One of the
magical moments of my life is the one I lived several years ago while visiting
a “hacienda” under candlelight with some dear friends. My husband and I
marveled at such a special place in the middle of nowhere, enveloped at times
by a bright moon, others under the deepest of darkness, with its original and
antique pieces of furniture. On that trip, we also visited a sanctuary of white
donkeys of different sizes and ages and that are indeed in danger of
extinction.
I lived all
these experiences thanks to Claudia Muñoz, manager of "Kultural
Travel", a proposal of magical trips that allow you to live and experience
culture from other perspective. Not so long ago, I interviewed Claudia and she
shared more details about this wonderful organization, giving us an example of a
great enterprising effort.
This concept
was born when Claudia was still in her mother’s womb. Her parents devoted their
life to visiting extraordinary places. Today, her father continues with the
heritage that both built for her. However, it was Claudia who, two years ago,
decided to broaden this concept and started Kultural travel. The trips they
organize are considered mostly as an experience for people to learn, know and
live Mexican culture with all the senses. Destinations are often unusual and
led not by a tourist guide, but by a historian. The logo was also her idea – a prehispanic butterfly that symbolizes a transformation and the freedom to travel, “flying
away again to know Mexico”. The manner
in which they operate and prepare the tours is planned both by Claudia and the
historian, since the sites to be visited are chosen as to deliver pleasing
surprises and to tell a complete history of our country, step by step.
These trips
are not limited to a single region. They travel all over Mexico. The trips are
designed to offer special details, such as: being received by the municipal
president of the town; private tours of exclusive areas; classes by local
artisans on how to make your own crafts, or traditional national dishes
prepared by one of the best Mexican chefs, always guided by the historian in charge
of the visit who will give extensive details on what is being observed and – I
promise – and will always answer each of your questions. Though the staff of
this company may seem small, they all work together under the guidance of
Claudia and confer a special hallmark to each trip, with the traveler at the
center of everything, and paying attention to every detail.
Something
special for Claudia is rediscovering each place. For example, in each visit to
Puebla, she discovers or learns something new, such as information related to
the International Baroque Museum, designed and built by Toyo Ito, a Japanese
architect, or a cattle “hacienda” in the middle of the city. As the interview
continues, she narrates with great details the most emblematic trips that she
has organized, her eyes shining when she describes these really interesting
places. Even in the metropolitan area or in Mexico City, she finds incredible
places which we are not aware of, though we have passed by on several
occasions. She will soon make organize the “Bread Trip” in the historical
center of Mexico City that will include visits and talks on the traditions,
places, ingredients and recipes of over 1,000 varieties of breads prepared in
Mexico.
"As to
being an entrepreneur in Mexico, it is complicated”, according to her own
words. Success is not built with a single stroke. It is based on never giving
up and achieving goals. “It is not easy to make yourself known. If one tour
fails, you must start to think and prepare the next. You must never give up,
never taking a step back. What matters is not the obstacles that you find in
your way, but to learn how to overcome them and finally reach the place you
want to be at”. Being a woman with so many personal activities and an
entrepreneur at the same time is not an easy task, but the value of being
woman, gives her the drive to get the project through. Women are entrepreneurs
by nature.
Claudia wants
to make of Kultural travel a consolidated company that becomes a reference for
cultural trips, contributing at least a grain of sand to bring generations to
come closer to the history, culture and heritage in our hands by enjoying an
unforgettable trip.
If you want to
enjoy a different, enriching and interesting experience, this is her contact
information…You can follow her in FB or send her a mail / message so she can
send you information regarding the next destinations as well as some pictures
of her trips!
Claudia González Muñóz
FB: Viajandoconkulturaltravel
Mobile: (+5255) 63103896
