One of Nat Hab's most beloved guides, Zapa grew up on his grandparents’ farm in the interior of Brazil where he developed a deep love for nature and wildlife. As a teen, he loved to camp and fish in the tropical forests and rivers around his home. Zapa received a degree in Tourism Administration from the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul State, located on the edge of the Pantanal.

Immediately following completion of his studies, he was hired as a naturalist guide at one of Brazil’s top ecolodges, where he further developed his knowledge of his country’s incredible nature, as well as his skills as a wildlife photographer. Since then, Zapa has worked in various biomes in Brazil including the cerrado grasslands, coastal rain forest and the Pantanal—South America's largest wetlands—and in other biomes of South America. Each year, Zapa undertakes a personal photographic journey around South America, where he has captured more than 35,000 photos of the continent’s nature, culture and wildlife.

These experiences undergird his expertise as a photography Expedition Leader on our nature adventures in the Galapagos, Brazil and Patagonia.