In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 5: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Fernanda Villacis, Managing Partner at Neotropic Expeditions in Ecuador. Being born and raised in Ecuador, one of the most biodiverse places on earth, has shaped Fernanda’s love for exploring and her deep appreciation for the natural world. She is an adventurer at heart that truly believes travel has the power to transcend boundaries and create positive impact within local communities and globally.  Fueled by passion for creating cooperative and strong connections and inspired by the curious minds of her two kids, Fernanda has made it her mission to create meaningful, sustainable, and authentic adventures that cater to the needs of families, adventure seekers and fellow women by listening and understanding their values and motivations. Christine and Fernanda discuss: · The transformational power of travel · Intentionally creating meaningful and sustainable experiences · Encouraging travelers to dig deeper · Understanding our travel values and goals · Women-only journeys focused on nature in Ecuador Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Fernanda Villacis. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website.  LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on PayPal.   Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes! Listener reviews help expand our reach and help us rise up the ranks! Rate and review your favorite episodes on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Visit Neotropic Expeditions to book your next tour in Ecuador.  Visit Fernanda on your favorite social media network: Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here! Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman. Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Fernanda Villacis (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show