Maria Cabrera

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Maria holds a Bachelor's degree in tourism and has worked in travel agencies and as a Spanish teacher before becoming a co-founder of Yanapuma Foundation and Spanish School. Her role as administrator is fundamental in keeping the organization focused on its mission.

What is your favorite travel memory?

There are so many to choose from! I think it has to be visiting my uncle, who was working in China and getting to experience such a different culture and way of life. Although it is a long way to get there, it was worth it and especially good to be with someone who knew much more than me about life there and could explain so much that I would have otherwise missed.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I have had to learn a lot about many different aspects of managing a business. From answering emails of the first inquiries to making reservations and following up on all the details, there are many places that something can go wrong. So I have had to learn about all these different areas and put processes in place to make sure that everything runs smoothly.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

A student from Holland once said that she was sitting on a train before coming to Ecuador, reading a guide book for the country. A girl sitting opposite her noticed what she was reading and said that she was also going soon to Ecuador. When she asked what she was going to be doing, she was astonished to be told that she was also going to be attending Yanapuma Spanish School!

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

One of our Galapagos island-hopping tours for sure. The Galapagos is such a unique environment and it is so incredible to be somewhere where the animals show no fear of us humans. I especially like snorkeling and seeing the corals and all the bright fish that swim about there as well as the sharks and other large creatures.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

We are committed to our social and ecological mission of helping indigenous communities to develop sustainably. This gives much more meaning to what we are doing, and it gives us the chance to support so many people who are working to improve their living situation. We learn a lot from them too, so we all gain from the experience.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Attention to detail; I think it is the most important thing.

We follow through with everything to make sure that all the details get taken care of. And we make ourselves available for our students and volunteers so that we can help them if they are in a difficult situation. We have never had any really serious problems, but there are often situations that for us are quick to resolve but the volunteer may not know what to do.