There’s this beautiful, complex thing about our hearts. It turns out, they don’t actually have to be whole in order to function. I’m not talking physiologically, of course, but rather, our hearts can be pieced out and shared, spread in infinite ways and rather than diminish, they actually grow bigger, stronger. Ask any parent and they’ll tell you that having children is having a piece of your heart forever living outside of your body. I can attest to this fully. Additionally, having had the opportunity to travel and experience other cultures, captivating places, and connect with other people throughout it all, what I’ve found to also be true is that our hearts allow us to leave pieces behind wherever we go, if we choose. This piecing out of our hearts through experiences, loving others, living intentionally, conversely makes our hearts grow. And that’s a pretty amazing phenomenon, if you ask me.

Colombia is now on the list of places where I’ve left a piece of my heart, experienced that heart expansiveness, and I’ll be forever grateful for the time spent there and the beautiful connections made. In sharing this travel recap with you, I’m sharing a piece of my heart, and I hope it can spark something in your heart, too.

So why Colombia? Back in February of this year, Artisan Tropic (the best plantain and cassava chip brand in the world, not even biased), launched a giveaway opportunity on their Instagram page. A five day, all-expenses-paid trip for two to the coffee region of Colombia to visit some of their regenerative plantain farms and see the heart and soul behind the Artisan Tropic mission. Sign me up! This appealed to me for so many reasons. For one, I deeply value the intention behind creating food in a way that best nourishes the body and the land, and this opportunity encompassed the intersection of both of those things. Secondly, I truly love travel and the opportunities it brings to view the world from a different lens, expand your own personal horizons, and connect with others. Thirdly, I majored in Spanish in college because it’s a language I love, and I relished the thought of using it again in a vibrant new country. Everything about this opportunity was so exciting to me.

The first step to enter the giveaway was simply to repost the details in my Instagram stories. Done. Then I received a message for step 2: share a permanent post on my Instagram feed featuring their product. Cue the excitement, because I already had an epic plantain chip crusted chicken recipe, and just needed to fine-tune the videos I had and make it into a reel. Double done. Step three was to write a 300-word essay outlining how Artisan Tropic helps me live a better life. This was easy, as plantain chips genuinely played a pivotal role in my autoimmune protocol journey back in 2015. You can read that essay below. After that, I had advanced into the final five contest applicants, and at this point I really began to think “I could ACTUALLY have a chance at this thing!” Interestingly, as soon as I first entered the giveaway, I opened a new note in my phone and titled it “Colombia Trip???” and began to make a list of how I would pack and plan for such an opportunity. Call it premonition, a gentle nudging, a heart whisper, but for some reason from the very beginning, I chose to practice believing that this could be a real possibility for me, and I took that hope with me every step of the way.

The Essay

Chips have always been my snack companion of choice. Their crispy crunchy saltiness and delectable snackability make them so perfectly craveable above all other snack companions. But in 2015, the unthinkable happened. I found myself in a position where chips and I could no longer be in a relationship (and let me just say, the chips were pretty salty about this breakup). Devastation doesn’t even begin to cover how I felt. To be fair (and slightly less dramatic), this was a self-induced chip fast. For the sake of my health, I chose to implement the autoimmune protocol for a span of time. This decision meant that the very things that I believed contributed to the perfect snack (namely potatoes and corn) could no longer form the bedrock of my snack foundation. Snacking as I’d known it was coming to a (foreseeable) end.

But then, a guardian angel of snack-size proportions entered the scene in the form of the Artisan Tropic plantain chip, and I knew at first bite that not only would I survive this health journey with my snack sensibilities intact, but I had found a new ally in my snack arsenal that carried its own amazing crunch and flavor on par with all other crunchy snacks. What this humble chip ultimately gave me was the freedom and resolve to do something strategic and significant for my health. They allowed me a snacking agency in a time that would have been so much more challenging without, and it afforded me a new respect for the humble plantain and its amazing wealth of possibilities.

