Emily McFarling

Born to an Ecuadorian mother and an Anglo-French father, Emily grew up in a multicultural family that moved between the Galápagos Islands, southern France and West Sussex in the United Kingdom. These experiences fostered a lasting curiosity about how people relate to the environments they inhabit and how place shapes identity.

She studied Geography at Aberystwyth University in Wales, focusing on island identities and sense of place. Her studies explored the social, cultural and ecological relationships that emerge in isolated environments, an academic foundation that continues to inform her work as a guide.

After graduating, Emily returned to the Galápagos and became involved in conservation and education initiatives throughout the archipelago. She worked in GIS for the Charles Darwin Foundation's Marine Invasive Species Programme, supporting research and management efforts aimed at protecting the islands' ecosystems. She also collaborated on environmental education projects, driven by a belief in the importance of local engagement and conservation. Alongside this work, she continued to nurture a passion for arts and crafts, viewing creativity as another way of connecting with place.

Emily's connection to the ocean began early. At age 14, she started volunteering at a local dive shop and eventually became a Divemaster. Today, she is a certified Galápagos National Park guide and dive guide for the Galápagos Marine Reserve.

More recently, Emily has developed a passion for climbing, mountaineering and high-altitude hiking in the Ecuadorian Andes. Whether on land or at sea, she enjoys helping travelers better understand the connections between nature, culture and conservation while exploring the Galápagos and beyond.