Kimkim Trip Reviews for Ecuador

I was fortunate to be paired with Daniel at Responsible Travel Ecuador through KimKim. This was my third time booking a trip on KimKim and once again it does not disappoint! The 15 day tour I did started out in Galapagos Island which was efficient since you need PCR Test to go to the Island and I did everything from boat tours, snorkeling, walking tour, lava tunnel and a day of relaxation! The tour continued to Quito where I was given two insightful tours from Andrea who also is from... read more

I was fortunate to be paired with Daniel at Responsible Travel Ecuador through KimKim. This was my third time booking a trip on KimKim and once again it does not disappoint! The 15 day tour I did started out in Galapagos Island which was efficient since you need PCR Test to go to the Island and I did everything from boat tours, snorkeling, walking tour, lava tunnel and a day of relaxation! The tour continued to Quito where I was given two insightful tours from Andrea who also is from Responsible Travel which included walks around Old City as well as the churches in the area as well as seeing the middle of the Equator and Volcano that overlooks the city of Quito. Unfortunately Cotopaxi was closed for maintenance but driver Marco Herrara took me to Quilotoa which was a fantastic sight to see and he did an amazing job explaining Ecuador on the way there as well as Quilotoa and the story behind the volcanoes. I ended the tour in Cuyabeno which was a unique 3 day tour in Amazon area and the tour guides were amazing with the walking tours as well as boat tours. Javier was a great driver for the pick ups to and from the airport and I was lucky enough to stay in wonderful hotels such as Deja Vu in Santa Cruz, Hotel Vieja Cuba in Quito and Nicky's Amazon Lodge in Cuyabeno. I recommend you to have your trip in Ecuador planned with Responsible Travel!

Ecuador was an amazing trip in the midst of a pandemic and an uncertain time within the world. It was a much needed vacation, and not one time did we feel unsafe or at risk due to covid. Extra precautions were taken, and everything went off without a hitch. From volcanoes, to hiking, to city experiences, Amazon adventures and more, there is nothing I would change about our trip.

"Fresh Eddie" our tour guide was one of the highlights for us! He graciously accepted our nickname given to him... read more

Ecuador was an amazing trip in the midst of a pandemic and an uncertain time within the world. It was a much needed vacation, and not one time did we feel unsafe or at risk due to covid. Extra precautions were taken, and everything went off without a hitch. From volcanoes, to hiking, to city experiences, Amazon adventures and more, there is nothing I would change about our trip.

"Fresh Eddie" our tour guide was one of the highlights for us! He graciously accepted our nickname given to him by me and my significant other and truly went out of his way to make our trip one of our best yet! His knowledge of the places we went to and the routes to get there was top notch. We loved him greatly and found a friend for life!

Gabor who helped plan our trip through KimKim is/was a Saint!! I know I drove him crazy with my itinerary changes, questions and concerns, and he just couldn't have handled me better! Haha He was so patient, so detailed and just definitely one of the reasons our trip went so well. He even called me towards the end just to see how everything was going and helped to make a last minute adjustment we didn't know we needed to make.

Overall, I give KimKim and the people they brought into my life a 10 because they are an awesome trip planning site, and I love everything about our trip! I tell all my friends about your site because this isn't my first trip planned through you all and won't be my last!

Matias was amazing. Quick responses, answered all the questions we had, most before we thought to ask them. The partners he worked with were on time, friendly, and knowledgeable. The hotels we were set up in were all great, from hot tubs heated by volcanos to having breakfast with a troop of monkeys, it was places that were unique, clean and friendly. I would send anyone I know to Ecuador and I will give them Matias' contact information to make their trip as special as he made ours.

Daniel was amazing!! He was always available if we needed him! It was very reassuring. We had a phenomenal time in the Galápagos AND Daniel was able to plan the trip within our budget after we discussed details. I would highly recommend Daniel and if we decide to go to the Galápagos again, I will reach out to him in the future!

Isabel Fernandez worked so hard to make our trip to Ecuador so memorable. Every part of the trip was smooth. No hassles in terms of pick ups and transportation. Our guide, Christian was fantastic. We told Isabel what we loved to do as travellers (hiking, nature, etc.) and she worked with us to plan a perfect vacation. She made great suggestions and we worked together to make our Ecuadorian experience so memorable. Rich and Melissa

I have never used a travel agency to plan a vacation before, so initially, I was a little nervous. However, it turned out to be a fantastic experience from the beginning to the end. Edwin helped me plan my trip and was very responsive and flexible. He was easy to communicate with friendly and professional. While the booking and planning part when well, I still wasn't sure how it would be when I got there. Waiting for me at the airport was my pickup and local guide, Dario. Dario was extremely... read more

I have never used a travel agency to plan a vacation before, so initially, I was a little nervous. However, it turned out to be a fantastic experience from the beginning to the end. Edwin helped me plan my trip and was very responsive and flexible. He was easy to communicate with friendly and professional. While the booking and planning part when well, I still wasn't sure how it would be when I got there. Waiting for me at the airport was my pickup and local guide, Dario. Dario was extremely professional, friendly, knowledgeable, and you can tell that he loves his job as a guide. I felt at ease with him at all times and wasn't afraid to ask if I needed anything. All the transfers happened very smoothly, and I have no idea how I would have planned such activities alone or how I would have gotten to any of the places I did. Getting to Yacuma EcoLodge was a little complicated, so having someone to take care of each step was so helpful. It allowed me to relax and be on vacation! I stayed for a week at Yacuma EcoLodge and experienced a lot of great activities in the rainforest. My one comment is that if you want to see a lot of animals, Yacuma EcoLodge might not be the place to stay. However, if you are interested in just being in the rainforest, plants, nature, you will love it. I enjoyed every second of the experience despite not seeing a lot of animals. After spending a week at Yacuma Ecolodge, I transferred to Galapagos islands, where I met other guides - Enrique and several others that assisted me and made sure that everything went smoothly. In Santa Cruz, I also had several planned activities, including snorkeling (which I was I had more time planned for) in which I saw sea lions, sea turtles, and all sorts of fish. In Isabela, my guide Pablo was great. He was very entertaining, professional, and very interesting to talk to. I did many exciting activities there as well. Everything went smoothly from start to finish, and I am 100% sure I did more and saw more than I ever could have seen had I planned the trip myself. Each day someone from the operations department would call me to check in and see how my day went and if I had any problems or concerns. There was one night, I had a bit of an issue at one of the hotels. They were very responsive and took my concerns very seriously. To sum up, EcoAndes was a very organized and professional company. My brother and I are thinking about a trip to Peru in December, and I will be using EcoAndes for future travel planning in all the countries that they serve.

We have so much to share regarding the start to finish adventure that Isabel planned for us. I know she was there in the background managing every leg of the trip and I only wish we could have thanked her in person. Planning with Isabel was easy with 2 way back and forth communication. She listened to what we wanted and delivered completely with perfect guides, transportation, top notch hotels and tours. This was the first time we have used a travel service such as Kimkim and it made the... read more

