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active 13 hours ago

Lucia Cazar

I started to travel, camp, and go on excursions (especially in natural environments) when I was 10 years old - since then I have never stopped. Before I started my studies in Tourism and Hospitality I realized that traveling was something that enriched my soul and filled me with great memories that later I would love to share with more people from all over the world.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I specialize in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, the country where I grew up. Ecuador is a biodiverse country, and the activities that can be carried out are varied such as cultural, adventure, and community tourism, "Ecuador has everything in one place", due to its short distances between one region to another, it can be on the Ecuadorian coast and immediately change to a humid tropical zone as well as to a cold place in the middle of volcanoes."

How did you get involved in travel?

"I started traveling when I was a child, then I decided to study Tourism and Hospitality at a university here in Ecuador, then I had the opportunity to travel around Ecuador to its 4 regions as Highlands, Cost, the Ecuadorian Amazon, and the enchanted Galápagos Islands. Since then, my wish has been that people from around the world can discover the wonders of Ecuador, and enrich themselves with the landscapes, biodiversity, culture, and the Enchanted Galapagos Islands, and its unique marine species."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"An experience that I will never forget is when I was able to travel to other countries and I was able to talk about my own country and realize that we have everything here, wonderful tourist places to be shown to the world. I have also been able to travel to other countries to learn about their culture, I have always thought that the best way to exchange cultural experiences has been to meet people who are passionate about their country and to be able to share ideas from one country to another."

Lucia is part of the following groups: Galapagos Islands Travel Agents, Ecuador Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice

Recent trip reviews for Lucia

Gaby is very attentive and really good at her...
Galapagos Islands | Sep 20 - Oct 1, 2023

Gigi
Gigi Z.
Jollyville, TX | Reviewed on Oct 02, 2023

Gaby is very attentive and really good at her job! The Galapagos was an amazing adventure. read more

Gaby is very attentive and really good at her job! The Galapagos was an amazing adventure.

Hotel Reviews
Casa de Nelly
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

The only reason I was able to give this hotel at three is because it’s close to the pier and the breakfast was pretty good. The air conditioner did not work, and the hot water was inconsistent. I had to change rooms in order to get an air conditioner that function properly. The owners are lovely. It just seems that the place needs some renovation.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Cally Galapagos
Puerto Villamil

this hotel is amazing! The breakfast in the morning is spectacular, the best I had in the entire trip that I took to Galápagos Islands. The air conditioner worked great, the hot water worked well, the location is very walkable, but just off the beaten path to be quiet and peaceful. I highly recommend this place.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Posada del Mar
Puerto Ayora

this is a great little hotel just off the beaten path, but close enough to be very walkable. The rooftop patio has an amazing view of the marina. There are balconies on the rooms which are really nice. The hot water works well. I would highly recommend this place

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
The staff is incredible!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Wyndham Quito Airport
Quito

it’s a nice hotel and extremely convenient to the airport

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Terra Andina Mansion Colonial
Cusco

A great walkable location that is just off the beaten path to be quiet, but still very close to experience Cusco Perú. The only hesitation I have with my recommendation is that it is very easy to hear everything from the room that is going on in the hotel especially if you’re on the first floor by where breakfast is served, it can be noisy. The staff is amazing, the room is clean, the hot water works well. I would recommend this place.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Oct 02, 2023

Hello Dear Gigi,
Thank you so much for your review, it means a lot to us, it lets us be able to keep providing high-quality service as Trip advisors, it was my pleasure to create this Journey for you and to reach your expectations of this adventure in The Galapagos Islands and Peru, we will be very happy to have you back soon!
Warm hugs from Quito Gigi,
Lucia Gaby

Great experience from beginning to end
Ecuador | Aug 25 - Sep 4, 2023

K
Kevin K.
Jollyville, TX | Reviewed on Sep 07, 2023

the kimkim www site provided a good way to coordinate the planning of the trip among the 6 people in our party.

Drivers and Guides all showed up as planned. Big shout out to our guide Danny (of responsible travel) as he was a wealth of knowledge on the history and culture of Ecuador. Our guide, Miguel, at Husaquila Lodge in Amazon was excellent. Our driver Segundo was excellent.

Great excursions around Banos. Great hike to base camp on Cotopaxi.

All hotels/accommodations were comfortable and helpful.

Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Sep 07, 2023

Hi Kevin and group! :)

I am very happy you liked our selection of guides, and the tailor-made itinerary, that was made specially for you, I will extend your review with them. I hope you enjoyed our beautiful country Ecuador.

Best regards from The Middle of The World,
Lucía

Dennis, Humberto and Alex were excellent guid...
Galapagos Islands | Aug 2 - Aug 9, 2023

Barry
Barry K.
Cape Coral, FL | Reviewed on Aug 10, 2023

Dennis, Humberto and Alex were excellent guides. They were friendly, knowledgeable and had positive attitudes

Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Aug 10, 2023

Dear Barry,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us. We're thrilled to hear that our guides made your trip memorable with their friendly demeanor, extensive knowledge, and positive attitudes. We truly believe that our team plays a crucial role in creating unforgettable travel experiences.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any future travel plans or if there's anything else we can assist you with. We would be more than happy to welcome you back... read more

Dear Barry,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us. We're thrilled to hear that our guides made your trip memorable with their friendly demeanor, extensive knowledge, and positive attitudes. We truly believe that our team plays a crucial role in creating unforgettable travel experiences.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any future travel plans or if there's anything else we can assist you with. We would be more than happy to welcome you back or recommend our services to your family and friends.

Thank you once again for your kind words, and we hope to have the pleasure of serving you in the future!

Kind regards,

Lucía

Beyond Any Expectations!
Ecuador | Jul 15 - Jul 29, 2023

Mary
Mary K.
South Salt Lake, UT | Reviewed on Aug 07, 2023

All three of our guides (and Sabastian's father, Alejandro) services were above and beyond any expectation I had. The guides were incredibly knowledgeable about their, country, politics, the flora and fauna, and as an added bonus, where entertaining with fantastic personalities.
Sabastian and Sergio were especially memorable due to the incredible places they took us and their knowledge, and personalities. read more

All three of our guides (and Sabastian's father, Alejandro) services were above and beyond any expectation I had. The guides were incredibly knowledgeable about their, country, politics, the flora and fauna, and as an added bonus, where entertaining with fantastic personalities.
Sabastian and Sergio were especially memorable due to the incredible places they took us and their knowledge, and personalities.

Hotel Review
Casa de Vista Alta
Mindo

We arrived in the amazing setting of the Casa de Vista Alta and were warmly welcomed by Ester. The entire casa is intimate, warm, immaculate, well appointed and has an amazing staff. Our room was beyond words. The meals we had there were delicious and beyond plentiful. The bird watching was top notch. My only regret was not spending another day there.

