About Us

Kristin Breen

Conservation Travel Manager

Kristin will ensure that your trip is seamless, from preparing a proposal for your group, to coordinating registrations and logistics. She will get your group prepared to travel and be available for any questions and concerns that come up.

Kristin has experience working with nonprofits, state government, and political campaigns. She received a BA in government from the College of William & Mary and an MPA from Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

Gail Lemiec

Conservation Travel Director

Gail leads up our Conservation Travel program which includes our Sea Turtle Conservation Tours and our EcoTeach student travel program. She will ensure your group has a great experience from pre-trip preparation to a fun adventure and after your return.

Gail Lemiec is a marine and environmental educator with over 20 years of experience, including 14 years with the North Carolina Aquariums. She is passionate about ocean literacy and marine conservation. Gail is a big proponent of giving hands-on experiences to teachers and empowering them to bring conservation into their classrooms.

Carlos “Pika” Viquez

Operations Director

As a native Costa Rican growing up on a farm, Carlos Viquez brings a wealth of personal experience to his partnership with EcoTeach.  Pika—as his friends know him—started leading naturalist tours in 1994 at the suggestion of a college friend majoring in tourism. He started taking classes offered at the Universidad Nacionál, and working on various research projects related to mammal behavior and bats. Then in 1997 Pika began guiding for EcoTeach, and in August of 2008 – after more than 10 years as a guide – took over the Costa Rica operations of Herencia Verde.

“ I don’t know of any other company in Costa Rica that does the things we regularly do here. I don’t have any doubt it’s harder work than leading commercial tours. What we do is special.”

Gabriela Morales G.

Reservations & Program Manager

Gaby grew up in Santa Barbara, a beautiful district north of the city of Flores in Heredia Province. Since she was very young, Gaby has been interested in social sciences. She has worked with various service and media communication companies in human relations and has continued to learn and develop professionally in this field.  In 2005, she graduated with two licenses in Human Relations as well as Economic and Social Planning from the National University. In 2008, she began working with the company that she says "has changed her life."

“...The work and help the groups bring to the projects when they visit us creates the opportunity to make important changes for the environment; positively effects the lives of many people; and helps to maintain Costa Rica as a place of “Pura Vida.”