My (Angelika’s) Story
Travel has always been my greatest passion. It’s what led me to study Tourism Business Management—and to invest every cent I had in discovering the world. Over the years, I’ve explored countries across Europe, Latin America (including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico, Cuba, and Costa Rica), and the Far East, from Indonesia and Thailand to Malaysia, Singapore, and the UAE. I even spent a year living in the U.S. as a high school student—each experience deepening my curiosity and love for cultural connection.
In 2010, I left my home country of Germany—originally planning a short break to improve my Spanish and learn to dance salsa. Latin America was calling. I began in Quito, Ecuador, where I worked for a tour operator organizing trips to the Galápagos Islands, Peru, and Venezuela.
Two years later, I packed my bags and boarded a 30-hour bus ride from Quito to Bogotá, marking the start of my Colombian adventure. While working in tourism, traveling across this breathtaking country, and improving my salsa steps along the way, I fell in love—with Colombia and its people. I became living proof of the country’s former tourism slogan: “The Only Risk Is Wanting to Stay.”
With more than 15 years in the travel industry, I’ve built a wide-reaching network of local partners and explored nearly every corner of Colombia firsthand. My background as a trilingual (German, English, and Spanish) travel expert has allowed me to design unforgettable experiences for thousands of guests from around the world.
I believe travel has the power to open hearts, preserve cultural and natural heritage, empower communities, and build lasting connections between people and places.
And I’d love to share that with you—by helping you discover Colombia’s most beautiful places, meet its most inspiring people, and, of course, hit the dance floor to do some real salsa dancing!
General Manager | WhereNext Travel Colombia
My (Leidy’s) Story
From Cali to the world, I’ve always believed that tourism is one of the most powerful ways to exchange knowledge, spark transformation, and connect lives. Though I’ve been fortunate to travel widely—and to live in both Chile and the United States—nothing moves me quite like traveling within Colombia. With every journey, I fall deeper in love with this country: the warmth of its people, its cultural vibrancy, its unstoppable energy, its flavors, rhythms, and landscapes. I still have seven departments to go before I’ve explored all 32—and that goal keeps me inspired.
After finishing high school in Cali, I moved to Bogotá to study Tourism Business Administration at Externado University and later specialized in Social Responsibility and Development. Over the past seven years, I’ve worked in Colombia’s inbound tourism industry with a strong focus on sustainable, community-minded travel.
I bring joy and dedication to everything I do. I’m endlessly curious, a passionate dancer (especially salsa), and I thrive when working with people who share my optimism and purpose.
Sales Manager | WhereNext Travel Colombia
My (Jhowan’s) Story
Hi, I’m Jhowan—the young blood of Colombian tourism! Being part of this country’s growing travel scene fills me with pride, but more than anything, I love Colombia: its traditions, its gastronomy, its music, and its people. I’ve traveled through Europe, the U.S., and Latin America, but I’m convinced—there’s nowhere like home.
I was born and raised in Bogotá, and though I frequently dream of exploring beyond it, I carry my city and country with me wherever I go. Travel isn’t just a pleasure—it’s a necessity. It’s how we learn, connect, and truly live. Tourism is the happiness industry, and being part of it makes my work feel deeply personal and full of purpose.
My passion began with family trips across Colombia—discovering new rhythms, local dishes, and traditions. That spark became a calling. Today, I hold a degree in Tourism and Hotel Business Administration, with nearly three years of hands-on experience in guiding, reservations, operations, and now product development. I’m pursuing postgraduate studies in Tourism Business Management to deepen my expertise further.
My mission is to help Colombia grow through tourism that genuinely supports local communities. I’m sociable, multilingual (Spanish, English, French, and Portuguese), endlessly curious, and always energized—whether I'm talking travel, playing sports, or sharing a love for animals and adventure.
Product and Operations Analyst | WhereNext Travel Colombia
My (Stefania’s) Story
I was born in the mountains of Cauca, a region rich in biodiversity that has long carried the stigma of war. Yet it was here that my childhood books inspired me to dream of great adventures across other continents.
That dream led me to a career in tourism, where I have worked for the past 15 years.
I started from scratch, working as a waitress, receptionist, and housekeeper to fund my university education and my first trips through South America and Europe. Through discipline, hard work, vision, and perseverance, I earned a scholarship in 2018 for an exchange program in Germany. Later, in 2022, I was selected as a young entrepreneur for an academic exchange at the INTI Institute in Argentina.
In recent years, my experience as a German-speaking guide has allowed me to travel extensively throughout Colombia, giving me a deep understanding of the challenges faced by emerging destinations. That journey eventually brought me to WhereNext Travel.
After exploring so much of our country, what I value most are the smiles of the local people, the very individuals who stand at the forefront of tourism, yet are often the last to benefit from its value chain. Today, as Operations Coordinator, I work hand in hand with local communities to help dignify their work while creating unforgettable experiences for our travelers.
I am a woman of rural and Indigenous roots who firmly believes that tourism can transform lives. Inspired by my studies at the University of Cauca, I partnered with my family to create a women-led agritourism project that now benefits around 10 local families in the rural communities southwest of Popayán.
Although I have traveled to many parts of the world, my heart and my home remain in Popayán. I warmly invite you to discover its colonial architecture, rich culinary traditions, vibrant gastronomy, Indigenous communities, and extraordinary biodiversity. Our region is home to more than 1,000 species of birds and protects the headwaters of Colombia's most important river systems.
Operations Coordinator | WhereNext Travel Colombia
Coqui, Choco - Colombia’s Pacific Coast