About

I'm Santi.
Nice to meet you.

Queer, nonbinary, Mexican, and a Tulum local since 2017. I create travel experiences for queer, trans, and nonbinary people, rooted in the places and people that actually make this town special. My pronouns are they/them.

Santi laughing in the water near Tulum, wearing a life vest Santi speaking on a panel at the IGLTA LGBTQ+ Travel Symposium in Guadalajara Santi hugging a drag queen in the mountains, from the Pattie Gonia Queer Outdoor Expedition scholarship Santi laughing with a friend at a local market in Tulum
01
Former UCLA Wildlife Biologist
I studied marmots. The science behind every nature-based tour.
02
Conference Speaker
Invited by the Guadalajara tourism board to speak on a panel about creating queer experiences at IGLTA's conference.
03
Women's Day Speaker & MC
Led a talk to 300+ women across Latin America on expanding their comfort zones, and served as master of ceremonies for Women's Day in Tulum.
04
Committee Member, LADLE
Los Amigos de la Esquina. Started as an original volunteer, later general manager, now on committee.

I also work with other queer and trans travel agencies, helping them create experiences that prioritize small businesses and connection with locals. See how we could work together →

My story

Santi sitting with a dog on a dock over the lagoon in Tulum

I was born in Chiapas, the Mexican state that borders Guatemala, though my family is from Mexico City. We moved to New York when I was three, then to LA when I was four. I moved to Tulum in 2017 expecting to stay for three months, and here I am all these years later. Before moving to Tulum, I was a wildlife biologist for a UCLA research lab based out of the Rocky Mountains. Now I run travel experiences for queer, trans, and nonbinary people who want the real Tulum, not a resort version of it.

Santi holding binoculars while birding in the jungle near Tulum

Outside of tours, I'm part of a local theater group and take go-go dancing classes. I also serve on the committee for Los Amigos de la Esquina (LADLE), a local nonprofit offering art, wellbeing, and life-skills programs for Mayan and local Mexican kids. I started there as a volunteer, later became general manager, and now help guide the organization from the committee.

A community workshop at La Guarida, part of the LADLE nonprofit in Tulum

La Guarida is where a lot of this community work happens: workshops, art, and life-skills programs for Mayan and local Mexican kids, run through LADLE.

Want to come explore Tulum with me?

See the Tours → Free Recommendations →