Staff & Guide Profiles
Guides: Venezuela | Brazil | Ecuador & Galápagos | Peru | Bolivia | Chile & Argentina
One of Southwind's
distinguishing features is our people. Your South American journey begins the
moment you search our website or call our office and does not end until you
return from your adventure delighted, renewed and satisfied. Our home office
personnel and local guides are committed to outstanding personal service,
attention to detail, and providing an exceptional travel experience. If you are
interested in a career in one of the most active segments in the travel
industry, see our Career
Opportunities.
USA OFFICE STAFF
Tom Damon
Recognized as a "Top
Travel Specialist" by Condé Nast Traveler magazine in 2005-2008.
President & Adventure Travel Specialist. Tom has a BA in Environmental Science from the University of Denver and a MS in Resource Management & Administration from Antioch University. Prior to joining the SWA team in 1994, he worked on ecotourism and sustainable development projects in Costa Rica. Tom enjoys personalizing trips for Southwind travelers by incorporating nature and cultural experiences with upscale local accommodations. His Andean travels have included; the "lost world" & Merida in Venezuela, Peru's Cordillera Blanca, Inca Trail & Salcantay routes, Bolivia's Cordillera Real & Lake Titicaca, Ecuador's haciendas & Patagonia's Paine, Fitz Roy & Lake District. His Amazonian forays have included; Manu, Tambopata & Iquitos in Peru & Brazil's Pantanal & Iguazu falls. In the Galápagos, Tom can recommend a variety of cruise options from personal visits. An avid outdoorsman, Tom has climbed glaciated peaks in Bolivia, Ecuador, Mexico in addition to Rainier & Denali in the US. A passion for travel photography has led him across the Pyrenees, Alps, Himalayas and throughout Central America. Closer to home, Tom and his wife Kelly like to bike, hike and ski in Colorado.
Suzie ShrideSouthwind's co-founder and advisor. An outdoor educator, Suzie enjoys sharing her passion for travel, native cultures and nature with others. Her journeys took her to five continents before she discovered her love for South America. She has explored remote regions of the Amazon including Bolivia's Isiboro-Secure, Ecuador's Jivaro territory, and Peru's Manu & Tambopata reserves plus the upper Rio Negro River in Brazil, Venezuela & Colombia. She has hiked dozens of Andean routes including multiple trips along the Inca Trail, the Ausangate Circuit near Cusco and the Huayhuash and Blanca ranges outside of Huaraz. She's trekked the Paine & Fitz Roy areas of Patagonia on several occasions, has photographed wildlife in Brazil's Pantanal and Venezuela's Llanos, and snorkeled with penguins and sea lions in the Galápagos. Now daughter Reyna accompanies her mom frequently on trips, making friends wherever she goes.
Luis
FelipaThis Peruvian native is Southwind's Director of Operations and co-founder. A seasoned guide and mountaineer, he led trips throughout the Andes for a decade and counts 50 successful ascents on his resume, including Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas. Combining his "hands-on" expertise in the field with eight years of business management and finance study at two of Peru's top universities, Luis developed his own trekking company, TrekPeru, reputedly providing the best adventure travel services in Peru. His love of nature, exploration and photography has taken him throughout his home country, and to many remote regions of South America.
Jeff
WrightMarketing Consultant. Jeff's enthusiasm for history, culture, and the outdoors developed as he explored the rich landscapes of his native New Mexico. His natural curiosity and wanderlust has led him to explore the pre-Inca ruins of Kuelap and the Chachapoyan region of Peru, Paine and Fitz Roy parks in Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, Iguazu Falls, the Galápagos Islands, Peru's Inca Trail & Amazon, and the Lake District of Chile & Argentina. He honeymooned in Venezuela visiting Angel Falls, Los Roques Islands, and the northern Andes near Merida. He has also traveled throughout Europe, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. After completing a BA of History in California he moved to Colorado for the multitude of outdoor activities.
