About GalapagosIslands.net and Columbus Travel Ltd.
Columbus Travel Ecuador, one of the most prominent tourism companies in Ecuador, began as a simple dream — a visionary idea to share this small country’s beauty and the charm of its people with the rest of the world.
It all started back in 1994 when Norwegian-born Kjetil Haugan came to Ecuador. While in Ecuador, He discovered all the wonders of this country and wanted to share them with the rest of the world. This led to the creation of Columbus Travel Ecuador, a tour operator with a straightforward idea: to provide quality service on carefully designed tours to those who wanted to travel around Ecuador.
As pioneers in the world of online sales, Columbus Travel Ecuador was the first tour operator in Ecuador to use the Internet for online bookings while also taking advantage of the opportunity to offer travelers a faster reply and the best service possible.
With each passing year, this seed of a company grew into one of the most groundbreaking companies in Ecuador’s tourism industry. Today, Columbus Travel Ecuador holds its spot as one of the front-runners in travel, bringing its clients only the best service and unique journeys. The knowledge and passion that Columbus Travel’s Destination Experts have for Ecuador and its beauty combined with their experience in online sales, resulting in guaranteed client satisfaction.
Columbus Travel Staff
Our specialists are at the heart of Columbus Travel. They have all travelled extensively and documented it perfectly so you can enjoy your adventures.

Sofia Valdivieso
Destination Expert
I have been working in the tourism industry since I graduated from University. I always felt a sense of wanderlust, a feel for discovering other places, landscapes, cultures and customs. Travelling is one of the most amazing experiences for one’s lifetime which makes us increase our knowledge and be more sensitive as human beings, and it is available for all budgets and ages. I have always felt very fortunate to live in a country that has it all, from the highest mountains in the Andes to the unique Galapagos Islands. It makes me happy to help people around the world have one of their best times in their lives.

Pablo Rea
Destination Expert
I have been traveling in Ecuador since I was a child, but I discovered that it was what I wanted to do for a living after a trip showed me that traveling is what I really love. When I graduated from high school, I planned to go abroad to discover the world. While traveling, I understood that my passion would be found in showing other people the wonders of my own country.
Ecuador has breathtaking landscapes but the one which caught my heart is a lovely old Hacienda which has been completely restored. It holds a lot of Ecuadorian history and keeps the magic of old times. Hacienda Zuleta is like the oasis in the middle of the desert, a charming, small, luxury hacienda where you will feel and discover all the wonders that Ecuador has to offer.

Tannya Merizalde
Destination Expert
I absolutely love tourism! I love traveling around Ecuador and to different destinations around the world, too. I feel very fortunate to be able to help so many people organize the trip of a lifetime based on my own experiences and passion for travel and customizing trips.
I’ve specialized in the Galapagos Islands since the day I learned about their vast tourism potential and was fascinated and thrilled by the numerous endemic species and flora both on land and beneath the waves!
Ecuador is well-known for being a small country that is home to 4 completely different regions: the Andes mountains, the Amazon rainforest, the Pacific coast, and the Galapagos Islands. This means that your visit to Ecuador will be truly unique, filled with stunning landscapes, heritage cities, towering churches and a rich cultural tapestry filled with exotic flavors and wonderful people! From the center of the world, I’m excited to invite you to visit Ecuador, my small paradise, hand in hand with a professional who, just like you, loves to travel!

Cristina López
Destination Expert
My passion for traveling started at a very young age while visiting different places with my family. I soon realized that despite much to see worldwide, I live in a paradise. Ecuador has so much to offer, from the amazing Amazon jungle, the snowed peaks of the Andes, and the Pacific coast to the magical Galapagos Islands. A few years later, 17 years ago, I started working in tourism, and this passion kept growing and still is. I learned to see this beautiful country through a tourist’s eyes, which is just amazing!
It is a pleasure for me to plan trips that fulfill the tourists’ desires for them to have a wonderful experience and treasure memories that would last forever

Gabriela Fuentes
Destination Expert
I chose to study tourism because we are in charge of creating experiences for a lifetime. I have worked in the Canary Islands, Key West and Ecuador. For me, my favorite destination is the Galapagos Islands. I was a cruise director for 8 months and traveling around Galapagos showed me that there is no better paradise than this one. Every day I used to take a picture of the most spectacular sunsets I had ever witnessed. I never got tired of this amazing landscape. Besides, every hike and each time snorkeling is unique and different. Galapagos is for nature’s lovers. It was one of my dreams, and it came true.
Partners & Memberships
Sustainable Tourism
Sustainable tourism is the idea of developing tourism in a way in which it does not damage the environment, nor the economy, or the wellbeing of local cultures.
Office Location
Our Main office is located in Quito, Ecuador on Shyris Avenue N32-88 & Diego de Almagro. Shyris 186 Building, 503 office.