Authenticity & Character
The way it was nestled in the Cloud Rain Forest and the staff.
Location
Staff
Ester was so helpful and accommodating.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Immaculate! Wonderful towels and robes in the room.
Activity Reviews
The Adventure Continues - Hiking Day at Cotopaxi National Park
Ecuador

Sebastian prepared us well for this adventure. I was a bit nervous since I hadn't been higher than the Matterhorn in Switzerland. He stopped for a warm tea before driving us up to the parking lot for Cotopaxi. The little store we stopped at was charming. I was thrilled by the experience of walking a 100 feet at that elevation, in the stormy elements of the day. On the way down we stopped at the park's cultural center. Sebastian briefed us on the exhibits in the center. We also stopped at a charming and memorable restaurant for a late lunch. There was a "petting zoo" on the grounds of the restaurant. We all were thrilled feeding the lamas the vegetables provided by the restaurant.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Sebastian is an amazing driver, driving us for many hours on all sorts roads and driving conditions. I always felt safe. Also, he tells amazing stories while driving.
Transport
The van was incredibly well taken care of, clean and comfortable.
Napo Cultural Center experience
Yasuni National Park

What amazing memories I have from this part of our adventure! It was the complete package with lots of information on the area, the culture, the animals, plants, birds, insects. The people were warm and gracious. Our guide Sergio aka "Tyson" was incredibly bright, informative and a delight to be around. He made our experience in the wonderful setting of the Napo Cultural Center unforgetable.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Sergio was top notch!
Transport
There were so many means of transport and they all served us well.
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Sep 11, 2023

Hola Mary,

I´m so happy you liked our selection of guides, I will extend your review with them. I hope you enjoyed our beautiful country and our special ecuadorian roses.

I hope you can visit us again and recommend us with your family and friends! :)

Kind regards,

Lucía

Our guide in and around Quito, Sebastian Carr...
Ecuador | Jul 15 - Jul 29, 2023

Randy
Randy H.
Missoula, MT | Reviewed on Aug 06, 2023

Our guide in and around Quito, Sebastian Carrera, was spectacular.
Our guide in the Galapagos, Vivianna, was good, just not the enthusiasm of Sebastian.
Our guide in the Napo Cultural Center, Sergio, a/k/a, Tyson, was another outstanding guide. read more

Our guide in and around Quito, Sebastian Carrera, was spectacular.
Our guide in the Galapagos, Vivianna, was good, just not the enthusiasm of Sebastian.
Our guide in the Napo Cultural Center, Sergio, a/k/a, Tyson, was another outstanding guide.

Hotel Reviews
Ikala Quito Hotel
Quito

The hotel was fine, just nothing stellar to recommend. Their breakfast was good.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casa de Vista Alta
Mindo

The setting of this Casa is absolutely incredible. Our room was large and comfortable. The meals were excellent.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hacienda Pinsaqui
Otavalo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Galapagos Suites
Puerto Ayora
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Napo Cultural Center
Quito
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Mitad del Mundo - Mindo
Ecuador

Sort of hokey. Not worth the stop.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Mindo Cloud Forest & Otavalo
Mindo
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cuicocha Lagoon Hike & Otavalo Market & Quito
Ecuador
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Teleferico - Quito City Tour
Quito
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The Adventure Continues - Hiking Day at Cotopaxi National Park
Ecuador
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Welcome to Santa Cruz Island: Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station
Puerto Ayora
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Discover Pinzon Island & La Fé
Puerto Ayora
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Experience the Pristine Beauty of Galápagos Islands: Discovering an Uninhabited Island
Puerto Ayora

Took the day off so didn't participate.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cycling at Cerro Mesa Reserve & Kayaking at Garrapatero Beach
Galapagos Islands

The cycling was fun but not long enough. The wasn't anyone at the beech to let us kayak so we didn't.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Quito - Coca - Napo Cultural Center
Ecuador
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Napo Cultural Center experience
Yasuni National Park
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Indigenous community - Mama Cuna Path
Yasuni National Park
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sacred Wayusa Ritual, Goodbye and return to the City (Yaku Kausay Experience)
Yasuni National Park
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Aug 23, 2023

Hi Randy,

Thanks again for your trust ans the feedback. I´m so happy all of you enjoyed this trip and the incredible Ecuadorian scenery.

The team is very happy to meet people as special as you visiting us.

I hope you can visit us again! :)

Kind regards,

Lucía

18 days - Quito, Yasuni, Mindo, Galapagos and more
Ecuador | Jul 9 - Jul 26, 2023

Tomasz
Tomasz D.
Poland | Reviewed on Jul 28, 2023

We have spent very nice and rather intensive holidays in Yasuni Natonal Park (by plane and boat), Quito-Mindo-Otovalu-Cotacachi (by car), Galapagos - San Cristobal-Santa Cruz-Isabela (by boat staying/sleeping on 3 islands)
Our experience was very good and I will recommend this type of trip to Ecuador to all people who are limited on time and have no time to plan/manage everything personally. It is possible that you can do it cheaper but you need to have a lot on information and do it long... read more

We have spent very nice and rather intensive holidays in Yasuni Natonal Park (by plane and boat), Quito-Mindo-Otovalu-Cotacachi (by car), Galapagos - San Cristobal-Santa Cruz-Isabela (by boat staying/sleeping on 3 islands)
Our experience was very good and I will recommend this type of trip to Ecuador to all people who are limited on time and have no time to plan/manage everything personally. It is possible that you can do it cheaper but you need to have a lot on information and do it long time in advance. I’m no longer a backpacker and wanted to see as much Ecuador as possible during given time. I decided to give this planning to the KimKim company. I think it was good idea.

There are two topic which I want to share however.
In hotel in Mindo someone has stolen a mobile phone of my wife. It was very unpleasant as she had already her pictures/movies from Amazon forest and obviously other important info there. It was family owned small and very nice hotel. The reception area was very small – we noticed that some local people are walking across without any control. The area was not monitored – no cameras. We realized that phone is lost and reported the fact to the owner. But he was of opinion that he can only ask some other guests. It was very disappointing. We left the hotel as there was already next activity planned but my wife was not in good mood… Fortunately and surprisingly after 1-2 hrs our guide (Ximena) got info that smartphone has been found… I do not how the owner has managed it but finally we got the phone back. Apparently someone was already unlocking the phone because date and some other settings were changed. My advice – keep all you important stuff with you, never leave it unattended and ask if there are cameras in the hotels. This is however another argument to travel through agency because owner of the hotel has been contacted by agency representative and this was probably most important.

Second comment is on guides. In general our experience with them was very good. Usually we had a local guides who ware looking after logistics and giving some practical information, sometimes travelling with us. Other guides were in the national parks - the certified professionals. Local guides however were sometimes also very talkative and helpful – sharing a lot of information with us (we send our best regards to Ximena in Quito and Stephany in San Cristobal). I have to mention however that on Santa Cruz Island we met a very nice person but she was not really speaking English. So the guide was only ordering taxi and informing us about time of departure and arrival. This was in contrast to all other locations. I recommend to address it. We were asking some questions about possible activities and places to visit on Island but there was no info - it was embarrassing for both sides (I guess).
I think KimKim/Responsibletravel knew that we do not understand Spanish.

Overall experience was fantastic and we regret that we did not have more time to explore more places.
I travelled with my wife and 13 years old son.

Activity Review
Snorkeling at Kicker Rock
Isla San Cristóbal

this was definitely one of the best snorkeling points. Regret there was no time to organize scuba diving. We have seen white tip sharks, many turtles and hammerhead shark - which is not that often showing up. I advise to consider diving and during all snorkeling wear a swimming cloths (against sun)

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Jul 31, 2023

Thank you for leaving your feedbackt. We were able to solve the problem in Mindo in time because our guide told us what happened immediately and we were able to back up via phone and talk to the owner of the establishment so that they could recover the cell phone. We did it! 

I am glad to hear that you had a great time in our country, all comments are read and taken as an opportunity to continue providing a quality service.

