By Jean Sanz
As the granddaughter of a tango singer, my roots are deeply embedded in Argentina. Although I was born in the USA, I was partly raised in Argentina, and the pull of my homeland has always been irresistible.
I can still hear the echoes of my grandparents singing and dancing tango in their living room, the scent of “mate cocido” wafting through the air every morning. My first sips of mate at my family’s ranch in Patagonia, the warmth of kissing strangers’ cheeks as we greet one another, and the joy of unannounced visitors are cherished aspects of my culture that connect me to my roots.
I always knew travel was my calling. My parents nurtured my wanderlust with adventures from Finland to China and Japan to Italy. This instilled in me an itch for travel that blossomed into a career. My true passion emerged in designing experiences that connect travellers with the rich cultures I adore.
A Life Built Around Travel
For over 20 years, I’ve built my life around travel and hospitality, exploring everything from luxury hotels and top restaurants to orchestrating seamless logistics for unforgettable events. I’ve lived in four Latin American countries, including Ecuador and Chilean Patagonia. My first son was born in Argentina and my second in Costa Rica. I passionately sought connections within these diverse cultures. My heart raced with each discovery, and my purpose became clear: to share Latin America through a different lens, offering heartfelt recommendations that resonate with the soul.
When I moved to Argentina, Patagonia naturally became my backyard and my destination of choice. This vast wilderness, with its sweeping steppes and hidden corners accessible only by 4×4 on winding gravel roads, became my second home. I’ve travelled every inch of Patagonia and Argentina—from Mendoza to Ushuaia—navigating its rugged terrain by car, horseback, and foot.
I’ve camped under star-studded skies, kayaked its pristine waters, and hiked countless trails, immersing myself in breathtaking landscapes and connecting deeply with the people who call this land home. Connecting deeply with the people who call this land home means savouring asados with gauchos offering typical meat such as guanaco, choique, and lamb, while enjoying folklore dancing at parties after the cattle sales end.
These adventures weren’t just personal escapes; they laid the foundation for the sophisticated, barefoot luxury experiences I crafted for others. I wanted my clients to feel the privilege of sleeping beneath Patagonia’s vast skies, retreating to luxury accommodations that harmonize with nature. I was living my dream, guiding travellers on transformative journeys.
When Everything Changed
But in mid-2022, during a research trip to Peru and Ecuador, everything changed.
Riding high on the success of my expanding company, I was invited aboard a new yacht in Ecuador—a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Then, unexpectedly, a round of antibiotics triggered a terrifying reaction. My heart rate spiked to dangerous levels; I collapsed in a small doctor’s office in the town of Caleta, Ecuador. I was unaware of the drastic shift my life was about to take. I almost died.
In the weeks that followed, my health deteriorated rapidly. I couldn’t eat or sleep and lost all sense of reality. I shed 20 pounds and battled constant nausea, migraines, and hallucinations. Bedbound for a year and a half, I was grappling with an uncertain diagnosis and the devastating effects of fluoroquinolone antibiotics. In the darkness of that struggle, I became an advocate for educating others about the potential side effects of certain medications. It was a profound spiritual journey, forcing me to confront my darkest thoughts during endless nights of torment.
With little emotional support, my once vibrant life of travel shrank to a daily battle for survival. My children worried about losing me, and the company I’d poured my heart into felt like a burden I could barely manage. When I began to surface from the depths of despair, I faced betrayal from a close friend who attempted to steal my clients during my time of need. Everything I had built was stripped away, leaving me with a daunting question: How would I find my way back?
Though I lacked a roadmap for recovery, I had resilience. My grandfather’s wise words echoed in my mind: “The world is there for those who seek it.” Those words gave me strength in my darkest moments. I immersed myself in research, studying epigenetics, microbiology, and any field that offered a glimmer of hope. Navigating an outdated medical system alone, I became my own doctor and healer. Slowly, I began to rebuild, experimenting with every treatment and therapy available, inching my way back to health.
From Crisis to Strength
Two years later, I find myself in a family-owned estancia in El Calafate, my first trip back to Patagonia since it all began. Sitting in solitude, I gaze at the sprawling mountains with the Fitz Roy range as a backdrop. The breeze caresses my face, reminiscent of my childhood sipping mate at the ranch. I never thought I’d return to this place.
Yesterday, I hiked five hours to a remote lagoon, alone and surrounded by nature’s majesty. Standing on a rock, I yelled at the top of my lungs, tears of gratitude streaming down my face. Today, I completed a seven-hour glacier hike, feeling the joy of adventure reigniting within me. I thought I would never be able to do this again.
The journey back has been anything but easy; remnants of my struggle remain. Some aspects of my former life may be gone—fine dining and wine may no longer be part of my reality—but I’ve found a new rhythm. Each hike, each quiet moment surrounded by Patagonia’s vastness, serves as a reminder of the strength that got me here.
I’m not the same person who set out on that trip to Peru and Ecuador. My life has taken on a new shape—one I embrace fully. I’m here to continue exploring and to share the beauty and resilience of Patagonia and Argentina with travellers seeking something deeper. While I may have lost a part of my old life, I’ve gained a future filled with new chapters—each one an invitation to discover, connect, and be transformed.
Travel can be transformative, especially to places like Patagonia. Here, you’re not only a visitor but a participant in a vast, untouched beauty that reflects your own capacity for resilience and growth. Patagonia’s landscapes are mirrors. They challenge you and ultimately reveal parts of yourself you didn’t know existed. Under wide-open skies and rugged mountains, you feel the weight of your smallness and, paradoxically, the strength that resides within.
If you’re ready to experience travel that goes beyond sightseeing, I invite you to explore Latin America through the lens of resilience and discovery. Embark on a journey that not only explores the world but reconnects you with the beauty and strength within yourself.
With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Jean founded JSB Journeys in 2017 with a vision to introduce travellers to the unique beauty and hidden wonders of Latin America.
As an American-Argentine citizen who has lived in five Latin American countries, she brings a deep understanding of the region’s diverse cultures to design the most authentic and off-the-beaten-path luxury experiences.