Europe Trip Leader

Santiago Bejarano

Languages Spoken: English, Spanish & German

Santiago Bejarano trained in environmental sciences in his native Ecuador and began his guiding career by bringing visitors to the jungles and highlands of Ecuador and to the storied Galápagos Islands, where he worked as a naturalist. He later moved to Britain, which has been his home now for many years, and divides his time between Ecuador and Europe. Santiago guides for us on the high trails of the Alps of France, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland and into the epic fjords of Norway. “Guiding gives me the chance to be a link between cultures and to share my passion for nature. It also allows me to spend a lot of time in a place I really love—out in nature itself.” Santiago enjoys photography, traveling, a good conversation, the diversity of life, and humanity. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and German.

Our Team

Upcoming Trips with Santiago

Pilgrim’s Way: El Camino de Santiago

May 10 - 18, 2024

May 21 - 29, 2024

Sep 20 - 28, 2024

Oct 4 - 12, 2024

View Trip

Hiking in Norway’s Fjord Country

Jun 4 - 14, 2024

Jun 26 - Jul 6, 2024

Jul 23 - Aug 2, 2024

View Trip

England Coast to Coast

Sep 1 - 12, 2024

View Trip

Client Testimonials

Santiago was friendly, funny, and charming, yet professional and serious when appropriate. We thoroughly enjoyed him as a leader.

Angela S.

Wrightsvlle Bch, NC
Hiking the Tyrolean Alps

Santiago shines as a Trip Leader: excellent communication and linguistic skills; creative responses to constraints of weather and client abilities and preferences; detailed knowlege of alpine trails and towns; and effective decision-making. A most congenial and highly responsible leader who inspires confidence.

Barbara and Don T.

Windsor, Ontario
Great Alpine Traverse

Santiago was great. Passionate about the area, history, and different cultures, genuinely interested in making sure that everyone had a good trip.

Bruce D.

Newar DE
Great Alpine Traverse

Santiago gets the highest marks. He was personable, diplomatic, resourceful, attentive, flexible, conscientious—everything a guide or trip leader should be and more. He made the trip a success.

Earle L.

Alta WY
Great Alpine Traverse

I can't imagine a better leader than Santiago.

Elaine D.

Newark DE
Great Alpine Traverse

Santiago did a great job—he knew a lot about the areas, cultures, architecture, etc. Really good leader, and a really good guy!

Greg J.

Eagan, MN
Great Alpine Traverse

Santiago is very knowledgeable and has a great sense of humor. We would love to take another trip with him sometime in the future.

Jim J.

Chico, CA
Pilgrim's Way

Santiago was terrific! One of the best we have had! And he is a great conversationalist. He just keeps the stories and area information coming. Friendly, helpful, courteous, and flexible to adapt to the groups/participants needs.

Jim R.

Reno, NV
Hiking Norway's Fjord Country

Santiago is a superb leader and traveling companion. His concern for each of us and his effectiveness were both at the top.

Joe N.

Seattle, WA
Granada to Sevilla

Santiago was tremendous in all respects. He was one of the best guides we've ever had!

Larry and Phyllis Y.

Basalt, CO
Hiking Norway's Fjord Country

Fantastic—personable, hardworking, and enthusiastic.

Laura T.

Oakland, CA
Hiking the Tyrolean Alps

Santiago was a fantastic leader. He is optimistic, patient, insightful, and very good at explaining upcoming hikes/options, etc. I found him to be a delightful person, and thoroughly enjoyed conversing with him at dinner or on the hikes.

Margot L.

Superior, CO
Hiking the Tyrolean Alps

A great leader, a joy to be around, put everyone at ease.

Martha M.

New Orleans, LA
Pilgrim's Way

Santiago was a true professional and a delight to be with. His knowledge of the trip, his ability to modify the trip (depending on the level of the hikers and the weather) were all attended to with great care and skill. We felt safe, comfortable, and enjoyed our time with him. A true pro.

