Daniel Larrea

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... read more

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 Galapagos: Santa Cruz Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station

Galapagos Islands

Overall Rating

Activity Review

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.

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Alexandra and Andres were a great team

Quality of Experience

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

Puerto Ayora

Overall Rating

Activity Review

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.

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

We had the great good fortune to work with Daniel Larrea over the course of two years as we navigated COVID to plan our Rediscovery of Ecuador. Daniel arranged the first leg of our visit to the Galápagos Islands on the beautiful Galapagos Legend. The ship was most comfortable; the crew paid great attention to the many needs of their guests; and the guides/naturalists were knowledgeable and great fun. The second leg of our journey was intended to revisit Quito and surrounding areas and to... read more

We had the great good fortune to work with Daniel Larrea over the course of two years as we navigated COVID to plan our Rediscovery of Ecuador. Daniel arranged the first leg of our visit to the Galápagos Islands on the beautiful Galapagos Legend. The ship was most comfortable; the crew paid great attention to the many needs of their guests; and the guides/naturalists were knowledgeable and great fun. The second leg of our journey was intended to revisit Quito and surrounding areas and to reconnect with family. While we were not able to follow much of our originally planned itinerary due to social unrest and changing circumstances, we knew we were in great hands with Daniel who was concerned for our safety and in regular touch, keeping us apprised of a very fluid situation. Our driver/guide, Christian Chalcualan, provided safe passage to a number of alternative destinations and exhibited great knowledge of the culture and country. We particularly enjoyed the Guayasamin Museum, the cable car ride to Teleferico, and a visit to beautiful Papallacta with its hot springs and hiking. We also very much enjoyed our stay at La Palma Polo Club in the bucolic setting of Puembo. We would highly recommend Daniel for his personal touch, attention to detail, knowledge and love of Ecuador. Words cannot possibly express how grateful we are to Daniel with whom we look forward to planning our return trip!!

Our trip turned out to be one of the best we’ve ever taken! The kimkim team switched team members mid planning but after a “get to know you” period all was good! Covid also played a major roll in getting this trip from planning to execution. So even though we had some hiccups, all turned out well.

Daniel Larrea, our travel planner, put together an amazing itinerary. Learning about my passion for art, he created an Art day for me. From touring museums to wandering through the street... read more

Our trip turned out to be one of the best we’ve ever taken! The kimkim team switched team members mid planning but after a “get to know you” period all was good! Covid also played a major roll in getting this trip from planning to execution. So even though we had some hiccups, all turned out well.

Daniel Larrea, our travel planner, put together an amazing itinerary. Learning about my passion for art, he created an Art day for me. From touring museums to wandering through the street art fair, I saw amazing Ecuadorian art. Our guide, Daniel Silva, was engaging, honest and a joy to be around. He guided us for two days around Quito. From the Art day to the City walk day, our days were filled with stunning churches, an engaging cooking class and lots of knowledge about a city I knew little about. It was a wonderful experience.

Daniel Larrea also provided us with seamless transfers between airports and locations. Upon our arrival in Baltra, we expected a driver to our hotel. What we got was an incredible naturalist, Vivianna, who took us to a land tortoise preserve, giving us a first class tour and background of this incredible animal. Then we were taken to our hotel for the evening. The morning transfer from the hotel back to Baltra to meet the cruise team was seamless. My husband, who typically avoids tours and having people meet us at the airport and guide us to a our hotel, actually really saw the value and agrees this is the only way to travel from now on!

Thank you kimkim for making our trip to Ecuador and its natural wonders one for the ages!

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... read more

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

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

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!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Firm beds, great water pressure, cleanliness, and balcony

Staff

Clean rooms and shared spaces with great character and light

Authenticity & Character

The style and decor

Location

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

Napo Cultural Center

Quito

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

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.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was comfortable and clean

Staff

They were are so great

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

Activity Reviews

Quito - Coca - Napo Cultural Center

Ecuador

Overall Rating

Activity Review

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

Food

Gourmet meals and drinks!