Artisan Tropic takes the joy of snacking even further with their commitment to quality in both ingredient and sustainability standards, offering peace of mind and body for a top-notch snack. Although I no longer strategically follow the autoimmune protocol, the plantain (and cassava) chip arrived during what felt like a dire dietary circumstance and have remained an integral part of my snack entourage. That’s a level of snack empowerment that just can’t be beat. 

For step 4, I had to submit a short one-minute video just to introduce myself and share what excited me the most about the contest opportunity. I agonized over how to do this well and authentically, and ideally also on a day that I’d washed my hair, but ultimately I just cracked it out while sitting in my car outside the gym one day (I only did like 6 takes ;). No bells or whistles, just me sharing my passion for travel and people, and my experience with the Spanish language. From there, I advanced into the top 3 and my nerves really ramped up! I couldn’t believe I had made it this far, and now the chances of winning were so near. I held it with openhanded hope and extreme humility. What had truly been so enjoyable about this entire process was simply being able to show up 100% authentically me. No posturing, no convincing. Just intersecting all of these values of travel and quality nourishment, intentional farming/production practices to care for the planet, a love for the Spanish language, and a passion for people. It was such a fun process.

After the video submission, they wanted to schedule a Zoom interview with the CEO and Director of Marketing (who would also be the trip guide). I was so floored. I couldn’t wait to chat face-to-face (to video) and really be able to share my excitement for the potential opportunity. I met virtually with Juan Guzman and Juan Niño and shared more about my “why,” my values and passions, and what appealed to me about this opportunity. It was super fun. And then I waited.

A couple of weeks went by and the winner announcement date that had been originally set came and went. At that point I was certain I didn’t get it and was just waiting to receive word that they’d picked their winner. Then curiosity got the best of me, and through fear of jinxing my chances, I reached out just to casually see if maybe I’d missed the announcement. At this point, I had been checking and refreshing my email several times an hour for days, so I needed to just chill. Graciously they said they were delayed in doing the final interview for one of the applicants and they’d be announcing the winner at the end of that week or Monday at the latest. So I forced myself not check my email, not fret about it. Then on that Friday evening, I just casually opened my email without expecting to receive anything and saw a new email from Artisan Tropic with the subject line “Artisan Tropic Colombia Trip Contest - Update.” My thinking was that it was just updating us, letting us know they’d be announcing the winner on Monday after all, so with all my previous nerves of anticipation completely set aside, I opened it and my eyes were immediately drawn to the bold “YOU ARE THE WINNER! Congratulations!” in the body of the email. I was completely caught by surprise. The absolute best feeling and so much gratitude and excitement. I read and re-read that email so many times just to make sure it was really true. Even now I’ll sometimes go back and read it just to elicit that same euphoric excitement again.

This epic opportunity came at a time when I’d just been feeling like I needed a win, not even expecting it would be anything like this. I’d just been feeling defeated, and this blew it completely out of the water. I laughed with relief and sheer joy and humility. I couldn’t believe I had won this incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I returned to that note I’d made in my phone and changed the title from “Colombia Trip???” to “Colombia Trip!!!” and then truly began to plan.

By then it was mid-May and we would be scheduling the trip for early August. Start to finish, it had been almost 3 months since that first post, and would be another 2 1/2 months until the trip would take place, so really until I was officially on the plane heading to Colombia, it felt so surreal. I thought long and hard about who to invite on this epic experience with me and chose my friend Morgan. It was really fun to get to call up a friend to say “hey, how are you? And also, would you like to go to Colombia with me?”

I love the planning phase of a trip, envisioning myself at my destination, what I might need, and strategizing how to best utilize what I want to pack so that I have exactly what I need and no extra baggage (pun obviously intended). I had so much time to put into this and really loved the planning of what I’d pack for trekking through tropical plantain farms both comfortably and also psuedo-fashionably :-D. In addition to my own packing prep, I also planned out little gifts for my son to open from me every day that I’d be gone. This was the only hard part for me in this trip anticipation. I had never left him for more than an overnight before. But I also knew that he and I were both at a place that it was possible, and planning little things for him to open from mom every day made it that much easier. That way he had a visual (I lined all the gifts and cards up where he could see them before I left) and it gave him a small little activity to do to bring some novelty into the days that I was gone. I also planned to make some of his favorite foods and have his favorite snacks on hand.

