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Ecuador Tours - Adventure Life Testimonials and Reviews

Manatee

Joan Parlin (Amazon Cruise aboard the Manatee + Mantaraya Lodge, Dec 2012)
I found your travel agency on-line, so I had no personal knowledge of you or recommendations. Boy, did we luck out!! Everything was PERFECT. Laura not only organized our trip down to the last detail, but she also managed to make me feel special and cared about. Every single part of the trip was planned perfectly for us. We were especially happy and relieved that there was always someone at the airport to meet us and take us to our hotel or lodge. And all those who met us were warm, friendly and knowledgeable. The Manatee trip on the Napo River was outstanding. The ship was clean and comfortable; the food delicious, and the guides terrific.

We were equally delighted with the Mantaraya Lodge and our guide Ruben. Since the Mantaraya Lodge and the Manatee are owned and run by the same company, our guide had worked in both places which made our conversations even more fun. Each of our guides knew all about the wildlife as well as the history and current status of Ecuador, so we learned a great deal. A really perfect trip!! I would definitely use your travel agency again.

Alason Connell (, Dec 2011)
Our guide on the Manatee had an incredible ability to spot bugs, lizards,frogs, birds and etc. He was caring and his English was excellent. The beauty was incredible. I went to Sacha Lodge 4 years ago. We saw far more wildlife on the trip. Our guide far surpassed my Sacha Lodge guide. There were only five of us on the boat (sometimes 3 more but they had a separate guide) so we received a lot of individual attention.

Cotopaxi Multisport

Ron Philpot (Cotopaxi Multisport + Mantaraya Lodge, Dec 2012)
Last November I gave Adventure Life a call telling them that I had purchased a ticket to Quito for the Christmas holidays. Typically it is best to book your activities and then purchase an air ticket. After talking to their Ecuador specialist, she suggested the Cotopaxi Multisport and Mantaraya Lodge, two five day packages, all inclusive, allowing me to enjoy the mountains and the coast. I had a great experience at the Hacienda Porvenir located close to the north entrance of the Cotopaxi National Park. My bi-lingual guide took me hiking, mountain biking, horse back riding, and zip lining. Even though Pablo was bi-lingual we frequently spoke in Spanish allowing me to improve my language skills. (An added bonus at no extra cost). The Hacienda was comfortable and food excellent. The staff demonstrated that they wanted me to have a good experience. Pablo taught me about Ecuador, challenged my world view, and taught me the skills I needed to do the outdoor activities. After a night in Quito it was short flight to Manta and 1 hour drive south to the Mantaraya Lodge. My guide and driver picked me up and led activities during the next five days as we visited different beaches and local communities. Just like Pablo, Ruben was bi-lingual and more then willing to talk to me in Spanish. We visited local communities. Ruben and guides in the local communities taught me ... Read All

Bellavista Cloudforest

Janet Veinot-Nash (Haciendas of Ecuador + Bellavista Cloudforest, Oct 2012)
The Hacienda Tour was a great, relaxing way to see the countryside of Ecuador with terrific accommodation and food. The itinerary was detailed and clearly outlined where to be when and gave us the details that gave us a feeling of security. The haciendas themselves were fabulous--since there were few guests at any of the places, we were upgraded to top accomodations at each site. The Cloud Forest lodge was accomodating in switching us to a larger room but the rooms were a bit damp and musty smelling. Our guide for the tour was a young man, Jonathan, who was absolutely delightful. He accomodated himself to a quieter tour with two older people--helping me with shopping (bargening prices, carrying my purchases and even being a model for clothes that I wanted to purchase for my children, arranging tours to areas that we wanted to go at a pace that we requested, accompanying us horseback riding and finding out any information we needed.

Robert Nash (Haciendas of Ecuador + Bellavista Cloudforest, Oct 2012)
We thoroughly enjoyed our tours to the Bellevista Cloud Forest, and the Hacienda tour. Our guides were excellent and very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna. In addition, Jonathan was an excellent driver.

