Mauricio is originally from the coast of Ecuador, a city called Milagro. Being from one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, he fell in love with nature as a young child. His father is a teacher, and in 1989 he was offered a job in a local high school in the Galápagos Archipelago, which he took and moved his entire family to the islands.
Growing up in this magical place only enhanced Mauricio’s fascination the natural world, and he took the opportunity to develop this further by taking the training course and becoming a Galápagos National Park guide in 1999. Since then, Mauricio has led many trips around the islands, and has also worked as a guide in mainland Ecuador, as well as in Lima, Cuzco, and Machu Pichu.
Over the years, he has travelled extensively in South America, which has helped him to understand better the biodiversity of the whole continent. He is fluent in Spanish, German, and English.
After many years of experience in the field, he has developed a passion for geology, genetics, and history. His studies include a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in law. He recently finished his Ph.D. in Environmental Law at Castilla La Mancha University, in Spain.