Tour guide in Punta Arenas Maritza A.

I have been interested in flora and fauna since I was a little girl and that is something I love sharing with visitors from all over the world, perhaps to compare with their own versions and talk about differences in colours, sizes, family, species insects that pollinate them, altitude we have to reach to find them and so on. When I was 17 I started to work during the summer holidays from school, visiting the Penguin Reserve and Fuerte Bulnes with small groups of tourists from all over the world. It was a big change for a quite curious little lady, learning about other cultures through visitors from other places. Then I moved to Mamaroneck, NY as a way to improve my English. I traveled to every single corner in that area and also California in order to understand what tourists expected from different tours. I wanted to bring the best of that experience to Patagonia. I started being a guide in this area in 1987, taking every single course and training in order to improve my service as a local guide. Penguins and other birds really fill my soul and that is something I like to share with others. I always want to make sure that my clients not only learn about the culture of my country, but also understand the real meaning of being a 'Patagonian' and our respect for the natural environment. I am proud of my reputation for being someone who is always concerned about every single detail. I take great care of the people I serve. Chile is a country of contrasts. There is a lot to see in this Region of Chile. Half-day tours around Punta Arenas include Chile's first settlement at Fuerte Bulnes, the penguin colonies of Magellanic Penguins in Magdalena Island, and in Tierra del Fuego with the King Penguins. Trekking or hiking in a Nature Reserve with the splendors of the Magallanes Reserve, Rio Verde where the voyage of Captain Fitz Roy and the Beagle (with the young naturalist Charles Darwin) inspired famous writers, exploring the Milodon cave-hoo, massive glaciers, two National Parks, and more! Geology and Glaciology in Patagonia. UMAG, Punta Arenas History and Geography of Magallanes Geology in Magallanes Dolphins Distributions in Coastal Chile Riesco Island in Rio Verde, Record of Batrachyla antartandica Biology, Geology, Astronomy in Patagonia CEQUA Quaternary Studies Center, Punta Arenas Tierra del Fuego, History and Tribes Thomas Bridges and Missionaries in Tierra del Fuego, Professor Hasternok V. Licensed as a Tour Guide for Torres del Paine, CONAF Licensed driver for Torres del Paine, Municipalidad de Torres del Paine International validation of Course "Evacuation Procedures including Crowd Control Techniques" Valid card issued by the Chilean Maritime Authorities Quality Certificate of Tour Guide services issued by SERNATUR in Chile SERNATUR: Registered as a Local Tour Guide in Punta Arenas http://serviciosturisticos.sernatur.cl/951 Chile Valora Reg. P -7912-5113-001-V03 Tour Guide Chile Valora Reg. P-7912-8322-001-V02 Professional driver Professional driver licenses A2-A4-B-D