Rachel Harris

Director of Operations

Originally from the backwoods of Maine, Rachel grew up in various corners of the northeast. She has a degree in psychology and a master's degree in Resilient and Sustainable Communities. After college, she spent a few years in Mozambique with the Peace Corps, and has traveled extensively in South America. She lived for several years in Cusco, Peru and Santiago de Chile. In her spare time, Rachel can usually be found reading, outdoors, reading outdoors, strumming her ukulele, or paddleboarding with her husband and their dog.

Languages Spoken: English (native), Spanish (fluent), Portuguese (conversational)

Rachel Harris

Get in touch with Rachel

Journal Entries by Rachel Harris

Elusive Northern Wildlife: What You May See on an Arctic Cruise

By Rachel Harris
|
Oct 20 2023

The Arctic, situated at Earth’s polar north, is a land of vast ice and snow. An [...]

Quito at sunset

Top 5 Ways to Combine the Galapagos Islands with Mainland Ecuador

By Rachel Harris
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Aug 31 2021

Although many travelers focus on the Galapagos Islands when they think of Ecuador, there is much [...]

Mother and baby sea lion in the Galapagos Islands

Five Questions to Help You Plan Your Galapagos Vacation

By Rachel Harris
|
Aug 17 2021

A visit to the Galapagos Islands is a chance to reconnect with nature and experience a [...]

See amazing wildlife, like this sea turtle, on your Galapagos Islands cruise

Two Incredible 8-Day Trips in the Galapagos Islands – Which One is For You?

By Rachel Harris
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Aug 03 2021

Vaya offers two incredible eight-day trips in the Galapagos Islands, each with unique itineraries that explore [...]

Wellness Travel in South America

By Rachel Harris
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Apr 13 2021

As 2021 gets into the swing of things with COVID-19 vaccines being administered around the world, international [...]

The spectacular landscape of Galapagos

Cruising in the Galapagos Islands: How to Choose the Best Cruise

By Rachel Harris
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Apr 06 2021

Boasting an almost-mythological status as a world lost in time, the Galapagos Islands present one of [...]

Galapagos tortoise enjoying some grass

Five Animals to Watch for on Your Galapagos Vacation

By Rachel Harris
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Mar 02 2021

Galapagos is one of the world’s best destinations for wildlife viewing. The Galapagos Islands are home [...]

Peru to Galapagos boat

Touring Peru and the Galapagos in Under 2 Weeks

By Rachel Harris
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Feb 23 2021

One of the perks of working with Vaya is that we’re experts in seamless logistics, meaning [...]

Galapagos sea lion_Photo by Max Aliaga

Visiting the Galapagos Islands with Your Kids

By Rachel Harris
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Feb 16 2021

We are frequently asked if it is possible to take a Galapagos vacation with kids. The [...]

Machu Picchu and Galapagos

Top 10 Ways to Combine Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands

By Rachel Harris
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Feb 02 2021

If you’re thinking about travel to South America, you don’t need to limit yourself to just [...]

Give the gift of travel with Vaya Travel Vouchers!

By Rachel Harris
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Nov 06 2020

For eight long months we’ve mostly limited our travel to the well-trodden path between kitchen and [...]

Ode to the Tomato

By Rachel Harris
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Dec 02 2019

My husband is a native of Chile, and we lived there for several years before moving [...]

Book Report: Darwin’s Ghosts

By Rachel Harris
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Nov 01 2019

It seems safe to say that we all know the name Charles Darwin. Widely credited with [...]

Morrinho Project

So-Called “Dark” Tourism: Incorporating Difficult Stories into your Journey

By Rachel Harris
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Oct 22 2019

South America offers a number of attractions for travelers: beautiful scenery, friendly people, vivacious music and [...]

Wilfredo at Moray

Spotlight on Peruvian Guide Extraordinaire, Wilfredo Huillca

By Rachel Harris
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Aug 19 2019

One of the top reasons to travel with Vaya is the quality of our local guides. [...]

Brazil drops visa requirements

By Rachel Harris
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Jun 17 2019

As of June 17, passport-holders from the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan no longer need [...]

The spectacular landscape of Galapagos

A Day on a Galapagos Cruise

By Rachel Harris
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May 16 2019

Our travelers often ask what life is like on a Galapagos cruise. What excursions will be [...]

Incorporating Wellness into your Journey

By Rachel Harris
|
Mar 15 2019

“Wellness” is a popular buzzword at the moment, perhaps conjuring visions of yoga classes and spa [...]

Sharon and Stan Dardis at Iguazu

A Vaya Traveler’s Epic Poem

By Rachel Harris
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Jun 06 2018

We love hearing about our travelers’ experiences! Vaya traveler Sharon Dardis, along with her husband and [...]

(photo credit Alison Adams)

2017 Vaya Photo Contest Winners!

By Rachel Harris
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Feb 22 2018

Once again this year we received some exceptional photos from our travelers, taken in locations ranging [...]

Comfort Food for a Cold Day: The Chilean Sopaipilla

By Rachel Harris
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Nov 30 2017

Walk down any city block in Santiago de Chile, and you’re almost guaranteed to pass a [...]

El Caleuche

El Caleuche: The Ghost Ship of Chiloé

By Rachel Harris
|
Nov 01 2017

Yesterday, in the spirit of Halloween, I asked my husband to tell me a scary story [...]

Illapu’s Soaring, Poignant “Vuelvo Para Vivir”

By Rachel Harris
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Jul 20 2017

The members of Illapu, a Chilean folk and Andean music group, went into exile in 1981 [...]

Recommended Listening in South American Music

By Rachel Harris
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Aug 08 2016

OK, big disclaimer: We’re not even going to be scratching the surface of the surface here. [...]

End of the Argentina Reciprocity Fee for U.S. Travelers

By Rachel Harris
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Mar 31 2016

As of March 24, 2016 the Argentine government will no longer charge a $160 reciprocity fee [...]

A Unique Stay at Torres del Paine’s EcoCamp

By Rachel Harris
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Oct 22 2015

Torres del Paine National Park, located in the south of Chile, is incredibly beautiful and a [...]

Ecuador is the New Name in Artisan Chocolate

By Rachel Harris
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Dec 16 2014

When I think about really good chocolate (a not infrequent occurrence), my thoughts tend to drift [...]

Isla Negra, the Unusual Seaside Home of Pablo Neruda

By Rachel Harris
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Apr 29 2014

I recently had the opportunity to visit La Casa de Isla Negra, the seaside home of [...]

Pro Mujer: Changing Lives Through Microloans

By Rachel Harris
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Dec 20 2013

Microfinance has proven to be a powerful engine of change in the fight against global poverty.  [...]

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