Ecuador Tours in November 2027

Oswaldo was an amazing CEO - he cared so much about The Galapagos, the clients, the crew, the boat and G-Adventures. He was proactive on every outing to make sure we would have the best experience possible - on terms of the time we left (avoid other people), his knowledge, his picture taking and everything he shared with us. The Captain and the Crew were so caring and responsive to any need we might have. Everything was AMAZING - just as it should have been to be exploring the most special place I have seen on this planet.

This was one of the best "Discovery" tours I have been on with Explore. It felt like a real adventure, with the excursions to the volcanoes Cotopaxi and Chimborazo and the boat trips on the Napo river, a tributary of the Amazon. Our tour leader, Fabian, and driver, William, were both excellent. The accommodation was generally very good, with the exception being the Riobamba hotel. I find the comments by a previous reviewer about the current power outages in Ecuador to be absurd. The outages were a mild inconvenience (to us - although I pity the Ecuadorian people) but there were absolutely no security or food safety issues as a result. When I travel in (e.g.) South America I don't expect everything to be just like it is in my cosy Western European home! My one criticism of this trip is that there were far too many shopping stops that were thinly disguised as "cultural visits" - I counted at least ten of these. The number should be at least halved. I mean, what on earth do painted balsa wood parrots have to do with the culture of Ecuador? Or carved nut kernels, for that matter?

We had a wonderful trip to Ecuador. The itinerary is well planned with a wide variety of experiences. Our guide, Etiel, was excellent and very knowledgeable and organised. The hotels were very good. Some of the walks were quite challenging but well worth the effort. The scenery is spectacular! With a great group of people, an excellent guide and driver, and a great mix of activities, it is one of the best Exodus tours we have ever been on.

Our trip to the Galapagos Islands was an exciting, unique, and educational adventure for the whole family. Each day was ended with the thought that it couldn't possibly get any better...and then the next day it did! First, the tour operator's staff was excellent in helping us to plan and reschedule our trip (due to COVID). The booking staff and trip coordinators were responsive to all questions and concerns we had. The communication about trip preparation was excellent as well. Every single person we dealt with was polite, professional and knowledgeable, and we always received a reply in a timely manner. Once our trip actually began, we were also very well taken care of by the local guides. Pablo and Paulo were exceptional tour guides and human beings. Pablo's passion for the Galapagos Islands was infectious and his knowledge about the history, landscape, animals and plants was beyond incredible. He is a walking and talking Galapagos encyclopedia! Pablo was warm and welcoming and had a great sense of humor. He made sure we were getting the most out of each day while always keeping our safety in mind. He made sure we always knew what to expect and how to prepare for each day's adventure. While Pablo was the front man, Paolo's patience with each member of the group and tremendous work behind the scenes was instrumental to our enjoyable and worry free trip. From arranging meals and taking food orders to getting us all set up with the right equipment for snorkeling, bike riding or hiking, Paolo's attention to detail ensured that everything ran smoothly. Pablo and Paolo were both so friendly, personable and attentive to our group and each individual's needs. Finally, the Islands are spectacular! I have never experienced such diversity in wildlife, landscape and nature in one locale. We were able to witness sea lions, penguins, giant tortoises marine iguanas, birds, and fish up close, and we really felt like we were a part of their world. Each day brought a new surprise and experience that we could never have imagined. We are grateful and thrilled to have been able to visit such a magnificent place on earth. We are so grateful to our guides for sharing their wonderful and unique home with us.

I came home with thinner thighs! The biking on day one was a little too much for me, since I was not used to a bike with fat tires and shifting for the big hills (description said it was a flat 9 miles), and after the second hill, I had to quit and ride in the truck, rather than risk hurting myself and be useless the rest of the trip. My friend had sore thighs for the entire trip! Other than that, the 10-mile hike up and down the volcano in the heat was farther than I have ever walked in my life. I had a break, though, when my friend and I stayed back at the picnic area rather than walk over the lava to the little volcano, shaving 2 miles off that part. The food was great, and the choices allowed us to try different fish dishes, or have chicken if we wanted. Our group of 6 plus Jessica, our guide, was the perfect size to stay together for all parts of this trip. Kayaking was my favorite part, as this was when I saw my 1st Galapagos penguin! I loved Isabella Island, best of the 3 islands, we were able to visit during the pandemic, and felt very safe the entire time. Hotels with ocean views were beautiful, which is why we picked this tour, since we did not want to spend most of our time on a boat. The speed boat to Santa Cruz was very loud with pounding the water much of the way, so I would recommend earplugs and not sitting up near the captain, where you will get soaking wet. We didn't get to see Floreana Island, due to Covid, but the itinerary was great as it was. Having the sandwiches at the airport in Santa Cruz was a very good way to end our time with Jessica. Loved her!

Our trip to the Galapagos islands was so welcoming after not traveling for a year and a half because of covid. We felt really safe and had an amazing time.