Catalina was born in Uruguay and grew up mostly in Mexico, attending the University of Baja California (UABC) where she received a degree in Tourism & Hospitality Management. Her connection to Cuba started in 1995 when she starting working as the operations manager for a tour company offering a weekly flight to Havana. It was while she worked there that she met Michael Sykes, who was a client taking the flight to Havana on a regular basis. Later that year, while Catalina was in Havana with a group, Michael asked her on their first date. A few months later, they were engaged. Within a year they married and made plans to start their own tour company specializing in Cuba. And as they say, the rest is history!
In 1997, very few tourists were visiting Cuba and even fewer Americans were stepping foot on the island. The tourism infrastructure was almost nonexistent. Twenty years later, Catalina & Michael have organized tours for thousands of travelers and played an important role in developing tourism in Cuba. As a veteran of the industry, Catalina brings a deep understanding of the intricacies of working in Cuba, along with hundreds of personal relationships cultivated over the years. Her unparalleled experience and commitment to providing excellent services to her clients, provide the perfect foundation for running a top notch tour company.
In addition to her role as Vice-President, Catalina is also the Director of Finance & Operations.