It was nice to have talked to you in person and to have you share with me first hand all the comments.
Regards

KilKim was very helpful
Galapagos Islands | Jun 22 - Jun 27, 2023

J
Jason C.
Kingston, NY | Reviewed on Jun 29, 2023

Kim Kim provided a great trip itinerary. All of the guides and transportation were on time. The local guides were very knowledgeable and helpful and kind. We very much enjoyed the time we spent a Kicker Rock and Bartolomé Island.

Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Jun 29, 2023

Hello Jason,
I hope you are doing great!

Thank you so much for trusting us, we are always happy to receive this kind of review, we are constantly improving our services to make our passengers happy.

Best regards,
Lucía :))

Great activities but fully research the ‘hotels' chosen for you or you’ll regret it
Ecuador | Jun 9 - Jun 16, 2023

Mick
Mick K.
| Reviewed on Jun 19, 2023

We had a thoroughly enjoyable trip. The activities, Mountain Bike riding, zip lining, hiking up the Cotopaxi Volcano and rafting were so much fun. Our guide was exceptional, very knowledgeable about his country, the various fauna and birds. Our unplanned visit to a chocolate factory was excellent. Christian Chalcualan made the trip for us. Nothing was too much trouble for him. The owner of the biking tour Eric, our Cotopaxi guide Luis and Ronnie the rafting and Kayaker were all top notch... read more

We had a thoroughly enjoyable trip. The activities, Mountain Bike riding, zip lining, hiking up the Cotopaxi Volcano and rafting were so much fun. Our guide was exceptional, very knowledgeable about his country, the various fauna and birds. Our unplanned visit to a chocolate factory was excellent. Christian Chalcualan made the trip for us. Nothing was too much trouble for him. The owner of the biking tour Eric, our Cotopaxi guide Luis and Ronnie the rafting and Kayaker were all top notch people.

Unfortunately the 1st 3 hotels were not up to a standard that we would wish on anybody. All 3 suffered from poor or not enough food. Location were either remote or in a dangerous area (the receptionists comment), all had hot water issues and one of them was in the middle of a road building site with deep mud on the access. To arrive at a hotel 5 miles from anywhere to be presented with a box room, awful food (boiled beef of some description), heating was a very noisy fan and heated blankets on the bed and no hot water was disgraceful: no signal to call our guide to get us out was annoying.

We’d had enough at this stage and after reviewing the next disaster in the middle of a noisy environment we paid over $200 to stop at a 4 star hotel. The final 3 hotels were outstanding just superb and everything we’d hoped for in the 1st place.

Overall a trip made memorable by our guide and mentor Christian. His tried to hide his embarrassment at our accommodation but it was obvious he was in a difficult position.

Hotel Reviews
Kitu Hotel
Quito

Dangerous area, no facilities after hours. Mainly a hostel. A few drunks worn and tired.

Authenticity & Character
Location
The dangerous area.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Worn out hotel with poor facilities.
Casa de Piedra
Mindo

Clean and comfortable accommodation. Inadequate hot water supply with very low pressure. No out of hours facilities. This hotel is in the middle of a road upgrade program. Access into and out of the hotel to the town was wading through mud and various building sites. Breakfast was very small and we asked for more bread. We got an extra croissant. We left went into town and stocked up.

Authenticity & Character
Location
right in the middle of major building works
Staff
When available friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms where great but hot water was an issue.
Cuello de Luna Mountain Lodge
El Chasqui - Pastocalle

Just no! 5 miles from anywhere. Food was appalling. lump of boiled beef of some description, polenta and lentils for our evening meal. Breakfast was adequate and plenty. Room was a box room. The suitcase was in the way so i put it in the hall. No heating except for a very noisy fan that was on all night and a heated under blanket. No hot water and no-one to complain too until the morning. More suited to a budget backpacker who just wants a mattress.

Authenticity & Character
Oh yes a very old dated ranch type environment
Location
Remote valley
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean but no real facilities. No hot water until we complained in the morning.
Hotel El Jardin Aleman
Puerto Misahualli

What a great place with many animals, birds and character. Staff were very attentive when needed. the room was comfortable and spacious.

Authenticity & Character
Claimed to be a jungle hotel and it was. Authentic with character.
Location
Beautiful location on the riverbank.
Staff
When we saw then they were helpful allowed us privacy but were there when needed.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Well maintained
Termas de Papallacta
Papallacta

Great staff (especially Jennyfer on reception) Outstanding food. To come out of your room and step into a hot spring 24/7 was amazing. Rooms were well appointed. Some great walks around the hotel and the spa treatments were fantastic

Authenticity & Character
well thought out hotel.
Location
In a valley at 3000m with hills either side stretching to 4000m. Great walking out of the hotel.
Staff
everyone was very attentive. Nothing was too much trouble.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Spotless rooms and facilities especially the spa.
San Jose de Puembo Quito Airport, an Ascend Hotel Collection
Puembo, Quito

Location not brilliant but the on site facilities more than compensate for it. pools, spa various activities. Animals wandering the ground. it sits on a 40km bike route out the back of the hotel. Bikes for hire. Food was excellent and the rooms very well presented with tea and coffee making facilities. The staff were all very good and attentive.

Authenticity & Character
Modern built accommodation for the main annex.
Location
40 minutes from Quito but only 20 to the airport.
Staff
Attentive and friendly.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Excellent very clean and well presented.
Activity Reviews
Jatunyaku River Rafting - Papallacta
Ecuador

Mad mad fun. The guide Ronnie was a real character. Level 4 & 5 rapids. Serious safety brief before we setup. The best new experience of the trip.

Quality of Experience
An absolute hoot af an adventure. But safe.
Food
A small adequate beach picnic half way down the river.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
2 real characters full of fun.
Transport
Bicycle day tour: Nono - Mindo
Ecuador

The 40km ride down the hills from the clouds, cold and mountain tops down to the rainforest was amazing. Eric the owner and his staff made us so welcome and ensured we also had some genuine Ecuadorian experiences in a local restaurant

Quality of Experience
Food
Real Ecuadorian experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Great bunch of guys
Transport
Mindo – Canopy - Cotopaxi
Ecuador

Great fun. 10 rides over the rainforest

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The Adventure Continues - Hiking Day at Cotopaxi National Park- Baños
Ecuador

An amazing experience. We hiked from 3400m up to 5010m. the mountain guide was awesome. Knew his stuff, refused to let us push it and guided us at a pace he believe we should be comfortable at. Very hard work in the thin air. As an experience hiker and off piste skier this was probably one of the hardest things I have done. At 69 years old to reach 5010m to the glacier was a personal best for me. We arrived in the area to sunshine and volcano was there in all its glory. As we came to the end of the climb the volcano started to erupt smoke and ash but we were in no danger but it was an awesome sight.

Quality of Experience
The experience of a lifetime that will stay with me.
Food
Greta food in a local restaurant.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
This guy really knew his stuff.
Transport
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Jun 20, 2023

Hello Mick,
I hope you are doing great!
First and foremost, I'd like to thank you for your feedback. I'll let the service providers know about it. It's important to know your thoughts on the trip because it helps us improve our recommendations for hotels and other aspects of the trip. However, please note that the accommodations weren't initially of a superior tourist standard because all of the hotels we made the decision to use are tourist hotels, and we always plan and organize the... read more

Hello Mick,
I hope you are doing great!
First and foremost, I'd like to thank you for your feedback. I'll let the service providers know about it. It's important to know your thoughts on the trip because it helps us improve our recommendations for hotels and other aspects of the trip. However, please note that the accommodations weren't initially of a superior tourist standard because all of the hotels we made the decision to use are tourist hotels, and we always plan and organize the itinerary based on the budget. I regret learning that the three hotels weren't fully booked expectations, and also happy with those positive comments.
I will personally make a meeting to discuss all the feedback you sent to us.

