HomeTestimonialsGalapagos

Galapagos Tours - Testimonials

Guantanamera

Trudy Jones (Islands and Incas + Machu Picchu by Train Tour + Cruise on Guantanamera, Feb 2009)
Our guide, Santiago, in Cusco/Machu Picchu was incredible. Essentially with us 24/7 for part of the trip. It felt like a visit with a very knowledgeable family member.

Lodging and meals were great. Lodging seemed to be in areas that we could a walk-about. I was wondering tho for such a short stay in Lima, if we would have enjoyed staying in old town.

Any concerns that i had were responded to promptly. I felt treated as an individual and not as just one of many tentative travelers.

I am planning a trip to Tanzania and was very disappointed not to see anything on your web site. I would always check Adventure Life first for any future trips!

Alta

Sonia Lazar (Cruise on Alta, May 2009)
Our tour guide, George, was very dedicated to his work, the protection of Galapagos, and the animals. He was a good guide.

It was an extraordinary experience, a place where man's destructiveness has been counterbalanced by scientific and humane activities. animals lived naturally and allowed people to observe them. Clearly a unique area; not paradise but unique and wonderful in my opinion.

Beagle

April Marlow (Islands and Incas + Machu Picchu by Train Tour + Cruise on Beagle, May 2009)
We loved them all! Sanctuary Lodge was great, mainly because of the location, but also the service and food was outstanding. But we also loved Pakaritampu in Ollantaytambo. What a magical place! Beautiful grounds with 3 resident llamas and view of the Inca fortress. And the Mansion Del Angel in Quito is like a Victorian dollhouse! So cute, with roses and roses petals all over. The Beagle is a beautiful ship. We did not see another ship that we would have rather been on. And with only 12 passengers, it was just perfect. We would not have liked to be herded around like the bigger boats.

You were great. When our flight was delayed leaving Cuzco and we missed our flight to Quito, we ended up with 6 hours in Lima. I called your rep and she sent a van for us so we could explore Lima instead of sitting at the airport. Likewise, when we caught an earlier flight from the Galapagos, and ended up in Quito 3 hours early, I called your rep in Quito and she was there in 15 mins with a ride to our hotel, and information on what to do and where to eat. We were all very impressed with their helpfulness, friendliness and professionalism.

We were totally impressed with Marco Palomino. His knowledge is incredible and we learned a lot from him. But also his manner and style was what made the trip. We could not have had a better guide, period. On the Beagle, our naturalist ... Read All

Coral I

James Storey (Islands and Incas + Machu Picchu by Train Tour + Cruise on Coral I, Sep 2008)
Our guide in Peru,Teddy Romero, was excellent - a real wealth of historical, archaeological, and naturalist knowledge. The naturalists in the Galapagos were very good too.

The total experience in the Galapagos was fabulous. The boat was very comfortable and the crew was very nice and accommodating. We had day after day of jaw dropping sights and otherworldly vistas. The naturalists were very good and made sure that we saw all the various animals and learned about their habits. There was a good mix of hikes, beach walks and snorkeling. Each island had its own unique wow factor. A real photgrapher's paradise. I was very happy with the way we saw the Inca lands. Some people took the train right from Cusco to Machu Picchu and back, but by taking the car trip through the sacred valley, we say far more and got a much better appreciation of how extensive the civilization was. We spent the night in Ollantaytambo and even got to hang out in the town square for the Friday night festival. My compliments to whoever arranged for us to get the two front seats in the train to Machu Picchu - with full plate glass window view!

Coral II

Robin Storey (Islands and Incas + Cruise on Coral II, Sep 2008)
Teddy, our guide in Peru, was terrific, and the naturalists in the Galapagos were knowledgeable and very friendly. Everyone else who helped us with our travels were wonderful.

Especially enjoyed the barbecue dinner. Food was plentiful - not gourmet but adequate. Snacks following our outings were appreciated!

Important to pack lightly; be prepared for tourista and consider how you'll deal with the altitude (we took Diamox which worked well so we had no problems). While in the Galapagos, you are very out of touch with no news, internet and little cell phone coverage. That can be very relaxing but good for people to know that in advance. Very disappointed with the international cell phone we bought to use on our trip. Make sure you have lots of memory cards for your digital cameras! Fellow travelers were great and it was fun to meet people from all over the world. For most of your time in the Galapagos, there are no stores so don't think you can pick up what you need in a shop.

Eclipse

Beverly Airhart (Cruise on Eclipse, May 2009)
Not only was our visit to the Galapagos absolutely beyond our dreams but to be on the "Eclipse" yacht was Amazing! The staff, the accommodations, the food, our Naturalists.......it all made for a Wonderful trip! We also appreciated the consideration given to safety being a high priority, also to protecting the environment we visited and to making us comfortable in every way!

Those we had talked with as we planned and finalized our trip were very helpful and efficient!

The ship food was beyond good! The hotle was average/good and inexpensive.

