Paulo Veloso
Born in Portugal, Paulo studied, photography, design and business studies and has lived in London for 26 years. He speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French fluently and has worked in the travel industry for 21 years covering hotels, ground agents, flights, tour operation, training and business administration.
Over the last 16 years Paulo has travelled extensively in Latin America researching and assessing hotels, lodges, guides, transport and services. |
Andrea Landaeta
Born in Chile, brought up in Venezuela, educated in Switzerland and also with family in Brasil and Peru, Andrea has a passionate interest in Latin American culture. She has travelled extensively in South America & Central America, the United States, Europe, the Caribbean, Africa Thailand and Malaysia. She has also led several groups in South America and recently Andrea went diving in Belize while checking lodges and hotels and drove from Santiago to Puerto Montt. Andrea studied in Switzerland, at the German School in Venezuela and in London. She speaks fluent Spanish, English, German and French and has choosen a career in tourism and computer web design. She is our webmaster, designs our brochure, is involved in reservations and has a major influence choosing the ground agents, lodges, hotels, guides and tours leaders we use to look after our clients..
Website suggestions to Andrea Landaeta |
Andresa Monteiro
Andresa was born in Brasil where she studied Business Administration & Personnel and travelled extensively, particularly Rio and the surrounding area. Andresa is now studying and, at the same time, is such an important part of our team concentrating on working in our Accounts, Administration and Software maintenance, that she has very little spare time to fulfil her love for dancing, diving and most of all horseriding.
Now based in our Rio de Janeiro office.
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Kirsty Greenlees
Kirsty was born and grew up in Bristol, and developed her passion for Latin American countries initially because of her father’s business. She has travelled extensively, including parts of Central America, and particularly in Europe and North America. After her first degree in Contemporary European Studies, she has worked in different industries to find out that Latin American tourism is the area in which she will make a career. Kirsty is passionate for and talented in languages, and in addition to her fluency in French and proficiency in Italian, she is on the way to mastering Spanish. She is our Operation Manager based in our London Office.
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Jenny Rojas
Jenny was born and grew up in Bogotá, Colombia. She became involved in Latin American Tourism after completing a degree at University in Colombia, when she spent several years working for a specialist Travel Agency. Jenny relocated to the UK in 2003 to study for a Diploma in Travel Agency Management before joining to Veloso Tours. She is part of our administration team and works with the reservation and ticketing of flights. She has travelled extensively in her home country and is our resident salsa expert!
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Margarita Torres
Margarita graduated in Business Administration in Quito, Ecuador and joined the travel industry where she developed her career in reservations, planning, sales and marketing allowing her to travel extensively in Europe, Central and South America. Margarita speaks Spanish, English, French and Dutch. She has lived in Paris where she worked as a travel agent specialized in charter flights and ticketing and in 1994 she moved to Antwerp, Belgium from where she worked to in sales and marketing. Margarita now uses her knowledge of ground services, operations and communication skills to contract services and develop our organization in Latin America. |
Sergio Goncalves
Sergio Goncalves is our expert in Website databases and programming.
Born in Brazil, Sergio worked for an Internet Service provider in web commerce and software development. He now works part-time at Veloso Tours responsible of our website development in linking with our Axum Administration software and Network management. He is a genius!