Thank you for the pictures, they are amazing :)
Best regards,
Lucía

Wonderful time on our trip to the Galapagos!
Galapagos Islands | May 27 - Jun 2, 2023

Janet
Janet G.
Colombia | Reviewed on Jun 12, 2023

We had a wonderful time on our trip to the Galapagos Islands and Quito. Our guide in Quito, Sebastian, was a great guide and such a nice young man. he was waiting at the luggage area with a sign and explained very clearly everything we would do and when we would be picked up in Quito. We also thought Astrid on Santa Cruz did a nice job.

There was some disconnect on how we were to meet our guides or tour buses (boats) each day. Telling us to stand outside our hotel at 8:00 a.m. and someone... read more

We had a wonderful time on our trip to the Galapagos Islands and Quito. Our guide in Quito, Sebastian, was a great guide and such a nice young man. he was waiting at the luggage area with a sign and explained very clearly everything we would do and when we would be picked up in Quito. We also thought Astrid on Santa Cruz did a nice job.

There was some disconnect on how we were to meet our guides or tour buses (boats) each day. Telling us to stand outside our hotel at 8:00 a.m. and someone would show up to get us, left us feeling a little insecure. Saying that, someone did always meet us but it was the lack of knowing who or how (private driver, bus, no one) we were to be met that left us a little uncomfortable.

Hotel Reviews
Dann Carlton Quito
Quito
Authenticity & Character
Location
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Sol y Mar
Galápagos
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casa Opuntia Galapagos Hotel
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Colonial Quito City Tour & Mitad del Mundo - Middle of the World- From Quito Airport
Quito

I loved the Galapagos but our tour of Quito old city was by far the best tour we had on our trip. Our guide, Sebastian, was terrific.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Really great driver/guide.
Transport
Welcome to Santa Cruz Island: Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station
Puerto Ayora

We really enjoyed the Highland Tortoise preserve and the restaurant on location was lovely. Because of delays in our flight we were unable to see the Darwin Research Station but the Travel agency added a different trip on for us.

Quality of Experience
Food
The restaurant was beautiful and what an amazing location.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Astrid was a very nice guide and had great information about the Highlands of Santa Cruz.
Transport
Experience the Pristine Beauty of Galápagos Islands: Discovering an Uninhabited Island
Puerto Ayora

We had a fun day on the boat and loved the snorkeling and hiking around the island.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Just remember it is a long ride on the bus from Puerto Ayora to the boat docks-approximately one hour.
Welcome to San Cristóbal Island! Visit the Interpretation Center, Tijeretas Hill, or La Lobería (Speedboat from Santa Cruz)
Galapagos Islands

Once we arrived at San Cristobal we were met by our guide but we decided to go to the hotel for a little bit before heading out for our tour because the boat ride had been so rough. The tour included Darwin's Cove where we hiked and snorkeled. This was my favorite place in the Galapagos.

Quality of Experience
Food
Food in the Galapagos is only so-so because it is hard to transport. Saying that, we did not come on this trip for gourmet food.
Transport
Warnings about conditions. The boat was very cramped and you had to sit below where you couldn't see anything.
Kayaking Adventure in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno Bay
Isla San Cristóbal

The kayaking was fun although the equipment could have been better. The trip out and to Darwin's cove was enjoyable and the snorkeling was fantastic that day. Our guides were "ok" . The young woman ( I don't even know what her name was ) spent a lot of time looking at her phone. On the trip back the water was very choppy and the wind was blowing hard. Our kayak couldn't stand up to those conditions and was flooding badly. We are very experienced kayakers (white water river conditions) but couldn't stop to bale the kayak because the sea was so rough. Our guides were off a long ways away and of little assistance.

Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Jun 14, 2023

Hello Janet!

We are glad you enjoyed your experience and we will work hard to improve in the areas you mentioned. Thanks for the honest feedback! We're constantly striving to improve our customers' experience, so we'll definitely take your suggestions into consideration. I hope you had a great experience on the islands as well.

Thanks again for coming to beautiful Ecuador :)

Best,
Lucía

Galapagos 😍.. you beauty!!
Galapagos Islands | Apr 29 - May 6, 2023

Santosh
Santosh H.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Jun 06, 2023

When we set out to plan a week holiday to the Galapagos, we were overwhelmed with the many awesome destinations, activities and adventures to chose from as well as the logistics to get from one place to the next within the limited time that we had.

We reached out to Kimkim team for help and were really fortunate to have Lucia as our trip advisor.

Thanks to her wealth of knowledge and experience, we were able to plan the perfect trip that included our top destinations and every... read more

When we set out to plan a week holiday to the Galapagos, we were overwhelmed with the many awesome destinations, activities and adventures to chose from as well as the logistics to get from one place to the next within the limited time that we had.

We reached out to Kimkim team for help and were really fortunate to have Lucia as our trip advisor.

Thanks to her wealth of knowledge and experience, we were able to plan the perfect trip that included our top destinations and every adventure we wanted to experience, while visiting these wonderful islands.

I must say that dealing with Lucia was exceptionally pleasant and easy, so we have to send special thanks and appreciation to you Lucia!

She made this wonderful trip possible and was so patient, creative and wonderful in finding options that suit our plan, time and budget to make this trip possible and super special!!

Thank you for your amazing support Lucia throughout the planning process, during and after our trip to make sure we were always well taken care of, wherever we were.

We had one helluva adventure being amongst the marine life in the Galapagos.

Hotel Reviews
Andry
San Cristobal

Breakfast was nice, the rooms were clean and kept tidy, they had bathroom toiletries, even offered beach towels etc

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel La Jungla
Puerto Villamil

the rooms were clean and tidy, breakfast and service was not up to the mark as they had shortage of eggs, they did not have basic bathroom toiletries like shower gel, they provided a soap bar only, they did not provide hand towels, just the bath towels

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Coloma Galapagos
Puerto Ayora
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Kicker Rock (San Cristobal Island)
Galapagos Islands

What a start to our trip! Could not have asked for a better day out than what we had. We had one helluva a time snorkelling, spotted sea turtles, sharks, rays, different types of fish. We even did a bit of fishing 🎣 and caught a yellow fin tuna 🍣 which was then served to us in form of ceviche. We were hosted very nicely on the boat by captain and the crew. Loved every bit of it

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Wildlife Tour on Isabela Island
Puerto Villamil

If one is going for the excursion to Los Tuneles then we felt there is no point in doing this activity. We were unfortunate as well that we could not get to spot anything as the visibility was very poor during snorkelling.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Excursion to Los Túneles
Galapagos Islands

We have one helluva a time snorkeling. Sspotted sea turtles, sharks, rays, different types of fish. We were hosted very nicely on the boat by captain and the crew. Loved every bit of it

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Discovery dive in Santa Cruz Island
Galapagos Islands

We thoroughly enjoyed the diving experience and we did a bit of snorkeling as well.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Morning Bay Tour & Afternoon at leisure in Santa Cruz
Galapagos Islands

We felt that we could have skipped this tour and done something else. The visibility in the water was not good at all even though it was bright and sunny. Considering we had seen and done so much the last few days, this tour just felt a bit boring)

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Jun 15, 2023

Hi Santosh,

I hope you are doing great!
I want to thank you for all those beautiful words, it makes me happy to know that the trip was good, also thank you for trusting my knowledge it was a pleasure to organize an unforgettable trip for both.