Marylou S.

Cambridge, MA
Bavaria & the Tyrol

Santiago was a true professional and a delight to be with. His knowledge of the trip and his ability to modify the trip (depending on the level of the hikers and the weather) were all attended to with great care and skill. We felt safe, comfortable and enjoyed our time with him. A true pro.

Marylou S.

Cambridge, MA
Hiking the Tyrolean Alps

Santiago's gentle character and approachability appeals to every type of traveler. His interpretive skills are fantastic and his enthusiasm to share his knowledge is infectious. He is also extremely mindful of his guests, often anticipating their needs before they have even expressed them.

Micaela S.

Healdsburg, CA
Great Alpine Traverse

Santiago was enthusiastic, fun and funny. We enjoyed his stories and his company.

Michael B.

Columbia, MD
Hiking Norway's Fjord Country

One cannot ask more of a Trip Leader. Santiago did a superb job leading our group through the Alps. He is extremely knowledgeable of the many cultures, languages, and geography of the area. He did an outstanding job caring for the many members of our group.  He helped make our trip a wonderful and memorable experience.

Steve D.

Morgan Hill, CA
Great Alpine Traverse

Book Your Trip Today

Our Area Specialists know every detail about our adventures around the world. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!

{"Guide":[{"GuideID":850673,"First_Name":"Santiago","Last_Name":"Bejarano","Guide_Profile":"Santiago Bejarano trained in environmental sciences in his native Ecuador and began his guiding career by bringing visitors to the jungles and highlands of Ecuador and to the storied Gal\u00e1pagos Islands, where he worked as a naturalist. He later moved to Britain, which has been his home now for many years, and divides his time between Ecuador and Europe. Santiago guides for us on the high trails of the Alps of France, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland and into the epic fjords of Norway. \u201cGuiding gives me the chance to be a link between cultures and to share my passion for nature. It also allows me to spend a lot of time in a place I really love\u2014out in nature itself.\u201d Santiago enjoys photography, traveling, a good conversation, the diversity of life, and humanity. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and German.","Image_Name":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/guides\/santiago-bejarano.jpg","DisplayOnWeb":true}],"CustomFields":{"Custom_Leader_Region":"Europe","Custom_Leader_Languages":"English, Spanish & German","Custom_Leader_Since":"","Custom_Leader_Slug":""},"activities":[{}],"destinations":[{}],"reviews":[{"GuestNames":"Angela S.","GuestLocation":"Wrightsvlle Bch, NC<br \/>Hiking the Tyrolean Alps","GuestReview":"Santiago was friendly, funny, and charming, yet professional and serious when appropriate. We thoroughly enjoyed him as a leader.","TripName":""},{"GuestNames":"Barbara and Don T.","GuestLocation":"Windsor, Ontario<br \/>Great Alpine Traverse","GuestReview":"Santiago shines as a Trip Leader: excellent communication and linguistic skills; creative responses to constraints of weather and client abilities and preferences; detailed knowlege of alpine trails and towns; and effective decision-making. A most congenial and highly responsible leader who inspires confidence.","TripName":""},{"GuestNames":"Bruce D.","GuestLocation":"Newar DE<br \/>Great Alpine Traverse","GuestReview":"Santiago was great. Passionate about the area, history, and different cultures, genuinely interested in making sure that everyone had a good trip.","TripName":""},{"GuestNames":"Earle L.","GuestLocation":"Alta WY<br \/>Great Alpine Traverse","GuestReview":"Santiago gets the highest marks. He was personable, diplomatic, resourceful, attentive, flexible, conscientious&#8212;everything a guide or trip leader should be and more. He made the trip a success.","TripName":""},{"GuestNames":"Elaine