About Us
Hola and welcome from Yachana Tours...your local connection in Quito, Ecuador. Yachana, founded in 1991, is an integrated non-profit organization involved in several aspects of Geotourism, education and sustainable development. This unique hybrid business model, consisting of an NGO supported by for-profit companies, was designed to enhance all of our programs and focuses on improving the lives of people from the Amazon region and the protection of the rainforest. The Yachana Foundation's mission to achieve sustainability through education and is supported by Yachana Lodge, Yachana Technology and Yachana Tours.
Meet the Team:
Douglas McMeekin, founder of Yachana, is a native of the state of Kentucky, USA; he has lived in Ecuador since 1986. In an effort to help people living in the Amazon region, Douglas founded the Yachana Foundation in 1991. His goals with the organization are to implement community development programs that lower levels of poverty, improve the quality of education, promote the conservation of the unique ecosystems of the Ecuadorian Amazon and implement initiatives to improve the health of people living throughout the region.
In 2009, the Ashoka Foundation honoured Douglas by inviting him to join the prestigious group of Ashoka-Lemelson Fellows for his work in the development in the Amazon communities of Ecuador and his innovative use of technology that has raised the quality of life in the region.
Hugh Yarbrough, also a native of the US, currently serves as the Director of Yachana Tours. For more than 20 years, Hugh has lived, worked and travelled extensively throughout Latin America, Europe, Southern Africa and Australasia as an international business executive. Now, he utilizes his background in business and passion for travel to develop opportunities through tourism for the Yachana Foundation. Hugh is always excited to share his knowledge of Ecuador and passion for conservation, education, micro-enterprise and sustainable development with visitors from around the world.
Hugh is also thrilled to be living in Ecuador, one of the most cultural and bio-diverse places on the planet. Working in tourism reminds him every day that from the jungle to the snow covered volcanoes to the costal Ruta del Sol to the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador is a must-see destination offering an unforgettable experience for all travellers, regardless of age or areas of interest!
Pablo León is sales and operations manager of Yachana Tours. He is a biologist and bird watching-natural and adventure specialist guide who invites you to be our guest for a unique and unforgettable experience around our beautiful and natural Ecuador. With more than 17 years experience Pablo has travelled through all possible corners of Ecuador and loves to share with our visitors his passion for Ecuador, one of the most exciting and diverse countries in the world.
When it comes to planning and organizing the activities and operations in Yachana Lodge, Carmen Martin is the expert. Having worked for many years with the Amazon region, Carmen's experience in operations guarantees our guests an enjoyable time. She is always enthusiastic and available to her clients to solve any kind of issue in record time.
What we do in our destination:
Yachana Lodge was built in 1995 and has welcomed approximately 2,500 visitors per year since its opening. It is located in a remote region of the Ecuadorian Amazon, only accessible by motorized canoe. Winner of the 2008 National Geographic Ashoka Changemakers Geotourism Challenge as the best example of Geotourism in the world, it has became a world-class destination that offers our guests both a rainforest experience within our 1,800 hectares of protected primary and secondary forest and a cultural experience through activities with members of the local communities. The lodge supports the Yachana Foundation's endeavours in education, conservation and poverty reduction through micro-enterprise development that help create alternative solutions for the people who call the Amazon Rainforest home. For its contribution, Yachana Lodge has won many other awards over the years from organizations like Condé Nast Traveller, National Geographic Society and Skål International among others.
Yachana Technology sources and distributes products that are environmentally friendly solutions to people living at the base of the economic pyramid. They include basic water purification systems, lamps that are rechargeable with small solar panels that also charge battery packs and cellular phones.
Yachana Tours is a fully licensed tour operator and provides services to tourists from around the world. We are experts in the local market and offer tours in and around Quito and throughout Ecuador including the Galapagos Islands. Yachana Tours is proud to be the local representative for World Hotel Link, Urban Adventures and Green Path Transfers. Through WHL.travel, we offer you our local expertise and recommendations in addition to the best hotels in Quito along with all of the top lodges located throughout the Northern Amazon region of Ecuador. In short, we are here to make sure your trip to Ecuador is as worry-free and as enjoyable as possible!
Don't hesitate to contact us for local tips or any questions or concerns you may have!