Don't hesitate to contact me anytime you wish, to plan another trip :)
Best regards,
Lucía

Beyond expectations
Galapagos Islands | May 26 - Jun 4, 2023

M
mindy n.
Somerset, NJ | Reviewed on Jun 05, 2023

Beyond expectations. Kim kim continues to impress with services, professionalism, and utilizing great tour partners. Whether car sevice, private city tours or week adventures. Bonita yatcht in galapogos was amazing, led by guide David read more

Beyond expectations. Kim kim continues to impress with services, professionalism, and utilizing great tour partners. Whether car sevice, private city tours or week adventures. Bonita yatcht in galapogos was amazing, led by guide David

Activity Reviews
Exploring the Enchanting "Calle de las 7 Cruces" on a Morning City Tour
Quito

Guide daniel was very knowledgeable and friendly

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Afternoon Visit to Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World)
Quito

So interesting, worth the stop

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arrival Baltra Airport - Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz Island) (M/C Millennium)
Cruise Ship
Quality of Experience
Food
Transport
Espumilla Beach, Buccaneer Cove - Puerto Egas (Santiago Island)
Cruise Ship
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Vicente Roca Point (Isabela Island) - Espinoza Point (Fernandina Island)
Galapagos Islands
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Afternoon Adventure to Teleferico Cablecar
Quito
Urbina Bay - Tagus Cove (Isabela Island)
Cruise Ship
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Always eye on safety
Transport
Isabela Island: Elizabeth Bay - Moreno Point
Cruise Ship
Charles Darwin Station - Highlands (Santa Cruz Island)
Cruise Ship
Twin Craters (Santa Cruz Island) - Transfer Out to Baltra Airport
Cruise Ship
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Jun 05, 2023

Hello Mindy,
I hope you are doing great!
Thank you so much for trusting us, we are always happy to receive this kind of review, also we try to improve our services day by day, to make our passengers happy.

Best regards,
Lucía

we are very happy that we called KIMKIM and ...
Ecuador | May 18 - May 28, 2023

J
jay p.
Knoxville, TN | Reviewed on May 31, 2023

we are very happy that we called KIMKIM and Lucia was the best person we talked to . we talked to her multiple times for last 2months for the tour and she was always available to talk and we got great advice and answered all our questions.
She guided us for the trips ,excursions and local smart shopping , hotels ....etc
I would recommend KimKim and Lucia to anybody looking for tour to Ecuador and near by Latin countries .

Transportation arranged by Lucia along with local Guides... read more

we are very happy that we called KIMKIM and Lucia was the best person we talked to . we talked to her multiple times for last 2months for the tour and she was always available to talk and we got great advice and answered all our questions.
She guided us for the trips ,excursions and local smart shopping , hotels ....etc
I would recommend KimKim and Lucia to anybody looking for tour to Ecuador and near by Latin countries .

Transportation arranged by Lucia along with local Guides were great too. Alexandro the driver at Quito was the best.
Marco at Quito as guide and Indira at Santacruz ( Galapagos) were very good.
Danny on last day at Quito was OK , he was rushing us .

Over all we are very happy with Lucia and her teak.

Kalpesh and Jagruti Parikh from USA

Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on May 31, 2023

Hi Jay,
I hope you are doing well!
I would like to thank you for those lovely words, and feedback about the whole trip, it is very useful for me as a travel specialist, those details makes us improve every day more with future travelers also we will give this information to our coworkers and providers, they should know the comments our travellers has.
In addition it was really nice to plan this tailormade trip plan, also it was a pleasure to meet you, thank you one more time for the trust.
Thank you so much :)
Best regards,
Lucía

A very well organised trip, with excellent an...
Ecuador | Apr 1 - Apr 16, 2023

David
David P.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Apr 17, 2023

A very well organised trip, with excellent and well planned tours. Had an amazing time and exceeded expectations. Will definitely use KIM KIM again.

read more

A very well organised trip, with excellent and well planned tours. Had an amazing time and exceeded expectations. Will definitely use KIM KIM again.

Hotel Reviews
Ikala Quito Hotel
Quito

Had a lovely time here, made very welcome and comfortable. Front desk are amazing.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Itamandi EcoLodge
Quito

Loved being out in the middle of the rain forest. Very comfortable and authentic

Authenticity & Character
Location
Deep in the rainforest, which is a deal good experience.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Blue Marlin
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galapagos
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Cally Galapagos
Puerto Villamil
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Deja Vu Galapagos
Pto. Ayora
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Snorkeling at Kicker Rock
Isla San Cristóbal
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Into the Amazon Rainforest, Arrive at Itamandi Eco Lodge
Ecuador
Quality of Experience
Food
Amazing food and service.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Colonial Quito City Tour & Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) Monument
Quito
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on May 18, 2023

Hi David,
Thank you, David, for those kind words, we are constantly improving our services, to give our passengers a once-in-a-lifetime trip :)
Best regards,
Lucía

Great for first time on a continent
Ecuador | Mar 31 - Apr 9, 2023

T
Thomas C.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Apr 10, 2023

We had a transition from Daniel to Lucia around November. So will start off to say that Daniel was AMAZING. Lucia was really good as well - very friendly and responsive. Also we had a fantastic trip, so that’s the most important part. Ecuador is beautiful and we enjoyed each day immensely!

What could have bumped both ratings to five stars:
- we could have benefited from more attention to detail. For example our Sierra Negra hike was 10 miles, which we didn’t know about until the morning... read more

We had a transition from Daniel to Lucia around November. So will start off to say that Daniel was AMAZING. Lucia was really good as well - very friendly and responsive. Also we had a fantastic trip, so that’s the most important part. Ecuador is beautiful and we enjoyed each day immensely!

What could have bumped both ratings to five stars:
- we could have benefited from more attention to detail. For example our Sierra Negra hike was 10 miles, which we didn’t know about until the morning of from the guide.
- some of the transport seemed like overkill. I’m some instances we had a taxi drive us for what could have been a 5 min walk.
- would have liked to have an itemized list of cost breakdown. At times I wondered, “what’s the mark-up for going with KimKim?”

Best guides:
- Israel for the Quito city tour. So knowledgeable and personal! Felt like we were getting a great locals perspective.
- Carmen on the first snorkeling trip. Really knowledgeable and friendly.
- Javier on the second snorkeling trip. Really well prepared and adjusted took videos of our snorkeling excursion which was an awesome bonus.

Guides that could have been better:
- both guides for the Cotopaxi and Sierra Negra hikes had poor communication and didn’t set many expectations. We also didn’t learn much from them during those hikes. Finally, the bikes on the Cotopaxi tour were broken down and unsafe.

Hotel Reviews
Kitu Hotel
Quito

FANTASTIC hotel. Really friendly staff, the BEST and breakfasts and the room was perfect and even had a deck.

