Gioconda Cabalceta
Naturalist Guide
Gioconda grew up in the Guanacaste province, spending her childhood with her 5 siblings and 23 cousins in a small town close to the ocean, riding horses, harvesting cotton, looking at the leatherback turtles nesting on the beach, swimming in the rivers, taking care of her many pets that where brought to her father, a physician, as gratitude for his service by patients, a perfect childhood that developed in Gioconda the love for Nature.
After finishing her high school, she did studies, on a scholarship and support of his father in modern languages in the United States and France. She is fluid in both languages English and French. Being in Paris, Gioconda's father passed away, therefore she could not continue his career and ended up working in the fashion business for 5 years.
Back in Costa Rica a friend told her: Gioconda you love Nature, the outdoors, and you speak several languages, why don’t you get into tourism? She realized it was an excellent idea and did an MBA in Ecotourism in Costa Rica. She is being leading tours in Costa Rica for almost 30 years.
Gioconda mentions “Ever since I’ve been leading tours, which I love, my goal is being share my country with the travelers, show them who we are, what we have, what we do ;in short the essence of being a Costa Rican, and provide them with an unforgettable experience, in such a way that will put a smile on their face when they think about their vacation in Costa Rica”.
Gioconda has 2 children, Santiago studying fine arts in France and Crista which is on medical school in Costa Rica. She lives in a farm in the slopes of the Turrialba volcano. When she is not guiding, she will be gardening, reading, jogging, cooking, travelling and of course spending time with her family and her 5 dogs.
