Kimkim Trip Reviews for Ecuador

Our trip using KimKim and our local specialist Daniel, was nothing short of INCREDIBLE! Daniel was truly invaluable to us during the planning as well as the actual trip as during our time there the situation in Ecuador was changing. My husband and I are experienced independent travelers so using a service like KimKim was new for us and I was apprehensive - I thought I could put it together myself but I didn't have the time to work on the logistics and since the Galapagos is so unique we wanted some help. We had several what's app calls and exchanged lots of messages as we tweaked the itinerary a few times. He was so friendly with excellent communication skills and listened to questions and understood what we wanted to experience in out time in Ecuador as we only had a week and there was so much to see between the mainland and the Galapagos islands. As things changed on the ground in Quito upon our arrival, Daniel called right after we landed as he already had a Plan B (C, D and E) as well. We felt safe and calm and I knew I Daniel was available to us anytime and so responsive on WhatsApp. Beyond the changes we made last minute, the rest of what we planned was wonderful. It was so wonderful to have the transfers, day trips and everything planned. The hotels I selected knew our itinerary and times we would be picked up. The town of Puerto Aroya on Santa Cruz was so much fun. We were picked up at the airport by Alexandra who was so warm and welcoming and explained our day as we headed off Baltra island to the ranch where we saw the tortoises on the reserve. The lunch was excellent and we had such a nice peaceful time enjoying the green lush ground watching the tortoises in their environment. I think the trip was perfectly planned to provide balance between busy days and then having some free days. We especially enjoyed the hike and kayaking around Tortuga Bay; the afternoon boat tour and snorkeling with a sea turtle is something I will never forget. Daniel made sure that we worked the trip around a beautiful day cruise to the island of Bartolome - his profile pic. We had a day on luxurious boat served a delicious breakfast and lunch while we hiked and again snorkeled with the penguins - that is what I wanted to see most. Due to our last minute changes from the mainland, we were now fortunate enough to visit another island and Daniel selected Isabela for it's raw beauty and wildlife. The speedboat ride was an adventure in itself and the boat tour there to La Tintoreras we really special - more penguins,, boobies and a lava tunnel full of animals and the opportunity for more snorkeling. Daniel and I pretty much connected daily as I just loved reaching out to him to share pics, our experiences and he was always responsive immediately and so positive. We loved the local fish market in Puerto Aroya just as he said we would - stopping by daily to see the women cutting up the fresh catch and having an audience of pelicans, sea lions, frigate birds, herons and marine iguanas. All right on the street - such an amazing experience. I think our land based tour with day trips was wonderful - we only wish we had more time! I have not stopped telling friends and family about Daniel and his amazing planning - having an on the ground local resource accessible to us all the time was truly invaluable. We are thankful for his guidance and kindness! Surely many of my friends have already asked about this trip or it's already on their bucket list. We definitely plan to use KimKim again for our next adventure - it is truly a great resource for independent travelers and took our trip to the next level!

Activity Reviews

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

Puerto Ayora

Absolutely delicious lunch in such a peaceful environment. I could have spent all day walking amongst the giant tortoises. Our guide Alexandra was great and you could tell she loved being there and welcoming us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alexandra and Andres were a great team

Transport

Kayaking Adventure in Tortuga Bay & Afternoon Bay Tour of Santa Cruz Island

Puerto Ayora

We enjoyed the whole day! Our first guide Ramiro was so welcoming and pointed out so many things along the hike to the beach - he offered to take so many pictures and made us feel at easy on the kayaks and we found so much wildlife together in the water. He made sure we got to our hotel with enough time to rest and have lunch before we were picked up and taken to the waterfront for the afternoon bay tour. This was so nice as we saw so many bird from the boat, enjoyed the walk on an island when we got off and it was our first snorkel. The captain of the boat made us feel at ease in the water and had a gopro and took amazing videos of me swimming with a sea turtle. It was a long busy day but great experiences to get a feel for the island.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We honestly can't say enough how much our family appreciated all the effort that went into planning and orchestrating our trip. There was some unexpected civil unrest throughout the country when we visited, we even considered cancelling the trip all together but we're so glad that we didn't. Mathias and his team were amazing and were great at keeping up to date on the situation and changed our itinerary to help us avoid protests and demonstrations. Although it was a bit dissapointing that we weren't able to do everything we had originally planned on, the activities they replaced them with seemed just as good if not better and we still had a great time.

