Best known as one of the most famous supermodels of the '90s, Christy Turlington Burns is the founder of the nonprofit organization Every Mother Counts, which is dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for mothers. After experiencing childbirth complications herself, she directed the documentary “No Woman, No Cry.” Currently, she is helping to promote “The Belly Art Project: Moms Supporting Moms” (St. Martin's Press, $29.99), which was created by Spanx founder Sara Blakely. Proceeds from the book will benefit Every Mother Counts. Turlington Burns resides in New York City with her husband, filmmaker Edward Burns, and their two children. An edited version of our conversation follows.

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What untapped destination should people know about?

El Salvador. My mother is from El Salvador, and it is a country I have visited many time throughout my life. Whenever I go back, I am struck by the beauty of the colonial architecture in the cities and the Mayan ruins. The countryside, volcanic black sand beaches and Lake Coatepeque are just beautiful. And pupusas are my absolute favorite cuisine.

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What is your favorite destination?

I have many favorite destinations, but at the top of that list is Tanzania. I've been to Tanzania 10 times, most recently in 2015 when I ran the Kilimanjaro half-marathon. I'll be running it again in 2017 to raise awareness for my organization.

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To someone who was going there for the first time, what would you recommend that they do during their visit?

Tanzania has many incredible sites to see and experience. Mount Kilimanjaro, for starters, which I climbed in 1999, has an elevation of 19,341 feet. It's Africa's tallest mountain. A third of the country is protected land, with 16 national parks, including the Serengeti and Tarangire. The Kilimanjaro Half and Full Marathon in 2015 was my first race outside of the United States. The course is challenging but worth it. It's also one of the most stunning courses I have run, because you can see Mount Kilimanjaro from it. Zanzibar is a part of the Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa. The beaches and people are truly stunning, and the architecture in Stone Town is incredible.

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Have you traveled to a place that stood out so much that you felt compelled to incorporate it into your work?

I think it has worked the other way around. I think about countries I have visited that need support, and it helps to narrow down all of the options when planning ahead and looking at new partners for our organization. There is so much need out there and here at home in the U.S. Choosing where to focus and direct funds when you are addressing a global tragedy like maternal mortality is tough.

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What are your five favorite cities?

A. I am from the Bay Area and love San Francisco. I love New York, too, and think of it as home. Other favorite cities are Florence, Dublin and Buenos Aires.

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