We have so much to share regarding the start to finish adventure that Isabel planned for us. I know she was there in the background managing every leg of the trip and I only wish we could have thanked her in person. Planning with Isabel was easy with 2 way back and forth communication. She listened to what we wanted and delivered completely with perfect guides, transportation, top notch hotels and tours. This was the first time we have used a travel service such as Kimkim and it made the trip so easy with everything coordinated and booked for us. Special mention goes to David Carrion, who met us at Quito airport and became our friend and guide for the next several days. He was professional and knowledgable about his home country and city with many excellent suggestions. Thank you Isabel for suggesting cooking class and market tour with Chef Edwin of Altamira Restaurant which was one of our highlights. Second guide, Marco Herrera took over for the next leg to take us on a beautiful tour of Cotopaxi and Banos. He took very good care of us and was excellent driver through 2 torrential downpours and travel company for my chatty husband. We absolutely fell in love with Hotel Luna Volcan and wish we had booked for 2 nights. The trip then moved to Amazon and Napo Wildlife Centre. I think Isabel picked the best ecolodge in the area and would recommend this one over all others. Three days of exploring the jungle and river with our guide, Juan was perfect. We then switched gears to travel to Galapagos. We were happy Isabel suggested staying on land using boat tours to uninhabited islands during the day. Huge shout out to Isabella Island hotel, Iguana Crossing which was the nicest hotel on the island. We enjoyed exceptional service and upgraded accommodation. Again we wish we had a second night to enjoy this beach paradise. Another mention needs to be given for honest island residents. My husband dropped his passport by accident when we were out for dinner. By the next morning, there was a tourist news feed broadcasting a picture of his passport and asking where he was staying so it could be returned. Not really the way to become famous but we sure appreciated all the care and concern. Our tour guide, Julio and his lovely young daughter, Mia were absolutely fantastic and took us on a couple of amazing tours. Then we taxi boated back to Santa Cruz for 3 night and again had a lovely oasis hotel, Ikala Hotel close but away from the hustle and bustle. 2 boat snorkelling and island hikes were similar in structure but gave us a wider perspective of different species on each island. We sadly had to say goodbye to Galapagos and fly back to Quito. Tour ended with David meeting us and a very special and private tour of a rose farm close to the airport. What a treat that was! The last hotel Isabel chose was EB Hotel close to the airport for an early morning flight. They even offered to pack us brown bag breakfasts because buffet was not open that early. It was a quiet and lovely way to end a very busy and exciting tour. When I say this was a trip of our lifetime, I am not exaggerating. Thank you Isabel for all your background planning and coordination! I am not exaggerating when I say this is the lady to talk to for your Ecuadorean tour!

Lots of pre-planning emails with Isabel resulted in a beautiful trip. Two little glitches along our 3-week mainland trip were resolved very quickly. Our guide/driver Marco was knowledgeable , and when we asked for a deviation, he knew if it was do-able. Wonderful stays at Les terrazzas de Dana in Mindo (recommend Chocolate massage), Hacienda Porvenir(beautiful, peaceful lounge and hiking outside your door.) Thursday market at Sasqisili was fun.

We were two teenager families traveling in mainland Ecuador for the first time. Stayed 6 days in Quito area with visits to Mindo, Cotopaxi and Quilotoa. Our guide Marcelo was perfect match with his deep knowledge of biology and earth sciences, as well as being very flexible and service minded. Highly recommended!

Highlights（）
1. Galapagos
2. jungle
3. cuenca
4. scenery while driving
5. The Old Towne Hotel in Quito was very nice and the owner was great to assist with any questions, needs and went above and beyond to make our stay memorable

Negatives （in no particular order）
1. No electricity or air conditioning in jungle
2. The driver from Quito to spoke no English
3. The hotel in Alausi was very bad.
4. The return schedule from the jungle to the airport quite poorly calculated and created unnecessary stress with us nearly missing our flight

We had an amazing experience using Kimkim for the first time.
Our booking agent Gabor was extremely helpful, responsive and had some great recommendations for us. When we had to change our travel arrangements due to disruption in the country he was able to accommodate our additional requirements as well.
Our first guide Roko was fantastic- from the moment he collected us at the airport until 8 days later when he dropped us off at Cuenca airport. Roko made every effort to ensure we had a... read more

We had an amazing experience using Kimkim for the first time.
Our booking agent Gabor was extremely helpful, responsive and had some great recommendations for us. When we had to change our travel arrangements due to disruption in the country he was able to accommodate our additional requirements as well.
Our first guide Roko was fantastic- from the moment he collected us at the airport until 8 days later when he dropped us off at Cuenca airport. Roko made every effort to ensure we had a fantastic time , getting to know us and what we enjoyed in travelling. His car was always clean and tidy and he ensured we knew how to get hold of him every evening in case we needed something. Roko has a great sense of humour , a great driver and really knowledgeable about the country and people.We had a fabulous time travelling wit him! Our second guide Dario did his job but was not as engaging and the same level of care and attention to detail was not there and even when we were hiking was on his mobile phone alot- maybe an age thing!. We still had an enjoyable time as Ecuador is such a beautiful country but wasn't as great as the days we spent with Roko. Ecuador is an amazing country with great scenery, food and people. Thank you we had an wonderful trip with a lifetime of memories. Thank Gabor and thank you Roko !!!

All transport and drivers felt safe and was punctual. Our guide to mindo (Marcelo Chavez) was maybe one of the best guides we have experienced. He really payd attention to the groups needs and gave good and pedagogical information. He was truly professional, positive and service minded. Hotel in mindo (Dragonfly) and Cotopaxi was memorable. All activities was good.

Thanks to Iveth for organizing a wonderful 13-day trip and to Cristian for making it special. Cristian was very personable and was knowledgeable about local history and customs. He also made great adjustments to our itinerary when appropriate. Iveth stepped up and visited when one of us did not feel well for a couple of days.
Highlights included horseback riding at Cotapaxi; Rose Success rose plantation; Hacienda Las Cuevas (a lovely place to stay carved out of the rock); Casa Gangotena... read more

Thanks to Iveth for organizing a wonderful 13-day trip and to Cristian for making it special. Cristian was very personable and was knowledgeable about local history and customs. He also made great adjustments to our itinerary when appropriate. Iveth stepped up and visited when one of us did not feel well for a couple of days.
Highlights included horseback riding at Cotapaxi; Rose Success rose plantation; Hacienda Las Cuevas (a lovely place to stay carved out of the rock); Casa Gangotena Hotel on an historic square in Quito (great rooms, lovely food, and craft cocktails); the weaving demonstration and people at Peguche Wasi; and our days at Napo Wildlife Center in the Amazon basin. The people were great everywhere we stayed. Cristian’s suggestions for local lunch stops were wonderful and we enjoyed our time with him. We also thought the Cultura Manor Hotel was a nice introduction to the ambience of Quito. We particularly enjoyed our leisurely lunch at La Plaza Restaurant in the Hotel Mama Cuchara (which is by ArtHotels who also have locations in Otavalo and Cuenca). It has a great rooftop bar with views of the historic center and of the Virgin Mary statue on the Mirador de Panecillo. The bar was tended by Juan Pedro who crafted his own cocktails and had virgin versions for the kids.
Being in Ecuador at New Year’s was a treat. In many places, we saw groups of men and even kids clumsily dressed as women who sang and danced amusingly in front of our car. For a couple of coins, we could pass through. Some of them kept us laughing. Cristian explained the tradition and even confessed to having done the same as a young man. The atmosphere for our NYE dinner in the monastery at Hacienda Cusin was wonderful as were the folk dancers would performed in the garden. Although, the rooms there were very tired, the service was great and we loved getting the hot water bottles as part of the turn-down service. And yes, we did find the secret stair in the monastery.
The Amazon was a fabulous part of the trip. The lodge was very well done, the excursions were well planned, and the service was very nice. We saw three species of monkeys, macaws, parrots, a toucan, a young and a full-grown anaconda, caimans, giant river otters, tarantulas, and many other beautiful birds. Our canoe crews were excellent. The visit to the village was a bit touristy but we danced their dance and bought a few hand-made things from their shop.
Our transfers with Alejandro upon our arrival and the day of our departure were excellent. He was flexible and helpful in making our last day in Quito a great day. We had 10 hours between our arrival from the Amazon and the time we needed to return to the airport. So, we went on our own unplanned excursions. We spent two hours at the home and museum of Ecuador’s famous artist, Oswaldo Guayasamín. This is an absolute must and we highly recommend going there. We then went to the historic Quito area where we came across numerous street performers and an entertaining parade. Alejandro held onto our luggage while we toured. So, it really helped make it a great day.
We do have a few suggestions noting that some of the drives were tiresome and it was cramped being in a small SUV. Skip the Thermae at Papallacta. The cabin was fun, the treatments were fine, and the hike was nice, but the hot springs were filled with locals who stand in line to get in. The place lost its charm with so many people there so it was not worth the drive. White water rafting would have been more fun.
The little village at the middle of the earth was very touristy. The egg demonstration, walking the line, and the water draining demonstration, were all pretty hokey. The monument next door was fine and the relief map in the French pavilion was helpful. The nearby Le Crater Restaurant was fogged in so we did not have a view but even so, the service and the food were disappointing. We do recommend a stop at the Quitsato equator. Their explanations and materials were very well done and it was good that Cristian had us stop there.
In Napo we would have preferred to have one of their naturalists (which is usually included) instead of hiring and paying for our own directly which was apparently due to holiday scheduling difficulties. Pedro was not very engaging, even at meals. He could have made it more fun for us and our teens. Our indigenous community guide Jorge was good at spotting animals and we even heard Pedro asking Jorge for information about the animals. We still enjoying Napo and would recommend it.
We had a great trip to the Galapagos prior to having kids and would have worked that it if we had more time.

