Previous Yachts: M/Y VIBRANT CURIOSITY, M/Y UTOPIA , M/Y SILVER CLOUD, M/Y HELIOS II, M/Y STELLA MARIS, M/Y ORIGIN
Interests: scuba diving, snorkeling and painting
Language: English, Spanish
Billy studied chemistry, biology and environmental sciences in college. In 1991 he became a scuba divemaster. Billy is a traveller at heart and spent four years exploring Europe and the United States before returning to the islands. With a strong passion for the Galápagos, he has now spent three decades guiding, making him a true expert in the region and has gained a great expertise in luxury charter groups.
Angel Porras
Naturalist (rotational)
Previous Yachts: Old Poseídon, Tip Top’s, National Geographic Endeavour, National Geographic Islander, Stella Maris
Interests: : boating, swimming, cycling, running, reading, driving to explore
Languages: English and Spanish
Fausto Rodriguez, loves to share his knowledge of Ecuador's famous archipelago with others. Originally from Riobamba, in the countryside of the Ecuadorian Andes, he first visited the Galapagos in 1990 and has since become one of their most experienced and biologically knowledgeable guides. In 1966, after working as a mate aboard various Galapagos ships as deck hand, he completed the rigorous training to become a licensed Galapagos National Park Naturalist, and shortly thereafter he spent several years in London where he earned a degree in Languages and Tourism from South Bank College. He has also been trained by National Geographic to lead photography expeditions.
He has guided thousands of visitors on personalized cruises, birding expeditions, and photography tours throughout the islands. He has particular interests in geology, plants, birds, marine life, and mammals, and is equally passionate about guiding and teaching.
He has guided private trips and now he is looking forward to leading private groups and share with them the wonders of the Galapagos.
Fausto Rodriguez
Naturalist (rotational)
Previous Yachts: M/Y STELLA MARIS (37.8m)
Interests: Road racing bikes
Languages: Fluent French, Italian & Spanish
Marco was born on March 6, 1964, and grew up in Belgium with his parents, two older sisters and four older brothers. He had a joyful childhood with his family, and together they discovered Marco's passion for cooking. He studied in Belgium until he was 18 years old in the Technical Hotel and Kitchen School in the city of Carniere, where he received a CAP-BEP Kitchen and Service diploma in 1983.
Marco worked in France for 14 years in various regions at hotels and restaurants, which allowed him to acquire the knowledge of traditional French cuisine. He worked in England at the Castle Inwik House (Relais et Chateau) Michelin Star. He continued his career in Spain for two years, where he gained the knowledge of Mediterranean cuisine. Marco then spent three years in the Island of Corsica reinforcing and applying the Mediterranean cuisine. He also travelled to the Caribbean Islands (Guadeloupe and San
Martin) to learn about Caribbean Cuisine. For twenty years he settled in Quito, Ecuador as a Chef instructor and a consultant for hotels and restaurants. Marco has 30 years of professional experience in French Mediterranean, Provencal Gastronomy, Spanish, Italian, and Caribbean cuisine. He is an expert in catering services and kitchen training with a real passion for gastronomy.
“My career has allowed me to serve prestigious clientele like ambassadors, presidents, diplomats, and prime ministers.
Marco Cigna
Chef
Previous Yachts: M/Y DAPHNE (28m)
Interests: Fishing
Languages: Fluent Spanish
Diego was born in a small town called Rio Chico, in the pacific coast in Ecuador. Growing up right close to the ocean, he become drawn to surfing and the waves while he completed his studies.Tempted by relatives who were already working in Galapagos, one day Diego bought a plane ticket and migrated to Puerto Ayora in the island of Santa Cruz where he worked as a waiter and as bartender at la Garrapata restaurant. Diego, has worked with different travel agencies as free-lance and assisted private yachts cruising through the Galapagos. Diego is joining the GRAND DAPHNE crew and is ready to host our guests with flavour and local expertise.
Diego Intriago
Steward
Previous Yachts: M/Y LUMABEDA (15m), M/Y MONSERRATE (28m), M/Y GALAXY (40m), M/C ALYA (35m)
Interests: Soccer, Fishing
Language: Fluent Spanish
Angel was born in the “small town” of Baquerizo Moreno in the island of San Cristobal, Galapagos, Ecuador. During his childhood, Angel spent his time outside playing soccer and discovering his devotion for sailing. Before even finishing high school, Angel
achieved his accredited license as deckhand, during which time he worked in various boats throughout the tourism industry. From here he began an intensive four-year apprenticeship at ALYA, where he completed his boatman career. In an effort to enthusiastically bestow his extensive and diverse talents upon guests from all over the world, he now works as a first deckhand aiding the Captain at all times.