Transport

Timely, skilled, and friendly

Guides, drivers and staff

Everything! They are perfect!

Quality of Experience

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

Colonial Quito City Tour - Cooking Class with a Local Chef & the Middle of the World

Quito

Overall Rating

Activity Review

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!

Food

Empanadas, local fruit, and chocolate!

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Karen and Danny were wonderful!

Quality of Experience

Local ingredients

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... read more

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

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

This hotel is modern, clean, and very comfortable.

Location

Close to mountain adventures

Cleanliness & Comfort

Extremely clean

Staff

Friendly

Authenticity & Character

Very beautiful design/architecture

Activity Reviews

Exploring an Uninhabited Island

Puerto Ayora

Overall Rating

Activity Review

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.

Food

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

Transport

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

Guides, drivers and staff

The boat crew were on top of it!

Quality of Experience

Biking from Cotopaxi to Quilotoa Day 1

Ecuador

Overall Rating

Activity Review

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.

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

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. read more

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

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

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

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

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

Authenticity & Character

Activity Review

Colonial Quito City Tour - Cooking Class with a Local Chef & the Middle of the World

Quito

Overall Rating

Food

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

Transport

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

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

I had an INCREDIBLE trip to the Galapagos, with major MAJOR thanks to Daniel (and his colleague Alvaro). They took the time to understand me and what I wanted to do (they knew I liked to swim, wanted to see animals, and would be a solo traveler so would need support with logistics, etc) - and then organized an itinerary that solved for all of this. Daniel was always available to help me answer questions and ensure I was set for the next day, and really made me feel welcome. He even left a... read more

I had an INCREDIBLE trip to the Galapagos, with major MAJOR thanks to Daniel (and his colleague Alvaro). They took the time to understand me and what I wanted to do (they knew I liked to swim, wanted to see animals, and would be a solo traveler so would need support with logistics, etc) - and then organized an itinerary that solved for all of this. Daniel was always available to help me answer questions and ensure I was set for the next day, and really made me feel welcome. He even left a welcome package for me at the hotel the first night I arrived, with some gifts and a welcome message (and an incredible hand drawing he did himself). My final day I had a 6 hour layover in the airport, so Daniel and Alvaro actually came and picked me up and took me out to dinner as well. I even had an incident where clothes in my suitcase got wet in the rain one day in the Galapagos during transport, and a local person came and picked up my clothes, dried them, and brought them back the next morning. Overall the entire experience was so wonderful, hassle-free, and really nice - I always felt safe, taken care of, and relaxed when it came to thinking about the trip. I had a great time in both Puerto Ayora and Puerto Villamil (Isabel island was really amazing), and also on all the side trips where I benefitted from Daniel's recommendations (e.g., Bartolome Island). The best part is that Daniel made all of this happen on incredibly short notice - I asked to book the trip just one week before I traveled. I'm super SUPER grateful to Daniel, Alvaro, KimKim, and all of the local partner agencies, and I can't wait to meet Daniel and everyone again sometime in Ecuador. Thank you thank you :)

Hotel Review

La Casa de Marita

Puerto Villamil

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

Really loved this hotel. The staff were INCREDIBLY nice, the food at the restaurant was amazing, and the location right on the beach was perfect to take a swim any time of day. Perhaps the only downside was that the roof had a leak so on a rainy night I had to put a towel on the floor where the roof was leaking, but I think this will be fixed. Overall, really happy to have stayed here.

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

Authenticity & Character

Activity Review

Exploring an Uninhabited Island

Puerto Ayora

Overall Rating

Activity Review

Day trip to Bartolome island was amazing, highly recommend!

