The Groups department (Classic Journeys & Discovery Journeys)
The vast majority of Journey Latin America’s permanent staff are Latin American experts, dealing with all aspects of travel to the continent.
Of these, eight work specifically with our Group Tours programmes and you can speak to them on 020 8747 8315 or email them at groups@journeylatinamerica.co.uk.
They were Latin American specialists before they joined Journey Latin America: they all speak Spanish and/or Portuguese and have an affinity for the continent and its peoples.
Tour Leaders
Our carefully-selected tour leaders are not conventional ‘couriers’, but actually manage the trip, making operational decisions as well as looking after the welfare of the group. All speak the local language, know the ground from personal travels, and have the kind of temperament that is likely to make a group gel.
Many of them hold academic qualifications in subjects related to Latin America, others have acquired expertise in situ. They will share their local knowledge with you or find out what you need to know. They are also adept at seeking out little bars or quirky museums away from the tourist crowds.
Several of our sales team started their careers as Journey Latin America tour leaders so you may well find yourself speaking to someone who has actually led your trip.
Tamsin Butler: Operations Team Leader, Group Tours
Tamsin heads up the Product and Operations Team in our Group Tours department. 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.
Jim Ashworth: Travel Consultant, 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.
Natalie Paiva: Travel Consultant, Group Tours
Natalie is able to offer a unique insight into Latin America, having a Colombian mother and a father who hails from the Brazilian Amazon. She spent a year living in Mexico, where she became integrated into the culture and took the opportunity to perfect her fluent Spanish. Like the rest of the Group Tours team, she loves good wine, and she is also partial to a Brazilian feijoada or a Mexican tostada, not to mention a spot of spicy salsa on the dance floor. Natalie’s passion for Latin America stems from its incredibly varied scenery, welcoming people and dramatic history, combined with the melting pot of cultures and customs that is reflected in her own diverse heritage. Amongst Natalie’s top recommendations for visitors to the region are the surreal salt flats of Uyuni, Bolivia, where she was taken aback by the experience of sitting on an island of cacti, surrounded by salt as far as the eye could see, and the chilled-out destination of Baja California.
Bill Hill: Tour leader
Having worked in the JLA office for 8 years, Bill decided it was time to return to the exotic places he was selling to clients. With his infectious enthusiasm for local cultures, clients will quickly learn interesting facts and snippets about local politics, customs and trivia.
Sean Rhodes: Travel Consultant, Group Tours
Sean is a native Yorkshireman and devoted Sheffield Wednesday fan whose travels have taken him across most of Central and South America. His favourite places are Buenos Aires, where he lived for a year, La Paz with its distinct culture and fascinating way of life, and Cuba, where he enjoyed the palpable history and the chance to see fellow bearded people in control! Sean has a keen interest in indigenous revolutionary politics, but when in a less intellectual frame of mind he will also tell you that he has a passion for red wine and Argentinean steak. His top travel tip is to experience the music festivals of party-loving Buenos Aires.
Berner Torres: Tour leader
Berner Torres is a graduate of biology and archaeology from the University of Cusco. An ardent nature enthusiast, he easily transmits his love for his country and its traditions.
Etienne Frans: Tour leader
Etienne Frans has worked as a Journey Latin America tour leader since 1987. He has accumulated a vast knowledge and store of anecdotes.
Duncan Griffin: Tour leader
Duncan Griffin joined us in 2002 after extensive travel in Latin America. Speaks Spanish and Portuguese. Completed a mountain leader training course in the UK.
Peter Selman: Tour leader
Peter Selman excelled academically and spent a year studying in Chile. He is an accomplished martial artist and tennis player.
Sarah White: Tour leader
Sarah White is an experienced and popular leader with an impressive range of local contacts. She lived in Chile for a year during her studies.
Cristian Pizarro: Tour leader
Cristian Pizarro is a qualified mountain guide who has worked throughout his native Chile and the Andean region. He currently lives in Scotland.
Sarah Beard: Group Tours Manager
As our Group Tours Manager Sarah Beard puts her ten years of experience at Journey Latin America to good use, drawing from over six of those spent as a tour guide to select the most inspiring and attraction-packed journeys from around Central and South America. Her own personal passion is Chile and Patagonia, and Sarah is perhaps at her happiest when staying on her very own patch of land in a remote part of the Chilean lake district, where she wakes up to views of three neighbouring volcanoes. Sarah is captivated by the wide open spaces and huge skies of the Southern Cone region, but when back home in England her love of the wilderness translates to an enthusiasm for hiking and camping all over the country. She also adores wine (Chilean, of course!) and seafood. Before joining us, Sarah lived in Ecuador, Argentina and Brazil and studied Iberian and Latin American studies, enabling her to pick up the Latin American vernaculars. She considers herself very lucky to have travelled throughout most of Latin America, but when pushed will tell you that her highlights are eating just-caught oysters on the island of Chiloé and catching a lift on a local Patagonian fishing boat – a journey that ended up lasting three days!
Nicola Gude: Tour leader
Nicola worked in the JLA office before deciding to swap sales for tour leading. She has extensive ground knowledge of both Central and South America and leads most of our tours, repeatedly praised for her infectious enthusiasm wherever she goes.
Sally Dodge: Tour leader
After living in the south of Chile, Sally decided to embark on a career tour leading. Having travelled throughout most South American countries, you will find Sally walking the mountains or sussing out the local salsa club on a number of our tours.
Veronica Lampon: Tour leader
Veronica joined Journey Latin America as a tour leader having encountered our groups whilst working on the island of Chiloe, Chile. She predominantly leads tours in the southern cone but can also step in to lead in Central America as well. Her enthusiasm for her native country is infectious and she loves sharing her passion for the local cuisine.