9 Explora women who inspire us
On International Women's Day, we want to share with you the story of 9 women, Explora collaborators, who dared to take on new challenges and who have made it thanks to their strength and perseverance.
ELVIA CORTEZ
She lives in Urubamba with her two children. She arrived at Explora in Sacred Valley in 2017 to be a bartender, then became a receptionist and Guest Experience Officer (Geo) and is now an Experience Supervisor. Elvia admits that one of the things that surprised her when she came to work at Explora was the kindness and closeness of the people who work in Sacred Valley. With time she has appreciated that it is a place where they believe in you and allow you to grow.
Tell us some of your experiences in Explora.
When asked about an experience, she tells us: “My first Explora exploration was 5 lagoons. We were going with a friend and some Mexicans, who were teasing that the altitude would affect them more than us. We were halfway there and were already tired. We could barely walk, and the Mexicans were way ahead of us, walking perfectly. We couldn’t stop laughing; we had to swallow our words.”
What does it mean to you to be a woman?
For me being a woman is a beautiful experience; over time I understood that we women are stronger, fighters and perseverant. My mom raised me like that and I thank her, because I admire her very much.
GIMENA RAMOS
She has been part of the Explora team on the Travesía Atacama-Uyuni since June. She knew that she was going to work in the mountain lodges since she saw them being built and is now a camp manager in Ramaditas.
What’s it like to work in a place like the mountain lodges in the middle of the altiplano?
It’s a very special place, as there is nothing else but us. It is quiet and allows you to connect with yourself and nature more deeply. I wanted to get to know it for some time, so being here is a unique opportunity.
What does it mean to you to be a woman?
I like to be a woman; I’ve been through many things and today I give everything to my mother and son, so for me to be a woman is to fight and never give up.
KAREN ROBLEDO
She recently started her new work challenge as administrative assistant at Explora in Atacama. She is the mother of two daughters, feels proud of where she is right now and happy about the opportunity she was given. She also comments that being able to work in a place where there are native trees, ayllus – the name given to each family group in an indigenous community in the Andean region – and with the Licancabur volcano as a backdrop is a privilege.
Tell us some of your experiences in Explora.
They asked me for my support in Patagonia National Park on the Carretera Austral and it was the first time I got on a plane. I had never been to Santiago, much less so Patagonia. It was an incredible experience and the contrast in landscape with the north is enormous. Seeing fauna and trees that big impressed me.
What does it mean to you to be a woman?
I think that as women we have more responsibilities but have learned that you have to let go, not demand too much of yourself and ask for help when you need it. You must let go of guilt and be freer, follow what makes you happy.
NERU HIVA
She is a senior guide at Explora in Rapa Nui (Easter Island). She loves this challenge of recruiting and encouraging younger generations who love nature and sport and also want to take care of it and protect it. Working in a place where nature is her office is definitely one of the reasons why she would not change her job.
Tell us some of your experiences in Explora.
During the pandemic Explora motivated me to participate in local mountain bike competitions. I have now participated in 4 and have come in first place 3 times.
What does it mean to you to be a woman?
Being a woman and representing a culture as important and unique as Rapa Nui is a fundamental part of my life, one that I feel very proud of.
EMILIA FARMACHE
Sports and nature are her passion. That is why she decided to be a trekking guide, which she has been doing for about 7 years. She joined the Explora team at El Chaltén in September, as the mountains are her passion.
What is your relationship with nature?
I realized that this was what I wanted to do after finishing school. Being a trekking guide has formed me as a person; I would be a totally different person if I did not do this. Nature makes you appreciate, get to know yourself, especially when I go on long mountain expeditions.
What does it mean to you to be a woman?
As a girl I always liked doing things that were not considered “feminine,” but I never let myself be carried away by what society said. This drove me to follow my dreams even more and be the person I am today. Every challenge has given me security, confidence and self-confidence.
LUISA MANCILLA
She has always had a vocation for service, so she was happy when she joined Explora as a housekeeper in Torres del Paine. It is a dream come true to work in a place with that nature surrounding you. It doesn’t matter whether there is rain or shine, Patagonia has its charm all year round and Luisa feels privileged to be able to admire it in every season.
Tell us some of your experiences in Explora.
I had gotten to know Torres del Paine years ago on a trip I took with my mom, but with Explora I got to go on the exploration to the Grey Glacier and get on a catamaran. Seeing it so close up was amazing; it’s an experience I will never forget.
What does it mean to you to be a woman?
For me it is to be independent, to learn to appreciate oneself and to fight. Strength is something that has always characterized me. I have 3 daughters and 4 grandchildren, and my biggest dream is for all of them to be well and remain united.
