Meet Our Staff

 Bernard Schleien
 Director
 info@peruforless.com

Bernard attended Southwestern University at Georgetown, TX, one of the leading liberal arts colleges in the USA. After graduating with a major in history, he founded Peru For Less in 1998 and has ever since devoted his professional life to building memories of Peru for all. He has learned that there is much more to life than the ever so constant work day, and is one of seven founding members of Peru Futbol - a Peruvian NGO that aims to bring thousands of Peruvian children out of poverty, while instilling values through the teachings of soccer. Bernard has a love for Peru (especially Cuzco), like so many, and finds it extremely gratifying at the end of each day that he is able to sell something that he truly believes in. He has lived in Cuzco for 6 months, and goes there at least 3 times a year. Other interesting factoids about Bernard: Seinfeld fanatic, Cienciano del Cuzco soccer club team rooter, independent rock music, biking, creative writing, cooking and eating out, microbrewed beer (he says he just likes the taste.).

[ Return to Top ]

 Richard Leon
 Director
 richard@peruforless.com

Richard attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, one of the best schools of music in the world. He has lived in both in the USA and Peru, back and forth, as his family tended to move from one country to another due to job reasons. After 4 years of traveling back and forth from Boston and his home town of Lima, Peru, he graduated with a Bachelor degree in Music Business and Management. He has a passion for travel, drums, music, surfing and the financial markets as he is has been day trading for several years. He can never say no to food, especially if it is Pizza Day at the office which is to his fortune, once per month. He loves playing with his band called "Pan con Tamal" and also to simply grab his backpack and start walking into unknown territory to explore and find beautiful destinations which later he can share with all his friends. As an avid traveler he has been all over many countries in South America and experienced how travel can open your horizons by meeting new people, new cultures, new places and especially new rhythms for his drum set. Helping people is one of his passions as he truly believes that what goes around comes around and we all have to do our best to make our small space in the universe the best place to be.

[ Return to Top ]

 David McClellan
 US Office Manager
 david@peruforless.com

David is a medical social worker and he attained Psychology and Philosophy degrees at Southwestern University at Georgetown, TX; a leading liberal arts college in the USA. He started working in a senior living community in Austin after college, and after traveling to South America and meeting up with his old college buddy Bernard, he became the US office manager for Peru For Less. David's laid back attitude and warm character have always drawn him towards Latin America. He is a 'seize the moment' type of guy with an ambition to collect as many valuable experiences as possible. He collected many such experiences during his enchanting travels through Peru, from the zenith experience of Machu Picchu to the Taoist exploration of the Amazon waters. David plays football in recreational leagues and also sings Bass in professional choirs from Texas tours to a sold-out performance at Carnegie Hall, New York City. In his spare time David plays guitar and cries the Missisippi delta blues or bangs on bongos. He also enjoys motorcycle-riding through the Texas hill country. David brings to bear his passion for experience, compassion for the unlucky and faith in each person's liberty to create his or her own living Heaven in preparation for what lies beyond. These principles of the human spirit align David with the Peru For Less philosophy of rejuvenation, sensory stimulation and collection of experiences, as well as the cultural good.

[ Return to Top ]

 Elizabeth Nicknam-Retana
 General Manager
 elizabeth@peruforless.com

Elizabeth was born in the Midwest, but moved to the San Francisco Bay Area as a child and considers herself a Californian at heart. She received her Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley in 2008, with an emphasis in marketing and business strategy. She also studied international business strategy and fashion retail management while on MBA exchange in Milan, Italy in 2007 at the SDA Bocconi. Elizabeth spent her undergraduate years in the beautiful forests at the University of California, Santa Cruz and has a double major in business management economics and legal studies. Before coming to Latin America For Less, Elizabeth spent 8 years in the heart of Silicon Valley working for Intel in commodity management, managing accounts, supply chain programs and negotiating contracts for the worldwide factories. She also built a consulting business, working with companies around the world to develop solid business strategies, marketing programs and effective advertising campaigns. Outside of work, Elizabeth enjoys exploring the world with her husband, Mark. From big cities to beautiful natural scenery, Elizabeth loves to see new places and is always ready to get out and explore, so much so that her friends and family think she’s crazy – but they are no longer surprised when she says she is off on another adventure! Her most memorable trip to date was when she went on an expedition to Antarctica, which included wildlife encounters, snow hiking, kayaking, and even a polar plunge! She is looking forward to expanding on her travels in Latin America and to learn to speak Spanish fluently. You can catch Elizabeth rollerblading, playing basketball, listening to music, watching the crashing ocean waves or out exploring the town in her free time.

[ Return to Top ]

 Nick Stanziano
 Destination Manager
 nick@peruforless.com

Nick was born in Kealakekua, Hawaii the place of death of the Hawaiian explorer Captain James Cook. Hawaii was also the birthplace of Hiram Bingham the great Peruvian explorer. In the tradition of both these Hawaiian and Peruvian explorers, Nick has himself been bitten by the need to go beyond the horizon to discover new places.

In 2009 Nick earned an MBA at Saint Mary’s College of California with a Global emphasis. While earning his MBA Nick studied both in Europe and Asia and consulted for the IFMR trust on investment strategies for rural supply chains. Nick completed his undergraduate in Global and International Studies with an emphasis in Latin America while on the beach at the University of California Santa Barbara. As an undergraduate Nick studied in Florence, Italy and Malaga, Spain, which both early ventures shaped his passion for exploring the world.

Nick spent 3 years with Sysco in Sacramento, California in marketing and business development with a focus on Latin markets in the United States. In 2005 Nick worked in Ollantaytambo, Peru for a Non-Profit venture helping mitigate the effects of increased tourism in the Sacred Valley. While in Peru, Nick secured his fate in the great and wonderous country of Peru when he met his Peruvian wife in Cuzco. Nick has a three year old daughter who consistently reminds him to smile and give thanks for all this life has to offer.

Nick has been to nearly 30 countries of which everyone has done its part to shape his perspective. He is a fanatic about Weber barbeques and has yet to find anything he cannot grill, bake, steam or smoke with it. Nick has a dream to one day discover a major archeological ruin. There will be more discoveries and Nick would like to be there when it happens.

