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By Jean Sanz
As the granddaughter of a tango singer, my roots are deeply embedded in Argentina. Although I used to be born within the USA, I used to be partly raised in Argentina, and the pull of my homeland has at all times been irresistible.
I can nonetheless hear the echoes of my grandparents singing and dancing tango of their front room, the scent of “mate cocido” wafting by the air each morning. My first sips of mate at my household’s ranch in Patagonia, the heat of kissing strangers’ cheeks as we greet each other, and the enjoyment of unannounced guests are cherished features of my tradition that join me to my roots.
I at all times knew journey was my calling. My mother and father nurtured my wanderlust with adventures from Finland to China and Japan to Italy. This instilled in me an itch for journey that blossomed right into a profession. My true ardour emerged in designing experiences that join travellers with the wealthy cultures I am keen on.
A Life Built Around Travel
For over 20 years, I’ve constructed my life round journey and hospitality, exploring every part from luxurious accommodations and prime eating places to orchestrating seamless logistics for unforgettable occasions. I’ve lived in 4 Latin American international locations, together with Ecuador and Chilean Patagonia. My first son was born in Argentina and my second in Costa Rica. I passionately sought connections inside these various cultures. My coronary heart raced with every discovery, and my function grew to become clear: to share Latin America by a distinct lens, providing heartfelt suggestions that resonate with the soul.
When I moved to Argentina, Patagonia naturally grew to become my yard and my vacation spot of alternative. This huge wilderness, with its sweeping steppes and hidden corners accessible solely by 4×4 on winding gravel roads, grew to become my second residence. I’ve travelled each inch of Patagonia and Argentina—from Mendoza to Ushuaia—navigating its rugged terrain by automotive, horseback, and foot.
I’ve camped underneath star-studded skies, kayaked its pristine waters, and hiked numerous trails, immersing myself in breathtaking landscapes and connecting deeply with the individuals who name this land residence. Connecting deeply with the individuals who name this land residence means savouring asados with gauchos providing typical meat comparable to guanaco, choique, and lamb, whereas having fun with folklore dancing at events after the cattle gross sales finish.
These adventures weren’t simply private escapes; they laid the inspiration for the subtle, barefoot luxurious experiences I crafted for others. I wished my shoppers to really feel the privilege of sleeping beneath Patagonia’s huge skies, retreating to luxurious lodging that harmonize with nature. I used to be dwelling my dream, guiding travellers on transformative journeys.
When Everything Changed
But in mid-2022, throughout a analysis journey to Peru and Ecuador, every part modified.
Riding excessive on the success of my increasing firm, I used to be invited aboard a brand new yacht in Ecuador—a once-in-a-lifetime expertise. Then, unexpectedly, a spherical of antibiotics triggered a terrifying response. My coronary heart price spiked to harmful ranges; I collapsed in a small physician’s workplace within the city of Caleta, Ecuador. I used to be unaware of the drastic shift my life was about to take. I virtually died.
In the weeks that adopted, my well being deteriorated quickly. I couldn’t eat or sleep and misplaced all sense of actuality. I shed 20 kilos and battled fixed nausea, migraines, and hallucinations. Bedbound for a yr and a half, I used to be grappling with an unsure prognosis and the devastating results of fluoroquinolone antibiotics. In the darkness of that battle, I grew to become an advocate for educating others concerning the potential unwanted effects of sure drugs. It was a profound religious journey, forcing me to confront my darkest ideas throughout limitless nights of torment.
With little emotional assist, my as soon as vibrant lifetime of journey shrank to a day by day battle for survival. My kids fearful about dropping me, and the corporate I’d poured my coronary heart into felt like a burden I may barely handle. When I started to floor from the depths of despair, I confronted betrayal from an in depth good friend who tried to steal my shoppers throughout my time of want. Everything I had constructed was stripped away, leaving me with a frightening query: How would I discover my approach again?
Though I lacked a roadmap for restoration, I had resilience. My grandfather’s sensible phrases echoed in my thoughts: “The world is there for those who seek it.” Those phrases gave me energy in my darkest moments. I immersed myself in analysis, finding out epigenetics, microbiology, and any subject that provided a glimmer of hope. Navigating an outdated medical system alone, I grew to become my very own physician and healer. Slowly, I started to rebuild, experimenting with each therapy and remedy accessible, inching my approach again to well being.
From Crisis to Strength
Two years later, I discover myself in a family-owned estancia in El Calafate, my first journey again to Patagonia because it all started. Sitting in solitude, I gaze on the sprawling mountains with the Fitz Roy vary as a backdrop. The breeze caresses my face, harking back to my childhood sipping mate on the ranch. I by no means thought I’d return to this place.
Yesterday, I hiked 5 hours to a distant lagoon, alone and surrounded by nature’s majesty. Standing on a rock, I yelled on the prime of my lungs, tears of gratitude streaming down my face. Today, I accomplished a seven-hour glacier hike, feeling the enjoyment of journey reigniting inside me. I assumed I might by no means be capable to do that once more.
The journey again has been something however simple; remnants of my battle stay. Some features of my former life could also be gone—superb eating and wine might not be a part of my actuality—however I’ve discovered a brand new rhythm. Each hike, every quiet second surrounded by Patagonia’s vastness, serves as a reminder of the energy that received me right here.
I’m not the identical one that set out on that journey to Peru and Ecuador. My life has taken on a brand new form—one I embrace totally. I’m right here to proceed exploring and to share the wonder and resilience of Patagonia and Argentina with travellers looking for one thing deeper. While I could have misplaced part of my previous life, I’ve gained a future full of new chapters—every one an invite to find, join, and be remodeled.
Travel will be transformative, particularly to locations like Patagonia. Here, you’re not solely a customer however a participant in an enormous, untouched magnificence that displays your personal capability for resilience and development. Patagonia’s landscapes are mirrors. They problem you and finally reveal elements of your self you didn’t know existed. Under wide-open skies and rugged mountains, you’re feeling the burden of your smallness and, paradoxically, the energy that resides inside.
If you’re able to expertise journey that goes past sightseeing, I invite you to discover Latin America by the lens of resilience and discovery. Embark on a journey that not solely explores the world however reconnects you with the wonder and energy inside your self.
With over 20 years of expertise within the hospitality trade, Jean based JSB Journeys in 2017 with a imaginative and prescient to introduce travellers to the distinctive magnificence and hidden wonders of Latin America.
As an American-Argentine citizen who has lived in 5 Latin American international locations, she brings a deep understanding of the area’s various cultures to design essentially the most genuine and off-the-beaten-path luxurious experiences.