Kurt Baehmann Marketing & Travel Consultant. After moving to the mountains of Colorado three years ago to pursue his love of skiing, snowboarding, and mountain biking, Kurt recently relocated in Denver to join the Southwind team. An avid cheesehead, Kurt graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in Spanish, Marketing, and Real Estate & Urban Land Economics. A love of travel was instilled during a year living in Madrid, Spain. He has also spent time trekking in the less-developed areas of Costa Rica and Jamaica. Ecotourism brought him to the Travel industry, after a passion for sustainability was discovered in of all places, the School of Business. This ultimately led to the formation of Business Action for Sustainable Enterprise, a non-profit bringing together students, professors, and professionals from the worlds of Business and the Environment.
 |
Juan Carlos Ramirez is a seasoned hiker, climber, biker and explorer. As a licensed naturalist guide since 1986, Juan Carlos has accompanied several scientific expeditions with Venezuela's leading explorer and Yanomami expert Charles Brewer Carias. His love and respect for nature wildlife and native cultures is contagious. |
 |
Arturo Garcia Naturalist, business administrator, photographer, and director of a local conservation publication, Arturo is readily identified as a renaissance man! He has hiked or climbed throughout Venezuela and other parts of the world and is a certified National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) instructor that has been leading trips into the Gran Sabana since 1993. |
 |
Harry Monsalve is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable naturalist & trekking guide with expertise in many hiking routes througout the Mérida region. He lived in the USA for four years and is a kind and diligent guide whose treks are great! |
 |
Luis León is an enthusiastic and highly accomplished naturalist trekking guide with nearly 20 years of experience leading groups in the Sierra Nevada mountains. In addition to his passion for the outdoors, he has studied languages, radio communications and vegetarian & macrobiotic cooking. He is a delightful, knowledgeable and thoughtful bilingual companion. |
 |
Dr. John Harwood is a British biologist who worked for eight years at the Institute for Amazon Research (INPA) in Manaus. John has lived in Brazil for 25 years. His diverse background, including skills as a musician, make him a great trip leader! |
 |
Ricardo Barbosa, one of Rio's top tour guides is best described as savvy, professional, and highly experienced, putting guests at their ease immediately. Ricardo not only knows the city and Brazilian culture but is a trained naturalist as well. |
 |
Alzenir Souza is a Brazilian naturalist who grew up in a small village near the Amazon River. He developed a vast store of practical knowledge about rainforest flora and fauna as well as a deep understanding of Amazon culture. Souza learned English and over the years, acquired a more academic perspective on the tropical environment. He is an exceptional wildlife spotter and a fine companion in exploring the greatest wilderness on Earth. |
 |
Francisco da Silva is one of the most experienced wildlife guides in Manaus. Chico, as he is called, grew up in the Amazon and has family in Peru and Colombia. He has been leading groups through the rainforest for 30 years and can rightly be called a master! |
 |
Elcio Sa Vinhote was born in the Amazon and has worked as a guide since 1983. In addition to English and Portuguese, Elcio speaks Spanish and Italian. He is knowledgeable, friendly and trustworthy and is one of Manaus' top naturalist guides. |
 |
Roberto Aguilar is Southwind's partner in Quito. Trained as a cultural and natural history guide (including certification in the Galápagos) Roberto has led groups throughout his country for 20 years. A Quito native, he received his high school diploma in the USA, earned a degree in Social Sciences at the Catholic University and studied law. He is conversant on a variety of topics and has an in-depth understanding of the various indigenous cultures in the Andes. His charming personality, dedication to service and attention to detail make him the ideal host for any visit to Ecuador! |
 |
Carlos Ordoñez is one of Southwind's favorite guides. He, also, attended high school in the USA, having lived for four years in the Washington, DC area. He has been involved in the travel industry for more than 14 years, and is a very positive, caring and insightful guide. Furthermore, his good nature and sense of humor endear him to the groups he accompanies. |
 |
Juan Carrasco , a seasoned mountaineer, has been leading trekking, biking and climbing groups for the past 17 years and is one of Ecuador's top guides. He has traveled and climbed around the world, lived in Montana for five years and, in addition to his mountain experience, he studied biology and enjoys birdwatching as well as learning about the native cultures of his country. His enthusiasm combined with his expertise on a varying subjects ranging from politics to rainforest wildlife and conservation make him one of our most popular and frequently requested guides. |
