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Maria “Gaby” Espinoza
Fun and knowledgeable, Gaby has a love for nature and a commitment to island conservation. Along the way, she’s taken courses in tourism management, literature, and human relations, and she’s fluent in English and German. Her passion is introducing guests to the Galápagos.
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Billy Maquilon
Billy studied chemistry, biology and environmental sciences in university, and has an unlimited passion for the Galápagos. He’s a traveler at heart and spent four years exploring Europe and the United States before returning to the Galápagos. He has now spent nearly three decades guiding, making him a true expert in the region.
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Gustavo Andrade
Raised in Guayaquil, Gustavo has always had close links to the Galápagos: his family has lived on San Cristobal island for three generations, and his father was a tour boat captain., Though trained in industrial engineering, he pursued his love for nature and has been a naturalist with the Galápagos National Park Service since 2005.
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Freddy Vargas
Born and raised in the Galápagos, Freddy went to university in Quito before returning to the archipelago to work at the Charles Darwin Research Center. There, he developed a passion for the islands’ wildlife, motivating him to take up guiding. He enjoys water activities such as surfing and snorkeling, as well as horseback riding when on vacation in the Santa Cruz highlands.
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Magdalena “Malena” Cruz
After studying professional tourism guiding at university, Malena became a licensed naturalist guide in 1994. Be sure to ask her about her favorite Galápagos topics of conversation (sea currents, geology, and the marine reserve). When she isn’t guiding, Malena manages her family’s hotel on San Cristobal Island, and enjoys reading, music and fishing.
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Ivan Lopez
After studying environmental management, tourism, and photography, Ivan became a licensed guide in 2005. He loves being on the water and is a certified scuba instructor and trainer. Music is another of his passions, and he regularly entertains guests with his original songs.
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Cecibel “Ceci” Guerrero
After working as a guide trained by the Galápagos National Park Service and the Charles Darwin Research Station, Ecuadorian-born “Ceci” Guerrero has spent years leading tourists through this pristine destination. Certified since 1992, she guided for nearly a decade before taking time off to raise her two children. Now that she’s back, she loves sharing her home with guests, especially while snorkeling (her favorite excursion).
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Antonio Adrian
Just like Darwin, he has always been looking for higher adventures, travelled to all continents and been in most ecosystems so far. He has degrees in environmental and educational sciences, and a couple of published books on natural history. He believes that humour and non-formal education are valid tools to teach about our world. He is a National Geographic Diver Specialist and photo instructor.
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Sofía Darquea
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. Sofia lives in Santa Cruz Island, and is the president of the Galapagos Naturalist Guide’s Association (AGIPA). Read More
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Luis Fernando Sanchez
Luis Fernando has been a Galapagos National Park Naturalist Guide for 17 years and throughout the years he has had the opportunity to become a photography instructor in a training organized by photographers from the national geographic society. He continuously supports the national park along with other colleague trainers in workshops in order to train local naturalist guides.
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Fabricio Carbo
Ecuadorian, Diving Instructor and Marine Reserve Guide. The 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.
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Diego Iglesias
Diego is a Naturalist Guide of the Galapagos National Park. Experienced for more than seven years at sea working as crew in different private boats focused on tourism. Pose high knowledge on boat navigation, group management, planning outdoor activities after multiple voyages around South Africa, Indo-pacific, Central America, Caribbean, and United States. I am deeply interested in the conservation of the Galapagos Islands and a sustainable development for the archipelago.
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Carolina Pesantez
Having always being passionate about nature, becoming a Galápagos National Park guide was a dream since I was a young kid. Nowadays, having experienced studying and traveling abroad, working in the tourism industry, and volunteering for conservation projects, I am comfortable and enjoy engaging with others from various backgrounds. Furthermore, my enthusiastic personality, strong connection with nature, passion for exploring, surfing, sailing, and diving, all contribute to my ability to share my passion, knowledge, and love for the islands to those that I guide.
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Captain Marlon Perez
Letty
Since 2002, Captain Marlon has been sailing ships between Ecuador and the United States, even navigating the Panama Canal. Before joining Ecoventura, Marlon captained larger vessels in the Galápagos. Now, he’s delighted to spend time with our nature-loving passengers.
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Captain Gerardo Duran
Origin
Captain Gerardo, of the Origin, has served in the Galápagos Marine Reserve and worked for Ecoventura for more than a dozen years. His other passions? Swimming, diving (both SCUBA and free-form) and studying law—this incredible multi-tasker is finishing a second degree as a lawyer.
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Captain Jhon Feijó
Theory
Captain Jhon, who was born in Quito, served as third/second and first mate in tanker ships around Asia and America for several years. He discovered his true passion for sailing after visiting the Galapagos Islands where he fell in love with its wildlife and wonderful local people. Nowadays, he can be seen showing guests the wonderful enchanted islands on board the Theory.
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Captain Peter Vallejo
Theory
Captain Peter is an experienced navigator (he’s even changed course mid-sailing to give guests a better view of breaching whales), and as a proud father of three, he gives extra attention to children onboard during family departures.
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Melissa Carlier
Concierge Origin
She always had a clear desire to specialize in the career of tourism and hospitality. In 2008 she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Tourism from the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL). Then at 2015 she got double title of Msc. in Hospitality and Tourism Management at Edinburgh Napier University and MBa degree from the HTMi Institute in Switzerland. She had always worked in positions related to hospitality, travel, tourism and personnel management. Since 2017 she has been working as a Hotel Manager on board cruise ships in the Galapagos Islands
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Daniela Muñoz
Concierge Theory
Daniela 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 ORIGIN. Her passions are photography, traveling and scuba diving.
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Estuardo Vilela
Chef Theory
From an early age, Estuardo has been interested in cooking. When he finished high school, he started studying gastronomy focusing in both hot food and patisserie. His work experience started in one of Guayaquil's most renowned hotels where he learned and gained vast knowledge. In 2014 he got offered a job on Ecoventura’s fleet and have been working in the enchanted islands ever since. "Here, I have mixed both mainland's flora and fauna with Galapagos original products creating an amazing fusion."
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Xavier Moncayo
Chef Theory
Xavier studied at the chefs' school and obtained extra qualifications at seminars and congresses on molecular and avant-garde cuisine. His love for cooking began at the age of 22 when he had the opportunity to start working on Ecoventura’s fleet years ago and this experience combined with the love and the passion for work led him to become one of Theory’s chefs today.
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José Villavicencio
Chef Origin
José entered the Guayaquil Hotel in 1988 as a kitchen assistant while stydying at the chef's school until 2000. A couple of years later, he started working at UEES (University of specialties) as head chef and executive chef from 2004 to 2016. He now loves working from the Origin, offering our guests the best culinary experience.
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Jhonny Rivas
Chef Origin
Born and raised in Guayaquil, Johnny has almost 20 years of experience as a professional chef. Addicted to innovation, Johnny is an international chef who has sailed on luxury cruises for almost 10 years and has been part of several local culinary competitions. He is into sports like soccer, volleyball, and is an excellent swimmer.
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Fernanda Orellana
CONCIERGE ORIGIN
Fernanda is a go-getter and has always felt a deeply connection with the sea, she considers a detail-oriented and quality service sight as her biggest assets. In 2016, she pursued a bachelor’s degree in Tourism from ESPOL and she’s thankful to have found the place where she can mix her passion, her love for the sea and skills altogether. Fernanda's interests involve: scuba diving, art, reading and travels.
