"Tours of a Lifetime"
"Top 3, Best Values in The World"

Naturalist Guides

Joe Bernini
Naturalist Guide

One of the most common questions Joe gets from guests is, with a name like “Bernini”, is he a Costa Rican? In his words he was made, born and raised in Costa Rica. His name comes from his Italian grandfather, who came to Costa Rica to work on the railroad to the Atlantic back in the 1800’s. Don Ruggero fell in love with a girl from Heredia, the Costa Rican province famous for its beautiful women. Joe belongs to the third generation of the Costa Rican Bernini family.

Joe began his career in the travel business working as the Manager of a remote Eco-Lodge; sandwiched between the rainforest and the banks of the Golfo Dulce, near Corcovado National Park. He spent five years there and says that it was a fundamental time of his life. When he had free time he spent it trekking in the parks and reserves close by, swimming in the Golfo Dulce and learning about the medicinal properties of plants.

Living in the middle of this lowland tropical rainforest allowed him to understand nature and its extremes and to understand that he thrives on contact with it. Today, Joe is Director of endurance sports events and feels at his best while trekking, trail running, biking, scuba diving or open water swimming.

He became interested in guiding after helping a friend with his adventure-sport tours in Costa Rica one year. When he realized that he could do what he loves most and make a living while he was at it, it was easy to make the switch.

When he’s not guiding, trekking or swimming in the Ocean, Joe loves spending time with his 4 siblings and with his two beautiful daughters Fabiana and Paulina.

A phrase he loves, “Listen carefully to Nature, and you will understand everything better”.