The other standout was just how well everything was coordinated. Between our tour guides, bus drivers, and hotel staff, it seemed like everyone knew our itinerary better than we did, and were so great about keeping us updated with the time table and what to expect. This was especially nice since we were travelling with small kids and helped us focus on the experience and not the logistics.

We would highly recommend Kimkim to anyone and of course Matias, Liz, Milton, and all the other great people we interacted with during our trip.

I loved our trip to Quito! Our guide, Dario, and our driver, Ivan, were excellent and took good care of us. Jacqueline went above and beyond to help us have a safe and memorable trip.

Our trip to Ecuador was amazing! Jackie in Ecuador was just incredible to work with.

We faced serious challenges in our trip when a general strike was called throughout Ecuador by CONAIE, an association of indigenious people. This involved roadblocks and protests throughout the country.

Jackie and the guide she hired, Dario, did an absolutely incredible job of working around these conditions to ensure a wonderful experience, even though this meant rearranging our itinerary and schedule completely.

When our Ecuadorian Ballet Folklorico performance was cancelled, she arranged a private performance in a beautiful hotel.

When the city of Banos was blocked off, Jackie and Dario suggested Mindo insteady - a gorgeous nature destination with hummingbirds, ziplines and river rafting.

It was a hit and we were safe and well cared for throughout the trip.

In my last day relaxing in the thermal baths at Papallacta, I couldn't recommend KimKim enough to the travelers around me. Thank you!

Activity Reviews

Project at School in Otavalo

Otavalo

Quito - Cotopaxi National Park

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Linda planned an amazing trip for us. We enjoyed the hotels, tour guides, and excursions.

Mathias understood right away our needs and wants and developed a great trip that left out nothing. Since we have family in Ecuador, he was able to weave in our requirement to do some things with family.
Sebastian, our guide, was equal to the task of integrating everything we were to do. Tip: go over the next day's schedule with him the night before so that he knows your expectations. He is great at anticipating needs and wants and fulfilling them before you can even ask.
All in all, a fantastic trip of a lifetime. This is the way to travel.

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

Hosteria La Andaluza

Riobamba

One of the best hotels we have ever stayed in.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Samari Spa Hotel

Baños

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Fantastic massages!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hacienda El Porvenir

Machachi

Spectacular location, hard to get to.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vista del Angel Hotel Boutique

Quito

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hacienda Pinsaqui

Otavalo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sacha Lodge Yasuní

Quito

ONly place with air conditioning. A truly amazing experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Stay here. It's the best of the best.

Activity Reviews

Expedition to the Churute Ecological Reserve

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

A wonderful lunch and even better tour guide.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cuenca - Ingapirca - Riobamba

Ecuador

Cuenca is wonderful as is Ingapirca. I would skip Riobamba

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding at Cotopaxi National Park

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I and my daughter had a great vacation with lots of fun adventures. Linda was wonderful and helped with the planning of the trip. Liz was our contact in the Galapagos and was a great source of information and helpful with some of the last minute changes and requests! Sebastian was our guide in Quito and Cotopaxi - - very reliable, personable, and lots of local information!

