In March 2020, the world entered an extraordinary phase of change and at that time we were only able to guess what the world of travel may look like afterward. My heart felt heavy when I had to cancel my latest brainchild: two awesome study tours to my home country Germany.
I had to flip my AccessEcoTours door sign from “open” to “closed”, figuratively. But at least, nature and wildlife benefitted from the paused traffic. And I must admit that 2020 was one of my greatest years: I got a lot of projects done and, most importantly, I had probably the most eye-opening experiences of my life. The occasional mandatory masks in stores were annoying, but with only about 5-10 minutes each time, it was a minor thing and I managed to lead a relatively normal and unrestricted life throughout the pandemic.
Naturally, peoples’ urge and need to travel were impossible to suppress for a long time and the wheels slowly started turning in 2021.
I continue to be passionate about eco-cultural tours and retreats, and that won’t change.
So I take one look back to the beginnings and then continue on my path:
In 2008, I created this website to promote soft tourism and unique, wheelchair-accessible travel alternatives that help broaden people’s cultural perspectives and ultimately foster personal growth. I composed several off-the-beaten-path itineraries to North Germany, the Mexican Riviera Maya, and the US Southwest; and I collaborated with healers in composing retreats. Rather than commercializing these tours and retreats, I always felt like sharing special places and cultures with like-minded folks. In these days of AI-dominant consumer relations, anonymity, and intended divisions; personal and human connections are more important than ever!
I enjoyed each of my travelers, and each guest who stayed at my Bed & Breakfast Inn in the subtropical rain forest on the Yucatan peninsula has left a memory in my heart. Many of their gifts and thank-you notes are still with me and I’m grateful beyond words.
That said, it’s 2022 and I wish that you find inspiration all over this website for inner and outer travel, and I hope to meet you on one of my tours or retreats!
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