These are the lucky ones that spend the best time in Chile´s best natural marvels away from computers and from busy Santiago. At the same time they are the ones with the biggest responsibility of all, taking good care of our guests and helping them spend the best time of their lives. They combine a good measure of sensitivity, fun and professionalism.
Our operational office is located in Puerto Natales, 120km/ 75miles south from the celebrated Torres del Paine National Park.
Yerko Ivelic: Director, engineer by profession, kayak & rafting guide, who is in charge of operations and corporate programs.
Javier López: Director, engineer by profession and trekking guide, on the sales and marketing department.
Britta Jedzik: Born in the south of Germany, she always loved travelling and languages. So she studied tourism and started to travel around seriously, mostly in Latinamerica. But that was not enough for her adventurous mind, she wanted to really live “Latinamerica”. So 9 years ago she settled down in Chile, starting to work in Cascada at that time. She represented Cascada in London for a year, but finally she came back to Chile to enjoy sunshine and Pisco Sours (Chile´s national drink). Efficient and direct, she is Cascada´s sales manager and the head of the sales team.
Maike Berkemeier: Maike was born in Germany. During her studies she spent a lot of time abroad and in 2004 she came to Chile for an exchange, which originally supposed to last 6 month. However she fell in love with Chile and decided to stay for longer. She has been working for Cascada since 2005 and is now working as the Market Manager of the European, Australian, Asian and Brazilian Market. She likes traveling, sunshine and chocolate cakes.
Cecilia Mesa: She’s Interpreter as profession and started in tourism as a local guide at a museum in Viña del Mar, then she moved to Santiago looking for new horizons where she ended up in Cascada!
She’s fond of travelling, meeting people, and spending time with her family and friends.
As the new Manager FIT in charge of the Free Independent Travelers, she will be pleased to help you answering all of your questions and give you suggestions regarding your upcoming trips to South America!
Isabel Menéndez: Born in the southern city of Punta Arenas, Isabel started travelling around Patagonia very young. After studing English in Valparaiso, she decided to come back and work as a tour guide in Torres del Paine National Park. Then she moved to Santiago to learn more about the business and that’s how she got to Cascada, motivated for the development of making travelling a life changing experience with a solid committment to nature.
Andrea Jimenez: She was born in Chuquicamata -a town close to San Pedro de Atacama- and lived there for 18 years, something that made her become a lover of Northern Chile. After completing studies in tourism planning she joined Cascada in 2007 taking care of booking processing and helping in marketing research. She is very enthusiastic and enjoys a lot working here!
Carolina Palma: Carolina was born in Santiago. She is a lover of the beauty and geographic diversity of her country! Her pride of showing Chile to the rest of the world leaded her to study Tourism. She joined Cascada on August 2007, where she has been working as a Sales Assistant of the European market until now.
Fernanda Sánchez: Born in Santiago, Fernanda is a lover of the great natural diversity of her country and this leads her into study Tourism Planning at SEK International University. Along with studying she worked in some freelance jobs related with tourism and in an important international chain of hotels. Now, after getting her degree she joins Cascada as the FIT market assistant. She is very enthusiastic to work here and answer all of your questions.
Viviana González: Viviana was born in Santiago and studied Tourism Planning because she loves the geographic diversity of Chile and likes to show our country with respect of its environment, in order to maintain the attractiveness of our gorgeous nature.
After working for 6 years at two main receptive Tour Operators, she joined Cascada Team on July 2010 as Canada and USA Market Assistant.
Valentina Cifuentes: Entertaining born in the city of Santiago, Valentina as a technician in tourism, has seen some of his beloved Chile. That’s why we want to invite foreign tourists to visit and enjoy the variety of places that Chile has to offer, really worth it and that is why I am happy to do through Cascada expediciones!!
Isidora Cruz: She was born in Santiago. During her studies in Tourism Planning, Isidora started moving around, first to Germany to learn the language and then, working as a trekking guide in Atacama, Altiplano and Patagonia (her favorite place in the world). Isidora is now settled in Santiago again working at Cascada as FIT market assistant.
Clarice Alkmim: Clarice was born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. She lived in Denmark for one year as an exchange student. In 2006, she came to Chile for six months as an exchange student as well and, at this time, she met her Chilean husband and moved permanently to this lovely country in 2008. She is graduated in International Relations and currently is doing a Master in Business Administration (MBA). Her passions are studying, learning and travelling around the world. She has joined Cascada on August 2010 and is in charge of Brazilian Market area.
Rodrigo Mata: Graduated in business, Rod worked as consultant just to realize that ties were not for him, deciding to switch to hospitality and tourism. After joining Cascada in 2004, he has worked in sales in the US and Australian markets and today he is dedicated to product development and marketing strategy for Cascada and EcoCamp Patagonia.
Daniel Sanhueza: Daniel joined Cascada in 2004 and today manages Communications in the Marketing department. He loves the outdoors and climbing mountains in the Andes. Now he is learning surfing (at least he says that…you now..marketers!). If you are from a media looking for info or want to propose Cascada a communication bridge, he is the right guy to talk with
Alfredo García: After living in Uruguay, India, Singapore, Australia, Argentina, U.S.A. and Spain; this Chilean nomad finally decided to make Chile his permanent home in 2006. He has been part of several literature workshops, following his passion for writing and reading which later led him to study Journalism. He has worked as a Copywriter and Journalist for a couple of advertising agencies, joining Cascada Expediciones in 2010. In charge of all creative writing and writen documents, Alfredo enjoys traveling, cooking and time with his family and friends.