[ Return to Top ]

 JP Salcedo
 Travel Advisor
 jp@peruforless.com

Juan Pablo (aka JP at the office) graduated from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana in 2004 with a BA Bachelors Degree in economics and a double minor in mathematics and management. When his time came to choose where to obtain his bachelors degree he immediately chose to study in the US and particularly at Purdue since it has one of the largest populations of international students among US schools. He studied continuing his studies abroad at the University of Mannheim in Germany in 2002. His international experiences not only helped him to understand better the world dynamics, but also increase his love and appreciation of Peru and all this beautiful country has to offer. Always ready to return to travel, visit with friends and family, and enjoy the endless variety of dishes, especially ceviche!!! For him the best time of the year is the summer, when he can just wear shorts, enjoy the sun and read a nice book peacefully in the beach with the soothing sound of the waves breaking in the background. His favorite sport is soccer (of course!), but he enjoys playing just about anything, from tennis to snowboarding. Oddly enough, one of the passions he developed while in the states was the love for Salsa music. Unfortunately he is a terrible dancer, but he is always willing to try his best, improve and have a good time. He's our technical guy that gets you through your travels squeaky clean.

[ Return to Top ]

 Rylee McGowan
 Travel Advisor
 rylee@peruforless.com

Rylee is a photographer and musician originally from San Francisco. It was here that she studied Film Production at the State University and worked diligently through school at the Exploratorium Science Museum as an audiovisual technician and as a freelance photographer.

After graduation, Rylee had an urge to travel and explore the rest of the world, her camera at her side and so spent time in Haiti, Mexico, South East Asia and Western Europe. She found the Caribbean and Latin American countries particularly visually exciting, although on one occasion in Haiti, a voodoo curse was put on her by a lady worried that she was capturing part of her soul.

Her first experience of South America was last year when she traveled through Argentina and then to Peru … but she liked it so much she stayed! She realizes that traveling is always going to be an important part of her life, but for the time being, she is happily settled in Lima, where she continues to take photos, play her piano, enjoy the local music scene, and is learning how to cook Peruvian-style.

[ Return to Top ]

 Chris Mahoney
 Travel Advisor
 chris@peruforless.com

Born and raised 'Down Under' in Sydney, Australia, Chris attended Martin College where he studied Graphic Design and Marketing. While living in Sydney, he contracted Latin Fever from his encounters with Peruvians there, especially his best friend from Lima, and yearned to know the Latin American continent. After traveling through the South Pacific, Southeast Asia and Europe, he packed his Maracas and Peter Allan music and headed for the other side of the Pacific Ocean to satisfy his gnawing curiosity for Latin America.

Traveling through Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Chile, Chris finally arrived in Peru where he found the country lovely and the people amiable, true to his expectations so he decided to settle in Lima for awhile.

Chris has a background as an Art Director and has experience working with fashion shots, magazines and corporate identity. He feels the warm and passionate people, the vibrant colors and the agreeable ambience in Peru give him all the inspiration he needs.

His favorite animal is the Toad and he also boasts to making the finest Pisco Sour in all of Lima. On the weekends you can find Chris playing cricket and surfing in Caballeros Beach near Lima where the waves can reach a height of 3 meters!

[ Return to Top ]

 Daniel Smith
 Travel Advisor
 danielm@peruforless.com

Originally from Denver, Colorado, Daniel has lived in many parts of the world including San Francisco and Toulouse, France, and now Lima. He attended the University of San Francisco in northern California, where he received a B.A. in English Writing. After graduating, Daniel worked for KQED, California’s public radio and television network, and also taught writing to inner-city youth in the Hunter’s Point neighborhood of San Francisco. He then moved to France where he completed an independent study on Afro-French culture at the Universite de Toulouse. His experiences in Toulouse opened his eyes to the cultural and social differences people face around the world. In returning from France, he became a program coordinator at a refugee resettlement agency in Denver where he worked with newly-arrived refugees from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. His experiences with the refugee populations in Denver changed and molded his ways of living and will stay with him forever.

Daniel has a passion for music, the arts, and literature; his family is full of Afro-Cuban drummers, Peruvian criolla singers, classical guitarists, and salsa dancers. On weekends, you can find him listening and dancing away to live music in downtown Lima. He is an aficionado of poetry and the short stories of Amiri Baraka, a famous urban American writer, and from time to time enjoys visiting the Miraflores art galleries. His interests are diverse, but more than anything he loves meeting new people, traveling to new places, and having interesting conversations over a glass of wine.

[ Return to Top ]

 Jennifer Raske
 Travel Advisor
 jennifer@peruforless.com

Jennifer was born and raised in south Texas and is proud of it. Although not everyone from Texas grows up around or on a horse, Jennifer does fit in with this Hollywood image of Texas. She attended the University of Texas at Austin where she devoted her free time to her clarinet and the marching band (free football tickets!). Jennifer received her degrees in Art History and Anthropology and specialized in Latin American culture. Specifically, she was enamored by the beauty of Aztec, Mayan and Toltec art and architecture and can talk about the intricate relationship between mythology and human sacrifice for hours. As part of her studies she participated in an archaeological field school in Belize, where she proudly uncovered a gorgeous plaster floor and discovered that obsidian blades are still sharp even after hundreds of years. During Jennifer’s time in the field school she was able to travel through Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. She climbed volcanoes, went scuba diving and began a mission to see all archaeological sites in Latin America. And so began her addiction to living life from a backpack.

As destiny should have it, her best friend from the field school is Peruvian and invited Jennifer to come to see her country. So before having too many responsibilities, Jennifer packed her bags and headed for Peru. What was a three month stay became seven months after she fell in love not just with Peru, but a Peruvian who she first saw on a horse. After returning to Peru twice and traveling through Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina and Uruguay, Jennifer is now living in Peru and trying to plan a wedding. In her free time you will find her looking for opportunities to be on or around horses (she did get to ride a Peruvian Paso Fino at an exhibition in Trujillo - a dream come true), visiting archaeological sites (and possible crying because of their beauty) or running to her obsession of Peruvian cumbia music and the music of Juanes (from Colombia) in order to compensate for her other obsessions for mamay, Inca Kola, humitas, and vast quantities of aji.

[ Return to Top ]

 Kristina Rudge
 Travel Advisor
 kristina@argentinaforless.com

Kristina’s interest in South America goes back to her childhood and has sometimes led her to wonder if was born on the wrong continent. She studied Latin American history and literature at Warwick University and spent her third year at the University of Puebla, Mexico, before studying International Development at the London School of Economics.

Combining a passion for travel with a belief that travelers should be socially and environmentally responsible, Kristina worked on Tourism Studies at a UK education provider before leaving England behind to undergo an adventurous volunteer project in Argentine Patagonia, helping biologists in their studies of the Andean condor and other endangered species. The impression left on her by the wild beauty of Patagonia led her to head off the beaten track several times as she traveled through Bolivia to Peru, seeking low-impact ways of visiting other pristine areas and archaeological sites that retain their sense of mystery.