At long last, August arrived! Juan had been exceptional about emailing Morgan and I with travel details, flight info, itinerary, and was great at answering any questions along the way. I felt beyond prepared! I’d been mentally packed for months, finally got myself officially packed, and took off from Denver with a tough goodbye to Jude. I knew we were both well set up for the time apart, but if you’re a mom, you get it.

For the full day-by-day adventure, complete with all the pictures you didn’t even know you needed (but trust me, there are soooo many more!), keep reading!

Day 1: CO to Ft Lauderdale

Morgan and I hadn’t actually seen one another since she and her family moved back to Nebraska from Colorado a few years ago, so we were reunited in Ft. Lauderdale, the first stop in our journey. We stayed the night at a great hotel near the airport, then had a mid-morning flight the next day from Ft. Lauderdale to Armenia. This is when it officially felt like our adventure had begun!

Day 2: Bienvenido a Colombia!

It was an easy 3 hour flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Armenia in Colombia. We made it through customs and then officially met Juan in person at the airport. It was so epic to finally meet and start this incredible journey together. Juan took us to El Eden restaurant for lunch, where we enjoyed the world’s best chicharrones (crispy fried pork belly), salmon, and a delectable Colombian coconut rice, and we all chatted and got to know one another.

Next we went to the exceptional Hotel Mocawa Resort where Artisan Tropic was putting us up for the week. It’s a gorgeous hotel with lush grounds, stunning swimming pools, tons of color and plants, and a purposeful focus on sustainability and environmentally respectful practices. We had a little down time for the rest of the evening to chill and acclimate and get some rest for our first full day of adventures. I enjoyed walking around the lush hotel grounds and taking in the vibrant new environment.

Day 3: Artisan Tropic’s Production Plant + An Afternoon Adventure with the Agronomist

On our first full day of adventuring, we started the day with a fabulous Colombian hotel breakfast by the pool—eggs, beans, rice, meat, fresh fruit, plantain. Juan then picked us up and we made our way to Grupo Colnatu, Artisan Tropic’s production plant. We met with Alex, the plant’s manager and information extraordinaire when it comes to every aspect of the plant’s production specifics. Nothing escapes his watchful eye and careful dedication to both craft and safety. We donned protective outfits and caps and he took us to the plant floor where the magic happens. He walked us through every single aspect of production, from where the fresh plantain and cassava is delivered daily (you read that correctly!) to where it’s sliced and trekked down the line for cooking, seasoning, packaging, and loading onto pallets for shipment. We enjoyed a fresh-off-the-line warm bag of cassava strips and it was handily the best snack I have ever had!

From there we met Artisan Tropic’s resident agronomist, Mauricio, at El Eden for lunch (where I had an epic traditional Colombian meal of beans, pork, avocado, rice, egg, plantain, and chicharron) before heading to one of the plantain farms used by Artisan Tropic. Mauro walked us through the life cycle of a plantain tree, from root to fruit and then on to the next generation of plant. Each plantain tree will only produce one bunch of plantains in its life cycle. At the base of a plantain tree you’ll find several “sons,” which are little sprout heirs of the next generation of plantain tree. At the end of our adventure we stopped at the nearby home of one of the farm workers for a fresh cup of campesino coffee, a traditional black coffee (cafe tinto) made by boiling solid sugarcane in water (called aguapanela), then using the water to make the coffee. It was, in a word, sublime, and the views and company really took the experience next level (see below). We had a simple dinner out, where Juan introduced us to granadilla, a local fruit that’s equal parts delicious and hard to describe. It has a sweet taste and a gooey, seedy interior. Despite this very poor description, we loved it! Then it was back to the hotel for some rest.

Day 4: Seis Palmas, a homemade Colombian breakfast, and San Alberto coffee with a view

Our day 4 was packed with so much fun. Juan picked us up in the morning and we met up with farm manager Don Albeiro at Seis Palmas, the Artisan Tropic family’s personal farm. We enjoyed a spectacular homemade traditional Colombian breakfast of empanadas and plantains fresh from the nearby trees, made by the lovely Marinita, wife of the fabulous farm worker Leo. She was so generous to provide this for us, and we enjoyed it at their home under a canopy of nearby plantain and papaya trees and a cacophony of colorful local birds.