 |
Xavier Montezuma is a seasoned climber who has worked as a professional adventure guide for the past 10 years, leading groups throughout Ecuador's Andes. In addition to his mountain experience, Xavier studied biology and continually enhances his knowledge of his native country. |
 |
Edison Oña is a savvy mountaineer and a professional trekking and climbing guide, specializing in the Andes of Ecuador. Edison speaks fluent English and is an expert in the Cotopaxi, Chimborazo and Altar regions. |
 |
Wilbert Yañez was born in Cusco. He is one of the most knowledgeable, experienced and professional guides in the central Andes. His passion for his country and its cultures makes history come alive for the groups he leads! With 20 years of experience, he is one of our top requested guides in Peru! |
 |
Percy Salizar is a native of Quillabamba (a high jungle region near Machu Picchu) who holds a degree in tourism from the University in Cusco. Percy has worked as a guide for nearly 15 seasons and has gained a reputation as one of the most caring, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and detail-oriented guides in Cusco. In addition to knowing the region's hiking and biking routes very well, he is familiar with the birds and wildlife of the highlands as well as the native cultures. |
 |
Francis Casapino holds a degree in Tourism from the San Antonio de Abad University in Cusco. His varied travel industry background includes working as a receptionist in hotels, at the regional tourism office, in travel agencies, as a guard in Manu Park and his current vocation as guide extraordinaire. He is soft-spoken and gracious, and is a perennial favorite among Southwind guests, receiving glowing reveiws regarding his knowledge, charm and caring attitude. |
 |
Rosa Garcia is one of Cusco's finest guides, and one of the few females pursuing this career path. She is a delightful and compassionate trip leader with over 15 years of experience. Rosa is exceptionally well-versed in Inca culture and history and enthusiastically shares her knowledge of local lifestyles with guests. She holds a degree in tourism, speaks fluent English and always receives effusive comments from Southwind groups. |
 |
Romulo Lizarraga is one of the most knowledgeable, experienced and professional guides in the Andes. This University of Cusco graduate was born in Intihuatana, at the foot of Machu Picchu mountain where his grandfather lived as well. Romulo has over 20 years of experience in the Peruvian Andes and has co-authored two guide books. He’s an avid hiker, having led trekking groups throughout the mountain ranges in the Cusco region and beyond. He is married with two daughters and is fluent in Quechua, Spanish and English. |
 |
Jorge Olivera is a Chemical Engineer who began leading tour groups in 1998. A skilled lecturer, he has spoken at the University of Kansas in Wichita and traveled throughout the USA on multiple trips. He equally adept at leading trekking groups on the Inca Trail or addressing archaeological and culturally-oriented tours. |
 |
Cesar Sifuentes was born in Huaraz and is one of the top trekking guides in the Blanca and Huayhuash ranges. He is our partner and operations manager for this region. Cesar has led trekking and climbing groups for more than 15 years and has experience in the hotel industry. He is detail-oriented, has a positive, energetic attitude and teaches English locally. |
 |
Renzo Moreno is an enthusiastic, highly experienced mountaineer from Huaraz. He has been guiding groups in the cordilleras Blanca & Huayhuash for 7 years, and is patient, knowledgeable and friendly. |
 |
Ofelia Larco is one of Lima's most gracious, caring, informed and efficient guides! She handles airport transfers (one of the most difficult jobs) as well as tours of the Lima's colonial sectors, the Gold & Archaeological museums and the Pacific Coast. |
 |
Berner Torres is a Cusco-native specializing in Manu Park where he has led groups for nearly 10 years. Also an avid mountain biker, he enjoys accompanying guests on Cusco's backroads and single tracks. |
 |
Roldan Hidalgo was raised in the jungles outside of Iquitos and has a native's innate ability to hear and spot birds and wildlife. His years as a guide, working both with scientists and tour groups, have given him the ability to communicate in excellent English. |
 |
Basilio Sahuarico is an outstanding naturalist who has more than 10 years of experience teaching guests about the Amazon rainforests outside of Iquitos. In addition, he is an accomplished musician who might bring out his guitar to entertain guests one evening at the lodge. |
 |