Had a great time in Ecuador. Kimkim team - especially Iveth - was very helpful and went out of their way to make sure that we had a good trip. Thank you!

Our trip to Ecuador was wonderful. I feel we experienced as much as we could in our 7 day adventure. Iveth was lovely and I found it very special that she met us at the airport and joined us on the trip to Huasquila Lodge in the Amazon rainforest. I enjoyed her insight, information into our travels and advice when we were on own.. It was such a pleasure to have Marcelo drive us. I learned alot from him, enjoyed his knowledge, he was patient with our lack of spanish, its was fun to hear of... read more

Our trip to Ecuador was wonderful. I feel we experienced as much as we could in our 7 day adventure. Iveth was lovely and I found it very special that she met us at the airport and joined us on the trip to Huasquila Lodge in the Amazon rainforest. I enjoyed her insight, information into our travels and advice when we were on own.. It was such a pleasure to have Marcelo drive us. I learned alot from him, enjoyed his knowledge, he was patient with our lack of spanish, its was fun to hear of his family, and very thankful for our late night drives and that he gave up so much of Christmas holiday to be with us. Christian who was our driver from the rainforest to Banos taking in so many sites and waterfalls, he was so kind as he helped me to navigate the trails to waterfalls ( I have to admit I was not prepared for terrain) and taking video and pictures of our adventures. I so enjoyed his company and learning of his big family, traditions, and his recommendations for Banos, we did take his advice on eating Guinea pig (Cuy).
It was memorable and so fun to spend time with my son Denver, he tries to keep me young and challenge of my comfort zone. You all helped with that.
Iveth, Marcelo, and Christian will remain in my heart with a SMILE.
Thanks so much,
Ann Collins

Was surprised that the whole tour right from kimkim is 100% outsourced to someone else with no accountability to customer experience. Found out the operator is a freelance for a tour operator to kimkim. All the time, whole tour operator was focused to fulfill his obligation with zero flexibility. Their non availability during weekends made it worse. Since this is my first tour experience thru kimkim and having always leveraged TripAdvisor and Viator, most of my trip could have been achieved... read more

Was surprised that the whole tour right from kimkim is 100% outsourced to someone else with no accountability to customer experience. Found out the operator is a freelance for a tour operator to kimkim. All the time, whole tour operator was focused to fulfill his obligation with zero flexibility. Their non availability during weekends made it worse. Since this is my first tour experience thru kimkim and having always leveraged TripAdvisor and Viator, most of my trip could have been achieved at my pace and 60% lower cost by directly working with Viator. Most of my trips could have been day trips as I found out as we are only few hours from the main city and could have covered more locations.

We had nice vacation in Ecuador and Galapagos Islands - it was one of our best vacation. All transfers and accuracy were excellent. Majority of tours were superb - the best guide was Veronica, the first tour after arrival to Santa Cruz - Turtles Farm and Darvin Station. The last one on the Islands - Bay Tour was ok: tour guide had limited English (basically few major sentences), also it was a similar one we had already on the islands earlier.
Once again, thank you so much for organizing one... read more

We had nice vacation in Ecuador and Galapagos Islands - it was one of our best vacation. All transfers and accuracy were excellent. Majority of tours were superb - the best guide was Veronica, the first tour after arrival to Santa Cruz - Turtles Farm and Darvin Station. The last one on the Islands - Bay Tour was ok: tour guide had limited English (basically few major sentences), also it was a similar one we had already on the islands earlier.
Once again, thank you so much for organizing one of the best our vacation, we enjoyed it a lot. We are already thinking to visit more countries in Latin America.
All the best Yelena and Roman

Every aspect of our trip was well choreographed. Isabel did a great job making sure things moved along seamlessly. Our cruise on the Coral 1 in the Galapagos was wonderful. The staff was very professional, knowledgeable and kind. The snorkeling was fabulous. We then went to the rainforest. What an experience- one extreme to another. We enjoyed our canoe trips and jungle walks immensely. One thing I would strongly recommend is flying in and out of the amazon instead of driving. That was not at all fun. In all, my family as I were very pleased with our trip!

Our trip to Ecuador was incredible and surpassed all expectations! Iveth put together the perfect trip based upon on interests and budget. She was extremely communicative in the months and weeks leading up to our trip, and was in regular contact with us and our guides throughout our trip. Thanks to Iveth we were able to see and learn about so many different parts of the country. We spent 18 days traveling through mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. We spent half of our trip journeying... read more

Our trip to Ecuador was incredible and surpassed all expectations! Iveth put together the perfect trip based upon on interests and budget. She was extremely communicative in the months and weeks leading up to our trip, and was in regular contact with us and our guides throughout our trip. Thanks to Iveth we were able to see and learn about so many different parts of the country. We spent 18 days traveling through mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. We spent half of our trip journeying through the highlands, the Amazon rainforest, Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, and Quito; the second half we spend in the Galapagos Islands. She arranged for us to have a private guide/driver while on the mainland - Christian. He was one of the best guides we've ever had, in any country! He was kind, caring and funny. He was so knowledgeable about Ecuador's history, culture, and especially the nature! Thanks to Christian, we feel like experts on Ecuador. His love and passion for his country shined, and it truly made our experience extra special.

Our vacation to Ecuador was unique for a number of reasons, but mostly because Iveth was instrumental in coordinating and executing our marriage proposal. She assisted my fiance with planning every detail of his proposal, including ensuring that eleven 'love notes' were received by eleven different hotels. The proposal took place overlooking the spectacular Lake Quilotoa, and it will be one of our most cherished memories. She also assisted my fiance with planning a very special hotel stay at the beautiful and romantic Hotel Rumiloma. Iveth was always there for us; we had some issues with our airline tickets and she was immediately available to assist. When we both felt sick one day in Quito, she came to our hotel first thing in the morning with Pediasure and medicine. She was extremely attentive to all of our needs, and she went above and beyond to make sure our time in Ecuador was well spent. She is extremely organized and we never had to worry about our itinerary, pick ups, transfers, etc. Her positive energy and love for her country radiates, and we could not have imagined this trip without her playing a part in it. I plan to tell all my friends and family to work with Iveth when planning their Ecuador trips, and we will certainly work with her again on our next visit to the wonderful Ecuador!

Had a great time (10 days) at various location along the Andean highlands in Ecuador with our guide, Cristian, organised by Iveth. What a gorgeous, scenic country and friendly people!!
Iveth took to time to tailor the itinerary to hit all the places we selected. And even helped us out with a couple of issues along the way. Cristian was with us the whole trip and his assistance was exemplary and invaluable. He was willing to accommodate changes, make suggestions and was not stuck to a set... read more

Had a great time (10 days) at various location along the Andean highlands in Ecuador with our guide, Cristian, organised by Iveth. What a gorgeous, scenic country and friendly people!!
Iveth took to time to tailor the itinerary to hit all the places we selected. And even helped us out with a couple of issues along the way. Cristian was with us the whole trip and his assistance was exemplary and invaluable. He was willing to accommodate changes, make suggestions and was not stuck to a set checklist. His input about local customs, traditions, etc., added to experience.
In retrospect, I would've liked to have had two days in Quito and vicinity and skipped Guayaquil; and definitely would've added a couple of visits to the museums to learn about pre-Inca settlements/history.
Will come back again to visit Yasuni and Galapagos the next time. Thank you, Iveth and Cristian, for making it a memorable trip.

Our 5-day adventure to Ecuador was terrific. Highlights: historic Quito, Cotapaxi, Banos, the avenue of waterfalls, the eco-lodge in Tena and rafting! Everything made easy on the booking end by Linda and on the ground by guide extraordinaire, Marco.

