TIM MEANS, 1944 - 2019
The Grandfather of Eco-Tourism in Baja
Without whom Espiritu Santo Island would not be where it is right now. We will always remember.
Long before La Paz became a bustling tourist destination, it used to take Timo several days to transport supplies for his pioneer expeditions around Baja. The paved highway didn’t exist back in the 70’s and some of the locations were only accessible by water, which meant everything had to be ferried on skiffs. A man of few words, the impact of his conservation efforts and involvement in the community reverberates to this day. He has inspired us to preserve his legacy by staying true to what he stood for.
Antonio RIP, Apr 2023
Sinaloa <> La Paz
It feels like we had known Tonio all our life. Fondly called Cabeza de Gato by friends, Antonio was in the tourism industry for more than 30 years. After 20 years of working as a captain/camp chef for the pioneer eco-tourism company in Baja, he decided to run his own tours with his son 4 years ago.
What we loved about Tonio was that his sincerity always shone through. His guests, who chose to travel with locals like him, always felt like they were part of his family. While we feel a deep sense of loss with his passing, we are going to be here for Jesús, Tonio’s son. Calm, quiet, and humble like his father, we’re sure that Antonio’s legacy will live on through him.
Mireya
Aguascalientes <> La Paz
We met Mireya when she moved to Baja California Sur fresh out of university almost 10 years ago. She worked as a whale watching and snorkeling guide at a leading adventure company in Cabo San Lucas for 4 years before venturing out on her own. Starting out with a couple of paddle boards and promoting her tour online, she is now running multiple Cabo activities year-round.
Mireya’s enthusiasm and positive energy make people easily feel comfortable around her. She has a can-do attitude that leads her to constantly adapt and innovate. We are confident that plenty of good things are just waiting around the corner for her.
Nara & Undraa
Murun/Khatgal <> Murun
Mongolians are renowned for their hospitality and Nara is no exception. We met Nara on the streets of Murun when we visited Mongolia for the first time in 2016. In the short time that we were with him, we experienced so much of his culture and gained a lot of local knowledge about his country. When we returned 6 years later, we got to meet his wife Undraa and spend time with their family.
The best way to experience Mongolia is to travel with locals. Combining their innate hospitality with their experience from working in the tourism industry for over 10 years, Nara and Undraa facilitate enriching encounters with their people.
Siddharta
Mexico City <> La Paz
Siddharta figures in a lot of our memories of our early days in Baja. Formerly a Mexican Air Force pilot based in Mexico City, he also worked as a commercial pilot for the national flag carrier before eventually quitting his job to pursue his passion for nature and conservation.
Siddharta is a staunch conservationist who is actively involved in projects that promote the conservation of the natural resources around La Paz and Baja California Sur. He stands firm in his beliefs when it comes to observing and interacting with wildlife, especially marine fauna. We can’t help but admire him for it.
Gabino & Melecio
Sonora <> Puerto San Carlos
Gabino and Melecio are originally from a small town 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Ciudad Obregón, but their family moved to the fishing village of San Carlos when Gabino and Melecio were only toddlers. Together with their other two brothers, they used to do commercial fishing for a living except in the months of January and February, when they would take tourists around Magdalena Bay to watch the gray whales.
Gabino was one of the first to buy a whale watching boat in 1993, but Melecio and each of their brothers now have his own humble operation as well. They are no longer in the comercial fishing industry and are now working full-time in tourism.
Arthur
Switzerland <> Colombia
We have been on many trips with Arthur and enjoyed so many experiences with him. Countless laughters and shared frustrations only strengthened our bond of friendship over the years.
Arthur’s love of the outdoors, street smarts, and sense of humor make him such great company in the tours that he leads around Colombia. His world experiences allow for thoughtful conversations on a variety of topics under the sun, without worry of prejudice or judgment, just being open to different perspectives. Arthur is a kindred spirit and we are excited at this opportunity to work with him.
Victor
Cabo San Lucas <> La Paz
It’s not that long ago when we met Victor, but we forged a friendship shortly thereafter. From the get-go, we were impressed with Victor’s professionalism, punctuality, and the respectful way he treated his clients. He does his best to fulfill his guests’ needs, from the simplest requests to more complicated requirements. He firmly believes that there is always a solution to a problem.
Victor was born in Cabo San Lucas. However, after Hurricane Liza left a devastation in Baja California Sur in 1976, he decided to move to La Paz, where he lives to this day with his own family. We feel fortunate to have met this hardworking individual.
Ulises
Cedros Island, born and raised
Ulises lived most of his life on Cedros Island save for the time when he was assigned to work in San Quintín, a municipality on the Pacific coast of Mexico. A policeman whose career spanned 12 years of public service, he opened up his own company 3 years ago as part of his desire for a change of lifestyle.
Ulises stands out with his quiet, yet friendly demeanor. He goes above and beyond for his guests in an unobtrusive way, making them feel pampered without being excessive about it. What better way to travel with locals than to stay on the island for a week and spend the days fishing with Ulises.
