Luis Vela

Luis was born in a small river town approximately one hour up the Marañon River from the small city of Nauta. Here he lived with his parents and grandparents who taught him about all the marvels of this part of the world. From a very early age he was interested in all things natural in the forests and rivers, and his pets were often parrots and monkeys from the area. The weekends were special because that was when the cargo boats from the big city of Iquitos would arrive with new products like sweet breads, news of the outside world, and brought also foreigners who came to experience the Amazon and to see what lived here.

From the beginning, Luis enjoyed showing foreigners the birds and wildlife, and later when the family moved to Nauta, he realized that an understanding of the English language would be primary in importance to overcome the communication barrier. A further move by the family to Iquitos realized the dream to study English and further his education.

Over school holidays, Luis was always able to return to his grandparents and the forest, spending time with them paddling in dugout canoes to fish and watching the spectacular sunsets and torrential rainfalls of the Amazon. These memories and feelings were so intense that he chose not to study medicine, engineering, administration or law, but chose a career that allowed him to remain surrounded by the flora and fauna of the forest and rivers, where he could watch as they ebbed and flowed in response to the rains and melting of the snow and ice in the Andean Cordillera. As a naturalist guide in the Peruvian Amazon Luis studied (and continue to study) the natural history of the region and continues to improve his understanding of the English language.

When his studies finished, Luis began work with local tour operators in the “Eco lodges” around the city of Iquitos. It was here that he came into contact with professional scientists and researchers, which added yet more to his knowledge base through listening, reading and watching these experts in the field.

When Luis was 20 years old, he was fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to the United States in order to study English at a language institute in San Luis Obispo, California, and took advantage of the situation to travel to other states as well during his time there.

At present Luis works exclusively for Delfin Amazon Cruises on the Delfin I and Delfin II; a company that has given him the chance to guide guests of Lindblad Expeditions. Through that contact, Luis has traveled to other places, such as the Galapagos Islands, enriching his knowledge even further of the natural wonders here on earth.