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Arto Bettencourt
Originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Arto has spent many years working in Latin America tourism. Having completed a degree in Tourism Studies, he then went on to obtain his post-graduate degree specialising in Ecotourism. It is in this area that he spent four years working for a tour operator in Brazil. With the goal of perfecting his English, Arto relocated to the UK in 2006, when he joined Veloso Tours. He is currently working in Operations and Administration as well as the development of specialist services in Brazil. As well as his interest in travel and ecotourism, he has a passion for outdoor activities. He has travelled extensively in his home country and is visiting as much of Europe as possible. |
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Luciana Dumphreys
Luciana was born and brought up in Brazil and educated in Brazil and Britain, obtaining a degree in Latin American Studies. Upon graduation she moved to Mexico to live and work and whilst there took up the opportunity to travel in Guatemala and Belize as well as Mexico. Luciana returned to Rio in 2002 and is now a qualified Tourist Guide, taking pride in showing people around the "Marvellous City". She speaks English, Portuguese and Spanish fluently and has also travelled extensively in Brazil and Europe.She has lead group tours for Veloso in Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Bolivia. Luciana has a keen interest in photography as well asarchaeology, and is always searching for new and interesting places to visit. |
Fiona Dodsworth
Brought up in England, France and New York, Fiona developed a passion for Latin America during her gap year in Mexico and degree in Hispanic and French Studies at Nottingham University. She has worked as a Spanish and French teacher in England and has led educational tours throughout Europe. She has travelled, worked and trekked her way across much of Central and South America and is fluent in Spanish and French. Her Portuguese has been dormant for a while but is threatening a comeback!
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Walter Torres
Walter studied tourism in his native Cusco including Peruvian History and Tour Leading. He has worked as a guide for 11 years and his interests include trekking and languages. Through his dedication and professionalism coupled with his knowledge and enthusiasm for Inca culture Walter conveys a background perspective of the present day people and monuments.
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Jose Berdejo
The Graduate Degree in Farming gave Jose a deep understanding of the people, life and land based economy of the Andes. He then studied tourism, English and French, and developed a strong interest in wildlife and birding. His knowledge, love and interest in his country and its culture provide clients with a fascinating insight into life in Peru.
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María Gabriela Segura
Born and brought up in Patagonia, Gabriela studied English Public Translation and Tourism at El Salvador University. She currently works as a Tour Guide at Nahuel Huapi National Park. She has also done several courses on Patagonian native flora and history, as well as adventure and outdoor activities. Before working for Veloso Tours as a Guide & Tour Leader, Gabriela worked for twelve years as a stewardess for British Airways and other airlines. She has also worked as a Production Assistant in many films and advertisements. Gabriela has travelled extensively throughout the world. She lived in London and Madrid and speaks fluent Spanish & English and has a good knowledge of German, French & Portuguese.
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Felipe Quispe
Felipe was born & educated in La Paz Bolivia where he studied tourism specialising in the History of Bolivia. He speaks fluent English, French and Spanish. He is our guide on one of the most magical places of South America; the Lake Titicaca and “Isla del Sol” Sun Island.
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Juan Carlos Yañez
Juan Carlos studied tourism in Cuzco, where he was born and brought up. He has now been working as a guide for 3 years and his special interests include trekking, eco-tourism and languages. Juan Carlos is a dedicated, enthusiastic young man who is very proud and keen to show visitors all facets of his country. |
Andrea Zunino
Andrea was born in the province of Buenos Aires and at the age of 6 moved with her family to the city itself. She was educated there and became a teacher before moving to New York for a few years, working as a Travel Agent. Andrea has now been working as a guide specifically in Buenos Aires since 2003. She enjoys her work as it introduces her to many different people and she loves to impart her knowledge of the city she lives in and loves. Andrea is fluent in English as well as Portuguese and Italian.
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Ernesto Prugue
Ernesto has a great enthusiasm for the culture of his native Peru and has been a guide here for four years. He has studied Business administration at Lima University and retains a grip on his languages at the English Culture Institute and German Goethe Institute in Lima. Ernesto travelled extensively in Europe working for fifteen years as tour guide. |
Kim Schwartz
Tango Guide in Buenos Aires
Born in London and a qualified lawyer, Kim has travelled extensively in most of the worlds continents. Having spent extended periods in Guatemala, Belize, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Ecuador and Argentina, she obviously has special interest in Latin America. Kim is currently living in Buenos Aires where she practices daily the passionate Tango Argentino, of which she has gained a specialised knowledge. Kim speaks fluent Spanish and French.
