustainably) — Experience the best of Chiang Mai with must-see attractions and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Explore Tanita House, try traditional dishes like Khao Soi, visit Wat Pha Lat temple, shop sustainable fashion at Studio Naenna, learn how to cook Akha food, and take a weekend getaway to Lisu Lodge. - [Closing the Gender Gap in Nepal Through Tourism with Royal Mountain Travel and Community Homestay](/stories/tourism-helping-close-gender-gap-nepal) — Learn how Royal Mountain Travel and CommunityHomestay are closing the gender gap in Nepal through tourism. Stay in family-run homestays to experience local life and support female entrepreneurs. Get an off-the-beaten-path adventure and help to funnel money into rural communities. - [Six Immersive Experiences to Empower Women](/stories/six-immersive-experiences-empower-women) — Discover 20+ travel experiences that empower women around the world. From cooking classes in the Brazilian Amazon to a walking tour in Paris, celebrate International Women's Day with unique experiences that create long-term benefits for all individuals. - [Meet Carlos Villalobos - Community Tourism Entrepreneur in Costa Rica](/stories/laguna-chocuaco-canoe-adventure) — Meet Carlos Villalobos, proud owner of the Laguna Chocuaco project in Rancho Quemado Costa Rica. His tours range from half day canoe excursions to four day treks through the jungle. Watch the video to get a taste of what the canoe excursion is like. - [Explore Osa Peninsula Adventure with Enoc and the Osa Rural Tours Cooperative](/stories/short-film-osa-peninsula) — Meet Enoc and the Osa Rural Tours Cooperative. They are on a mission to use travel to strengthen their community and conserve over 4,000 hectares of primary rainforest in the Osa Peninsula. Join them on a community tourism adventure into one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places on the planet. - [2.5% - The Osa Peninsula: A Documentary Film](/stories/osa-peninsula-documentary-film) — Explore the intersection of rainforest conservation and tourism development in Costa Rica's South Pacific with the documentary 2.5% - The Osa Peninsula. Learn about the potential pitfalls of increased tourism and how rural community tourism can be a form of conservation. - [What is Community Tourism?](/stories/what-community-tourism) — Discover how community tourism is empowering local people and preserving their land. Learn how to travel differently with Lokal and join us for an incredible adventure! - [The Lokal Story: How Our Experiences Led to a New Kind of Travel Company](/stories/how-lokal-started) — Discover how Lokal Travel was inspired by adventures in rainforest conservation, microfinance and tech. Learn how our team connected with local communities and travelers to create a unique experience. --- *Markdown version for AI agents. Canonical page: https://www.lokaltravel.com/en/stories (locale: en). Bookings, live availability, and imagery are on the canonical page.*