Meet Our Team
Through continual research, feedback from our customers and on-site inspections, our planning and sales staff is equipped to provide our guests with the best possible trip.
This extensive knowledge and expertise combined with close attention to detail and creativity is the perfect mix when planning and booking your trip. Let us recommend what is best!
A well planned itinerary requires great execution to produce the perfect vacation. Our Operations Department is the team in charge of logistics and programming, and they work closely with our field staff to seamlessly deliver activities, transfers, services and flights.
With an office team of 25 and a headquarters that remains open 365 days a year, we are committed and we have the credentials to take excellent care of you and your clients.
John Aspinall
Company President
John was born in Costa Rica, and graduated from Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada. He’s been married to his wife Lisa for 28 years and they have three sons in college. He enjoys exploring new places and countries and bringing back ideas which can be implemented at the office. He feels very fortunate to have such a great staff at Costa Rica Sun Tours, which allows him to look for and get involved with new projects all the time. He likes nature and outdoor activities, squash and racquet sports. His favorite destinations in Costa Rica are Corcovado National Park, Tiskita and Arenal.
Arlene Sandí
General Manager
Arlene is passionate about travel and the natural beauty of the tropical paradise of Costa Rica, where she was born. She is also interested in exploring the world with the diverse cultures and cuisines that have led her to travel with her family in search of new experiences. She also has a Ph.D. in Law, allowing us to review legal aspects protecting our clients and services. During her 35 years of collaboration with Costa Rica Sun Tours, she has had the privilege of meeting countless people related to the tourism industry, which has given her a unique vision and a deep understanding of the positive evolution that Costa Rica has experienced in tourism over the years.Ignacio Ocampo
Commercial Director
With over 29 years of experience across a wide spectrum of the travel industry, Ignacio Ocampo has traveled every nook and cranny of Costa Rica and eagerly shares his first-hand knowledge. He has worked in hotels, for large and small tour operators, rental car agencies, at tourist attractions, for NGOs, and with hospitality marketing companies! If this doesn’t provide a well-rounded awareness of customer’s need, we don’t know what does.
Much of this work has led him to participate in world-wide travel shows. His greatest pride is clearly the business relationships turned long-lasting friendships he’s made.
Armando Díaz
Sales Department
Armando Díaz has been working in the tourism industry for more than 20 years. He has worked in hotels, travel agencies and passenger cruise ships traveling the entire Caribbean, the North American Atlantic and Pacific coasts, Hawaii, Alaska and some countries in Europe.
He says he feels blessed to work in tourism, as it is “one of the best jobs in the world” where you learn about a lot of places, people, and make a lot of friends. One of his favorite parts of his job is receiving an e-mail, a call or a post card from a client saying how wonderful their vacation was. This makes him feel really happy for them.
When asked what were his favorite places in Costa Rica he replied Monteverde, the south Caribbean (beautiful beaches and the region’s food is delicious), and the Osa Peninsula in the southern Pacific. The latter he described as “one of the greatest treasures of Costa Rica, real jungle, lots of wildlife, beautiful pristine beaches”. We couldn’t agree more.
Paula Mata
Sales Department
Paula is Costa Rican and loves her country! She has been working in the tourism industry for 14 years. She says her family is her support system and motivation. She loves to travel in order to have new experiences, learn about different cultures and enjoy the local food. Her pastimes include listening some music, hiking and exploring new places in the country. Her favorite place in Costa Rica is Tamarindo beach. She says, there is nothing better like receiving compliments about a trip of her clients.
Ana Laura
Sales Department
Proudly born and raised in Costa Rica, Ana Laura loves nature and finding new experiences that help her wind down and change her routine. Long walks on weekends and spending time with her family are part of her hobbies.
Leo Chávez
Operations Director
A former tour leader for more than 25 years, Leo now spends much of his time overseeing tasks in the Operations department. His travels outside Costa Rica include several countries in North, Central and South America and Europe. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, playing the guitar and photography.
Ricardo Solano
Operations Department
Ricardo has been working in the tourism industry (mainly in hotels and travel agencies) for the last 9 years. He is an avid lover of Costa Rica, but two magical places hold a special place in his heart: the Caribbean beaches and Monteverde Cloud Forest.
His passion for travelling around the country has taken him to many different places where he experienced first-hand its culture, flavor and traditions of the Costa Rican people. He also enjoys outdoor and adventure activities where he pays close attention and is always in the look for his favorite animals, the resplendent quetzal and sloths.
Ricardo likes to quote a phrase of Malpais (a Costa Rican band): “I know that sometimes I look back, but it is to know where I come from” because he thinks people should always remember their roots.
Cristian Ramírez
Operations Department
I was born in Costa Rica, to be more specific in Turrialba, I think the most famous area for adventures tours. I love customer service and that was one of my reasons to study Tourism at university, I have been involved in this field for more than 20 years, during all these years, I have had the chance to work with families and groups.
I am very proud of my country and when I have the opportunity to show it, I feel very happy.
Renato Cedeño
Accounting Department
37 year old Accountant, with 17 years working for Costa Rica Sun Tours. I love adventure sports, especially mountain biking, and spending lots of time with my family.
I’ve been a Scout Leader for over 2 years, alias “Hathi”, and like to share the weekends with my 3 kids, as well as other boys and girls ages 7 to 11, at mountain camps. I’m also part of another Adventure Scout group, and participate as a rappelling and zip lining guide.
I also love to stay at home watching animes like Dragon Ball Super and Naruto, or just watching movies with my wife. I am normally very active, and my coworkers might say a little hyperactive.
Carolina Fallas
Accounting Department
I am a proud Costa Rican! The most important thing for me, and what motivates me is my family, I have two children. I enjoy the mountains of Costa Rica, which always give me the opportunity to appreciate and take delight in nature, although the beaches of Guanacaste hold a special place in my heart. I am a coffee and chocolate lover, products that you can find easily in Costa Rica. I like to read, to learn and to discover new places, although staying at home and watching movies makes me happy as well. I am always ready to help others.
Esteban Rodríguez
IT Department
Esteban lives in the mountain community of San Pedro de Poás de Alajuela, which he points out is below the flanks of an active volcano with one of the biggest craters in the world!
In his seventeen years working in tourism in Costa Rica, he has grown to appreciate the incredible natural beauty this nation offers. In his spare time he enjoys a good “pickup” soccer game, and whenever possible, to take a trip out into the countryside to enjoy seeing the incredible Costa Rican flora and fauna.