YAMILA ZAPATA
A year ago she spoke with her boss about the option of being transferred from Santiago to Patagonia. She is now head of administration at Explora in Patagonia National Park. Changing the city for that place has been one of the best decisions she has made and seeing how happy her daughter is reaffirms this every day.
What has caught your attention the most during this year?
Having the animals right in front of you leaves you speechless. Some time ago we saw a puma with her cubs eating a guanaco a few meters from us; that makes you understand that we are part of nature and coexist with it and its fauna every day.
What does it mean to you to be a woman?
You know that as a woman things are a bit harder for you. I became a mom young and since then it has been a constant challenge to be able to get ahead, mainly because of her. I’ve always faced barriers, but everything has borne fruit when I see where we are today. Getting ahead is fundamental in this life.
GAELA HOURCQ
Surrounded by horses since she was born, the Frenchwoman Gaela can’t imagine what would have been of her life if she had not ventured into this world. She came to Chile for a two-month project in 2000 and that was when she fell in love with Patagonia, which is why she did not think twice and returned to Chile when she was offered the chance to take charge of Explora’s stables in Torres del Paine some time after she returned to France.
Tell us some of your experiences in Explora.
After 4 years in Patagonia I took charge of Haras Colunquen, which is Don Pedro’s horse farm, and the stables in Atacama and Patagonia. When the stables in Atacama and Torres del Paine were ready, I decided to take a 7-month horseback ride across Patagonia. When I told Don Pedro (founder of Explora), he looked at me, gave me a pat on the shoulder and said “have a good trip.”
What does it mean to you to be a woman?
Throughout my history I have had to learn to be a woman in different contexts, such as in a foreign country, when I got to know the gauchos, or even when I became a mom. I’ve had the luck to meet wonderful people who know how to listen, but I also had to force myself to speak loud, clear and sure of myself to be heard.
IVONNE FERNÁNDEZ
She arrived in Explora for a replacement 28 years ago and never left. She is in charge of managing the general services of the Santiago office, but more importantly, she holds the entire trajectory of the company’s growth in her memory, making her a treasure of this place.
What has come to your attention after so many years in Explora?
It’s impressive to see how a place grows. When I arrived there was one destination and there were about 15 people at the Santiago offices. Now there are 7 destinations and there are around 80 of us. I have also been part of the process of generational change and am happy to see how new people have arrived who, in addition to being friendly, are respectful and patient in teaching.
What does it mean to you to be a woman?
I have always been accompanied by empowered women. I have two daughters and two granddaughters and have always done everything so they can get ahead. So, strength and fighting to get things have always been part of my life.
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ELVIA CORTEZ
She lives in Urubamba with her two children. She arrived at Explora in Sacred Valley in 2017 to be a bartender, then became a receptionist and Guest Experience Officer (Geo) and is now an Experience Supervisor. Elvia admits that one of the things that surprised her when she came to work at Explora was the kindness and closeness of the people who work in Sacred Valley. With time she has appreciated that it is a place where they believe in you and allow you to grow.
Tell us some of your experiences in Explora.
When asked about an experience, she tells us: “My first Explora exploration was 5 lagoons. We were going with a friend and some Mexicans, who were teasing that the altitude would affect them more than us. We were halfway there and were already tired. We could barely walk, and the Mexicans were way ahead of us, walking perfectly. We couldn’t stop laughing; we had to swallow our words.”What does it mean to you to be a woman?
For me being a woman is a beautiful experience; over time I understood that we women are stronger, fighters and perseverant. My mom raised me like that and I thank her, because I admire her very much.
GIMENA RAMOS
She has been part of the Explora team on the Travesía Atacama-Uyuni since June. She knew that she was going to work in the mountain lodges since she saw them being built and is now a camp manager in Ramaditas.
What’s it like to work in a place like the mountain lodges in the middle of the altiplano?
It’s a very special place, as there is nothing else but us. It is quiet and allows you to connect with yourself and nature more deeply. I wanted to get to know it for some time, so being here is a unique opportunity.What does it mean to you to be a woman?
I like to be a woman; I’ve been through many things and today I give everything to my mother and son, so for me to be a woman is to fight and never give up.
KAREN ROBLEDO
She recently started her new work challenge as administrative assistant at Explora in Atacama. She is the mother of two daughters, feels proud of where she is right now and happy about the opportunity she was given. She also comments that being able to work in a place where there are native trees, ayllus – the name given to each family group in an indigenous community in the Andean region – and with the Licancabur volcano as a backdrop is a privilege.
Tell us some of your experiences in Explora.
They asked me for my support in Patagonia National Park on the Carretera Austral and it was the first time I got on a plane. I had never been to Santiago, much less so Patagonia. It was an incredible experience and the contrast in landscape with the north is enormous. Seeing fauna and trees that big impressed me.What does it mean to you to be a woman?
