It was our great fortune to have Mari as our tour guide on our recent 8 day Galapagos Expedition. From the start at our muster drill we realized Mari meant business. She comanded respect. We wanted to be on her zodiac!!! and what a treat for us that Mari was our guide. She lives and breathes excitement of the animals and nature of her home. We too live in a tropical climate, but never cared too much for birds. Mari's enthusiams was LIFE CHANGING!!! Yesterday we were on our boat and commenting on all the birds and we could just hear Mari being so excited. She was brought to tears by a snake and overjoyed by each new mother and baby animal we saw. It was like she was seeing the animals for the first time. Her amazement and awe was contagious. We too felt like we were witnessing a miracle, over and over. Mari had unbelievable knowledge too. She took her profession so seriously that she was always quizzing us as she wanted to make sure we truly learned something. At the end of the day (and the begining) Mari ate with us and became our friend. When we were on Santa Cruz and the store we wanted to shop in was not open, Mari called the owners and asked them to open for us. She truly knew everyone at every place we went. As a travel agent, I've seen many guides, but none with the passion and enthusiam that Mari had. She truly changed our perspective of nature. I'll never take for granted a bird again and always imagine her jumping up and down with so much excitement shouting for joy the species we just withnessed. She's a gem. The best of the best!! A true passionate professional. 

Mari was our guide on our recent trip to the Galapagos and she was truly outstanding.

Her enthisiasm was infectious and her knowledge of the islands was truly extensive.  She made the history of the Galapagos live for us and we looked forward, each day, to seeing the wildlife through her very knowlegeable eyes.

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to the Galapagos and the whole exoerience was hugely enhanced by having Mari as our guide.

She is also a very thoughtful and nice person with whom we liked mixing.

She has definitely made us want to return.

I have traveled extensively and been part of many tour groups and excursions; Mari has clearly been the top guide I have has the pleasure of being with. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and her knowledge was vast and reliable. She was extremely respectful to the environment and kindly (yet consistently and firmly) made sure visitors to the Islands were too. Others guests and I would compare our daily experiences during dinner, and it was always those who were with Mari who had the best excursions that day. We even started to try to figure out what pangs she was on so we could place ourselves correctly in line as to be sure to get with her. If there was a rating higher than 5, she would receive it! She was also empathetic of everyone's physical and hearing ability level. She made sure everyone was doing okay throughout, and made sure everyone had an opportunity to view what was seen and ask questions. Our actual trip was not one of the options below. She was a naturalist on board the Celebrity Experience to the Galapagos Islands. I traveled with only one friend, but Mari helped the 41 passengers become like a family from July 8 to 15.