"The country's leading
tour company." Winter 2007/08

TRAVEL+LEISURE FAMILY

"Best outfitters on earth." Nov. 2007

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
Recommended by more guidebooks
than any other company for
planning your vacation in Costa Rica

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Meet our travel planners

MARCO HERNANDEZ
mhernandez@expeditions.co.cr
Marco or "Luk," as his friends call him, studied business administration and tourism at Cartago Universtity and has worked in the tourism business for ten years. He is familiar with nearly every valley and beach in the country and uses that knowledge as a Travel Planner. “I especially like planning family vacations, which often involve lots of activities and places where families can best enjoy time together,” he says. “I’m from a big family myself and have a good idea about what parents and kids of all ages want when they are traveling.”

After hours, Marco has an alter ego. He is the signer and songwriter for one of Costa Rica’s best-known rock bands, “Xpunkha”. They have been playing together for nearly a decade, headlining in the country’s best concerts and music festivals, and have opened shows for some renowned international bands. When he’s not practicing with his band, you can find Marco watching a Yankees game or catching up with his parents and five siblings. His birthday is March 24, 1979.
ANDREA FERNANDEZ
Travel Planner Assistant
Andrea is fascinated by history and has worked different jobs while studying this subject at the University of Costa Rica. A family member who once worked as a guide suggested she consider a career in tourism, and that conversation lead her to apply for a job at Costa Rica Expeditions. “I love working with such a great team to create dream vacations for our guests,” she says.

One of five siblings, Andrea was born on June 23, 1984. She speaks Spanish, English and German, which she learned while living in Erlangen for six months. In her spare time, she can be found reading, enjoying the outdoors or listening to music.
MORIN LIZANO
Travel Planner Assistant
Morin is from San Jose and joined Costa Rica Expeditions’ sales team in June. She has worked in the insurance business for many years, but recently became interested in tourism as a new direction and career. In the Sales Department, Morin will be at the epicenter of what we do, and responsible for handling some of the hundreds of details associated with each and every customized trip we create. Morin has two grown children, one of whom is a CRE river guide. During her time off she enjoys reading, dancing and trips to the beach. Her birthday is Feb. 10, 1964.
LUIS CUBERO
lcubero@expeditions.co.cr
After working several years as a geographer, Luis has an intimate knowledge of Costa Rica’s most remote areas from the central mountain ranges to the coastal lowlands. This knowledge gives him a unique perspective when designing trips for guests. “Geographers are travelers by nature,” he says. “We like to explore places and cultures and we are lovers of the outdoors. As a travel planner I’m in contact with people from around the world who share my interest in learning about and exploring this marvelous country.”

Luis has been with Costa Rica Expeditions since Oct. 2006. He holds a geography degree from Costa Rica University (2002) and is an avid reader of National Geographic and other books and magazines. In his spare time Luis also enjoys listening to world music, Internet radio and playing Beatles tunes on his guitar. His birthday is July 4, 1980.
JOSE HUERTAS
jhuertas@expeditions.co.cr
Jose worked in hospitality for five years doing everything from operations to marketing and customer service before coming to Costa Rica Expeditions in June 2007. This experience has made him an astute travel planner, someone who not only knows the country well, but also understands his clients’ expectations and how to manage the logistics involved in making their dream trip come true. “I enjoy designing custom trips, combining different destinations and activities that make unforgettable vacations for each of my clients,” he says.

Jose has studied business administration at Veritas University as well as interior design and landscaping at the Univ. Creativa in San Jose. He is from a large family and on the weekends enjoys hiking with his dogs and spending time with his son, Diego, 10. His birthday is Dec. 18, 1973.
JEFFREY VARGAS
jvargas@expeditions.co.cr
Jeff grew up in the California wine country and spent summers on the beaches of Guanacaste, where his father owned and operated a scuba shop. He has a guiding diploma from Colegio Universitario de Alajuela, with specialization in leading groups.

In addition to guiding, in 2002 Jeff opened a small bed and breakfast. The property had a creek through it, creating a rich habitat for tropical birds. Jeff hosted guests from all over the world, many of whom were avid birders. As a former guide and hotel owner, Jeff is a natural travel planner. Not only does he know the country, and particularly the coastal areas - his playground for a dozen summer vacations - according to him, "owning and running a hotel helped me understand the real meaning of quality customer service."

Jeff is an expert diver, who has helped his father make undersea documentaries for Costa Rican TV. Clearly, when it comes to designing itineraries with fishing, diving or surfing, Jeff is our man. In his spare time, he and his wife, Margarita, enjoy walking their dogs, Tyson, Nino and Kayse. His birthday is Nov. 23, 1982.
PAULA CAMESELLE
pcameselle@expeditions.co.cr
From Vigo, Spain, Paula arrived in Costa Rica in 2000 with her Tico husband, Aaron. During her first years here, she worked at a call center but eventually moved into tourism, a career that allowed her to get to know her adopted country better. “As I began putting down roots in Costa Rica, I realized I didn’t really know the country,” she says. “Working in tourism allowed me to really explore the country and I ended up falling in love with it.”