Eric, Letty & Flamingo

Kelly Whitehurst (Cruise on Eric, Letty & Flamingo, Oct 2009)
The Mansion del Angel is a beautiful boutique hotel in Quito. The staff was very helpful with local reservations and transportation needs. The crew and the M/Y Eric were fantastic!

Honora Bauman (Islands and Incas + Incas and Rainforest + Machu Picchu by Train Tour + Cruise on Eric, Letty & Flamingo, Apr 2009)
I've been fortunate to travel more than most people so I think it's getting harder and harder to impress me. This trip certainly did the job! As much as you hear about the Galapagos, you have to experience it first hand to understand how special it is. As someone with an interest in nature photography I know I'll never find another place where it's so easy to get amazing wildlife photos. Peru was equally impressive in so many ways. Of course the ruins were amazing and the Colonial cities also. But the people were also wonderful and we loved their crafts, music and food. I'm sure we gave quite a boast to the local economy with our shopping. Our only regret was that we couldn't bring back one of the baby alpacas. But we settled for lots of photos instead.

We worked with Mary, Reilly and Marissa and they were all great about answering our questions and providing some advice.

I can't say enough about the guides. Ivan and Orlando, our guides from the Flamingo were really knowledgeable and so much fun. Teddy was equally knowledgeable and we shared a similar sense of humour. We had a great time with him.

We were particularly happy with the entire crew of the Flamingo. It was obvious that they worked long and hard each day but they were always really warm and enthusiastic. The impromptu concert during dinner one night was definitely a highlight. The staff ... Read All

Dana Colucci (Cruise on Eric, Letty & Flamingo, Feb 2009)
Pre-departure support was amazing. Timely cannot describe how quickly everyone, especially Mary, responded to my questions. Information and advice were excellent, and in hindsight absolutely perfect!

I enjoyed all of my accommodations. I particularly fell in love with Hacienda Pinsaqui and Mansion del Angel. I am a bit of a food snob, so take this comment with a grain of salt. I found the food satisfactory everywhere I went. I did not expect gourmet, so it was up to my expectations.

I did not realize what a beautiful and varied country Ecuador is. I cannot believe the Galapagos Islands are even more impressive in person than in the glossy brochures. I can't believe the entire trip went off without a single problem. You guys did a fantastic job!

Patricia Nichols (Cruise on Eric, Letty & Flamingo, Jan 2009)
The Galapagos exceeded our expectations! The birds and other wildlife are close enough to touch and they go on about their daily activities without seeming to notice that they have an audience.

Our local guide showed us the beauty of Ecuador with our 4 day trips. We toured a wide variety of venues from native markets to a cloud forest and hot springs.

The ship's crew were great and genuinely seem to like one another and get along. One evening we celebrated the birthday of one of the naturalist guides with singing and birthday cake - it was great fun and most of the crew played in the "band". I don't know how the chef managed to make two cakes and frost them in his small space, but he did!

Our local guide, Luis, was the best! He showed us his beautiful country with enthusiasm and shared his knowledge with us. We sampled local cuisine and thoroughly enjoyed our 4 days together. He went out of his way when we needed a internet cafe to print off something we had forgotten and to find a pharmacy and translate the need for something for insect bites.

John Irvine (Cruise on Eric, Letty & Flamingo, Jan 2009)
The accommodations on board the cruise were excellent. The hotel in Quito (Mansion del Angel) was beautiful and the service was excellent, but the hot water was problematic one night.

The naturalist guide on the cruise was outstanding. Enthusiastic and very knowledgeable.

Shariann Lewitt (Cruise on Eric, Letty & Flamingo, Jan 2009)
This was an amazing experience. Our boat (Flamingo of Eric/Letty/Flamingo) was absolutely wonderful--exactly what we wanted. The accommodations were very comfortable, the crew could not have been more warm and welcoming, and because it is a small boat we got to see things and go places where the larger boats don't go. I was also really impressed by the level of dedication to green principles aboard. Because the boat and the group were very small, our naturalist was able to make some changes based on our groups abilities and preferences--so we did more deep water snorkeling and had some longer more challenging hikes (which were fun because we got to see some things very close that we might not have.) Because ELF are identical and assign people to a boat when you get there, they grouped us more by age/ability--the retirees were on Eric and the younger on Flamingo (though they kept the multi-generational families together on Eric.) This arrangement gives the naturalists a lot more flexibility to tailor the tour to the specific group on board. Please recommend these boats more often! I think this arrangement worked out so well. We had very intimately tailored tours, the group was very social, and we got into a lot of places were we never saw any of the larger boats. Or any other boats at all...

Luis in Quito was wonderful, warm, friendly, with loads of ... Read All

Galapagos Legend

Steven Dostart (Cruise on Galapagos Legend, Dec 2008)
The staff of the Legend were incredible, especially Soledad.

The ship's food was very decent, not gourmet, but decent and had options for everyone. Especially appreciated that they had good vegetables and low fat protein options.

Ross Wishnick (Cruise on Galapagos Legend, Jul 2008)
The details, the planning, the excursions all went as well as we could expect. We were particularly impressed/pleased with the quality and knowledge of the guides.

