By Willie Parra
The art of guiding Reflections on Presence, Trust, and Shared Discovery
The concept of “Guiding” can be defined as something as simple and basic as: showing the way, leading, or directing someone or something, often through instruction, influence, or by being a source of direction, like a compass or a mentor, implying continuous direction or a gentle leading hand. Or something as complex, profound, and meaningful as when it is applied to outdoor activities and experiences involved in.
The act of Guiding carries countless meanings, responsibilities, and tasks, both tangible and intangible. It is a unique opportunity, through shared experience and the guide’s timely support, to help others discover, to see with new eyes, to take the time to open up their own innermost emotions; it is allowing oneself to be captivated by this new world, often so foreign to our daily lives.
The concept of being “the Guide” might sometimes sound a bit pretentious or condescending to some. But as I personally define and feel it, it is a sincere and respectful companionship. It’s about walking together along a path where I, as your guide, am intimately familiar in every way, adapting to your level and expectations of what lies ahead. It’s about preparing each day with the intention of surprising you, of creating those moments that will stay with you forever. A guide must be generous, someone who adapts to the level of their companion. They must allow for those crucial moments where the silence of a particular moment speaks volumes internally. A guide has the ability to read between the lines, to know when to contribute a relevant story and when to provide that personal space for introspection; to offer those moments of silence, so scarce these days.
A guide must understand and act in accordance with the nature of their traveler; different latitudes and cultures offer us clues on how to be much more empathetic, respectfull and close, depending on their nature and origins. This can be learned beforehand to ensure an even better experience on this adventure. There are cultures where precision and punctuality are paramount… there are others where enjoying life without constraints or main guidelines are a priority. And there are those where introspection and respect for the present moment are vital. There is much to consider and prepare for to be a respectable guide. It’s not just technical skill that leads to perfection, which is non-negotiable and must be constantly applied; it’s also the intangible, precisely what isn’t necessarily written in a manual, but which requires our emotional and cultural intelligence to communicate without words.
The best in ourselves is reflected, the Guide-Traveler experience grows, and transforms us personally each time we leave the concrete jungle behind and immerse ourselves, body and soul, once again in this marvelous biodiversity for a few days or weeks, helping us to return to our most ancient roots, rediscovering ourselves, and achieving that ancestral connection.
A guide is a friend. They are someone who has expressly chosen to follow this path professionally and consciously because they deeply believe that being closer to the natural world, to the rivers and mountains, to the jungles and beaches, to indigenous and ancestral cultures, gives us the unique opportunity to embrace others, inviting them to see this world with different eyes, to show us the way and return to respecting our origins and understanding with certainty why we must protect it.
About the author:
Willie Parra
Willie Parra is a naturalist, mountaineer, and Senior PTGA Polar Guide with over two decades of expedition experience. A former Explorations Manager at Explora Hotels, he has guided leadership ventures for Wharton and Queens University across Antarctica, Patagonia, and the Atacama Desert. Today, as Corporate Outdoor Experience Director at Experiential Hospitality, Willie designs nature-based projects worldwide, dividing his time between Santiago and his beloved Chiloé Island.