Jose Padilla

Jose Antonio Padilla was born in Lima, Peru, four decades ago. He first began working in ecotourism when he was 21 at Tambopata National Reserve in south-eastern Peru in the pristine Amazon region of Madre de Dios. In 2003 he was invited to go to Glasgow, Scotland, where he lived for over two years, studying English, and working in the hospitality industry.

In 2005 Jose Antonio returned to Peru, birding and guiding extensively around his home country. In more recent years he has travelled and worked widely around South America, birding and guiding in Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil (where he has spent extended periods), as well as in Peru.

Jose Antonio speaks Spanish, English and Portuguese and he lives in Cusco with his family. He expertly leads Naturetrek groups in Peru and Bolivia, where his easy-going style and sense of humour, as well as brilliantly-sharp field skills, are always popular with groups.