Ecoventura has carefully selected only the most knowledgeable, competent and hospitable Captains, guides and crew in the region. You are in good hands with our Captains at the helm. They have years of experience on high-tonnage vessels in the Navy or Merchant Marine, and are well-versed in passenger safety, International Safety Management Codes, and first aid. Our English-speaking, licensed naturalists are experts in their field, are able to provide all the information you want to know about the wonders you will see during your Galapagos expedition cruise. Several members of our crew have been working with Ecoventura since Day One, and all of our team works together as a cohesive unit, going our of their way to ensure our guests have an impeccable experience on board and leave with memories to last a lifetime.
Captains
Gerardo Duran
Captain - MV Origin
Captain Gerardo of the MV Origin, has service in the Galapagos Marine Reserve and worked for Ecoventura for more than a dozen years as Captain on the Flamingo. He also served as Maritime Superintendent for Silversea. His other passions include: swimming, diving (SCUBA and free diving), teaching at the Merchant Marine Academy, and studying law – he’s finishing a second degree as a lawyer.
Homero Gonzalez
Captain - MV Origin & Theory
Before Captain Homero joined Ecoventura as Captain of the MV Origin, he was a Third Officer graduate from the Merchant Marine School. He has worked on tankers, general cargo and passenger ships. Homero enjoys playing soccer, free diving, swimming and kayaking.
Pablo Salas
Captain - MV Origin
Captain Pablo was born and raised in Quito, Ecuador. In 1990, he was granted scholarship by the Brazilian Merchant Maritime Academy. Since graduation, he has worked in the Galapagos Marine Reserve, Merchant Commercial vessels as a First Officer in worldwide navigation and foreign private Yachts. He also worked as a Park Ranger with the Galapagos National Park and oversaw surveillance of the Marine Reserve to fight against illegal fishing activity. Pablo enjoys sports, and is an active diver, soccer, running and swimming.
Peter Vallejo
Captain - Theory
Captain Peter invites passengers to explores his home, the Galapagos on board the MV Eric and the Letty. As a First Officer in the Ecuadorian Navy, Captain Peter is an experienced navigator who has a deep familiarity with the region. A proud father of three, he gives extra attention to children on board during our family departures and enjoys and telling stories of the high seas.
Marlon Perez
Captain - Letty
Since 2002, Captain Marlon has been sailing ships between Ecuador and the United States, even navigating the Panama Canal. Prior to joining Ecoventura, Marlon also captained larger vessels in the Galapagos. Now, he’s delighted to spend time with our nature-loving passengers.
Guides
Sofía Darquea
Naturalist Guide since 1987 (Patrimonio Turistico II)
Sofia was born and raised in Quito, but left for Spain to attend the University in Madrid. After graduating in Tourism with a degree in Hotel Management, she spent a few years in France, before returning home to Ecuador and started working as a guide in Galapagos and as a Tour Leader in the Amazon Rainforest. She was co-founder of Fundacion Accion Amazonia, a non-profit, private organization created to support the local indigenous communities of the Amazon rainforest and on the Board of Directors of the Ecuadorian Ecotourism Association. Sofia lives in Santa Cruz Island, and is the president of the Galapagos Naturalist Guide’s Association (AGIPA). Being fluent in English and French as well as Spanish, Sofia has hosted and educated visitors from all over the world and continues in her efforts to guarantee the conservation and protection of this unique archipelago. VIDEO
Cristina Rivadeneira
Naturalist Guide since 1996 (Patrimonio Turistico I)
Cristina was born and raised in Quito. Her first trip to the Galapagos Islands was when she was 11, and she felt in love with the islands and realized this is the place she wanted to be. She studied business and applied languages. She also has a teacher´s Degree and in 2010 the Government from The Netherlands granted her a scholarship to study a postgraduate course in Environmental Science. Because of her fluency in English, German and French she has led trips in The Galapagos, the Amazon and Peru. Cristina has been a Naturalist Guide since 1996. It is by far her favorite place in the world. It allows her to enjoy the magic of the islands, and to spend her life near the sea. She loves whale watching, snorkeling and diving! Her passion is traveling. She believes it enriches you as a person to share different experiences from other cultures. When not working, she packs a bag and takes off. She has been to the seven continents: Europe, Africa, Asia, North, Central and South America, Australia and the white continent The Antartica. Her other passion is yoga; she became a certified yoga teacher in Quito in 2015 and she also took another yoga teacher training in Bali in 2017.