What an epic adventure. Daniel made our trip one of the best we have ever experienced! He planned everything and made any adjustments where we wanted. He created such a beautiful experience tailored specifically to us. Not having to think about scheduling anything on our own, or getting taxis when we needed, or worrying about keeping track of flight tickets or time frames made this trip feel so luxurious. We started in Quito and had the best day ever riding around with Danny! Danny took us to the equator, a private cooking class, the statue of Mary, and walked us through multiple places in the historic district. He also stopped alongside the road to buy us yucca bread just because he loved it so much and wanted to share it with us. We then flew to Coca and took a motorized canoe down the Napo to the Napo Cultural Center. Mari, the general manager was so lovely and helpful. She explained how the eco lodge works and answered any questions we had. Venancio was beyond perfect as our guide while we were there. He loves sharing the culture and knowledge he has about his people, the birds, and teaching the native language to us. He was incredibly flexible and would take us anywhere we wanted to go, see anything we wanted to see, and spend as much time as we wanted enjoying the rainforest and giving us his time. He is so selfless and has a heart of gold. We got to see spider monkeys, golden tamarinds, and the howler monkeys put on a show right in front of our eyes while on the canoe trip. The birds are so beautiful and diverse. It was so special to see them and learn about them from Venancio. He makes sure to get you the best photos through his telescope. Living amongst the Kachiwa people was an experience I will never forget. The chefs were incredible! Feeding us gourmet meals three times a day! The fresh juices and cold towels made for a super refreshing end to any adventure we had for the day. Our bartender Lenin was great as well! He was so happy to share his knowledge of local beverages and culture as well. He helped teach us some phrases in the native language also. The housekeeping staff and our boat drivers were the best! I will definitely be back to Napo and Quito in the future. Daniel made sure that this trip was perfect, and he created such a special place in our hearts for Ecuador. 10/10 would recommend!!!

Hotel Reviews

Ikala Quito Hotel

Quito

I love the Ikala Hotel! It is super clean, the rooms are so diverse and comfortable, the staff is super helpful and friendly, it’s quiet, and I would love to stay again!

Tips for future travelers

Definitely book your stay here. You will be happy to have the wonderful places to walk to and the staff are always willing to get you a quick taxi to anywhere you want to explore!

Authenticity & Character

The style and decor

Location

Being close to Mercando El Camino, Tres Gatos, and Abysma.

Staff

Clean rooms and shared spaces with great character and light

Cleanliness & Comfort

Firm beds, great water pressure, cleanliness, and balcony

Napo Cultural Center

Quito

The Napo Cultural Center is breathtakingly beautiful. The staff are the very best. We were so comfortable in our room and everywhere we went! I loved being able to live amongst the Kachiwa people and learn about the culture! I also loved stepping outside and viewing wildlife.

Tips for future travelers

Drink water! Use bug spray! Be thankful and appreciate all of the people and wildlife. You won’t regret this trip. It’s one in a million.

Authenticity & Character

You’re staying in a village. You’re surrounded by culture, history, and wisdom.

Location

The culture, the wildlife, the beauty of it all, how remote it is

Staff

They were are so great

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was comfortable and clean

Activity Reviews

Quito - Coca - Napo Cultural Center

Ecuador

Venancio was the best guide! I loved exploring the rainforest and seeing all the wildlife!

Quality of Experience

The culture, the wildlife, and the beauty of the environment

Food

Gourmet meals and drinks!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everything! They are perfect!

Transport

Timely, skilled, and friendly

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

Quito

Karen was amazing. We cooked with her in a treehouse amongst a beautiful garden of local ingredients. The food was incredible and we learned so much!

Quality of Experience

Local ingredients

Food

Empanadas, local fruit, and chocolate!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Karen and Danny were wonderful!

Transport

I want to thank Linda and the whole local team for their help in organizing a family trip to Ecuador! We planned this trip as a wedding celebration instead of the traditional reception, to share our love of travel with those closest to us- our families! We had the most spectacular adventure-packed trip, and truly were able to see all the highlights of the Galapagos Islands in our week visiting. We particularly loved that we were able to customize our trip to be as active as we are. Every day was a new adventure, our families had such a great time, and we will never forget all the beautiful wildlife we were so fortunate to experience together.

We were taken care of every step of the way, with every transfer, guide and excursion meticulously thought out. Linda and the team even assisted with making dinner reservations for our large group for a few nights. Lisa, our local coordinator in Puerto Ayora, helped us with any last minute changes that we would otherwise have to figure out for ourselves. My husband and I are looking forward to coming back soon to continue to explore all that these islands have to offer. Thank you for the most wonderful memorable trip!