Sacha Lodge Extension

Elizabeth Gagnon (Galapagos Cruise aboard the Odyssey + Sacha Lodge + Machu Picchu by Train, Jun 2012)
Adventure Life was great from the start. The first responses on email and all of the different people were helpful and friendly. Whenever I plan a trip using an internet company, I never know what to expect. This was a great experience. Then when we got to our destinations, everything went smoothly. We were told when we would be picked up and we were even led through all airport and document steps on the way to the Galapagos and Amazon flights. In fact, three people helped us at the airport for the Galapagos flight. One took our bags and the other our passports to get the paperwork done in a side office. We didn't have to think! We always kept official slips of paper with our passports as we were told and that was a good thing in customs.

All of the hotels were clean, nice and safe. The guides and local staff were amazing. We hope to keep in contact. The boat was great fun in the Galapagos and we made many new friends. The food was great and the crew were wonderful. Especially helpful to my mother. Sacha Lodge was full of great food and nice guides that were very attentive to my mother's needs as well. We had great fun in Quito with Santiago. Finally, the Machu Picchu trip with our guide, Vidal, staying with us to and from Cusco was an extra blessing as my mother needed extra help with the altitude and our son got sick. Vidal was a wonderful guide and ... Read All

Linda Kelley (Wildlife Odyssey + Sacha Lodge + Galapagos Cruise (Evolution), May 2011)
This was my first time to use Adventure Life and my first trip to travel solo in S. America. Adventure Life put together a fabulous trip to see all sorts of "critters". I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the trip and I never once felt uncomfortable regarding my surroundings. Daniel, my guide, was spectacular and extremely helpful especially considering my lack of spanish language skills. I loved Ecuador and I wasn't ready to come home. The trip was perfect. I'm already thinking about my next trip - too bad work gets in the way of travel. Thank you Adventure Life!

Mantaraya Lodge

Otavalo Market

Marie Saul (Otavalo Market + Cruise on Millennium, Oct 2010)
Everyone that Adventure Life hooked us up with was very knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. No complaints! The Otavalo market was incredible! I wish my husband and I hadn't been returning home at o-dark-thirty the next morning, so we could have bought some of the luscious-looking fruit. We got a couple really nice alpaca blankets, and some weavings that we'll treasure for a long time. Daniel and Carlos, who took us to the Otavalo market, were wonderful! Daniel imparted tons of information and provided local color, and Carlos did an awesome job getting us where we were going. The Galapagos islands were magnificent - each one a different ecosystem. Walking among the wild tortoises, watching as a frigate bird stole an entire fish from a baby booby, snorkeling with the playful sea lions - it was all amazing! We saw a sea lion pup so young the umbilical cord was still attached! One of our more memorable vacations. We'll keep Adventure Life in mind when planning our next exotic trip!

Otavalo Market

Becky Marvin (Galapagos Cruise aboard the Eric, Letty & Flamingo + Otavalo Extension, Jul 2012)
This was a great way to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary! Beginning with my first contact with Kassandra right through to the last tips we received from Laura, it was easy and fun to plan our trip. Every guide and all the local staff were magnifico! Accommodated our interests and style of travel. Share their knowledge and love for their country. I feel like we made new friends and would welcome any into our home! Hacienda Cusine was fabulous as was Casa Aliso. The cabin on the Letty was exactly what I expected...very compact, very clean a bit noisy but....we weren't spending any time there except to sleep. Bathroom was larger than I expected. Food on the Letty was very good. I was amazed at the creativity in repurposing excess food from previous day's menu. A great variety of meals...no lunch or dinner was repeated. Amazing that the chef was able to make decorated cakes for special occasions. Loved the mid-morning snack as we arrived back from early hikes. And the snack availability was a nice touch although we had a some in our group who kept hogging all the marshmallows! The staff on the Letty was great about the diet restrictions for a severe food allergy and they took extra care to make sure Ben did not come near any shellfish and still have a great meal.