Following an awe-inspiring trek in the Cusco highlands, Kristina spent a month in Pisco helping to rebuild houses in the poorest districts affected by the 2007 earthquake and came away feeling indebted to the families she met for their extraordinary generosity in the face of a long-term crisis. She arrived in Lima expecting a short visit and was charmed into staying by the warmth and open-hearted nature of the “limeños”, who introduced her to the capital city’s gastronomic delights and all the opportunities offered by its proximity to the mountains and the sea. At weekends she can be found eating ceviche, lomo saltado or chaufa and visiting one of the beaches and archaeological sites close to Lima. She loves to read and go to the movies and enjoys listening to classic salsa and rock, although her lack of dancing ability is one factor that will surely mark her out as a “gringa,” however long she stays.

[ Return to Top ]

 Matt Greenberg
 Travel Advisor
 matt@argentinaforless.com

Matthew comes to us from the suburbs of Chicago where he was born and raised. He graduated from the University of Tampa in Florida with a major in writing and a minor in English. During his college years, Matthew spent a year teaching English in Costa Rica, where he fell in love with Latin America and fostered a desire to write about its culture. Fascinated by the warm and gentle “pura vida” attitudes of the “ticos,” he was struck by a sense of beauty and serenity he had never before encountered. In Costa Rica, Matthew was bit by the travel bug; this took him to venture throughout Central America and Europe. He now indulges in the rich and foreign treasures South America has to offer.

Matthew came to Peru to instruct English and quickly found the country had much to teach him. In his reports home, Matthew sings the praises of the best food he has ever had “except maybe for Chicago deep dish pizza.” Even more than the delicious cuisine, it was the warmth of the people, the beauty of the countryside, and the bustle of Lima that captured his heart and imagination. He travels as much as his time permits and has become known as the “Tango King” in certain corners of Buenos Aires. Friend to the penguins of Puerto Madryn, the gauchos’ cattle of the Argentine pampas, and the llama of Peru, Matthew cherishes the sacred and vibrant wildlife that can be found all over South America. In his free time, Matthew can be found writing, reading, or catching the latest movies. While Matthew does not miss the harsh Midwest winters, he does long for basketball and cheering on his beloved Boston Red Sox, a family inherited obsession. Nevertheless, Matthew has happily found a new home in Latin America.

[ Return to Top ]

 Kelly Chrystal
 Travel Advisor
 kelly@peruforless.com

Kelly comes from a big and crazy Midwestern family in Illinois, which will always be home no matter where she finds herself. After high school she went to Spain where she immersed herself in language studies, met people from all over the world, and made sure to see the best of various European cities.

A sucker for a challenge, Kelly then went on to pursue a BA at New York University in Manhattan’s eclectic Greenwich Village, double majoring in Spanish and Social and Cultural Analysis. As someone with a passion to work for positive change, during her years at NYU Kelly volunteered and interned with non-profit organizations, spending time in New Orleans, the mountains of Colorado and different neighborhoods around New York City. With its endless cultural activities and live music scene, New York treated Kelly very well and by the end of four years she was a vegetarian living in Brooklyn.

An avid traveler and adventure-seeker, she found herself returning to Peru after spending a semester as an exchange student at Lima’s Pontificia Universidad Catolica in 2008. The warmth of the Peruvian people, its agreeable climate, colorful culture and dynamic landscape all drew Kelly back to work in this country she had studied and gotten to know well enough to fascinate her. She loves to read, run, and listen to music and podcasts – a newly discovered interest – while not working on the endless project of improving her Spanish.

[ Return to Top ]

 Riva Bacquet
 Travel Advisor
 riva@argentinaforless.com

After extensive backpacking trips throughout Europe, Central and South America, Riva finally found her home in Lima, Peru, a city she believes provides the perfect blend of delicious exotic flavors, sunny ocean-breeze weather, and a rich, even mystifying, culture. She is a native of San Diego, California, and a graduate of the Claremont Colleges where she received her double degree in International/Intercultural Studies and Political Studies, and a minor in Spanish. During her time at university she worked with several non-profit organizations, striving to build a stronger community and encourage greater cultural understanding by assisting refugees and immigrants adapt to a new life in the USA. Her lifelong fascination with the Spanish language and Latin America led her to study abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she completed her thesis on the nation’s social and political reaction to their 2001 economic crisis. Upon graduation she moved to northern Argentina where she spent one busy year teaching English to all ages and skill levels. During her free time, she was able to experience and enjoy the wonders of a more traditional way of life in Argentina, complete with colonial architecture, breathtaking green mountains, rugged gauchos and a daily dose of yerba mate. Now well versed in the charms of Latin America, Riva is pursuing a career in tourism to help others experience the beauty of travel. She is an avid believer in the benefits of tourism, healthy living, and social and environmental consciousness. Here in Lima you will most likely find her running on the beach, reading in a local café, dining with friends and family, playing with her camera or taking out visitors to explore the myriad cultural and exciting hotspots of the city.

[ Return to Top ]

 Alex Seeger
 Travel Advisor
 alex@peruforless.com

Though he was born in Lima, Alex lived most of his life away from the country of his birth. After living in Germany, Uruguay, the Netherlands and the United States, Alex is excited at the prospect of returning home. He is an avid believer that studying the language and culture of different places contributes to a better understanding of the world in which we live.

Alex just graduated from Davidson College in North Carolina with a major in history and a minor in German. He was able to study British history and literature from 1780 to 1850 at the Corpus Christi College of Cambridge University. During his junior year of college, he spent a semester in Cape Town, South Africa where he studied multiculturalism and social change, lived with host families and practiced his isiXhosa language skills. After touring Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana, Alex hopes to one day be able to explore more of Africa, preferably in a Safari vehicle with his camera. He also spent a semester in the Albert-Ludwigs University –Freiburg in Germany where he fine-tuned his German, enjoyed the country’s cuisine and used Europe’s train system to explore France, Italy, England and the Czech Republic.

While Alex can complain about Lima’s traffic, he believes, probably not impartially, that Lima is one of the world’s most enchanting cities. He loves the combinations of the mountains and the ocean. Alex hopes to start playing tennis again after a hiatus of several years and plans to take cooking classes so that he can replicate the fine country’s fine cuisine at home. Alex can often be seen walking his old English sheep dog, Maia, through the parks of Miraflores.

