We are so very grateful to have had Mari as our group naturalist.  She engaged and immediately involved us on our very first zodiac  ride to the ship.   Her enthusiasm is contagious and her depth of knowledge is impressive.  She continually pointed out little details that we surely would have missed and explained their significance to the ecosystem.  Most impressive, however, was her genuine care and respect for the Galapagos ecosystem.  On each of our excursions, she built on the base of knowledge.  We truly enjoyed being in her care, and consider her a friend as well.

Mari was very informative and gave us excellent explanations of everything and anything we saw. Her English was quite easy to understand. She showed great compassion for all living things. We could tell she really cared and was very passionate.  She was helpful and pleasant to all of us.

Mari opened our eyes to the wonders of the Galapagos. Her knowledge of the wildlife and history of the islands was phenomenal and made our visit so much more meaningful. She also helped us understand the critical conservation issues facing the Galapagos today and how fragile the ecosystem there is. She was a caring and considerate group leader and always tried to accommodate the needs and interests of each person without ever compromising the welfare of the wildlife. Her love of the islands was apparent. It was a pleasure getting to know her and she gets 4 big thumbs-up in our book.

Allen & Shaun