Alma Baray (Otavalo Market + Sacha Lodge, Dec 2010)
I will definitely travel with your agency again and refer you to all my friends. You guys do a great,great job. I will go back to Ecuador again, I just loved the country and the people. The food at the lodge was so delicious, i will never forget those meals.

Cuenca

Mick Chianese (Galapagos Cruise aboard the Athala + Cuenca Extension, Nov 2012)
Our first experience with the company and we were impressed. We've traveled with others and you rank with the best. Experience counts when planning South America trips and everything seemed to indicate that you have that depth of knowledge to do it well. The trip was culturally enriching, gastronomically delightful, and wildlife-wise, a dream come true.

Ecuador Adventure

Lori Butterfield (Ecuador Adventure, Feb 2011)
I dragged 3 adventurous friends on this trip to celebrate my 50th birthday...It rained almost everyday yet we managed to have a fantastic time...kudos to you. All of the accommodations were not 5 star but Fantastic for where we were. La Rabida very nice ...great location Bellavista- beautiful, rustic El Provenier...Wonderful...quiet ...what a treat to crawl into bed already warmed with a hot water bottle!

Lauri Vigue (Ecuador Adventure, Nov 2010)
The accommodations at Bellavista were good. The accommodations at the Hacienda El Porvenir were excellent for the most part, especially the food and the staff were very attentive. We enjoyed the special touches.. chocolate and hot water bottles in our beds at night!

I was very impressed with this trip.. all of the details were worked out prior and even during the trip. I felt safe on this tour. The guides were very personable. I will definitely take another Adventure Life trip in the future. My only comment is that there were only two of us on the this guided trip, I wish there could have been others that joined us.

Svjetlana Miocinovic (Ecuador Adventure, Oct 2010)
Lodge at Bellavista was so-so in terms of the room itself. We were staying in a bamboo house suite which was really small with a cramped bathroom, and the walls were thin. The food was simple but tasty. I liked the communal dining room - everybody got to hang out together and we met some fun people. The big surprise was that they somehow knew about my husbands birthday and made him a cake! That was very special. The location and surrounding hikes/scenery was wonderful (especially the waterfall hike). So overall I liked Bellavista very much, but wish the room itself was more comfortable. Hacienda La Porvenir was amazing. We had a very comfortable suite in the annex building - room was big enough, bathroom was very modern and large enough and bed had nice soft comforter (the bed itself was a double which was little small but we are used to california king at home so it is unfair to compare). The room had electrical heater which kept it warm. The food was amazing, wonderful soups, meats, desserts. The hacienda was very nicely decorated. They also have a great common area where most travelers would hang out so again we met a lot of nice people. The staff was amazing, they were so nice and caring. They were filling us up with large quantities of sunfo tea when we got little sick and would check up on us, and bring warm waterbottles to the room. There were couple ... Read All

Lynn Flinton (Ecuador Adventure, Sep 2010)
I really cant praise it enough. I was a little worried about the standard of accommodation etc but it was fantastic. I think we had the best room everywhere we stayed so that helped. Everywhere we stayed was gorgeous. When we arrived at Hacienda El Porvenir they had had a power cut so it was all candlelit. So romantic, and our room was just lovely with the fireplace etc. The guides and staff everywhere were great. We had such a good time and I think the activities are well thought out as we had time to chill out every afternoon virtually. We had an absolutely fabulous time. Thank you to all involved. Really good fun and looking forward to our next holiday with Adventure Life.

Richard Rubens (Ecuador Adventure, Mar 2010)
All the guides were on time and organized all the time, usually more than us. We can't say enough about the guides, especially Santiago, who did everything he could to make sure that we had a good time and were happy. He was our guide, translator and friend. We didn't do the zipline but chose horseback riding instead. We enjoyed riding both at the Hacienda and Santa Rita Ecological Reserve very much. I also hiked up to the Glacier on Cotopaxi Volcano, definitely a highlight of my trip. The biking at Pichincha Volcano was a very good opening adventure. Caesar was a good leader. The only event I wasn't especially fond of was the hike from Hacienda Santa Rita Ecological Reserve to El Porvenir across the grasslands. It was too long and monotonous. We found the staff & cooks at the La Rabida, Bellavista and Hacienda El Porvenir very helpful and personable.

