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After introducing the luxury African safari to Asia in 2002, A2A Journeys is the second chapter in A2A Safaris' own journey. A2A Safaris' founders Jose Cortes and Victor Dizon began laying the foundation for A2A Journeys many years ago and slowly but surely they acquired an intimate knowledge of the continent and its vibrant cities, its wild places and rich cultures, and a strong passion for another continent was ignited. A2A Journeys specialises in bespoke, luxury trips to Latin America as well as small and intimate journeys and cruises to Antarctica and the Arctic. Led by Michael Scott, A2A's Head of Latin America and his deep understanding of the continent, we work with a carefully curated portfolio of luxury hotels, vessels and properties as well as handpicked specialist guides across the continent's most pristine wilderness areas and its the most vibrant and colorful cities. |
We offer a personal touch and specialise in a highly individualised service. Our clientele consists of business owners and entrepreneurs, senior executives, professionals, honeymooners and retirees who are keen to go on an exciting 'adventure' without sacrificing their creature comforts. For most people, a trip to Latin America or the polar regions is a once in a lifetime experience and our clients know we are always ready to go the extra mile for them and their families. We don't take a one-size fits all approach. We offer full flexibility when planning a trip. Every single A2A journey is designed with our clients' preferences in mind including the length of their holiday, the type of scenery, culture, wildlife, food and wine and other experiences they are after, who they are travelling with, and of course their budgets. We look forward to sharing our passion for Latin America, Antarctica, the Arctic and wild Asia with travelers from Asia and beyond. |
About Us
Since opening our doors in 2002, A2A Safaris has grown and we now have offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Manila, Bangkok and New York City. We also have representatives in Shanghai, Melbourne, Madrid, Denver, Cape Town, George as well as Shrewsbury in the U.K.
Our Team
Jose cut his teeth in the jungles of Wall Street and hung up his gloves as managing director of a global investment bank in Hong Kong. He is a keen photographer, usually out documenting the forests, deserts and windswept plains of Central Africa, South America, South Asia and the polar regions. When not out exploring and researching new destinations for A2A's clients, he spends his time around Asia and in Cape Town with his wife Kitty and their hounds Lucca and Lola. Jose is also a member of African Parks' APN-X private guide team.
Victor is an ex-investment banker who has lived and worked in the US, Europe and Asia. He has always had a passion for travel and that is what led him to co-found A2A Safaris. He travels to Latin America regularly with friends and family.
Alex is originally from the UK but now calls Bangkok home. After an early career in luxury and lifestyle consultancy Alex found his calling to turn his passion for travel into a career. After over a decade working for a leading tour operator in a variety of roles, he now supports the team to deliver exceptional travel experiences. He can often be found keeping up with his favourite sports and getting his family out on the road travelling.
From an early age, Michael would spend hours poring over the family atlas planning his future travel plans - and travel he did! He has visited over 85 countries as well as having lived in Melbourne, Tokyo, Madrid, New York and now Hong Kong. In all his travels, it is the unique and diverse experiences to be had in Latin America and Africa which have really captured his imagination, and sees him returning to time and time again. This passion for travel has extended to his love of designing tailored made, bespoke travel experiences for his clients, whether they be street food tours in Peru and Mexico, authentic cultural exchanges in Bolivia, or horse riding safaris in Kenya.
Since her first job as a reporter in Costa Rica, Claire designed her career path to enable her passion for exploration, and has spent the past 15 years as a marketing manager in the luxury travel space. Originally from the US, she’s lived in Costa Rica, Panama, Chile, and now calls Spain home with her husband and toddler. Her favorite adventures include sleeping under the stars in the desert of Namibia, floating in a hot air balloon above the rainforest in Costa Rica, tracking tigers on safari in India, hiking the Salkantay Trail in Peru, and an unexpected self-drive safari in South Africa’s Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Park.
Ever the “control freak”, Tung Ling has been put in charge of planning mother-daughter holidays from a young age. This sparked a travel planning passion so strong that she decided to design holidays professionally. Always on the quest for meaningful & authentic travel experiences, you’ll find her sprinkling hidden gems & interaction with local communities onto your holiday itineraries wherever possible. When not concocting up exciting vacation plans for clients, she loves seeing independent films, scrolling through cat accounts on Instagram & hiking the different nature trails around Singapore.
Cherine has travelled extensively. She loves the experience of seeing new places and understanding the diverse cultures. After working many years in the corporate world, she turned her passion in travel into a career. She enjoys planning custom holidays to meet the requirements of her clients.
A former banking professional, Mingyun chose to follow her passion in pursuing a travel career a decade ago, exploring destinations, cultures, and gastronomy around the world through crafting meaningful journeys and experiences for her clients. A nature and safari enthusiast, Mingyun is a firm advocate of wildlife conservation and sustainable tourism. She hopes to continue to spread her passion for travel and love for safaris to people around the world.
