There are perhaps three things you should know about me: the first is I’m a Colombian immigrant. Much to my chagrin, I do not possess the rolling accent, sun-kissed skin, or lustrous hair that one expects of a Colombian woman (i.e. Sophia Vergara). I immigrated here as a baby and then proceeded to grow up in the Midwest, doubling down when I attended college in Indiana. In other words, I’m about as Colombian as Olive Garden is authentic Italian. And yet, my Colombian heritage plays a major part in my career as a travel editor and journalist.

The first time I booked an international trip abroad sans family was to Colombia. The first major byline I had was a story about Colombian food for Food & Wine magazine. The one place I always recommend when asked about a favorite destination is, you guessed it, Colombia. All of this is to say, Colombia will pop up in this newsletter on more than one occasion. I hope you’re here for it.

The second thing you should know about me is I started my own women’s travel publication called Unearth Women. I divulge all the details of how Unearth Women went from a wine-fueled idea to an international magazine in this post. Because I’ve always been a multitasker, I’m also a senior editor at Fodor’s Travel, which is to say you’ll often see me sharing stories from Fodor’s. The third thing to know is I authored a women’s travel book called Wanderess, so I know a thing or two about travel — particularly women’s travel — and I’m excited to share that with you in this newsletter.

With this newsletter, I’ll introduce you to women who inspire me, highlight women and BIPOC-owned businesses around the world, wax poetic about destinations that have moved me, and get opinionated on travel trends that excite me.

While this weekly newsletter is free for the masses, I do offer a paid newsletter subscription for readers to get additional content and unlock perks. Our paying subscribers receive:

  • Our weekly free newsletter

  • A print copy of Unearth Women magazine

  • A digital copy of our Feminist Guidebook to NYC

  • A signed paperback copy of our women’s travel book, Wanderess

Looking forward to taking you on this journey with me.

Nikki Vargas

Founding Editor, Unearth Women

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Wanderess is a travel newsletter from Unearth Women, sharing women's travel trends, inspiring stories, and more.

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Nikki Vargas

Nikki Vargas is the Founding Editor of Unearth Women and an Editor at Fodor's Travel. She is the author of Wanderess (published 2022 from Penguin Random House) and is currently writing a travel memoir for Harper Collins.