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Inappropriate / Inaccurate? Luisa Zea

Location: Antigua Guatemala
Country: Guatemala
Speaks: english, spanish
Services: accommodation, food, sport, tours
Cost: Between $10 and $100 ($US per day / per item)
Recommended by: Kirsten Koza (Kirsten Koza), Feb. 24, 2008
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Description:

Luisa is from Guatemala City and now lives in Antigua. She offers a wide range of active tours throughout Guatemala: mountain biking, kayaking mangroves and Lake Atitlan, hiking, climbing, caving, experiencing lava up close and personal on active volcanoes and more. However, Luisa offers adventure with culture. She knows the best restaurants off and on the beaten track, from the hottest venues in Antigua to the tiniest open-air eatery off the Rio Dulce. And she knows the fabulous little trip-of-a-life-time places to stay, as well.

At school Luisa specialized in Environmental Management. Her undergrad was in Ecotourism and Sustainable Development and she is currently taking a masters in Rural Sustainable Development.

Contact Details:

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Add a photo.	Edit photos & captions.

Uploaded by Kirsten Koza on Feb. 24, 2008.

Soaking in a hidden jungle hot spring with Luisa Uploaded by Kirsten Koza on Aug. 18, 2011.

After kayaking to the Caribbean down the Rio Dulce Uploaded by Kirsten Koza on Aug. 18, 2011.

Photo of Luisa taken by Jordan Manley Uploaded by Robert Norton on Aug. 21, 2011.

Garifuna cuisine. Luisa knows all the best local eateries. This seafood soup was served at a riverbank restaurant we kayaked to, on the Rio Dulce. (photo by Kirsten Koza) Uploaded by Robert Norton on Aug. 21, 2011.

Kayaking Uploaded by Robert Norton on Aug. 21, 2011.

Louisa in fine fettle Uploaded by Robert Norton on Aug. 21, 2011.

Kayaking the mangroves off the Rio Dulce. Uploaded by Robert Norton on Aug. 21, 2011.

Swimming at a secluded thermal waterfall below bat caves. (photo by www.kirstenkoza.com) Uploaded by Robert Norton on Aug. 21, 2011.

Rio Dulce Uploaded by Eduardo Crespo on Sept. 8, 2011.

Luisa Zea on Volcan Pacaya Uploaded by James Champion on Sept. 26, 2011.

Luisa Zea overlooking the lava on Pacaya Uploaded by James Champion on Sept. 26, 2011.

Uploaded by James Champion on Sept. 26, 2011.

Meeting with the locals at Atitlan Uploaded by Steve Johnson on Sept. 30, 2011.

Czech Republic_2011 Uploaded by kiste on Oct. 1, 2011.

Customer Reviews

Overall
9.9 / 10
11 reviews

(10 / 10)

reviewed Feb. 24, 2008, 5:53 p.m.

spent 5-10 days with Luisa Zea.

Description

Luisa's tour took me and five Canadian women kayaking down the Rio Dulce and through mangroves, into bat caves, swimming in thermal waterfalls, mountain biking in the central highlands, kayaking and hiking around Lake Atitlan,toasting marshmallows over lava and all the while staying at fabulous jungle lodges and small unique inns.

Luisa's English is so good, she can even joke in her second language. Travelling with her feels like just hanging out with one of your best friends in their hometown where they know all the best nooks and crannies. You could tell the Guatemalan inn keepers and restaurant owners truly adore Luisa, which also makes the tourist's experience of the people and countryside more enjoyable.

Best bits: Kayaking through mangroves and gorging on coconut seafood soup, a Garafuna specialty -- near Livingston on the Caribbean.

Worst bits: I loved the worst bits. Wading through bat guano in sandals with the bats swooping around your head deep in riverside caves. But this was topped only by tears of fear while stepping over lava fissures on Volcan Pacaya -- terrified that my quick-dry sports fabrics were going to fuse to my skin.

Ratings

Overall experience: 10 / 10

Value for money: 10 / 10

Eco impact: 10 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Michelle Lemieux (10 / 10)

reviewed Aug. 18, 2011, 8:12 a.m.

Michelle Lemieux spent 2-4 weeks with Luisa Zea.

Description

Hiking, cycling, paddling, eating, overland travel, markets, exposure to more than just the regular touristy spots.

Luisa even went out of her way to help me rescue a puppy and get him vet care before I brought him home. She is very generous and understanding!