I would like to say thank you to Jacky, who has arranged my family trip to Ecuador from 13 - 25 Apr 2022. We have a fantastic trip and I am so thankful for all your arrangement. From Ittenary, Accomodation , and local guide. We particularly enjoy our trip in Cuya Beno, Amazon rain Forest, and Galapagos islands.
Jacky is very responsive if we asked something over the phone. She always stand by for response. Its make us worry - free during our trip. Once again , thanks Jacky for all your help. We definely will refer you to our friends back to our country.

Hotel Review

Mercure Alameda Quito

Quito

Staffs are friendly, and we made this hotel as our base. So that we can leave our luggages at the hotel, during our trip to Amazon rain forest and galapagos island.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Activity Review

Adventure in the Amazon

Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve

Rom , the local guide is very knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I spent 15 days in Ecuador touring areas around Quito, the Amazon, and the Galapagos islands. I traveled alone with a guide until he dropped me off to go to the Galapagos.
I used Quito as a home base and took a free day, explored the old town and middle of the world museum, Otavalo, and Cotopaxi. I also stayed in Mindo and Banos. They were worth visiting.
In the Amazon, I stayed at the Kuyana lodge and in the Galapagos used Santa Cruz as a home base.
I was pleased with the work Mathias did on my travel plan, his response time, and how he kept in touch nearly daily. He managed to incorporate my special requests of a visit to the rose farm, the Condor Parque, and a horse ride. I had a special interest in those things and thought they were worth the time, although the ride to the Condor Parque was long. The horse ride added a lot to the visit to Cotopaxi as I did not care to climb. The horse guy was terrific. It was my first time on a horse!
I can not say enough good things about Kuyana. The food was terrific and authentic. The grounds and rooms are beautiful. The activities are wonderful and individualized to the traveler.
It was relaxing too! It was the best!
The Galapagos lived up to their reputation. A special thank you to my guide, Julian, from Day 1, and the man who helped me complete the exit steps on the final day! Awesome job, guys!
Ecuador has a lot to see! GO!

Hotel Review

Sisakuna Lodge

Mindo

Authenticity & Character

beautiful grounds, basic furnishing

Location

Staff

They made pizza for me for dinner during Carnivale!

Cleanliness & Comfort

clean.

Activity Reviews

Middle of the World

Ecuador

Super cool outdoor setting with activities to highlight the effects of the equator! Loved it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Horseback Riding at Cotopaxi National Park

Ecuador

Great experience! Took me 3 tries to get on the horse. The man was very patient. It was my first time. I really enjoyed it and the meal we had at the Park lodge.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transfer to Quito Airport, Arrival to Galapagos & Highlands of Santa Cruz

Ecuador

This is a great tour with lunch included. One of the most memorable photo ops with the amazing large tortoises! You can get very close. It was wonderful fun even in light drizzle. Bring a jacket, just in case! Mud boots are provided.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excursion to an uninhabited island

Ecuador

This is a long day with a couple of boat transfers and a ride to the dock. It is worth it. The boat is relaxing if you can find the right spot to sit yourself down! It was hosted by a member of the awesome "white shirt Park staff" They are heroes of the Galapagos. I am a non-snorkeler so I was treated to a few minutes on a deserted beach. Heavenly. We also made the stop at Baltra island and took a long walk up to the lighthouse. I needed a little encouragement for the last little way! Thank you sir, that was great! The food on the boat was delicious. A breakfast, lunch, and snack were served. Don't forget the sunscreen! It is much needed on this trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to another uninhabited island

Ecuador

This is a little shorter trip out to Seymour island. I had previously gone to Bartolome' island. Another hero of the Galapagos "white shirted Park ranger" led the way to Seymour! It was similar to the other trip, on the same boat even. This time, I knew exactly where to sit! It was another enjoyable day with a trip to an islet and some snorkeling time. I saw some amazing birds nesting. I saw great frigate birds "Man of War" , Magnificent Frigate Birds, and blue-footed boobies. Equipment to snorkel was provided each time including life vests. The food was good. It was fish. They really can do fish well there! No breakfast due to the shorter day, but again a snack was provided. Well worth getting on the boat again! It is well spent time on the boat. Relax and enjoy! Don't forget the sunscreen, really!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Christian was an excellent driver and wonderful guide. He maximized our time in Ecuador to the fullest extent possible. He knew just where and when to take a break and found the most wonderful places for a meal or snack. He had a great knowledge of history and answered all our many questions about Ecuador from nature to economics to ecology and more. And he was a lot of fun to be around- game for anything and even pushed us to do a few things we weren’t sure about but greatly enjoyed!
Most memorable was the Quito teleferico, Quito cooking class, Mindo hummingbirds even though we aren’t birders, Banos waterfalls and hot springs, horseback riding in Cotopaxi and visiting the lovely Quilotoa crater. The hacienda stays were exceptional.
Main thing was that Alvaro pulled off planing our trip with a one week notice!! Awesome job!!

