Kimkim Trip Reviews for Ecuador

Linda did an amazing job of planning our trip to Ecuador and the Galapagus Islands.
We had 10 days in Ecuador and everything was perfectly coordinated. Pickup, drop offs, detail of the tours and admissions were all taken care of and detailed out in our itinerary. We had Christian as a guide and Guillermo as a driver and they were exceptional. Christian was extremely knowledgeable of all aspect of Ecuador and was great at giving us details of how long a drive we would have, where to buy snacks and punctual for all pickups and drop offs.
When we went to the Galapagos for our last 4 days we did not get the same level of detail that we had come to expect after being with Christian. The Galapagos part was still good but we did have to ask for information and weren't always given enough details. ex. Halfway through a 5 km hike we were told there were no bathroom and the length of the hike. We would still highly recommend Linda and Kim KIm for travel to Ecuador. Linda went above and beyond to adjust our itinerary before we left to be exactly what we wanted. She is exceptionally good at her job! If Linda is available to plan your trip she will do an excellent job for your Ecuador travel.

Hotel Reviews

Termas de Papallacta

Papallacta

Amazing hotel with hot springs right on your doorstep.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hosteria La Andaluza

Riobamba

Beautiful historical hosteria

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Indio Inn

Otavalo

Nice enough hotel right on the main street. Rooms were very small with no outside window and faced the centre of the hotel. Food was only available for breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Joaquín

Quito

Excellent hotel with great staff. Fransisco was very helpful and friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Franscisco was exceptional

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cuello de Luna Mountain Lodge

El Chasqui - Pastocalle

Nice enough grounds but the hotel could use a little updating. It seems to be run by the owner and his son. Food was pretty good but with a limited menu.

Authenticity & Character

interesting grounds with lots of animals

Location

far from anything else

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

it seems to be in need of some updating and care

La Floresta

Baños

Beautiful hotel in the centre of Banos. Close to lots of restaurants with a nice restuarant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

close to lots of restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

San Jose de Puembo Quito Airport, an Ascend Hotel Collection

Puembo, Quito

Great location, close to airport for early morning flights!

Authenticity & Character

Location

close to airport

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Luxva Hotel Boutique

Guayaquil

Very secure location in a beautiful ex residential building

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Posada del Mar

Santa Cruz

Carlos will go out of his way to make sure your stay is perfect. Great little hotel close to everything.

Authenticity & Character

Nice balcony with a sea view

Location

Close to restaurants

Staff

Carlos is exceptional

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hot Springs of Papallacta

Ecuador

Perfect end to our day! Great hotel with hotsprings right outside your bedroom door.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quito Cooking Class

Ecuador

Awesome cooking class. Great food and it was a fun thing to do on our first day in Ecuador!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Activities in Baños & Transfer to Riobamba

Ecuador

Interesting drive and the swing was incredible!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Pailón del Diablo Waterfall, Explore Baños

Baños

One of the must see sights of Ecuador. Great little hike and amazing views!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chimborazo Volcano & Transfer to Papallacta

Ecuador

Definitely not for the faint of heart. So glad we actually made it to the second refuge stop. 5000 + meters above sea level with snow on the ground.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to an uninhabited island

Ecuador

Great snorkelling. Saw lots of sealife and great guide while snorkelling. Alejandro swam with us and pointed out a lot of fish and other sealife that we may have missed. Food was good and the boat was comfortable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike to Tortuga Bay & Free Afternoon

Ecuador

The actual beach was beautiful but the details of the hike were not provided. We were told halfway through the 5km walk to the beach that there are no bathroom facilities or restaurants or places to stop along the way. It would have been nice to be made aware of this to ensure that we brought sufficient water and snacks for the 4 hour hike. We ended up taking a boat back for additional costs as some of our group could not make the hike back in the heat without food or water.

Quality of Experience

Provide information before the start

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to another uninhabited island

Ecuador

Didn't see anything really different and not a great snorkelling experience. Just snorkelled on the beach and didn't see much.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My friend and I had the best time in Ecuador thanks to kimkim! When my friend had to delay her arrival by a day last minute, Alvaro and Daniela helped us change our itinerary the day before we were scheduled to arrive in country after presenting multiple options for us to chose from. Daniela went above and beyond by spending the day with me before my friend arrived late by taking me to Teleferico and a market. Our guide Danny was great and enjoyable to spend the week with. Our favorite parts of the trip were hiking Quilotoa, a cooking class in Otavalo, and the Papallacta hot springs. The trip was seamless and very convenient for us as we both had limited time to spend planning a trip. Kimkim handled everything! Would definitely recommend to friends and family. Can’t wait to book our next adventure with kimkim!