We were very happy with Mansions del Angel. It was very convenient to use them as a base for our travels. We left excess luggage their each time we had an overnight or longer excursion.

The food on the Legend was great. Soledad was terrific as the ship's organizer. The pre-planning (the meeting) for each day's activities was great...though sometimes a little longer than necessary. Food was great and always enough. Service was great as well. If you looked up, the waiter was there.

Missoula, Montana...who would ever think that's where you would plan a trip to Ecuador. But that's where you are. That's where I planned the trip. And that's where I tell friends that they should consider your services. Jessie Hamm and Rebecca Parker did what they said they would and did it well.

Adventure Life made our Adventure to Ecuador...to the Volcano, to the Jungle, to the Northern Highlands, to the Galapagos perfect.

Mary Anne

Lauren Frank (Cruise on Mary Anne, Mar 2009)
The Mary Anne was great! The ship's crew was great! They were very helpful and friendly, they kept the ship very clean, and they made sure we were safe.

Millennium

Christie Batterman-Jordan (Cruise on Millennium, Sep 2009)
Thank you, Adventure Life! Your friendly and helpful staff did everything possible to make my arrangements practical and comfortable.

Several people on my tour had used Adventure Life before, and I can now see why. Especially for a woman traveling alone, flying off to a new country, it was great knowing that Adventure Life was there to support me. Thank you for everything!

Jill Marchakitus (Cruise on Millennium, Jun 2009)
Our guide was very knowledgeable and you could tell he had a very strong background in his field. He was able to answer all questions we had for him. He was very personable and easy to get along with.

The entire boat was very nice. The crew on the Millennium was awesome. They were all very friendly and did so much for us. The food was always fresh and there was a nice variety.

The trip really was everything I expected, and more! We were so lucky to see a lot of the unique things we saw. Everyday was filled with new and exciting things on each island. I would recommend the Galapagos to anyone looking for a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Jennifer Crossman (Cruise on Millennium, May 2009)
Everyone at Adventure Life was phenominal. I first worked with Monika to start researching different trips and getting price quotes. Unfortunately, she was going to be out of the office so in her absence, I began working with Mary. Both were prompt and knowledgeable. They answered any questions about the different options for boats and gave honest opinions about the pros and cons of each to help us determine what was the best choice for our budget. I also worked with Marissa and Rebecca in finalizing our details and both of them eased any concerns I had, answering all of my questions before I even had the chance to ask them. We booked our trip only 2 weeks before the departure so everyone worked quickly to get us confirmed and ready to leave.

The Millennium was fantastic, the rooms were spacious, newly renovated, and clean. The common areas of the boat were also nicely maintained and the sun deck was a nice added feature that most other boats were lacking. In Quito, we stayed at the Hotel Eugenia. The hotel was charming and the staff was extremely friendly and helpful.

Our local guide on the Millennium was Jaime and he was fantastic. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and geniunely seemed to enjoy sharing his stories about the Galapagos with us. When we snorkeled, he always got in the water with us to try to help point out interesting things. The rest of ... Read All

Alice Miller (Cruise on Millennium, Mar 2009)
Our guide's name was Andres and he was very helpful and knowledgeable. Very knowledgeable, friendly, showed great commitment to the environment. Wonderful.

I think our catamaran, Millennium was perfection itself. The cabins were very comfortable and spacious and the deck space was ideal for relaxing.

The staff was so friendly and concerned for our well-being. Even made me a wonderful birthday cake and folded the towels in our cabin in the shape of hearts. Couldn't be better.

Exceeded my expectations in that every element of the trip was outstanding. It will remain with me as one of the most memorable travel experience of my life...and that's saying alot since I am 76 tears old! I would suggest that whenever possible you book clients on to the Millenium as I believe it is more spacious and comfortable than many of the sail boats. I'm certain that there is more deck space which we thoroughly enjoyed. Visiting the Galapagos is a once in a lifetime experience...not to be missed.

Susan Larson (Cruise on Millennium, Oct 2008)
Small groups were nice since it allowed us to take more or less time at each site as our interest demanded.

Guides were spectacular! Every request was attnded to. Every question answered.

Meals on the boat, Millenium, were Excellent. Cook was very creative. Portions were just right. The variety of fruits was wonderful. Accommodations to my meal restrictions was sensitive.

Most exciting event: One day as we were drying off after snorkeling, one of the other snorkelers told me that a white tipped reef shark was following me. He waited to share this information until we were back on board the boat because he didn't want to scare me. While the reef shark may have been harmless, the next day while we were snorkeling, our guide started shouting, "Shark! Shark! Get back in the boat! Shark!" We scrambled back into the boat. There were actually two bull sharks about 8 meters in length and judging by their posturing, they were looking for dinner. Bull sharks, according to other experienced divers, are the most aggressive sharks in the world. In spite of the scare, I felt our guide was in total control and handled the situation with calm assurance.

Karen Lauridsen (Cruise on Millennium, Aug 2008)
The tour was fantastic!! We had an amazing trip! The islands were beautiful and the guides knowledgeable and fun!