[ Return to Top ]

 Jorge Bravo-Carrizales
 Travel Advisor
 jorge@peruforless.com

Jorge attended Methodist University in North Carolina, USA and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications. He had the opportunity to work in multimedia production while still in school and continued as a freelancer after graduation. He also devoted his time to playing bass for a local band called “The Reubens” which played styles such as jazz, blues, rock, bluegrass, funk and reggae. What he likes most about Peru is its cultural heritage and its culinary art. He’s fascinated by the Nazca Lines which he believes is a mystery that so far reveals only the complex and highly-skilled work of Peru’s ancient civilizations. He enjoys the warmth of the people and the urban activity in Peru. While living in the United States he organized a mission trip to Peru with the purpose of sharing the culture and beauty of the country to his co-workers while also helping to rebuild temples in Callao. He has traveled around much of the states, including the Bahamas, and in Peru he knows Cuzco, Huaraz, Ica and Chanchamayo. He would also like to return for a visit to Argentina, his birthplace.

He enjoys playing soccer very much. During his first years in school, he was an active member of The Foreign Languages Club and the International Club where he organized and participated in many intercultural activities and had the opportunity to meet students from many different countries, which resulted in everlasting friendships. His escape from tedious routine is to listen to Louis Armstrong and lay back in the company of his loved ones. He likes to spend his time playing music and learning more about digital art, such as video production, as well as graphic and web design. Music, to him, is the greatest gift of all and has devoted time to constantly improving his skills and techniques so that his art flows naturally and can be expressed in the most accurate way possible. Since he was a kid he has been involved in painting, drawing and music. The focus of his career now is to create channels in order to share his ideas and thoughts in an audiovisual manner.

[ Return to Top ]

 Nicola Kopp
 Travel Advisor - German
 nicola@peruforless.com

Nicola studied Tourism Management at Munich’s University of Applied Science, one of Germany’s leading Universities, graduating with a Diploma in spring 2007. At this point, she decided to explore Latin America in greater depth, initially taking up a job at an adventure and nature tour operator in Ecuador. However, in a quirk of fate, five weeks before leaving Germany for Quito, she fell in love with a Peruvian guy, and 3 months later, they resolved to come to Peru to live together. She has since developed a passion for Lima, its lovely citizens - ‘limeños’ -, their creole music, food and lifestyle.

In her free time, she loves nothing better than to put on her backpack and explore the vast, natural expanses of the Andes. Her passion for hiking had been fostered as a student walking the famous, Spanish pilgrimage route ‘El Camino de Santiago’: an experience that left such a deep impression that she wrote her university thesis on it. Her enjoyment of the peace, camaraderie and simple pleasures of walking, unencumbered, in beautiful countryside has led her to adopt as her motto ‘less is more’ - which certainly fits in nicely with company philosophy at Peru For Less!

When not out mountaineering or reading about cultural diversity, she is to be found with her friends in one of Lima’s alternative music bars, listening to Rock, Reggae or Ragga, thus demonstrating her multifaceted character.

[ Return to Top ]

 Sebastian Dawson
 Quality Control Manager
 sebastian@peruforless.com

As the son of a diplomat, Sebastian (a native limeño) spent most of his life abroad in Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, the U.S., Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, England, Ghana, Egypt, Benin, the Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Togo, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, and the Netherlands. Along the way he learned many languages and experienced many cultures which, in turn, moved him to pursue a degree in social science. With a special emphasis on anthropology, political science, and modern history; Sebastian obtained his B.A. in 2007 from the highly selective honors college, the University College Utrecht in the Netherlands.

After many amazing and eye-opening experiences abroad, Sebastian felt that it was finally time to return to his roots in Peru. What he considers “the only city in the world capable of touching most of his senses;” the vibrant and diverse Lima was beckoning his return. Sebastian is captivated and inspired by South America’s mélange: the rich geographic diversity and cultural fusions that can be epitomized by the Peruvian and Argentine cuisine.

Due to his nomadic lifestyle, Sebastian cannot imagine life without the excitement of exploring new horizons. When he’s not wandering the world, Sebastian is organizing social events; reading novels and historical biographies; brushing up on his cooking and baking skills; or listening to jazz music on his iPod while jogging along the San Isidro golf course, diligently planning his next adventure…which includes visiting the white slopes of Barlioche where the snow is pristine and the air is crisp.

[ Return to Top ]

 David Rottblatt
 Business Development
 davidr@peruforless.com

David, originally from Miami, Florida, has been a proud late-stage Californian. He received his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business in 2009. During the program, he helped launch a healthy food service company in Los Angeles, and spent a month in India consulting with a vision entrepreneurship nonprofit. Prior to business school, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech, and worked at Abbott Vascular, improving the manufacturing of medical devices. David spends most of his free time with friends, food, and the outdoors.At the early age of 12, David started experimenting with ingredients, and over the past 16 years the product has come a long way. One of his recent favorite activities was teaching cooking classes for teenagers. “It was so cool seeing them proud of their creations and hearing stories about the latest dishes they made for their families. ”David fell in love with the outdoors at age 10 during a family trip to the Swiss Alps. He had an instinct to just start climbing! Over the past few years, David has explored a couple hundred miles of the Sierras in California, and trekked through some of the beautiful mountains of Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. David is particularly proud of sharing his love for the outdoors and helping others overcome barriers to new experiences. In the past year, he set up training programs for 15 friends and guided 3 backpacking trips for first-time campers. David is excited about getting to continue to share beautiful destinations with others through Latin America For Less.

[ Return to Top ]

 Matthew Barker
 Marketing and Website Manager
 mattb@latinamericaforless.com

Matt graduated from the University of Sheffield with a Masters in international politics before moving into the world of public relations at a homelessness charity in England's hard-pressed industrial north. Only able to cope with abandoned factories and perpetual cloud for so long, he decided to seek a more appealing environment elsewhere.

Having lived in Japan and traveled throughout Europe, North America and East Asia, Latin America seemed the next logical step, so Matt and his partner made their way to Peru overland from Central America, working with community projects and doing some freelance writing and photography along the way.

With an independent and inquisitive attitude to travel, he enjoys getting to know a place through its people; a useful excuse for hanging out with the locals in Lima's backstreet watering holes! While not searching for new stories or taking yet more photographs, he is absorbed with travel literature and keeps a meticulously close eye on world news.

