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Operations
Antonio Vaquero: Training & Development Manager
Before joining Journey Latin America 17 years ago, Spaniard Antonio had never been to South or Central America, but was attracted by their vibrant cultures and tangible sense of history. Of course, he has since taken the opportunity to travel extensively in the region, counting Peru, Brazil, Mexico and Guatemala amongst his favourite of its countries. During that time he has been lucky – or unlucky – enough to have had several close encounters with native wildlife including tarantulas and thieving coatis, but he has also had the chance to witness magnificent sunrises in stunning locations like Tikal and Machu Picchu. Antonio takes a great interest in psychological research, which he pursued at degree level and later with a Masters and Chartership in Occupational Psychology. Alongside his experience in the travel industry, this has given him the ideal platform for his role as the company’s primary recruiter. After 17 years of applying this knowledge, he still gains great satisfaction from the process of selecting new colleagues and training them to make the most of their extensive ground knowledge and customer service skills. Antonio is also interested in photography, and enjoys the local food and rich indigenous traditions of Latin America whenever he gets the chance.
Before joining Journey Latin America 17 years ago, Spaniard Antonio had never been to South or Central America, but was attracted by their vibrant cultures and tangible sense of history. Of course, he has since taken the opportunity to travel extensively in the region, counting Peru, Brazil, Mexico and Guatemala amongst his favourite... Read more >
Jim Ashworth: Product and Operations, Group Tours
Five years ago, Jim quit his job in the City to travel all over South America, and has never looked back since. He was able to discover the authentic Latin America by being open to its spontaneous and friendly culture, and looks back on extended stays with locals that all started with a chat in a bar or restaurant as being amongst the most memorable aspects of his travels. Jim gave Journey Latin America a call on his return, and four years later he is still an enthusiastic and knowledgeable member of our team. Jim’s favourite areas are Central America, with its contrasts and vibrancy, and cosmopolitan Argentina. As a classics graduate, he has a keen interest in history which continuously draws him back to the ancient cultures of the Incas, Aztecs and Mayas and the awe-inspiring archaeological sites of Central America such as Tikal, Guatemala. Jim’s other interests include football and real Mexican food.
Five years ago, Jim quit his job in the City to travel all over South America, and has never looked back since. He was able to discover the authentic Latin America by being open to its spontaneous and friendly culture, and looks back on extended stays with locals that all started with a chat in a bar or restaurant as being amongst... Read more >
Tamsin Butler: Deputy and Operations Manager, Group Tours
Tamsin deputizes the Group Tours department and heads up the team's Product and Operations Team. She is a wildlife enthusiast whose favourite moments from her extensive travels in Latin America include witnessing thousands of parrots crowd the largest clay-lick in the world, being taken by surprise by a turtle in the Galápagos and watching Amazonian sunsets to the sound of animal calls on a river cruise in Peru. She also enjoys savouring the natural beauty of the UK by going on long country walks, camping and gardening, and particularly loves returning to her native Cornwall. She loves Latin cocktails and any form of pasty or empanada – which she patriotically notes were introduced to Mexico by Cornish settlers! Tamsin is a Tourism Management graduate with a wealth of experience in the industry, but has really found her niche at Journey Latin America where she has spent the past seven years. Her favourite places include Brazil’s wildlife-rich Pantanal, the salt flats of Bolivia, Iguazú Falls and Ilha Grande, Brazil. Her favourite animal is the anteater, although she also has a soft spot for the Amazonian pink dolphin.
Tamsin deputizes the Group Tours department and heads up the team's Product and Operations Team. She is a wildlife enthusiast whose favourite moments from her extensive travels in Latin America include witnessing thousands of parrots crowd the largest clay-lick in the world, being taken by surprise by a turtle in the Galápagos... Read more >
Joaquin Dedomenici: Product and Operations, Group Tours
Joaquin was born and raised in the province of Buenos Aires, and his previous professional experience was gained as a lawyer in Argentina. However he was unable to resist the lure of travel and after an epic road trip across Argentina, Peru and Bolivia he moved to England three years ago. Joaquin’s favourite countries include, unsurprisingly, Argentina, as well as Brazil and Peru, where he experienced his most memorable travel moment: walking down from the cliff top in Paracas and meeting the woman who would become his wife. He loves the lifestyle and the importance of family and friends in his home country, and his favourite activity to pursue there is horse riding, closely followed by eating steak! Joaquin is also a big sports fan, and the opportunity to watch rugby is one of his favourite things about life in Britain.