Wildlife Odyssey

Cody Manuel (Wildlife Odyssey + Sacha Lodge + Galapagos Cruise (Daphne), Aug 2011)
The Sacha Lodge was more than one would expect for being in a remote area. Except for the really rough weather while aboard the Daphne, which no one has control over, everything on our trip was as we expected and more. Our favorite was Sacha Lodge and the experiences/knowledge gained there.

Eileen Schuler (Wildlife Odyssey, Jun 2011)
This was an excellent tour. Sacha lodge was a beautiful lodge and the hikes and canoe adventures were spectacular. there was enough "downtime' to enjoy the surroundings and relax. The coordination between lodges, tour guides and transportation was exceptional. Every transition went smoothly. The Otovalo portion was great. Our guide really showed us as much of the area as was possible in a one day trip. And the Galapagos portion of the trip was absolutely extraordinary. The staff of the Letty did a suberb job. I was so impressed with the entire tour. From initial planning til our sad return home. I will highly recommend this tour.

Sacha Lodge - Ecuadorian Amazon

Honora Bauman (Sacha Lodge, Nov 2012)
Ecuador was a great destination with tremendous variety - history, nature, art, jungles & mountains. Adventure Life was very helpful in planning a tour that suited my tastes and enabled me to enjoy a little of everything the country had to offer. I can't say enough about my guides - Jonathan, my guide in Quito spent a lot more time with me than I expected and even threw in a bonus hike on our zipline excursion when I expressed interested in a sign I'd seen regarding a waterfall. (It turned out to be really impressive.) David and Aldelmo, my guides at Sacha were amazing. They did a great job spotting wildlife, explaining everything in the jungle and keeping me safe. And David was also a great help with my photography. But most importantly, he tolerated my sarcastic sense of humor quite well ;-)

Beth Bergman (Sacha Lodge, Nov 2012)
Hostal Rabida in Quito was wonderful. Ideal location. Sacha Lodge blew me away! I wouldn't have changed a thing about our trip.

Keith Woods (Sacha Lodge, Sep 2012)
My plans were made within just a few weeks of traveling and everything was handled very promptly. My guide at Sacha Lodge was from the local area and as a result was more knowledgeable than a non-local guide. I was traveling alone and expected to be put with another group, but I had my own personal guide during my stay at Sacha Lodge. It was very nice. The lodge was well maintained, was very organized, and ran extremely well. The rooms were spacious, comfortable and clean. This was my second trip with Adventure Life. My first experience with Adventure Life was so outstanding that I didn't check anywhere else when choosing my most recent trip. This was my second trip to the Amazonian rainforest. There is no other place as interesting as the jungle.

Daniel Desjardins (Darwins Islands + Sacha Lodge, Jun 2012)
Best trip of my life. We saw everything we wanted to see....and more. Guides were helpful, accommodation great, perfect!!

Amazon Adventure

Robert Becker (Amazon Adventure, Dec 2011)
The most unique trip we have ever been on. And we've been on many. Total solitude. Never saw a vehicle nor an airplane for days. I didn't know there were so many shades of green in existence. The Shirpuna Lodge was scenic in a wonderful setting. Camping in the rainforest was special; that first night with the tribal folks- beyond compare/nothing like it. Ever. And La Rabida in Quito was perfect. (Good call, Laura.)

Sheila Clark (Amazon Adventure, Jan 2010)
I'm not the sit on the beach drinking Mai Tai kind of traveler and the Amazon Adventure certainly kept me hopping... I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who likes active vacations surrounded by exotic nature and led by amazing guides.

Patrick Lengler (Amazon Adventure, May 2009)
The team that organized the Kayak-trip on the Shiripuno river was the best I ever had. I can only express my greatest appreciation to Sebastian, Arturo and our local guide.

