California-based freelance travel journalist & tour director Christopher P. Baker has made a career as a professional travel writer, photographer, adventure motorcyclist, tour leader & Cuba travel expert since 1983
IN BRIEF
TRAVEL JOURNALIST
Christopher—the Lowell Thomas Award 2008 ‘Travel Journalist of the Year’—has written and photographed for more than 200 of the world's leading publications, from BBC Travel, CNN Travel, and Elle, to Maxim, National Geographic Traveler, Playboy, Robb Report, and Travel + Leisure. He has authored more than 25 travel guidebooks and has contributed to more than a dozen travel-themed coffee-table books for Dorling Kindersley, Lonely Planet, Moon, and National Geographic, among other leading publishers.
PHOTOGRAPHER & PHOTO TOUR LEADER
Chris’ images have been published in dozens of publications, from Condé Nast Traveler to National Geographic and The New York Times, as well as in dozens of calendars and books. These include his coffee-table book Cuba Classics: A Celebration of Vintage American Automobiles and sooon-to-be-published Sensual Havana: A Celebration of Female Beauty art-nude photo book. He has photographed for National Geographic on assignment, including photographing the National Geographic Traveler Colombia and Costa Rica guidebooks in entirety. He has led group photo tours & workshops worldwide for Jim Cline Photo Tours, Lumaria Workshops, National Geographic Expeditions, Santa Fe Photographic Workshops, and UnCruise Adventures, including his own annual ‘Sensual Havana’ art-nude photo tour. Click here to see his forthcoming photo tours & workshops.
CUBA EXPERT
Christopher P. Baker has been acclaimed by National Geographic as "One of the world's foremost authorities on Cuba travel and culture." His eight books about Cuba include Moon Cuba, Eyewitness Travel Cuba, and National Geographic Traveler Cuba guidebooks, plus his coffee-table book Cuba Classics: A Celebration of Vintage American Automobiles and Sensual Havana: A Celebration of Female Beauty art-nude photo book. He has consulted for and designed itineraries and custom programs to Cuba for many leading international tour companies. Chris is currently partnered with actor/director David Soul in the production of a cinematic feature documentary, Cuban Soul, about the restoration of Ernest Hemingway's 1955 Chrysler convertible in Cuba.
ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLIST
Christopher is also a renowned motojournalist and has ridden motorcycles, written about motorcycle touring, and led group motorcycle tours in destinations as far afield as Cuba, Croatia, Japan, South Africa, and Oman. His stories on adventure motorcycling have appeared in scores of publications as diverse as Australian RoadRider, Bike, National Geographic Traveler, Rider, and Robb Report. His literary travelog, Mi Moto Fidel: Motorcycling Through Castro's Cuba, is a two-time national book award winner. He also authored BMW Motorrad: A Two-Wheeled Legend and Harley-Davidsons: Engines & Evolution coffee-table books. Chris organizes and leads customized motorcycle tours of Cuba for clubs and groups.
TOUR LEADER
A professional freelance tour director & leader, Christopher has more than 30 years experience leading international tours for such prestigious companies as Atlas Oscura, Backroads, Edelweiss Bike Travel, Jim Cline Photo Tours, Lindblad Expeditions, and National Geographic Expeditions, among others. He has led more than 150 group tours to Cuba, as far ranging as medical delegations, motorcycle tour groups, and 87 tours for National Geographic Expeditions. He is a member of the International Association of Tour Directors & Guides.
AWARDS
In addition to being named the Lowell Thomas Award 2008 ‘Travel Journalist of the Year,’ Chris has been honored with also being named 'Travel Journalist of the Year’ by both the Caribbean Tourism Organization and Jamaica Tourist Board. His articles and photographs have won scores of other awards. Click here!
PUBLIC SPEAKER & MEDIA APPEARANCES
Chris appears frequently on radio and television talk shows throughout North America as a Cuba expert and has provided TV and radio interviews and commentary for ABC, Al Jazeera, BBC, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation, CCTV, CNN, Fox News Channel, the National Geographic Channel, MSNBC, NPR, AND Travel with Rick Steves, among many other radio and television programs. He has been honored to speak about Cuba at the National Press Club, World Affairs Council, and National Geographic Live!, among other prestigious venues. He has also lectured about cruise ships, including as a port-of-call specialist for Cunard Cruise Lines.
