~Our History

Andiamo began with the travel dreams of our Italian roots.

Our founders

Andiamo began with the travel dreams of an Italian family who established Andiamo (meaning “let’s go”) as a retirement project. Daughter Maria married a Mexican in the 1970s, moved to Baja California and practically became a cachanilla (a native of Baja California). Following several years as a tour leader, she felt the desire to share her love for her adopted country, thus, in 1997 Andiamo began to operate in Mexico with engaging journeys providing enhanced educational and cultural content. Maria’s daughter Esther, inheriting her mother’s passion for travel, joined in 2002 bringing a young spirit and the enthusiasm to share this land with a larger audience, yet maintaining a small family agency environment. Enthusiastic travelers have encouraged Andiamo to expand beyond Baja California peninsula into mainland Mexico offering journeys for members of well-known institutions such as Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Road Scholar and a growing number of European agencies, among many others.

~Our Goals

To create memorable life changing experiences

Our goal is to create memorable life changing experiences for adventure-oriented travelers looking for an alternative form of tourism off the beaten path. The guidance of our knowledgeable leaders provide a wealth of information on the unique nature and culture of our destinations, creating a pleasant harmonious atmosphere with emphasis on personal attention. Through interactions with the local communities we facilitate a deeper understanding of Mexico’s history and its people. We promote support to communities, schools, museums and other institutions, not forgetting the importance of protecting and respecting our home, our world.

~Our Support Team

María Mitrani

Co-founder

Maria was born in Italy and subsequently lived in Canada, the United States and France. She finally settled in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico where she has been living since 1976 with her husband and three children. She has a B.A. in Italian and Art History form the University of California at Berkeley.

 

In Mexico, she taught English as a Second Language for several years. Since 1985 she has lead tour groups throughout Mexico becoming a specialized leader for Baja California, which is her home and her passion.

 

In 1997, she began organizing Andiamo programs in the peninsula. Today, when not attending her grandchildren, you will find her in the office retiring from the on-the-road-activity.  Maria’s multi-culture past has helped her to understand different worlds and to speak several languages.

Esther Mitrani

Co-founder

Born in Ensenada, Esther graduated with a degree in Psychology at the State University of Baja California, then moved to San Francisco for three years where she worked in Human Resources for high-tech companies. Missing her home, she returned to her native city and married.

 

Esther was familiar with tourism having worked as a tour conductor during her student life, thus decided to join the family business in 2002. Her involvement in Andiamo has piloted its growth and its goals becoming the strength and soul of the agency.

 

Her interaction with remote villages has motivated her to support local institutions and residents.
In addition to raising her three children, Esther is an avid athlete regularly running triathlons and loves to travel.

Rosa María Guerra


Rosa Maria lived temporarily in Mazatlan where she studied Business Administration beginning her professional carrier in Human Resources and Administration, then returned to her home in Ensenada.

 

Since 2010, Rosa has been performing in Andiamo with upmost professionalism, has excellent personal skills and is always willing to provide the best care for our customers.

Irene Vannucci


Irene was born and raised in Italy. She has been living in Mexico since 1995 developing a great passion for the history, culture and daily life of her new homeland.

 

Irene who is specialist leader for our Italian travelers recently joined our support team attending our European clients.

Gisela Ramos

Gisela was born and raised in Ensenada, Baja California. She studied abroad in France, then at The Technology Insitute of Monterrey (ITESM) graduating with a BA in Marketing, and joined Andiamo in 2014.

 

Gisela is responsible, very organized, making sure that every place along the way is ready to receive our travelers on time and with open arms.

María Isabel Soto

María Isabel was born and raised in Ensenada, Baja California where she studied Accounting at Cetys Universidad. She then moved to Santa Rosalia where she lived for 12 years working as a manager at the local Marina. She married, raised a family and eventually decided to move back to Ensenada.

 

Committed and responsible in her work, María Isabel joined Andiamo in 2023. In her free time she loves to read and spend time with her family

Claudia Campoy

A native of Ensenada, Claudia studied law at the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California. While at the University, she had the opportunity to participate in a student exchange program to Spain where she  acquired her taste for travel.

 

Since 2017 Claudia has enlivened Andiamo’s office with her dedication  and cheerful personality.

~Our Leaders

Artemio Sicilia

Artemio was born in Mexico City but raised in Ensenada. His active lifestyle includes teaching and tutoring high school and university students in a wide range of subjects in addition to being a dedicated Group Leader since 1991. Artemio is enthusiastic, resourceful, an avid outdoorsman, a certified ocean lifeguard and volunteers as a Senior Scout Troop leader.

Jazmín Mariscal

Jazmin has been living mainly in Ensenada where she received a BA in Communications and Cultural Studies at the UABC, the State University. Passionate about people, nature, and dancing, she founded an Urban Community Garden Project, teaches West African dance, and works as a Group Leader. Her lively and caring personality as well as her love for nature makes her a wonderful leader.

Benjamín González

Benjamín was born in a traditional Mexican family. As the son of an anthropologist mother and sociologist father, and having a great love of his country, he decided to major in history. His curios spirit has driven him to travel the 32 State Capitals of Mexico and a number of countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America. He enjoys sharing his knowledge about Mexico in a natural, local, and joyful way.

Isabel Sánchez

Isabel began working as a Group Leader at a young age in the mid 80’s in her hometown of Ensenada. In 1998, she moved to Southern California and continued to lead groups specializing in the Sonoran Desert. Since 2004, Isabel has been leading groups along the peninsula of Baja California and in the Copper Canyon of Chihuahua.

Verónica Rangel
(Luka)

Born in Mexico City, Luka adopted Ensenada as her home in 1994 when studying Oceanography at the State University. She became an enthusiastic environmental educator organizing events to teach conservation in remote villages and indigenous communities of Baja California. Her knowledge and love for nature have made her an excellent Group Leader.

Irene Vannucci

Irene was born and raised in Italy. She has been living in Mexico since 1995 developing a great passion for the history, culture, and daily life of her new homeland. She studied archaeology, anthropology, and history becoming a certified Group Leader. She regards each trip as a new adventure that makes her grow personally and professionally transmitting her enthusiasm to participants.

Anilú López

Anilú was born and raised in Mexico City. She lived in France for 11 years where she studied History of Art at La Sorbonne and worked as a Group Leader. Back in Mexico, she raised her children while continuing to work as a Group Leader. Anilu is amusing and enthusiastic when sharing her knowledge and passion of her country, its people, culture and history with people from around the world.

Cristina Vannucci

Cristina was born and raised in Italy. After graduating from the university, she worked in England and the United States, then spent several years traveling and working between Italy and France. She arrived in Mexico by chance in 1992 and made it her home working as a dedicated Group Leader ever since, sharing her love and deep knowledge of her adopted country.

Miriam Vega

A native of Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco, Miriam has been living in Baja California most of her adult life. She studied business; however, her love for African dance and for yoga shifted her life focusing on nature and the spirit. One of her greatest joys is to be surrounded by whales, an experience which she enthusiastically shares with visitors as well as her love of Mexico.