About Us

The Zapatas spent many hours during their childhood watching Jacques Cousteau on television. Their father was a fishermen who spent every day in the ocean, including time with Jean-Michael Cousteau in Galapagos before liveaboards existed. Mr. Zapata named his fishing boat Calipso in honor of the Cousteaus.

As part of the process to get a dive permit in the Galapagos Marine Reserve, Mr. Zapata had to give up his fishing boat. So in honor of their father, the Zapata family named their new liveaboard Calipso. In Spanish, it’s Calipso, not Calypso.

Carlos Zapata created the widely respected Foundation for Alternative Responsible Development (FUNDAR) Galapagos. His PhD thesis was on the economic impact of climate change on Galapagos. Carlos lives in Santa Cruz, Galapagos. He will oversee various elements of operation.

Bolivar Zapata exports contaminants out of Galapagos for recycling on the mainland. He lives in San Cristobal and will oversee Calipso operations.

Fabian Zapata is a specialist in environmental studies with a Master’s degree. He is overseeing the construction of Calipso. He will oversee the many necessary logistics on the mainland.

Gabriela Zapata became a biotech engineer, studying at the University of Nottingham in the UK. She lives in Quito, Ecuador and will oversee
 domestic flights as well as guest relations and internal operations along with her husband, Jose Luis Arias, who has a Msc in management.