Authenticity & Character
The wood floors and tile work was amazing.
Location
Close to a nice part of town.
Staff
Very helpful and friendly! One even let me practice Spanish with him.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean.
Hotel Deja Vu Galapagos
Pto. Ayora

Close to town and generally clean. Can be noisy at times though and lots of loud children. Rooms were dated. Breakfast wasn’t as good as Kitu.

Authenticity & Character
Good beach side place. A bit run down.
Location
Right on the edge of town. Perfect
Staff
Staff helpfulness varied. Had an issue with loud kids at 10am one night that the staff wasn’t addressing so I had to intervene directly which was awkward and frustrating.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Had to chase out a cockroach the first night. Overall the rooms were clean, but the sheets felt really old. Plumbing was dated.
Hotel La Jungla
Puerto Villamil

Felt more like a hostel and really dated room. But friendly staff and great view from our treehouse room.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Great view of the beach from our room!
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Really dated and sheets here felt really old.
Activity Reviews
Welcome to Santa Cruz Island: Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station
Puerto Ayora
Quality of Experience
Everything.
Food
The restaurant at the tortoise center was top notch!! Best meal of the trip.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Enrique was awesome! You could tell he was passionate about wildlife.
Transport
Colonial City Tour, Cooking Class & La Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) Monument
Quito

Our guide (Israel) made this a great excursion. Learned a lot!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Biking day Cotopaxi National Park
Ecuador

Loved the experience of Cotopaxi. The guides and tour itself were terrible.

Quality of Experience
See rest of comments.
Food
The lunch portions were laughably tiny. The whole tour was pretty annoyed.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide wasn’t very informative and didn’t really set expectations for what we were in for. During meals and downtime they just went into a corner.
Transport
Wildlife Tour on Isabela Island
Galapagos Islands
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Carmen was awesome!! Really fun and knowledgeable
Transport
Fun boat ride!
Sierra Negra volcano - Speedboat to Santa Cruz
Galapagos Islands
Quality of Experience
See below.
Food
Had to share half my lunch with someone else. Really paltry portions given the hike length.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver was late. Terrible communication from the guide. Ended up just hiking on our own.
Transport
Late driver.
Experience the Pristine Beauty of Galápagos Islands: Discovering an Uninhabited Island
Puerto Ayora
Quality of Experience
Food
Fantastic food and drink service!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Boat staff was top notch!
Transport
Excursion to Los Túneles
Galapagos Islands
Quality of Experience
Great time seeing and learning about the blue footed boobies. Such a cool bird!!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Javier was amazing!
Transport
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Apr 19, 2023

Hi Thomas,
Thank you so much for taking the time for writing all those comments and feedback, for us is very very important to improve every day.
The team is very happy to have people like you that recommend Ecuador as a destination.
I hope you can visit us again! :)
Best regards,
Lucía

First trip to Ecuador
Ecuador | Mar 31 - Apr 9, 2023

Suzanne
Suzanne H.
Wheat Ridge, CO | Reviewed on Apr 10, 2023

Daniel and Lucia at KimKim helped to plan our trip to Ecuador - listening to our needs and wants then catering the trip to our wishlist. The initial trip was planned for March 2020 and was delayed due to Covid. Finally, when we were ready- Kimkim helped to make this trip a reality. We visited Quito, Cotopaxi, and the Galápagos Islands. Their efforts allowed us to relax and enjoy all of the beauty of Ecuador- including fantastic active excursions (hiking Sierra Negra, Volcán Cotopaxi;... read more

Daniel and Lucia at KimKim helped to plan our trip to Ecuador - listening to our needs and wants then catering the trip to our wishlist. The initial trip was planned for March 2020 and was delayed due to Covid. Finally, when we were ready- Kimkim helped to make this trip a reality. We visited Quito, Cotopaxi, and the Galápagos Islands. Their efforts allowed us to relax and enjoy all of the beauty of Ecuador- including fantastic active excursions (hiking Sierra Negra, Volcán Cotopaxi; snorkeling with penguins, sea lions, and sharks; and learning the rich history of Ecuador) without being concerned with logistics. Each of our excursions was special and unique- our favorite being visiting Tintoreas with Carmen, full day Quito tour with a cooking class with Israel, snorkeling at Bartholem, and snorkeling at Los Tuneles with Javier. Thank you Daniel and Lucia for being our main points of contact, answering our questions, and planning an unforgettable adventure!

Hotel Reviews
Kitu Hotel
Quito

We had a room with a balcony overlooking Quito. The room was clean and comfortable. The staff were helpful and supportive.

Authenticity & Character
Enjoyed the breakfast
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Deja Vu Galapagos
Pto. Ayora
Authenticity & Character
Location
Easy walk into town
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Some challenges with bugs
Hotel La Jungla
Puerto Villamil

Nice hotel at the edge of town. A little outdated and no room lockbox. Could use some upgrades but staff were pleasant and helpful

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Colonial City Tour, Cooking Class & La Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) Monument
Quito

Full day of history in Quito. The cooking class was special. We could have walked more throughout downtown Quito. Felt a bit rushed in the afternoon trying to get everything in

Quality of Experience
Food
Chef was fantastic. We learned so much about Ecuadorian food and ate well doing so!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Israel was knowledgeable and provided tons of information on the history of Ecuador
Transport
Nice and easy to get around. Nice to have the car. Could have also walked more.
Biking day Cotopaxi National Park
Ecuador

Cotopaxi is beautiful. We enjoyed seeing wild horses and a fox. We hiked and bikes on Volcán Cotopaxi. Expectations were not clear so didn’t realize the hike was going to happen, so didn’t pack all of the right gear. Our guide didn’t share too much on Cotopaxi itself - so might consider a different tour group

Quality of Experience
Food
Lunch was fine, just the whole group could have eaten more :)
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Experience the Pristine Beauty of Galápagos Islands: Discovering an Uninhabited Island
Puerto Ayora

Great last day activity! The boat staff were amazing. Had the best snorkeling experience of our life! Saw penguins, shark, starfish, sea lions and more! Learned a lot about the geological history of the Galapagos!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Welcome to Santa Cruz Island: Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station
Puerto Ayora

Arriving on the Galapagos, this is a great way to get introduced to the islands!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Wildlife Tour on Isabela Island
Galapagos Islands

Carmen was a great guide - showing us wildlife and taking us snorkeling! We even had seals come join us on our snorkeling adventure!

Quality of Experience
Food
N/a
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Excursion to Los Túneles
Galapagos Islands

Opportunity to see blue footed boobies, Tortugas, and sea horses! Javier was a great guide even took pictures on his go pro he shared with us after!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sierra Negra volcano - Speedboat to Santa Cruz
Galapagos Islands

Seeing the Sierra Negra was worth the experience. It was a 12 mile hike which took all morning. Group was very large and the guide struggled to help everyone

Quality of Experience
Food
Fine, a box lunch
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide struggled with the large group and bringing 20+ people on a 12 mile hike. As avid hikers we were fine, but worried about others during the experience
Transport
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Apr 19, 2023

Hi Suzzane,
I hope you are doing fine!
I would like to thank you for those comments, and feedback about the whole trip, it is very useful for us as travel specialists, and it makes us improve every day more and more with our future travelers, also we will give this information to our coworkers and providers, they should know what our travelers opinion, that way they will put all the ideas into consideration.
In addition for us is very important to know about the thoughts you gave us, on our... read more

Hi Suzzane,
I hope you are doing fine!
I would like to thank you for those comments, and feedback about the whole trip, it is very useful for us as travel specialists, and it makes us improve every day more and more with our future travelers, also we will give this information to our coworkers and providers, they should know what our travelers opinion, that way they will put all the ideas into consideration.
In addition for us is very important to know about the thoughts you gave us, on our next inspection of all hotels and guides services we have, for sure we will verify everything is better for the next travelers.
Thank you so much!
Best regards,
Lucía

All of our guides were amazing but especially...
Ecuador | Mar 24 - Mar 29, 2023

B
Barbara M.
Euless, TX | Reviewed on Mar 30, 2023

All of our guides were amazing but especially Danny and Louis for our Quito/Banos piece!! Absolutely amazing! Will definitely recommend all of our activities!!

Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Mar 31, 2023

Thank you for your Review Barbara!!
All our team in Ecuador is happy to hear this :)
It was so nice helping you plan this amazing trip.
We will wait for you back in South America
Best,
Lucia

Thanks Lucia! ...
Ecuador | Mar 6 - Mar 13, 2023

S
Susan N.
Canada | Reviewed on Mar 17, 2023

Lucia was very responsive and helped us plan a great trip. The drivers and guides she organized for us were excellent. Thanks! read more

Lucia was very responsive and helped us plan a great trip. The drivers and guides she organized for us were excellent. Thanks!

Hotel Reviews
Ikala Quito Hotel
Quito

A nice looking hotel in a very walkable good location. This is only a 3 star hotel. The beds were hard and there was no heat or air conditioning in the rooms although the temperature was adequate. The dining room also had no heat, it did have some propane heaters but they ran out of propane while we were there and guests had to wear coats to dinner and breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Recently renovated rooms
Location
Walkable, sage
Staff
Very friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean but cold especially in the dining areas. They ran out of propane while we were there and the evenings and mornings are quite cool.
Napo Wildlife Center
Quito

Amazing experience. Great staff and really good food. The sleeping huts are lovely and clean. So many things to see and do! Highly recommend this lodge.

Authenticity & Character
Private sleeping huts on waterfront. Great wooden and grass structures. Very Amazonian.
Location
Remote
Staff
Very helpful. Our guides Juan and Patricio were amazing!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean, good beds, front porch with hammock
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Mar 20, 2023

Hi Susan,
I am absolutely so happy reading your review, all of your words are very useful and will help us improve our services.
Best regards from Quito.
Lucía

The trip was fabulous!! The guides and driver...
Ecuador | Feb 10 - Feb 19, 2023

Wendy
Wendy N.
Mantorville, MN | Reviewed on Feb 20, 2023

The trip was fabulous!! The guides and drivers were on time, professional and courteous. No issues, it was seamless!

Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Feb 27, 2023

Hi Wendy,

Thanks for your kind words in the review, I am so happy you and Melissa enjoyed this special program I made especially for you. It will be my pleasure to receive your family and friends coming to Ecuador.

Warm hugs from Quito - Ecuador,
Lucía

2-week family trip to Ecuador
Ecuador | Dec 22 - Jan 4, 2023

D
Diana H.
Canada | Reviewed on Jan 27, 2023

When I set out to plan a 2-week family trip to Ecuador, I was a overwhelmed with the many awesome destinations, activities and adventures to chose from as well as the logistics to get from one place to the next within the limited time that we had.
I reached out to Kimkim team for help and I was fortunate enough to have Lucia & Angel as my trip advisors - they were both amazing and thanks to their wealth of knowledge and experience, we were able to plan the perfect trip that included our... read more

When I set out to plan a 2-week family trip to Ecuador, I was a overwhelmed with the many awesome destinations, activities and adventures to chose from as well as the logistics to get from one place to the next within the limited time that we had.
I reached out to Kimkim team for help and I was fortunate enough to have Lucia & Angel as my trip advisors - they were both amazing and thanks to their wealth of knowledge and experience, we were able to plan the perfect trip that included our top destinations and every adventure we wanted to experience while visiting this wonderful country.

We were in Ecuador from Dec 24 - Jan 4 and we had an excellent time exploring the history, culture, wildlife and all the unique aspects of its Amazonia and Galapagos that were unparalleled to anything we’ve seen or experienced before in our travels.

I must say that dealing with Lucia was exceptionally pleasant and easy so I have to send special thanks and appreciation to you Lucia! You made this wonderful trip possible and you were so patient, creative and wonderful in find options that suit our plan, time and budget to make this trip possible and super special!! Thank you for your amazing support throughout the planning process and even during and after our trip to make sure we were always well taken care of wherever we were. You are simply AMAZING!!!

Hotel Reviews
Ikala Quito Hotel
Quito

Great hotel in a very good location, amazing service and staff are very friendly. Our room was very spacious and comfortable

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Napo Cultural Center
Quito

A very unique setting for a beautiful and extremely charming lodge - cabins are spacious and super comfortable and the best part is feeling like you are living in the wilderness of the jungle while in the comfort of your private space. The food was delicious and abundant, we were spoiled with fresh cold towels and refreshing natural juices after each adventure. Special shoutout to the chefs and the restaurant staff for doing an awesome job during each meal. But the biggest and best mention and thanks goes to the manager of the lodge and to our guide « Tyson « for making this whole experience so memorable and unique! Highly recommend it!!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Blue Marlin
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galapagos

An OK hôtel, not great - accommodation; facilities and breakfast were just average, service was basic and transactional, nothing special to mention

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Posada del Mar
Puerto Ayora

Exceptional and super attentive service from Carlos made our stay at this hotel extremely wonderful and truly memorable. The location is super convenient, walking distance from the ferry port and the facilities are very comfortable. The Views overlooking the harbour especially from the common area were amazing We enjoyed our stay tremendously and we felt right at home thanks to Carlos! Highly recommend staying here when in Santa Cruz!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Quito - Coca - Napo Cultural Center
Ecuador

Amazing, unique experience add super special y our guide « Tyson »

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Parrot Clay-lick Viewing, Visiting a Community Project & The Observation Tower (Sumak Kausay Experience)
Yasuni National Park
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Indigenous Encounter and Hike to Mama Cuna Path (Yaku Kausay Experience)
Yasuni National Park
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Snorkeling at Kicker Rock
Isla San Cristóbal

Wonderful experience but water was too cold to enjoy snorkeling - most of us couldn’t stay in the water for more than 20 minutes. We should have been given long wet suits not short ones. Also the guide was so cold that he was rushing us while going through the kicker rock passage.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kayaking Adventure in Tortuga Bay & Afternoon Bay Tour of Santa Cruz Island
Puerto Ayora

Amazing adventure in a beautiful protected bay where sea turtles and white tip reef sharks roam freely and in high numbers. We kayaked through the Laguna and saw so many turtles and sharks up close from our kayak - it was so unique and special to be able to connect with nature and wildlife in such a way without feeling rushed and enjoy all these wonderful encounters!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Feb 01, 2023

Thank you so much for these words, Diana!
We love helping travelers visiting Ecuador!
It was great having you here with us and I'm happy to hear everything went as expected and now you will treasure some beautiful memories from this trip :)
I hope you can come back to South America soon we will be happy to help you plan another great adventure!

Warm regards,
Lucia.