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

We have never been to Ecuador before but after this trip I will strongly recommend to everyone to go to Ecuador and with KimKim :) Daniel was absolutely essential help by preparing my itinerary. I had already some idea but he helped me to make it to the perfection. Let's imagine: we saw in 18 days Galapagos, Guayaquil, Cajas, Cuenca, Gualaceo and Chordeleg, Ingapirca, famous market in Guamote, Chimborazo - 5 000 meters, Baños, Cotopaxi - 4 800 meters, Laguna Quilotoa, Otavalo and of course... read more

We have never been to Ecuador before but after this trip I will strongly recommend to everyone to go to Ecuador and with KimKim :) Daniel was absolutely essential help by preparing my itinerary. I had already some idea but he helped me to make it to the perfection. Let's imagine: we saw in 18 days Galapagos, Guayaquil, Cajas, Cuenca, Gualaceo and Chordeleg, Ingapirca, famous market in Guamote, Chimborazo - 5 000 meters, Baños, Cotopaxi - 4 800 meters, Laguna Quilotoa, Otavalo and of course Quito.
All the time the itinerary work perfectly. All the transportations in Galapagos were just accurate. But the best person was our Guide and driver Christian. He was our guide from Guayaquil till Quito. Every day in the good mood even he must work hard, every day precise picking up us from each hotel, giving a perfect explanation and explaining all my questions. Thanks to him we understand mot just history, architecture and culture but also the people of Ecuador. I have to mention he was driving very safe.
If you ask me what was the best in our trip I couldn't tell you. Everything was just perfect. Galapagos? Cuenca? Ingapirca? Quito? Or Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, Baños? Each of this locations were different and wonderful in its way. In addition the hotels we have used were so nice and unique!
Thank you everybody in KimKim who was involved and a special thanks to Daniel and Christian.

Pamela and Lubomir Repka.

Hotel Reviews

Ikala Quito Hotel

Quito

Overall Rating

Casa Pimampiro

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

Overall Rating

Mainao

Puerto Ayora

Overall Rating

Exe Galería Man-Ging

Guayaquil

Overall Rating

Carvallo

Cuenca

Overall Rating

Posada Ingapirca

Ingapirca

Overall Rating

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

Authenticity & Character

La Floresta

Baños

Overall Rating

Hacienda La Cienega

Latacunga

Overall Rating

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

Authenticity & Character

Patio Andaluz

Quito

Overall Rating

Activity Reviews

Welcome to San Cristobal Island! Visit to the Interpretation Center, Tijeretas Hill & La Lobería

Galapagos Islands

Overall Rating

The Treasure of Galapagos: Snorkeling at Kicker Rock

San Cristobal Island

Overall Rating

Speedboat to Santa Cruz Island: Highlands Tortoises & Charles Darwin Station

Puerto Ayora

Overall Rating

Exploring an Uninhabited Island

Puerto Ayora

Overall Rating

Welcome to Ecuador The Pearl of the Pacific: Arrival in Guayaquil

Guayaquil

Overall Rating

Guayaquil - Salinas-Santa Elena

Ecuador

Overall Rating

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Guayaquil City Tour - Free afternoon

Guayaquil

Overall Rating

Guayaquil - Cuenca - City Tour

Guayaquil

Overall Rating

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Cajas National Park - Cuenca - City Tour

Cuenca

Overall Rating

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Gualaceo - Chordeleg - Cañar Province

Cuenca

Overall Rating

Gualaceo - Chordeleg - Cañar Province

Cuenca

Overall Rating

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Ingapirca Ruins - Guamote

Ecuador

Overall Rating

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Guamote - Chimborazo - Baños

Guamote

Overall Rating

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Baños - Pailón del Diablo- Cotopaxi Hacienda

Cotopaxi

Overall Rating

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Cotopaxi National Park - Quilotoa Lagoon

Cotopaxi

Overall Rating

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Exploring Local Culture: Otavalo Market & Hike the Cuicocha Lake

Quito

Overall Rating

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Colonial Quito City Tour - Cooking Class with a Local Chef & the Middle of the World