I think that as women we have more responsibilities but have learned that you have to let go, not demand too much of yourself and ask for help when you need it. You must let go of guilt and be freer, follow what makes you happy.
NERU HIVA
She is a senior guide at Explora in Rapa Nui (Easter Island). She loves this challenge of recruiting and encouraging younger generations who love nature and sport and also want to take care of it and protect it. Working in a place where nature is her office is definitely one of the reasons why she would not change her job.
Tell us some of your experiences in Explora.
During the pandemic Explora motivated me to participate in local mountain bike competitions. I have now participated in 4 and have come in first place 3 times.What does it mean to you to be a woman?
Being a woman and representing a culture as important and unique as Rapa Nui is a fundamental part of my life, one that I feel very proud of. -
EMILIA FARMACHE
Sports and nature are her passion. That is why she decided to be a trekking guide, which she has been doing for about 7 years. She joined the Explora team at El Chaltén in September, as the mountains are her passion.
What is your relationship with nature?
I realized that this was what I wanted to do after finishing school. Being a trekking guide has formed me as a person; I would be a totally different person if I did not do this. Nature makes you appreciate, get to know yourself, especially when I go on long mountain expeditions.What does it mean to you to be a woman?
As a girl I always liked doing things that were not considered “feminine,” but I never let myself be carried away by what society said. This drove me to follow my dreams even more and be the person I am today. Every challenge has given me security, confidence and self-confidence.
LUISA MANCILLA
She has always had a vocation for service, so she was happy when she joined Explora as a housekeeper in Torres del Paine. It is a dream come true to work in a place with that nature surrounding you. It doesn’t matter whether there is rain or shine, Patagonia has its charm all year round and Luisa feels privileged to be able to admire it in every season.
Tell us some of your experiences in Explora.
I had gotten to know Torres del Paine years ago on a trip I took with my mom, but with Explora I got to go on the exploration to the Grey Glacier and get on a catamaran. Seeing it so close up was amazing; it’s an experience I will never forget.What does it mean to you to be a woman?
For me it is to be independent, to learn to appreciate oneself and to fight. Strength is something that has always characterized me. I have 3 daughters and 4 grandchildren, and my biggest dream is for all of them to be well and remain united.
YAMILA ZAPATA
A year ago she spoke with her boss about the option of being transferred from Santiago to Patagonia. She is now head of administration at Explora in Patagonia National Park. Changing the city for that place has been one of the best decisions she has made and seeing how happy her daughter is reaffirms this every day.
What has caught your attention the most during this year?
Having the animals right in front of you leaves you speechless. Some time ago we saw a puma with her cubs eating a guanaco a few meters from us; that makes you understand that we are part of nature and coexist with it and its fauna every day.What does it mean to you to be a woman?
You know that as a woman things are a bit harder for you. I became a mom young and since then it has been a constant challenge to be able to get ahead, mainly because of her. I’ve always faced barriers, but everything has borne fruit when I see where we are today. Getting ahead is fundamental in this life. -
GAELA HOURCQ
Surrounded by horses since she was born, the Frenchwoman Gaela can’t imagine what would have been of her life if she had not ventured into this world. She came to Chile for a two-month project in 2000 and that was when she fell in love with Patagonia, which is why she did not think twice and returned to Chile when she was offered the chance to take charge of Explora’s stables in Torres del Paine some time after she returned to France.
Tell us some of your experiences in Explora.
After 4 years in Patagonia I took charge of Haras Colunquen, which is Don Pedro’s horse farm, and the stables in Atacama and Patagonia. When the stables in Atacama and Torres del Paine were ready, I decided to take a 7-month horseback ride across Patagonia. When I told Don Pedro (founder of Explora), he looked at me, gave me a pat on the shoulder and said “have a good trip.”
What does it mean to you to be a woman?
Throughout my history I have had to learn to be a woman in different contexts, such as in a foreign country, when I got to know the gauchos, or even when I became a mom. I’ve had the luck to meet wonderful people who know how to listen, but I also had to force myself to speak loud, clear and sure of myself to be heard.
IVONNE FERNÁNDEZ
She arrived in Explora for a replacement 28 years ago and never left. She is in charge of managing the general services of the Santiago office, but more importantly, she holds the entire trajectory of the company’s growth in her memory, making her a treasure of this place.
What has come to your attention after so many years in Explora?
It’s impressive to see how a place grows. When I arrived there was one destination and there were about 15 people at the Santiago offices. Now there are 7 destinations and there are around 80 of us. I have also been part of the process of generational change and am happy to see how new people have arrived who, in addition to being friendly, are respectful and patient in teaching.What does it mean to you to be a woman?
I have always been accompanied by empowered women. I have two daughters and two granddaughters and have always done everything so they can get ahead. So, strength and fighting to get things have always been part of my life.