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Freddy Torres
Born and brought up in Cuzco, Freddy has been working as a guide in the area for the past 6 years. He particularly enjoys the adventurous aspects that this area can offer him and his groups but has a great interest and knowledge of all other aspects of his native city and country. |
Pablo Carrasco
Pablo is our local guide in Arica, in Chile’s far north and is also our Tour Leader for the Sereno Tour of Chile. Pablo’s friendliness and keen interest in local culture make him a pleasure to travel with and he is constantly on the look-out for new places to take visitors.
As well as working part-time as a guide, a job in which he has experience of 12 years, Pablo is also studying for a degree in Social Sciences, including studies in anthropology, sociology and the history of Latin America and is, in addition, an academic assistant at the University.
He has undertaken in-depth studies of the pre-Hispanic cultures of the Northern region and is a keen birdwatcher.
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Lisa Graham
Brought up and educated in Brazil and Britain, Lisa understands two cultures intimately and has been the tour leader of groups in Brazil including an expedition in the Amazon and trekking in Lencois. She speaks English and Portuguese fluently, has travelled extensively between Brazil, Europe and the USA and visited Africa and India.
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Conrado Rodriguez
Conrado is our specialist guide in Havana and the rest of Cuba with a vast knowledge of Cuban History and the area less visited by tourists. His family is based in Havana, where he mostly guides, but he also loves to travel around the country with our clients and share his interests and also learn from visitors, so the learning is mutual. |
Elizabeth Rojas
Liz was born in Sucre, capital of Bolivia where she was raised and educated. Prior to becoming a Tour guide in Bolivia she spent a year living in Australia as an exchange student. She is a graduate in economics and has been a qualified tour guide for over 10 years. Liz speaks fluent Spanish, English and Quechua (the native Inca language) and she loves Bolivia - its people, culture and history and for this reason she loves to guide and is so passionate about her home country.
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Mauricio Baus
Mauricio Baus was born in Quito, Ecuador, he has made his studies in Ecuador having a Diploma in Law, and also in Tourism. He has also lived and studied in the United States and travelled in many countries due to his father's diplomatic career. He is fluent in English, Spanish and has a basic knowledge of Italian. Mauricio is a licensed guide and has over fifteen years experience working in tourism as a tour guide and also as a tour conductor. |
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Emiliano Carrascal
Emiliano’s enthusiasm for tourism stems from his degree in Hotel Management. Being brought up in Buenos Aires and having spent time in Europe, he has also excelled at languages and speaks fluent English, French and Spanish. Emiliano has a proven success in the tourist industry in Argentina, and is now living in Buenos Aires where he has been working as a tour guide for more than 4 years, sharing with clients his in-depth knowledge and passion for the city. |
Cristobal Fierro Becker
Cristobal has a degree in tourism and has been guiding for over 6 years in the South of Chile “Lake District” region where his passion for the natural beauty of the area is evident. Born in Germany, Cristobal speaks German, Spanish and English perfectly and has been involved in the translation and set-up of tourist programs and has used his abilities to be the official delegate for countries in worldwide sporting events. |
Carolina Bottiroli
Carolina was born and educated in Brazil. She learned to speak English, Spanish and Portuguese fluently, whilst living in Brazil, Argentina and Chile where she also enjoyed discovering more about the people and the culture of each country.
After returning to Brazil, Carolina completed a course in Tourism with her final exams being held in Buenos Aires. She has a keen interest in amateur dramatics and travel. Her travels have taken her to many places in South America, Mexico (where she developed a great enthusiasm for the Maya culture) and Germany, where she also lived and worked as an Events Organiser. |
Peter Hans Zingg
Peter was born, raised and educated in Switzerland before moving to Venezuela where he has been living for 20 years. As well as being dedicated and professional, he has an extensive knowledge of Venezuela and is our guide for this area. Peter speaks fluent English, Spanish, French, German and Italian. |
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