An ex-fashion buyer, entrepreneur and indoor cycling instructor when she’s not designing trips, Yessa is not one to shy away from adventure and pursuing the road less taken. Her philosophy in travel is to get out of your comfort zone, with luxury and style.
Anna is a passionate, adventurous, and eco-conscious traveler, always fascinated by different cultures and the beauty of the world. From a young age, she was very eager to explore new places and learn about their history and traditions, thanks to the influence of her favorite cartoon, The Wild Thornberrys.
Later on, Anna realized that her love for travel was not just a hobby but a way of life. She began planning trips aronud the globe for her family of 20, and while planning her honeymoon with A2A Safaris, she realized she could turn her passion for travel and event planning into a lifelong career.
As an active person, Ken cherishes spending time outdoors surrounded by nature. While his first passion was for sports, he developed a deep interest in traveling in his 20s. Combining with his love for animals, he became invested in conservation and wildlife. Some of his favorite travel experiences include a hiking trip through the Swiss Alps and floating on a Mokoro in the Okavango Delta.
Having a passion for travelling, photography, nature, and the ocean, Monica had always fantasized about going to Africa. Her "Out of Africa" dream came true in 2004 when she went on safari with A2A Safaris’ co-founder Jose Cortes III. She continues her love affair with adventure travel, representing A2A Safaris/A2A Journeys in Thailand. A Thai national, Monica is determined to spread her passion for traveling and life changing journeys to new clients. Her favorite inspirational travel quote, and personal goal, is “Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before” – HH Dalai Lama.
Kim is a Cape Town based Graphic Designer with both in-house and design agency experience. She graduated with a three year degree in Visual Communication Design at Vega School of Brand Leadership - specialising in Graphic Design. She is extremely passionate about travelling to new places, reading, food, wine and art. Kim has been working in the industry for over 4 years and on top of her Graphic Design skills, her expertise includes Social Media, Packaging, Branding, Illustration, Print Collateral, Advertising and Web Design. She also does Digital and Film Photography on the side.
An art director, artist, Latin America afficionado and former Manhattanite, Tracie thought New York City was the center of the universe, until she went on a honeymoon safari to Africa with her husband. As A2A's creative director, she still wears black, but never on safari.
Edwin was an avid client of A2A Safaris before joining the team in 2013 and he is spearheading its expansion into New York City where he has lived for over 20 years with his wife and daughter. Like Jose and Victor, he has traded Wall Street for wildlife. Previously voted by institutional investors as a top-ranked equity salesperson, Edwin’s new goal is to be a top-ranked safari specialist!
Nicole’s lifelong passion for globetrotting began early. As the daughter of a diplomat, Nicole was brought up living and traveling between the US, Brazil and Portugal. After graduating with a degree in Environmental Biology she spent a semester in Kenya where she was involved in a sustainable wildlife research program. Since then Nicole has devoted almost 2 decades to creating life changing journeys for her clients to Africa and Latin America. She lives and breathes safaris and travel to wild places and has a diehard loyal following of clients (now friends) because of her highly personalized, detailed and knowledgeable style.
Lieze joined the A2A team with a slate of diverse work experiences and was ultimately drawn to eco-tourism because of her passion for nature and exploring new places. A native of Cape Town, Lieze looks forward to planning unforgettable safari experiences for clients, and hopes that they enjoy the magnificent wildlife and breathtaking views that her home continent has to offer. Lieze has traveled around the United States and currently lives in New York, a city she loves for its vibrant culture and diverse culinary scene.
While working in event management hosting the likes of Prince Philip, Pru undertook her first safari in 2008 and was immediately smitten. Within 3 years she was living in Africa and became firmly entrenched in the safari world. Her children were initially raised in Cape Town, giving her a unique insight into family experiences, while she and her safari guide husband searched out the best places for fine dining or more informal and relaxed getaways. She’s travelled the continent extensively, and particularly enjoys more diverse experiences such as horseback safaris, hot air balloons or sunken hides, where the wildlife comes to you.
To travel the world has been one of my biggest dreams since my teenage years. To explore God's breath-taking creations and to help others visit paradise like Latin America and Africa is a source of great satisfaction for me.
I’m an aspiring traveller who wants to explore the world. I want to know and experience different cultures, food and places for adventures. I believe that every place we go has hidden gems that they want us to unravel. I have the passion and love for travel because it give us the opportunity to live our life to the fullest. And I believe that you need to fill your life with adventures and not things.
France has dedicated herself to the pursuit of volleyball for a period of 11 years. Beyond her sporting achievements, France's love for the outdoors is crystal clear - she is always up for some outdoor adventures, spending most of her free time hiking, camping, and exploring nature's beauty. Now, France is taking her passion for exploration to the next level by joining A2A Journeys. She is motivated and determined, not just to succeed but to soak in all the amazing experiences this field has to offer. She is keen uncover and enjoy the coolest experiences and to share this with A2A's clients.