We had an amazing 12 days tour in Ecuador. the beautiful landscapes around the highlands of the Andes, the adventure in Amazon rainforest basin and also the wonderful close look at diverse societies. we stayed 4 days 3 nights in La Selva Lodge, it is a nice place , suitable for most of travelers who are interested in adventure in Yasuni national park. From Quito to Cuenca, we visited some famous Catholic churches and most of the great places like Cotopaxi national park, Quilotoa Lake, the ruins of Ingapirca and Cacha, a small town in Chimborazo province. Our guide Danny is very knowledgeable, he introduced everything in detail and explained clearly, it left a strong impression us on us about the lives of the indigenous people. all accommodation we stayed were so fantastic with delicious meals, tasty beverage and nice views. we'd like to say thank you to Mathias, he's so helpful, and help us made this trip unforgettable. we will appreciate KIMKIM to connect travel specialist, local tour guides and independent travelers together, and make travelling around world so easy.

Hotel Reviews

Casa de las Peñas Siglo XXI

Guayaquil

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique Santa Lucía

Cuenca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hacienda Abraspungo

Guano

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

the room is super clean, the staff is very friendly and the meal is delicious.

Hacienda La Cienega

Cotopaxi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

historic hacienda, worth to stay and take around and enjoy the great views

La Selva Eco-Lodge & Retreat

Yasuní National Park

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Casona de La Ronda

Quito

the room is clean, the staff is very friendly, the breakfast and dinner is so delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Cajas National Park, Transfer to Guayaquil

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cacha - Ingapirca - Cuenca

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Community of Cacha

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visiting Quilotoa Lagoon & Transfer to Riobamba

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Cotopaxi National Park

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Last rainforest activities, Transfer to Coca & Arrival to Quito

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Parrot Clay Lick, Indigenous Community & Jungle Hike

Yasuni National Park

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Observation Tower, Garza Cocha Lake & Night Walk

Yasuni National Park

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrival to Coca, transfer to rainforest lodge, rainforest hike

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class

Quito

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quito City Tour

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I can’t tell you how perfectly our custom-made Ecuador itinerary turned out! Linda, our travel specialist, was incredible. She not only helped us to plan an itinerary that suited our family perfectly, but she also provided exceptional support while we were on our journey. Our luggage took 8 days to arrive in Quito after we did, and Linda went above and beyond our expectations, communicating with the airport, and ultimately personally shipping our bags from Quito to meet us in Cuenca! Alejandro, our driver, was also an integral part of the perfection of our vacation. We spent hours and hours in the car with him, but this became one of our favorite parts of the journey as Alejandro spent the time teaching us. During our travel time we learned about Ecuador’s history, culture, diversity of microclimates, and more!

All of the locations we chose to spend a few days at were amazing, but I think we all agree that Mindo was our favorite. In Mindo we were able to both explore a small Ecuadorian town and a myriad of cloud forest experiences.

Thank you Linda and Alejandro! I won’t hesitate to recommend your services ❤️

Hotel Review

Sisakuna Lodge

Mindo

Sisakuna Lodge is beautiful! The grounds are gorgeous and the staff took exceptional care of us. I wouldn’t change a thing.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful gardens, local birds and butterflies abound, staff seemed to really enjoy each other and were super friendly with us as well.

Location

Just on the edge of town. Perfect for exploring the town, but also quite tranquil.

Staff

Friendly, smiling, helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super clean and had everything we needed

Activity Reviews

Exploring El Gran Cañon, natural caves & chocolate making

Archidona

El Gran Cañón hike was wonderful! It was quite challenging due to the mud and steepness if the environment, but so worth it! The chocolate making was really fun and delicious!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Photo Stop at Cajas National Park

Ecuador

Beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lucia put together a trip that hit all the things we wanted to experience. Our guide and driver, Sebastian was terrific. He was a cautious driver and an entertaining, knowledgeable guide. We enjoyed things that weren't on the itinerary, like dropping into his grandfather's bakery for a taste treat. We also enjoyed the interaction with some indigenous communities and checking out local cuisine. Besides being a beautiful country, the people of Ecuador are warm and welcoming.