This trip was more than we expected! Adventure Life was above and beyond our expectations. Thank you for an amazing trip to the Galapagos Islands! We look forward to traveling with Adventure Life!

Michael Wood (Islands and Incas + Machu Picchu by Train Tour + Cruise on Millennium, Mar 2008)
The assistance with the Galapagos flight check-in in Quito (which is complex, confusing and poorly signed) was particularly invaluable. Two guides just dealt with it - one getting the passes and one dealing with the luggage while we just stood and boggled. Amazing service. We also arranged an on-the-fly unplanned city tour when we arrived in Quito. Your local office dealt with it instantly and the guide even called ahead and got a museum to stay open late for us - wow!

I can't praise all the guides enough. Always helpful, always friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Their enthusiasm for their countries and their profession was infectious. These were people who enjoyed what they did and were proud to do a good job.

You seem to have a good and well deserved reputation locally. We had an absolutely fantastic time and would unreservedly recommend you to our friends.

Journey I

Edwin Coyl Jr. (Cruise on Journey I, May 2009)
Your Adventure Coordinator Jennifer Barile and several other coordinators were always very helpful and the always assured we received the most updated information for our trip.

Our stay at the Mansion del Angel in Quito was excellent. The location was great as there is a food court just around the corner and several excellent restaurants close by. The staff at the hotel provided great service.

Well planned. Adventure life personnel were always there for our local transfers and to greet all our incoming flight. Special; thanks to Edison Garcia of Adventure Life Quito office

We enjoyed the trip greatly and looking forward to see what new and interesting trips your staff could create.

Encantada

Karl Goddard (Cruise on Encantada, Dec 2008)
Sorry I can't be of more use and offer constructive criticism in order to help improve future holidays, but I had a fantastic time and really enjoyed the trip - if I had anything to suggest, I'd have to pause to think about - I was entirely happy. I wanted to see the Galapagos and enjoy wildlife - I did and the boat, naturalist guide and crew were perfect. The food was exceptional and they were punctual to the point of perfection in a busy daily routine.

Thanks for a great holiday - if I was to travel in this part of the world again, I would certainly consider and recommend Adventure Life to others.

Kathryn B. Maltby (Sacha Lodge + Cruise on Encantada, Dec 2008)
The Encantada though small was very clean with a friendly and professional staff.

There was always someone to meet us either at the airport or our hotel who was very friendly and had all the documents necessary for our trip. On the boat and at the lodge our daily excursions were extremely well planned out and our guides very friendly and knowledgeable.

Both on the Encantada and at the Sacha Lodge our guides made the trip special for us. They catered to our interests and needs and really made the trip the fantastic and fun experience it was for us and our kids.

The food on our ship was surprisingly good for how small the kitchen area must have been. The food at the Sacha Lodge was absolutely delicious - there was lots to choose from and plenty of it.

We loved the Galapagos Islands and the Amazon Rain Forest. We would highly recommend this trip to anyone looking for adventure, beauty, and a memorable time.

Sandra Faw (Cruise on Encantada, Jun 2008)
I loved the boat (despite a bit of sea sickness)! Clean, comfortable, adequate hot water for showers, pleasantly cool cabins. Lobo de Mar, Santa Cruz - wonderfully big room!!! Beautiful facility! Supplied drinking water! AC and hot water for showers! Good breakfast. Hotel Volcano, Isabela - comfortable rooms, nice bathrooms, great balcony and delicious breakfast! AC worked great, but no drinking water supplied. Owner quite pleasant. (Note - we stayed at the Secret Garden in Quito.)

The food on the Encantada was marvelous! Lots of vegetables and fresh fruits. Some of the most fabulous soups I've ever tasted!

Journey II

Paul Lipscomb (Islands and Incas + Machu Picchu by Train Tour + Cruise on Journey II, Dec 2008)
Responded promptly to all calls/emails. materials provided were clear and turned out mostly to be very accurate.

Most the hotels were very exceptional, comfortable, and great rooms. Cusco/Ollantaytambo and Aquas Calientes were just wonderful. Noisy (neighbors playing music all night) in Quito but place itself was superb. Most of us arrived in Lima for very short time before going to Cusco. Hotel long way from airport...probably closer would be better. Cormorant II was a kick and more than adequate. Good staff on board.

Very good food on boat. Cook was great and served well rounded meals. When we ate out with Peru guide's support/advice, it was great.

Marco Palamino in Peru: over-the-top excellent guide who gave top-notch tour guide info/support and also helped in many practical matters (getting left behind stuff back to us...helping with altitude sick members). Smart...passionate about subject, deeply/personally connected to the places/topic.

In addition: Adventure Life provided clear, timely and consistently excellent service from the first contact through the entire trip. Even to this request for feedback. The accommodations/hotels were really exceptional, and in case of Peru, the guide really more than I had even hoped for. Logistics were never a problem once we 'arrived' and before our final 'departure' from the trip. It made the experience ... Read All

Seaman II Catamaran

Elisabeth Bartlett (Machu Picchu by Train and Galapagos Cruise, Dec 2009)
I'm working on a travel video of our experience now. I can't wait to go back to the Galapagos! Seriously amazing. I think it was like the afterlife there.

