Isabel Pérez
I'm passionate about exploring incredible places and having unique experiences. It's been 3 years since I moved to Ecuador, my family's country of origin, and since then I've had the most amazing time of my life, surrounded by volcanoes, rainforests, and beautiful beaches with sand from pink to black. There is something for everyone, and every day is an opportunity for a new adventure meeting lovely people.
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"Ecuador might be a small country but there is a lot to discover. I especially love natural landscapes and I've come to know quite a bit of everything around me. The Amazon rainforest, the Andes, and the coast: there are amazing experiences waiting in each and every corner of this multi-faceted country. From their unique local cuisine to the actual culture, each place is different and has a lot to offer to the curious travelers."
How did you get involved in travel?
"I've always loved traveling, especially into the natural environments. Ever since I was a little girl, I would always go on trips with my family; nothing beats camping under the stars. After I finished my degree, I started traveling again, something that was hard to do while studying. Since then, I haven't stopped, always meeting new cultures and new sceneries that take my breath away."
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"When I was about 20 years old, I traveled for three weeks into La Gran Sabana, which is part of the Guianan savanna. I encountered an incredible diversity and unique landscapes in this vast region that are hard to explain. It started with beautifully multicolored rivers, and then everything changed once we went deep into the heart of the land. We stayed with indigenous people of the region and learned as they shared with us about their culture. One day they took us to the Angel Falls, one of the world's highest waterfalls. It took some time to get there, as it is located in an isolated part of the jungle. We took our traditional canoes and rowed for quite a long time and then hiked through the dense jungle until we were exhausted, our arms were tired from clearing the path, our legs sore and dirty of all the walking and the mud, but once we reached the foot of the waterfall, I got goosebumps. I felt so small. Standing there, in front of such huge force of nature, it felt as if all my problems and fears were nothing, and they just washed away."
Featured trips & expertise
Ecuador Highlights: Quito & the Galapagos - 6 Days
On this Ecuadorian journey, start out in beautiful Quito, touring the capital and its surrounding region to experience local history and culture. You'll see colonial architecture, visit an indigenous market, and try traditional cuisine. Then, go on a true adventure of a lifetime in the Galapagos Islands. These famed islands provided Charles Darwin with the research and inspiration for his Theory of Evolution, and boast endemic species such as the blue-footed booby, marine iguanas, and giant tortoises.
Best of Peru Tour & Galapagos Cruise - 12 Days
Discover ancient ruins, colonial architecture, fantastic food, and folk culture in Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and iconic Machu Picchu. Then hop aboard the luxurious Galapagos Legend—the only cruise boat in the Galapagos with an on-deck swimming pool—for a multi-island expedition to observe the birds, iguanas, and sea creatures that make this place so special.
Ecuador Like a Local: Top 5 Cultural Experiences
Sip coca tea, chat with vendors in colorful markets, and stay in a historic hacienda: from souvenirs to countryside cuisine, here are some ideas for experiencing authentic Ecuador.
5 Days in Ecuador - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
Have just five days in Ecuador? No problem: it's one of the smallest countries in South America, so it's possible to move around to more than one place in less than a week. Read on for our top suggestions for a quick visit to this gorgeous and geographically diverse destination.
Recent trip reviews for Isabel
Quito, Galápagos · Ecuador - Dec 20 - Dec 31, 2019
Every aspect of our trip was well choreographed. Isabel did a great job making sure things moved along seamlessly. Our cruise on the Coral 1 in the Galapagos was wonderful. The staff was very professional, knowledgeable and kind. The snorkeling was fabulous. We then went to the rainforest. What an experience- one extreme to another. We enjoyed our canoe trips and jungle walks immensely. One thing I would strongly recommend is flying in and out of the amazon instead of driving. That was not at all fun. In all, my family as I were very pleased with our trip!
7 Days in Ecuador: 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas · Ecuador - Sep 28 - Oct 5, 2019
I am so thankful for all the help that Kimkim has provided for my trip. The trip was booked at the very last minute and had a lot of twists and turns. I don't think our family enjoyed the trip as much as we did if we haven't have Isabel and our trusted guide, Christian. Isabel worked before and after her normal working hour to help me when a national strike by transportation works paralyzed the country for a couple of days. Christian educated our family on food, custom, history and geography... read more
Hi Young! Thank you very much for the feedback about your trip, I love to hear that you had a great time here in Ecuador even though we didn't have much time to plan for it! I will let Christian know about your kind words, I know he loves sharing our culture so he definitely had a great time with you! I hope you have the chance to come back someday.
