Talk to an Expedition Specialist
1.800.EXPEDITION (1.800.397.3348)
Our team is the key to your incredible adventure
Let our expert staff weave a narrative as we sail along the river and, turn what would otherwise be merely a string of extraordinary days, into an immersive experience of the rivers’ natural history. Benefit from their specialized knowledge of our Guatemala and Belize travel guides—geology, history, photography, and more—and enjoy their company on hikes or over a drink or dinner.
Undersea Specialist
Originally from Oregon, Alyssa has always had a strong relationship with nature and the outdoors. In search of a life full of adventure, she found her passion for the ocean while studying at Oregon State University. She graduated in 2012 with a B.Sc. in marine biology, a minor in chemistry, and a PADI divemaster certification. The year following graduation included extensive traveling and diver training, gaining experience in Greece’s Ionian Sea, the Caribbean waters of Honduras and Bonaire, and the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador.
Expedition Leader
Cristian is a Panamanian born in Chile. He grew up in Panama City until the age of 19 when he returned to Chile to go to college where he received a degree in metallurgic civil engineering. Since 1995 he has been working as a freelance naturalist in Panama. Specializing in bird watching and ecology, he also has a passion for indigenous cultures, hiking and trekking. He is a certified scuba diver and is often found exploring coral reefs along the Caribbean coast of Panama.
Wellness Specialist
Elizabeth was born and raised in Costa Rica, the Pura Vida (Pure Life) country, known as the happiest country in the world. Since she was a child, she has known her true passion was to become a professional in the areas of health and wellness. She describes herself as an outgoing person as well as the happiest massage therapist in the world; she has a secret for that: “Whatever you do…do it with LOVE”.
Assistant Expedition Leader
Emily grew up in the beautiful, rainy Pacific Northwest. Born and raised on Vashon Island, she then moved to nearby Seattle to attend the University of Washington. After completing her degree in English Literature, Emily spent the next year preparing for and hiking the Pacific Crest Trail with her older brother. There she discovered a passion for backpacking and spent the next few years walking all over the world, from the Te Araroa trail in New Zealand to the Spanish El Camino to the Laugavegur trail in Iceland.
Extension Leader
Eza grew up outside of Washington, D.C. with parents that encouraged her to explore the United States extensively before adventuring abroad. After completing degrees in environmental science and economics from the University of Virginia she moved into a grass hut on the edge of the Sahara desert in Senegal, West Africa to serve as an environmental education volunteer for the Peace Corps. This experience deeply influenced her perspectives on community, sustainability and hospitality, and fundamentally altered the way she approaches traveling in unfamiliar places.
National Geographic Staff
Greg Marshall is an inventor, biologist, conservationist, and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker who has dedicated his life to studying, exploring, and documenting animal life in the oceans and across the globe.
Extension Leader
Nicknamed “Indio” (Indian) because of his powers of observation and quiet nature, José has almost two decades of experience working as a naturalist and photography guide; as well as being recognized as an expert birder and nature photographer in Costa Rica. Costa Rica is rich in biodiversity — over 893 bird species have been recorded in the country. Since very young José spent all of his free time in the outdoors in the forest, where he soon fell in love with the birds. He particularly enjoys listening to their calls, and watching their behavior. Oddly enough, another one of Jose’s passions is science and technology, and because of this, he was among the first in Costa Rica to experiment with digital photography. As the technology quickly improved so did his love for it. He truly believes that nature photography is the perfect combination of both of his passions.
Naturalist
Martin grew up in Melbourne playing cricket and Australian Rules football. While growing up, and to his parents’ dismay, Martin brought home and kept a menagerie of wildlife including frogs, lizards, turtles, and even poisonous snakes!
Extension Leader
Known for his passion for nature and dedication to conservation and ecotourism, Max Vindas has been guiding natural history trips in Costa Rica since 1993. On his first trip to the rainforest at age eight, Max realized his love for the outdoors and wildlife observation. Since then, he spends as much time as he can in the forest, sharing his knowledge with visitors to his country.
Naturalist
Randy Jones hails from Northern Belize near the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, where his family lives. His childhood visits to CTWS instilled in him a deep love for birding, nature, culture and the environment.