Exceptional service, exceptional vacation!
Galapagos Islands | Dec 9 - Dec 22, 2022

Barb
Barb M.
Forest Hills, MI | Reviewed on Jan 11, 2023

We could not have been happier with the service we received from the kimkim team! Lucia and Angel responded immediately to our questions before and during our travel. Every possible effort was made on their part to ensure we had a safe and exciting vacation with exceptional guides at every turn.

Our time in Peru was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! We had an amazing tour of Lima (thank you Juana!), an educational Sacred Valley tour (thank you Henry!). Lucia and Angel reserved Andre as... read more

We could not have been happier with the service we received from the kimkim team! Lucia and Angel responded immediately to our questions before and during our travel. Every possible effort was made on their part to ensure we had a safe and exciting vacation with exceptional guides at every turn.

Our time in Peru was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! We had an amazing tour of Lima (thank you Juana!), an educational Sacred Valley tour (thank you Henry!). Lucia and Angel reserved Andre as our Machu Picchu guide and he was perfect for us. Andre taught us about Incan culture and history as well as the integration of Incan beliefs into everyday Peruvian life. This was a highlight of our stay in Peru.

Juan Carlos led an exceptional excursion in Cusco and we can personally recommend his services. There were extenuating circumstances during our Cusco stay but Juan Carlos and the kimkim team made sure that we remained comfortable and cared for without interruption.

Off to Ecuador where we were treated like royalty by Angel and Sebastian in Quito. The next morning, we flew to the Galapagos and the attention from the kimkim staff did not disappoint. Rita was attentive to our every need (drivers, boat transfers, flights, ferries) --- she could not have done more for us! Julio (our guide for nature hikes) was knowledgeable, humorous and energetic.

Definitely take the snorkeling trip to the uninhabited island and try to secure Ricardo as your guide. He and the boat captain went above and beyond to create a memorable experience for everyone. The food and staff on board the Nautilus were friendly and accommodating in every detail.

Our final stop was at the Middle of the World where Marco provided an interesting and amusing tour. We truly enjoyed our time with him. Before we boarded our flight home, Angel took the time to meet us personally at the airport and share much-deserved hugs and farewells.

Because of an unexpected event in Peru, we were unable to meet our daughter on the Galapagos Islands as stated on our original itinerary. Lucia and Angel not only ensured that she was able to participate in the activities as planned, they also rescheduled events for us back in Peru until we could join her. We were never concerned for her safety and she even got one-on-one tours from the guides on the Galapagos Islands.

A final observation: You will not be disappointed with the service provided by this kimkim team. Lucia and Angel managed everything: meals, tickets, transfers, taxis, luggage transport, tours, entrance fees... the list is lengthy! You will be well taken care of and can be secure knowing that your agents are on top of every activity, hotel, and transportation need.

No one could have asked more from Lucia and Angel. We recommend them --- and the tour they created for us --- without reservation!

Happy travels to Peru and Ecuador, everyone!
Barb and Dan

Hotel Reviews
Union Hotel Cusco
Cusco

Great food, excellent and attentive staff. Fun location near the mercado and a short walk from the plaza.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Arawi Miraflores Prime
Lima

Location in a funky part of Lima: short walk to Larcomar and Miraflores park.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Excellent breakfast buffet!
Tierra Viva Valle Sagrado
Urubamba

Gorgeous setting, fabulous food, great staff. The room itself was basic, but we were outside most of the time. Beautiful setting near mountains and the river. The town of Ullantaytambo is not remarkable, but it's lively and interesting!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Maritza was a lot of fun. We enjoyed everyone, but she was very kind and friendly!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kitu Hotel
Quito
Authenticity & Character
Definitely a boutique hotel. We were on the 4th floor (walk up) and our drive and guide carried our heavy bags all the way up for us!!
Location
Beautiful night time view from the balcony
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Villa Laguna
Puerto Ayora

Great pool!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Very close to the piers and the nightlife and the music and the plaza and the restaurants!
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Isamar Hotel
Puerto Villamil, Isla Isabela

Sea breezes lulled us to sleep!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Right on the beach. Nice.
Staff
Stored our luggage, put out a great breakfast buffet, provided extra towels: they couldn't have been nicer or more attentive!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Afternoon Highlights of Lima- City Tour
Lima

We had a unique experience due to political upheaval --- our guide kept us safe and informed!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Juana was excellent
Cusco - The Sacred Valley
Peru

We enjoyed an amusing and educational tour of the area and the peoples of Cusco!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Maras & Moray Tour
Peru
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Machu Picchu - Huayna Picchu - Cusco
Peru

We were blown away by Andre and our experience at the citadel. Mystical, practical, humorous, intelligent... an indescribable experience.

Quality of Experience
Everything was ready for us: train tickets, bus tickets, knowledgeable tour guide. It was perfect.
Food
We ate at Toto's. Good lunch buffet. Avoid the drink "Machu Picchu" unless you like toothpaste or mouthwash!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Andre was amazing!
Transport
Colonial Quito City Tour & Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) Monument
Quito

Marco was hilarious and was a good sport while we practiced our Spanish and asked him to take photos.

Quality of Experience
Great tour on site; the woman was humorous and intelligent
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Thank you Marco!
Transport
Experience the Pristine Beauty of Galápagos Islands: Discovering an Uninhabited Island
Puerto Ayora

We were unprepared for the amazing the boat ride! Schooner to the island, hike to a spectacular view, snorkeling with penguins and sharks and sea lions. And they never stopped feeding us on the boat!! Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, snack. Lovely voyage!

Quality of Experience
I love boat rides. That was enough for me. The hike and snorkeling were extras. :)
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Ricardo crushed it! Concerned about the environment, intelligent, worked well with the entire group.
Transport
Woohoo! Sailboat!
Dinner by the Sea
Galapagos Islands

Delightful night time boat shuttle to an adorable restaurant.

Quality of Experience
The food was exceptional, great cocktails, loved being near the water
Food
We upgraded to lobster. Worth it!
Transport
Short ferry ride and you're there
Isabela Island's Treasures: Exploring the Breeding Center & Wetlands
Galapagos Islands

One of the highlights of the islands! If you want to see tortoises, take this tour!

Quality of Experience
This was a must-see for us. LOTS of tortoises to see.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Julio showed us flamingos, Darwin finches, different flora and fauna of the Galapagos. We arrived when the tortoises were being fed and that was a bonus for sure!
Transport
Well, we walked.
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Jan 16, 2023

OMG Barb and Dan, this is such a beautiful review, just like you guys!!
I am really happy that you had a wonderful experience with us :)
it was lovely meeting you guys I will appreciate those memories forever, especially your day of arrival in Quito and that perfect dinner night!!!
I hope you can come back soon since Amazon is waiting for you, I know the next time you will be speaking Spanish that will enhance the experience in a memorable way!
It's hard to put in words everything I felt... read more

OMG Barb and Dan, this is such a beautiful review, just like you guys!!
I am really happy that you had a wonderful experience with us :)
it was lovely meeting you guys I will appreciate those memories forever, especially your day of arrival in Quito and that perfect dinner night!!!
I hope you can come back soon since Amazon is waiting for you, I know the next time you will be speaking Spanish that will enhance the experience in a memorable way!
It's hard to put in words everything I felt reading this, I am really grateful to have this job where I can Meet travelers like you who become close friends!
Thank you for being so kind and nice all the time!
PS: Pictures are amazing I love them!

Warm regards, and come back soon,
Lucia and Angel.