Partners | MEA - Mesoamerican Ecotourism Alliance

MEA Guides

MEA's guides are among the premier specialists in the region. Our roster of guides includes David Bacab, Dr. Chris Begley, Ismael Caamal, George "Chino" Coleman, Robert Gallardo, Katherine King, Alex Leonardo, Jorge Salaverri, and Mark Willuhn.

David Bacab O.

A native of Celestun, David is the founder of Celestun Expeditions. His University degree is in Tourism Administration. His studies in natural Sciences have included courses and workshops in Mexico and United States: at Cornell University in New York, and at the Institute for Bird Populations in Yosemite National Park and the Wildlife Service in Michigan. He has participated in marine turtle conservation projects, environmental education programs, and has been an active conservationist in his home community. He is actively involved in avian studies throughout the Peninsula of Yucatan, including banding and monitoring bird populations and distribution studies, training local people for work at the various reserves. His professional career is his passion and is centered on Ecotourism; since 1989 he has lead dozens of natural history tours, including groups from Nature Conservancy, National Geographic photographers, Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, Field Guides and Professional Mexican photographers and many groups from conservation organizations.

David has written articles on Ecotourism in different publications such as the Journal of PRONATURA, A.C., the Miami Herald (with a version focused on Cancun). Articles about David have been written in Wild Bird Magazine, Living Bird Magazine, Winging It -a supplement of the Birding Magazine of the American Birding Association- Business Week Magazine, and national newspapers in Mexico such as the Financier and local press such as the Diario Yucatan. As well David has written the article "Where to find birds in Celestun Biosphere Reserve"; that can be obtained by contacting him at celexp@dyred.com.mx .

Dr. Chris Begley

Dr. Chris Begley (here with Isabella) - An archaeologist with 15 years experience in the jungles of Central America, Chris has been involved in scientific expeditions in the remote Mosquito Coast as well as to urban areas of Central America.

Holding a doctorate from the University of Chicago, he has taught archaeology, anthropology, and works with issues of tourism and archaeology. He was a Fulbright Scholar in El Salvador in 1997. His research has been featured in documentaries on the Discovery Channel, The Travel Channel, and the BBC.

Ismael Caamal, Tour Leader

Ismael is an accomplished naturalist and Mayanist and first began guiding in 1999. He is Yucatecan Maya from the community of Muyil. Besides working with tour groups, Ismael manages the ecotourism program for his community, U Yo Ochel; is a board member of the Mesoamerican Ecotourism Alliance; and is active in promoting sustainable tourism programs with indigenous communities throughout the region.

Geaorge Coleman George "Chino" Coleman, Southern Belize

George "Chino" Coleman was born and raised in Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District, Belize. He grew up in a fisherman family and loves the sea, rivers, wildlife, birds and culture of Southern Belize.

George was formerly a fisherman and then went to college in Belize City. He returned to Punta Gorda and started working in tourism with some training from our local partner, TIDE Tours. George is a licensed General Guide and has been guiding for the last six years. He is a certified Medic First Aid (Emergency First Responder), a kayak and boat captain, and fly fishing guide. He loves to explore the sea and many rivers of Southern Belize.

Robert Gallardo

Born and raised in California, studied Natural Resources Planning and Interpretation at Humboldt S.U. Joined Peace Corps Honduras in 1993 where he was the technical advisor in establishing the country's first butterfly farm.

He has pursued the fields of butterflies, birds and orchids for more than twelve years and has recorded many species previously unregistered for the country. He and his wife, Irma, live in Copan Ruins where they own and operate a nature center. Both lead natural history tours throughout Honduras and El Salvador.

Katherine King, Tour Assistant

Katherine has recently completed her Master's degree at Colorado State University in the area of recreation and tourism. While relatively new to guiding trips, she has lived in Costa Rica and El Salvador and knows the region well. She has worked with Ismael on previous trips and loves Mesoamerica.

Katherine became interested in Latin America as a Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador. In a small rural community, she taught sustainable agricultural principles, collaborated on a plant inventory and the writing of a management plan for a local protected area, and trained a women's jewelry cooperative. She has three years of experience with the Center for Protected Area Management and Training at Colorado State University, helping to coordinate the annual Wildlands and Protected Area Management Course for Latin American conservation professionals, and other training workshops. She has also held research positions with the US Forest Service and the National Parks Service. Her primary interests include private land conservation, wilderness management, ecotourism, and protected area management in Latin America. Katherine holds a degree in botany and environmental science, and is currently finishing her Master's in parks and protected area management. She has traveled throughout Central America and is fluent in Spanish.

Alex Leonardo, Punta Gorda, Belize

Alex is 28 years old and is local to the Toledo District (born and raised in Punta Gorda Town). He is a former fisherman and now does ecotours as a licensed Belize Tour Guide. Alex specializes in sport fishing, river trips, kayaking, birdwatching, snorkeling, fly fishing, camping, cultural tours, and jungle tours. He has worked with El Pescador PG, Island Expedition, and TIDE Tours. Alex taught training courses for TIDE in the fields of kayaking, birding and fly fishing. He has led kayaking trips for 4 years and is certified in first aid training.

Jorge Salavieri

Jorge Salaverri, renowned naturalist and guide, holds an M.A. in Forestry from West Virginia University. Jorge has organized educational ecotours for 15 years and has organized logistics for a number of documentary film projects by the BBC and others.

Jorge is a native of the Mosquito Coast of Honduras.

Mark Willuhn

Mark Willuhn has twelve years conservation experience including extensive work developing sustainable tourism programs and leading tours in Southern Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador. Currently, Mark manages the Mesoamerican Ecotourism Alliance which is an innovative business model that builds local capacity; links small scale ecotourism programs to local, regional and international markets; and maximizes conservation benefits to protected areas in the region. Emerald Planet is a key member of the Alliance and the only US member.

Mark has done micro-enterprise business planning for non-government conservation organizations in the US, Caribbean and Latin America and has developed successful integrated fundraising programs with extensive experience working with major donors. Mark has guest lectured at the graduate level at Colorado State University and the University of Colorado, participated and presented at numerous workshops relating to microenterprise development, resource development and sustainable tourism, and facilitated numerous planning workshops. Mark is affiliated with the Center for Protected Areas Management and Training at Colorado State University. Mark has an undergraduate degree in forestry from Colorado State University and an MBA from San Francisco State University.