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OUR TEAM
To take, oftentimes, unexperienced people to the jungle requires a special set of characteristics from all of us. We need to be informative, clear, full of real knowledge, enthusiastic, willing to teach, willing to show you who we are, honest, interested in others (you), patient, have a sense of humor, understanding of all different kind of habits and customs, accommodating, be able to work as a team, respond well to unforeseen changes that happen so often in this wild natural environment, being an organizational wizard, to love the rainforest, love our work, and we need to love you!
I am proud to present you our team of people, most of whom have been working long-time for Pantiacolla, and who exactly have these characteristics:
Guides:
José Felix de la Cuba. Studied biology at the San Antonio Abad University of Cusco. Participated in several research projects, among which a squirral monkey research from the University of Princeton, butterfly research from the University of Camebridge and the brazil nut project from the University Ricardo Palma in Lima. He did his guide training at the Loreno Insitute in Cusco and has been working as a guide for many years already, of which the last eight years almost exclusively for Pantiacolla. He has a strong all-round ecological knowlegde. When asked what he thinks his strongest quality for guiding is, he says: "my passion for teaching and sharing observations with all group members. I want all "my" tourists to return from Manu with, at least, my enthusiasm for the Amazon!"
Nicolas Quinte Villegas. Received his biology degree at the San Antonio Abad University of Cusco and did tropical forestry courses in Costa Rica and Colombia. He participated in Madre de Dios reforestation projects, among which those of Conservation International and FADEMAD (federation of loggers of Madre de Dios). His guide training was done at the Loreno Institute in Cusco and has been guiding Manu for 10 years already. With us he has been guiding the last 4 years. He guided photographic expeditions for the National Geographic Magazine and the German GEO. He also is the favorite guide for Manu's best known nature photographer, André Bärtschi. So, it seems patience is his definite strong point. Also, his all-round ecological knowledge is well developed, though his personal interest remains tree-mammal interactions. Asked what keeps him going as a guide year after year, he answered: "I very much enjoy meeting so many interesting and kind people during our tours."
Darwin Moscoso Garces. Born and raised in Manu he was the one of the local Moscoso clan who learned to speak good English and worked his way up from assistant boat man, to main boat man and guide. His knowledge of Manu has started at a practical level, but his self-studies have raised his ecological understanding to academic levels. He also did his guide training at the Cusco Lorena Institute, and has been guiding for Pantiacolla ever since. Darwin´s animal spotting qualities are excellent, having trained since childhood, and he has a beautiful understanding with Manu's indigenous people. His passion is finding the famous lost city El Paititi of the Incas. For this he has led many expeditions of up to several months in Manu. His superior leadership and deep knowledge of the rainforest have ever been a guarantee for all expedition team member's safe return.
Alex Duran Torres. The newest member of our team, and our birdwatching specialist.
Cooks:
Wilbert (Hubert) Gonzales, Ramiro Abendaño, Valentin Carbajal and Orlando Cornejo. The Manu cooks seem to have the hardest jobs, starting their day long before anyone else wakes up and still cleaning up after everyone went back to bed. Pantiacolla's cook do all this with a smile on their faces and always producing delicious meals, whatever the circumstances. There have been tourists who have tried to take our cooks back home.....
Boat crew:
Leonidas Llaqui and Ricardo Cabrera are our captains; well respected for their abilities to "read" the rivers and keep everyone safe against the many river tricks. Ricardo was born at the indigenous Machiguenga community of Palotoa, and is one of those special people who can live in and understand two completely different cultures.
Melquiades Chipana and Diego Rivera are our tireless assistant boatmen. You can't do anything else than admire their acrobatics during the boat rides and their enthusiasm to help always and everywhere.
Driver:
Emilio Solorzano. Our bus driver is a disciplined man, counting his hours of sleep and avoiding alcohol whenever he is at work. He has been driving the Manu Road for over 10 years, and knows every curve and bump as no other. He receives great gratitude from our guests; feeling save on a winding, unpaved mountain road importantly contributes to people's appreciation of Pantiacolla's tours.
Logistical back-up and Office:
Gustavo Moscoso Garces. One of Pantiacolla´s owners and member of the same local Moscoso clan as Darwin, the guide. Having been born and raised in Manu´s nature has given him the intrinsic qualities of peace of mind and perseverance, both being essential for leading a tourism business in the Amazon rainforest, as well as an extensive practical knowledge of Manu's rainforest.
Marianne van Vlaardingen. I am the other Pantiacolla owner, from Holland, where I studied biology at the University of Utrecht. Reserach has taken me to French Guyana, Brazil, the Dutch island of Terschelling and in the end to the biological station of Manu National Park, where I studied the tamarin monkeys. My western knowledge of nature, plus my language skills combine well with Gustavo's, and together we have worked Pantiacolla Tours since 1974.
July Lopez.
Pascal Wensveen.
Sandro Navia Miranda.
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