Best bits: Luisa is a local and understands how to communicate and educate both her clients and her countrymen

Worst bits: Nothing bad, Luisa is AWESOME!

Ratings

Overall experience: 10 / 10

Value for money: 10 / 10

Eco impact: 10 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Profile Accuracy: 10 / 10

Comments:

Luisa has an a great understanding of english and is great at cracking jokes most english speaking people wouldn't think of.

Donna Chaiet (9 / 10)

reviewed Sept. 8, 2011, 6:12 p.m.

Donna Chaiet spent 2-5 days with Luisa Zea.

Description

Horseback riding trip up Pacaya Volcano
Kayaking in Mangroves on the coast of Guatemala

Best bits: Knowledgeable, safety conscious, flexible

Worst bits: None!

Ratings

Overall experience: 9 / 10

Value for money: 8 / 10

Eco impact: 9 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Profile Accuracy: 10 / 10

Comments:

Eduardo Crespo (10 / 10)

reviewed Sept. 8, 2011, 6:57 p.m.

Eduardo Crespo spent 2-5 days with Luisa Zea.

Description

Luisa took us to walk through a precious river Rio Dulce where we could appreciate the wonder of seeing a group of about 15-20 monkeys in harmony with nature and share your breakfast routine. Contemplate the beauty of rivers and aquatic flora upholstered surrounded by huge trees with experience to see and hear monkeys make this a magical experience.

Best bits: See the monkeys in the nature

Worst bits: The time to leave

Ratings

Overall experience: 10 / 10

Value for money: 9 / 10

Eco impact: 10 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Not sure

Profile Accuracy: 8 / 10

Comments:

Omrane Fadhel (10 / 10)

reviewed Sept. 14, 2011, 4:53 p.m.

Omrane Fadhel spent a whole day with Luisa Zea.

Description

We have been doing a whole day kayaking through the forrest. Luisa was a perfect guide there as she was able to guide us through this quite huge forrest. we never got lost (or at least I never had this impression :) ) and she was able to answer almost all my questions about biosystems and all the animals we have encountered. As this forrest was the home of the famous howler monkeys, it was even more fascinating to spend this day there. Luisa made it simply magic, we wouldn't have enjoyed, hadn't she been with us.

Best bits: Howler monkeys, the kayak races !! Luisa's jokes and all day long great mood and great atmosphere!

Worst bits: maybe the huge and hungry mosquitos and the heavy night rain falls

Ratings

Overall experience: 10 / 10

Value for money: 9 / 10

Eco impact: 9 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Profile Accuracy: 10 / 10

Comments:

Anne Marie OConnor (10 / 10)

reviewed Sept. 15, 2011, 6:45 p.m.

Anne Marie OConnor spent 5-10 days with Luisa Zea.

Description

Kayaking, biking, hiking, touring, volunteer experience in village building stoves for local family.

Best bits: local knowledge, great problem solver, perfect English, fun person

Worst bits: none

Ratings

Overall experience: 10 / 10

Value for money: 10 / 10

Eco impact: 10 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Profile Accuracy: 10 / 10

Comments:

Luisa led our group of seven on a volunteer project to a local village. She was the perfect liaison; she's super-organized and never flustered. For the second part of our trip, she led us kayaking on Lake Attitlan, and hiking and biking in nearby countryside. She was very safety conscious, and concerned that everyone in the group, no matter what their fitness level, was having a great experience. She also took us to some very cool restaurants and bars in Antigua and was amazing company. Love love love her! I highly recommend her!

Josephine (10 / 10)

reviewed Sept. 18, 2011, 1:01 a.m.

Josephine spent 2-5 days with Luisa Zea.

Description

We took the whole family to the mangroves of Monterrico, Guatemala and spent a lovely time birdwatching, kayaking, observing turtles, sunsets and lovely beaches. With kayak, we went deep into the heart of the mangroves and felt very in touch with nature. Luisa explained all the environmental pressures that the community is facing and how to contribute if we want. She mentioned the shrimp farms are the #1 threat and that this habitat is incredibly important for all the rare and indangered birds in Guatemala. We saw many of them she showed us how to upload information into EBIRD, cornell's bird documentary system, that is world-wide. I think she is a true environmentalist with a huge heart and she show a lot of determination to change the status-quo. She was very well prepared with a Picnic, binoculars, bird bird, maps etc.....our kids (young teenagers) had a blast!!!!!!!!

