About AndesAdventure.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 Mariscal Foch 265 and 6 de Diciembre Avenue, Sonelsa Building 2nd and 3rd floor. 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.

Luisa Cordova

Luisa has a degree in tourism and administration from UTE university in Quito. She is the Commercial Manager of Columbus Travel.
Luisa speaks English and Spanish.

Operations Department

Rodrigo Hidrovo

Rodrigo holds a degree in business and administration from the Universidad Salesiana in Quito. Works in the operations department and also is the Logistics director of Columbus Travel.

Javier Proaño

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

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.

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.

Marketing Department

Jessica Cisneros

Jessica graduated from the Catholic University of Ecuador with a degree in Organizational Communication and speaks Spanish, English and currently she is studying French. She has been in tourism for over four years during which she has performed different roles. At Columbus Travel, she is encharge of web development and marketing.

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.

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.

Veronica Darquea

Vero studied Ecotourism, has a master in Environmental Management and is currently getting a degree in Psicology. She loves Ecuador, and has been working in tourism for around 10 years. Travelling is one of her passions and takes very well care of details.  Happy to be in the sales department, she’s working in Columbus Travel always ready to fulfill the most exigent travel needs from her costumers.

Ivonne Zumárraga

Ivonne holds a degree in tourism administration from the University of Tourist Specialties (UCT) in Quito. She is 26 years old; and has been working in tourism more than 6 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 27 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.

Sales Assistance

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 Elena Guachamin.

Paola Cedeño

Paola is currently studying tourism at the Universidad de las Americas. She is 25 years old and works in Columbus Travel since last year,  she assists Ivonne and Christian.

Finance Department

Ximena Almeida Trujillo

Ximena studied accounting and audit at Universidad Tecnologica Equinoccial (UTE). She's in charge of the income of all the companies.

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.

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.

Edison Pilco

Edison studied economy at Universidad central del Ecuador. He works in the Accounting department of Columbus Travel.

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.