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View more : Adventure Life reviews from USA Today
Aida Maria
Sarah Price (Galapagos cruise aboard the Aida Maria, Mar 2012)
What an excellent vacation, I'm so glad we were able to do it now!! Something that everyone should experience. The wild life and marine life, just amazing, so different from what we have here, how they really don't react to us. The boat tour was wonderful to see the different islands. I'm glad we did the 5 night tour, the extra add-on we did were wonderful too. It gave a different view of the islands and sites. Will say that the hike up Cotopaxi, going from sea level to that hight, kicked our butt :) Wasn't quite ready for it being that hard. Ride there will be much improved in the coming years with the road being paved! The La Rabida was wonderful, very nice and clean and sitting by the fire place with a cut of hot coco, wonderful on a rainy night! The Boat was the boat, we knew it was bunk beds, but really very nice. Very well taken care of. Thank You to Adventure Life for helping us plan and prepare for this vacation - Enjoyed every second!!
Daphne
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.
Darwin
Barbara Duffy (Galapagos Cruise aboard the Darwin, Dec 2011)
This was a great experience for our family---all of whom have very busy lives, and to get away, see the amazing Galapagos sights, be with each other away from everyday demands, will make this an unforgetable trip. The Darwin is a small boat----cabins very small. This was the experience we wanted for our young people. The chef did a great job of giving us variety. Amazing what he could come up with in a very small kitchen. The guide and staff were great---we all felt they were friends by the end. We had our guide's wife and baby with us, and they gave us all much pleasure, probably an extra responsibility for Omar, but he handled it well.
Patricia Malanga (Cruise on Darwin, Mar 2011)
The folks in Ecuador from Adventure Life were great! Maria our tour guide in the Galapagos was the best ever! She knew what she was talking about on the islands and shared lots of information. La Rabida was being at home and we really enjoyed the stay and the staff was wonderful! Everyone did their best to make us comfortable.
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!
Samba
Victor Margolin (Cruise on Samba, Dec 2010)
The crew on the Samba was excellent. Helpful and efficient. Mariana was outstanding. Knowledgeable and helpful. The food was very good and healthy too
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
Kerry Wohlstein (Cruise on Beagle, Apr 2010)
The Galapagos was an amazing trip all around. The people, the places, the guide, ships crew and accommodations were first rate. We had activities scheduled, the guide was flexible and the food was superb! I asked the cook to marry me so he could move here and cook for me. I loved all of it. Thanks so much for a wonderful experience. I will certainly use Adventure Life for future trips!
Coral I
Sharon Linder (Galapagos cruise aboard the Corals, Dec 2011)
It was a trip of a lifetime. The other people and families on our boat were the icing on the cake. The ground staff, airport, etc. excellent. Laura was wonderful! Patient, supportive and steady as I was spinning out of control with anxiety and disorganization. The guides were very hardworking, personable and accommodating...there was somewhat of a difference not only style...but knowledge and delivery, between out naturalist guides. We feel very fortunate that on this trip all the stars lined up...magical!
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!)
Corals
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
Joan Herren (Galapagos cruise aboard the Eric, Letty & Flamingo, Mar 2012)
The five of us, my three daughters, one son-in-law and I had the trip of a lifetime. The Eric was a very nice boat, clean and very helpful staff. We will never forget the beauty of the Galapagos, the knowledge of our guides (and we had our own bird experts with us), the staff, food and companionship of the other passengers.
Carol Hollingshead (Galapagos Cruise aboard the ELF, Feb 2012)
This was one of the best vacations ever! We absolutely loved the Eric. It's a perfect size and the crew were all very sweet, serving great food, keeping everything clean and tidy, definitely 5-stars. Our fellow travellers turned out to be a very congenial group. The walks on the islands with narration by our very knowledgable guides and, especially for me, the glorious snorkeling were wonderful and unique experiences.
Michael Kibby (Machu Picchu by Train + Galapagos Cruise aboard the Eric, Letty & Flamingo, Jan 2012)
Unbelievable!!! Thank you for all you did and we had a fabulous time. We went to Angkor Wat three years ago, and we handled the logistics of getting to and from and hotel all on our own (we did hire a guide there, however)--but the trip with Adventure Life was so far ahead of that. Having you folks handle the logistics in countries where you do not speak the language and have many flights and bus connections was phenomenal. My wife went to Machu Picchu 35 years ago and all she remembers was the stress of finding air and train tickets, hotels, a place to eat, and getting tickets--but this time, with all that handled by Adventure Travel and the guide Ayul, she remembers what she saw and did. Our guide in Peru and Machu Picchu, Ayul, was simply outstanding. He made the trip significantly more complete, enjoyable, and informative. He is a wonderful man, very smart with outstanding English. If I were to return to Machu Picchu, I would specifically request Ayul. Our guides in Galapagos, Ivan and Karina, were excellent. I would travel with them again with no problem. Simply outstanding.