Milton was our guide and he was always attentive, informative , and patient. Was an absolute pleasure to be around and always made us feel comfortable i cannot praise this guide enough he really is an amazing human being who is passionate about his work and gives beyond what is expected. We visited quito, quotopaxi and banos. We were a group of three with different tastes but we absolutely loved every place and every single activity. My personal favorite (if i had to choose) was the middle of the earth( the real one) and the huge swing in banos and the hot springs and pavilion del diablo and the canyoning.

Hotel Reviews

Vieja Cuba

Quito

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Breakfast

Isla de Baños Hosteria y Spa

Baños

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Breakfast

Activity Reviews

Quito Cooking Class

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Cotopaxi National Park

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

No

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Quilotoa Crater Lake, Transfer to Baños

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Pailón del Diablo Waterfall, Explore Baños

Baños

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ride the Cable Car to Pichincha Volcano

Quito

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canyoning in Baños

Baños

Quality of Experience

As

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the "Middle of the World"

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Salsa de aji was the best here

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quito City Tour

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This trip was an absolute blast and made so easy to plan with Daniel's help! It was really neat that we got to meet him upon arrival too :).

Everything was exactly as advertised and having our own guide/transportation the whole time was a HUGE plus. Our guides were very knowledgeable and awesome as being flexible if we wanted to try something else. We got to do so many awesome things and it was all fairly affordable - great quality all around. We especially liked our hotel in Quito that was really like a cute B&B. The breakfast was delicious and the staff was awesome with recommendations.

I would 100% recommend KimKim for travel trips and I'm currently working on planning my next trip with them!

Hotel Reviews

Cuello de Luna Mountain Lodge

El Chasqui - Pastocalle

This hotel is definitely tucked away - which is normally great and relaxing. We were the only ones staying at the hotel so we had the chance to scare ourselves and each other a little bit :P. The rooms were nice and having the heated blankets was a big plus too! I liked the common area with the sunken in bench seating area. We had a very nice relaxing evening hanging by the fire and just visiting with each other.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Isla de Baños Hosteria y Spa

Baños

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kitu Hotel

Quito

This was such a neat experience! They had yummy breakfast and it was nice to know that it would all be ready for you. The staff was also incredibly helpful with any questions we had and they provided amazing recommendations.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cotopaxi National Park - Quilotoa Lagoon - Baños

Ecuador

This spot was an incredible sight! It was definitely a HIKE. Originally we were going to take the burros back up the mountain after hiking down.....mine freaked out and I was thrown off. It didn't seem like the guides had the best handle on the animals. So I ended up hiking back up the mountain...it is STEEP! It's not undoable but it was definitely a trek and you'll need at least 1.5 hrs (and we were really trying to move fast up the hill to meet our friends who's burros didn't freak out). Besides all that drama the Lagoon is extraordinary and the pictures don't do it justice. 1000% recommend seeing it.

Quality of Experience

Food

We didn't really eat food at this location

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Expedition to Mindo Cloud Forest

Quito

This was so neat with the trolleys going across the rainforrest! it was beautiful and really cool to see the waterfalls and mountains.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Baños & Pailón del Diablo Waterfall

Baños

I really liked Banos a lot! We got to explore the city one night and had a good time dancing and went to the best hole in the wall restaurant. The waterfall was also VERY impressive

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jackie was a complete delight to work with. She was knowledgeable, professional, enthusiastic, and totally engaged with us as clients. We had booked a Galapagos cruise directly with a cruise tour operator, pre-Covid, and then worked with Jackie to set up a land portion for us at various haciendas in the highlands. We ran into numerous cancellations with the cruise, including one that happened *while we were in transit* to Ecuador. Although it was not her problem to solve, Jackie took the time to talk with the less-experienced agency now in charge of that, and it was *only* through her intervention and advice that we had a Galápagos experience on par with the one we had originally booked with a now-defunct company. Her initiative to help us with the very stressful cruise situation showed a level of professionalism and client engagement that was truly above and beyond the call of duty. Our driver and guide for the land portion, Dario, was exceptional — his knowledge was simply remarkable. We particularly liked the Hacienda Cienega (truly superb) and Hacienda Pinsaqui. Jackie arranged for a several surprises that were memorable for different reasons, including a visit to an indigenous community and an opportunity for horseback riding at another hacienda. In closing, we came to feel a great sense of trust in Jackie as someone who had both the experience and empathy to make our Ecuador experience quite remarkable. And when arranging things from far away, trust in the person you are working with locally is paramount.

