Paisadventure - Who We Are

WHO WE ARE

About Us

Marisol and Nick met in August 2014 and quickly learned of their love for travel and for each other. They began to travel to as many places in Colombia as their schedules allowed. After seeing pictures of their trips, some of Nick's friends and family in the USA decided to explore a country that wasn't on their radar and asked Marisol and Nick for advice. They enthusiastically planned trips and showed them around many of the places they had visited. Finally, in December 2015, they decided to open their own travel company so that others could experience this fascinating country from a local's perspective.

In March 2016, Marisol and Nick raised nearly $2,000 via a Gofundme campaign to completely renovate the school where Marisol teaches. The building, part of a marginalized community, received a fresh coat of paint inside and out, a set of murals, patches to fix a leaky roof, and upgrades to the computers. The students received new backpacks, lunches and supplies for the entire year, and help completing their school uniforms. In addition, a hearing-impaired student received a tablet in order to receive her daily lessons in sign language.

The couple tied the knot in December 2016 and celebrated their honeymoon in Venice. They welcomed their son, Matteo, on March 4, 2020.

Marisol and Nick are both educators passionate about exploring their surroundings and sharing their knowledge with others. Their favorite destinations in Colombia include Tayrona National Park, La Guajira, Boyacá, and the charming towns of Antioquia and the Coffee region.

Meet Marisol

I’m originally from Northwest Indiana, just a stone’s throw from Chicago. After graduating from Purdue University in 2002, I jumped into the thrilling world of accounting, which is as exciting as watching paint dry. But then in 2010, I took a life-altering trip to Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt, and thought, “Why not ditch this snooze-fest?” So, I packed my bags, moved to Istanbul, and became an English teacher. Fast forward, after 3.5 incredible years in Istanbul, I found myself in Santiago, Chile, then off to volunteer teach in a small Colombian town (you know how that story goes).

I've lived in five countries (USA, Australia, Turkey, Chile, and Colombia) and have traveled to over 45. I can speak Greek, Spanish, and just enough Turkish to get by. I’m a die-hard Chicago sports fan (Sox, not Cubs, so don’t get it twisted) and I try to catch as many games as possible when I'm back home. When I’m not busy leading tours, you can find me hiking, cooking, listening to music, watching movies, and diving into history.

I was born in a small town in Colombia’s coffee region and grew up on a farm. I've been a teacher since 2007 and graduated from Universidad Católica de Manizales in Colombia. I feel really proud and successful when I can interact with the children and give them my best. Ever since I was a child, I have felt passionate about teaching. During these years, I've discovered the important influence we have as adults on our children, especially as parents and teachers. Now, I'm happy to use my talents as a teacher to share everything I know about my country with our visitors.

I love experiencing new cultures and meeting people from other countries. I want to travel to as many places in the world as possible. Dancing is a passion of mine and I enjoy the opera and tango. I also love to watch and play sports, especially volleyball, basketball, and soccer (Colombia!!!).