Kind regards,
Isabel
Islands and Amazon eco. · Ecuador - Aug 31 - Sep 14, 2019
Ecuador, the essentials. Quito, Yasuni National Park Amazon, and Galapagos!
Our 14 day vacation was exceptional from start to finish. Our trip advisor, Isabel Perez, worked with me in the months leading up to our holiday to ensure we were able to visit our 'must see' places, and also find relaxation time. Her recommendation of the Napo Cultural Centre in Yasuni was the perfect choice for us. Not only is this first class eco-lodge located in a beautiful part of the Amazon, but it is also... read more
Hi Steve! I'm glad the two of you had a wonderful experience here in Ecuador, hope it was a healing time and you came back home with renewed strength! It was a real pleasure planning this trip with you, hopefully, you will come back and see more of the wonders Ecuador has to offer.
Warm regards,
Isabel
Options for Touring Ecuador · Ecuador - Jul 27 - Jul 29, 2019
The trip was amazing. Isabel did a wonderful job of planning the trip and Christian, our tour guide was unbelievable. He took us everywhere on the itinerary and even included extra stops along the way that he thought would interest us. He was very knowledgeable and we had a fantastic time on the trip. We would definitely recommend that anyone traveling to the Quito area use KimKim and request Christian as your tour guide!
Hi Leslie,
I'm so happy to hear that you have enjoyed your time and experiences in Ecuador! I will hand over your nice words to Christian and everyone else who helped to make your short-trip an unforgettable experience!
Please don't hesitate to contact me again in case you - or maybe friends of yours? - want to come to Ecuador again one day! It will be a pleasure for me to plan another great trip together with you.
Warm regards from Ecuador,
Isabel
Trip to Galapagos Islands · Galapagos Islands - May 27 - May 31, 2019
We enjoyed our 5 days of sailing in the Galapagos aboard the Fragata. Our guide, Roberto, was entertaining and knowledgeable about the islands. We especially enjoyed our interactions with the crew, namely Ramon and Jordan. They made our time aboard the boat fun by joining us for games. It was great to get to know them.
Overall, we had a great experience.
One suggestion is about snorkel gear rental. The Fragata website is not clear about cost of rentals. It lists a price for snorkel... read more
Hi Keri! I'm happy you all had a great experience, especially with the crew!
I'm really sorry about the confusion with the prices for the snorkel equipment but thank you for letting me know! I will get in touch with the company so the website is reviewed and it clarifies the exact price of the full package.
Kind regards,
Isabel
Galapagos Islands Land-Based Adventure Tour: 6 Days · Galapagos Islands - Jun 18 - Jun 22, 2019
I am so glad I found this site. I was able to describe our interests, and Isabel put together a very nice itinerary that hit all our interests and maximized the use of our limited time, but still had some down time built in. Having a local "shepherd" us, first from the airport onto the bus/hotel, and then each morning to the group activity, took so much stress off of us (standing in line, buying tickets, wondering where the meet point was, etc.). We have traveled in many countries, but this... read more
Hi Gretchen! I'm honestly really happy that although your days were limited, you were able to enjoy the diversity the Galapagos islands have to offer, even got to snorkel and hike the Sierra Negra volcano, which I believe is quite breathtaking. I'm glad the service was smooth and everything was clear for you as to what to do next, I will let Karina and Fausto know your thoughts!
broken leg family · Ecuador - Jun 16 - Jun 29, 2019
Isabel was phenomenal. She promptly responded to all messages and was so helpful along the way. Thank you!
Hi Jessica! I'm really glad you had an amazing time here in Ecuador with your family and got the chance to visit some of the most adventurous towns, Baños de Agua Santa and Montañita. From the pictures, it seems like you all enjoyed it!
Warm regards,
Isabel
Ecuador Highlands & Amazon - 7 Days · Ecuador - Apr 29 - May 6, 2019
Our trip to Ecuador booked through kimkim was incredible! Isabel made sure that everything was dealt with in terms of accomodations, activities, and logistics which took a lot of the planning off of our hands! The itinerary put together and the welcome packet at the first hotel made sure we never were confused about any meeting points or activities.
In terms of the trip itself, Ecuador is amazing in its diversity of climates and the two that my girlfriend and I wanted to experience (Volcano... read more
Hi Sam and Megan, I am really happy to hear that you had a great time in Ecuador! It was a pleasure to plan this trip with you, mixing a bit of what you both like, keeping it always fun with. I hope you will have the opportunity to come back to Ecuador, maybe explore some other regions of Ecuador, different volcanoes or go deeper into the rain forest!
Warm regards,
Isabel