Each of our specialists covers a few areas of our programme and all have been recruited for their passion and detailed knowledge of the region. They have all travelled extensively in this area so whoever plans your trip you can be sure that you will experience the very best of the country. Click on their profiles to read more about their background and travel experience.
Anna graduated from Aberystwyth University with a degree in French, German and Spanish. A year spent living in Spain and another living in Martinique gave her the taste of travelling and further developed her passion for foreign languages, overseas cultures and ways of life. She then headed to Latin America and visited Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos. Her highlight was volunteering at an animal sanctuary in Bolivia, which involved living in the rainforest, walking an ocelot through the jungle, swimming with pumas and sharing her room with red howler monkeys. Other highlights for her were snorkelling with sea lions in the Galapagos, the Rio carnival and the Amazon rainforest. Since joining Audley she has returned to Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos to experience many of the hotels, boats and guides we use.
Jo graduated from Cardiff University with a degree in French and Italian. After several years of working in sales and marketing in the UK and France, she decided to explore South America. Jo's 14 month journey covered the continent, and highlight was surviving two months travelling the length of the Amazon, from the Atlantic coast to the source in the Peruvian Andes, an unforgettable experience. Since working for Audley Travel, Jo has returned to Peru, Ecuador and the amazing Galapagos Islands to experience the many hotels and boats we recommend to our clients. A recent trip to Central America fulfilled an ambition to discover the colourful Mayan countries of Belize, Guatemala and Honduras, where she climbed temples, tracked jaguars and dived the beautiful reefs of the Caribbean.
Patrick spent his childhood in Kenya and Hong Kong, he then travelled to Australia to indulge in his passion for diving and qualify as an instructor. There followed several years of working in New Zealand, Vanuatu and Australia. Returning to the UK, Patrick worked for a well-known flight specialist before continuing his travels in Costa Rica for several months and then joining Audley. After being involved with the Australasia department for three years Patrick moved to the Latin America team and has subsequently travelled to Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands and Peru. With the launch of the new Central America programme, Patrick has travelled to Cuba to research and develop it as a new destination for Audley. He has most recently been out to Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama to further expand his product knowledge.
Paula studied Spanish and French at Exeter University, taking a particular interest in Latin American literature and culture. On graduating she decided to explore the continent that had intrigued her during her studies and travelled to Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. After two years working for a company specialising in travel to Mexico, Paula was recruited by Audley and has since returned many times to South America both on holiday and to further her knowledge of this fascinating continent. Paula has been extensively involved with researching and developing our new Central America product, and has made recent trips to Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Costa Rica.
Having already found a passion for travelling, Phil graduated from Brunel University with a degree in Sports Science and immediately set off to see more of the world. His first port of call was South America, which immediately fired a deep interest and love of the continent. Phil travelled extensively through Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, as well as Central America. Upon joining Audley, he returned to Peru, Bolivia and Chile to complement his knowledge. Amongst more recent trips to South America on behalf of Audley, he has re-visited Ecuador (where he fulfilled a lifelong ambition of climbing Cotopaxi volcano), cruised in the Galapagos Islands, and has most recently returned from a voyage to Antarctica.
A holiday to Brazil in 2005 ignited Rebecca's interest in all things Brazilian - art, music, food and culture. It also re-ignited her interest in all things Latin American, having studied Spanish at school. Rebecca was working in the city at this point, but when an opportunity to escape the UK arose in October 2005, it didn't take long for her to get back out there for a year of adventure in Central and South America. Since returning home and joining Audley, she has returned to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, Peru, Brazil and Venezuela to experience many of the excursions and hotels we use.
Richard travelled, lived and worked throughout Latin America between 2005 and 2007, developing a passion and interest for its diversity, geography and culture. Some of his highlights include the wildlife of the Amazon, volunteering in a wildlife refuge, the salt flats of Bolivia, and the Inca ruins in Peru. The second year of his Latin American experience was spent managing a hostel on the shores of the beautiful Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. Upon returning to the UK Richard found an outlet for his passion of Latin America here at Audley where he now works as a Peru, Ecuador and Galapagos specialist. Since starting he has revisited South America spending time in Peru and Ecuador and viewing the abundant and spectacular wildlife of the Galapagos Islands.
Sara has taken many sabbaticals throughout her working life. Immediately after university she took a year out to explore Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Having been well and truly bitten by the travel bug, it wasn't long before she was planning her next trip. Sara travelled to Central America where she worked as a Project Manager for Raleigh International, running the conservation and adventure project on expedition for four months: the landscapes, people and marvels of the Maya left a lasting impression. She went on to travel through India which led to her appointment at Audley working in the India department for two years, but the salsa beats and the Latino spirit tempted her back to the Americas and she returned to explore Mexico, Guatemala and Cuba with Audley as part of the Latin America team. More recently she has travelled to Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands and Peru to further expand her product knowledge.