Mindy Bryan (Cruise on Seaman II Catamaran, Feb 2009)
Probably the best trip that we have ever taken. I would recommend this trip to everyone, in fact I already have.

All of the pre-departure information arrived in a timely manner, and any changes were forwarded immediately.

Hotels in Quito was nice, however, the accommodations on the Seaman II were exceptional. We were in room 1 and loved the view from the front of the boat.

JOHN and MARIA were excellent, they really were very informative and made sure that we had plenty of opportunity to ask questions and make sure that we understood everything. The crew was wonderful, most days they were checking our rooms sometimes 4-5 times a day to make sure everything was perfect. FOOD was great, always had plenty and definitely didn't go hungry.

I think the island(Fernandina)with all the Marine iguanas should be named "Island of the Iguanas". I am scared to death of lizards, iguanas, snakes etc, however, Maria helped me get thru a pile on iguanas and I didn't have a heart attack so was happy with myself. I will never forget that island or what I did.

James Culley (Cruise on Seaman II Catamaran, Feb 2009)
I especially want to compliment Jen Barile for all of the support she provided. She was so through that there wasn't a lot we had to ask, but when we did she was right on it.

The food was excellent. They ought to prepare a cookbook of at least the soups they prepare and sell it to the people. I would buy one in a heart beat.

Because our plane arrived so late at night, and because of the rather long travel, we elected to take an extra day in Quito before going to the Galapagos. A smart move that you might want to "suggest" to travelers. Also, once we got in Quito and got some rest we called up your staff there and ask them to arrange a tour of Quito, which they did on very short notice and it was excellent.Now we'd like to do a similar like trip next year to some place different. Any suggestions?

Galaxy

Stephan Haynes (Cruise on Galaxy, Apr 2009)
Hard to imagine how service and friendliness could be any better. The tour is great, then you get the moments, swimming with sea lions, 4 feet from a male 'full bloom' frigatebird, seeing mating sea turtles, attacking hawks, these cannot be replaced.

Had the variety, uniqueness, busy and relaxation time mix, sun and fun. Food on the ship was great.

Gretchen Gross (Cruise on Galaxy, Feb 2009)
The cabin was larger than expected. It was kept very clean. The crew did a great job.

Everyone went out of their way to make sure we were well fed and happy. They were all terrific. The zodiac sailors managed the boats incredibly well. Jimmy was always smiling.

The food was outstanding and beautifully presented.

Wow!! Where do I begin. From the moment we were picked up at the hotel, your staff made sure we had our tickets, etc. Roberto and Veronica met us at the airport and got us through checking in very easy. We met some of the others on the trip in the waiting room and it was great. Roberto briefed us well so when we got to San Cristobal, we knew exactly what to do. The Adventure Life crew took very good care of us. We were kept quite busy, which I like, but had some free time between morning and afternoon "visits". I just wish I could remember everything we learned. The boat was terrific. How smart we were to be on a small boat. It was a great way to get the most out of the trip.

Galapagos Odyssey

Charles Dildine (Argentina Glacier Adventure + Cruise on Galapagos Odyssey, Mar 2009)
the trip was organized and run on a time schedule with slight deviations. the yacht was well run by all members of the staff. it was a trip that provided a good survey of the galapagos islands. it will be interesting to compare the galapagos with the hawaiian islands. one question i am still trying to understand is why i did not see any evidence of coral is the oceans around the islands. it was my first opportunity to actually swim with sharks & sealions.

Thomas Herd (Cruise on Galapagos Odyssey, Dec 2008)
Our Galapagos Islands trip was fabulous. A great guide, a spacious and comfortable boat (the Odyssey), a wonderful crew with a terrific chef, and our fellow passengers were very friendly, well-traveled, and fun to be with.

Galapagos Multisport

Martha Riggle (Galapagos Multisport, Dec 2009)
We had a great time! I thought your composition of the group was brilliant. You had 3 families, two of whom had almost identical aged children/genders. The one single was friendly and genial and fit in. We all bonded and helped one another. Group composition can be terribly important to round out the trip and you hit this perfectly. The accommodations were gorgeous. Fresh seafod every day, Yum!

I have touted your tour company to many people and I will continue to do so.

Jo-Ann Murphy (Galapagos Multisport, Nov 2009)
A trip of a lifetime - seeing the wildlife in their native habitats was beyond description.

Michael Pangia (Galapagos Multisport and Machu Picchu by Train, Jun 2009)
I have traveled a lot, but when I am with my 11 year old daughter I like things taken care of and in place, like pick up, hotel registration, etc. This trip went perfectly.

