About AmazonAdventure.net and Columbus Travel Ltd

Columbus Travel started it's operation 1997 and has grown to become one of the major on-line travel agencies in Ecuador. We mostly sell trips to the Galapagos islands and the Amazon jungle, but we can offer any travel service you need.

We are affiliated with CETUR (Ecuadorian tourist board) and CAPTUR (the tourist board of the Pichincha province) and highly recommended by The South American Explorers club and Exito travel in The States.

Carbon Offset

We work closely with CanopyCo to carbon offset everything we do. CanopyCo is an Ecuadorian based organization managed by local and European professionals dedicated to reforesting Ecuador’s native forests for the benefit of the climate, the local community and, of course, Ecuador’s phenomenal flora and fauna.

We work with CanopyCo, an Ecuadorian based organization dedicated to reforesting Ecuador’s native forests

Along with CanopyCo, we have carefully calculated all the emissions Columbus Travel generates. Our entire operation has been included from the bus rides our staff take to the office to the electricity used in the computers. What’s more we even carbon offset all the emissions from the services we provide to our clients from airport transfers and from ALL the mainland tours (city tours, trips to Otavalo, Cuenca etc). CanopyCo has worked out how many trees we need to plant to absorb the carbon dioxide emissions using UK and USA government standards. Rest assured that from the moment you arrive at the airport to the moment you leave, everything you do with us on will leave a carbon footprint of ZERO.

The one thing that we are not able to carbon offset yet is your flights. We invite you to join us in our bid to protect the environment. From as little as $10 you can also carbon offset your flights, ensuring that your trip of a lifetime has a minimal environmental impact. Simply use the CanopyCo link to find out more and help save the planet. The world will thank you !!!!!

We are located close to the Mariscal area in Quito at Andres Xaura N24-200 between Lizardo Garcia and Foch. Here is a short presentation of some of the staff:

Management

Kjetil Haugan

Kjetil Haugan is the owner of Columbus Travel. He is a Norwegian citizen who has lived in Ecuador since 1994. Kjetil has a Graduate degree in Organization Development from England and a undergraduate degree in Management from Norway. Kjetil worked as the director of the Olympic Villages during the Lillehammer (Norway) 1994 and the Atlanta (USA) 1996 Olympic Games. He speaks Spanish, English and the Scandinavian languages.

Jim

Jim is British and works with the team in Quito to make sure all those things behind the scenes operate smoothly so that your experience in Galapagos is a memorable one. Jim has extensive international business experience through his prior employments with General Motors and Ernst & Young.

Jessica Meza de Haugan

Jessica holds a degree as Engineer in Tourist Business Administration and Management of Protected Areas, currently she is the President of Columbus Travel and she has created and manages Columbus Home Sales department. Jessica has worked in the tourism business since 1996 and in Columbus Travel since 2001, she is in charge of the Palmazul Artisan Designed Hotel & Spa which is also part of the Columbus Travel Group.

Operations Department

Luisa Cordova

Luisa has a degree in tourism and administration from UTE university in Quito. She is the general director of Haugan cruises as well as Columbus Travel.
Luisa speaks English and Spanish.

Paulina Herrera

Paulina graduated at Universidad Central del Ecuador in Ecoturism. She works in the operation department and she is in charge of the land operation and respective arrangements.

Shirley Alvarez

She helps with everything related to receptive tourism, she gives all the necessary information to our clients in English or Spanish. She studied tourist administration and had attended many different courses related to her job. She also does some guiding on Saturdays.

Javier Proaño

Xavier will meet you at the airport when you arrive in Quito. Xavier is a dentist.

Rodrigo Hidrovo

Rodrigo is responsible for booking and finances. Rodrigo is a graduate in business and administration Universidad Salesiano in Quito.

Mauricio Palacios

He studied tourism at the Universidad Central del Ecuador, he is in charge of everything regarding flight reservations and the Ingala cards.

Edwin Dyer

Edwin is a Tourism & Hotelier Specialist. He has had the fortune to have lived and worked in the Galapagos Islands. Through Haugan Cruises, Edwin’s goal is to showcase Galapagos to all our guests with precision, pride and a promise to ensure that your experience in Galapagos is truly extraordinary.

Marketing Department

Washington del Pino

Washington graduated from high school in the US and majored in business management and internatinal relations at San Francisco University in Quito. He has lived in the Galapagos Islands for short periods and traveled around Ecuador four regions. He has been involved in the tourism industry for 8 years doing marketing and sales for cruise lines and yacht companies.

Jessica Cisneros

Jessica graduated from the Catholic University of Ecuador with a degree in Organizational Communication and speaks Spanish and English. She has been in tourism for over two years during which she has performed different roles. At Haugan Cruises, she is part of the Operation Department and takes care that everything runs smoothly during your visit to the Ecuador and the Galapagos Island.

Andres Garcia

Andres holds a degree in Computer Engineering, which he obtained in Toronto, Canada. He is in charge of maintaining the equipment and the websites. He speaks English and Spanish fluently.

Sales Department

Elena Guachamin

Elena works with sales. She has a degree in business from the San Fransisco university in Quito and has been working 3 years with Metropolitan touring in Ecuador. She also knows all of Ecuador and has traveled several times to the Galapagos.

Fernanda Borja

Major studies in Advertisment and Marketing, in Quito-Ecuador, and a Post Graduate in Hospitality and Tourism in Switzerland. She speaks Spanish, English, French and German. She worked for Metropolitan touring for 2 years and a half as Sales Executive. She knows Ecuador and Galapagos very well and would be a good advisor for your trip.