Hotel Reviews

Hacienda El Porvenir

Machachi

My husband liked it well enough, but I didn’t. The road to get there is horrible and long—-the end result was simply not worth it. The food was not that good and yet more expensive than more upscale haciendas. ; extra charge for eggs with breakfast. I unwisely ordered a salad — forgetting that any greens wouldn’t necessarily be washed with purified water and I guess they weren’t. I got quite ill for days afterwards. The rooms are rustic at best. Granted, it’s a farm kind of hacienda. But it’s a very arduous and uncomfortable drive for a not very remarkable experience. I saw some nose-to-tail horse riding in the cold mist going on. It was clouded in, so any advertised amazing views of Cotapaxi weren’t going to happen. Cotapaxi views are more easily had anywhere else. So even without the getting-sick experience, I just would not recommend this place.

Authenticity & Character

It’s character is what it is — a very remote farm.

Location

Such a long and uncomfortable drive to get to. Nothing to be changed about that.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nothing can be changed I think, given the structures they are working with.

Hacienda Pinsaqui

Otavalo

This is a lovely hacienda with exceptionally lovely gardens, and a walking path through them and property at large. The common areas were especially nice. Although we were there just as a couple, we were invited to attend welcoming receptions for larger groups (10 or so) that were also staying there. The reception included music from a local Ecuadorian group, Ecuadorian drinks and snacks, and a bit of history about the place. Recommend getting the largest rooms or suites available.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Useful for excursions planned by our kimkim agent.

Staff

Management was very engaged and approachable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

San Jose de Puembo Quito Airport, an Ascend Hotel Collection

Puembo, Quito

We stayed here for two nights to recover from a vert long trip down, and because we we’re starting a tour of the highlands (so it didn’t make sense to stay in Quito at that time). Recommended by Jackie, our Kimkim agent. We felt delighted in the Ecuadorian feel of the common areas, rooms, and grounds. Its atmosphere belies the notion that it is an “airport hotel” — it was originally something else and its property includes adjacent farms land., which guests can walk through. The immediate property had stunning gardens, complete with a few wandering llamas on the grounds. I it was a magical place to experience upon arriving. If your immediate plans are to explore regions outside of Quito, we *highly* recommend staying here.

Authenticity & Character

The Ecuadorian feel of the common areas and rooms, gardens and the paths for guest through the adjacent farm and pasture lands. A fantastic place to land upon arrival in Ecuador.

Location

Outside of the city and therefore convenient for immediate arrival in Ecuador, especially if arriving late and/or taking off for explorations outside of Quito.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hacienda La Cienega

Cotopaxi

Hacienda La Cienega is simply a stunning place. Steeped in history. Amazing staff and food. I would recommend staying more than a single night (we didn’t wish to leave!) and using it as a base to explore the area.

Authenticity & Character

Words cannot describe how utterly stunning it is.

Location

Convenient for day trips out, with a driver.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Panoramic visit to Quilotoa Lagoon

Ecuador

This is a spectacular crater lagoon and another example of Ecuador’s natural beauty. But as important, the area is home to indigenous people who have adapted to and taken responsibility for this locale. The ability to see Quilotoa Lagoon as an example of this, and the chance to visit an indigenous family in a remote area were both profound and thought provoking experiences.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Limpiopungo & Roses farm

Ecuador

The roses farm was jaw dropping. I didn’t expect it to be. I didn’t even have a concept of a ‘rose farm’. This was a real highlight of our entire 2 week stay in Ecuador. The Laguna de limiopunga was also lovely. Allocate enough time there if your schedule (and weather) allows to do more walking around.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Dario, seemed to know so much about everything fro. Geology to history to medicinal plants.

