Juan Carlos is a biologist dedicated to restoring Ecuador’s coral reef to its former splendor. We encountered Juan during our travels through Machalilla, Ecuador. A beautiful little fishermen’s community surrounded by a large National Park and just north of Puerto Lopez.
Finding Purpose in Community…
We stayed with Juan at his Guest House and were enraptured with his lively spirt and deep concern for the environment. Motivated by the degradation of Ecuador’s coral reefs, Juan dedicated himself to their restoration. Through a tough 6 years of trial and error and with many hardships and hurdles, it seems that their Team is finally making strides. From working hand-in-hand with the local community, they have implemented various coral restoration projects!
For several years, Juan has tirelessly worked towards this cause, combatting pollution and the effects of climate change on the coral reefs. His dedication is unwavering, driven by a desire to create a better future for Ecuador’s marine life.
Juan dreams of seeing the coral reefs flourishing once again, serving as a beacon of hope for future generations. He believes that collective action and community involvement are key to achieving this vision. Now people from around the world can come be a part of Juan’s vision by volunteering and supporting these efforts!
We sat down with Juan to record a conversation so we could share his mission with the world. Juan’s story is a testament to the power of passion and community in driving positive change.
Below is our interview with Juan Carlos of Machalilla, Ecuador:
Listen to the full interview on Spotify:
Interview Timestamps & Chapters:
- 0:00:00 – How We Met Juan & Traveling Ecuador
- 0:01:29 – Juan Carlos & Changing Machalilla
- 0:05:06 – Discovering the Correct Coral Reef Restoration Efforts
- 0:07:46 – Sharing Purpose with the Community
- 0:11:15 – Remembering the Coral Reef 30 years ago
- 0:13:49 – “You Can’t Love Something You Don’t Understand”
- 0:15:40 – Casa Búho & Helping Children
- 0:17:36 – Advise to Young People
- 0:19:35 – How to get involved & Volunteer in Machalilla, Ecuador
Casa Búho
To add even more light into this story, we then discovered that Juan’s daughter, Valeria Sáenz, manages Casa Búho, a beautiful initiative centered around promoting reading programs and activities for children in Machalilla.
Casa Búho aims to cultivate critical thinking skills in children by providing access to books early in their lives. Their mission is to empower young minds through the transformative power of literature, believing that fostering a love for reading today will shape thoughtful, engaged adults tomorrow.
How You Can Get Involved
Two People have found purpose and dedication in their lives for the betterment of others and the environment. For those eager to support these projects or learn more about their initiatives, Casa Búho and Villa Machalilla offer opportunities for involvement and support. Just reach out to them directly through the links below:
- Villa Machalilla (Carlos) on Google
- Villa Machalilla on Booking
- Visit Casa Búho Website
- Casa Búho Facebook
- Email Valeria Directly
We hope Juan’s & Valeria’s dedication can serve as a beacon, guiding us all towards a more sustainable future and inspiring us to discover our own purpose in this ever-changing world.
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Thank you.
– M & J
The Traveling Wellburys 
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