A vacation is more than just a break.
It’s an unopened book with a story waiting to unfold, full of surprises, fresh perspectives and new findings. Every journey carries the promise of inspiration, relaxation, and adventure—whether it’s to escape the daily grind, feel like an explorer, or share meaningful moments with loved ones. Yet, after months of anticipation and meticulous planning, it’s disheartening when reality fails to meet expectations, and your trip feels more like a missed opportunity.
Worst Case Scenario
Imagine: you’re in the Yucatán finally visiting Chichen Itza, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, but it’s packed with crowds, no guides are available, and the midday heat is unbearable. Seeking relief, you head to a nearby cenote, only to find it overflowing with holidaymakers. Mainstream tourism leaves you craving an authentic connection with Maya culture – you miss out on community-led experiences and uncovering the historic haciendas.
Picture this: on the morning of your flight home from Mexico City, you hear about an incredible natural area with an inspiring preservation project—but it’s too late to visit. In Oaxaca, you join a tour to explore artisan craftsmanship, but the group is too large, and you can’t hear the guide. The experience feels impersonal, and you miss the meaningful interactions with artisans you were hoping for. It’s Day of the Dead and you’re in San Miguel de Allende, you want to go deeper into the traditions, but without guidance, it feels superficial. The hotel you booked is noisy, and the language barrier makes everything harder.
These scenarios can leave you feeling flat and frustrated; the spark of discovery is dampened. How to avoid an anticlimax? Plan your journey with those on the ground who really know the destination; the people who relentlessly explore from coast to coast, leaving no stone unturned, the ones with the insider tips and local contacts. That’s us!
How to Avoid Disappointment
Our unparalleled in-country knowledge and award-winning trips connect you to the true magic of Mexico. Journey Mexico’s mission is to share our country’s extraordinary culture, history and nature with our guests. We pride ourselves on seamlessly operating authentic, unique, and personalized travel itineraries all over Mexico. As Zach, our Founder and CEO says, “marrying the dream with the reality of delivery on the ground is what truly sets us apart”.
But how do we deliver, and continue to deliver? We’re going to tell you the tale behind bringing a travel adventure to life. Read on to see how we live up to our words and find out who’s the hero of the story.
Meet the Protagonists
Zach, the Visionary
Matteo, the Scout
Karina, the Engineer
Paty, the Examiner
Jose, the Advisor
Prequel: Read Zach’s Origin Story
Chapter 1: Dream Big
“I love vetting the new experiences we’re developing with a keen eye on the people we work with and their interest and commitment to serving. A deep and genuine desire to serve is what defines us and is vital in our guides, drivers, and partners in general.” – Zachary Rabinor
Zach has his finger firmly on the pulse of Mexico’s travel scene; he immerses himself in every facet of the industry. Whether he’s at high-profile events or engaging with clients and travel specialists, Zach’s keen eye captures emerging trends and unmet needs. His ears are always open, tuned to the desires and dreams of travelers seeking something extraordinary.
Since his early beginnings backpacking around Latin America and guiding off the beaten path adventure travel in Mexico, Zach has continued to cultivate a profound understanding of the guest experience along with trusted relationships in the field, forged through years of exploration. Two decades ago, he founded the company with a vision: to use travel as a force for good, delivering unparalleled service while making a positive impact on the world.
As the Founder and CEO, Zach is the captain of the ship, steering Journey Mexico with unwavering commitment. His leadership is a testament to his values of authenticity, integrity, and seamless service. Zach’s mission is clear: to blend luxury with purpose, ensuring every journey is a masterpiece of thoughtful design and meaningful impact.
Chapter 2: Leave No Stone Unturned
“It’s not just about exploring remote corners of Mexico; it’s about building deep connections with the people and places we encounter. My role allows me to turn dreams into reality, and nothing excites me more than creating moments that resonate with both travelers and the local communities we cherish. This is where passion meets purpose, and every day is an opportunity to make a difference.” – Matteo Luthi
Matteo is at the beating heart of Journey Mexico’s adventures, a wild explorer with no limits. Zach dreams big, and Matteo sets those visions in motion using his operational prowess and close connections with partners across Mexico. He’s an expedition leader who ventures to the most remote corners of the country, driven by a relentless curiosity and child-like wonder. Matteo doesn’t just find hidden gems; he creates them, with imagination and an unbounded creativity that transforms the overlooked into extraordinary travel experiences.
With an uncanny ability to forge deep, lasting relationships, Matteo’s work is deeply personal. His presence and dedication mean he knows our guides on a first-name basis and trains them to meet Journey Mexico’s exceptionally high standards, ensuring that every itinerary we offer is seamless. He meets the people who host our guests, listens to their stories, and explores how we can collaborate to create something meaningful. He understands that our work must positively impact both travelers and hosts. Matteo is the messenger who visits communities, learns about their legacy and challenges, and uses that knowledge to design travel experiences that benefit everyone involved.
Through Matteo, travel becomes a force for good, spreading awareness of cultural and natural heritage, encouraging human connection, circulating direct financial support, and ensuring that traditions are preserved for generations to come.
Chapter 3: Design the Blueprint
“When we receive deeply heartfelt feedback from clients who are moved by the unique experiences we’ve crafted, seeing them discover Mexico with a profound understanding and appreciation of its wonders, cultural heritage, and experiencing the meaningful connections that break down barriers. This, for me, truly makes the entire process worthwhile” – Karina Huet
Karina works diligently behind the scenes at Journey Mexico, transforming grand visions into unforgettable realities. While Zach dreams big and Matteo ventures into the wild to make connections, Karina is the engineer who grounds these ideas, turning them into concrete experiences for our travelers.
