South American Explorer

It takes a certain kind of person to work for South American Explorers. Would we say crazy? No, let’s say energetic, resourceful and incredibly patient! Meet Catriona from our busy Lima clubhouse.

Name: Catriona Spence

Age: 23

Nationality: British

Occupation: Student

I applied to intern with SAE because a friend had recommended it to me.  She herself had been a volunteer a few years previously and tourism was a career path I wanted to pursue, so I thought interning for SAE would be good experience.

The best part of the internship is… all of it!  No two days are ever the same, people always come in with different queries and wanting different trip advice, or they have translating or interpreting needs. On top of that there is the guide book writing and all that goes along with it.

The worst part of the internship is… I wouldn´t say there is a worst part, but more that the most tedious part is editing of guide books. 

I travel because I love to experience new cultures and environments and to see what else is out there. Travelling to different countries has always made me appreciate my own country more.

My favourite destination in South America is Patagonia because it´s unimaginably wild and beautiful.

A travel tip for visiting South America would be pack light, very light.  There will be a heap of things you’ll want to buy.

One thing that no one ever tells you about Lima is that it has a lot of variety and history. There are plenty of things to see and do in Lima, my favorite of which is walking around the historic parts of Barranco, Pueblo Libre and Callao.

The best service that SAE offers its members is…well, personally I think up-to-date advice for travelling around South America, and also the baggage storage service are the most useful.

To find out more about Lima Clubhouse visit www.saexplorers.org/clubhouses/