Cecibel Guerrero
Naturalist Guide since 1992 (Patrimonio Turistico II)
Ecuadorian born, “Ceci” spent 15 years in Toronto, Canada, where she studied Business Administration. After attending the course given by the Galapagos National Park Service, she guided until taking time off to raise her two children. Back since 2008, she loves sharing her home with guests, especially when snorkeling – her favorite activity while guiding. “If you love wildlife, people and photography, this is the ideal job for you, I feel blessed and honored to work in one of the most pristine places on earth.”
Yvonne Mortola
Naturalist Guide since 1984 (Patrimonio Turistico II)
First licensed to guide in 1984, Yvonne has been recognized for her work as a naturalist both by the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos National Park. She has contributed her expertise to a number of courses, seminars, and scientific research projects with Wake Forest University study of Nazca Boobies and Albatrosses. Yvonne, who was born in the States, grew up in Guayaquil and studied in Germany. She founded the Swimming Club “Syrius” and the Sailing Club “Aeolian” to engage local children in the sporting community and Scalesia Education Foundation.
Karina Lopez
Naturalist Guide since 1999 (Patrimonio Turistico Level II)
Born in Guayaquil, Karina studied tourism and hospitality, and earned a second degree as a professional guide, plus a diploma in French. She moved to San Cristobal and made this small island her home, falling in love with the island’s nature and marine life. She has led trips in the Galapagos, the Amazon, and the Sacred Valley in Peru. Equal to her passion for bird watching, Karina is a certified dive master naturalist for the Marine Reserve. She enjoys the magical experience of swimming with sea turtles, frolicking with playful sea lions, and searching for the elusive Galapagos penguins. Her other passions include travel, photography, creative writing, cooking traditional Ecuadorian cuisine, and playing soccer.
Fabricio Carbo
Naturalist Guide since 1984 (Patrimonio Turistico II)
Ecuadorian, Diving Instructor and Marine Reserve Guide. First guide of Ecoventura on board of the “Eric”. I’ve worked with groups of the Smithsonian, Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy, among others, and collaborated in a marine life documentary for National Geographic. I like to work with families and to teach kids to love nature. Firm lover and protector of the Galapagos Islands since my first visit back in 1983.
Jose Luis “Pepe” Castillo
Naturalist Guide since 1997 (Patrimonio Turistico I)
Ecuador-born Pepe grew up on San Cristobal Island, where he fell in love with nature. He decided to pursue a career as a naturalist guide after he got his degree in Hotel Management and later studied computer science and Italian as a third language. He is active in FEDEGAL conservation group since 1995. Onboard, you’ll hear him tell enchanted stories about the Galapagos with topics ranging from giant tortoises to astronomy and geology. Pepe also enjoys a game of chess, playing the guitar and swimming with sharks.
Freddy Vargas
Naturalist Guide since 1984 (Patrimonio Turistico II)
Born and raised in the Galapagos, Freddy went to university in Quito before returning to the archipelago to work at the Charles Darwin Research Station. There, he conducted research with scientists from around the world, and developed a keen interest for wildlife, motivating him to take up guiding. He enjoys water activities such as surfing, snorkeling and fishing, as well as horseback riding when on vacation in the highlands of Santa Cruz. He lives in Guayaquil with his family, but plans on moving back to the islands once his children are through with college.
Magdalena “Malena” Cruz
Naturalist Guide since 1994 (Patrimonio Turistico I)
After studying Professional Tourism Guiding at university, Malena became licensed as a naturalist guide. Her favorite Galapagos topic of conservation include sea currents, geology and the marine reserve. When she is not guiding, she manages her family’s hotel on San Cristobal Island, and enjoys reading music and fishing.