My mother and I really felt like we were being looked after and had a great experience from start to finish in Ecuador.

Marcelo and Iveth greeted us at the airport on our first day and went the extra mile to make sure we felt welcomed.

A real highlight of the trip was the two nights we spend at the Amazon lodge-- the staff there, including Sabino, our guide, were incredible. It made for a great adventure.

Then, we were again put into good hands with Chrisitian, our guide through the Waterfalls route.

Overall, the trip was unforgettable and Iveth and company made it really easy on us.

Our guide, Patricio, was among the best parts of the trip. A native with 22 years experience as a guide, Patricio took time to ask specifically how we would like to be guided, and what we would like to do. That meant our experience was tailored to our specific expectations and abilities. Old town Quito, Cotapaxi, Qiletoa, and Banos were all unique experiences not to be missed. Although the Galapagos portion of the itinerary featured several guides, each were experts who provided deep insight... read more

Our guide, Patricio, was among the best parts of the trip. A native with 22 years experience as a guide, Patricio took time to ask specifically how we would like to be guided, and what we would like to do. That meant our experience was tailored to our specific expectations and abilities. Old town Quito, Cotapaxi, Qiletoa, and Banos were all unique experiences not to be missed. Although the Galapagos portion of the itinerary featured several guides, each were experts who provided deep insight into the one-of-a-kind wildlife and environment of the islands. Be sure to include snorkeling in your itinerary! The up- close encounters with sea turtles and sea lions were are among the most extraordinary portions of the experience. Truly, this was the trip of a lifetime!

The guide, Cristin was amazing! He made my trip special and unforgettable. I have memories that will last a lifetime. The trip was perfectly organized. The food and stay were well orchestrated. I would recommend this group to anyone visiting Ecuador!

Pedro was great and shared lots of interesting facts. He was very accommodating with some of the changes we made at the beginning of the journey. He picked us up at the airport and then the next morning arrived to take us to Otovalo and the leather town and a good place to eat On the way back we stopped to buy roses on the side of the road. What a treat. On Monday, Santiago was on time to pick us up. His car was also very clean and he was interesting to talk to. We drove to the Cotopaxi park... read more

Pedro was great and shared lots of interesting facts. He was very accommodating with some of the changes we made at the beginning of the journey. He picked us up at the airport and then the next morning arrived to take us to Otovalo and the leather town and a good place to eat On the way back we stopped to buy roses on the side of the road. What a treat. On Monday, Santiago was on time to pick us up. His car was also very clean and he was interesting to talk to. We drove to the Cotopaxi park to walk 5 km around a lagoon. It was a nice hike. We noticed that the volcano top was storming and it has turned to snow within the hour around the lake. It started to sleet just as we got to the car. We headed up the volcano road which was very slippery for his car. I suggested if he was not comfortable we could skip the hike. He drove us up to the parking lot of Cotopaxi to walk the 400m to the refuge. The weather was extremely bad with snow and sleet. I trusted his judgement since he is a local guide. However, he should never have let us hike up Cotopaxi in an electrical snow storm. I didn’t realize the danger and he did not seem concerned. We got up halfway to the refuge in the storm and my husband and I immediately started to pick up an electrical charge which I did not understand at the moment what was happening. I knew it was bad and as I was being shocked and in pain he ignored these dangerous signs of an imminent sign of being struck by lightning. I immediately turned to run down the mountain screaming help me. Then I got a shock or was actually struck by lightning. My husband then got to me and rushed me down the mountain as fast as we could. I don’t know how I survived. Everything I’ve read about this situation that I now understand this to be is that it is rare to survive this type of electrical phenomenon and most people do not survive to tell their story. I know I would not survived if I’d had a heart problem because there was no phone signal or medical training by our guide. After my horrifying experience we drove to the hacienda and enjoyed the rest of our journey as much as we could. El Porvenir was awesome. The last day was supposed to be hiking on Quilotoa. In addition to not feeling well and the fear of hiking in the rain again, we asked to change our journey and went to the cloud forest to see hummingbirds and at lunch at Papallacta. We stopped at an amazing Rose plantation I found a brochure for in Papallacta. We appreciate all the last minute changes but my experience prompts me to ask a lot of questions about the knowledge of safety that these free lance guides are expected to have. We never knew the risks of hiking at high altitudes while it is snowing and with poor weather but our guide should have. When I did some research on the internet and mentioned to my guide that we shouldn’t have gone and that I was lucky to be alive he blew it off and said I should’ve unzipped my jacket? What? I expected an apology and for him to do additional research into this subject of hiking in an electrical storm. For the 2 days we stayed after, I remained in a short of shocked state unsure of my emotions and physical well being although I felt mostly well. We were so far from anywhere and I didn’t want to go to an Ecuadorian medical facility. I pushed the incident to the back of mind so as to enjoy my life since it was spared and the rest of our trip. I visited my doctor a few hours after my arrival home and have been given a bill of health which I am grateful for. My doctor had only seen a few patients who have been electrocuted/shocked/struck by lightning and told me how lucky I was to not have had any damage or death. most don’t live to tell the tale.

Linda was amazing. My travel plans were fluid early on and she gave me numerous options and updated along the way as I finalized the details, with regular communication. I couldn’t have asked for more.

I am so thankful for all the help that Kimkim has provided for my trip. The trip was booked at the very last minute and had a lot of twists and turns. I don't think our family enjoyed the trip as much as we did if we haven't have Isabel and our trusted guide, Christian. Isabel worked before and after her normal working hour to help me when a national strike by transportation works paralyzed the country for a couple of days. Christian educated our family on food, custom, history and geography... read more

I am so thankful for all the help that Kimkim has provided for my trip. The trip was booked at the very last minute and had a lot of twists and turns. I don't think our family enjoyed the trip as much as we did if we haven't have Isabel and our trusted guide, Christian. Isabel worked before and after her normal working hour to help me when a national strike by transportation works paralyzed the country for a couple of days. Christian educated our family on food, custom, history and geography with his kind manners and excellent knowledge. I would definitely consider working with Kimkim for our next adventure. Thank you!

It was an absolute pleasure working with Mathias:

1. He listened carefully to our special areas of interest (birding photography) and designed a fantastic itinerary for us.
2. The accommodation and guides that he set up for us exceeded our expectations.
3. His personal input and support when we needed urgent medical assistance was invaluable.
4. He was always available and responsive throughout the whole 4 week trip

In Mindo, Mathias set us up with Edison from... read more

It was an absolute pleasure working with Mathias:

1. He listened carefully to our special areas of interest (birding photography) and designed a fantastic itinerary for us.
2. The accommodation and guides that he set up for us exceeded our expectations.
3. His personal input and support when we needed urgent medical assistance was invaluable.
4. He was always available and responsive throughout the whole 4 week trip

In Mindo, Mathias set us up with Edison from http://www.swordbilledexpeditions.com/about-us/ . Ed’s bird knowledge was remarkable, his photographic skills superb, he was able to get us into unusual and remote locations, he introduced us to fascinating people and was just a wonderful person to spend time with. We stayed at the Septimo Paraiso and the Bellavista Cloudforest Lodge, both of which were stunning

My research showed very mixed feedback between Cuyabeno and Yasuni, and so based on Mathias’s recommendation we did both – and in hindsight he was completely correct. They are very different, unique and special in their own distinct ways. In Cuyabeno we stayed at the Nicki Lodge for 5 nights and I loved it. We met a couple of travelers who had had bad experiences at some of the other local lodges, but the service and friendliness from our staff was fantastic. The lodge is more casual and low key but I felt closer to the environment and with the narrower rivers the forest seemed to be more intimate. We had a young guide called Jefferson who was from Quito - he had fallen in love with the natural environment and was passionate about sharing it with us. Through his share dedication we managed to see a young family of endangered otters, the beautiful fresh water dolphins, birds, insects, caiman, spiders and flora (as well as lots of very muddy walks – well worth the effort). The lovely lodge chef cooked up tasty local meals shared at one long table which allowed us to meet backpackers through to seasoned international travelers.