Transport

Thank you Erika Bormeo for setting up our trip through the Andes mountains of Ecuador. What an amazing and special place to have had the privilege to experience! We visited Cuenca, Saraguro, Loja, and Vilcabamba. Each place had its own unique vibe Big cities to small towns. The Ecuadorian Andes were amazing. The boutique hotels in Cuenca and Loja were very nice. Vilcabamba was more our pace. Small, friendly, and just a beautiful town. Erika was always available for questions leading up to and while we were in Ecuador to make sure everything was what we wanted. The tours were great and informative and fun. Very professional! One of the best parts of our entire trip was our guide for 6 days - Genaro Palacios-! He was absolutely phenomenal!! His stories and historical/nature knowledge were exactly what we were looking for. He was our translator too as our Spanish is definitely not where it needed to be. He is very friendly and filled us full of information the entire trip ( exactly what we needed and wanted). He is also a very good driver, which you want driving through the Andes. We can’t say enough great things of our new friend!! So extremely blessed to have been paired up with Genaro as our guide! We came with some challenges as my wife is celiac. And knowing what she could and couldn’t eat in a foreign country and not that versed in the language was a necessity for us. We stayed on our own for a week after a week with Genaro. He made sure before he left us. that we were comfortable at the markets and grocery stores! Our trip was perfect! Absolutely perfect!!

Hotel Reviews

Sonesta Hotel Loja

Loja

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique Carvallo

Cuenca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Podocarpus National Park - Vilcabamba

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cuenca - Loja - City Tour

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cajas National Park

Cuenca

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrival to Cuenca - City Tour

Cuenca

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

During my trip to Ecuador, I visited Otavalo, Quito, Cotopaxi and Mindo. Kimkim arranged for transportations, local and indigenous guides, and I had a great time with all of them- especially Danny Arias, David and Fausto.
In Otavalo, I visited the Cuicocha Lagoon, Peguche falls, and the artisan market, followed by a traditional Ecuadorian lunch. I appreciate that the guides catered to my food preferences and allergies!
I enjoyed seeing the hummingbirds and butterflies in Mindo, but freaked out when I reached the zipline and decided not to do it😅 I loved the chocolate experience and everything about the trip today, Mindo is so green and beautiful!
On the way back we passed by the Inti nan museum, and I was amazed by the experiments related to the equator.
Cotopaxi was absolutely magical and breathtaking! I wished I had more time to spend in the Andes and the avenue of the volcanoes.

Thank you Mathias and the team for making my trip truly exceptional and authentic!

Absolutely fantastic experience! Our coordinator, Linda, was extremely responsive, easy to work with, and listened to all of our requests when planning our trip/activities. Sebastian and Alejandro, our tour guides, made this trip even more extraordinary with their knowledge, ease and recommendations along the way. We enjoyed our experience so much that my husband and I ended up booking our next vacation using KimKim to Egypt. 10/10 recommend!!

Daniel was a phenomenal specialist. He went above and beyond to make our trip to Ecuador's city of Quito and the Amazon Rainforest a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Not only did using kimkim service provide a meaningful experience it packed more into our trip than we could have done on our own with our limited Spanish and knowledge of the region.

Marcello, our guide at the Napo Culteral Center was amazing. He was very knowledgable of the native culture, language and the jungle animals and plants. We saw red Macaws gather to a clay link, the jungle from both the river and a tower above the trees

Jorge, our guide through the Andes was fantastic. Offered many sites and activities in addition to the itinerary. Although the 4 hour drive over the bumpy dirt road was unpleasant, Jorge and our driver Winston were always positive and personal. Again, I was impressed by the range of Jorge's knowledge of the landscape, culture, language and politcal/history of Ecuador. I felt we did too much driving in the Andes and would have enjoyed taking walks in the foothills.

We did not have a specific guide in the Galapagos. I would have appreciated a detailed itinerary to better plan for the days. The boating days to the other islands and snorkeling were definitely a highlight. The crews were very helpful, kind and great cooks

Hotel Review

Hotel Deja Vu Galapagos

Pto. Ayora

It was so nice to spend 3 nights in one hotel, very relaxing. It was a short walk to restaurants and shops. The staff were very helpful. Answered our questions about the the area. Since our group were in 3 different rooms, we utilized the setting area as a meeting point. It was like having a private living room .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Free Morning - Afternoon Boat Tour

Galapagos Islands

We were ready for the free morning. This boat tour to yhe trail did not offer anything new that we had seen on a previous trip. Also, we were unaware of the opportunity to snorkle on this trip

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Welcome to Santa Cruz Island: Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station

Puerto Ayora

The farm with great tortoises was exciting, beautiful scenery.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quito - Coca - Napo Cultural Center

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quito - Cotopaxi National Park

Ecuador

The walk around the lake was lovely

Colonial City Tour, Cooking Class & the Middle of the World Monument

Quito

Lots of fun

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From the moment I started planning this trip and all the way through to completion, my experience was 5 stars. I travelled with 11 family members to Ecuador (ages ranging from 19 to 86). We E-Biked the streets of Quito, attended cooking classes, travelled and explored the Galapagos on private boats and white watered rafted in the Amazon. We also made chocolate from scratch and ate jungle shrimp (big gnarly slugs).

