Guiding with Vivobarefoot: A Journey of Connection and Discovery

Words by Santiago Carsolio, photography by Jesús Ricardo Guadarrama

At the heart of any of Aire Libre’s experiences are the guides. A group of outstanding humans who lead the way for every retreat we venture into. For them, every itinerary holds more than a schedule and represents our promise to anyone who joins us: a journey of connection with nature and oneself.

To honor this philosophy and continue designing journeys that inspire us to discover the world, they must allow space to forge intimacy and deep connections. For this year’s guides summit, they ventured into the Iztaccihuatl–Popocatepetl National Park with their favorite Vivobarefoot to roam the mountain, camp below the stars, and set intentions for the experiences ahead.

“Being part of and designing the summit for the guides was an amazing experience because we had the opportunity to connect and explore how we like to live life, which is in direct contact with nature and with a beautiful group that has been growing with this deep connection. So, it was an amazing opportunity to leave aside our everyday responsibilities of guiding and just allow ourselves to enjoy what was there.

It was a fantastic experience because we had the opportunity to do this with the support of a brand with similar values to the ones that drive us. The intimacy that we built up during the day with all the activities and practices we did in nature and within was enhanced, and we acquired a new potency thanks to the closeness our feet had with the mountain

Being part of this summit with Vivobarefoot was a symbiotic experience in which we were doing what we usually do but enhanced by this sense of communion with the natural movement philosophy. It was a beautiful experience to apply and a tremendous gift to have this way of relating.

The shoes were great. We were doing some scrambling and some alpine running, and it was amazing to see the performance of these shoes in the context of a shooting that really pushed us to technical difficulties in which the shoes worked perfectly, so it was also a great way to experience that sense of familiarity”.

–Santiago Carsolio

So many times we’ve been in the mountain, running, having fun, laughing, enjoying ourselves, even asking questions, looking for answers. I felt this journey more like the other way around; the mountain was asking us why? For what? What are you willing to do? Looking deeper, she left us empty, hoping we would find truth on our way back to fulfill ourselves.

– Photographer Jesús Ricardo Guadarrama

SPECIAL THANKS TO

Vivobarefoot

Aire Libre Guide Team:

Alejandro Piña

Werner Stein

Saidde García

Ismael Jiménez

Paulina Vázquez

Ciro Guadarrama

Nadia Parra

Karina Carsolio

Sofia Kim

Santiago Carsolio

Vivobarefoot Models
Worn in These Photos:

Hydra ESC

Primus Trail Knit

Magna Lite

Gobi III

About Vivobarefoot

Vivobarefoot shoes are designed to be wide, thin and flexible: as close to barefoot as possible. They promote your foot’s natural strength and movement. They are designed to let your feet move like feet.

Discover the journey and find your perfect pair here:
vivobarefoot.com