[ Return to Top ]

 Sandra Vallejos
 Online Marketing
 sandra@peruforless.com

Sandra attended Catholic University of Peru and graduated with a major in social history because she wanted to understand not only the culture of her own country but that of other countries as well. She was chosen to do an exchange program with a university in France so she could visit Europe during her vacations. Right now she’s following a Post Graduate Program in Marketing Management in ESAN (one of the best management schools in Latin America) because she realizes that Peru has a lot of potential in tourism that hasn’t been explored and promoted yet. Her goal is to promote the “Peruvian brand” around the world and develop new tourist destinations in the country. In order to do that she travels a lot around Peru and she also visited a couple of cities in the United States for the summer and followed some courses in Colombia. Whilst traveling she discovered many different cultures, languages and people from all over the world and she understood that communication is the key to other cultures. The words, the accent, the slang; everything talks about a country, its culture and history. That’s why she’s planning to study Chinese.

After traveling, Sandra’s second passion is dancing. She started when she was 10 years old and when she was 15 she became a professional folkloric dancer. Sandra is also a private teacher, she teaches Peruvian dancing alongside English, French and Spanish languages and, of course, history. On the weekends, Sandra enjoys going to the beach until the sunset and walking around the city to discover different places. She also likes to go trekking if there’s a chance. Although she’s always moving around and doing different things, Sandra appreciates the quiet moments in her apartment with her boyfriend, listening to music or playing with her little cat.

[ Return to Top ]

 Ricardo Lopez
 Lima Operations Supervisor
 ricardo@peruforless.com

Ricardo was born in Lima and is currently finishing his degree in the Administration of Tourist Companies at the National University of Federico Villarreal. His expertise in both Operations and Administration, and his kind character, have been warmly welcomed at Peru For Less. Ricardo has a love of Peru and has spent a large amount of time traveling through the Amazon in the North and East of the country. He has previously worked for such companies as E. Wong and Banc de Credito (BCP), and it was within these that Ricardo acquired a lot of experience and knowledge with regard to the inner workings of companies and customer satisfaction. In his spare time Ricardo enjoys reading, writing, listening to music, and going to the cinema. Like many at Peru For Less, Ricardo happens to be a fanatical football supporter – his team is Alianza Lima, regardless of what others may say. In his spare time, Ricardo enjoys swimming, camping and trekking – he often wishes he had more free time to pursue his outdoor passions though! Over the weekends he is often found with his friends in some of Lima's more animated Night Clubs where he enjoys a little rum off and on. He dreams of getting to know all the provinces within Peru.

[ Return to Top ]

 Brenda Ysabel Huamán Amaya
 Operations
 brenda@peruforless.com

Brenda was born in the district of Jesús Maria in Lima and graduated in 2006 from the Federico Villarreal National University. Her fascination with foreign languages and their power in promoting cross-cultural understanding led her to learn English and French …with Quechua being next on the list. She feels that it is important for all Peruvians to know at least one of the indigenous languages of the country, especially when it’s spoken by 40% of the population.

Previously, Brenda worked as a tour guide in the San Franciscan Church of Lima, one of the most beautiful churches in the city, leading tours through the monastery and the subterranean crypts where the skulls and bones of 70 thousand people have been housed for centuries.

The Peruvian Andes, where the sun shines all day in the clear azure sky, is what Brenda fell in love with on her visit to Ayacucho. It was here that she understood the spiritual attraction of the simple things in life, and, since then, she has filled her house with flowers and plants to enliven the ambience and please the eye. She dreams of having a farm in the countryside with open fields where her two dogs can run freely and where there is space for a garden large enough to keep all her beloved fruit trees and flowers. But for now, she’s happily pursing her other dream of learning foreign languages and traveling whenever she gets the chance.

[ Return to Top ]

 Dohjio Branko Knezvich
 Operations
 branko@peruforless.com

A native of Peru, Branko was born in the city of Tarma, often referred to as the ‘Pearl of the Andes’ for its rich history and natural beauty. He began his studies as a law student; however, after some considerable soul searching, he began studying Philosophy in the Catholic University of Peru where he graduated in 2007. A passionate traveler, Branko journeyed throughout Peru as a child and his studies have taken him to Brazil and the US. Branko believes in lending a helping hand and has done social work in communities of Ayacucho as well as volunteer for the Red Cross earthquake relief in Ica and Chincha. With a flair for dishing up Peruvian cuisine, Branko enjoys the gastronomy of his country because it represents regional diversity as well as the cultural exchange of various ethnic groups throughout the centuries. Branko also appreciates Afro-Peruvian music and salsa as well as cinema and ancient Greek literature. Nevertheless, soccer is his core passion and while he has played in almost all positions and was even captain of his philosophy department’s soccer team, he considers himself a terrible player.

[ Return to Top ]

 Darío Meneses
 Operations
 dario@peruforless.com

A native of Cusco, Darío takes pride on being a highlander. While never having seen a single Indiana Jones film in his life, his interest in Archaeology started at an early age when he became enthralled with the study of ancient peoples, the way they lived, and what they believed in. Darío’s burning desire and acute curiosity to discover all that can be explained without using math (his nemesis) has been satisfied while obtaining his Archaeology degree in The Catholic University of Peru. However, true to his inquisitive nature, he has emerging plans for a second degree in Bibliotecology and Information Sciences. Darío is also a firm believer that everyone has something to teach and something to learn. Apart from feeding his insatiable curiosity with new discoveries and teachings, Darío enjoys relaxing at coffee shops with friends while exchanging ironic jokes and odd comments on almost any subject. An avid reader and traveler, he dreams of someday roving around the world to the Buenos Aires of Borges, the Lisbon of Saramago, and the Barcelona of Gaudí (fortunately, he has already been to the Seville and the Madrid of Pérez Reverte).

[ Return to Top ]

 Ana Karina Junes
 Operations
 anakarina@peruforless.com

Ana Karina is a graduated student from San Marcos University, the first university founded in South America during colonial times. As an institution surrounded by history, Ana likes to know all the stories about it, the same with Peruvian culture in general.

She really enjoys her country as place of mixed cultures and sees herself as a cultural fusion as well. Her mother is from the Amazon rainforest, Iquitos, and her father is from a small town in highlands, but she was born in the coast, Trujillo. Even so, she moved a lot during her first 5 years and thanks to her father’s job, her family moved for two years to Mozambique, Africa. She likes traveling and has had to opportunity to explore both with her family and by herself. That, she believes, is the main reason she entered the tourism industry.

She had the opportunity to work and live in the rainforest, Tambopata working by Rainforest Expeditions, in the middle of the jungle as a naturalistic guide, sharing with the travelers her passion about tourism and conservation. Although you can imagine, Ana is also a city girl that enjoys movies, music and concerts. She likes to write about the films she loves and the bands she discovers on the internet, and share them on local websites. She likes to spend time with her old time’s friends from school and university but she also enjoys staying at home watching a movie with her parents.