Marti de Metropolis (Amazon Adventure, Sep 2008)
Marissa was outstanding. she suggested that I bring educational items and info about my home for the Huaorani community. Fabricio, our guide handed them out. It was a touching experience!

The guides, Febricio, Arturo and Name were beyond excellent. Strong, capable, talented, intelligent, friendly only begins to describe them. I felt safe in very difficult times. Arturo is an outstanding cook. He wanted us to experience the foods of his country. Way more food than I could eat!

It was an adventure trip turned high adventure. Mother Nature and the unpredictable made for a trip that could have been a disaster had it not been for the capable guides and porters! Safe at home, I'll always remember this as my most exciting true adventure.

For true adventure treks, Adventure Life offered very capable guides to keep us as comfortable and as safe as possible. The best of the Amazon rainforest came from those unforeseen times. I've traveled the world and intend to keep going. I'm impressed with Adventure Life and those who you contract with!

Haciendas of Ecuador - Otavalo and Cotopaxi

Eric Ferguson (Haciendas of Ecuador, Jan 2012)
This was an outstanding itinerary. The on the fly flexibility regarding physical demands was appreciated (selecting hiking and walking destinations to fit our stamina). It was a nice mix of culture, outdoor physical activity, and luxury. The accommodations were incredible. Unique and luxurious. Luxury alone does not do much for me. But, the combination of unique/culturally intriguing lodging that happen to be luxurious is unbeatable.

Mark Rodehaver (Haciendas of Ecuador, Sep 2011)
We've done several trips with Adventure Life and found the arrangements (and rearrangements) to be excellent. The small size of the groups (ours have ranged from just us to 6 total) has always been a plus. This trip was a last minute decision so we started with low expectations but ended up feeling that it was in the category of best trips for us.

Cotopaxi Trekking

Melissa Sackal (Cotopaxi Trekking, Apr 2011)
A truly amazing experience that will be in our hearts and memories forever!

The haciendas were amazing. The comfort, surrounding atmosphere and views, and the people running the haciendas were wonderful. We particularly loved being at the El Tambo because of it's rustic nature and location. The staff at El Porvenir were amazing too. The cook we had for the camp grounds was great as well. We truly enjoyed all the meals, packed lunches and drinks (welcome teas, etc)

The food was great. The food was plentiful. We never even finished any of our packed lunches because they gave us plenty to keep us fueled the entire day. All the soups and meals were hearty and comforting and plentiful. Could not have asked for better!

Andes and Amazon

Eve Fox (Andes & Amazon + Machu Picchu by Train + Galapagos Cruise aboard the Corals, Nov 2011)
What an experience. Your guide(s) and local adventure life reps were excellent. Nothing was too much trouble. Mario and Daniel were particularly outstanding and adapted programmes to suit our desires needs.Mixed and varied itinerary. Great, busy if a little tiring at times (our fault as we wanted to do so much!)

Jane Green (Machu Picchu by Train + Andes & Amazon + Galapagos Cruise, Nov 2011)
We had the most fabulous trip. Adventure Life enabled us to make the most of our time and we had so much variety. Guides were without exception excellent. Mario in Peru and daniel in Ecuador worked exceptionally hard to ensure we made the very best of our time and fulfilled our dreams of the holiday. Have already recommended to 2 people. Thank you and will use you again for sure.

Islands and Incas - Galapagos & Machu Picchu

Donald Wolkerstorfer (Islands and Incas, Apr 2011)
Overall we were very happy with our trip. We were totally impressed with our two guides and with all the drivers and escorts at every step of the way. When I thought I had left my camera at a restaurant, Alex went out of his way to try to find it (luckily, I had simply misplaced it in one of my bags). Enrique was very, very patient with Paula as she learned how to snorkel, and when she hurt her back the last day on ship, Javier of Journey 1 (M/C Anahi) and Luis were most helpful. We were impressed with the care shown to an elderly couple on Journey 1. Everything worked like clockwork. The time spent in the Galapagos seemed more inclusive than what we have read about other tours. It was a great adventure!

