Hey there,

We, Anastasia and Douwe, founded OffMap Media to tell the untold stories of the Andes, the longest mountain range in the world. Driven by curiosity, persistence, and a touch of madness, we are cycling its entire length—from Colombia to Argentina—reporting as we go.

Colombia has been our home for the past five years. During that time, we reported for InSight Crime, a think tank and media organization focused on organized crime and citizen security in the Americas. We led field investigations in countries like Venezuela, Ecuador, Guyana, and Suriname, publishing human-centered stories, award-winning investigations, and security and policy analyses.

But over time, we felt the pull to be in the field full-time and to expand our coverage to other critical issues in the region. We believe this work is vital. As news organizations face budget cuts, many can no longer afford to send reporters into the field. As a result, vast parts of the world are becoming news deserts, where important stories go unreported and rarely reach a global audience. The Andes, despite their economic, cultural, and environmental significance, are no exception.

We aim to fill this gap by venturing to places few journalists visit and connecting local stories to global developments. Expect in-depth reporting on how policies drafted in Bogotá, Quito, and Lima affect communities far from the capital, on how everyday people are living out — and taking on — climate change, and on the human face of shifts in global health, economics, technology, and culture. We’ll also share reflections on our experiences from the road.

This independent media project relies entirely on the support of our readers. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber or making a one-time donation. Your support directly fuels our mission to bring underreported stories from the Andes to the world, while giving you full access to our growing archive of investigative articles.