[ Return to Top ]

 Oscar Melgar Bravo
 Operations
 oscar@peruforless.com

Oscar loves nature and long walks, whether it be in the city, or even better still, outside of it. Born in Cerro de Pasco, Peru at more than 4000 meters above sea level, he later moved to La Oroya. At seven years old, he moved to Lima where since that young age he enjoyed urban treks, exploring a city that fascinates him to this day. Oscar is finalizing his studies in Business Administration at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in order to later pursue a Master’s in Sustainable Tourism.

His professional career began with a position in a bank but he soon realized that it wasn’t for him. This was how he began his run as a coordinator for events and festivals in Peru with the company Intej. He later moved onto the position of coordinator for an innovative volunteer program for the British NGO Platform 2, a job which opened his eyes to the social needs in society.

Oscar alternates his free time between his passions that aside from walking include going to concerts, listening to music, reading magazines and blogs and looking for guitar tablatures. He also enjoys relaxing in his kitchen, trying out new recipes, which can sometimes be a cruel joke on his taste buds. He is very familiar with the Andean region of Peru; he has travled to diverse parts of the country such as Choquequirao and the Apurimac Canyon (his favorite place). His dream is to travel the Antarctic, attend a Glastonbury Festival and a Formula 1 Grand Prix.

[ Return to Top ]

 Diego Piqueras Nightingale
 Operations
 diegop@peruforless.com

Diego was born in Lima and is in his final year at the Tourism Management Faculty of San Ignacio de Loyola University in Lima. He originally began studying in the agricultural engineering department, but when he found out about the tourism course, he changed his mind without a second thought. He is a person who loves what he studies and enjoys putting what he has learned in his daily lessons into practice.

There are a lot of places that Diego has visited in the past 6 years; he is a person who likes to travel to distant lands. He knows much of southern Peru including the amazing Cusco, Ayacucho, Arequipa and Puno, as well as the beaches of Piura, Tumbes and Trujillo in the north, the beautiful mountain range that crosses Huaraz, Cajamarca and Junin, and also the green forests of San Martin.

He spent the summers of 2007 and 2008 as a participant in the work experience program in Big Sky, Montana, where he improved his English and spent his days working and snowboarding in one of the best resorts in the United States. While there, he made a lot of friends from other parts of the world including Europe, Australia and Asia.

Diego considers himself to be a very practical person, using Buddhist meditation and Kung Fu as tools to reach a broader view of life, and to constantly keep a sight of his goals.

[ Return to Top ]

 Caitlin Ham
 Cuzco Operations Manager
 caitlin@peruforless.com

After living in bone-chilling Ireland, Russia and Belgium for a total of five years, Caitlin (a native Californian suffering from a mild case of the greener grass syndrome) decided to head to South America as a reward after graduating from Trinity College Dublin with a major in European Studies. Only a few weeks into her trip she had an epiphany-she wanted to stay! Though now at a slight disadvantage with a degree in European History and a distinct preference for South America, Caitlin tries to keep the playing field even by maintaining her rewarding-though expensive-obsession with Belgian microbreweries and rebuilding her collection of Russian literature, which was supremely depleted while at the height of her backpacking phase! As she speaks four languages and is a huge fan of travel, Caitlin fits right into the Peru for Less team in Lima, beginning with writing and web development as her main source of fun(ds). Caitlin can often be found outside working on her mini computer when there’s any chance of possible sunlight, desperately trying to maintain the first tan she’s had in years. As a balance to the beer and burger habits, Caitlin tries to keep moving as much as possible, often trekking, swimming or white-water rafting (she’s a trained guide) so long as there’s sun! Though open to any opportunities that her position at Latin America for Less will lead her, one thing is certain, she’s fallen hard for Peru and the love affair with South America is complete!

[ Return to Top ]

 Allison Monge Carrión
 Cuzco Operations
 allison@peruforless.com

A native Peruvian, Allison studied Tourism at the National University of San Antonio Abad in Cusco which allowed her to travel throughout Peru. She credits her enhanced love for her country and appreciation for the richness of its people to this unique experience. Upon graduation, Allison worked in a NGO, helping underprivileged children who reside in the rural towns on the outskirts of Cusco. Like many proud Peruvians, she claims that cuisine and tradition are her favorite national attributes and she loves to discover the many tales and customs that make Peru such an amazing place. Noticing a correlation between Andean history and myths with those of ancient Egypt and Greece, Allison is an avid reader of these subjects. However, far from a bookworm, Allison is actually quite the adventurous spirit and enjoys a variety of outdoor activities such as trekking, rappelling, and rock climbing. She says that she was ‘hooked’ on adventure at the age of 17 when she whitewater -rafted down the class III+ rapids in Cuzco….without even knowing how to swim!

[ Return to Top ]

 Tracy Imbeault
 Cuzco Operations
 tracy@peruforless.com

Since graduating from school in Arizona in 2004, Tracy has kept herself occupied with further education and self-development in several skills and trades. She has also traveled throughout Europe; a month and a half was spent visiting beautiful cities like Roma, Valencia, Vienna, Praha, and Amsterdam.

When she returned from her travels, she pursued a career in Real Estate and attended The Pinnacle School of Real Estate, where she received her Arizona Real Estate License. Tracy was then able to assist in the purchasing of Investment Properties that could be renovated. She received hands on experience and learned valuable trades such as interior design, concrete and tile work, trim carpentry, and more. She learned these skills with the belief that, if nothing else, she would always able to build herself a great house.

Recently, with the urge to continue exploration and further her understanding of the world’s diverse cultures, she made her first trip to South America. Instantly falling in love with all that the city has to offer, Cusco is now the place that she calls home.

Tracy is an avid sports fanatic - particularly of mixed martial arts, football, and basketball. In her free time, you can find her catching up on all the latest title fights and play-off scores, or competing in friendly games of cricket, darts or billiards.

[ Return to Top ]

 Miguel Alonso Celis Sánchez
 Guide
 miguel@peruforless.com

A native of Lima, the history-loving Miguel says that there is no place better than Callao, the lively district where he spent most of his life. Due to his incredible passion to know his country’s past, Miguel got his BA in history from the Catholic University of Peru in 2007.

As a history enthusiast, Miguel enjoys exploring old Lima, where he revisits historic buildings, admires the majestic churches and looks at antique books that were of importance during colonial rule. Yet his passion is not only history, as Miguel loves tasting great food, going to the movies and spending time with his friends. In addition, this avid reader can be seen carrying a book most of the time, especially if it is about ancient legends, horror or science fiction. If he is not reading, then you can probably spot him listening to his favorite music on his MP3 player.