Sacha Lodge, on the other hand, was truly spectacular and upmarket. Mathias organized a “master” ornithologist for us (a local Kichwe called Osca) who managed to help us identify 130 bird species in 3 days (including a great sighting of a juvenile Harpy Eagle), over and above the 5 monkey species, stick insects, frogs, parrots at the clay lick, and quiet moments in the canoe simply enjoying the environment.

There is no way we could have put together a trip like this without the local knowledge, experience and expertise of Mathias and his team. Mathias provided us with a level of service, professionalism and personal input that I have never experienced before. Kudos to him and his team.

Ecuador, the essentials. Quito, Yasuni National Park Amazon, and Galapagos!

Our 14 day vacation was exceptional from start to finish. Our trip advisor, Isabel Perez, worked with me in the months leading up to our holiday to ensure we were able to visit our 'must see' places, and also find relaxation time. Her recommendation of the Napo Cultural Centre in Yasuni was the perfect choice for us. Not only is this first class eco-lodge located in a beautiful part of the Amazon, but it is also... read more

Ecuador, the essentials. Quito, Yasuni National Park Amazon, and Galapagos!

Our 14 day vacation was exceptional from start to finish. Our trip advisor, Isabel Perez, worked with me in the months leading up to our holiday to ensure we were able to visit our 'must see' places, and also find relaxation time. Her recommendation of the Napo Cultural Centre in Yasuni was the perfect choice for us. Not only is this first class eco-lodge located in a beautiful part of the Amazon, but it is also home to the local indigenous community school, doctor's office, and cultural events. So you can interact with the local people as well as the parrots and monkeys!

Then after a few days visiting more of Quito we spent 6 unforgettable days on Santa Cruz and Isabela islands. Kimkim arranged for our door to door transportation, great hotels, and unforgettable activities.

We highly recommend partnering with Kimkim to ensure you have the best, seamless, and unforgettable experience in Ecuador!

The trip was amazing. Isabel did a wonderful job of planning the trip and Christian, our tour guide was unbelievable. He took us everywhere on the itinerary and even included extra stops along the way that he thought would interest us. He was very knowledgeable and we had a fantastic time on the trip. We would definitely recommend that anyone traveling to the Quito area use KimKim and request Christian as your tour guide!

Everything about the trip exceeded our expectations. Ecuador was a perfect destination for a week’s trip—so much to see, beautiful, charming old cities, spectacular and diverse landscapes, perfect weather. Safe, friendly, and you get a lot for your money.

Gabor was so kind and thorough in working with me to plan the trip. Every day of the trip brought new delights. The itinerary and the accommodations were all perfect. I was especially grateful that after 3 attempts to take the trip he... read more

Everything about the trip exceeded our expectations. Ecuador was a perfect destination for a week’s trip—so much to see, beautiful, charming old cities, spectacular and diverse landscapes, perfect weather. Safe, friendly, and you get a lot for your money.

Gabor was so kind and thorough in working with me to plan the trip. Every day of the trip brought new delights. The itinerary and the accommodations were all perfect. I was especially grateful that after 3 attempts to take the trip he hung in there with patience and understanding until we were finally able to go. He never wrote us off or figured we were wasting his time. It was a pleasure to finally meet him in Quito. We felt really well taken care of.

We felt similarly about the wonderful guide, Fernando, who was assigned to us. He was knowledgeable about history, local cultures, and the best insider places to take us. He was kind, thoughtful, and a pleasure to spend a well with. The chemistry was perfect.

This was definitely one of the best trips we have ever taken (and we have been all over the world). We will definitely look to Kimkim for future travels.

Isabel was phenomenal. She promptly responded to all messages and was so helpful along the way. Thank you!

Our trip to Ecuador booked through kimkim was incredible! Isabel made sure that everything was dealt with in terms of accomodations, activities, and logistics which took a lot of the planning off of our hands! The itinerary put together and the welcome packet at the first hotel made sure we never were confused about any meeting points or activities.

In terms of the trip itself, Ecuador is amazing in its diversity of climates and the two that my girlfriend and I wanted to experience (Volcano... read more

Our trip to Ecuador booked through kimkim was incredible! Isabel made sure that everything was dealt with in terms of accomodations, activities, and logistics which took a lot of the planning off of our hands! The itinerary put together and the welcome packet at the first hotel made sure we never were confused about any meeting points or activities.

In terms of the trip itself, Ecuador is amazing in its diversity of climates and the two that my girlfriend and I wanted to experience (Volcano and rainforest) were both unforgettable experiences! From biking down Cotopaxi and the surrounding park to spotting monkeys, birds, caimans, and pink dolphins in the rainforest we couldn’t have asked for a better trip. Thank you to Isabel and our guides for the two portions, Ricardo (biking) and Diego (rainforest). I would highly recommend kimkim for any travel plans and will 100% be using them again in the future!

All drivers and guides were very professional and friendly, they listened and steered us to aspects we told them we were interested in (in my case it was local foods and sighting as many wild birds as possible). The entire LaSelva experience was extremely well organized and fulfilling. Transportation was clean and comfortable. We appreciated having water available for us for every leg of the journey. The hotels in Quito and the Hacienda Cusin were all enjoyable. We loved the local fruits and Ecuadorian dishes for breakfast. All in all just a wonderful trip!

Everything was well taken care of. No significant glitches. Good guides provided, who were knowledgeable, helpful and attentive. Superb experience. Communication and responses from Linda were prompt and clear.

Our Ecuador adventure was amazing due to the excellent support from Linda and Kimkim. Linda helped us pull together a diverse itinerary for the relatively short amount of time we had in a country we knew nothing about. She was very responsive to emails and patient with our questions and worked within our parameters that kept changing. We loved all the accommodations recommended by Linda, in particular the Inti Sisa Art Guesthouse in Guamote and Hosteria Mandala at the coast in Puerto... read more

Our Ecuador adventure was amazing due to the excellent support from Linda and Kimkim. Linda helped us pull together a diverse itinerary for the relatively short amount of time we had in a country we knew nothing about. She was very responsive to emails and patient with our questions and worked within our parameters that kept changing. We loved all the accommodations recommended by Linda, in particular the Inti Sisa Art Guesthouse in Guamote and Hosteria Mandala at the coast in Puerto Lopez - both so amazing and gorgeous, and each supporting important social and environmental projects in their communities which was important to us. And in our price range! We appreciated Linda’s recommendation to have a driver/guide traveling from Quito to Banos, and enjoyed a full day with Annibal V learning about Ecuador, and seeing the sites. A more expensive transportation option, but but well worth it and balanced off with the super inexpensive (and more adventurous!) buses we took at other points in our travel. Another highlight was our day trip to Isla de la Plata with Machalilla Tours - again recommended by Linda and we felt confident in the quality and safety of their equipment, services and guides. Thanks Linda for helping to create such a memorable trip for three Canadian gals, we would not hesitate to highly recommend your services to others.

Our planing with Edwin the trip adviser was very good. communication was flowing and his follow up on our demands were excellent.
Our guide Daniel Maldonado was amazing. from the moment he picked us up at the airport through the walks in the jungles and at the restaurants and hotels on the way. He was very resourceful. spoke fluently English and was a charm.
Also our driver Ceasar was very helpful. with our long distance drives and sometimes into the night because of change in plans. Was there on time, helping with the luggage and watching over us at all times.

Had the most wonderful time. Patricio and our driver did a marvelous job in taking care of us. Everything was catered for and this is not the last time I book with kimkim. Indonesia is next...