Joaquin was born and raised in the province of Buenos Aires, and his previous professional experience was gained as a lawyer in Argentina. However he was unable to resist the lure of travel and after an epic road trip across Argentina, Peru and Bolivia he moved to England three years ago. Joaquin’s favourite countries include,... Read more >
Simon Doran: Systems Manager
Simon’s IT skills and his immense knowledge of Latin America combine perfectly in his role as Systems Manager. Simon originally joined the company in sales over ten years ago, where his degree in Latin American Studies and his experience of living in Mexico City and Mérida were an asset to both the Flights and Bespoke departments. Simon’s role slowly gravitated towards IT as he gained more and more knowledge and interest in computing, and he now takes responsibility for our booking software. Simon is a Spanish speaker with a longstanding love of Latin American culture that encompasses the food, music, wildlife and landscape of the region. Although he has travelled widely throughout Latin America, he retains a particular fondness for Mexico, and in particular the beautiful beaches and ancient ruins of the Yucatán, the mariachi trios of Mexico City, and the scenery and activities on offer in Baja California. When it comes to food, he can’t get enough of blue maize tortillas, Oaxacan cheese and huevos rancheros, particularly when washed down with a cold Mexican beer!
Simon’s IT skills and his immense knowledge of Latin America combine perfectly in his role as Systems Manager. Simon originally joined the company in sales over ten years ago, where his degree in Latin American Studies and his experience of living in Mexico City and Mérida were an asset to... Read more >
Angela Fernandez: Accounts Administrator
A graduate in Economics, Angela has worked in our Accounts department for almost 15 years. Although her homeland is Spain, she feels an affinity with Latin America that has led her to travel to its countries on many occasions. Amongst her favourite places are the Brazilian colonial town of Paraty and its idyllic surroundings, blissful Fernando de Noronha and Peru’s Colca Canyon. As a lover of dance, it comes as no surprise that Angela also recommends Havana, where the rhythm of salsa pulses through the city streets. She also loves the musicality of Brazilian culture, as well as the sensual tango of Argentina, a country in which she particularly enjoys spending time due to the warmth and openness of its people. Aside from her interest in all things musical, Angela enjoys a range of holistic pursuits including yoga, reflexology and alternative medicine. She also enjoys gastronomy, particularly when it comes to the rich and varied cuisine of Peru.
A graduate in Economics, Angela has worked in our Accounts department for almost 15 years. Although her homeland is Spain, she feels an affinity with Latin America that has led her to travel to its countries on many occasions. Amongst her favourite places are the Brazilian colonial town of... Read more >
Bo Lennartson: Financial Controller
Our Financial Controller Bo is a huge asset to our Accounts department, with an unshakeable grasp of numbers, razor-like precision and a plethora of experience in the travel industry. Of less relevance to the role, but nonetheless impressive, is the fact that he also speaks five languages fluently in addition to his mother tongue of Swedish. Bo is passionate about travel and has lived and worked in Kenya, Portugal, Cyprus and Somalia. Highlights from his extensive globe-trotting include watching the fire flies in complete darkness on a river in Borneo with an electric storm brewing overhead, and seeing the rising sun reveal thousands upon thousands of animals on the savannah of the Masai Mara, but so far his travels have yet to take him to Latin America. This is next on his agenda however: he particularly wants to visit Central America, the Galápagos and Antarctica – a fascinating continent, he says, with amazing wildlife and an extreme, rugged landscape. Bo’s other interests besides travel include theatre, concerts and Tudor history.
Our Financial Controller Bo is a huge asset to our Accounts department, with an unshakeable grasp of numbers, razor-like precision and a plethora of experience in the travel industry. Of less relevance to the role, but nonetheless impressive, is the fact that he also speaks five languages fluently... Read more >
Juan Manuel Cafferata: Accounts Administrator
Juan was born in Buenos Aires, but the travel bug took him to Europe and he now has no plans to return. However, he still retains a real soft spot for the land of his birth, and in particular he loves not only the sophisticated capital but also Argentinean Patagonia. His favourite place to enjoy Patagonia’s spectacular scenery is friendly San Martín de los Andes, which he describes simply as ‘paradise’. Juan also loves Rio de Janeiro, home of beautiful views and people to match! Outside of travel, Juan’s main interests are sport of any type, reading and dancing. He also loves Brazilian food, and, of course, a good Argentinean steak from time to time.
Juan was born in Buenos Aires, but the travel bug took him to Europe and he now has no plans to return. However, he still retains a real soft spot for the land of his birth, and in particular he loves not only the sophisticated capital but also Argentinean Patagonia. His favourite place to enjoy... Read more >
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