Meet the Team

My interest in travel started as a child, migrating to Australia from Chile with my parents, and travelling back and forth to visit family through the years. At first my interests lay in the music of Latin America, and being a musician, I followed the beats and rhythms which took me to various places around the continent, learning of culture and music and the important connection between the two. I soon discovered that I could make a career out of travelling and started by working for a few airlines, before setting up SATO in 2001. The airlines gave me the experience I required to create flight itineraries and knowledge in fare constructions whilst my travels chasing the “music” gave me the insight I needed to create more interesting itineraries from the perspective of a local. This became what SATO is about today. We are the locals from Latin America and we create more authentic experiences for our travellers. Just as I became interested in travel very young, I now have the privilege to be working with my son Jonathan, who also caught the travel bug, first by travelling the continent with me as a young child, and now bringing a new life to SATO with his own experiences to share. I also have the privilege to have a fantastic team, who not only work very hard to create the perfect itineraries for our travellers, but who also make me smile every day.

I started working in the industry selling the South Pacific, but shortly after I had the opportunity to change to the Latin American department. I wasn’t too familiar with the destination so it was quite the challenge getting my head around it but I soon learned how interesting, exciting, beautiful and diverse this part of the world is. I’ve had the opportunity to travel to a few places in Latin America, and have absolutely loved most, if not all the areas I’ve been to. So it would be hard for me to tell you where the best place is, or what my favorite hike was or, or where you’ll find the best food. What I can tell you is that each country has so much to offer and areas for you to explore. From Mexico with its rich culture and delicious food, to the breathtaking scenery in Patagonia to the laid back people in Cuba – you cannot go wrong visiting this amazing destination.

I am a born and bred Latin from Buenos Aires, passionate about travel since an early age and passionate about the different expressions of the Latin culture such as music (love salsa dancing), food, crafts, history, etc. After being a scientist for a few years, I decided to pursue my passion and enrolled in a travel course 1998. Having worked for various tour wholesalers in Melbourne I have mainly specialized in Latin America as a destination, so in the last 15 years I have done many trips back to South and Central America, visiting countries like El Salvador, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Belize, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guatemala, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Mexico and Cuba. Through my travels, I discovered the destination personally, established close relationship with our local partners in each country, understood the logistic of tour operations as well as I experienced and visited an enormous amount of hotels and lodges. My favourite spot, well I can’t just have one….but two: one is the CARRETERA AUSTRAL , a road over 1200km long in the Chilean side of Patagonia……..no words to describe this awesome sublime and untouched part of the world…..a MUST!!! …and my second favourite cannot be other than CUBA…having been there already 7 times I am absolutely addicted to the energy of this country which despite being kept in the past in many ways, it has enough to still bedazzle its visitors……I invite you to discover the uniqueness and excitement of Latin America and all it has to offer, you will never regret it.

From a young age, my answer to "What do you want to be when you grow up?" was always "to travel." I dreamed of exploring different cultures, and by the time I was 20, I had visited northern and southern Chile, Peru, Brazil, and even lived in Buenos Aires. After studying marketing, I moved to New Zealand for a year, which led me to Melbourne, Australia, where I worked in tourism, specialising in Latin America. For the past six years, I’ve been back in New Zealand, promoting SATO’s incredible travel experiences. Latin America is a unique destination, rich in nature, culture, and warmth. If you have the chance, visit Valparaiso, a poetic port city in Chile, and explore other highlights like Peru, Buenos Aires, Iguazu, and Rio de Janeiro. Latin America is a truly unique destination, offering something for every type of traveller. You’ll be captivated by its stunning landscapes, rich culture, delicious food, vibrant music, and the warmth of its people. It’s tough to choose a favourite spot, but if your itinerary allows, I highly recommend spending a few days in Valparaiso, a port city in Chile just 1.5 hours from Santiago. Valparaiso is a poetic city, a UNESCO World Heritage site with incredible food and charming boutique hotels. And don’t miss the chance to visit other unforgettable places like Peru, Buenos Aires, Iguazu, and Rio de Janeiro.

I first went to Peru to walk the Ausangate trail near Cuzco and then climbed a small peak Pisco in the Cordillera Blanca. I loved the beauty and remoteness of the Andes contrasted with the incredible colour of the local towns and people. I went back and travelled with a backpack from Ecuador to Argentina enjoying the hospitality and generosity of so many locals on the way. Another trip took me along the Brazilian coast and to the Amazon proper and Manaus. The Galapagos islands also blew my mind, the animals are so unique and accessible and the cruising was activity based and fun. The history of this continent has defined a enviable state of consciousness and culture, and with so many unique ecosystems it will always have new places for me to go back discover.

Born in Chile, I moved to Australia at the age of 5. My passion for travel began early, as I was fortunate enough to visit Chile multiple times during my childhood and teenage years. I started my career in travel with the South America Tourism Office, and my most valuable learning experience came when I escorted a group tour through the Highlights of South America. During that trip, I fell in love with the vibrant cultures and warm people across the continent. I’ve explored many incredible destinations throughout South America, with some of my favourites being Peru, Argentina, and southern Chile (Patagonia and the Lakes Region). My travels have taken me to iconic spots such as the Atacama Desert, Patagonia, Lake Titicaca, Iguazu Falls, and Machu Picchu, to name just a few. Top 5 favourite locations in South America: 1. Torres del Paine National Park, Chilean Patagonia 2. Machu Picchu, Peru 3. Iguazu Falls (Argentina and Brazil) 4. Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina 5. Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil In the future, I plan to take my family on adventures to the Galapagos Islands and the Amazon to experience even more of South America's wonders.