While Miguel claims to love Peru more than anything, his traveler’s spirit and curiosity of history make him eager to visit China and Japan. He is fascinated by the prospect of visiting Asia; he hopes to walk on the Great Wall, explore the Terracotta Army and learn more about Japan’s temples and samurai culture.

[ Return to Top ]

 Giovanni Battistini
 Driver
 giovanni@peruforless.com

Giovanni studied information technology at the ABACO and IPAE Montericco. He is currently also studying audiovisual communications at the SISE. He has a seven year old daughter who he proclaims “is his life.” While he is no party animal, Giovanni enjoys having a good time. For him, this means visiting Lima’s huariques, small family owned restaurants with good food that are often hiding in various corners of Lima. He claims the best dishes contain shellfish. Seafood is his favorite! He is also an adamant player of soccer and and the similar Peruvian version of fulbito. Another activity that he enjoys is karate and even has a brown belt! Giovanni has seen almost all of Peru except Cuzco and has traveled to Chile, Argentina and Ecuador.

[ Return to Top ]

 Daniel Fernando Espinoza
 Argentine Operations
 daniel@peruforless.com

Born in the Jesus Maria district of Lima, Daniel is in his last year of studying Tourism Administration at the Federico Villarreal National University. Previous to his joining PFL, Daniel worked for the Banco Continental, and as a coorporate executive for AFP Horizonte. He also worked for the city of Lima, administrating the city’s vehicular fleet. Despite this previous work experience, Daniel feels that coming to PFL was the best decision he could make, as travel is his passion and his job at PFL allows him to apply his studies to his work. Daniel first developed his passion for travel as a child when he traveled along Peru’s northern coast. Some of his more memorable childhood trips included visiting Chiclayo, Pisco/ Paracas, Arequipa, Puno, Tacna, La Paz (Bolivia), Santiago del Estero (Argentina), and Chile. Through travel Daniel has had the chance to enjoy the diversity of cultures and landscapes that Peru and South America have to offer. Despite his interest in visiting other countries, Daniel maintains that Peru is truly his favorite place on earth. When not traveling he enjoys playing Playstation 2 and Massive Role Playing Games online, and while he says he is not any good at sports, he still likes to play them and he is a huge fan of Sporting Cristal. Daniel no longer watches TV, but he loves music, and was even lead guitarrist of a band called Treva (they made a record, but they never became well known... maybe someday).

[ Return to Top ]

 Camila Paolini
 Argentine Operations
 camila@argentinaforless.com

Camila attends the University of Buenos Aires where she will soon receive her degree in Psychology. For the last five years she worked as an accounting assistant at a consulting group where she was a receptionist helping with the accountancy paperwork. During her academic experience she has had the valuable opportunity to coordinate a social project which diffused information about sexually transmitted diseases to the young and socio-economically vulnerable population.

Camila is passionate about both music and psychoanalysis; she considers herself to be a fan of Sigmund Freud and this is why she plans to study an M.A. in the subject. Although she is a persistent and self-taught guitar player, she thinks she is not good at all. However, she continues practicing with the hope of one day being the Argentinean Jimmy Page. In her school she was a choir member who always enjoyed singing in different languages; she even went on tour with the choir group to England to perform in schools and churches. One year she performed as an actress in theatrical music concerts during which she had to struggle against her stage fright and shyness.

While she has been on holidays she has backpacked to Salta, Jujuy, Cordoba, Mendoza, Santa Fe and Entre Rios, where she always looks forward to meeting local people and learning about their cultures and their life perspectives. She has also traveled to Uruguay and is now aiming to complete a more adventurous trip to the North - very near to Brazil - where there are lovely and almost virgin beaches and little and unknown fishing towns. On weekends she sometimes goes to the countryside where she goes horse-riding. When it comes to sport, Camila practices rollerblading and ice skating.

[ Return to Top ]

 Fabricio Ortiz De Zevallos
 Tour Guide
 fabricio@peruforless.com

Fabricio is our official tour guide for Machu Picchu – and he is a great one at that. He is from Cuzco and his knowledge of the city, its history, the surrounding area and Machu Picchu is unbelievable. He is in fact a direct descendant of one of the last Inca and is deeply proud of his cultural heritage. Fabricio studied mechanical engineering at the National Univeristy of Engineering in Lima. Engineers don’t often become tour guides but by some stroke of luck Fabricio was given the opportunity, after graduating, of accompanying a few tourists through Peru. He became their defacto guide through his home country and at the end of the tour realized that he had found his true calling. Embarking upon a new stage in his life Fabricio started studying to become a tour guide. Fabricio is deeply knowledgeable about the Inca Culture and is also very keen to share his wealth of information with anyone who cares to listen. He enjoys river rafting, trekking, mountain biking and is both a guide and an expert in each field. He is bright eyed, charismatic, and aims to give tourists the best possible experiences of Peru imaginable. He dreams of one day being the best Tour Guide in Peru – we at Peru For Less however, know that he already is.

[ Return to Top ]

 Angel Seron
 Senior Web Designer
 angel@peruforless.com

Meet Angel Seron – our web designer and artist - who studied at the Toulouse Lautrec Superior Institute of Communication and Design here in Lima. Angel was born in Puerto San Juan de Marcona, a beach town close to Ica and roughly 8 hours from Lima. Angel lived in this idyllic setting until he was 17 and often reminisces about his childhood, which he describes as the peaceful life of sitting on beaches, swimming in the sea and enjoying the fresh clean sea air. From an early age Angel has been fascinated with art and while he wiled away his time painting and drawing as a child, he never imagined his passion with the arts would accompany him into his career. At University Angel decided to combine his passion for art with another passion of his – computers. An education in graphic design, multimedia and web design were obvious choices and Angel graduated at the top of all of his classes. Angel has been an avid football fanatic his entire life. He also enjoys Baseball, traveling, is in love with Salsa, and likes to kick back with some Spanish rock. In his spare time Angel enjoys reading and studying so as to keep in touch with all software innovations. Despite regarding himself as a homely kind of guy, Angel adores going out with his friends and meeting new people.

[ Return to Top ]

 Fernando Ramos
 Web Programmer
 fernando@peruforless.com

Fernando hails from the valleys of Huaral, 2 hours north of Lima, where the fruit is fresh and the people are warm and friendly. As befits a Programmer, he is interested in all matters of information technology, having studied Systems Analysis and Programming at the SISE Institute and Advanced Programming in Web Languages at TECSUP.