D.","GuestLocation":"Newark DE<br \/>Great Alpine Traverse","GuestReview":"I can't imagine a better leader than Santiago.","TripName":""},{"GuestNames":"Greg J.","GuestLocation":"Eagan, MN<br \/>Great Alpine Traverse","GuestReview":"Santiago&#160;did a great job&#8212;he knew a lot about the areas, cultures, architecture, etc. Really good leader, and a really good guy!","TripName":""},{"GuestNames":"Jim J.","GuestLocation":"Chico, CA<br \/>Pilgrim's Way","GuestReview":"Santiago is very knowledgeable and has a great sense of humor. We would love to take another trip with him sometime in the future.","TripName":""},{"GuestNames":"Jim R.","GuestLocation":"Reno, NV<br \/>Hiking Norway's Fjord Country","GuestReview":"Santiago was terrific! One of the best we have had! And he is a great conversationalist. He just keeps the stories and area information coming. Friendly, helpful, courteous, and flexible to adapt to the groups\/participants needs.","TripName":""},{"GuestNames":"Joe N.","GuestLocation":"Seattle, WA<br \/>Granada to Sevilla","GuestReview":"Santiago is a superb leader and traveling companion. His concern for each of us and his effectiveness were both at the top.","TripName":""},{"GuestNames":"Larry and Phyllis Y.","GuestLocation":"Basalt, CO<br \/>Hiking Norway's Fjord Country","GuestReview":"Santiago was tremendous in all respects. He was one of the best guides we've ever had!","TripName":""},{"GuestNames":"Laura T.","GuestLocation":"Oakland, CA<br \/>Hiking the Tyrolean Alps","GuestReview":"Fantastic&#8212;personable, hardworking, and enthusiastic.","TripName":""},{"GuestNames":"Margot L.","GuestLocation":"Superior, CO<br \/>Hiking the Tyrolean Alps","GuestReview":"Santiago was a fantastic leader. He is optimistic, patient, insightful, and very good at explaining upcoming hikes\/options, etc. I found him to be a delightful person, and thoroughly enjoyed conversing with him at dinner or on the hikes.","TripName":""},{"GuestNames":"Martha M.","GuestLocation":"New Orleans, LA<br \/>Pilgrim's Way","GuestReview":"A great leader, a joy to be around, put everyone at ease.","TripName":""},{"GuestNames":"Marylou S.","GuestLocation":"Cambridge, MA<br \/>Bavaria & the Tyrol","GuestReview":"Santiago was a true professional and a delight to be with. His knowledge of the trip, his ability to modify the trip (depending on the level of the hikers and the weather) were all attended to with great care and skill. We felt safe, comfortable, and enjoyed our time with him. A true pro.","TripName":""},{"GuestNames":"Marylou S.","GuestLocation":"Cambridge, MA<br \/>Hiking the Tyrolean Alps","GuestReview":"Santiago was a true professional and a delight to be with. His knowledge of the trip and his ability to modify the trip (depending on the level of the hikers and the weather) were all attended to with great care and skill. We felt safe, comfortable and enjoyed our time with him. A true pro.","TripName":""},{"GuestNames":"Micaela S.","GuestLocation":"Healdsburg, CA<br \/>Great Alpine Traverse","GuestReview":"Santiago's gentle character and approachability appeals to every type of traveler. His interpretive skills are fantastic and his enthusiasm to share his knowledge is infectious. He is also extremely mindful of his guests, often anticipating their needs before they have even expressed them.","TripName":""},{"GuestNames":"Michael B.","GuestLocation":"Columbia, MD<br \/>Hiking Norway's Fjord Country","GuestReview":"Santiago was enthusiastic, fun and funny. We enjoyed his stories and his company.","TripName":""},{"GuestNames":"Steve D.","GuestLocation":"Morgan Hill, CA<br \/>Great Alpine Traverse","GuestReview":"One cannot ask more of a Trip Leader. Santiago did a superb job leading our group through the Alps. He is extremely knowledgeable of the many cultures, languages, and geography of the area. He did an outstanding job caring for the many members of our group.&#160; He helped make our trip a wonderful and memorable experience.","TripName":""}]}