We had accommodations in Lima, Quito, Cusco, Ollnaitahntambo, and Aquas Caliente. The Ramada in Lima is a pit, but I can understand why it is used. It is probably clean and the rooms are large. The Casa Alyssa in Quito was one of the nicest B&Bs or small hotels we have ever ... Read All
Evolution
Mark Dibner (Galapagos Cruise on the Evolution + Peru Amazon + Machu Picchu by Train, Oct 2011)
1. Your staff, Erin and Laura, were excellent. They put together a triple tour for us, and answered the many questions I had. We were looking at 3 different tour companies and they helped push our choice to Adventure Life. 2. The Galapagos trip was wonderful. We got very lucky with both the ship (Evolution) and the two guides on our cruise. We know that the guides are free-lance and perhaps our luck could have been worse. But we were VERY lucky and rate our two guides A-Plus. 3. Similarly, Santiago, our personal guide for the 5-day Inca portion in Peru was fantastic. We had heard other travelers complaining that their guide was 'old and fat and didnt want to go on certain hikes in Machu Pichu' (not an Adventure Life trip). So we realized how lucky we are.to have had an excellent guide. 4. The overall trip was amazing. Our weather was perfect, the plans were perfect, and we would highly recommend Adventure Life to others. Thank you
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!
Galapagos Legend
Cynthia Spechler (Cruise on Galapagos Legend, Jun 2010)
We were celebrating our 35th anniversary -- it was the best celebration! Adventure Life was so helpful in planning and the tour to Galapagos was fabulous! Even the two days extra before boarding the boat was well-planned and flawless. Thank you!
Lynette Seebohm (Cruise on Galapagos Legend, Mar 2010)
Visiting the Galapagos Islands is like living in an 8 day episode of the Discovery Channel. On one of those days, after watching a sea lion and a Galapagos reef shark battle it out for tasty dolphin fish morsels, we all agreed this was a once in a lifetime experience. Our travel included active island and marine life adventures twice a day. For the 8 days of our stay, we never tired of our zodiac excursions. The Galapagos Legend is both an inter-generational and internationally immersed experience. This tour provides excellent coverage of what the islands have to offer for the first time traveler to the Galapagos. The people of the Galapagos are generous, kind and willing to guide us through their Ecuadorian paradise. Our Ecuador Coordinator, Betty Jaramillo was a great asset and really stepped up to the plate on our return day to coordinate an impromptu tour guide to Otavalo, thanks Betty for the assistance!
Isabela II
Tee La Rosa (Cachiccata Trek + Isabela II Galapagos Cruise, May 2011)
This had been a dream trip of mine for many, many years. I had always wanted to hike and camp in the Andes, see Machu Picchu, and see the Galapagos. Sullivan and Kassandra were AWESOME. Seriously, they really worked with me and answered all of my questions patiently and professionally. I also really appreciated all of the detail that went in to the pre-trip paperwork I received, such as "you'll definitely need to pack this, and you'll likely need this." Very helpful information. Adventure Life did a phenomenal job of handling the logistics and pairing me up with awesome guides. Adventure Life was on-time, but the airlines weren't! You handled the logistics very well. I wound up seeing more than I had planned on - I ran everyone ragged from dawn til dusk. So, I absolutely loved it. It was a perfect mix of learning the culture and history, enjoying awesome food, seeing amazing sights and nature, and tons of physical activity. The quality of the food was top-notch. I was blown-away on the trek since the camp cook came up with better meals than I had in some restaurants! I've told so many people about how impressed I was.
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.
Mary Anne
Robyn Lively (, May 2011)
I had a great time. I love to travel and this was a once in a lifetime trip for me. I had planned to go to Machu Picchu but when I got your email about the Mary Anne, I jumped on it. I'd also wanted to go to the Galapagos for years and it seemed the ideal time. It was. May was a great month for travel in Ecuador and the islands. The other passengers on the Mary Anne were free spirits [like myself] who also signed on at the last minute and we all got along great! The trip was a great adventure, more physically strenuous than I had expected [no sunning and sailing on deck with a book and a drink in my hand -- although I could've chosen to do that!], and I loved the surprise of hiking and snorkling for hours each day. My trip was better than expected! I have been bragging to everyone back home about the sights and adventures.