Eileen Singer (Galapagos Multisport, Apr 2009)
that was the most amazing trip that I've ever taken. The guide was stupendous and the locals were phenomenal!!! I could do the same trip over and over again, and not ever be bored!!

my daughter had her 15th birthday in San Cristobal. Kudos to the wonderful staff at the Hotel Opuntia for the decorations, song and cake!

I had the pleasure of not just taking my family on the most fantastic tour of the Galapogos, but having the privilege of meeting local people who had hearts of gold and personalities brighter than the millions of stars that we saw every night!

Paige Harper (Galapagos Multisport, Mar 2009)
Our guide was terrific, he went above and beyond, even got my bag resewn by the local shoemaker when it was ripped.

I was excited to see the birds (I'm a birder), but the sealions were what realy blew me away. They were so playful and charismatic.

Fillipe was so knowledgable and would answer all of our never ending questions. He humored us with answers from "what's that?" to "why"s that". He knew everyone it seemed, which made it seem even more like we were his guest in his country! The local guides were very knowledgable also and pointed out things that we might have missed. Gordo would dive down to bring our attention to things, Carlos on Santa Cruz was great with the bird, and Carlos on Isabella was good because he was so communicative. Important safety reminder....if you are severly cacasan like I am....the sun laughs at 30 SPF at the equator... Tell others to take more tip money, they take such good care of you, we went through ours in no time, and had to get more!

Teresa Robinson (Galapagos Multisport, Mar 2009)
We loved staying with local establishments. The one on Isabella was our favorite location. The hotel on San Cristobal had the best food. (Our air conditioner didn't work) All of the hotel hosts were wonderful.

Felipe was the best. He was attentive to all of our needs and desires. Always encouraging and informative.

We had a small group which added to the enjoyment of the trip. We almost didn't go horseback riding. I'm glad we did. It was sooooo much fun.

Justin Boggs (Galapagos Multisport, Nov 2008)
Sebastian was an amazing guide. His support was amazing - both the guiding, sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm, and the behind the scenes coordination. That coordination was less visible, but we were just as appreciative of his work to ensure that everything and everyone was where they needed to be when they needed to be there. He was proactive in scheduling our activities to catch the best that the islands had to offer with minimal interruption from other groups enjoying the same activities. We would look to specifically request him on future adventures, but also feel confident that he was representative of the types of skilled professionals that Adventure Life employs.

Susan Williams (Galapagos Multisport, Nov 2008)
Everything was organized and explained well by our guide.

Our guide seemed to know everyone which made it seem more like a family. The local guides on Isabella were great. Their enthusiasm was contagious!

I didn't know quite what to expect as this is my first guided trip since I was in college. It was great!

Barbara Lewis (Galapagos Multisport, Oct 2008)
Rebecca & Renee answered all of my husband's MANY questions promptly and with great information.

I would recommend this to to anyone that wants an adventure filled (aka non-stop) vacation.

We had the most awesome time. The other members of our trip were great and a joy to travel with. The trip was everything that I expected and more. Snorkeling with baby sea lions was extra special.

Rodney Lewis (Galapagos Multisport, Oct 2008)
Our tour leader, Fabisimo, was the best and despite him being sick during the trip, he never complained and did more than necessary to make the trip great for all of us.

Overall, could not have asked for a better trip which was our second with your firm. We'd recommend your trips to all of our friends. Exactly the adventure we read about and planned for. We went to bed each night, exhausted and happy.

We thought our previous Adventure Life trip to Costa Rica was great but this multisport to Galapagos was even better. The activity plan was well laid out and our guide was outstanding.

Hiking Galapagos

Li-hsia Wang (Sacha Lodge + Hiking Galapagos, Aug 2009)
Im not generally interested in tours, preferring to have the flexibility of a non-structured vacation. However, for Amazonia and the Galapagos, I don't see how I could have seen/learned/enjoyed the experience as I did with your guides and arrangements--smooth transfers made it so easy, and once again let me praise your guides. Daniel Hicks at Sacha Lodge and Juan Fernando Duran in Galapagos were outstanding for their knowledge as well as their enthusiasm, and the special knowledge of all the local guides was a bonus. Daniel II, as we called him took good care of us in and around Otavalo and dealt well with travel arrangements up to the end of the trip. The tour guides are the strength of your tours.

Because of susceptibility to seasickness, we chose a land-based Galapagos tour, and were very pleased to have done so, not just for the seasickness reasons. With a group of only 5, we had a degree of flexibility which I suspect a cruise tour doesn't have. We had a chance to wander through towns, eat in restaurants, strike up conversations, experience different hotels (and their breakfasts). I arrived home with my head bursting with information and impressions--but did NOT feel hustled from site to site, though in retrospect we were pretty busy (eg from our first evening at the Sacha Lodge we were out looking at things, morning, afternoon, and evening, but ... Read All

Steven Hillyard (Sacha Lodge + Hiking Galapagos, Aug 2009)
Tour was wonderful. The places that we visited and the planned events were outstanding. The guides were superb: Daniel at Sasha Lodge, Daniel in Otavalo, and Juan Fernando in the Galapagos. All very knowledgeable, competent, and friendly. Local guides also were excellent

Jane Merrill (Galapagos Cruise, Aug 2009)
I wasn't sure what to expect from my trip but it was more than I could have hoped for. The Galapagos Islands was my trip of a life time and Adventure Life Travel provided it all for me.