Ivan Lopez
Naturalist Guide since 2005 (Patrimomio Turistico I)
After studying environmental management, tourism and photography, Ivan became a licensed guide in 2005. He loves being on the water, and is an accomplished diver, certified SCUBA instructor and Master Trainer. Music is another of his passions, and he often entertains guests with his beautiful original songs.
Billy Maquilon
Naturalist Guide since 1989 (Patrimonio Turistico II)
Billy studied chemistry, biology and environmental sciences in university, and has an unlimited passion for the Galapagos. He took four years to travel abroad, throughout Europe and the US, before returning to the Galapagos, where he has now spent nearly three decades guiding, making him a true expert in the region. Billy is also certified as a SCUBA Dive Master.
Maria "Gaby" Espinoza
Naturalist Guide since 1990 (Patrimonio Turistico II)
With degrees in science education and teaching, Gaby’s love for nature and commitment to island conservation motivated her to become a guide. Along the way, she’s taken courses in tourism management, literature, and human relations. Gaby received a scholarship to study at the University of Northern Iowa and is fluent in English- and also German. Her passion is showing the Galapagos to guests, and inspiring them to help conserve our fragile world.
Antonio Adrian
Naturalist Guide
Antonio is Ecuadorian, although he was raised in Catalonia. He earned three science “A” Levels in Canterbury, UK, and studied four years in medical school in Barcelona, Spain. He then dropped out; like Darwin, he was looking for higher adventures. He has traveled all continents and met most ecosystems so far, and he is based in the Galápagos. He has degrees in environmental and educational sciences, and a couple of published books on natural history, but he believes that humor and non-formal education are also valid tools to teach about the greater world. He is a National Geographic Diver Specialist, and Photo Instructor, and his personal assets are a bike, a hammock and a very large ocean.
Natasha Cabezas
Naturalist Guide
Natasha learned about nature as a child, chasing crabs and eels in the lava shores of the Galapagos. Her fascination for the ocean led her to become a professional diver and a naturalist for the Galapagos Marine reserve. For the past 17 years, she has explored the depths of these waters and all the fascinating aquatic creatures. After 5,000+ dives, she took the first course offered to become a Specialized Heritage Naturalist, organized by the highest-level university in the country, and graduated with one of the highest results. Natasha learned to speak English by ear, without formal study of the language, following her favorite Hollywood animated characters, and sometimes she makes unintentional and hilarious mistakes. Her commitment is to share her strong passion, love, and knowledge for her islands, with curious visitors from all over the world.
Crew
Crew – MV Origin & Theory
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Cristina GallardoConciergeCristina studied a major degree in Food & Beverage Management for five years at Universidad de las |
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Daniela MuñozConciergeDaniela Muñoz studied Tourism and Hotel Management in Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo (UEES). Afterwards, in 2017 she achieved her Masters Degree in International Tourism Management in Barcelona, Spain. She joined the team of Ecoventura in 2018 as a Concierge for the MV ORIGIN. Her passions are photography, traveling and scuba diving. “My main goals as a part of the Ecoventura company are to become an expert in cruise management, provide quality customer service and promote team work with all the crew members”. |
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Mariuxi MedinaConciergeAt 18 years old, Mariuxi began her long career in the Hospitality business. She studied “Hospitality and Tourism Management” at the Catholic University of Guayaquil, and then she obtained her second diploma in “Culinary Arts” at the University of Guayaquil. In 2008 she got her first job as a waitress in a hotel and from there on, she knew that her passion was customer service. She worked for the best hotels in Guayaquil, taking different positions until becoming part of the Ecoventura team as a Concierge in 2019. She is passionate about service, swimming, music and in her free time she volunteers in a Public Hospital in Guayaquil, her home city. |
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| Waiter | Chief Engineer | Electrician | Bartender | Second mate | Chef |
| Richard de la Cruz | Alvaro Mucarsel | Pablo Clavijo | Jairo Rengifo | Edison Triviño | Estuardo Vilela |