As with my other travels it was the unexpected that always caught my attention and surprised and delighted me. I was snorkling with my friends from the Mary Anne and 3 large turtles. I got some salt water in my mask and surfaced to empty it. When I put my mask back on and looked down, a huge turtle was directly below me! Great feeling! On another snorkel I was alone in a beautiful cove. The dinghy was anchored and I followed the line down to the anchor. No one else was around. Then right in front of me a large female sea lion arrived ... Read All
Sally Ray (, May 2011)
Experiences in Galapagos were unimaginable! I'm still blissed out, and expect to remain that way for the rest of my life. Swimming with FOUR seaturtles all by myself for over 1/2 hour was just stunning - a sublime experience. Love, Love, Loved Equador - so beautiful, so progressive, so clean, such lovely people, spectacular topography. I've traveled a great deal throughout Latin America; felt safer there than in the US. Quito is the most beautiful city I have ever seen from the air at night!!!!
Susan Conway (Cruise on Mary Anne, Sep 2010)
Special trip. Special place! Our yacht "Mary Anne" more than met our expectations. Classic sailing vessel with comfortable rooms and common areas. Would definitely use this ship again! The whole experience was incredible. So much to see and do. The variety of activities and experiences we so much more than we expected. It was a pleasure to be surrounded by like minded travelers who respect the beauty of this unique destination. Kudos to Adventure Life!
Millennium
Walter Pliszka (Machu Picchu by Train + Galapagos Cruise (Millennium), May 2011)
Adventure Life's tour guides were integral parts of our enjoyment of our trip. Our guide on the Millennium was Sam who was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and caring. Alex, our guide on the Peru portion of our trip was equally good. He told us that he has been to Machu Picchu some 700 times and it showed! He knew all sorts of people locally and didn't hesitate to show us a little touch of the local that we would never have experienced had we been unescorted. Personally, I really liked the fact that most of the accommodations were rather small - Casa Aliso in Quito, El Sauce in Ollataytambo and El Mapi in Aguas Calientes were especially nice. I didn't take this trip as a culinary adventure, but, that said, the food was excellent. Lots of nice local touches - delicious tropical fruits, the opportunity to eat some pulpo, quinoa, alpaca and other local foods. I've traveled fairly extensively in the developed world, hardly at all in the developing world. Adventure Life helped make this trip one of my best travel experiences ever. Thank you!
Charles Skinner (Sacha Lodge + Wildlife Odyssey + Cruise on Millennium, Mar 2011)
This was one of the best trips ever (and I have been on a lot of good trips). Sacha Lodge guides, accomodations, food and wildlife were amazing. Hacienda Pinsaqui and the Andean indian culture were fascinating. Experiencing the Galapagos wildlife was one of the amazing experience of my life. The size of the boat (16 people max) was very appropriate. The guide, cabin staff and food were excellent.
Sagitta
Nancy Gilbert (Galapagos Cruise aboard the Sagitta, Oct 2011)
We had a wonderful time - are you at all surprised? We figure we've seen one/fifth of the Galapagos - although briefly - and have at least four more trips to make there- through Adventure Life, of course!
Archipel II
Ann Shenkle (Cruise on Archipel II, Mar 2011)
The tour was excellent. I wish I could go again. The support emails felt personal, like Laura knew me and what I might need. Amazing. Our guide, Mauritzio was not only knowlegable, he was born in the Galapagos and took a personal interest in conservation and ecology. Just great! La Rabida is incredible. Immaculate, superb food, very helpful staff. The same could be said about our boat, Archipell. We were always comfortable and well cared for. Service above and beyond, really.
Journey I
Nicholas Menzies (Machu Picchu by Train + Cruise on Journey I, Dec 2010)
We booked at the last minute, at the busiest time of the year. You guys were great. The best thing is that when I had to call you on the phone, a PERSON answered the phone!! Not a telephone tree. Our trip was more than we expected. We have started saving for the next one!
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.
Estrella del Mar
Jacqueline Norris (Cruise on Estrella del Mar, Mar 2011)
We were most impressed by the timeliness, good nature, and helpfulness of every person that transported us, guided us, etc. Our guide Mauricio really outdid himself when we were evacuated with the rest of Santa Cruz to the Highlands for the day and evening during the tsunami. He kept track of us, made sure we were well fed, watered, and entertained, and handled all the changed arrangements necessitated by the disruption of schedules. There really was not one person during our entire trip that wasn't excellent.
