Staff CHILE NATIVO ::: TRAVEL

Cristian Silva, born and raised in the area, has more than 11 years of guiding experience in Patagonia and particularly the Torres del Paine National Park. Lover of flora and fauna, he specializes in the birds of Chile. In addition to the trekking groups he leads in Patagonia, he has guided groups in Northern Chile (San Pedro de Atacama), Peru, New Zealand and overland trips through South America. He is a member of the Guide Association of Torres del Paine and certified in wilderness first aid (WFR). His passion is riding horses and sharing with the baqueanos (local cowboys), their customs and traditions.

Andre Labarca, one of the original co-founder of Chile Nativo, is a Mountaineer and Diving Instructor. He fell in love with Patagonia after visiting it for the first time. He is one of our Senior guides, resident in the area for over 12 years. He works as a guide, sharing always with much enthusiasm his minimum impact philosophy and his knowledge of local flora and fauna. His experience in First Aid (WFR) and his love for the mountains will accompany you through your unforgettable trip.

Diego Araya, Marine Biologist and wildlife photographer, Diego is our specialist in photo safari trips. When he is not working with us, he spends his time in the Torres del Paine National Park photographing wild nature, his greatest passion. His intimate portrayal of the fauna that inhabits Patagonia is in due part to his scientific background, long days of work in the field and his love for wildlife. He is a member of the Guide Association of Torres del Paine and certified in wilderness first aid (WFR).

Julieta Canepa, has been hiking in the Patagonian Andes, from North to South, since she was a kid. She started guiding six years ago in the Torres del Paine National Park. She is amazed by all things and the processes of nature. She enjoys sharing her passion for geology, glaciers, and showing you birds, flowers and mushrooms. Artist by profession, she looks at everything through the "lens of beauty.” She might suggest staying out late observing how the clouds demonstrate their infinite colors and shapes in a Patagonia sunset sky, or stop the hike to let the dancing reeds on a lagoon hypnotize you for a while. When Julieta is not guiding she is practicing her art or teaching art to the children of Puerto Natales. She is certified in Wilderness First Responder (WFR)

Gonzalo Fuenzalida, One of the original co-founders of Chile Nativo, he specilize in the design of our tailor-made trips, and he is always looking for new trails to explore!. Gonzalo has been guiding expeditions in Patagonia for the last twelve years. His passion for horses and wildlife photography has brought him closer to the local culture and traditions of the area. He is a member of the Guide Association of Torres del Paine and certified in wilderness first aid (WFR). With his constant good humor, he will introduce you to the region with his unique insight.

Victor Matus, born in the city of Punta Arenas and having spent his childhood in Tierra del Fuego, he brings his great love for his homeland and nature, especially birds, to each trip he leads. He has worked in tourism in Patagonia since 1999, specializing in the Torres del Paine National Park. He has also been fortunate to participate in production and logistics for various British Television projects dedicated to wildlife documentaries in Patagonia. During his free time he is mountain biking, sea kayaking or taking part in various expeditions in Patagonia.
"Viti" is certified in Wilderness First Responder (WFR), an international certificate to individuals who are trained to respond to emergency situations in remote settings.

Carlos Filippi, is a mechanical engineer by profession and his home base is Puerto Natales. During the last 5 years, Carlos has focused on transportation services for visitors to Patagonia and working as a guide in the Torres del Paine National Park (TDP) as well as the wider Chilean Patagonia / Argentina areas. In his spare time he enjoys spending time in the TDP and practicing his hobbies such as hiking and mountain biking. A nature and adventure fan, he admires Patagonia for its rich culture and unique beauty. Carlos is certified in Wilderness First Responder (WFR), an international certificate to individuals who are trained to respond to emergency situations in remote settings.

Bryan Rees, Trip Leader Since 2005 Born in Chile and raised in the U.S., Bryan has always felt the pull to explore new cultures. After receiving an MBA in international management and working in the corporate world for ten years, Bryan applied to be a Trip Leader because it combined his love for travel and nature. He says the highlight for him is leading in his beloved Patagonia. “From the quaint little towns in the Lakes region to the open spaces of the southern pampas and glacial fields, there is no spot on earth quite like it, and the best part for me is that its home. I feel a great sense of pride when sharing my knowledge and passion for Chile and seeing guests’ appreciation for the country’s culture and natural beauty. It makes me feel thankful for where I've come from and where I am today.”

Hernan Cardenas, has been living & guiding in Patagonia since 1999. Among his achievements include, guiding in the Torres del Paine National Park for the last 11 years, Canal de las Montañas in the Alacalufe national reserve, Isla Hoste in the Beagle Channel, and frequent work as a security guide in scientific productions. His certifications include: Wilderness first responder (WFR) and guide Level 2 by the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC. In addition he has completed course work in white water river rescue techniques and rafting guide course (Sarapiqui, Costa Rica) as well as courses relative to glacier rescue and traverse technique. He is a member of the Guide Association of Torres del Paine and Leave no Trace. Hernan enjoys mountain biking and snowboarding.

Randy Twyman, hauls from Punta Arenas, where his family settled at the end of the XIX century. A keen observer of people and their environment, Randy has worked in a variety of fields ranging from volunteering for grassroots community-based conservation projects to seasonal jobs in local “estancias.” This, in turn, has allowed him to work in different areas of the territory such as leading groups in Torres del Paine, horse-riding in Tierra del Fuego, ranching in northern Brunswick Peninsula, and sailing in the Cape Horn region. Honestly eclectic, Randy enjoys books, chats, and stories that spice up life a bit. Randy is Wilderness First Responder certified (WFR).

Claudia Manzur, was born in Santiago, Chile where she attended college and studied Tourism and Geography. After living some years in France, she returned to her roots in Chile and worked for several years guiding in Patagonia and the Atacama Desert. Recently she has been living and working as a guide in Santiago, showing off the wonders of central Chile. She devotes her free time to a foundation that deals with the protection and dissemination of the cultural heritage of Chile. She will be happy to accompany you through the cities, fields and mountains of this region. She is certified in WFR (Wilderness first responder), an international certificate to individuals who are trained to respond to emergency situations in remote settings.

Guy Wenborne, A pilot and outstanding Chilean photographer, he has dedicated his life to portraying the Chilean landscape from his particular point of view. His first book is a collection of aerial photography of Chile, a complete registry that took 6 years to make and even now continues to develop. He is enamored with this corner of the world and has much faith in the future potential that Chile has to offer, an extraordinary geography that hides much to discover.