Born and raised in Manila, Pat is an ambivert who has always had a passion for art and travelling. Although she prefers city life rather than wildlife, Pat would spend hours painting landscapes of nature. As someone who enjoys planning trips, Pat graduated with a degree in Travel & Tourism Management and has worked in the industry before exploring the hotel and banking industries. Realizing that travelling is her true passion, she decided to go back to her roots. She believes that travelling is one of the best investments you can make that will surely enrich you in more ways than one.
Ellah holds a distinguished degree in International Tourism Management with a major in Travel and Tour Operation (Latin Honor awardee). With an inherently positive mindset and an adventurous spirit, Ellah is also well-equipped for success in a myriad of roles within the dynamic field of international tourism. Her combination of expertise, dedication, and a forward-thinking approach positions her as a valuable asset for A2A Journeys and its diverse and discerning clients.
Chico was a barista before pursuing a career in the travel industry. His current role as Booking and Reservations Consultant complements his insatiable addiction to iced coffee and to travel the world. His ultimate dream is to be friends with zebras in Africa and to take selfies with the llamas in Peru. Chico lives in Manila with zero pets and a whole floor of thrifted clothes.
Deacon is a passionate traveler and adventurer, born in the vibrant province of Bulacan, Philippines. With a rich background in the corporate sector, particularly in managing telecommunications accounts within the call center industry, Deacon has seamlessly transitioned into the travel industry. His love for exploring new horizons and uncovering the world's hidden gems drives him to inspire and guide others on their own journeys of discovery.
A2A's resident CPA, Mark is always mesmerized everytime he watches wildlife in their natural habitat showcasing their survival skills. And being with A2A gives him an extra ordinary shot of adrenaline as merging work and encounters with wildlife and other stunning gifts of nature is such a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Jeff is A2A's data and tech guru with his decades of experience as a full time systems analyst, particularly as a network specialist in the luxury travel industry. He is an adrenaline junkie who loves adventures and challenges from scaling tall mountains to free diving on the ocean floor.
A banker in her past life, Penny took a break from her fast-paced lifestyle to re-assess what career she wanted to pursue. Her passion was to talk about her travels - how she is captivated with history and culture, inspired by beautiful sceneries and just happy to experience the vibe amidst locals. The opportunity to share her enthusiasm in helping friends and family plan trips of a lifetime always enlivens her.
Jeremy is A2A's bachelor businessman cum travel junkie and foodie. Passionate about his restaurants and other enterprises, he says there is nothing he loves better than seeing his clients' faces light up when they come back from their trips.
Why Us?
Knowledge & ExperienceWe have extensive knowledge and first-hand experience gained from planning our own trips to all the major destinations in Latin America since 1999. Our founders, our Latin America Head and our travel consultants have travelled the length of the continent - from Mexico to Argentina/Chile and the sub-Antarctic Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula - and have arranged bespoke trips for hundreds of our clients in Asia. ConvenienceWe are headquartered in Asia with a presence in most of its major cities. We offer our clients the convenience of dealing with a local company in the same country or time zone. We are familiar with the specific needs of our Asia-based clientele, such as visa requirements and optimal flight routes and current conditions in Central and South America, including weather, politics and wildlife movements. We understand client concerns from an Asian perspective, such as safety, sanitation and hygiene, as well as shopping and dining. We also offer a one-stop shop service for all aspects of our trips, including extensions to far flung destinations such as the Galapagos Islands, Easter Island, Svalbard and Antarctica. |
Latin America, Antarctica and Arctic SpecialistsWe specialise in Latin America and the polar regions (and Africa through A2A Safaris) and we are very familiar with the products and services we recommend. We have been to all of the hotels and properties in our portfolio numerous times and during different seasons, so we know all these properties intimately. We keep up to date – on a daily basis – on developments in the various countries, cities, islands, oceans and hotels, vessels and other properties in our portfolio. We always continue to scout for new destinations and experiences for our clients, at the same time strengthening our longstanding relationships with key players around the continent. Competitive PricingGiven the complexity of organising a high quality trip, we provide FREE expertise and advice to our clients, drawing on almost two decades of experience in planning and arranging bespoke trips. We are independent and are therefore not obligated to recommend certain lodges and hotels, allowing us to concentrate on building the best possible experiences for our clients. Due to our strong links with our partners our clients benefit from our favourable rates and our access to promotions. |
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We do not subscribe to the ‘one-size-fits-all’ philosophy. Sample itineraries and cost estimates are meant purely as a guide. To find out more, please contact one of our expert travel consultants to plan a customized itinerary based on your budget and interests.