Barbara Morrison (Islands and Incas + Machu Picchu by Train + Machu Picchu by Train with Luxury Hotels + Cruise on Isabela II, Apr 2011)
It was an adventure of a lifetime and we're so glad we took this trip. Local crew from Adventure Life were terrific. When we wanted something, they did their best to take care of it. On the whole, all went well and we had a great time. The guide in Cusco taught us so much about the Incas and we loved learning about them. Two things I didn't expect (that weren't really talked about): 1. the high altitude in Quito - had no idea. 2. Galapagos was more difficult walking than expected due to uneven volcanic rock. Probably could have used walking sticks there.

All but the Casa Andina had very nice food and the restaurants we went to were excellent and recommended by our various guides. Kapawi had very good food even when the supplies got limited our last day+. They certainly were creative. Isabela !! had excellent food and good variety.

Galapagos Multisport

Carrie Denning (Galapagos Multisport, Aug 2012)
Our guide Alfredo was beyond amazing. His enthusiasm for everything we did and his commitment to giving us an unforgettable experience was unsurpassed. He clearly loves what he does and wants everybody on the trip to experience things in a way that gives them the best trip possible. He was more than just a guide, he was a experience monitor. He coordinated a birthday celebration for one of our trip members, including homemade birthday cake, complete with a "Birthday Boy" candle and a hand-embellished birthday hat which was worn all night. He listened even when we didn't think anyone would notice, in order to cater to our wishes and needs. This was my first venture into group adventure travel, and I know I wouldn't have had half the trip I had without Alfredo's informative hikes and amazing service.

I truly could not have asked for anything more, and there's no question I will be back. The only problem is that my next guide will have a very, very high baseline against which he or she will be measured! I will definitely be back, not to the Galapagos, but I'll check out other Adventure Life packages. My first adventure trip, and I'm hooked! This was definitely my kind of vacation!

Ryan Meliker (Galapagos Multisport, Aug 2012)
We loved the trip. No issues at all. The hotels on the island were perfect. We loved Opuntia, Iguana Crossing was beautiful and Angermeyer had great views. Hotel Eugenia in Quito was ok. It was great to go island hopping with an experienced guide that knew just how hard to push the group. Alfedo was outstanding. We loved swimming with the turtles, the sea kayaking and pretty much all the activities!!!

Sue Eastgard (Galapagos Multisport, Jun 2012)
The group was the right size and we all got along! The islands were a treat to experience and I come away with lots of great photos and memories. Salvador was the best guide I have ever had on a trip - thoughtful, knowledgeable and able to manage every person in the group.

Leslie Nelken (Galapagos Multisport, Jun 2012)
The whole trip was flawless from start to finish. I loved each and every hotel - La Rabida in Quito - a gem. Hotel Opuntia on San Cristobal - I think was my favorite in the Galapagos. Iguana Crossing - fabulous food and setting. Angermeyer - an oasis accessible only by water taxi. Each and every hotel had delectable food. Imagine returning from a day of snorkeling to find a freshly caught yellow-fin tuna that will be the dinner's entree. Also, my son is a vegetarian, and they always made sure to prepare something special for him.

Clone Salvador Cazar - an amazing individual working to create sustainable tourism for local populations. We all loved him. Such warm and intimate accommodations with delectable food offerings. Sea lions playing with your flippers? Priceless. Sally Light-foot crabs? Gorgeous. Learning about the challenges of keeping intruders out of the Galapagos? Seeing 6-mile volcano craters full of newly formed lava? Eating at little local eateries - with a little Fire Water to start the meal? Finding baby barn owls behind the restaurant bar? Swimming with endless schools of sardines? Watching pelicans plummet into the water right next to you? Watching the sea lion pups nurse on the beach. Blue-footed boobies! An unbelievable experience for any nature lover.