Overall this trip was fun. The planning processes was relatively straight-forward with Linda though there was a bunch of back and forth that I think may have been solved by being more forth coming with "this is the company we normally go with" or "these will be stops on XYZ."
For the actual trip, I don't think the airport transfer went smoothly. The person who was supposed to pick us up, sent someone else into the airport, spelled our name wrong, and were holding a sign not associated with... read more

Overall this trip was fun. The planning processes was relatively straight-forward with Linda though there was a bunch of back and forth that I think may have been solved by being more forth coming with "this is the company we normally go with" or "these will be stops on XYZ."
For the actual trip, I don't think the airport transfer went smoothly. The person who was supposed to pick us up, sent someone else into the airport, spelled our name wrong, and were holding a sign not associated with KimKim or any service I'd heard from. It was only because I speak some Spanish I decided that sign was the only one remotely close to our name we ended up with the right person.
Our guide, Marco, while very nice and resourceful I would have put in the category of "driver," not a true "guide." I frequently found myself at the edge of other tour groups in order to learn more history/background/context of what we were seeing. Marco effectively got us from place to place, but he might spend 3-5 minutes telling us about a centuries old church and then leaving us to our own devices. This is fine, but had I known, I would have hired a private tour guide for Quito at least.
We LOVED our experience mountain biking with Biking Dutchman down Cotopaxi. Despite the fact is was raining and cold, it was so cool and our guide/transport were great. Heads up that transport isn't super comfy/questionable seatbelt safety, but probably fine.
Banos was fun, there were some small issues with the group who did our rock climbing/ Via Ferrata tour, but they were easy to work with and responsive in handling mistakes.
I honestly normally do all of our trip planning myself, but do to cost of renting an automatic vehicle and my middling at best Spanish, thought this might be a good opportunity to test out a tour guide company. As I said above, this was a fun trip and parts were really very cool, but the parts we most enjoyed was stuff I specifically researched and suggested, so I'm on the fence about whether I would do this again.
It's probably a great service if you don't have time/desire to do the research, but I think TripAdvisor and Google will continue to be my go-tos.

Thanks for helping have a fun time in Ecuador!

I would like to thank you all for the help in organizing this amazing trip.
Everything was perfect. The local agency you have used EcoAndes has been wonderful and took great care of us. The driver and guide they have assigned were great and we indeed had the best time. Definitively we will recommend your service to friends and family.

Again many thanks and to next year for a new adventure.
Mariagrazia

My guide was Mr. Marco Herrera. Good English and excellent guide. Very helpful and adaptive to changes.

Overall the trip was perfect. It was my first time in Ecuador, but Mr. Marco and the people from kimkim.com helped in giving many options to explore. From lagoons to national reserve parks and forest, all was arranged perfectly.
People at the hotels were very nice and polite.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone and I, most definitely, would arrange future trips with them again.
5/5

This trip was amazing! Linda was so helpful from the very beginning. During the whole trip, I didn't have to worry about anything. There was always someone with a sign of my name waiting for me at the airport. There were different local guides to take care of our schedule. (Although I hope the local guide in Galapagos is more professional and helpful. She didn't give us any useful information about the tours, Galapagos in general, other than taking us from the hotel to the meeting points of... read more

This trip was amazing! Linda was so helpful from the very beginning. During the whole trip, I didn't have to worry about anything. There was always someone with a sign of my name waiting for me at the airport. There were different local guides to take care of our schedule. (Although I hope the local guide in Galapagos is more professional and helpful. She didn't give us any useful information about the tours, Galapagos in general, other than taking us from the hotel to the meeting points of our tours every day) The hotels were absolutely amazing. The hotel in Quito is in the best location, and the service was so great. Both the hotel in Quito and Galapagos upgraded the room for us for free. The tours were fun overall. We had limited time so we didn't get to go deep into the Amazon, so we didn't get to see lots of animals. Nonetheless, the guide was still amazing and the experience was still great.

Our Multisport Adventure Tour dome by Adventure Journeys was just superb! Our guide, Paul Aguilar was top notch - very professional, attentive, informative, mechanical, humorous and so knowledgeable about so many Ecuadorian things. He repaired broken bike chains, assisted in dealing with my Canon camera service issue in Quito, and guided us strongly in each of the sports. He became a friend. He deserves a huge raise in salary! He also convinced us that everything ever invented started in... read more

Our Multisport Adventure Tour dome by Adventure Journeys was just superb! Our guide, Paul Aguilar was top notch - very professional, attentive, informative, mechanical, humorous and so knowledgeable about so many Ecuadorian things. He repaired broken bike chains, assisted in dealing with my Canon camera service issue in Quito, and guided us strongly in each of the sports. He became a friend. He deserves a huge raise in salary! He also convinced us that everything ever invented started in Ecuador!! Our driver, Alejandro, was superb as well - the guy can drive!! He handled our bus so well, at all times, and helped us all if we needed it. He also deserves a huge raise in salary!!

Marco our bilingual guide was a very safe & entertaining driver with whom we were able to practice our conversational Spanish .The 5 day Avenue of volcanoes tour was an amazing series of national parks and hacienda stays which enabled us to reach Guayaquil for our Galapagos trip visiting markets,walking in beautiful places and experiencing the unique hospitality of haciendas.

We highly recommend Linda if you're considering going to Ecuador. Linda was extremely responsive throughout, and on top of that, she was in constant communication with local guides to make sure we were taken care of when we got sick during the trip.

We had considered going there on our own, and we're so glad we didn't. The itinerary that Linda put together for us was perfect, as we were able to truly see how distinct and diverse different parts of the country are. The local guide that she... read more

We highly recommend Linda if you're considering going to Ecuador. Linda was extremely responsive throughout, and on top of that, she was in constant communication with local guides to make sure we were taken care of when we got sick during the trip.

We had considered going there on our own, and we're so glad we didn't. The itinerary that Linda put together for us was perfect, as we were able to truly see how distinct and diverse different parts of the country are. The local guide that she paired us with, Christian, was great as well. He was very knowledgeable about history of the country, and he also recommended some hole-in-the-wall restaurants, which made our experiences very unique and memorable!

Don't think twice about contacting Linda if you're considering going to Ecuador!

David and Gabor where great in helping us plan our honeymoon in Ecuador, modifying our activities and adjusting everything to perfection! They also spent about half a day with us in Quito, showing us around the Old Town. Highlightsip included the great Yacuma lodge in the Amazon with our amazing guide Yacu, our ascension to the 1st refuge on mount Chimborazo and a great day trip to Isla de la Plata. We wanted adventure, and we got it!

Our overall trip experience was great. Our guide (Fernando Fabre) was the best we have had in our many prior privately guided trips throughout the world. Our accommodations were good to excellent and met our expectations for the price we paid. Our local specialist Gabor provided us with excellent trip planning and coordination services; and we will definitely be using Kim Kim for our future world travels.

Our trip was fantastic!!! Everyone in my family enjoyed it! The tour company, Darcar tours, that we had our driver and our tour guide through were outstanding. Super knowledgeable, patient with my kids, and very flexible. They had excellent suggestions throughout the tour to accommodate our needs, even on our arrival day when our flight was delayed. They communicated very easily with us and offered insider knowledge about every facet of Ecuador. Selfides, our chofer was excellent. He had a... read more

Our trip was fantastic!!! Everyone in my family enjoyed it! The tour company, Darcar tours, that we had our driver and our tour guide through were outstanding. Super knowledgeable, patient with my kids, and very flexible. They had excellent suggestions throughout the tour to accommodate our needs, even on our arrival day when our flight was delayed. They communicated very easily with us and offered insider knowledge about every facet of Ecuador. Selfides, our chofer was excellent. He had a wealth of knowledge about plants, animals, foods and unique culture in Ecuador. David, our tour guide, was professional, knowledgeable, and extremely flexible and patient with our young children. He made sure to give us all of the highlights while considering their ages and our time constraints. The tour itinerary Matthias gave us was excellent and creative. We saw some really off the beaten path things including the artisans of Peguche and the cooking class. The Hacienda Pensaqui, although historical, charming, and set in a beautiful landscape, was unfortunately dirty. There was dust everywhere. The food was mediocre, and the office staff were very unorganized. Apparently, the owner passed away a year ago and is now being cared for by his family. It appears very run down which is a shame because it has such potential! We still loved our stay there due to its historical charm and familial feel, however, I think it is necessary that you be aware that it may not be what it once was. The cooking class was phenomenal!!! Chef Edwin was funny, patient, and extremely talented! My kids participated in everything and loved it!!! Termas de Papallactas was exactly as we had hoped. Relaxing, breathtaking views, and good service.

We loved our stay in the Andes Mountains of Quito and would love to return!!! I will use KImKim again for sure! It was so much less stressful and may be our new way of travel. Thanks again!!!