Quito

Overall Rating

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

COVID Test at your Hotel

Ecuador

Overall Rating

Thank you to Daniel and Jacky for helping us plan an amazing trip to mainland Ecuador and to Galapagos. They helped make travel as easy as possible during these uncertain times! They were so accessible and even met us a few times in Quito which was awesome. Dario was our guide for the majority of the time and he was so knowledgeable and fun to be around! We started off with a city tour of Quito, made it to Cotopaxi, Quilotoa Crater, had an adeventure filled couple of days in Banos, checked... read more

Thank you to Daniel and Jacky for helping us plan an amazing trip to mainland Ecuador and to Galapagos. They helped make travel as easy as possible during these uncertain times! They were so accessible and even met us a few times in Quito which was awesome. Dario was our guide for the majority of the time and he was so knowledgeable and fun to be around! We started off with a city tour of Quito, made it to Cotopaxi, Quilotoa Crater, had an adeventure filled couple of days in Banos, checked out the main market two hours outside of Quito and then spent several days exploring some islands of Galapagos! All tours were on time and all covid tests were negative which made for a fantastic trip! Thanks again for a memorable trip!

Planning a visit to a “bucket list” location like the Galapagos can be daunting…especially if you are a working parent on a budget. Whereas many people will tell you that you need to go via a “got you covered, take you everywhere and serve your every need” cruise, that just wasn’t in our budget…and quite frankly, isn’t our style either. We’ve traveled to 5 continents and doing it on our own – getting local flavor – that’s the way we’ve planned all of our trips…But to do the Galapagos right,... read more

Planning a visit to a “bucket list” location like the Galapagos can be daunting…especially if you are a working parent on a budget. Whereas many people will tell you that you need to go via a “got you covered, take you everywhere and serve your every need” cruise, that just wasn’t in our budget…and quite frankly, isn’t our style either. We’ve traveled to 5 continents and doing it on our own – getting local flavor – that’s the way we’ve planned all of our trips…But to do the Galapagos right, (in a pandemic!)..well, we were beyond thankful to have KimKim (and Daniel specifically) on our team.

Originally planned to go in December 2020, we needed to postpone during the pre-vaccination Covid days. So, we punted a year – and rejiggered our thoughts. We shared what our interests were…hiking, horseback riding, snorkeling...and a little down time. We shared our budget. We shared our needs and wants. And KimKim came up with several options for us to look through and decide between. Once we were a go, we felt great about our itinerary – and even got hotel confirmations to help us feel like we for sure had a place to go (something we worried about a little since we’d never done business with KimKim before.).

At the last minute – weeks before our trip – we asked to add a new option to our plan. Again, KimKim came through. In the end, we were able to explore four islands and had a really wonderful understanding of the geography, endemic animals, and saw every bird, reptile, amphibian, and mammal on our list more than once. We’re an active family – we were genuinely very happy with how busy our days were but that we also had evenings and sometimes afternoons to do a little swimming in the ocean and enjoy local flavors.

We had guides meet us at every point, helping us navigate tricky things like the boats between Santa Cruz and Isabela…if we needed dinner ideas or reservations, they were there. And if a guide was running behind, we had Daniel on WhatsApp always willing to check things out and ensure we had what we needed in real time. As we were there over the holidays, we also appreciated Daniel explaining local traditions to us so we weren’t operating as ugly tourists (and also knew to buy some grapes to bring in the new year!)

In short, we cannot recommend KimKim / Daniel highly enough.

This was Eileen’s dream trip. In March of 2020 we came one question away from booking our trip with another company when COVID-19 stopped the world.

At the beginning of June 2021 we started talking to KimKim and they connected us with Daniel Larrea, their Ecuadoran expert. They could not have found anyone better. Three different itineraries came to us in a couple of days. They were all good, but one was really on target for us. We asked, and Daniel answered a lot of questions over the... read more

This was Eileen’s dream trip. In March of 2020 we came one question away from booking our trip with another company when COVID-19 stopped the world.

