Latin America team

•  Joanna Rolfe-Smith
•  Alistair Walls

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Joanna Rolfe-Smith – Programme Director, Imagine Latin America

2009 Visit: Colombia
2008 Visits: Buenos Aires, Argentina; Ecuador & The Galapagos Islands: with Ecoventura in the Galapagos Islands and Huaorani Ecolodge, Amazon; Chile: Atacama Desert, Patagonia (Explora Hotels).

Travel Experience: 8 years in the travel industry. 25 countries visited including Argentina, Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Ecuador & The Galapagos Islands as well as Mongolia, Australia, New Zealand, North America, Namibia, South Africa, Romania and most of Europe.

Jo has developed a keen eye for seeing countries from a different angle to the average visitor; mostly on horseback, in a kayak or on her own two feet. Taking a different tack is the theme throughout our new Latin America programme.

Jo worked for a leading UK horse-riding holidays specialist for seven years and rode all over the world. Highlights of her Latin America travels have included crossing the Andes, from Argentina into Chile; riding through Peru’s Sacred Valley, criss-crossing the stunning Torres del Paine National Park in Chile and exploring Mexico’s Sierra Madre mountains – all highly recommended experiences.

Jo’s fascination with Latin America began with envy of her big brother’s first trip to Mexico. Not happy with being left behind she swiftly sorted out her own backpacking trip to Mexico, Guatemala and Belize in 1995, coercing a friend to join her for a month long adventure. Arriving in the rainy season and getting soaked on numerous occasions ensured a lesson for life was learnt. Do as the locals do - then you won't get wet!

Jo says, “Be endlessly curious about what you are seeing when abroad; always ask your ‘silly’ questions; you may be surprised at the answers."

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Alistair Walls

Since moving back to the UK from his growing up place of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Ali has returned frequently to South and Central America, travelling to Chile, Peru and Mexico, amongst others.

His favourite spot would have to be either The Pantanal or Iguazu Falls. As a Paulistanos city boy you might think therefore that Ali speaks the lingo, but alas no…. he’s not that much use. He recently let slip that he sneaks off on a Wednesday night to a pub where he speaks to unsuspecting Portuguese people, trying to remember his long lost skill. Poor them…. Ten out of ten for effort though. 

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