Mathias worked with me at the inception and helped us tailor a trip that was both action packed and educational. Every detailed was planned and flawlessly executed. We had great accommodations, meals (which I had included) and awesome guides.

My family has gone on trips the last few years (Iceland, Canary Islands, Croatia, etc.) and are not the easiest to please, but everyone commented that this was our best trip yet. Bravo to Matias for the coordination and to all the guides especially Milton.

Hotel Reviews

Kuyana Amazon Lodge

Archidona

Great place. If you want to hear the jungle, this is the place. You are in it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Plaza Luna Suites

Puerto Ayora

Very clean and new hotel. Right in the middle of all the action. Great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Owner was very nice and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Casona de La Ronda

Quito

Perfect spot right in the action. Too bad we didn't have more time to spend here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rafting Río Jatunyacu

Ecuador

A blast. I have rafted many rivers and higher class rivers, but this was by far one of the most fun. Action the whole way!

Quality of Experience

Food

Lunch...tacos excellent!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Urban Bike Tour in Quito

Quito

Staff was great. Really helpful and fun to be with. E-bike were a blast and we loved every part of this trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Linda was able to create a custom trip for us to visit Loja and the Podocarpus National Park. She was great at working with us to shape an itinerary with complex transfers and a handful of special considerations.

Everything went great! The guides were fantastic (especially Milton in Quito), the hotels were nice, the park was beautiful, and the transfers smooth. The Loja coffee tasting set up by our guide Kevin was a surprise highlight and HIGHLY recommended if you're in or near Loja--Ecuadorean coffee is a much better gift for folks back home than t-shirts :).

Our tour of Ecuador with Sebastian couldn't have been better. From pickup at the airport to each destination, and finally back to the airport, he was with us every step of the way with local knowledge, humor, easy fluent English, and a great attitude. While some of the roads in Ecuador can be a little concerning, he’s patient and responsible driving put our minds at ease as we traveled easily and safely. He consistently went the extra mile, finding us opportunities for a bit of extra adventure when available, recommending great restaurants all along the way. I can't recommend Sebastian highly enough. If you're considering a tour in Ecuador, do it with Sebastian. Also our expert trip planner, Mathias, was very helpful during the planning phase but also was diligent on checking up on us during the trip. He responded in a timely manner and seemed very knowledgeable about Ecuador. Highly recommend this company for planning your trips.

I started planning this trip in 2019 and because of COVID, had to reschedule it a few times. It began with about 15 people in the group and we ended up with a group of seven senior women. Our guides on the mainland (Marco and Gorge) were outstanding, very patient and knowledgeable.

We spent two nights at the Napo Cultural Center which was the most memorable for me. The staff was very accommodating, food delicious and watching the macaws at the clay lick was amazing.

Kim Kim is a very useful and user friendly site for my trip planning. Daniel is very responsive and helpful in planning my itinerary to Ecuador. He adjusted the itinerary several times to accommodate my flight changes and preferences. He is friendly and knowledgeable, and provided a packing list for my reference. Daniela was also helpful and she set up a WhatsApp group for communication right before our trip.
The trip to Ecuador is very memorable. The country is beautiful and we had some good tour guides. The best guide was Darwin in Isabella Island in Galapagos. He took great photos and videos with his GoPro underwater and took the group to see a variety of marine life, including penguin, seahorse, sharks, sea lions, iguanas, sea turtles, birds, etc. It was absolutely fantastic to be so close to the animals in their natural habitats. Besides Galapagos, Quilotoa has stunning scenery, the Equator is fun to visit and the Quito historical town is very pretty.
The cons of the itinerary is that there is a lot of time spent on the car and/or boat each day. The hotel locations and the route can be further improved to reduce the driving time. This is especially true for our hotels in Quito, which were rather far from the attractions.
It would also be helpful if we get more information on the exact activities and what we should bring and wear each day, especially for the boat trips.
Overall, we had a very good trip in Ecuador and would love to visit again.

