Travel + Leisure Names All Three Journey Regional Managing Directors to Its 2025 A-List
The recognition spans Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Brazil — a first for the owner-operated luxury travel company
February 13, 2026 — Journey, the owner-operated luxury travel company with operations across Latin America, today announced that Travel + Leisure has named all three of its managing directors to the magazine’s prestigious 2026 A-List, its annual selection of the world’s top travel advisors. Javier Echecopar (Journey Costa Rica), and Mikael Castro (Journey Brazil) join company founder Zachary Rabinor (Journey Mexico) on the list, marking the first time all three of Journey’s regional leaders have earned the designation in a single year.
The T+L A-List is one of the travel industry’s most closely watched recognitions, evaluated through a combination of client feedback, destination expertise, and demonstrated ability to deliver access that goes beyond what money alone can buy. Being named requires a track record of exceptional, often unrepeatable, experiences, the kind Journey has built its reputation on.
“This recognition reflects what we’ve been doing quietly for more than three decades,” said Zachary Rabinor, CEO and founder. “Javier and Mika bring the same depth of relationships and genuine curiosity that Journey was founded on. Seeing all three of us on this list in the same year tells me we’ve built something that scales without losing what makes it worth doing.”
Three Destinations. One Standard of Access.
Zachary Rabinor, Journey Mexico (Specialty: Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, and Panama)
Rabinor founded Journey Mexico more than 30 years ago and remains one of the most respected voices in luxury Latin American travel. His T+L profile highlights a signature experience in the Sierra Madre’s monarch butterfly reserves — private access to observe the emergence of millions of butterflies alongside a refined picnic, the kind of moment that only decades of local relationships make possible.
Javier Echecopar, Journey Costa Rica (Specialty: Costa Rica and Panama)
Echecopar brings a philosophy grounded in spontaneity and wild beauty. A recent standout trip involved 20 chartered helicopter flights across Costa Rica, landing pads built in remote terrain, a yacht stationed offshore, and chefs and musicians available on demand, every day shaped by the landscape and the travelers’ mood. His approach to Costa Rica and Panama is the same as Journey’s approach overall: relationships first, logistics second.
Mikael Castro, Journey Brazil (Specialty: Brazil)
Based in Rio de Janeiro, Castro draws on his U.S. upbringing and deep knowledge of Brazil’s regions to design trips that go well beyond the expected. A recent highlight: arranging a private penalty shootout with a Brazilian football legend for a soccer-loving family, followed by VIP box seats at Maracanã Stadium in custom jerseys. His work reflects Journey’s broader commitment to local partnerships and conservation.
Recognition in Context
The A-List sweep comes during a strong year for Journey. The company holds B Corp certification across all four of its destination brands and received the 2025 Virtuoso Sustainability Award — recognitions that reflect the same values underlying its travel philosophy: long-term relationships with communities, minimal extractive impact, and experiences designed to benefit everyone involved.
Journey operates across Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Brazil, crafting custom itineraries for discerning travelers seeking access that isn’t available through conventional channels. Its model is relationship-based rather than transactional — a distinction that has defined the company since its founding and that the A-List recognition underscores.
About Journey
Journey is an owner-operated luxury travel company with regional brands across Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Brazil. Founded by Zachary Rabinor, Journey connects travelers to remote communities, rare experiences, and meaningful access through decades of on-the-ground relationships. The company is B Corp certified and a recipient of the 2025 Virtuoso Sustainability Award. Learn more at journeymexico.com | journeycostarica.com | journeybrazil.com