Verónica Venegas: Vero studied Tourism Administration and joined Cascada in 2003 as a Consultant for USA & Canada markets. These days she´s in charge of Cascada’s Operations, dealing with providers and making sure that everything works smoothly for holiday passengers. Vero is also teaching at SEK International University and in her free time she loves to visit new places and cultures.
Paulina Delgado: Paulina has been working for 11 years in Cascada!!!, she loves nature and she loves the heathy and natural way of life, she is in charge of the"traffic" department.
Ana Karina Morales: Born in Santiago, she is a lover of languages and cultural diversity. Ana Karina studied English and Portuguese Translation at USACH and during last years she has been related to Education, Tourism and Hotel bussines. Now, she joins Cascada as the person in charge of Emergency and Customer Service providing support to our Operations department. She is very friendly and charismatic and loves challenges and learning lot of things!
Cecilia Andrade: Works at our "traffic" department, purchasing third party services and maintaining our clients´files
Marcela Armijo: Assists the operational staff.
Patricio Andrade: Pato provides tech support and help us solve specific problems, thank goodness he’s there!
Osvaldo Sánchez: Accountant
Francisco Escobar: Accountant assistant
Elizabeth Veliz: Our secretary was born in Santiago and is very fond of her Chilean roots. Ely has always been related to Environmental Education and made studies of Management and Planning in this area. She joined the Cascada staff with great expectations!
Sebastián Gómez: Our general manager for the whole Patagonia. On the 2nd year of working at the EcoCamp Sebastián fell in love, married & now rises a daughter in Puerto Natales. Blame "love" responsible not the EcoCamp.
Patricio Lehuedé: Ecocamp Manager. Born and raised in Santiago, Pato lived there until he went to work as a Cuisinier in Spain. Since then, he`s always looking for a smaller place to live. He joined Cascada in 2008.
Carolina Canto: Carola is 27 years old and is originaly from Punta Arenas. Her love for tourism began at an early age mainly because of her passion for southern Chile’s traditions and her experience and knowledge of these parts of the country. She got her degree as a Technician in Tourism as well as a diploma in Patagonian Biodiversity and Culture, with mention in Patagonian flora and fauna, Geology, History, Anthropology, among others. Carola also has had courses in First Aid in Remote Areas and is a specialized Trekking Guide.
Manuel Sierpe: Born in Punta Arenas 26 years ago, Manuel Alejandro Sierpe Barrientos began showing an interest in nature and the environment at an early age. As time went by he was more convinced that he wanted to become a Tourism Professional. He later recieved his degree in Tourism Administration and several other diplomas in different specialities such as Geology, Glaciology, Ethnoecology and History. Manuel enjoys kayaking courses and all outdoor activities related to mountains.
Nicolás Danyau: Nicolás is known for his care towards travelers and his passion for nature. He is 25 years old, joined Cascada in 2007 and EcoCamp in 2009 after having worked with several adventure travel companies in the past. Four years ago, Nicolás decided he wanted to explore Chile’s Patagonia and in 2009 he was certified as an Environmental Interpreter Guide. He enjoys mountaineering, rock climbing and photography. He is one of EcoCamp’s Chief Safari Guides.
Javier Rogel: Javier was born in Punta Arenas in 1968. Forest fire fighter since the age of 16, his interest and love for nature has always been part of his life. Javier graduated from the Patagonia Tour Guides Institute and has a degree in Biodiversity with mentions in Geology, Historical Research, Anthropology and Glaciology. He has been leading groups of trekkers and horseback riders across the Torres del Paine National Park for quite some time now and enjoys sharing his life experiences with everyone.
Eduardo Tapia: Born and raised in the Patagonia, Eduardo has always been in touch with nature ever since his childhood spent in the country side near Punta Arenas. Eduardo is 31 years old and has been a Torres del Paine and Patagonia guide since the age of 17, trekking, horseback riding and rock climbing for a living. He is an engineer and specialized guide with studies in Geology and Ornithology.
Luis Romero: He is 25 years old and specializes in Adventure Tourism. A Torres del Paine expert, for the past four years he has been working as a guide and has become very fond of mountaineering, horseback riding and outdoor excursions. He completed a First Aid course in the WFR Technical Institute and recieved kayak and diving certifications in 2009. That same year he traveled to Australia for six months to improve his English.
Hernan Cardenas: He was born in Santiago 31 years ago. For the last ten years he has established himself in Chile’s Patagonia. Before arriving at EcoCamp three years ago, Hernan had already worked in several trekking and kayaking companies around the country. He has gained experience in kayaking activities in Chile and Costa Rica. As a Trekking Guide, Hernan is known for his smile and his care for travelers.
Mauricio Quinteros: Born in Santiago, is 31 years old and has been working at EcoCamp for the last six. His love for mountains has led him to climb varios high peaks in Chile and obtain his Tourist Administration degree from INACAP in 2004. Mauricio is a professional guide and mountain instructor from the National School of Chilean Mountaineering (ENAM/FEACH)and has had international courses on First Aid and Rescue in Remote Areas and courses on Avalanches. He enjoys rugby, mountainbike riding and skiing.
Hector Diaz: He was born in Puerto Natales 23 years ago and has been a guide since he was sixteen. He has studied Tourism specialized in Ecotourism, has received a diploma in Biological and Cultural Diversity of Patagonia, and has attended courses on First Aid in Natural Surroundings, Search and Rescue, and History and Local Geography. His hobbies are trekking, mountaineering, navegating and organizing expeditions to inhospitable locations.
