Ninoska Villegas – first Aracari travel planner

Ninoska Villegas – first Aracari travel planner, Aracari Travel

As part of Aracari’s 20th anniversary celebrations, Danielle, one of our newest employees, caught up with Ninoska, who was the first person Marisol hired – so the very first Aracari travel planner! She shares some of her memories of Aracari and how she progressed from working for a start-up entrepreneur to city banking in Canada.

Travel Planning at Aracari

Ninoska Villegas – first Aracari travel planner, Aracari Travel

I met Marisol through a summer job while I was in my first year of university. I was studying tourism and she was just starting her company and so it was literally me and her in her apartment office!

Tailormade Travel Planning to Peru

As an Aracari travel planner I did a lot of research and planned travel itineraries for tailormade luxury trips to Peru. So much of what we were doing was completely new to Peru tourism. We were promoting destinations that tourists had never visited, so it really was exciting, uncharted territory.

Marisol was fun to work with and I immediately established a good working relationship with her. After that summer I continued to work with Marisol on a part-time basis for a few years.

The development of tourism in Peru

Everyone was very happy with their trip to Peru and the unique experiences Aracari offered, especially in those days. Everyone wanted to go to Cusco and Machu Picchu, but around that time the ruins of Kuelap were discovered in Peru’s Chachapoyas region and Marisol was quick to offer visits there as part of Aracari’s services. It was very different, mystical and exciting!

Ninoska Villegas – first Aracari travel planner, Aracari Travel

Unique Experiences

Aracari offered tailormade itineraries that gave clients a unique Peruvian experience. Marisol had thought about all the details, even the smallest ones, like how to put together sustainable trips to Peru and little touches that would make every trip special.

Ninoska Villegas – first Aracari travel planner, Aracari Travel Ninoska Villegas – first Aracari travel planner, Aracari Travel

I love thinking back to my time at Aracari. I learnt a lot from Marisol, mainly her work ethic, punctuality and passion for her work. She was so determined to create the perfect trip for clients to experience all the wonders of Peru that she loved.

I now work for Scotiabank in Toronto, in the International Banking division. I work mainly with the Latin American units leading organisational effectiveness projects. It’s great to still be connected with Latin America in the work I do.

Revisiting Peru

On my recent trip back to Peru, it was lovely to visit the Aracari offices and meet the team. It was great to see how the company has grown, from all those years ago when I was the only Aracari travel planner. Congratulations on your 20th anniversary!

Our personal approach has  not changed since Ninoska worked at Aracari. For a tailormade luxury trip to Peru, Bolivia or the Galapagos carefully put together by an expert Aracari travel planner, contact us or email travel@aracari.com 

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