After eight days in the Galapagos we enjoyed our short trip to Cotopaxi National Park. The park was beautiful with grand vistas and beautiful canyons. Frank, our guide, was knowledgeable and attentive. He provided strong support throughout the trip. Tambopaxi lodge was lovely and the food was exceptional. The southern refuge was unique with gracious staff and epic views. We have a number of really enjoyable treks.

The rating was based on two reasons. 1.) Of the five planned... read more

After eight days in the Galapagos we enjoyed our short trip to Cotopaxi National Park. The park was beautiful with grand vistas and beautiful canyons. Frank, our guide, was knowledgeable and attentive. He provided strong support throughout the trip. Tambopaxi lodge was lovely and the food was exceptional. The southern refuge was unique with gracious staff and epic views. We have a number of really enjoyable treks.

The rating was based on two reasons. 1.) Of the five planned treks we completed only two. This was due to the weather that made one of the treks impossible and two others miserable. Feedback from local guides was that this weather was expected for time of year. Understand weather can be unpredictable at altitude, but there should have been better planning to ensure we had alternative itineraries. 2.) Logistics were not ideal. Transportation was provided in a 1980s era Toyota Land Rover. Perfect for the rough roads of the national park. However, no seat belts in the back for lengthy highway trip. Both coming and going we were packed very tightly into back seat with camp staff. And on our return trip took a lengthy diversion to drop off family members. Not a huge issue, but not ideal logistics.

All in all, good experience. Enjoyed Cotopaxi National Park and would endorse Frank as a guide. Would have like to see stronger planning to maximize our stay.

Our first trip to Ecuador was breath-taking to say the least. Galapagos has been on my bucket list for a long time and it was an exhilarating experience. Every island we visited was different and unique. It was impossible to get bored on the islands. Places like Los Tunales, the beach on Isabela island, and the ride on "Windrose" yacht are permanently etched in my memory.

Our trip was for 12 days, including 2 days for traveling. We spent 4 days in mainland Ecuador and 6 on Galapagos. In... read more

Our first trip to Ecuador was breath-taking to say the least. Galapagos has been on my bucket list for a long time and it was an exhilarating experience. Every island we visited was different and unique. It was impossible to get bored on the islands. Places like Los Tunales, the beach on Isabela island, and the ride on "Windrose" yacht are permanently etched in my memory.

Our trip was for 12 days, including 2 days for traveling. We spent 4 days in mainland Ecuador and 6 on Galapagos. In retrospect, we would have spent at least 1 day less in mainland and more time on Galapagos. Historical Quito, Mitad Del Mundo, Otavalo and Cotopaxi were good places to visit on mainland. Ideally, I would have loved more time in Otavalo instead of visiting some local waterfalls. Even Cuicocha lagoon was hyped up as a lake with active volcanic bubbles, but it was a major let down. All the places we visited on Galapagos were wonderful and given more time, we would have loved to visit more islands. The speed boat ride from Puerto Ayora to Isabela island was the bumpiest ride ever and there was not a single person on the boat who didn't come out without a queasy stomach. FYI, a one-way ferry ride costs $30 and lasts 2.5 hours. A plane trip costs $135 and lasts 30 mins. In the large scheme of things, we might have just selected the plane trip instead of enduring the bumpiest boat ride of our lives.

Linda was extremely informative and knowledgeable about Ecuador. She was great at setting our expectations and answering our questions promptly. Our local guides were a collective mix. Jorge (George), our guide on land, was great, but provided info that was less engaging for the kids. On Galapagos, our guide to Los Tunales, Sebastian, stole the show. He was patient, funny and knew a lot about the local area and habitats. While snorkeling, he ensured we all saw the key pieces without rushing . He walked with my mom, who is 72 years old, at her pace guiding her on the rocks etc. Overall, a great experience with him. All the other guides were decent.

As a group of 9, finding hotel rooms together was a big challenge. In most places, we didn't have rooms near each other. They were almost always on different floors, which was a logistical headache. In Quito, our hotel, Cruz Loma, didn't have elevators and it was painful to trudge up 4 flights of stairs with suitcases. Unfortunately, they didn't offer help with our luggage nor did they heed our request for rooms on lower floors. The hotels on Galapagos islands were normal 3-star places. Nothing too fancy to write about. Again, no elevators, but the staff helped our with our stuff. Breakfast was included for all our days, but 10 days of eating nothing but eggs, bread, yogurt and juice got too tiring. I wish they would provide a bit more variety, even if we had to pay for it.

Overall, this was a once in a lifetime trip and one that we will recall for many years to come. Thanks to Linda and Kimkim for helping us with this vacation !

Tour at Nicky Amazon Lodge exceeded my expectation. My favorite part was exploring the night life of the Amazon rainforest. It is something I would never think because it was not mentioned in the textbook. Birding watching and hiking options at Bellavista was very good. This would not be possible without kimkim. Kimkim's online platform was helpful because I had a busy schedule and their advice and support made a difference in my decision-making process. To the point, the trip was well-tailored thanks to kimkim's service.

The whole trip was amazing. Gabor and his team, especially the tour guide Danny were excellent

Mathias helped us plan a very last minute Christmas trip to Ecuador, and it turned out to be an amazing trip! He went through the trip plan multiple times even with limited time left before to the trip and responded to our questions pretty promptly. We spent 5 days in the Galapagos and 3 days in Quito. For the Galapagos -- We especially love the uninhabited island Seymour where we saw so many animals and the yacht was really nice! We were really amazed by the rich culture and nature around... read more

Mathias helped us plan a very last minute Christmas trip to Ecuador, and it turned out to be an amazing trip! He went through the trip plan multiple times even with limited time left before to the trip and responded to our questions pretty promptly. We spent 5 days in the Galapagos and 3 days in Quito. For the Galapagos -- We especially love the uninhabited island Seymour where we saw so many animals and the yacht was really nice! We were really amazed by the rich culture and nature around Quito. We especially enjoyed our time with David who took us to Cotopaxi National Park. All the tour guides pick us up on time. In addition, we realized the price Kimkim offered is really reasonable after we cross-checked the hotel and tour prices.

Advanced planning
Good pick up times
Easily available for any questions
Custom itenary based on personal preference.
I would recommend to anyone.

The driver , who was supposed to pick me up from the Airport ,after the Amazone ,left without me.
Not a good feeling, being forgotten..
Casa Sol had a very small breakfast and the shower was not hot.
I loved the Sisakuna Lodge. Good breakfast , nice room, hot shower.
My guide was good.

I booked a trip from Quito to Guayaquil prior to a Sierra Club Trip to the Galapagos.
I was hesitant booking the trip and paying online.
Mathias was great. He promptly answered all my questions. We went through three versions of the trip until I was happy with it.
The trip was better than I expected. The hotels were wonderful. Christian, our tour guide/driver, gave us an insight into the highlands of Ecuador that we will always remember.
We especially enjoyed the walking tour of Quito, hikes in Mindo, Ingapirca ruins, hiking in Cajas, and Cuenca.

Lenin and Mauro (our other guide) were both very knowledgeable about the native tribes, culture and history of Ecuador in general.
And they both had detailed knowledge of the specific places we visited … being Otavalo, Quito, the Avenue of the Volcanoes, Baños, Alausí and Cuenca.
Both spoke excellent English.
Lenin was particularly good when it came to knowing when to have a break, etc or comfort stop.
Overall the trip was a memorable experience and we would recommend KimKim.

Suggested... read more

Lenin and Mauro (our other guide) were both very knowledgeable about the native tribes, culture and history of Ecuador in general.
And they both had detailed knowledge of the specific places we visited … being Otavalo, Quito, the Avenue of the Volcanoes, Baños, Alausí and Cuenca.
Both spoke excellent English.
Lenin was particularly good when it came to knowing when to have a break, etc or comfort stop.
Overall the trip was a memorable experience and we would recommend KimKim.

Suggested considerations/changes …
- Do not use the hotel we stayed at in Baños again (no hot water, mould on the bathroom ceiling, no power to the room until sunset);
- Given the state of some of the roads we travelled on around Cotopaxi we feel that you need to provide a vehicle with better suspension … something like a 4 wheel drive;
- Mauro was working to his schedule … and we understand the need for a schedule … but we would have liked to be offered some flexibility.

