Tara Sutherland

About myself

I have been fascinated with Latin America since I was a child, reading about the Incas and the Mayans. I even made a school project on how the Uros people make floating islands on Lake Titicaca when I was about 10 years old. Growing up in a very small town in New Zealand it was a whole other world away!

As soon as I was old enough I hopped on a plane (my very first trip out of the country!) to Honduras in Central America, where I lived with a local family and attended a very rustic local high school for 6 months. The tin roof of my classroom leaked when it rained, and there was one textbook for 40 students…but they always had smiles on their faces and welcomed me into their lives.

Later, whilst backpacking, I met my future husband, who just happened to be Mexican…and I ended up living in one of the biggest cities in the world, Mexico City! My love for Latin America grew deeper as I explored the colourful towns, jungles, ruins and beaches of Mexico, learnt to cook with chili and chocolate, and to celebrate the Day of the Dead.

Since then, my travels have taken me to all seven continents of the world, with some of my favourites including Peru, Argentina & Chile (especially some of the amazing hiking in Patagonia!), Galapagos, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Uganda, Kenya and and Tanzania…I say favourites, as the list is long…and I really cannot choose…although Antarctica and South Georgia are very special places to me....the beaches of South Georgia teeming with penguins and seals is a sight and sound I will never forget! 

The more I travel, the bigger my dream list becomes!

My favourite travel memory

Sitting in the snow and ice in Antarctica…in a snow storm. Snowing was blowing in circles and lots of penguins were waddling down the slope in front of me, some were stumbling over, slipping and sliding.  One little dude got a bit side tracked and came and peaked at my boots!

What I like about my job

There is always some new…an area developing for tourism, new cruises, restaurants to discover…I love being about to learn about things and to be able to incorporate them into itineraries for people to experience and discover as well.

Where I want to go next

Botswana in Africa to experience the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta. I would also love to go to the Angel Falls and do some hiking in the Roraima mountains in Venezuela…savannah, cloud forest, table top mountains, very remote!