With a devotion to detail, Karina takes on the challenging task of analyzing and refining every operational aspect. She collaborates closely with our expert guides in the field and our operations team to ensure that every journey runs flawlessly, embodying our signature seamless service. Her dedication to the nitty-gritty is what turns abstract concepts into tangible, livable adventures. More than just shaping the outline of a new experience, she breathes life into it, guiding the entire process full circle with resolute focus.
Karina approaches her mission with a clear strategy: break down big ideas into actionable steps, put herself in the traveler’s shoes, and weave sustainable practices into the fabric of each journey. By collaborating with her team and field experts to rigorously test and refine new travel experiences, she ensures that they are practical and ready to launch. Beyond logistics, Karina is deeply committed to integrating elements that will make a positive impact, from supporting non-profit organizations and vital local projects, incorporating hands-on involvement for guests, and promoting educational awareness, to immersing travelers in cultural and natural wonders that leave a lasting impression of Mexico.
Chapter 4: Under the Microscope
“My mission is the planning and preparation of the trip, training the operations team on how to anticipate and stay one step ahead of what might happen, so we can address any customer needs. Seeing the faces of happy customers during their trip, amazed by everything our country has to offer, their smiles are the best feedback we can get.” – Paty Martinez
Paty’s vast reservoir of operational knowledge is her daily compass, guiding her and the operations team to thoroughly prepare the myriad details involved in each of our personalized itineraries. She ensures that the elements of a travel adventure run smoothly to meet our exacting standards by drawing on her own experience. Paty doesn’t just supervise from afar—she immerses herself in the field. She trains her team on the ground, rigorously testing each product to understand every nuance of the service firsthand, enabling her to anticipate and respond to guest needs with efficiency, maintaining the high standards that Journey Mexico is known for.
Paty’s success lies in constant supervision and training, maintaining a real-time network of communication with guides and suppliers. This continuous feedback allows her to adjust new products where necessary. Through her perseverance, Paty turns the promise of exceptional service into a vivid reality. The operations team act as caregivers to our travelers throughout their journey, offering immediate attention and solutions to any issues that may arise. They go above and beyond to ensure that our guest feel not only supported but also enchanted – they love creating “wow moments” that surprise and delight our travelers, made possible through their comprehensive understanding of logistics and hands-on engagement when preparing and delivering our travel experiences.
Chapter 5: The Feedback Loop
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see our guests fall in love with the real Mexico and to know that I’ve played a part in creating unforgettable memories for them. As locals, we have a deep understanding of our country’s culture, diverse landscapes, and dynamics. Our staff, spread across different regions, keeps us current with the latest happenings and hidden gems, allowing us to offer experiences that are both authentic and up to date.” – José Pineda
José and his team are Journey Mexico’s matchmakers. With an artist’s eye and a deep love for his homeland, José tailors each itinerary to the unique preferences and interests of every traveler, ensuring they discover the rich culture, breathtaking landscapes, and warm hospitality that make Mexico extraordinary. His mission is more than just selling trips; it’s about storytelling, revealing the true beauty and diversity of a country that he knows intimately, pairing travelers with experiences that go beyond the typical tourist trail. He approaches every trip with the care of a master craftsman, experiencing the products designed by Karina firsthand so he can expertly match each client with the perfect adventure. Whether he’s reacting to a traveler’s style or anticipating what will become the highlight of their journey, José’s insights are spot-on, transforming trips from good to unforgettable.
He leads his team with a shared commitment to excellence, drawing on their expertise and presence throughout Mexico. He and his team are also vital bridges between clients and the product development team. They actively share insights gleaned from client feedback and industry trends, ensuring that every experience we offer aligns with what travelers truly want. Through regular updates, personal experiences, and valuable suggestions, José helps Journey Mexico stay ahead of the curve, continually refining and enhancing our offerings to exceed expectations.
The Hero of the Story
The steps to create and seamlessly deliver incredible travel experiences to our guests would not be possible without the dedication of the whole team. In the words of our team, this is why collaboration holds the key to our success:
“Having different lenses is vital. My dreams with Matteo’s operational expertise and relationships with our commercial partners, Karina’s technical expertise and sensitivity to price, quality, logistics, Paty’s examination of operational details, Jose’s customer feedback loop; it’s all a valuable team effort that needs each and every player to succeed!”
– Zach
“Our collaborative process allows us to make use of the collective strengths of our team. By working together creatively, we combine our skills and knowledge with innovative ideas and global perspectives. This synergy not only enhances the richness and authenticity of our offerings but also aligns our efforts toward a shared vision, driving us to achieve common goals, push boundaries, and set new standards.”
– Karina
“It is the key to achieve the unthinkable, knowing the product allows you to create, find alternatives that exceed the expectations of customers. We have an expert operations team that extends to the main cities where we operate in, that together with our expert guides and trained suppliers, create the magic in every single service we provide.
– Paty
Ready to Live your own Travel Stories?
Get the ideas flowing with our sample itineraries that weave unique travel experiences into one journey, then reach out to José and his team to get started! Remember, all our trips can be personalized to fulfill your travel dreams. Our custom-tailored journeys start from $1,000 USD per day for two travelers in interior Mexico, and $1,800 per day for two travelers in beach destinations.
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Author: Sally Wells
The British-born writer first fell for Mexico’s magic while studying Spanish in Guadalajara. A decade later, she’s taken her time getting to know the country’s multifaceted personality, and now calls Puerto Vallarta home. Sally has always had a soft spot for the written word and finds inspiration in life’s subtleties as much as the big moments. She loves stepping into someone’s world, listening to their experiences, and making connections. A firm advocate for candid communication, Sally believes storytelling has the ability to empower, enlighten, and spark empathy. |