Hotel Review

Hacienda Pinsaqui

Otavalo

Outstanding service and beautiful rooms. Lovely surroundings. Very quiet and comfortable. Excellent food.

Authenticity & Character

The interior

Location

Quiet but near town and national park

Staff

Personal and prompt service

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fireplace in bedroom

Activity Review

Otavalo - Cloud forest of Mindo

Otavalo

Hummingbirds we’re amazing

Quality of Experience

Food

Outdoor dining

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was an absolutely amazing trip, Mathias and his team were excellent. We were planning a trip for spring break with our 12 and eight-year-olds and looking for adventure that would also be appropriate for this age range. He worked with us on several different itineraries to give us options, listened to our requests for Accommodations, and provided us with the most amazing driver Sebastian who was so knowledgeable about the country, and very patient with our children! He went above and beyond to make sure everything was organized and we had everything needed. It was the little details, like buying fruit in the market for our family, and following up with pictures from our adventures that we really appreciate. My children could stop hugging him at the end of the trip! Mathis met us at our hotel at the beginning of our adventure and checked in with us throughout the way to make sure our expectations were met. He works with top notch Accommodations and vendors. We would not change a think about this trip, other than we wished we stayed longer! We can’t wait to go back and would 100 percent book with Mathis!

Hotel Review

Isla de Baños

Baños

Activity Review

Quito - Cotopaxi National Park - Baños

Ecuador

Our local specialist, Daniel, went above and beyond to ensure that our time in Ecuador was fun, safe, and packed with adventure. All of the guides we interacted with were knowledgeable about the area and were very friendly and fun to be around. Danny was our guide for the first two days of our time in Quito. We felt like he was our friend showing us around the city.
We really enjoyed our day trip and hike at Quilato Crater. This is a definite must for people making plans. I would also recommend going to the Mindo cloud forest.
And of course our time in the Galapagos was epic. I would like to have had more time to spend there. I'm sure someday we'll go back.

Hotel Review

Hotel Casa Sakiwa

Machachi

This hotel is modern, clean, and very comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Very beautiful design/architecture

Location

Close to mountain adventures

Staff

Friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Extremely clean

Activity Reviews

Experience the Pristine Beauty of Galápagos Islands: Discovering an Uninhabited Island

Puerto Ayora

You start the day early with a dingy ride to the sailboat you will be spending the next three hours on to get to the destination. It's worth it! The snorkeling was fantastic. We saw many white tipped sharks and so much other wildlife.

Quality of Experience

Food

Couldn't believe the cook could make such unbelievable dishes in such a small kitchen!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The boat crew were on top of it!

Transport

The boat could use a bit more shade and comfortable seating for such a long trip

Biking from Cotopaxi to Quilotoa Day 1

Ecuador

This is a perfect way to get up close and personal with Cotopaxi volcano. But be ready for very high altitude hiking. The guides help keep the pace slow.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to the Amazon was amazing! Our guides, Rom and Jefferson made our experience unforgettable. Daniel was in constant contact with us every step of the way. The Nicky lodge chef, Freddie made exceptional food and also sings and plays the guitar along with the other guides.

Hotel Review

Nicky Amazon Lodge

Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve

The Nicky lodge is cozy and clean. All the staff make you feel right at home. It's a big happy family and everyone loves nature and wants to share their knowledge with the guest.

Tips for future travelers

Make sure you bring products for mosquito and sun fly bites

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

They couldn't do enough for us. Friendly, sincere.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

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

Quito

Quality of Experience

Food

I was impressed with the quality of the food at the lodge. The soups were amazing!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The transportation is great. The bus trip from Quito to Amazon is very long so be prepared for that.

