Luciana Cherques, a native of Brazil, is an expert in the history, culture and geography of South America. Luciana started her career as a Tour Guide in Rio de Janeiro, a practice that exposed her to different cultures and enabled her to communicate and create bonds with many different people across the globe. Since she moved to the US in 1996, Luciana’s been working in the travel industry, designing customized programs with focus on Heritage & Cultural Travel, Travel Missions, and Affinity Travel Groups, and has recently launched her own brand: Connect Vacation.

In Luciana's words: "traveling is about discovering; and while it is about experiencing different cultures, interacting with new and interesting people, exchanging experiences, de-stressing from day-to-day life, and breaking routines, it is also a trip within oneself. Most times, travelers come back transformed and reinvigorated.” Luciana does not have a favorite destination. "All countries, cultures, and peoples have something special and unique about them. It's always enriching to share this diversity. A couple of months ago, when traveling with a group of women on an educational trip, we visited a community center geared towards educating children in Colombia's country side, it was amazing how in spite of the language and socio-economic differences , and educational barriers we could receive and give so much; how most of us can easily adapt to an unknown environment and be so receptive to the local people and consequently contribute in such a generous way. "

Luciana is well known in the industry and has worked as a Sales, Operations, Product Manager for over 20 years.

Luciana Cherques is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and English.