Best bits: After kayaking all day we enjoyed and incredible meal together and the hotel was top notch....on the beach. She knew all the local and had formed a nice raport with everybody. Amazing what a friendly and DETERMINED tourguide can accomplish.

Worst bits: Guatemala is facing a lot of environmental challenges and sometimes this is difficult to see as a tourist. For instance, there was trash in the mangroves and the area should be taken care of better. But, thanks to people like Luisa, we are seeing some positive changes. Tourism and education play a big part.

Ratings

Overall experience: 10 / 10

Value for money: 10 / 10

Eco impact: 10 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Profile Accuracy: 10 / 10

Comments:

She is and incredibly skilled athelete and understands the value of good nutrition and friendship.

James Champion (10 / 10)

reviewed Sept. 26, 2011, 1:50 a.m.

James Champion spent 5-10 days with Luisa Zea.

Description

I have just been guided from Antigua to Volcan Pacaya, Quetzaltenango, Tilapita, El Paredon and Puerto San Jose by excellent guide Luisa Zea. Activities included birdwatching, hiking, mangrove boat tour, historical sightseeing.

Best bits: Everything, but especially how she took care of me at all times

Worst bits: None

Ratings

Overall experience: 10 / 10

Value for money: 10 / 10

Eco impact: 10 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Profile Accuracy: 10 / 10

Comments:

My experience of Luisa's guiding was outstanding. My tour in the footsteps of my great grandfather, who spent 1879 to 1881 studying insects in Guatemala, required unusual planning and visiting places not necessarily on the tourist track. Luisa handled all this extremely well. In addition, she was a careful, patient and fun person to be with. Her knowledge of Guatemala and its wildlife areas is excellent, and she is even able to correctly identify many of its birds! I thoroughly recommend her.

Mike Brcic (10 / 10)

reviewed Sept. 30, 2011, 12:19 p.m.

Mike Brcic spent longer than 3 months with Luisa Zea.

Description

My company, Sacred Rides Mountain Bike Adventures, has been hiring Luisa as our Guatemala guide for several years. She is extremely professional, very knowledgeable, friendly, and an amazing mountain biker to boot!

Luisa is one of our highest rated guides on post-trip surveys, and we look forward to working with her for many years to come!

Best bits: Kayaking on Lake Atitlan, the Cielo Grande ride above Antigua

Worst bits: Luisa out-tequila-ing me at the tequila bar in Antigua!

Ratings

Overall experience: 10 / 10

Value for money: 10 / 10

Eco impact: 7 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Profile Accuracy: 5 / 10

Comments:

Steve Johnson (10 / 10)

reviewed Sept. 30, 2011, 4:36 p.m.

Steve Johnson spent 2-4 weeks with Luisa Zea.

Description

Luisa guided me and some friends on 2 week mountain bike tour all over Guatemala. She took us to areas that seemingly no one else would have been able to find. Her overall knowledge of the nature, people and places in which she travels was incredible. We rode mountain bikes all over the country and she managed to find some of the sweetest singletrack I've ever ridden. Not only is she an amazzingly patient and knowledgeable guide, but a kick a$* mountain biker!

Best bits: Her big smile as she points out all the wonderful things about her home country, the punishing climbs, the amazing trail, safe secure well guided travel where everything is taken care of. She is a one of a kind guide.

Worst bits: There were no bad bits, not even the punishing climbs, which i secretly loved.

Ratings

Overall experience: 10 / 10

Value for money: 10 / 10

Eco impact: 10 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Profile Accuracy: 10 / 10

Comments:

I think that she sells herself short! She is an amazing person on and off tour. I believe I heard her speaking German as well. Incredible!

kiste (10 / 10)

reviewed Sept. 30, 2011, 11:57 p.m.

kiste spent longer than 3 months with Luisa Zea.

Description

I went to a lot of different mountainbike rides with her in Germany while she was doing a half year course environmental management.
In the course of our rides she gained the title "trail queen" for her outstanding technical skills never getting off her bike on difficult terrain.

Best bits: Seeing her riding down on the bike where most people get off.

Worst bits: Riding back home on a borring street and not off the beaten track.

Ratings

Overall experience: 10 / 10

Value for money: 9 / 10

Eco impact: 10 / 10

Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Profile Accuracy: 9 / 10

Comments: