Looking for South America vacations? Why don´t you check the history of this amazing company that is celebrating its 20th Anniversary in the travel industry by the hand of its founder: Rafael Mayer.
“Travel it’s a moment where we’re more permeable to be transformed in a nice way.”
On Say Hueque’s 20th Anniversary his founder and director Rafael Mayer tell us about why he decided to create Say Hueque Journeys, his favorite destination in Argentina and what means “travel” to him.
Updated to April 2024
1. How did you come up with the idea of creating Say Hueque?
Being involved with travel was always on my mind. I would always travel since I was a kid, with my family at first, backpacking with friends as a teenager, but the idea of creating Say Hueque came when I was in an Irish pub in Ireland. That was the moment when I decided that I wanted to be professionally involved with travel and I wanted to do that for a living. I was backpacking for six month at that time, and I was really in love with the travelers atmosphere. I was convinced that I wanted to keep being involved with that vibes. I also realized that I was very in love with my country as well, and I found myself talking about my country all the time when I was traveling around the world, so the idea that I could do that for living naturally came, the idea of inviting and organizing trips in Argentina for people from all over the world. So, when I was about 22 years old, it became really clear it was what I wanted to do. And then, the name appear, the first clients. That was 20 years ago.
2. What means “travel” to you?
Travel is a moment when humans are more open, much more in a learning mood. They are more open to meet people, to be touch by different experiences, basically it’s a moment where we’re more permeable to be transformed in a nice way. That’s the power of travel.
3. Which is your favorite destination in Argentina and why?
I’m a big fan of Patagonia, that’s my favorite area. I would say that my favorite place is El Chaltén, a little charming, trek, mountaineer town in southern Patagonia, and where the spirit of Patagonia is very present. Strong winds, powerful nature, amazing mountains to walk around. It’s a place to find inspiration and peace. Especially also because of those amazing mountains: Mount Fitz Roy and Torre Mountain which are gorgeous!
4. Which things define Say Hueque?
We’re a group of people very passionate about travel, very passionate about our country. I truly believe there’s a huge power that may arise between a curious traveler and a passionate host, and we’re in that magic place in the middle. We’re the ones, connecting those two powerful energies of learning and sharing. We’re travelers, we’re really connected with that travelers’ spirit, and we’re very respectful of that holy moment. We take that job seriously while having fun as well. What defines Say Hueque is that we’re really respectful of that holy moment when we decide to travel, to have, maybe, the best moment of our lives.
5. What’s in the future for Say Hueque?
Ok. We’re still thinking about that (laughter).
There’s a huge energy that drive us all the time to keep on innovating. What travelers demand of travel is to keep on changing all the time. Luckily, those changes take us to the place where we feel more comfortable. People are demanding to be more connected to locals, to have deep thoughts while traveling, they want to be touched by travel experiences and they want to be transformed. We take special care when we choose the travel guides that will work with us. We try to go further to get those connections with locals that travelers seek. We’re all the time looking for better experiences in that way while avoiding big crowds, developing and discovering new destinations and new ways to encounter those magic places. We have a big challenge ahead, but it’s an amazing challenge! So I’m happy to keep on walking through this path.
“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.”– Jack Kerouac
Check all the magical experiences that “Say Hueque” offers: Patagonia, North of Argentina, Iguazu Falls and South America is waiting for you!