At the beginning of June 2021 we started talking to KimKim and they connected us with Daniel Larrea, their Ecuadoran expert. They could not have found anyone better. Three different itineraries came to us in a couple of days. They were all good, but one was really on target for us. We asked, and Daniel answered a lot of questions over the next few months. A number of tweaks to the schedule were not a problem. We booked and waited for October.

At every step, Daniel was superb and a pleasure to speak with from the “middle of the world” as he likes to say. Responses to our questions came within hours.
They always contained an amazing level of detail, whether on hotels, guides, pickups, or transfers. Everything was well planned.

He even came to meet us at the hotel the day we landed!

We got home on November 4th and it could not have gone better. Everything Daniel arranged worked out like clockwork. The guide, David, in Quito was a true professional. He has an amazing level of knowledge on everything from history to the flora and fauna we saw along the way. After we expressed interest he rearranged the whole 5 day schedule so that we could participate in the Sunday Quito bike ride. The bonus to that was being able to hike at Cotopaxi on Monday with almost no one else there.

Once we transferred to the Galapagos, the ship the Integrity, was luxurious and beyond our expectations. The staff was outstanding. Having a stateroom with a kingsize bed, a private balcony, and only 16 other guests certainly helped add to the level of luxury and attention provided. 8 days flew by in a blur of hikes, snorkeling, kayaking led by the expert naturalists on board. All of the meals were delicious and varied and they accommodated a dietary restriction perfectly .

Another terrific choice by Daniel was our guide in Guayaquil. Francisco provided us with a wonderful city tour in the morning and early afternoon. He then came back to get us at the hotel at 11 PM to drive us to the airport and walk us through every aspect of airport check-in up until we said our goodbyes at the entrance to security.

We are happy to give top marks in every category for Daniel and all the folks he lined up to take care of us. The KimKim model of using local experts certainly worked for us and we wholeheartedly recommend the company and its chosen experts!

We had a really lovely trip to Ecuador planned by Daniel and his team!
Our trip included days in Quito, the Galapagos islands and Cuenca
In Quito our guide Danny worked really hard to make sure we got to see the Mitad del Mundo/Intinan museum site, downtown Quito, the Cotopaxi National Park and the Quilotoa lagoon in a packed schedule.
Our RTPCR tests for travel to Galapagos was arranged by Danny right at the hotel.
In Puerto Ayora/Galapagos, we were booked into a lovely hotel - Ikala -... read more

We had a really lovely trip to Ecuador planned by Daniel and his team!
Our trip included days in Quito, the Galapagos islands and Cuenca
In Quito our guide Danny worked really hard to make sure we got to see the Mitad del Mundo/Intinan museum site, downtown Quito, the Cotopaxi National Park and the Quilotoa lagoon in a packed schedule.
Our RTPCR tests for travel to Galapagos was arranged by Danny right at the hotel.
In Puerto Ayora/Galapagos, we were booked into a lovely hotel - Ikala - right by the wharf and it was great to see the nightlife as well as have lunch on a ranch with giant tortoises nearby.
Cuenca is where Daniel really hit it out of the park with his hotel and room selection at the Cruz Del Vado. Amazing hotel, superb views. Also a special shout out to our guide Genaro who was really knowledgeable both of the flora and fauna in Cajas National park as well as the history of the region when we toured Ingapirca ruins.
the RTPCR test for our return was also arranged by Daniel and it was great to just enjoy the country without having to worry about a lot of the logistics. Daniel or Lucia were always available via Whatsapp for any questions or for minor delays due to traffic for airport pickups etc.
I wouldn't hesitate to wholeheartedly recommend Daniel and Responsible Travels SA for a trip to Ecuador!

