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. Many of Nick's friends and family in the USA decided to visit a country they likely would have never otherwise considered. Marisol and Nick enthusiastically planned trips for them 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 deaf student received a tablet in order to receive lessons in sign language.

The couple were married in December 2016 and spent their honeymoon in Venice. They welcomed their son, Matteo, on March 4, 2020.

Marisol and Nick are both teachers who are always interested in learning more about their surroundings and passing on that knowledge to others. Their favorite places to visit in Colombia are Cartagena, Tayrona National Park, La Guajira, Valle de Cocora, Boyacá, and the many beautiful towns in Antioquia and the Coffee region.

Meet Marisol

I'm originally from Northwest Indiana, just outside of Chicago. I graduated from Purdue University in 2002 and started work as an accountant. After a life-changing trip to Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt in 2010, I quit my boring accounting job, moved to Istanbul, and became an English teacher. I left Istanbul after 3 1/2 incredible years there and moved to Santiago, Chile. While there, I accepted a volunteer teaching position in a small town in Colombia (you know what happened next).

I've lived in 5 countries (USA, Australia, Turkey, Chile, and Colombia) and have traveled extensively in over 40. I can speak Greek, Spanish, and some Turkish. I'm a huge Chicago sports fan (for the record - Sox, not Cubs) and I try to catch as many games as possible. In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, cooking, and exploring new places. I also love music, movies, history, and all kinds of food.

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 10 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!!!).