BY MISTY MILIOTO

In a small cabin nestled deep in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula rainforest, Xiñia Villanueva’s story began to unfold. A former gold miner turned eco-lodge owner, she didn’t realize she was about to become the heart of a documentary (2.5% — The Osa Peninsula) that would inspire a new model for sustainable travel.

“We met Xiñia at a community gathering in the Osa Peninsula, and she immediately stood out as someone we wanted to spend more time with,” says Eytan Elterman, co-founder of Lokal Travel. “She invited us up to her cabin in the rainforest, and that’s the scene you see in the documentary. As she shared her story of transitioning from gold mining to wanting to work in tourism, we realized she wasn’t just part of the film, she was the heart of it.”

Villanueva’s journey from backbreaking mining work to running Descanso El Pizote eco-lodge represents a larger shift happening across the globe. From the Himalayas to the Amazon, women are emerging as leaders in community-based tourism — not because anyone planned it that way, but because they’re naturally positioned at the intersection of cultural preservation, economic innovation, and environmental stewardship.

When Lokal Travel began building its platform of authentic, locally led travel experiences, the team noticed something unexpected. “It wasn’t intentional from the beginning, but it became clear as we built Lokal that women were often leading some of the most impactful community-based tourism initiatives,” Elterman says. “Once we recognized that pattern, we became much more intentional about highlighting and supporting women-led projects on the platform.”

Today, Lokal features women-run homestays in the Himalayas, female guides across multiple countries, and women’s cooperatives that offer travelers genuine cultural immersion. But what makes women particularly effective in this space is visibility.

“I don’t think it’s about women being better leaders. It’s that in many places, women are already leading the work behind the scenes,” Elterman says. “When tourism is structured in a community-based way, their leadership becomes more visible and more valued. And the experiences often feel more personal, rooted, and relationship driven.”

In India’s mountain villages, 22 solar-powered homestays run by local women demonstrate how tourism can transform more than bank accounts. When women become primary earners through hosting travelers, the effects cascade through entire communities.

“Income is only the first layer,” Elterman says. “When women earn directly through homestays, it often increases their confidence and influence in the household, and raises the value of local traditions and knowledge. It becomes a form of economic independence that also shifts social dynamics in a positive way.”

This shift represents a fundamental change in how tourism dollars flow. While traditional tourism sees only about 5% of revenue reach local communities, Lokal’s model ensures that 80% stays local. “We make this possible by working directly with local tour operators and community partners, rather than sending bookings through multiple middlemen,” Elterman says. “That way, most of what travelers spend goes straight to local guides, hosts, and locally owned businesses.”

What travelers experience when booking through women-led homestays and community initiatives isn’t voluntourism — it’s something distinctly different. “We tell travelers that Lokal isn’t voluntourism — you’re not paying to work,” Elterman says. “You’re simply paying for real services like guiding, lodging, meals, and local experiences, and your money supports the people providing them. What feels different is that the experience is more personal and community-led, rather than a typical tourist bubble.”

For those nervous about staying in someone’s home or visiting remote communities, Elterman is refreshingly honest. “It’s not for everyone, and we’re honest about that,” he says. “But we do vet our partners carefully and make sure the experiences we offer are safe and well-supported. For travelers who are open to it, these stays can be some of the most beautiful and transformative parts of a trip. You just have to show up with respect, curiosity, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone.”

The common thread connecting a floating Amazonian lodge, Himalayan homestay, and a Mexican artisan workshop isn’t just local impact — it’s human connection. “These are all experiences where travelers are stepping into a place through the people who know it best,” Elterman says. “They’re not built around checking boxes or sightseeing, they’re built around relationships, culture, and a deeper understanding of where you are.”

Back in the Osa Peninsula, Etterman says that Villanueva is continuing her work. “[She] is doing well, and it’s been really nice to stay connected over the years,” Elterman says. “Descanso El Pizote is not her full-time livelihood, but tourism continues to supplement her income. She’s constantly making improvements to the space and slowly building it up over time. It’s been encouraging to see her keep investing in it and moving forward.”

The five months that Lokal’s co-founders spent in the Osa making their documentary taught them something that no quick trip could. “Real impact and real trust take time,” Elterman says. “You can’t learn that as a traveler passing through. At this point, some people in the Osa feel like family to me, and I know they feel the same way.”

As the travel industry grapples with its environmental and social footprint, the path forward may well be illuminated by women like Villanueva — and the countless others around the world who are proving that tourism can be a force for genuine good when it’s built on relationships, respect, and shared prosperity.

For travelers ready to experience this new model, Elterman offers simple advice. “Keep your money in the local economy,” he says. “Eat at locally owned restaurants, stay in locally owned lodges or B&Bs, and hire local licensed guides who actually live in the destination. And when you’re shopping, pay a fair price. Don’t engage in overly aggressive bargaining.”

For more information, visit www.lokaltravel.com.