Nacho Gonzalez discovered his dream job in a bar in Buenos Aires. Chatting with an Intrepid trip leader from the Netherlands, he told her, ‘I don’t know what you do, but I want that.’
For over a decade, he’s been doing exactly that – leading small groups on trips around the southern part of South America. From his home in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nacho has established himself as one of Intrepid’s top leaders, now leading trips like Premium Patagonia and Premium Argentina & Brazil. I sat down to ask him why he does (and loves) what he does.
Where do you get a name like Nacho From?
Nacho is a nickname that comes from Ignacio, which is my actual name. Ignacio is a Spanish name. Nacho is the nickname that comes with it. You don’t even ask for it, it just comes with it. Nacho, Ignacio. Ignacio, Nacho. I don’t even know how and why, but that’s how it is.
What’s special about leading travellers around a place like Patagonia?
Of course, the region is magical. So that helps to create magical moments. I’ve seen people breaking into tears just watching the landscape – stepping aside and staring at the landscape and then just crying. Sometimes they hold your hand or they give you a huge hug. And it’s a pretty cool moment, because there’s no words. There’s maybe a touch – the hand, the head, the shoulder – and you just look at the immensity of the Patagonian region, which is beautiful, just sharing that moment.
Most of the time, you don’t know exactly what is going on in the person’s head. Sometimes they’ve lost someone, maybe they recently got divorced, or their kids are going to college or whatever. But it’s something that has happened several times. For me, it’s a beautiful shared moment. Even if you don’t know what is going on, you feel a connection with, first with the land and with the earth. And also with that particular person at that time. You feel that you know even more of that person, and they trust you for a few seconds. Those moments are pretty intense and beautiful.
Read more: Finding the secret sauce to a great group in Patagonia
How does Intrepid’s approach to responsible tourism affect local communities and ecosystems?
All trip leaders are trained on these matters and we always try to pass down the information to travellers, like refilling your bottle or turning the air conditioning off when you’re not in the room. We also have an Intrepid Foundation partner in Patagonia called Torres del Paine Legacy Fund. The Intrepid Foundation contributes to that project which supports the park’s rangers and research projects.
During Intrepid’s Premium Argentina & Brazil trip, you host groups in Buenos Aires for an authentic Argentinian barbecue. What’s the best part of having people over?
There’s one very particular thing that I always notice every time. Most of the time I go outside to open the door and welcome them, and when they come in, often they shake your hand. Of course, they don’t know you. But after the barbecue, which is usually about three hours, on the way out they often give a big hug and kiss. So that always makes me really happy that in just three hours you turn from a handshake to a big hug and kiss, like you’re my friend now. You’re part of my family. So that’s huge.
Explore with a local leader on a range of trips in Patagonia and South America.
