Mónica Bartra :

An official tour guide for 18 years, Mónica Bartra is passionate about Peru, its history, nature and cultural heritage. Specialised in Inca and pre-Inca cultures, history, nature, birdwatching, gastronomy and wine, she works mainly in Lima and in various destinations along the Peruvian coast. Her experience as a guide and Tour Leader has also taken her to different regions of Peru and South America. In this interview, she shares her professional journey, her vision of the profession, her favourite places and her advice for making the most of a trip to Peru.

1. Could you introduce yourself briefly and tell us how your passion for working as a tour guide began?

I have always loved travelling. My mother travelled a lot for work and, as I was the youngest, she often took me with her. From an early age, I therefore had the opportunity to discover different places and develop a curiosity for travelling and discovering new horizons.

Later, I studied Hotel Management and Tourism and then trained to become a tour guide. Over time, I continued to develop my knowledge, particularly in languages. I started studying English and French almost at the same time, and later added Portuguese, a language I already knew a little thanks to my grandparents, who were originally from Brazil.

I think that all these experiences, from my first family trips to my studies and language learning, gradually shaped my vocation and my professional career as a tour guide.

2. You speak Spanish, English and Portuguese. Spanish is your mother tongue, but between English and Portuguese, which do you master better and which do you feel most comfortable using?

English is the language I currently use most for guided tours, followed by Spanish. Portuguese comes third and French last.

It has been quite some time since I last conducted guided tours in French. Although I still understand the language, I currently feel less comfortable using it, particularly when it comes to technical expressions and vocabulary related to the profession of tour guiding.

For this reason, I am considering taking French classes again in order to gradually regain my confidence and feel more comfortable using the language during my tours.

3. You have 18 years of experience as a tour guide and Tour Leader. How has the profession evolved over the years in Peru?

I think the profession of tour guiding has become much more formalised over the years. Today, professionals are better prepared and there are many more opportunities for training and specialisation.

There is also much greater access to information. Institutions organise conferences and training activities that allow guides to continue learning and updating their knowledge. The Internet has also changed the way we work enormously: today it is much easier to access information, carry out research and deepen our knowledge of different subjects.

In general, I believe there are now more tools and opportunities for guides to continue developing their skills and providing an increasingly professional service.

4. You specialise in Inca and pre-Inca cultures, history, nature, birdwatching, gastronomy and wine. Of all these areas of expertise, which are you most passionate about and why?

It is difficult to choose just one speciality because these are very different fields and I am interested in each of them for different reasons.

First of all, I would highlight the pre-Inca cultures. I find them particularly fascinating because the Incas did not build their culture from scratch; they learned from and inherited a great deal of knowledge from the civilisations that came before them. Understanding the pre-Inca cultures therefore allows us to understand much better the later development of the Inca world.

I would then mention nature and birdwatching, which for me are closely connected. Peru has an extraordinary natural diversity, and observing birds is a very special way of connecting with that nature.

I am also passionate about gastronomy, particularly because of Peru's immense culinary richness and diversity. And finally, there is wine. I really enjoy wine; I do not consider myself a great specialist, but I do have some knowledge of the subject and it is a field I really enjoy.

5. After all these years of experience, what does being a good tour guide mean to you? What do you try to convey to travellers beyond historical and tourist information?

For me, being a good tour guide means offering experiences. Simply providing information is not enough. To be able to convey something to travellers, you first have to be passionate about what you do and feel moved by what you are sharing.

It is not simply about repeating what you know, but about conveying it with passion and emotion. When a guide is enthusiastic about a story, a culture, a landscape or a tradition, that emotion also reaches the traveller and makes the experience much more meaningful.

I also believe that a tour should be an exchange. Every traveller has their own interests, questions and expectations, and knowing how to listen to them and share with them is part of the experience.

For me, this ability to convey, share and create a genuine connection with travellers is an essential part of being a good tour guide.

6. In your opinion, which are the must-see places to visit in Lima and along the Peruvian coast?

In Lima, to gain a better understanding of the history and cultures of ancient Peru, I would particularly recommend the Museo Larco and the Museo del Oro. I also consider it essential to explore the Historic Centre of Lima, which allows visitors to discover a fundamental part of the city's history.

If we are talking about the surroundings of Lima and the coast, Caral is undoubtedly one of the places that should not be missed. I would also recommend Pachacamac and the Paracas National Reserve, two very different places that offer an insight into both Peru's archaeological heritage and the natural richness of its coast.

7. Are there lesser-known places that, in your opinion, really deserve to be discovered? Are there any that you particularly enjoy introducing to travellers?

There is one area that I would particularly recommend to travellers who want to discover lesser-known places: the Norte Chico, north of Lima.

This area includes places such as Huaral and Huacho, as well as several archaeological sites that deserve much more attention. Among them, I would particularly highlight Peñico, located about 11 kilometres from Caral, as well as Vichama and Áspero.

These places offer the opportunity to discover other aspects of Peru's millennia-old history and, in my opinion, provide a very interesting experience for those who want to go beyond the best-known tourist routes.

8. After so many years accompanying travellers, how do you adapt a tour to the expectations, interests and personality of each person or group?

I like to start by asking travellers about their interests, what they hope to see during their trip and which aspects of Peru they would like to learn more about.

Based on their answers, I can better understand what really interests them and adapt the tour so that the experience meets their expectations.

For me, it is important to listen to the traveller and understand what they are looking for, because not everyone travels with the same motivations or has the same interests. That initial conversation allows me to personalise the experience much more effectively.

9. Over your 18 years in the profession, have you noticed any changes in the way tourists prepare for and experience their trip to Peru?