Christian Jácome

Christian used to be a Guide. He also has over 13 years experience in arranging and selling tours. He has a wealth of knowledge on the Galapagos as well as the tours on the Mainland. Whatever your interests, he is sure to be able to tailor a complete vacation experience to meet your needs. Christian speaks fluently English, Spanish and French.

Cristina Paredes

Cristina is Superior Technologist and tTrilingual Business Administration and Economics. Cristina has worked in the tourism area since 2003 and she is working in ColumbusTravel since January 2009, she is part of Columbus Home sales. Her experience was demonstrated in Germany where she practiced for 6 months in explorer fern reisen

Olga Salazar

Olga Salazar has a degree in tourism from UTE university. She has over 20 years of experience in the activity. She has worked like tour leader in Ecuador and other countries of south America. She has collaborated for several travel agencies in the areas of administrative, operations and sales.
She speaks Spanish, and has a good level of German and English.

Maria Elena Muñoz

Maria Elena studied Biology at the Catholic University in Quito and fell in love with tourism when she started working as a Naturalist Tour Guide in Ecuador's Amazon Basin. She has vast experience and knowledge of Ecuador as she has worked as a Tour Guide for more than 18 years and has been related to the sales and operation of Galapagos luxury cruises since 2000. She speaks fluently English, French and Spanish (her mother language) and has knowledge of German and Italian.

Ivonne Zumárraga

Ivonne holds a degree in tourism administration from the University of Tourist Specialties (UCT) in Quito. She is 23 years old; and has been working in tourism almost 3 years. Her professional training has given her the opportunity to visit the most outstanding places in Ecuador including Galapagos. She has been assigned for Galapagos and Ecuador sales at Columbus Travel.

Diego Andrade

Diego holds a degree in Marketing and Economics from Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri. He is 25 five years old and has worked in the tourism industry for over a year. He joined Columbus Travel in February 2008 as a travel designer. He will create a program fitting your interests and desires based on his vast knowledge of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. He speaks English and Spanish, and understands German.

Maria Antonieta Rueda

María Antonieta studied Tourist administration and has more that 15 years in the Industry. Most of her experience is related with the sales and operation of packages all around Ecuador, specially the Galapagos Islands.
She has worked for several travel agencies and operators in Ecuador. She speaks fluent English and has a good level in German.

Daniela Jácome

Daniela studied Tourist Administration and has worked in tourism for almost 12 years. She has a vast experience arranging tours in all Ecuador. She speaks English, Spanish and Italian.

Paola Herrera

Paola studied Ecotourism at Universidad San Francisco de Quito. During her studies she travelled all around Ecuador to learn, understand and respect different cultures and natural areas of the country. This great opportunity made her love her country and inspired her to share this with those interested in visiting Ecuador. Paola has worked in important local tour operators from year 2001 in sales and operation areas.

Verónica Pineda

Veronica has a degree as Engineer in Tourism Business Administration from UTE University, she is also a certified National Guide. She studied English in the UK for one year and there she improved her knowledge about the hospitality industry. Veronica has worked in the tourism business since 2000 as a National Guide, sales, and managing the Operation´s Galapagos Department, and in Columbus Travel since May 2009. She speaks English, Spanish, and has a basic level of French and German.

Sales Assistance

Maria Belen Pacheco

Maria Belen the youngest person in the company (22 years old). She's studying her last semester of Tourist Administration at Universidad de Especialidades Turísticas. She works for the sales and operation department and her main is to search and offer the best travel option that suits the needs of all our passengers. She speaks English and is currently studying French.

Augusta Granda

She graduated in Universidad Central del Ecuador. She’s been working for 4 years at Columbus Travel; she works in the Operation and Sales Department. She makes cruise and hotel reservations and she also assists Washington del Pino and Elena Guachamin.

Finance Department

Lucia Calderon

Our accountant! Ask her about any payment issue.

Ximena Martinez

Ximena works in the Accounting Department of Columbus Travel, she is in charge of the payment of reservations and billings. She has been in other similar positions in other companies in the past. She just finished her studies at the University.

Ximena Almeida Trujillo

Ximena studied accounting and audit at Universidad Tecnologica Equinoccial (UTE). She's been working in the company for 3 months in the accounting department. She's in charge of the income of all the companies.

Mayra Miranda

Mayra works in the finance department as an asistance to the department. She has studied ath the Central University of Ecuador, and she has a specialty in Accounting and Auditing.

Christian Constante

He is 25 years old, he is studying Accounting and Audit at the University. He works in the Accounting department of Columbus Travel, and in charge of paying and collecting our suppliers.

Soledad Salazar

Soledad graduated at the University Tecnologica Equinoccial (UTE) in Tourist Administration. She works in the operation department and does everything related to land and cruise operation in Columbus Travel.

Martha Lucia Orbe

Martha started in the company on December 2007 in the Financial Department. She holds a degree in Commerce and Administration. This is her first time working at a Travel Agency which she finds it very interesting.

Janneth Obaco

Janneth works as an accounting assitance and is responsible for making sure all the payments to hotels and restaurants are up to date so that passengers do not have any problem at the time of admission. She has worked for Columbus since the beginning of the year.

Office Staff

Angelita

The person who mantains everything clean

Luis Yepes

Luis is our "mensajero" , the person that buys tickets and make sure that we receive all the documents for the passangers. Luis is married and lives outside of Quito.

Edison Pilco

Edison studied economy at Universidad central del Ecuador. He has been working for 8 months in Columbus Travel in the Operation department.