Santiago serves as Head Chef and Director of Concierge Services at Iboga Wellness Institute, bringing together two essential parts of the IWI experience: exceptional nutrition and highly personalized hospitality.

Formally educated in the culinary arts at the University of Guadalajara, Santiago has built his career through years of experience working in several respected restaurants on the island of Cozumel. His background has given him extensive experience in professional kitchen operations, menu development, food preparation, presentation, and creating meals around the individual preferences and needs of his guests.

At IWI, Santiago understands that nutrition is an important part of the overall wellness and recovery experience. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, he works closely with each guest to understand their food preferences, dietary restrictions, allergies, and nutritional needs. Meals are thoughtfully prepared with an emphasis on fresh ingredients, quality, balance, and creating food that guests genuinely enjoy throughout their stay.

Santiago’s role extends well beyond the kitchen. With a strong professional background in customer service, hospitality, and concierge services, he also oversees the guest experience from a hospitality perspective. His goal is to make each person arriving at IWI feel welcomed, comfortable, and cared for from the moment they arrive in Cozumel until the time they return home.

As Director of Concierge Services, Santiago helps coordinate the many details that allow guests to focus on their treatment and personal experience rather than logistics. He works closely with our clinical, wellness, culinary, and operations teams to help create a seamless experience tailored to each individual.

What makes Santiago such an important part of IWI is his understanding that true hospitality is about more than providing a beautiful room or an excellent meal. It is about anticipating people’s needs, paying attention to the details, and creating an environment where every guest feels personally cared for.

His combination of culinary education, years of restaurant experience in Cozumel, and extensive hospitality and concierge experience reflects IWI’s commitment to providing a level of care that extends beyond the clinical environment.

At IWI, Santiago’s mission is simple: make every guest feel at home while providing the quality of food, service, and personal attention expected from a world-class wellness experience.