José Miguel Valdivieso

Station Naturalist

José has been a Galapagos naturalist guide since 2010, leading expeditions and international groups across the islands. A resident of Santa Cruz Island, he is passionate about sharing the natural history of the archipelago and inspiring people to protect it.

He holds a degree in Organizational Communication and Public Relations from Universidad San Francisco de Quito and has been a licensed Galapagos National Park naturalist guide since 2008. He also pursued further studies in human communication and became a certified NLP Coach.

José has guided for operators such as National Geographic, Silversea Cruises and Metropolitan Touring. During nearly ten years with G Adventures, he led international groups of travelers and worked with colleagues from many countries, including an assignment with the Global Operations team in Toronto, Canada. He also took part in the company’s international training camps in Costa Rica, India, Peru, Thailand and South Africa.

At the Charles Darwin Foundation, José is part of the Fundraising team, where he designs and leads immersive visitor experiences at the Research Station in English and Spanish. Through guided talks, educational presentations and special visits, he shares the Foundation’s science and conservation work, builds lasting relationships with visitors and tour operators, and inspires support for conservation in the Galapagos Islands.