We had a blast Daniel planned our first trip to Ecuador and did such a great job we planned another with him. And our guide christen I can say enough good things about him . He was so informative and made our trip even more enjoyable. thank you for all you did for us . We are very grateful 🙏 😀 we had such a wonderful time

We had the best time Daniel prepared the most wonderful trip for us.. our guides Dario and Diego were awesome .we enjoyed Ecuador so much . We loved are whole trip 😍

We had a wonderful tour of Ecuador.
It all occurred without a single glitch.
Daniel met us as soon as we arrived at our hotel to go over details.
He did his best to make us happy in every regard.
Our guide and driver, Christian, was knowledgeable and engaging as well as being a most excellent driver.
We most enjoyed the zipline and our hike to the lagoons. We loved the charming towns of Banos and Cuenca. I had the best Chinese food ever in Banos. The trucha (trout) was exceptional at the... read more

We had a wonderful tour of Ecuador.
It all occurred without a single glitch.
Daniel met us as soon as we arrived at our hotel to go over details.
He did his best to make us happy in every regard.
Our guide and driver, Christian, was knowledgeable and engaging as well as being a most excellent driver.
We most enjoyed the zipline and our hike to the lagoons. We loved the charming towns of Banos and Cuenca. I had the best Chinese food ever in Banos. The trucha (trout) was exceptional at the lagoons. Had the best roast pork ever at the market in Cuenca. My mouth is watering recalling all the fabulous meals we had.
Thank you for your excellent service.

It was a great trip perfectly organized by Daniel. From the very beginning he listened to all my suggestions and put together an unforgettable itinerary. He was very attractive and quickly responded to my emails and messages. He was a pleasure to deal with!
Daniel also put me in touch with an excellent tour guide, Christian.
I spent four days with Christian taking daily trips and i can say that he was exceptionally good. Whether sightseeing and telling me about the history of Quito,... read more

It was a great trip perfectly organized by Daniel. From the very beginning he listened to all my suggestions and put together an unforgettable itinerary. He was very attractive and quickly responded to my emails and messages. He was a pleasure to deal with!
Daniel also put me in touch with an excellent tour guide, Christian.
I spent four days with Christian taking daily trips and i can say that he was exceptionally good. Whether sightseeing and telling me about the history of Quito, encouraging the hiking up the Cotopaxi volcano, or walking around Otavalo markets, Christian was very caring and attentive to my needs. He also had a great sense of humor!
I loved snorkeling and observing wildlife in Galapagos islands, it was a lot of fun!
I also had a truly unforgettable time in Amazon jungle! Got to eat ants, watch anacondas and pink dolphins, trek through the jungle at night, listen to the sounds of exotic birds, and cook a meal with indigenous people in their village. Breathtaking experience!!!
It was my second time using Kimkim to help me organize a trip and I am very impressed with them. Will definitely use them again in the near future. I also recommend their services to everyone!!!!
Thank you, again!!!

This was the second trip I took using KimKim and both times it's been great. Daniel planned everything I ask for and he did a great job given pandemic limitations. He added in nothing extra I didn't request and was able to make everything else work for us. Daniel was able to keep the trip in our budget, was extremely communicative the whole time during our trip, and continued to give us tips and advice throughout our time.

The only negative part of the trip was a transportation mishap... read more

This was the second trip I took using KimKim and both times it's been great. Daniel planned everything I ask for and he did a great job given pandemic limitations. He added in nothing extra I didn't request and was able to make everything else work for us. Daniel was able to keep the trip in our budget, was extremely communicative the whole time during our trip, and continued to give us tips and advice throughout our time.

The only negative part of the trip was a transportation mishap getting from one place to another. We ended up in a small car having to drive overnight hours in the opposite direction only to return the same way we came and go hours more. Even though this was frustrating for us, Daniel tried everything he could to find a different form of transportation but the pandemic restrictions and lack of tourism at the time were really to blame. Daniel went above and beyond to help during that time.

Our guides were all great. My sister and I basically had a private trip from place to place and had a local guide who knew the area in each national park we went to. This was a trip packed with outdoor adventure just like we requested. Thank you very much!

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!

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!