Women of Galakiwi: The Heart Behind Every Journey

At Galakiwi, the way we travel is shaped as much by people as by place. And behind every journey we design, coordinate, and guide, there’s a team quietly making sure everything works, thoughtfully, responsibly, and with care. For us, offering meaningful Galápagos Islands tours starts long before travelers set foot on the islands.

Seven out of our twelve core team members are women. That’s not an accident, a marketing statement, or a target we set out to hit. It’s a reflection of our team values: collaboration, care alongside efficiency, intelligence paired with empathy, and growth that’s intentional rather than rushed.

Here, luxury isn’t about excess. It’s about thoughtful systems, smooth logistics, and meaningful experiences, much of it shaped by women working behind the scenes to keep Galakiwi running like clockwork. This approach matters deeply when traveling to the Galápagos, where responsible planning makes all the difference.

A Different Kind of Leadership in the Galápagos

Tourism in Ecuador and the Galápagos has long been shaped by external operators, fast growth, and extractive models that prioritize volume over connection. At Galakiwi, we’ve chosen a different path, one rooted in local leadership, long-term thinking, and shared responsibility.

The women on our team help shape that vision every day. Through planning, coordination, communication, and care, they influence how we operate, how we grow, and how travelers experience the islands through our Galápagos Islands tours.

Crystal: Designing the Vision with Intention

Managing Director | Co-founder

Crystal is the systems thinker behind Galakiwi’s structure and strategy. She’s the one making sure that as the company grows, it does so with clarity, balance, and purpose.

Her work lives at the intersection of big-picture vision and daily decision-making, building frameworks that allow creativity, collaboration, and local expertise to thrive. (Yes, there are spreadsheets involved, many of them, but always in service of something human.)

For Crystal, sustainable tourism isn’t an abstract concept. It requires strong systems, clear processes, and intentional leadership that considers both the islands and the people who call them home.

“Growth only matters if it benefits the islands and the people who live here.”

Laura: Turning Big Dreams Into Grounded Adventures

Business Development & Sales Manager

Laura leads Galakiwi’s sales and marketing, helping shape how each journey begins and evolves. She designs experiences that balance curiosity with care. She turns big travel dreams into grounded, authentic Galapagos & Ecuador adventures, ones that respect wildlife, landscapes, and local communities.

Whether it’s time spent observing sea lions, encounters with giant tortoises in the highlands, or hikes across volcanic terrain, Laura’s focus is always on intentional exploration. There’s no rushing and no crowd-chasing,  just thoughtful pacing, conservation awareness, and space to truly connect with the islands.

Behind the scenes, Laura also works closely with the internal team, continuously refining communication, processes, and guest touchpoints to ensure every journey runs smoothly from start to finish.

At Galakiwi, adventure isn’t about extremes. It’s about feeling connected, to place, to nature, and to the stories that make the Galápagos unlike anywhere else. Laura brings this philosophy to life across all of our Galápagos Islands tours.

Karen: Shaping the First Hello

Head Adventure Specialist

Karen is often the first voice travelers hear when they reach out to Galakiwi. She leads sales and marketing, but more importantly, she shapes the very beginning of each guest’s journey.

From refining itineraries to setting clear expectations, Karen ensures every trip feels seamless, from the first inquiry to the final farewell. Her work blends emotional intelligence with careful organization, making sure each experience reflects what travelers truly want, while remaining grounded in what the islands can sustainably offer.

Karen takes the time to listen. She understands that a Galápagos journey is often a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and she’s there to guide guests through their ideas, questions, and priorities with care and clarity.

Thoughtful itinerary design doesn’t just enhance the traveler experience; it also reduces environmental impact and creates space for more meaningful, respectful encounters. Karen makes that balance feel natural, and effortless, for everyone traveling to the Galápagos.

Gaby: The Quiet Force Behind Every Smooth Journey

Operations Coordinator

If a journey feels effortless, it’s often because of work you never see. Gaby is the calm center behind bookings, logistics, permits, and constant coordination.

She keeps communication flowing, adapts quickly when plans shift, and ensures that every detail, from transportation to every meal to timing, is handled with precision. In fragile and unpredictable environments like the Galápagos, this level of planning isn’t just about comfort; it’s essential for protecting ecosystems and respecting regulations.

She helps create the perfect trip, which in this sense, often means that everything simply works, because someone has thought through every possibility in advance.

Silvia: Keeping Standards High

Executive Assistant

Silvia plays a key role in maintaining the standards that responsible tourism in the Galápagos demands. She coordinates permits, certifications, and sustainability initiatives, ensuring Galakiwi operates in full compliance with local regulations.

Her work reinforces trust, with travelers, with authorities, and with the community. Structure, here, isn’t restrictive. It’s what allows conservation, education, and responsible Galápagos Islands tours to exist side by side.

Lisbeth: Supporting the Bigger Picture

HR & Accounting Assistant

Lisbeth keeps the financial and human foundations of Galakiwi steady. From accounting details to HR support, her role helps ensure long-term stability, for the company and for the people behind it.

There’s pride in her work, not just in supporting the Galakiwi team, but in contributing to a company that invests in local employment and community-rooted growth across the islands she calls home.

Paula: Telling the Stories That Connect Us

Marketing Assistant

Paula helps bring Galakiwi’s stories to life. Through thoughtful storytelling, she shares wildlife moments, traveler reflections, and glimpses of team culture, always prioritizing authenticity over polish.

Her work isn’t about selling a destination. It’s about education, awareness, and helping travelers understand the responsibility that comes with traveling to the Galápagos.

Motherhood, Balance & Community

Five of the seven women on our core team are mothers. That reality shapes our culture in quiet but powerful ways, early school runs followed by itinerary checks, pausing for a family lunch, and a shared understanding that life doesn’t pause for work,  we always manage to keep the standards high and the support within the team balanced to achieve happiness within the team and perfection in every experience

Support is built into how we operate. Team members step in for one another. Flexibility isn’t a perk, it’s a necessity. Reflecting and being conscious about the diversity of life stages, rhythms, and experiences that strengthen our workplace. What connects everyone is empathy, trust, and mutual respect.

When you choose Galakiwi, you’re supporting:

• Women in leadership and decision-making roles
• Local employment in the Galápagos and Ecuador
• Community-led tourism models
• Sustainable operations rooted in care and accountability

Whether you’re curious to learn more about the people behind the scenes or dreaming of your own journey through our Galápagos Islands tours, we’re grateful to be part of the story you choose to tell.