Explore the world through people and stories — Locals Insider Travel Guides

Anderson Martins is a professional tour guide based in Água Izé, São Tomé, designing personalized itineraries across São Tomé and Príncipe — the archipelago São Toméans call the land of Leve-Leve. Follow him at @anderson.tours on Instagram.

Patrick Fortuna is the co-founder and creative director of Mão de Mãe, a São Paulo-based designer brand creating timeless crochet pieces with hints of modernity. He is also a speaker, content creator, and instructor of "Moda em potência" at @profissaomoda.studio. Follow him at @patrickfortuna and Mão de Mãe at @ateliemaodemae.

Miriam Synger is a Kraków-born sociologist and Jewish educator, author of I Am a Jewish Woman and Rut's Diary. She gives lectures, workshops and online meetings for children and adults on Jewish culture, tradition and everyday life, and reaches a large audience at @jestem_zydowka on Instagram and TikTok.

Hadi Moussally is a Lebanese-French filmmaker, photographer and performer dividing his time between Paris and Barcelona. His work has travelled to 500+ festivals and won over 70 international awards.

Nuno Prates is a Lisbon-based gardener, botanical writer, and urban greening advocate known as The Lisboan Gardener. A lifelong plant enthusiast, he specializes in creating lush tropical gardens in urban spaces while promoting biodiversity and greener cities. Through his writing and community projects, Nuno shares his deep knowledge of plants and invites both locals and travelers to experience Lisbon through its gardens, hidden green spaces, and unique botanical heritage.

Femi The Scorpion (Femi Akhano) is a professional choreographer and dancer at the Opéra Garnier in Paris, where he works on the immersive show Arsène Lupin et le secret de l'opéra. Since 2021, he's become known across France as "Le Transporteur de Bonheur" — the Happiness Carrier — for his free, spontaneous street performances that turn Paris landmarks into impromptu dance floors. Born in Benin, he now shares his performances with roughly half a million followers on Instagram.

Denis Zaykovskiy, a journalist and public garden designer based in Gdansk, Poland, finds inspiration in nature and serene island escapes like the Azores, favoring peaceful landscapes over bustling tourist hubs.