From there we set off into the bush (well, the plantain bush anyway), where Leo demonstrated how they harvest the ripe plantain bunches. With machete in hand and shocking skill and precision, Leo cut away at the papery, layered bark of the plantain tree until the ripe bunch of plantains lowered enough that he could then cut them off. These plantain bunches are hefty, and yet workers will typically carry several on their backs at a time. We walked the property, learning more about the beauty and purpose of regenerative agriculture, watching it literally take place underfoot as the fallout of dead leaves and trees is left intact instead of cleared away, providing both added ground moisture, protection, and rich nutrients from decomposition. You can see a visual line of difference between the intentional regenerative practices of Seis Palmas and the neighboring plantain farms, which look otherwise barren, brown, and dry except for the plantain trees. The vibrant, lush green ecosystem speaks volumes to the quality and nutrient density of the plants fortunate enough to grow in a regenerative environment.

Before heading out, Leo showed us how they harvest papaya from one of their many nearby trees, using a long pole with a perfectly papaya-shaped basked on one end to expertly pluck it from high up in the tree. We bid many thanks to Leo and Marinita, and Don Albeiro then showed us around some of the cacao trees that grow near his home just up the hill. I’m so grateful for these incredible humans and the time and care they took in showing us more of this beautiful land and the hard, intentional work that they do to cultivate it so well.

After Seis Palmas, Juan took us back to the hotel to enjoy a slower, relaxing afternoon. We had lunch by the pool and chilled until Juan picked us up later in the afternoon for what can only be described as the world’s most picturesque cup of coffee. Pictures can scarcely do it justice, but please see below for my attempts anyway. We drove through lovely hillside small towns en route to the stunning hilltop town of Buena Vista (aptly named) and our breathtaking viewpoint at one of the cafes for San Alberto, Colombia’s premier award-winning coffee. Our extremely knowledgeable host/barista, Cristian, talked us through the nuance of what makes a great coffee as he made us a pour over brew and we sat overlooking the Buena Vista valley, surrounded by one of San Alberto’s coffee plantations. We learned the importance of accurate water temperature, grind, and the difference between coffee fragrance (the scent profile of dried beans/grounds) and aroma (the unlocking of new scents with the addition of water). The San Alberto beans are subject to a rigorous five-part testing process before they can be sold, with the fifth step entailing the owners tasting and approving each batch of beans themselves to ensure they’re up to the San Alberto standard before they can be sold. It’s no wonder this has become Colombia’s top coffee. To enjoy it at the source and with such exquisite views was such a memorable treat.

After the best cup of coffee, we stopped on the way back to the hotel for a quick bite of dinner and then turned in for the night.

Day 5: The Paradise of Jerusalén with Don Oscar and an Immersive Coffee Tour

Day 5 began with another superb hotel breakfast by the pool. Juan picked us up and we drove to Jerusalén, a glorious forest farm oasis operated by the incomparable Don Oscar. To pick any favorites throughout this trip feels impossible and unfair, but I will say that the time spent with Don Oscar seared a very special place in my heart. This is another of the farms where Artisan Tropic sources some of their plantains and cassava and supports a lush regenerative environment in the process. Don Oscar truly knows how to cater to the heart and soul of the land, honoring and fostering the most intentional, reparative growth. We walked the farm in the canopy of plantain and other tree varieties. He pointed out the role of barrier crops and plants like “botón de oro” or “gold buttons,” also known as false sunflowers, that serve to protect the oasis of Jerusalén from neighboring farms that don’t utilize the same regenerative principles. Don Oscar shared that he had obtained this farm just 5 years prior, after it had gone through a 7 year battle of disuse and disarray while two sons argued over who should take over the land after the passing of their father. When Don Oscar purchased the land, he said the son’s mother thanked him with tears in her eyes for helping to end the strife between her sons. After so many years of not being tended, the oasis he has created in his five years as land owner is a true testament to the power of regenerative and biodynamic practices.