Hiking Galapagos

Eileen Murray (Hiking Galapagos + Cachiccata Trek, Mar 2011)
Adventure Life really knows how to organize and orchestrate the trip of a lifetime! We also have to praise our guides and support crews on every leg of the trip. Everywhere we went, I had gourmet vegan meals prepared for me. I couldn't believe how the guides on the hike went above and beyond to ensure my food was free of anything "foreign". When dinner was served at the hotels (Galapagos), I was served wonderful, healthy fare. I was completely surprised and very satisfied. We learned so much about Incan history and culture from Williams' vast knowledge of all things Peruvian. Every day was a new adventure and he took great pleasure to ensure we were in awe...and we were! Equally as awesome, Andres shared his incredible knowledge of all the flora and fauna of the islands, and every day he ensured our experiences were over the top amazing. They are so good at their jobs! You guys have done an outstanding job of ensuring that every single detail was handled efficiently and professionally. All your local contacts were behind the scenes for us but you have to know that they were pulling all the right strings to ensure our trip was the "trip of a lifetime".

Jacek Furdyna (Hiking Galapagos, Dec 2010)
You went our of your way to keep us informed of everything that we needed to know before the trip. Thanks!

Not only were the accommodations very good, but did provide their share of local color.

Pamela Irvine (Hiking Galapagos, Oct 2010)
We all really enjoyed our hiking trip to the Galapagos and mainland Ecuador with Adventure Life. I also want to personally thank the Adventure Life staff who worked with Betty Jaramillo in Quito to provide the excellent support and assistance to me in getting my replacement passport in time to make my flight home.

Darwin's Islands

Avis Kalafut (Darwin's Islands, Apr 2013)
Was very happy with the trip arrangements. As far as the trip itself, it was well planned. The guides and local staff were very knowledgeable and helpful. No complaints about accommodations. The cabin at Floreana was rather rustic, but that was to be expected on a rather remote island.

Kassandra was wonderful to deal with. She was always pleasant on the phone and answered all my questions in a timely manner. I was initially considering a specific itinerary and she pointed out that I might like a different one better. I took her advice and as time went on, I realized it how much it turned out to be the correct decision.

James Austin (Darwins Islands, Dec 2012)
It was a great tour and I would recommend this to anyone who is planning to go to Galapagos in the future. The local guides and hotel staff took care of all our needs in a timely manner. It was a pleasure working with the staff and guides.

Daniel Desjardins (Darwins Islands + Sacha Lodge, Jun 2012)
Best trip of my life. We saw everything we wanted to see....and more. Guides were helpful, accommodation great, perfect!!

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.

Hotel Silberstein

Vickie Schaedig (Hotel Silberstein, Jan 2013)
This has been my dream since I was 5 years old. I still can't believe that I actually experienced it. What a dream come true. I waited for 38 years to see it and it was worth the wait. For 10 days we never saw an unhappy person, smiles everywhere (if I lived there I would be happy too). Sitting at the window seat as we arrived I practically had to pinch myself to make sure this was real. My husband and I enjoyed wach second there. From the hotel to the day trips. When one of our day trips was cancelled due to a boat issue they quickly jumped right in rescheduled the day for us. Turns out that was as my husband puts it, "Best day ever!!!!" That day we swam with 30 sea lions!!. Unbelievable. One of our guides even took our camera and recorded the experience for us without us even asking. That will be a moment I will tell my grandchildren about. I found myself tearing up on our last cruise into port. Not wanting the experience to end. Thank you for a wonderful time.

Wendy Greenspan (Hotel Silberstein, Aug 2012)
Overall a wonderful tour. Guides in the Galapagos were excellent - very knowledgeable. Hostal de la Rabida in Quito was great - Gloria especially was OUTSTANDING. A small, very friendly hotel. Really felt like a home away from home. Basic, but comfortable rooms. It gets 5+ stars!

Audrey Conroy (Hotel Silberstein, Dec 2011)
The staff at Hotel Silberstein were amazing especially with the tour organization. We saw a lot of animals, vegetation and geology on the islands. The guides were excellent, especially young William who took us on walking tours of Santa Cruz. Also the combination of the hot sun and the latitude should be mentioned. Very difficult for sunscreen to protect. I wore SPF rated long sleeve shirt