Hotel Reviews

Wyndham Quito Airport

Quito

Close to the airport, comfortable, clean and big room. The pool is tiny and the gym is small. But the restaurant is decent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ikala Quito Hotel

Quito

The hotel looks new and is clean and very comfortable. The location is not the most convenient for tourist attractions but it is close to many good restaurants. The design of the hotel is pretty.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful design

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Floresta

Baños

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel La Jungla

Puerto Villamil

The hotel is far away and the hygiene is not good. The shower sometimes doors not have hot water. The room is big and has a sea view.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Posada del Mar

Santa Cruz

The owner is extremely helpful and nice. The location is very convenient and close to the pier. The room is big with a balcony. The hotel is very comfy.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kitu Hotel

Quito

The hotel is quite old and the shower does not work so well. It is a bit noisy. However, the staff is very nice and friendly. It is also close to some good restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Excursion to Los Túneles

Ecuador

The trip is wonderful and the best of my 2 weeks in Ecuador. We saw many marine animals in their natural habitats and were very close with them. Darwin was a fantastic guide and he took great photos and videos with his GoPro underwater. We saw penguin, sharks, seahorse, sea lions, giant sea turtles, colourful fish, etc. The ocean was stunningly beautiful. I wish we could snorkel for longer.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

AMAZING! We will definitely use KimKim again and again to help plan our vacation. We had very limited days in Ecuador, about 7 days. Lucia did an amazing job customizing our travel itinerary to include all of the things we wanted to do, like a food tour to experience the most typical and traditional dishes in Ecuador. She also helped us plan our adventure in the Amazonian Rainforest. Lucia took care of booking the hotels, transportation, and tours. Thank you! This gave us such peace of mind and we were able to really enjoy our vacation.

Hello Daniel, this trip was quite an adventure. My favorite place was the Napo Cultural Center. I loved traveling the river in boats, the clay lick, the tower, our guide, Marcelo, and the wonderful staff.
The travel in the Andes to volcanos, caldera, etc. was beautiful and interesting. I don’t like moving hotels every night and some of the drives were too long. Our guide, Jorge, was very knowledgeable and helpful. I enjoyed having him with us. Two hotels stand out for me...in Quito the cultural Manor and CotopaxiPungo were both beautiful and interesting. The drive to the Cotopaxi Pungo was too rugged and long.
In the Galapagos, Bibi was excellent and then we had a mixture of guides. I would have appreciated more advance knowledge about the experiences, especially the trip to Bartolom, which I wisely skipped and would have been too much for me. Some of us went to Tortuga Bay which was very nice and should have been offered as an alternative. The hotel Deja Vu was nice, friendly and very well located. We all enjoyed it. (Ps...I was the oldest person in this group of 7)

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Deja Vu Galapagos

Pto. Ayora

Very nice for the Galapagos

Location

Walking distance to village, shops and restaurants.

Staff

Friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cotopaxi Pungo

Cotopaxi Area

I enjoyed this hotel. The location was stunning. I loved fires in the fireplaces and the beautiful restaurant/breakfast space. My dinner was excellent and the activities manager took us for an exploration of the grounds with great enthusiasm.

Location

Views in all directions.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were chilly

Boutique Hotel Cultura Manor

Quito

As a person who loves historical hotels and restoration, this was just right for me. Our room was charming and the common areas were pleasant and comfortable. We enjoyed dinner there one evening and 3 breakfasts in a lovely, sunny breakfast room. The staff were kind, attentive and helpful. I can’t speak about the location since we only used planned transportation.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Santa Cruz Island: Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station

Puerto Ayora

Great guide, lunch, introduction to tortoises, Darwin Center. Fun!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cotopaxi National Park - Quilotoa Lagoon - Baños

Ecuador

I didn’t hike down. Took lots of time.

Napo Cultural Center experience

Yasuni National Park

I loved this experience, guide, staff, indigenous presentation, tower, clay lick ., etc.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Free Morning - Afternoon Boat Tour

Ecuador

Walked this island and met the local wildlife. Beach. Lunch. Snack were amazing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yet Another Day on an Uninhabited Island!

Ecuador

Needed more advance knowledge of long, rough boat trip. I wisely skipped this. Alternative could have been offered.

Colonial City Tour, Cooking Class & the Middle of the World Monument

Quito

Guide, Marco, was great. It was Sunday so we experienced the bustle of the city. We also all enjoyed the cooking class and the tasty lunch we created.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellent guides and drivers. So appreciated.