In true Don Oscar fashion, he took ample time to relate the life cycles of plants to deeper correlations with how we are as humans. Knowing that Morgan and I are both mothers, he told us how plantain trees go through a type of birth, with the plantain fruit beginning at the base of the tree and working its way up through the trunk to the top where it undergoes a type of birthing process, laboring the fruit out into the world as first a flower and then a full bunch of plantains. He shared about the intention in plant variety throughout Jerusalén as we sampled cacao fruit fresh from the pod and watched him harvest turmeric and ginger roots. Walking the paths of Don Oscar’s farm felt truly sacred. Regenerative agriculture is about creating an attunement with the land and its needs and cultivating the necessary environment for healing and new growth. Don Oscar encompasses this in all he does both on and off the farm.

When we returned to the farm house, we enjoyed a delicious lunch together of homemade Colombian tamals, which is similar to the more commonly known tamales, except easily quadruple the size. These tamals are filled with pork, chicken, egg, carrot, and potato, wrapped in corn masa, and then steamed in plantain leaves. It was truly special to share such a beautiful meal together on the farm with Don Oscar amongst family and friends. To cap off the meal, Don Oscar shared some of his exquisite chocolate, which he makes in partnership with an organic brand that uses his cacao and allows him to dictate what does and doesn’t go into the finished product. In short: it’s chocolate that honors the nuance, integrity, and complexity of cacao and I’m confident it’s the best you could ever find! Before we left, Don Oscar gave me a big hug and looked me in the eyes to impart final words of wisdom for motherhood and life. I could not have envisioned a more special experience.

After Jerusalén we journeyed to Haciendia Combia for an exceptional interactive coffee tour. Don Oscar’s daughter Maria (who also happens to work for Artisan Tropic!) joined us as well. Our superb guide, Mauro, led us first to a demonstration of bamboo stripping, as bamboo was traditionally used to make baskets for collecting the coffee berries out in the field. We then got to “weave” our own baskets to take with us (to be fair, they were 99% pre-woven for us). From there we learned about the many different tasting notes that coffee can possess and more about coffee aroma and the differences between a low quality coffee and higher quality as we did some strategic smelling and sampling. Then we ventured into the coffee farm itself to walk among the variety of plants and learn about all of the necessary elements that go into producing a quality coffee bean, from soil to seed to fully processed coffee bean and everything in between. We painted our own ceramic mugs and then ended the tour on a picturesque hillside overlooking the dynamic landscape that Colombia has to offer while Mauro served us a fresh cup of pour over coffee.

This was such a full, rich day, complete with new friends and epic experiences to cherish for a lifetime.

Day 6: El fin. Valle de Cócora, Salento, Filandia, and an epic farewell dinner with special guests

Our final day. Bittersweet to see our trip ending, but at the same time, it was the perfect amount of time and mix of adventures and experiences. For our final day, they planned an epic journey to the Valle de Cocora, near the town of Salento in the central cordillera of the Andean mountains. We started the day bright and early and drove to a roadside café for a delicious Colombian breakfast. I had a traditional soup with meat and potatoes, and Juan and Morgan enjoyed a unique Colombian delicacy of hot chocolate with soft cheese.

From there, we traversed winding roads through the breathtaking landscape that the region has to offer until we arrived at the start to our hike. This unique region features the Quindío wax palm, the national tree of Colombia and quite a sight to see as these towering palm giants stand as protective beacons of the valley (peep an awesome rendering of this tree all across Artisan Tropic’s packaging and media!). We did a shorter hike for sake of time up to more sweeping views of the valley, stopping to enjoy the landscape and greet a few new animal friends along the way.

After enjoying our hike, we met up with Juan’s family for lunch before journeying to Salento for a little souvenir shopping. Salento is a vibrant little town with loads of shops for trinkets and handmade gifts. My souvenir focus was on coffee, chocolate, and something fun and unique for my son (he got a little hand carved banana painted bowl). From Salento we journeyed to the town of Filandia for a delightful tapas-style dinner with none other than the renowned Don Oscar himself. His daughter had mentioned it would be unlikely that he would come out to join us since crowds and evening events aren’t typically his thing. It felt extra special that he and his wife decided to join us out for a fun shared meal together. As this was our final evening together, we reflected on the time we’d shared, our favorite experiences from the trip, and most enjoyed aspects of Colombia. After dinner we walked around Filandia a little, and Don Oscar imparted final words of wisdom, sharing with me in true Don Oscar fashion that similar to putting on our own oxygen mask first in cases of in-flight emergencies, so too we must take care of ourselves in order to be able to show up well for others in life. The intention and care with which he shares is so impactful and heartfelt. Everyone needs a solid Don Oscar in their life.

We said our final goodbyes to Don Oscar and family, Maria, and Juan’s lovely wife Stef and son Dani. On the drive back to the hotel, Juan gave me free reign to choose the music via his personal iTunes repertoire, and I took us on a moody musical journey, forcing us all to revisit the angsty emo whims of our teenage pasts. I couldn’t have imagined a more fun end to our trip and our time together.

(You can check out our epic playlist here to experience it for yourself ;)

Day 7: Armenia to Ft. Lauderdale

Morgan and I got ourselves all packed up and said our final goodbyes to the beautiful Hotel Mocawa resort. Juan picked us up and we stopped on the way to the airport for some final chocolate and coffee purchases. We reflected together on what an epic week it had been, sharing thanks and gratitude and prayers for our separate journeys as well as for the convergence of our paths in this incredible adventure together.

Day 8: home

This time away from my little buddy was hard, so greeting him again at the airport was extra special.

Final thoughts

Words scarcely scratch the surface in communicating how deeply special this entire trip felt. From its very beginnings in mere hope and possibility to its inception and reality, the human connections and connection to nature and culture, it truly felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I will carry with me forever. As a mom, it was truly unique to be able to step away for a few days from the rigors of daily responsibilities and caring for another human, always being “on” and at the ready, and get to step into a space that felt completely my own. We, as parents, need times like these to ourselves. Space to dream, journey, and just be. Obviously, a massive trip like this one might not always be the way, but taking moments to recharge so that we can show up more fully and authentically are truly vital. I’m so beyond grateful that this trip afforded me both that and a fresh glimpse of myself as both mother and individual. I haven’t traveled like this since well before Jude was born, and it truly refreshed my soul.

I am so deeply grateful to the entire Artisan Tropic family, to Camilo and Margarita Guzman for building the Artisan Tropic dream, the rest of the Guzman and Niño families for continuing to make Artisan Tropic what it is. Every farmer, farm manager, and land owner willing to go against the grain to rebuild and regenerate the land in the ways it is meant to be cultivated, and everyone else behind the mission to foster better agricultural practices and build a regenerative future. Huge heartfelt thanks go to everyone behind the scenes on the Artisan Tropic team who had a hand in making this trip so intentionally planned and thoughtfully executed. It could not have been more perfect. And a huge, special thanks to Juan Fernando, for being our tour guide and executing such an epic adventure for us, always thoughtful and gracious and intentional. What a privilege to have connected and made new friends along the way.

If ever you find yourself with an opportunity to visit Colombia, GO. The vast and dynamic landscapes and culture will undoubtedly take up real estate in your heart as well.

If you’d like to learn more about regenerative agriculture and how you can help, you can start small by connecting with local farmers and ranchers in your area, learning about their practices and how supporting them in part supports the bigger picture. It’s a beautiful, intentional, paradigm-shifting level of work that benefits both planet and people. It might start small, but it has lasting impact for the planet one purchase, one plant at a time. You can also shop for brands using regenerative practices in their product line. This is a great place to start. The brands choosing to forge this path are the ones most apt and excited to talk about it, so look for labeling that indicates a brand’s intentional practices and sourcing habits. Artisan Tropic does a superb job of explaining the regenerative process well, which you can read more about here. I highly recommend using their standards as a template as you seek to support other brands doing the same level of care for the planet.

In loving health, y con un corazon lleno de gratitud,

Ashley