But far from being a nerd, Fernando has many outside interests, from strumming the guitar, to cycling, playing football or enjoying the beach in summer. He has also been lucky enough to travel extensively through Peru, climbing as high as 5,557m above sea level to the top of Mount Huaytapallana in the Andes. However, he still has ambitions for further travel, both within and beyond Peru, as well as honing his programming skills.

[ Return to Top ]

 Juan Miguel Mifflin
 Web Designer
 juanmiguel@peruforless.com

A native of Lima, Juan Miguel knows the coast of Peru like the back of his hand. When he was still in school and had vacations (which he hasn’t had in two years), he traveled the entire coast with his father, a merchant seaman. In 2005, he graduated from the Catholic University of Peru as a Communications major. Curiosity, not the same curiosity that killed the cat, but an intelligent curiosity combined with a sense of wonder, is in his view, necessary for enjoying life. It has created in him eclectic tastes: from his preferences in music (his favorite groups right now are The Strokes and Justice, a French electronica band); film (The Royal Tenenbaums); to books (currently reading the Italian novel, El Baron Rampante), his choices are dictated by nothing more than his mood. His love of literature brought him to writing short-stories with a fantastical twist, several of which were selected for publication by his university. Along with a friend, Juan Miguel has recently written a screenplay for a film that is being screened in Peru, Spain and the U.S.

As eclectic as are his tastes, Juan Miguel’s work experiences show that a healthy dose of curiosity serves to enrich a person’s experiences. He’s worked as a web designer for artists and musicians and recently at the national newspaper Trome. With all that said (and written), his love of design, and most of all, in multimedia and animation, are what rock his boat.

[ Return to Top ]

 Emily Tully
 Content Development & Marketing
 emily@latinamericaforless.com

From the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Emily caught the travel bug before she’d ever left the states. At a young age she enjoyed romping around on the Appalachian Trail with her father and reading adventures of great explorers such as Shackleton, or fantastic tales of hobbits and gunslingers. Intrigued by the possibilities of the Rocky Mountains, she drove across the country at 18 to work for a summer in Yellowstone National Park. Later on, at the University of Vermont she was an active member of the Outing Club and the Juggling Club. After graduating with a B.A. in French and Math and Art minors, she bought a one way ticket to England. Over the next couple of years she worked as a camp counselor and English teacher in England, Ireland, Switzerland, France and the Czech Republic, traveling as much as she could. In July, 2009 Emily joined the U.S. Peace Corps to teach high school math in Guinea in West Africa. Unfortunately due to political unrest in the capital, Peace Corps evacuated after she was there for only four months. Unsure about the future but with a renewed perspective on the world, Emily bought a one-way ticket to Peru to volunteer at an orphanage in Ayacucho. She immediately felt drawn to Latin America and doesn’t want to go anywhere for a while. Emily enjoys making soups, learning the guitar, and collecting post cards from friends all over the world. She loves live music and festivals. She’s often planning an adventure, even if it’s just to stow on the back burner for a later date. On rainy days, she can happily sit at home and read a good book or watch a good movie.

[ Return to Top ]

 Deysi Becerra
 Financial Analyst
 deysi@peruforless.com

Deysi, born and raised in Lima, graduated with a degree in Tourism Administration from the Federico Villarreal National University in 2005. Before joining the PFL team, she had an internship as an administrative assistant in Hoteles de Tarapoto. Later, she worked as Reservations Manager for a travel agency in Lima. She was very excited about making the move to PFL because she feels that here she has more of a chance to learn more about the ins and outs of the travel industry, and she is also more able to put her education to use. Deysi’s philosophy is that every day there is something new to learn! She is also currently studying English at the Britanico Institute. When not working or studying, she enjoys traveling, reading, talking with friends, listening to music, going shopping, and spending time enjoying nature. Deysi has had the chance to travel around Peru to experience the country’s cultural and geographic diversity. Her favorite thing about Peru is how friendly the people are, and how willing they are to share their customs. Deysi, while traveling, was once told, “If you want to enjoy a place, don’t compare it to another- just ENJOY IT!” It has since become Deysi’s personal travel slogan.

[ Return to Top ]

 Niels Ureta Aguilar
 Cuzco Accountant
 niels@peruforless.com

Niels, a native of Peru, received his Accounting degree from The Catholic University of Peru in 2005. Before finding Peru For Less, Niels worked for firms such as Sony, General Electric, and a variety of well-known Peruvian radio stations. Loving his homeland more with every passing day, Niels assures that there is nothing on earth like Peru’s people and food. A diehard number cruncher Niels exclaims: “you can get such a great variety of fruits for so cheap!”. When not formatting Excel spreadsheets or buying economically sound produce, Niels is participating in one of the many extreme sports that he enjoys such as paragliding, bungee jumping, and Taekwondo. Boasting a wide-range of interests, Niels also enjoys Japanese literature, drawing, or simply browsing through the weekend newspapers and catching up on current events.

[ Return to Top ]

 Dunker Torres Escalante
 Accounting Assistant
 dunker@peruforless.com

A Cuzco native, Dunker, has studied philosophy and theology in the San Antonio de Abad Seminary in Cuzco and tourism administration at the Instituto Latinoamericano. Before becoming a guide for Peru for Less, Dunker went to Lima and committed much of his time to public service. He was the administrator for a retirement home and clinic for people with little means, many of whom were suffering with tuberculosis. Additionally, he helped with a rehabilitation center for street kids ages 14 to 19. After experiencing the commotion of the capital city, Dunker left Lima and taught Quechua in the provinces of Espinar and Paruro. He is now happy to be pursuing his passion for alternative tourism at Peru for Less in Cuzco.

Dunker believes Peru has so much to offer: all one needs to see it is assertiveness and an adventurous spirit. He would be one to ask, as he has traveled through 12 of Peru’s 13 provinces! In his travels, the country’s varied valleys, crisp streams and snow covered mountains have captured his attention. Through these journeys he has come to understand a lamentable consequence of globalization: the gradual loss of his rural brothers’ traditional customs and values. Though he has made it to Guayaquil and Quito, Dunker hopes his next trip to Ecuador will include a stop in the Islands of Galapagos.

As the promoter of a cycling club in Cuzco, Dunker spends time on his bike or organizing events for this group. Recently, Dunker has gotten into the habit of making pizza at friends’ or relatives’ houses as a way to unwind and enjoy the weekend.

[ Return to Top ]