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
Len Meyers (Machu Picchu + Peru Amazon + Galapagos Cruise aboard the Seaman II, Aug 2011)
An amazing, fantastic, fabulous, learning and cultural experience. Each day was a new and exciting experience. 10 stars. Our guides Marcello and Vidal were very professional and knowlegable about the subject. It was an amazing learning experience. Better than a college year.
Adventure Life was an absolute joy and delight to work with. The knowledge of Peru added value to our trip and we were able to design a very full and comprehensive schedule. All plans and especially schedules were exactly spot on. Well done.
Bernice Meyers (Machu Picchu by Train + Peru Amazon + Colca Canyon + Galapagos Cruise (Seaman II), Aug 2011)
A wonderful, exciting and amazing experience. Organization, synchronization and punctuality are to be commended. Peruvian time, described in many Travel books as unpunctual, was experienced by me as more punctual than Swiss time! I enjoyed the low key, homely atmosphere of many of the places we stayed at (Quelketani in Puno, El Source in Ollaytantambo, Rabida in Quito). I also enjoyed the more luxurious places (Colca Canyon Lodge and Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel). Varied and adventurous, interesting and beautiful.
Galaxy
Barbara Cardi (Cruise on Galaxy, Jan 2011)
Our trip was all we hoped it would be--the small ship experience meant we didn't have to wait for tons of people to get on and off and the friendly staff was very helpful. Roberto, our guide, made sure we were all in tow and was terrific. We had talked about our trip forever but didnt make plans 'til the last minute---the staff was so helpful and things went off without a hitch! What a great time!!
La Pinta
Suzanne Hoffman (Cruise on La Pinta, Aug 2010)
I've wanted to go to the Galapagos for over 10 years, and I decided I was not waiting any longer. It was truely a dream vacation! Even the driver who took us to and from the hotel provided alot of interesting information on Quito. Everyone we met was incredible. The food was that of a 5 star restaurant! Even the presentation was wonderful! The hotel in Quito was also great - as was the service there! Everything was on time - the only exception was due to weather and I definitely would rather be safe than fast
Galapagos Odyssey
Carmyn Priewe (Galapagos cruise aboard the Odyssey, Apr 2012)
Everything was excellent! Our hotel in Quito (La Rabida) was very pleasant, and the accommodations on our Odyssey vessel were superb. All three of us (even the 9-year-old!) loved the food on the ship. Lots of post-activity snacks and juice, happy hours, two desserts per day - how could it be better? We enjoyed all aspects of our trip and will definitely use Adventure Life for future adventures. Thanks!!!
Shelly Buchman (Galapagos Cruise aboard the Odyssey, Oct 2011)
My trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos was for the purpose of celebrating my 40th birthday and there is simply one word to describe it - amazing!! The entire experience was incredible and came off without a single glitch. The guides were extremely knowledgable, fluent in English, friendly, funny and willing to go that extra mile to make the experience memorable. There is no question Adventure life was the way to go and I will be recommending them to everyone I know!
Kathy Wolfe (Galapagos Cruise, Sep 2011)
We are in love with the Galapagos and enjoyed the market in Otavalo and surrounding areas. We enjoyed trying all of the foods and it was really good with excellent service, too. We tried many new dishes and a number of new fruit juices. The guides on the boats were great and very knowledgeable. We had wonderful guides on all of our adventures.
Jill Tee (Cruise on Galapagos Odyssey, Jan 2011)
This travel experience was one of the best ever. The location was great and the guide, crew and Adventure Life employees even added to this great experience. I would recommend this tour to my friends any family without hesitation. Thank you to everyone!
Tatiana was our guide and she was very knowledgable about the Galapagos and was friendly and helpful with everyone on the tour. The hotel in Quito was very nice. The staff was very helpful and friendly throughout my stay.
Archipel I
Alan Jarred (Cruise on Archipel I, Oct 2010)
The local tour guide was excellent in knowledge, accommodating and friendly. Well organised and always seemed as if it is was his first tour. Galapagos was everything and more than I had hoped for.
