Here at The Travel Yogi, our adventures may span continents, glaciers, jungles, and coastlines — but the heart of everything we do is our people. This year was shaped not just by where we traveled, but by how we traveled: with curiosity, care, and deep respect for the places and communities we’re welcomed into.
As staff member and yoga instructor Kilty Inafuku explained, building an adventure itinerary is rooted in listening, especially to local voices. Every TTY itinerary is a living thing, and we adjust when necessary.
“Our local team tells us when there are better options, or about something new,” Kilty said. “We like to trust the insider or local opinion. We’ve also had places on our map for a while and want to shake things up so that previous travelers have something new to look forward to.”
That philosophy is shared across the team. Another one of our very own, Mekeila Erspamer, added that we often switch up the itinerary at any of our locations when, “we start to feel like the itinerary quality — excursions, pacing, or accommodations — are not matching the same quality as the rest of our trips. If we get repeated feedback about something in particular that needs our attention… we make tweaks all the time, always aiming to improve.”
Here’s a look back on some of our travel highlights from this year.
Colombia: Color, Rhythm, and Layered Stories
This year, we updated the Colombia itinerary and it became a focal point for that hands-on approach. “There really are soooo many good things about Colombia,” Kilty said.
Walking tours through Medellín’s Comunas 3 and 13 stood out, with guides sharing the area’s history of struggle and growth. “The art murals in the comunas are really really moving!” Kilty said.
Learning took delightful forms in a coffee and chocolate tasting. “I feel like I learned valuable and useful info which impacts how I brew my coffee on a daily basis,” Kilty said.
Drum workshops also became playful moments of connection. “The experience was a call-and-response setup where each person has a big drum, and the leader coaches the group,” she said. “The proceeds from the organization go back into the community to support music lessons for local kids.”
And then there were the flavors. “The ceviche and mojito making class was sooo yummy. I even used the recipe when I got home!”
In Cartagena, the energy shifted but the vibrance remained. “It felt like most locals were like an ‘energizer bunny’ without the overwhelming feeling of being in major cities,” Mekeila said. Neighborhoods like Getsemaní left a strong impression. “The artistic elements of the city — murals and graffiti — are just beautiful. The passion for sharing art is front and center.”
What stood out most was Colombia’s diverse beauty: Tropical beaches, mountain cities, rainforests, colonial towns, modern urban centers, and agricultural regions all woven into one journey. We’ll be returning in January (and a few other times throughout 2026) if you’d like to experience it for yourself!
Greenland: Awe, Remoteness, and Perspective
If Colombia was vibrant and rhythmic, Greenland was expansive and humbling — including the midnight sun. Kilty filled us in on her visit this year.
“When I wake up in the middle of the night, it’s as bright as 2 p.m. in the afternoon,” Kilty said. “An eye mask is a GODSEND.”
“And everything is remote,” she added. “When we’re there, we can’t just run to the nearest grocery store for a quick errand. It’s a two-plus hour boat ride to get to a ‘major’ city which is not major at all. Sustainability has a new meaning.”
The remoteness brought encounters with wildlife — Arctic foxes, seals, whales — and deep cultural exchange. “The native Greenlandic locals were captivating to spend time around,” Mekeila added of her own time in Greenland. “They’re knowledgeable, kind, welcoming, and love sharing about their history.”
One of the most meaningful moments came during a Kaffemik, a traditional gathering to have coffee and cakes in a local home. “Communication was limited in words, but not in feeling.”
From mussel hunting and paddling alongside icebergs to hiking through wide-open landscapes and sharing traditional Greenlandic barbecues, the experience fostered a powerful sense of connection to nature, culture, and community. Join us in July 2027 and feel it for yourself!
Looking Ahead
If there’s one piece of advice our team agrees on after a year like this, it’s simple: just go.
“Greenland is literally a once-in-lifetime bucket list experience,” Kilty said. “If you have the opportunity, you have to take it.”
And of Colombia, Mekeila added: “Everyone should take the opportunity to experience the warmth, vibrance, and simplicity that is Colombian culture. The people are exquisite, the land is diverse and interesting, and the fun to be had is: unlimited.”
As we close out the year, we’re deeply grateful for the instructors, local partners, and travelers who make The Travel Yogi what it is. Every journey we offer is shaped by real experiences, real conversations, and a shared belief that travel, when done thoughtfully, can expand how we see the world, and ourselves.
We’ll carry these stories, lessons, and connections into the year ahead, continuing to travel slowly, listen deeply, and let the journey shape us.