John Mitterer (Hiking Galapagos, May 2009)
Jen Barile and JOnathan Brunger were exemplary in their assistance. Alfredo Meneses, our tour leader in the Galapagos was outstanding. I have travelled many times but never with such an excellent person!

Kathleen Rollins (Hiking Galapagos, Feb 2009)
We had the best guide - Sebastian Jurado. Amazing - friendly, bright, knowledgeable about a wide range of subjects, capable - just great! This trip (Hiking Galapagos) was my third with Adventure Life, and it was fabulous. Our guide (Sebastian Jurado) was great, and the islands were a series of wonders, from the breaching whale to the dancing sea lions to the view from the top of the Sierra Negra volcano. A trip to remember!

I loved the small hotels, especially on the islands.

Dennis Beck (Sacha Lodge + Hiking Galapagos, Feb 2009)
This is the first time we've done a "guided" tour and I can't say enough good things about Adventure Life. We would recommend them to friend and would not hesitate to use them again.

Marissa was very helpful and responsive on a timely basis. Casa Aliso was great - wonderful hotel and very helpful staff. Sacha and Hacienda Pinsaqui were awesome.

Sebastian was our Galapagos guide and he is terrific. Luis was our guide for Cotopaxi and Otovalo. He is a wonderful young man and a terrific guide. Sacha guides were great.

Renate Johnson (Hiking Galapagos, Oct 2008)
Our tour leader Sebastian was very informative about Galapagos and caring about everyone's welfare in our group.

Pepe at Hotel Optunia on San Cristobal is a great cook!!! Great view. Staff at Hotel Fernandina very helpful with phone calls and e-mail. Casa Marita on Isabella had a great view and beautiful sunset!!!

Would recommend taking the tour during March-April in order to see the red pouch on Frigate birds, enjoy warmer water, see more plants in bloom.

Gayle Kearns (Hiking Galapagos, Jun 2008)
Very impressed by the whole experience. I have traveled extensively and Adventure Life was A-1 in all areas. I was most impressed with the travel guides, Sebastian and Jan that stayed with us in the Galapagos. I learned SO much from them about the wildlife, culture, etc. They were very patient with all our questions and demands. I talked to them about a return trip and look forward to visiting the islands again in the future.

Laura Read (Inca Pathways, Jun 2008)
Teddy contributed hugely to our enjoyment of the trip. He was fun, knowledgeable, responsible, thoughtful. He fit perfectly with us as a traveling companion, and gave us many laughs along the way. Also, his enthusiasm about architecture, history, birds and flowers is wonderful.

Susan McLeland (Hiking Galapagos, Mar 2008)
I cannot say enough good things about our guide, Sebastian. He is personable, enthusiastic, organized, friendly, knowledgeable, encouraging, and above all else, patient. He made sure that we fit in as many once-in-a-lifetime activities as possible at the same time that he worked to balance every member of the group's individual needs. Everywhere we went the locals greeted him with real enthusiasm, and I can understand why. It speaks well for your company that you attract such competent, compassionate and spirited guides.

I didn't want it to end. We loved all of the activities and really appreciated Adventure Life's agents taking care of the details so we were free to just enjoy them. We'll always treasure our memories of this tour. Thanks for providing us with an adventure that was exciting, challenging, fun and educational for every member of our family.

Islands and Incas - Galapagos & Machu Picchu

Lodging and meals were great. Lodging seemed to be in areas that we could a walk-about. I was wondering tho for such a short stay in Lima, if we would have enjoyed staying in old town.

Any concerns that i had were responded to promptly. I felt treated as an individual and not as just one of many tentative travelers.

I am planning a trip to Tanzania and was very disappointed not to see anything on your web site. I would always check Adventure Life first for any future trips!

Especially enjoyed the barbecue dinner. Food was plentiful - not gourmet but adequate. Snacks following our outings were appreciated!

We worked with Mary, Reilly and Marissa and they were all great about answering our questions and providing some advice.

You seem to have a good and well deserved reputation locally. We had an absolutely fantastic time and would unreservedly recommend you to our friends.

Very good food on boat. Cook was great and served well rounded meals. When we ate out with Peru guide's support/advice, it was great.

Suzanne Stroh (Island and Incas (Legend), Aug 2007)
I can't say enough good things about our experience in Peru. It is so culturally rich and colorful and such a physically beautiful country. Our time there was handled very smoothly. What really opened our eyes to Peru was our wonderful guide, Washington Gibaja. Actually, he was beyond wonderful! He is pleasant, knowledgeable, thoughtful, considerate, organized, flexible, sincere, and helpful. He has a lively sense of humor, shares his cultural heritage with proud enthusiasm and lives the principles of helping others every day. Washington shared many Inca traditions and stories, gave us both Quechua names, and generally put a human face on what it means to be the descendent of the Inca culture working to preserve the best of the traditional ways in these modern times. I can truly say that meeting him may prove to be life-changing as I think about the ways I might continue to be associated with the principles he shared with us! Visiting Peru with Washington as a guide made me feel that I would return in a heartbeat.