Paula graduated with a business degree from the University of Vigo and has also worked in the entertainment and fashion industries in both Spain and Costa Rica. “I have always worked in contact with the public and look forward to continuing to do so. As a Travel Planner, I’m excited to help our clients plan vacations in this beautiful country and to share with them some of the places I love in Costa Rica.”

In her spare time Paula likes to cook, decorate her new home, and has started planning her garden. She and her husband also enjoy taking day trips to scenic areas around San Jose. Her birthday is June 12, 1975.
NADYA SHAW
nshaw@expeditions.co.cr
Born Aug. 21, 1963, Nadya first started working for Costa Rica Expeditions as a bilingual secretary in 1991. In 1994 we reluctantly let her go due to a restructuring. Nadya was quickly hired by one of our competitors. Hoping to get her back, we have been keeping an eye on her ever since. When a position opened up in the Trip Planning Department in Aug. 2003, we jumped at the opportunity. We haven't been sorry. Her five children, Kevin, Jason, Ruji, Alexsha and Jared, more than take up her free time. Read testimonials.
PRISCILLA JIMENEZ
pjimenez@expeditions.co.cr
Priscilla started working for us in Nov. 1997, when she first came to CRE as an intern from a local university. We were so impressed with her ability to learn quickly, her dedication to “Legendary Service and Unforgettable Memories” as well as her ability to get things done, that we offered her a position as sales assistant. In 1998 she became a Travel Planner. Today Priscilla is a Senior Travel Planner handling the most upscale of our clientele. High-end travel is her specialty.

Tortuguero is her favorite place to visit—for the wildlife, the people and the town—and she loves to share the wonders of that wilderness with her sons Randy and Santiago. Born on Oct. 31, 1976, Priscilla loves dancing and music. She has recently ventured into the world of theater and claims there is no better way to forget the hustle and bustle of the office than to show up for rehearsal. Read testimonials.
DOUGLAS ESPINOSA
despinosa@expeditions.co.cr
After working for Costa Rica Expeditions for three years, Douglas left the company in 2000, due in part to the long commute to his hometown, Atenas. It was understandable that he sought a job closer to home - according to National Geographic, Atenas has "the best climate in the world." Still, a new work schedule and faster transportation lured Douglas back in Nov. 2004. Famous for his equanimity and sense of humour, Douglas enjoys spending time with his sons Jason and Steve playing soccer, surfing the Web or, his newest hobby, raising Brown quails for eggs. Douglas' birthday is Sep. 28, 1968.
POETT RYAN
Sales Manager
pryan@expeditions.co.cr
Poett was born in Hollywood, CA, but grew up on a ranch in Dominical, Costa Rica. She started working for Costa Rica Expeditions in 1989 during a summer break, but ended up staying until 1997 when she left to raise her son. By that time, she had worked in different sales positions - from arranging trips for walk-in clients, to Group Sales Manager.

"I always enjoyed working with clients and feeling a sense of gratification knowing my work created positive experiences for people," she says. "I also liked working for a company where the best of the best is always expected and delivered. Now that I'm back at CRE, I find that I am still motivated by these two aspects of the work."

During the last few years Poett has been involved in product development for a Costa Rican pharmaceutical company, where she managed a line of natural health products derived from Costa Rican plants. Poett spends her free time with her teenaged son, Sebastian, and enjoys cooking for friends and traveling to new places. She has a fine voice and loves to sing in the shower or on the stage. Her birthday is Nov. 26, 1969.
DIEGO ARROYO
Travel Planner Assistant
Luis has a tourism degree from Cartago College and has worked in hotels and for tour operators doing everything from bar tending and guiding to customer service. He came to Costa Rica Expeditions thanks to his sister, who used to work in our systems department and encouraged him to apply.

As an Assistant Travel Planner Diego has had to learn fast and manage hundreds of details, each critical to making our clients' vacations unforgettable. Now the right hand of our Travel Planners, Diego doesn't get to slow down often, but when he does, you'll find him grass-boarding with friends, playing soccer or winding down with a good book. His birthday is May, 14, 1983.
EVA ROS
eros@expeditions.co.cr
Eva is from Spain and has worked in the tourism business for nearly a decade. Since she loves to travel, studying tourism was a natural career choice. “I enjoy helping our guests design a great vacation, full of activities that I know they’ll enjoy as much as I do when I travel.” Eva also studied translation in London. In addition to English and Spanish, she speaks Italian and French. Eva enjoys playing tennis and spending time with friends, going to the movies or out for drinks.