Your spiritual and nature guide
Jorge Machado Castro is Ave Maya
With over 20 years of experience Jorge collected a treasure of knowledge about nature, Mexican history and birds he loves to share with you on his environmentally focused private tours. Being of Mayan origin, he also connects cultures with traditional spiritual ceremonies in private moments just for you or on popular events.
Jorge’s roots lie in the green mountains of Chiapas, Mexico where he was born and raised. Since almost 30 years he now lives in the state of Quintana Roo and has an extensive experience as nature guide in the region and expertise about birds of the Yucatán peninsula. For nine years he was in charge of the activities of the ecological center in the Sian Ka’an nature reserve. Conservation, sustainable tourism and education are his main fields of work. The passionate birder is a certified nature guide and member of the Colegio de Guías where he is a teacher in the education program for nature guides organized by the association Razonatura. As a spiritual guide he is keeping alive the Mayan wisdom of his ancestors by offering heart and mind-opening experiences.
Certified nature guide NOM-09-TUR-2002
Guided tours in Spanish, English & Italian
Experience
Colegio de Guías | Founding member and teacher (2019-today)
Green Maya Tulum | Co-founder and independent guide (2016-2019)
Black Rock Lodge Belize | Species surveys and guide (2014-2016)
CESiaK Centro Ecologico Sian Ka'an | Co-creator of sustainable sea turtle program (2006)
CESiaK Centro Ecologico Sian Ka'an | Tour guide and trainer (2005-2014)
Mayan communities | Creator of eco-tourism programs supporting native people (2005)
Sian Ka’an nature reserve | Scientific bird banding with ornithologist Waldemar Santamaría (1999)
Projects
AMORIRI by Ape Chimba | Associate producer & starring as fire spirit in music video | Tulum (2020)
RESTAURA Experience | Ceremonies & drumming at the festival | Ikal Tulum (2019/20)
WOOMOON by Storytellers Ibiza | Ceremony master & fire keeper of the festival | Papaya Playa Project Tulum (2017/18/19/20)
MYSTERIES OF THE YUCATÁN by the New York Times | Read article (2017)
VOCES DE LATINOAMERICA | Watch teaser of the documentary by Ignacio Robayna (2016)
GLOBAL CANOE by Greenpeace Mexico | Awareness campaign to protect biodiversity (2016)
SAL A PAJAREAR | Bird photographies for the field guide by Barbara MacKinnon (2013)
SHADES OF BLUE | Stream documentary by Jonathan Glancy (2012)
SABIDURIA | Co-creation of photo and poetry book about Mayan wisdom (2011)
ALAMAR | Stream feature film by Pedro González-Rubio (2009)