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 Mary Finn, the manager of our Cusco clubhouse.

Name:  Mary Finn   

Age: ….mmm, who wants to know??

Nationality:  US

I applied to work at SAE because I had previously worked in community-based ecotourism for several years in the cloud forests of Ecuador. I first joined SAE there as a member and was impressed by the mission of the organization and the fact that it really does support small, community-based projects as well as sustainable tourism in general.

The best part of the job is meeting people from all over the world, helping them find out about responsible (and affordable) tourism options, volunteering opportunities, and as well as fun things to do. Also feeling that one has the chance to really make a difference, whether it’s connecting people who want to volunteer with an organization that needs help, or helping with river or trek ‘clean ups’.

The worst part of the job is – nothing! – well, only that there’s so much to do and it’s all so interesting. There are not enough hours in the day to do it all. And then of course I would like to get out of the office and see more of the wonderful places we help our members to visit.

I travel because I’m fascinated by other cultures, and love to see new places, meet new people, and learn new languages and customs.

My favorite destination in South America is Peru (of course!) because there´s so much to see and do here – so much history, culture, a great variety of different natural settings, and the local people are so friendly.

A travel tip for visiting South America would be to be open to new experiences and learning. Read up and learn about what each different place has to offer, what the local culture and customs are, and seek out the things that are ‘off the beaten path’ (of course SAE´s here to help you with that!).

One thing that no one ever tells you about Cusco is that it’s such an intriguing mix of traditional, local culture and the modern/ international life. Inca ruins and locals with colorful costumes leading alpacas are regular sights, but you can also find many of the comforts of home, whether you’re from Europe, North America or the Pacific.

My next destination is right here in Cusco for a good long while, I hope, with trips to other parts of Peru that I haven’t had a chance to see yet, especially the jungle and many sites in the north. So many things to see!

The best service that SAE offers its members is a home away from home where you can feel safe, relaxed and comfortable while researching and planning some unique and exciting new adventures.

To find out more about the Cusco clubhouse visit www.saexplorers.org/clubhouses/cusco