Nina
Dennis Trostle (Islands and Incas + Machu Picchu by Train + Cruise on Nina, Dec 2010)
My wife and I are 56 years old and we travel many places, both US and abroad. One thing we like is to have everything planned and lined up. I must say of all the trips we have been on you guys are towards the top in customer service. Laura Cahill from your office was fantastic. We had weather problems in the US which prevented our daughter from coming (long story) but Laura was extremely helpful through the whole process and I am sure I was not the easiest client.
Some of the small towns we were in on our travels, the choice of accommodations were limited. Some of the places were not five star but were the best for the area. Other places were great. THANK YOU from my wife.
You guys were great on organization! Every time we stepped off the plane, bus, whatever you were there. We heard other people having problems knowing their contacts, times, etc. This service, for us, is very important. The guide was Santiago Castelo in Cuzco and Machu Picchu. We could not say enough good things about him. I liked the hiking and he was there. His knowledge was very good. Everything about the cruise ship/staff.etc in the Galapagos was great. Ship was Nina and guide was George (sorry do not have last name)
Galapagos Multisport
Renae Jacobs (Galapagos Multisport, Dec 2011)
Loved the trip. We will with our children and somehow we were paired up with 2 other families with great children. We all got along very well. It was amazing how easy we all were to be with and how very simular the families were. Our guide, Juan, was teriffic. So up beat and positive. He was very educated but did not bore us with countless details. He was easy to be with and saw to our every needs.
Gwenn Schamberger (Gagalapgos Multisport, Oct 2011)
I tried not to have too many expectations because I didn't know exactly what to expect, but I was not disappointed. It was an adventure of a lifetime. Our guide/naturalist for the week, Richard Vokes, was excellent. He was enthusiastic, fun, and knowledgable. When my boyfriend got sick- he was genuinely concerned and proactive to get him well. He was really into conservation and passionate about the Galapagos. He was adept at finding wildlife/sealife and at making sea lion calls! He took us on extra hikes and made sure we always had something to do. I would highly recommend him as a guide for other adventurous travelers.
Paul McManamon (Galapagos Multisport, Jan 2011)
Thomas was really great. 5 stars for him. Godo Alfredo, on San Christobal, did not speak English, but was really impressive. Nelli on Isabela did well. We did not interact as much with the last local guide.
Renee Kraft (Galapagos Multisport, Dec 2010)
We were very impressed with how smoothly the trip was run. From the minute we landed in Quito until the time we left, we were very well taken care of and didn't need to worry about any details. The service from Jen and Mary before the trip was also great. We will definitely be making trips with AL again in the future.
We had a great trip - learned and saw a lot. The guides were excellent and we enjoyed the activity level. The 6-hour hike up a volcano was a bit much for us - especially in the heat. Our feet have yet to recover. There were some horses that made a large part of the trip (a 6-mile horseback ride and 3-mile hike instead of a 9-mile hike). It would have been great for that to have been an option. The snorkeling was excellent.
We loved Andres and would highly recommend him to others traveling in Ecuador. He was very friendly and informative. He also had a great sense of humor. Our trip would have been much less enjoyable without him there. We feel like we've made a friend for life. The local guides were also good. Javier was particularly helpful with the snorkeling and kayaking. Most did not speak English and speak very little Spanish, so that made it a little difficult to communicate, but we managed to figure it out.
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.
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.
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.
Darwin's Islands
Lynnell Thiel (Darwins Islands, Mar 2012)
The tour was a once in a lifetime adventure. I felt pampered by the good service and challenged by the level of activity. Where else can you snorkel with penguins and barracudas and hike with giant tortoises?
Deena Brenner (Darwins Islands, Mar 2012)
The Darwin's Island trip was a luxurious adventure! We had the most wonderful time and saw a tremendous amount of amazing wildlife on all of the islands we visited. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, personable and professional. The trip felt perfectly balanced with excursions and time for relaxation.
Sarah Mansell (, Jul 2011)
It was more than i was expecting, very comfortable and great staff support. Sullivan was fantastic, she addressed all of my needs. Our guide Solange was extremely knowledgeable and made our experience, there was not one question she could not answer. The food was amazing, especially at floreana island. The trip was more than i was expecting. I will recommend it to all my friends and family.
Jordan Loran (Darwin's Islands, May 2011)
The tour was great. It was everything we had hoped it would be! We saw everything we wanted to see and did everything we wanted to do. We loved it. The only suggestion would be to put in a little down time to shop or sit on the beach. We were kept so busy we didn't have time to shop until we were at the airport. The only thing we could add is that Adventure Life and Red Mangrove did an exceptional job. We would not hesitate to use AL again.
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
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