Carlos Pujazón is an excellent climbing and trekking guide. Active in mountaineering for at least 20 years, he has led Southwind groups for the past 13. He has successfully climbed 23 Andean peaks, including Aconcagua in Argentina and Huayna Potosi in Bolivia, and knows most of the trekking routes in the Cordillera Real as well as Peru's Blanca, Vilcanota & Vilcabamba ranges. Carlos is well-trained in mountain rescue and safety and has a charming, relaxed personality. |
 |
Mauricio Suarez grew up in La Paz and has a degree in architecture. To aid in his career as a guide, he also studied archaeology and Andean astronomy. He speaks excellent English and enjoys photography. Mauricio has been working as a professional guide for the past 7 years and his extensive knowledge and enthusiasm make him a delightful travel companion. |
 |
William Flores is another native of La Paz. He is a cultural specialist who has juggled finishing his degree with leading groups on a variety of cultural and spiritual journeys throughout Bolivia. William combines his knowledge and love of his Andean heritage with the joy of sharing it with others. A kinder, more attentive guide is hard to find! |
 |
Oscar Pandolfi was born & raised in Buenos Aires. He has a degree in Agricultural Engineering and has traveled throughout the USA and Europe. Leaving the city life behind, he, along with his wife and son, now lives in El Chaltén at the base of Mount Fitz Roy. Oscar is a very experienced outdoorsman who has ascended several peaks, including the Poincenot and Guillaumet needles and Aconcagua. He is a proficient, enthusiastic guide with the natural history of Patagonia being one of his strongest assets! He recently published a field guide on the flowers of Argentina. |
 |
Eduardo Shule has been leading hiking groups throughout Patagonia for several years. He is a climber and an accomplished biker in addition to being an official mountain guide. Although he is newer to our staff, he trained directly under our partner Oscar Pandolfi and has received rave reviews from guests. |
 |
Guido Vittone attended a bilingual school in Buenos Aires, taking part in an exchange program for six months in Cleveland, Ohio. Family camping trips and Boy Scout outings gave birth to a deep interest in the many natural areas of Argentina, particularly those of the Patagonian Andes. Guido became a certified mountain guide, graduated from a NOLS Mountain Instructor course in 1995 and has been guiding in Patagonia for the past 10 years. The history and geography of the region are among his main interests. |
 |
Marcelo de Cruz is a seasoned adventure guide with a focus on birds. Certified to lead in Tierra del Fuego National Park, his course work included diving, canoeing, birdwatching, bird song biology, and animal behavior. In addition to guiding, he is a professor at the University of Salvador in Ushuaia. |
 |
Sabrina Kizman was born in Buenos Aires, and like many others, escaped life in the big city and moved to Tierra del Fuego. She has been a guide since 1989 and currently specializes in the natural history of the region. She speaks excellent English, has traveled throughout South America, Asia, Europe and the USA, plays classical guitar and enjoys skiing among other sports. |
 |
Daniel Feinstein was born into a family of naturalists and spent most of his childhood traveling and hiking in Patagonia and South America. His English is excellent as a result of having graduated from high school in Florida and studying to be a translator. Daniel continued his travels around the world, working in Europe, hiking in Nepal and Sikkim, and climbing in Peru and Ecuador. Since becoming an official guide in 1981, he has escorted dozens of hiking and natural history groups throughout Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and other points in Argentina & Chile. |
 |
Maria Elena Ortolani lives in Buenos Aires and is a charming, knowledgeable and enthusiastic city tour guide whose strength is attention to details. She is dedicated to her job and to providing the highest quality of services. |
 |
Alexis Sandoval grew up in the Chilean Lake District. He is a professional guide with a degree in Biology from the Austral University in Valdivia. An avid sportsman who enjoys climbing, trekking, diving and biking, Alexis has traveled throughout Chile, New Zealand and Europe. He speaks excellent English and is very knowledgeable of the Lake District. |
 |
Diego Magaldi is an Argentine-born educator & professional mountain guide currently living in Bariloche. He is a Chief Instructor for the Pacific Crest Outward Bound School and has worked in wilderness areas in California, Oregon & Washington. He has led numerous expeditions in the Andes of Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru, as well as in Mexico and the USA. His area of expertise is Aconcagua, where he has led 22 successful expeditions to the summit. |