In return, travellers can expect to eat beautiful food cooked with ingredients harvested that day from the forest ((can you give an example?)) and to spend time with Hilda in her kitchen learning to cook the El Salvadorian specialty, pupusas (thick corn tortillas stuffed with cheese, beans and pork).

BBC: El Salvador rises from the ashes

Many want time to work on projects they're passionate about but can't squeeze in, like writing a book (Kelly Braddock, a NYC-based realtor), taking a writing class (Lois Kelly, owner of the marketing firm BeeLine in Rhode Island) or learning to cook (Andrea Botwin, a research scientist from Philadelphia), while the majority are hoping for spa certificates or weekend escapes.

FORBES: Woman Gift Guide

Learning how to cook was a challenge, and she was used to meeting challenges head on.

NEWYORKER: Luda and Milena