Gabor was very flexible and patient with numerous changes to our itinerary. He uses fabulous guides and booked wonderful lodges. His expertise was invaluable in making our trip to Ecuador (Galapagos and Amazon) fantastic!!!

A Special Thanks to Diana (our assign local guide) she did the extra miles for us ensuring that all small details were met along the way.

I would strongly recommend KimKim !!

Steve and Christine.

Now time to start a new project, here comes Africa!

We stayed 10 days in Ecuador and 8 days on Galapagos.
All was very good.
Linda planned us the exactly trip we asked her.
The guide who went with us, Marco, was very friendly, also for trip not planned.
We went to Quito, on Cotopaxi, Quilatoa Lagoon, Baños, Chimborazo, Guamote, Cuenca and Guayaquil. A great trip !
Than on Galapagos we stayed two days on San Cristobal, one day on Santa Cruz and the last 5 days on a very beautiful Cruise.
All the accomodation of our trip was fantastic.
We're enthusiastics of this beautiful experience.
Thanks Linda !

Natascia and Giampaolo (Italy)

Linda was outstanding, she was quick at answering all my questions and made sure I was in the loop when itineraries changed.

All the guides did a wonderful job explaining Ecuador and the different locations that are popular to visit or that make Ecuador unique.

The city tour was nice, I really enjoyed the mitad del mundo museum - very informative.
Otavalo, Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, and Baños were all wonderful experiences!

I was very thankful that Linda was able to connect with my hotel and ensure that I had a to go breakfast on the days I left early. I love breakfast!!

An amazing trip! We had two great guides that showed us a lot. Dario was out first guide through Quito, the Highlands, and the jungle. He was very knowledgeable! Ivan was our guide in the Galapogos. He certainly knew his birds.

Joaquin Andino- very good guide with a en general culture. Someone who can be steongly recommended.
Pablo, a responsible and dedicated person. Simply adorable.

We had an incredible trip to Nicky Lodge on the Aguarico River. Our primary guide, Evi, was incredibly knowledgable (able to name nearly every species we asked about by its scientific name and also in Spanish, English and one or two of the local dialects), patient and fun. The secondary guide was not quite as knowledgable, but had a great knack for spotting hard-to-see animals. The guides (and the canoe drivers, too) paid close attention to the interests of our group, and would happily stop... read more

We had an incredible trip to Nicky Lodge on the Aguarico River. Our primary guide, Evi, was incredibly knowledgable (able to name nearly every species we asked about by its scientific name and also in Spanish, English and one or two of the local dialects), patient and fun. The secondary guide was not quite as knowledgable, but had a great knack for spotting hard-to-see animals. The guides (and the canoe drivers, too) paid close attention to the interests of our group, and would happily stop (or turn around) the boat to point out interesting creatures.

The lodgings were very comfortable, with running water (and it got nice and hot, important for the days we got soaked by the rain), but with no bells-and-whistles which made it feel like a proper jungle experience. The food was also simple but delicious, and the staff was very attentive to food allergies (my mom is gluten free).

Of course, in the jungle it's the plants and animals which really draw your attention - but the professionalism, comfort and service at Nicky Lodge made the whole trip seamless and wonderful.

Thanks!

Mathias did a great job in setting up our 4-day adventure to the Amazon. He was very easy to communicate with and helpful in planning our trip - great advice, great service. All of the arrangements went smoothly and we loved the accommodations. We had a wonderful time!

Patricio was an excellent guide, caring, intelligent, always interested in making our trip a better experience, taking us to places that he thought of as we went along, if Susie Astec and truly an asset to your team. His driver Hugo was excellent and always helpful and smiling and respect full. He even made a special trip when my brother-in-law left his camera on the bus, Patricio Is an asset to your company, and go board did a great job Putting a beautiful package together. We will... read more

Patricio was an excellent guide, caring, intelligent, always interested in making our trip a better experience, taking us to places that he thought of as we went along, if Susie Astec and truly an asset to your team. His driver Hugo was excellent and always helpful and smiling and respect full. He even made a special trip when my brother-in-law left his camera on the bus, Patricio Is an asset to your company, and go board did a great job Putting a beautiful package together. We will certainly recommend your company in the future and hopefully will be able to talk and use you again. Lois and Lee Dornfeld, Mace and Joy Bloom

Marielisa was planned a wonderful vacation for me and my husband. We loved our guide, the itinerary, and her responsiveness when there was a challenge or question. Thanks so much for making our trip to Ecuador one to remember!

Great trip! Gabor was extremely communicative and receptive and helpful in planning the Honeymoon of our dreams. There was a portion of time when some other man, Rune, was helping us, and he was awful.

On our end, we should have asked more questions about how long each car ride was going to be - we are not really car people and should have anticipated that getting around would take a while.

Our guide, Dario, was fantastic. He always arrived on time. He knew the answers to most, if not all,... read more

Great trip! Gabor was extremely communicative and receptive and helpful in planning the Honeymoon of our dreams. There was a portion of time when some other man, Rune, was helping us, and he was awful.

On our end, we should have asked more questions about how long each car ride was going to be - we are not really car people and should have anticipated that getting around would take a while.

Our guide, Dario, was fantastic. He always arrived on time. He knew the answers to most, if not all, of our questions. He found a good balance between interacting with us and giving us space, and he was extremely kind and generous. We could not have asked for a better guide.

In the Galapagos, we had a terrible guide, so terrible that we ended up paying for an Airbnb that we never actually stayed in. He must not have checked his messages or been so organized because we sent him all details, including the address, of where we needed to stay in each night, and he just didn't have the information with him. It got to be late on the Island, and we ended up spending money on a hotel that cost $70 per night (we stayed two nights) while paying an additional $140 for an Airbnb that we never got to stay in. This was very frustrating. Another issue that happened was when he gave us his USD card to download some photos that he took of us. The minute we put them on the computer, naked photos of him and his partner came up on the screen. While we really appreciated the photos he took of us, we were not happy with what was presented to us on the screen.

Reflecting back, the Jungle and the Galapagos were the two most memorable places. We enjoyed the climate, the people, the food and the general atmosphere. The other places were nice too but the highs of the trip were the Jungle and the Galapagos.

No one really communicated with us about the potential for altitude sickness at Cotopaxi, and we had a hard time going from lower altitude to higher altitude - up and down and up and down - it did a number on my husband's body. In the future, we would do fewer places for more days. But again, this is no way the fault of KimKm, just our own way of going about planning.

Really amazing trip.

Very knowledgeable and helpful!

I was very happy with KimKim helping to arrange a city tour and then specialized weaving tour for me in Quito , Ecuador.

Guide, transport and tours were excellent. Accommodation was not on good in couple of places.

Amazing tour, so fantastic. Lucky with the weather too. The guide (Dario) showed us new things we were not aware of from our pre trip research too. Highly recommend Dario / Gabor.

Lots of communication - great.

This trip far outlived my expectations. It was amazing!

Gabor put together the perfect itinerary for me. I told him I had 2 weeks and wanted to see as much of Ecuador and Galápagos Islands as I could in that time. He made sure I did!

Gabor was very helpful and tolerated our many questions and changes to the itinerary including a change of flight times at short notice, He called us during our trip to check that everything was OK.

Driver was awesome. Great tour of Quito, saw and did everything I wanted!

Gabor is great!

KimKim did a great job customizing the trip for my son and I. I couldn't have put a trip like this together myself. It was more than I was promised and I highly recommend their services. Thanks again

Gabor did a great job coordinating all aspects of this trip!

David was responsive, friendly and helped with his expertise of travel and the country. I felt like he completely understood the needs of my family and what it took to make our trip the best ever. He answered every single question I had and helped to make our trip even more memorable with his suggestions of where to stay, eat, and what areas of Ecuador we should see. He helped to make sure every little detail was thought of and taken care of. I didn't have to worry about anything. I would plan every trip I had with David.. he was great!

I've had the best travel experience with kimkim ever. The trip was extremely well planned and thoughtful, I'd definitely recommend this trip to everyone.

David, our local specialist, took great care of us and the attention to details were impeccable. I felt very safe and taken care of the entire trip.