In the Galapagos portion of the tour, the food was excellent and has dining room service to match. The MV Galapagos Legend is the best-run cruise ship I have ever encountered. The ship itself is gleaming white, clean and polished, attractively and comfortably furnished. The transportation back and forth on the pangas is done with ... Read All

Kathie Keane and Grace Becton (Islands and Incas 13-Day, Dec 2006)
Our guides made our trip wonderful!

Casey Kaptur (Islands and Incas -- Beluga, Oct 2006)
The Adventure Life Incas and Islands trip was excellent. Every aspect was as good or better than we had hoped. The Adventure Life contacts were always where they needed to be, pick-ups were prompt, the hotels were very nice, and the tours excellent.

I can't say enough good things about Ayul Acuna. He was a superb guide, but perhaps even more importantly, just a wonderful man who obviously took great pride in his country and his culture. He made our tour of Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Macchu Pichu a tremendous success.

Thanks for a great trip!

Wildlife Odyssey

Roberta Koenig (Wildlife Odyssey trip with a Galapagos cruise on the Millennium, Jul 2008)
Our accommodations were excellent at all points along the tour. Our hotel in Quito was good, and we were very impressed with Sacha Lodge and the Millennium. Food, accommodations, services, etc.

Our two guides at Sacha Lodge were great. They managed to tailor our hikes to our capabilities and we were able to see and do all we had intended to. They were friendly, informative and just very willing to lend a hand, especially when I got stuck in the mud.

The food was marvelous. I had hoped to lose a few pounds, but it didn't happen. Sacha Lodge had some of the best food I've tasted outside of a 5 star restaurant. Some of the recipes were unique, but delicious. Three desserts at lunch and 3 different ones at dinner made many of us weep.

Gail and Abigail Malone (Wildlife Oddyssey: Legend, Apr 2007)
The tour was superb. Sacha Lodge was unforgettable, and Pinsaqui was gorgeous. We felt coddled- every detail was attended to. I would use Adventure Life again without hesitation.

Christina Lemes (Wildlife Odyssey and Galapagos Cruise aboard Sulidae, Dec 2006)
I was blown away, especially at the hacienda in Otavalo. Hotel Eugenia was very charming and I loved the Sulidae and Sacha Lodge. All of my tour guides were excellent and extremely helpful. I am recommending this tour to everyone I know. I am highly satisfied with Adventure Life and my tour experience.

Dotty Woodworth (Wildlife Odyssey, Aug 2006)
The pre-departure support from Adventure Life was excellent. I called with a question about items for the orphanage and got excellent information. I loved every minute and my photos have made all of my friends jealous.

Finch Bay EcoHotel

Carl Thornton (Finch Bay, Sep 2009)
Adventure Life gave us everything we needed before we even knew we needed it.

The food may have been too good. Even though we were active every day I think I still gained a couple pounds.

Truly the trip of a lifetime, absolutely stunning and delightful. We are already thinking about when we can go again and do a cruise.

The trip exceeded our expectations, and we had high expectations prior to going.

An unexpected highlight of our trip was going to the local fish market in Puerto Ayora at the end of the day. The sea lions, pelicans, herons, and others hanging out begging for scraps as the fresh fish were cleaned was hilarious and also provided great photo opportunities.

Patricia Sasscer (Finch Bay EcoHotel, May 2009)
I cannot say enough about how well this trip was organized. Our group of 11 was able to stay together in a very relaxed manner, and our needs were always taken care of in a friendly and congenial way. My traveling companion, who shared a room with me commented that it was the best vacation she had ever taken. Many thanks to Adventure Life for making our trip such a pleasure!

Truman Kling (Finch Bay Eco, Nov 2008)
We had guides Valentino "Val" and Mario. Both were very experienced and knowledgeable and good with arrangements and interpretation of what we were seeing.

Suggestions re: clothing, money etc... were right on the mark.

Finch Bay hotel is a beautiful place.

I had visited the Galapagos once before in 1990. Tourism has grown considerably since then, so it lacked some of the sense of solitude that I had on my 1st trip.

Sean Yutzy (Finch Bay Eco-Hotel, May 2008)
I do not think that the snorkling was given enough print time in any of the books reviewed for the regular traveler.I was able to swim with seals, sea iguanas, sea turtles, penguins and several species of sharks. None were fed/baited or harrassed in any way. We saw manta rays jumping out of the ocean and a large school of dolphin swam with the boat for 20 minutes. We stood on cliffs and watched black tip sharks attack schools of mullet. The hotel was great, food-great, guides-great, tourists--well, just OK but for me the ocean was worth the price of admission. I think that for those who might not be interested in taking 300 more pictures of the "different" iguanas on the next island the ocean produced diversity and excitement without going to the hassle of scuba.