Juan Carlos Avila

Juan Carlos was born in Quito, Ecuador, and spent part of his elementary schooling in the province of Cotopaxi, a region at the foot of the Ecuadorian Andes. In 1989, his family moved to the Galápagos and settled in the misty highlands of Santa Cruz, the second largest island in the archipelago. It was there that he completed high school and developed a lasting interest in the islands' natural history, wildlife, and conservation, experiences that shaped his career as a naturalist.

While in high school, Juan Carlos volunteered with nonprofit organizations associated with Japanese and American schools, organizing conservation fundraisers and public beach cleanups on Santa Cruz. Following oceanic oil spills that damaged the Galápagos' unique ecosystems, he helped support conservation efforts to protect the islands' wildlife and habitats. Through this work, he became a naturalist, rescue diver, and dive master for the Galápagos National Park and Marine Reserve. He studied physics, mathematics, and bilingual education, and is fluent in English and Spanish. He has spent decades sharing the natural and cultural history of the Galápagos with travelers from around the world.

Juan Carlos also earned his Photo Instructor certification through a multi-day training workshop developed by National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions photographers. The program strengthened his knowledge of photography, camera operation, and composition, enabling him to help guests better understand their equipment and capture meaningful images while exploring one of the world's most remarkable island ecosystems.