Mathias was excellent, very responsive, even to last minute changes, and met us in person when we checked in! The Alejandros, Jose, Fabian, Dario, Julian, and probably some others i may not remember names, were all wonderful. Ecuador is a beautiful place, not to mention the Galapagoes, WOW. highly recommend it. Never felt unsafe. Accommodations were all excellent. Loved the cooking class. 2 favorites: the Amazon jungle lodge - Aguas Negras( Fabian), and of course the Gallapagoes which was the whole reason we went. Snorkeled with Pengiuns!!! Can't recommend this company enough!! 5+ stars!!

Hotel Reviews

La Casona de La Ronda

Quito

This was an amazing restored hotel. staff is great, facilities including restaurant, excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Termas de Papallacta

Papallacta

Love this place, wish we had stayed longer.

Tips for future travelers

plan to stay more than one night!

Authenticity & Character

Location

beautiful

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hot springs right outside the room :)

Aguas Negras River Lodge

Lago Agrio

If you want to get away, this is the place. Beautiful. rustic. Animals!!!!!

Tips for future travelers

This is a rustic place. Electriciy is by generator, so have fast chargers. Watch for spiders if you get up in the middle of the night ( they are harmless, but don't want to step on them) Bring a Flashlight or 2.

Authenticity & Character

great way to experience the jungle, without even going hiking if you don't want. I have limited mobility but was able to manage getting in and out of the canoe :)

Location

AMazing! All the noises - cicadas, Birds, and especially the morning wakeup call of the Howler monkeys. Swimming in the river was wonderful, even with high water.

Staff

Can't say enough about Fabian. very knowledgeable , caring, and environmentally conscious.

Cleanliness & Comfort

beds comfortable, netting was good too! Never did have hot water, but lukewarm in this environment was fine )

Activity Review

Cooking Class

Quito

Learned to make the classics, potato soup and fried plantain, for starters. Chef was very nice, it was so fun. Made the soup and salsa first night we came home!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

walking distance of hotel

I cannot give a high enough review for kimkim. Our local specialist Jackeline went above and beyond for us in every way and was always there when we had a question or needed something. Our super adventurous and knowledgeable guide Diego made our whole week so fun, exciting, and educational. Our other guide, Alex, was also amazing and so fun to visit Cotopaxi with. We were truly blessed in the team from kimkim that helped us make this trip the best we have ever had. We cannot wait to return to Ecuador.

This was the most memorable and educational trip of my life. Mathias was very attentive to every question I had. He kept in touch with me. He even checked on my health condition and my husband's injury while we were away. I cannot say enough good things about him.

Our first guide, Sebastian, was a very fun young man to be with. He was polite, attentive, and laughed with us. He was very knowledgeable about the country of Ecuador. He will go far in his career as a guide.

Our guide in the Cuyabena reserve, Fabian, was fun to be with as well. He and the indigenous people of the rainforest were very attentive in our care in a land where we were so isolated. We learned so much about the native people and how they live. When my husband Russell was bitten by a piranha while trying to take it off the hook, Clever, the indigenous young man knew exactly what to do treating his wound with medicine taken from tree bark. He was absolutely amazing in rowing the canoe even at night, and his knowledge of the rainforest.

I love the peace of the rainforest; no traffic sounds, not even an airplane flew over; just the sounds of the wildlife and downpours.

The highlight of the trip was seeing a tapir in the wild and even getting pictures! I am still amazed.

Hotel Reviews

Vieja Cuba

Quito

Very nice little room. Comfortable and safe, especially because it was gated. The only reason I don't give it five stars is because I do not like big cities, but it was necessary the night before our trip home.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Put it in the rainforest! lol. I just do not like city life. It was a fine hotel.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Termas de Papallacta

Papallacta

Authenticity & Character

Location

Everything except the rain!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Guango Lodge

Papallacta

Authenticity & Character

Location

The fireplace should have been kept burning since it was so cold. We got cold a lot.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

So many hummingbirds!!!

