Meet WhereNext’s Sustainable Tourism Consultant, who believes that some of the best things in life happen around a dinner table.

*Note - In December 2022, Cristina was assigned to the USAID Colombia Destination Nature Activity as Nature Tourism Destination Development Lead. In 2023, she became an employee for DAI, WhereNext’s partner for Destination Nature Activity.

Introducing our Colombian production company’s Sustainable Tourism Consultant, Fixer, Producer, and Research Manager, Cristina Arbeláez. Cristina holds a Master’s Degree in Legal Psychology and previously developed social neuroscience research projects at the Hippocampus Neuroscience and Behaviour Research Lab. More recently, she worked as an Advisor to the Colombian Vice-Minister of Tourism. Her achievements in that role include the formulation of the first national Sustainable Tourism Policy, developing the Agenda on Climate Change and Sustainable Development of Tourism in the Americas, and representing the Vice-Ministry of Tourism in the Sustainability Taskforce of the World Travel and Tourism Council. Cristina brings a passion for travel and a wealth of experience in tourism, consultancy, conservation, and production to our Colombian production company team. Since December 2022, Cristina has been assigned to the USAID Colombia Destination Nature Activity (DNA) as Nature Tourism Destination Development Lead.

Tell us about yourself.

I like to think of myself as a pretty peaceful and friendly person. I am passionate about traveling and absolutely love hiking, meditating, reading, and writing. My house is always filled with the sound of music, and I believe some of the best things in life happen around a dinner table. I am also very curious and have a bucket list with 100 things that I would like to do, see, eat, and experience before I die!

In terms of work, I have had a bit of an eclectic journey that has led me to discover a passion for tourism, nature conservation, and writing stories. Now, I think that what defines me best is that I thrive in the intersection between disciplines and want to keep doing work that matters and makes a difference for our planet.

Tell us about your most memorable travel experience.

It’s hard to pick one, but watching the sunset on top of a mountain in Yosemite is definitely one of the most memorable travel experiences of my life. Having hiked for hours with my sister, we were still not nearly as high as all the other mountains that surrounded us, and I was in awe of the immensity of the universe and of my own insignificance. I remember feeling that I was about to freeze from the cold but also that I was incredibly warm from happiness. I remember being terrified of walking back in the dark because we didn’t have a flashlight, but at the same time not being able to move because I didn’t want to miss the slightest movement of the sun. I was extremely grateful for having experienced that moment.

Dead or alive, who would you like to join you on an adventure?

So far, my greatest adventures have been with my sister, so I want her to join me in many more!

What are your travel equipment essentials?

Sunscreen is always the most important thing I pack, followed by my eyeglasses, a book, my camera, and comfortable shoes.

When did you feel happiest?

A memory that keeps coming up whenever I think of being exhilaratingly happy is being in the middle of the salt flats in Bolivia with my sister. It was in January 2015 when the salt flats were flooded, and we hired a tour guide who took us to a place where we literally saw the sky meet the ground all around us. We were completely alone and amazed by being able to walk on top of the clouds that reflected in the water beneath our shoes. I remember feeling a joy that is still hard to describe, but that makes me smile every time I think back to this moment.

Who taught you your biggest life lesson, and what was it?

I am extremely close to four of my girlfriends from school, and I must say that our friendship has taught me one of my biggest life lessons: always to try to live life with radical amazement. To avoid treating life casually, try to view the world with the eyes of celebration. To exercise the power of being surprised by what happens every day. I most definitely haven’t mastered this lesson (and my friends probably haven’t either), but all of this is always easier to practice when you surround yourself with amazing people.

You can teleport to any restaurant on Earth: where do you go, and what do you order?

Eating ramen in Japan is an experience that I am dying to have! So, if I could teleport to any restaurant on Earth, I would go to the best ramen restaurant in Tokyo and check it off my bucket list!

Tell us about the most adventurous food you have ever eaten.

I haven’t eaten anything as adventurous as I would be willing to try. But probably the most uncommon food I have eaten is crocodile, crickets, and alpaca.

Drink of choice?

Coffee in the morning and wine in the evening!

Where do you feel most at home?

At my parents’ house, by the chimney, listening to Tracy Chapman.

Learn more about our sustainable tourism consultancy HERE.