Sustainable Tourism Bogotá
The Team
In the beginning...
In 2010 the idea for Andes EcoTours was born. This was at a time when destinations like Cartagena were already positioned on the tourist map and the city of Bogotá was largely ignored. Travelers were quick to fly in and out of the capital city without paying much attention to the nature that surrounded them, while the conflict of previous decades had prevented locals from exploring their mountains.
We transformed this challenge into an opportunity to develop responsible and sustainable nature tours around our region, allowing both international visitors and local residents to experience the rich diversity of Andean ecosystems.
We led our first tour in 2012, and we have since focused on developing top-quality ecotourism options for visitors to Bogotá. Today, our capital city is the home base for millions of travelers wanting to explore the rich diversity of natural and cultural treasures that Colombia holds.
Hiking up Monserrate on our first tour,
August 2012
Our Commitment
The main goal of Andes EcoTours is to be a driver for conservation of Colombia's ecological & cultural heritage. In order to achieve this goal we need to promote healthy, vibrant, local communities that can afford to protect their natural and cultural resources. Throughout our numerous tours, not only are thousands of visitors discovering the true sense of Colombia´s magical realism but they also provide much needed income for the rural families we work with.
"In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, we will understand only what we are taught"
Baba Dioum, Senegal
Mission
Andes EcoTours aims to be a driver for conservation of Colombia's ecological & cultural heritage by achieving sustainable tourism practices that strengthen rural communities and provide top rated services to visitors.
Vision
Andes EcoTours will be the point of reference for sustainable, top rated nature tourism services in Colombia.
Andrés
Director
Andrés is the director and co-founder of Andes EcoTours. Born and raised in Bogotá, he holds a bachelor´s degree in Biochemistry and a master´s in Environmental Management. He is also a professional certified guide that has led numerous tour groups since 2012 and is an entrepreneur involved in a number of environmental education projects.
Chantelle
Birding & Wildlife Specialist
Originally from South Africa, Chantelle is the co-founder of Andes Ecotours and currently serves as an experience manager for birding & wildlife tours throughout the Eastern Andes. She holds degrees in both Hospitality Management and International Development and also works as an Environmental Education Program Coordinator.
Hector
Driver & Guide
Hector grew up (and still lives) in the high Andes mountains of Choachí, surrounded by pristine cloud forest and fertile farmland. He comes from a long line of potato and dairy farmers and has a wealth of local knowledge about native flora and fauna passed down through generations. He also has an eagle's eye for spotting wildlife.
Camilo
Guide
Camilo is an artist and industrial designer from Bogota with a concentration in urban architecture from Los Andes University. He is a certified nature tourism guide with a specialization in birdwatching. He has also carried out several research projects on ethical, community and restorative ecotourism.
Diego
Guide
Coming soon!
Ana Arias
Guide
Coming soon!
Ramón Pulido
Guide
Coming soon!