Our Story
Born from the Bay
We are a family of guides, biologists, and fishermen who grew up on these waters. Jiquilisco Bay is not a backdrop — it is our home, and we share it with the world on its own terms.
15+
Years guiding the bay
4,200+
Guests welcomed
320 km²
Biosphere reserve
180+
Bird species recorded
How It Began
A Fisherman's Son and a Biologist's Dream
Jiquilisco Bay Tours was founded in 2009 by Carlos Mejía and Sofía Ramos — a childhood friend and a university colleague who shared one conviction: the bay's survival depended on people falling in love with it.
Carlos had watched industrial shrimp farms and illegal logging chip away at the mangroves his father fished. Sofía had spent three years documenting the decline of hawksbill turtle nesting sites. Together, they believed that responsible, small-group ecotourism could fund conservation while giving local families an alternative to extractive industries.
Fifteen years on, the bay's mangrove cover in our operating zone has increased by 18%. The turtles are returning. And every tour we run puts money directly into the hands of the communities that have always been the bay's best guardians.
Your Guides
Local Expertise, Deep Roots
Every guide on our team was born or raised in the communities surrounding the bay. Their knowledge isn't from a textbook — it's lived.
Lead Naturalist Guide
Carlos Mejía
Born in Puerto Parada, Carlos has spent his entire life on the waters of Jiquilisco Bay. A certified ornithologist and former fisherman, he reads the tides, the birds, and the mangroves like a living map.
Marine Ecology Guide
Sofía Ramos
Sofía holds a degree in marine biology from the University of El Salvador and has led conservation research in the bay for over a decade. She brings scientific depth to every expedition.
Conservation Mission
Tourism That Gives Back
10% of every booking goes directly into our Bay Restoration Fund. Here's what that money does.
Mangrove Restoration
We partner with local communities to replant degraded mangrove zones — over 12,000 seedlings planted since 2018.
Sustainable Fishing Advocacy
Working alongside artisanal fishermen to promote seasonal rest periods and reduce bycatch in critical nursery areas.
Community-First Tourism
Every tour dollar stays local. Our guides, boat operators, and partner lodges are all from the communities surrounding the bay.
Low-Impact Operations
Small group sizes, electric-assist kayaks, and strict no-wake zones near nesting colonies keep our footprint minimal.
"We don't take people to see the bay. We take them to understand why it must survive."
— Carlos Mejía, Co-founder
Come See It for Yourself
Every tour is led by a certified local guide, capped at 8 guests, and designed to leave the bay better than we found it.