Angel Porras
First Deckhand
Previous Yachts: M/Y DAPHNE (28m)
Interests: Soccer, Fishing
Languages: Spanish
Carlos was born in the “small town” of La Libertad in the pacific coast of Ecuador. During his childhood, Carlos grew up by the seaside watching his father fishing and in his free time he played soccer outdoors. Before even finishing high school, Angel became an accredited engineer assistant for four years and after training he finally became a chief engineer. With his new chief engineer title he started working on DAPHNE. Carlos then transitioned his passion to cruise on GRAND DAPHNE.
Carlos Bacilio
Chief engineer
Previous Yachts: M/Y GRAND DAPHNE (39m), M/C OCEAN SPRAY 34m), M/Y ORIGIN (43m)
Interests: Cooking, Learning about new cultures, Dancing to Latino music, Mountain biking, Snorkelling, Scuba diving
Languages: Fluent Spanish & basic Italian
Josy was born in Quito, Ecuador and moved to the Galapagos at the age of 10. To this day, she considers it to be the best thing that ever happened to her. She attended school in Puerto Ayora on the island of Santa Cruz and studied abroad in the U.S. and Italy. By the time she was 18, she knew she was destined to pursue her dream job as a naturalist guide, and she began guiding in the Galapagos in 2005. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Tourism Administration and Hotel Management from the University Espíritu Santo in Guayaquil. She also obtained a scholarship to pursue a Master in Tourism Management and Planning at the University of Alicante in Spain. As an Expedition Leader and Naturalist Guide in Mexico and Ecuador, Josy's desire is to share her passion for the islands with her guests and to impart an appreciation for their natural environment and wild inhabitants. Josy has worked in hotels and restaurants in Ecuador and Europe and now also runs a small hotel in Puerto Ayora and works actively in the Galapagos Chamber of Tourism.
Joseline "Josy" Cardoso
Chief steward/ess
Interests: Galapagos, people, nature, biking, hiking, martial arts, learning and exploring
Languages: English, French and Spanish
Grace was born in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. She was raised in a small town called Ibarra, located two hours north of Quito. She is the oldest child of an Ecuadorian couple. Her father is an artisan shoemaker and her mother runs a shoe store in Ibarra. Her parents were always her role models for work ethics and customer service. By the age of 16 she left her parents’ house to live abroad. She later came back to Ecuador to study tourism in a university where she became passionate about travel and finding ways to make people’s dreams of traveling come true. She will do whatever you ask or anticipate your needs before you even know you want it, to make your life comfortable and solve any problem that you may encounter. Grace has been working in customer service for about 15 years, helping travellers meet their needs and make their trip a wonderful experience. She discovered the yachting life onboard the GRAND DAPHNE. After rigorous training, she finally got to start her life as part of our crew. She fell in love with the job from her first day.
Grace Cardenas
Chief steward/ess
Previous Yachts: M/Y DAPHNE (28m)
Interests: Listening to Salsa music, fishing
Languages: Fluent Spanish
Bolo was born in the city of Guayaquil, with the largest port in Ecuador.At primary school, he liked physics and math, and this continued throughout high school. Before finishing high school, Bolo succeeded in becoming an accredited chef assistant and started working in the field to gain experience, during which time he worked on various boats. He ultimately received a Bachelors in his favourite subjects. After college he went to Galapagos because of his attraction to the tourism industry. He has worked as a chef assistant for about three years while simultaneously taking cooking lessons.
Bolivar "Bolo" Santos
Chef
Previous Yachts: M/Y LOBO DE MAR (15m), M/Y TIP TOP II (30m), M/Y TIP TOP III (39m), M/Y GUADELUPE RIVER (35m), M/Y PASSION (50m)
Interests: Conservation, Sports & Fishing, Adventure!
Languages: Fluent Spanish
Patricio was born on August 12, 1982. He is the third generation of settlers in the Galapagos Islands. His grandfather arrived to the Galapagos Islands in the 1930s from mainland Ecuador, since at the time the Ecuadorian government supported people to
go to the islands. His grandfather dedicated himself to agriculture obtaining land in the highlands of San Cristobal. When Patricio was born in 1982 there were very few inhabitants, with no more than 1500 on the Island of San Cristobal, in fact there was only one car for the entire island.He enrolled in school and high school on the island. He started as a fisherman in 2001, and in 2002, he excelled into taking the sailor course where he began his life at sea in Tourism boats. Every 4 years he advanced his courses. In 2006 he stopped fishing and he dedicated himself to work in tourism boats and in 2017 he had the opportunity to be captain of M/C OCEAN SPRAY.
Patricio Aguas
Captain