Hidden Heroes
A Docu-Series by Peruvian-American Filmmaker
Marco Rios Bollinger
Ordinary people doing the extraordinary.
Experience building a better world
HIDDEN HEROES is a docuseries that transports you to some of the most remote places on our planet to meet the ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things to uplift their communities and build a better world.
Help us spark a movement
Donate to support more stories from Hidden Heroes
Become a Hidden Hero
Take Our Masterclass
Learn leadership skills and how you can build a better world through this immersive education experience.
Scholarship Application Deadline:
April 22 (Earth Day)
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Scholarships
Can’t pay? We’re approving 100% of scholarships for a limited time. Apply in <5 minutes.
Virtual Field Trips
Learn from local leaders in Mexico City, Nepal, Costa Rica, and a Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon.
What Learners are saying
“The course was fantastic. The videos are succinct, yet beautifully encapsulate emotions, skills, and stories in them. The assignments are equally great; they reinforce the knowledge shared in the videos and prompt you to think about your own experiences and ideas. Anyone taking this course will complete it with the tools they need to begin on their journey towards making a social impact.”
– Rahul Yates, Los Angeles
“Captivating film editing, it looks super professional. Taking the course felt liberating.”
– Andrew Goldman, Los Angeles
Travel with a
Hidden Hero
We’ve partnered with Lokal Travel
so you can experience with our heroes.
Costa Rica
Osa Wild connects travelers to diverse family projects from a completely natural retreat amid mountains, trees, waterfalls and animals, to the preparation of Costa Rican dishes, fishing, milking, use of a mill, and the simple, humble and beautiful sharing with Costa Rican families. They are the first 100% Costa Rican-run tour operator focused on promoting community tourism.
Mexico
De la Chinampa a tu Mesa is a non-profit organization supporting ecological preservation and sustainable agriculture in the chinampas of Xochimilco – the famous floating gardens of Mexico City. The owner, Ricardo Rodriguez, leads tours through the beautiful canals offering food from local farms, a visit to the chinampas, and knowledge about the history of the area.
Lokal Travel makes it easy to design your custom eco adventure and makes sure your trip benefits local communities.
The Rise of impact travel and community tourism
When you support local tourism, you’re empowering communities and making a positive impact on the world. From eco-lodges owned by indigenous communities in the Amazon to homestay networks empowering women in rural Nepal, there are countless opportunities to make your trip both meaningful and memorable. With over 50,000 local lodges and community tourism providers to choose from, it’s never been easier to make a difference while you travel.
Watch Behind The Scenes
Our Eco Adventure with Holland Roden
We took actress and activist Holland Roden with us to the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica for the taping of episodes 2 & 3 of Hidden Heroes. We experienced the magic of the Osa and the inspiring work these female heroes are doing in the region. Go behind the scenes of our epic 22 km trek across the most biodiverse place on Earth and into the heart of Corcovado National Park.
About Marco
My name is Marco Ríos Bollinger. I’m an Afro-Peruvian American award-winning filmmaker, commercial photographer and explorer. I’ve lived in North, Central, & South America, the Middle East, Europe, Japan and traveled extensively in 30+ countries.