Yes, I have noticed quite a few changes over the years. Nowadays, travellers arrive with much more knowledge about Peru and, in general, they are more relaxed and at ease during their trip.

I have also noticed a much greater interest in culture, history and gastronomy. Tourists prepare more before travelling, look for information and arrive with greater curiosity about getting to know and understanding the country.

For me, this is very positive, because it also makes the tours more enriching and allows for greater interaction with travellers.

10. Do you have a particularly unforgettable, surprising or amusing anecdote from all your years as a tour guide?

Over the course of my career, I have many anecdotes, but there is one that I remember particularly well.

On one occasion, I accompanied a family, a couple with two children, to the Paracas National Reserve. I thought we would spend the day visiting the reserve like any other group, but we ended up spending a good part of the day collecting little stones.

All four of them were fascinated by the different shapes of the stones. They took photographs of them, searched for information about them on the Internet and discussed what they were discovering. Of course, they did not take the stones with them; it simply became a kind of hobby for the whole family during the visit.

I found it both very curious and quite amusing. It is one of those experiences I remember because it shows that every traveller can find something completely different and special in a place.

11. What are your projects or goals for the coming years? Do you have any particular ambitions, such as developing new tours, discovering other regions of Peru or deepening your knowledge in one of your areas of expertise?

For now, my main goal is to continue working while also continuing to travel. I would like to keep discovering other countries and cultures, because I believe that travelling is also a way of continuing to learn and enriching one's own experience.

Later on, I would like to deepen my knowledge of birds and continue studying birdwatching.

And, thinking further ahead, I have the idea of developing a project related to tourism. It is still at an early stage, but it is something I would like to make a reality in the future.

12. What is the best compliment a traveller has given you and that you remember particularly well?

I would not single out one particular compliment, because over the years there is something I hear repeatedly that means a great deal to me: travellers thanking me for the attention I have given them, for the information I have shared and for the experience we have had together.

But there is one phrase that I particularly like to hear: “You have transmitted your energy to us.”

For me, that kind of comment means a lot, because that is precisely what I try to do during a tour: share my enthusiasm and energy with travellers. In the end, what matters most is that travellers are happy and leave with a wonderful memory of their experience in Peru.

13. Beyond the places they visit, what would you like travellers to understand, discover or take away with them about Peru after travelling through the country with you?

I would like travellers to learn about and absorb some of the immense richness of Peru, both from a cultural and historical perspective.

Peru has a millennia-old history and extraordinary cultural diversity. The history of Caral and other coastal centres, for example, reminds us of the importance of this territory as one of the major centres of development of the earliest civilisations in the Americas.

I would also like travellers to understand that the history of Peru goes far beyond the Incas. The Inca civilisation is of course fundamental, but many earlier cultures contributed to the development of what would later become the Inca world.

Ultimately, I would like people travelling through Peru to gain a better understanding of this immense historical and cultural richness and to return home with a deeper appreciation of the country.

14. What would be your three best pieces of advice for travellers visiting Peru for the first time?

Mónica: Can I give more than three?

Pérou Découverte: Of course!

Mónica: Then my first piece of advice would be to read a little about Peru before coming. There is no need to become an expert, but knowing something about the country's history, culture and particularities allows you to enjoy the trip much more.

Secondly, I would advise them to come with an open mind and an open heart. Peru is a very diverse country and, in some respects, different from what they may be familiar with in their own countries.

I would also tell them not to come with overly rigid expectations. It is better to leave room for surprises, discover the country as it really is and accept that some things may be different from what you had imagined.

Another important piece of advice is to find out about safety before travelling and to follow the necessary recommendations during the trip.

I would also tell them to try everything. Peruvian cuisine is an essential part of the experience and there are so many things to discover.

And above all, enjoy yourselves. You are travelling and discovering a new country, so make the most of every moment and enjoy the experience.

15. If you had to choose a place in Peru that represents you or reflects your personality or state of mind, which would it be and why?

I would choose the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It is a place that represents me because of its combination of nature, mountains and archaeological richness.

I particularly like the diversity of the landscapes and the mixture of colours found throughout the valley. It is a place where nature and history are constantly present, and where there is always something to observe and discover.

It is precisely this combination of nature, culture and history that makes the Sacred Valley such a special place for me.

16. For travellers who would like to discover Peru with you, what types of tours or experiences do you offer and how can they contact you?

I offer different types of experiences, from private and group tours to city tours and personalised itineraries. I also offer gastronomic experiences, wine & Pisco tastings and multi-day treks.

I mainly work in Lima and in coastal destinations such as Paracas, Ica, Nazca, Caral, Huaral and Chancay. Thanks to my years of experience as a Tour Leader, I have also had the opportunity to work and travel in different regions of Peru and South America.

I work by reservation. Before planning their trip, travellers can contact me via WhatsApp if they need help, have any questions or simply want some advice. For me, communicating via WhatsApp is much more convenient, as I rarely use email.

I am always happy to help anyone who needs it, even before their trip. They can contact me directly via WhatsApp at +51 992 496 618 or by email at monibartgot@gmail.com.

17. Finally, after 18 years as a tour guide, what do you enjoy most about your profession and what do you hope to convey to travellers?

I love my work. I enjoy accompanying and supporting travellers, helping them and sharing with them everything I know about Peru.

I am passionate about what I do and I enjoy sharing that passion during my tours. For me, it is very important that travellers leave happy and satisfied, but also that they have learned something and take away an experience they will remember.

In the end, that is what gives me the greatest satisfaction in my work: knowing that I have helped someone get to know Peru better, enjoy their trip and leave with a good memory.