Kuyana Amazon Lodge

Archidona

This was the most BEAUTIFUL place we stayed. The gardens are breathtaking. Leo is an excellent host. The food was good, and we really enjoyed the cooking school and waterfall hike.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aguas Negras River Lodge

Lago Agrio

Do not stay here if you need modern conveniences. It is a wonderful rainforest home, kind of like camping without the work. It was a wonderful experience for us. Fabian was a great guide and fun to be with. The indigenous staff were wonderful. I wish we could speak their language so we could have interacted more. We learned about how people live in the rainforest. We enjoyed the beauty and wildlife. The highlight was seeing a tapir!!! Not many people are this lucky!

Tips for future travelers

Do not bother with makeup for fixing your hair. If you are picky about food do not stay here. I highly recommend it for the adventurous nature lover. Not a good place for small children.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The rainforest! The breeze off the river when it rained was so nice.

Staff

The indigenous staff was over-the-moon attentive to us. They know jungle survival skills.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nothing can be improved being deep in the jungle. But the comfort is the best that can be expected without air conditioning and iced drinks. I craved cold drinks but they were room temperature.

Sacha Lodge Yasuní

Quito

This is a luxury jungle motel. You get air conditioning and gourmet food. Our guide Oscar was a walking encyclopedia. He knew every tree, plant, and bird by scientific name. The only thing I was not crazy about was the evening meal. They put more effort into a fancy presentation than in flavor. The lunch meal was the best meal.

Authenticity & Character

The rainforest!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Hot Springs of Papallacta

Ecuador

The hot springs felt so good! I liked the hottest one, my husband picked one a level down.

Quality of Experience

Hot springs

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sebastian is the best.

Transport

Breakfast was good. Our room was neat and clean.

Using kimkim was such a breeze! Our travel agent Jacky and tour guide Diego could not have been a more perfect match for us. Both spoke very good english and were amazingly patient with me trying to test my Spanish skills. Jacky set everything up so we could just enjoy our trip and was so sweet even with all of our questions. Both truly made our trip an unforgettable experience.

My wife and I recently completed a 10 day trip to Ecuador and had a tremendous time. We knew very little about the country but wanted to see and learn as much as possible during our 10 day journey. We communicated with Mathias of Authentic Ecuador and found him to be very responsive
and helpful. We traveled Feb. 8-17, 2022 just as the Omicron variant was complicating travel in
many parts of the world. We were helped with all of the details and felt well supported. We arrived in Quito about 01:00 am (late) on our flight from Houston and after being efficiently being gotten through passport control and customs we were pleasantly greeted by our driver who got us to our hotel in old town Quito. Our superb guide, Cristian Portilla, met us promptly the next morning and we spent two days seeing all of Quito and the surrounding area. We particularly enjoyed a day trip to Mindo and the equator museum and exhibits. We then traveled through Banos, Riobamba, Cuenca and on to Guayaquil. Cristian was with us all of the time and provided superior services in taking us to all
of the places of interest in each area. He helped us get a feel for the local culture and took us to
local restaurants. We felt very fortunate to have a guide with his knowledge and dedication.
We booked at pretty much the last minute and could not have been more pleased. The accommodations were in boutique smaller hotels and they were all excellent and unique as well
as comfortable. We always felt safe and well cared for during the travels and give Kimkim, Mathias and Cristian our unqualified recommendation. This was a special trip and we are more
than delighted that we took it.

Hotel Review

La Casona de La Ronda

Quito

My wife stayed here Feb. 8-10, 2022 and found it very clean and comfortable. The bed was comfortable and the bathroom was modern and fully functional. The breakfasts were very nice with made to order omelets. We also had dinner in the dining room one evening and it was superb. They do not have an elevator so if one is not able to climb stairs it would be a problem. The staff were excellent and we very much enjoyed our stay in this small hotel in the center of the old city.

Tips for future travelers

Be aware there is no elevator.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We could walk to many old town sights and restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Visit the Pailón del Diablo Waterfall, Explore Baños

Baños

The hike along the river and down to the falls was extremely picturesque. Well worthwhile.

Quality of Experience

Food

We enjoyed the local Ecuadorian foods.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport