About Us
How it all began…
By Steph
As passionate Sus travel addicts we long ago rejected the crowded confines of mass tourism for a more organic style of travel. So when the industry began responding to this growing desire we eagerly accepted the brochures given out by tour operators and pocketed the checklists
provided by organisations and charities, but still we found ourselves increasingly disappointed by the lack of independent, incisive, detailed information regarding responsible tourism. The sort of info that can’t be relegated to a page of a brochure, a text box in a guide book, or the occasional article; the sort written by Sus travellers for Sus travellers; the sort usually provided by a dedicated travel magazine. So one chilly October afternoon when we were all stood around hugging the oak trees in my back garden, a solution came to us and we set about creating our own.
Not content with merely providing a website full of news, reviews, forums and events, we also created Bello Mundo - a magazine for travellers not tourists, for those who want to venture outside the compound of a resort, experience something unforgettable and immerse themselves in the foreign culture and natural wonders of the world. Like us, our readers also want to put something back when they travel, as well as take something with them, because they realise that enriching the lives of locals, the economy and the environment will only enrich the experience for themselves.
If all of this sounds a bit too green and tree hugging hippy-ish for your liking, then you probably won’t be interested in exploring the Australian outback, lounging in eco-luxury in Dubai, rescuing sea turtles in Brazil, diving pristine reef in the Red Sea, mountain biking in Bulgaria, uncovering Eastern Europe, a bus ride from Kathmandu or a 10,000km expedition across rural Russia.
If, on the other hand, you wouldn’t mind checking it out then get on board before we all miss the boat and that pristine stretch of coastline becomes another Costa del Sol. As the old saying goes, ‘from the little acorn, a mighty oak will grow’ – and if you ask nicely, we may even let you hug it.
Who are we?
This is usually the part where we explain who we are and list the various impressive letter combinations that follow our names, as well as the relevant life experiences that deem us worthy of our job titles. Well, whilst we have plenty of both, we thought we’d skip that bit and present you with our mugshots and a list of likes/dislikes instead. That way you can judge us without feeling intimidated by our academic prowess.
Likes: Wild places, quiet places, wild bars, quiet bars, woodland with a river, badgers, Medieval & Renaissance townscapes, piles of old rocks, ports & railway stations, history, culture, meeting the locals, real music from anywhere, natural beaches, abundant wildlife, abundant rainforests, good food, Steve's hats.
Dislikes: Chainstore eating & drinking, airports and motorways, things that don’t do what they say on the label, being told what we like, anything designed by Marketing Consultants and unit-shifters, pre-fabricated pop music, crowds, junk mail, seeing the world from behind a glass screen, Tesco, Joe - but he gets the job done.
Who are you?
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Editorial & Submissions Policy
Bello Principles
We exist to promote the principles of Sustainable Travel, the ‘Fair Trade’ of Travel, the Green option. Not only is this the future of the business beyond mass tourism, it’s also the fastest growing part of the Travel sector - and, as more people question the impact of what they do with their leisure time, look at the effects of mass travel and the economic effects of tourism in developing countries, we want to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Tourism is said to be the fastest growing industry in world. Sustainable Travel has to be potentially for everyone.
Our ideals are reflected in every article we publish. We aim to inspire our readers to travel the world without spoiling it for everyone else, to support those who seek to preserve it and expose those who don't. We will never be led by advertising nor accept adverts for products with which we are not happy. We will support commercial organisations where profits stay in the host country wherever possible. We will listen to those who live and work where we only wish to visit. We will be a magazine for Travellers, not for Travel Companies, we’re interested in ideas not just products. Our Integrity will be the making of our reputation. We aim to be the authority in the field.
Bello Submissions
Bello writers are like its readers, enthusiasts for the issues and for the discoveries that travel with eyes wide open brings. Write to us in response to anything or anyone in our pages and we'll print or post all we can. We accept contributions on any topics covered by the magazine or that you feel should be; sometimes it can be better to send us a proposal before spending time on any work. We are particularly interested in contributions from freelance travel writers and those of any background living in the places they describe - tell us what it's really like and what issues really affect you.
