Company Logo for Authentic Ecuador
Specialists
Reviews for Authentic Ecuador
Traveler Photos

Authentic Ecuador

We specialize in the Ecuadorian territory and the Galapagos Islands. The focus is on immersive experiences with a mix of classic attractions in an innovative way and off-the-beaten-track destinations and activities.

Our goal is to convert our travelers from passive consumers into active participants. Yes, you’ll also see the highlights of the country, but you will immerse into its nature, interact with its people, taste its flavors, and experience some adrenaline-loaded adventures if you wish to!

We would like you to capture the essence of Ecuador in all its facets, mixing main attractions with off-the-beaten-track experiences, which makes each trip unique and avoids over-tourism. Join us on an unforgettable trip and expect the unexpected!

Authentic Ecuador is part of the following groups: Ecuador Travel Agents, Galapagos Islands Travel Agents

Featured trips & expertise

Top itineraries and travel advice

Recent Trip Reviews for Authentic Ecuador

Quito and the Galapagos - Equador 2024
Galapagos Islands | Aug 13 - Aug 22, 2024

caitrinad@yahoo.co.uk
[email protected] A.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Sep 02, 2024
We had a fantastic trip to Ecuador - Quito and the Galapagos- and will treasure the memories forever. Angie at KimKim worked closely with my husband and myself both in terms of organising our trip but also keeping in touch during our trip to make sure everything was perfect. Our hotels were perfect for our family and the trips - boat trips and land based adventures - were fabulous. We were looked after and provided with lots of information which really added to our wonderful trip. Read more

We had a fantastic trip to Ecuador - Quito and the Galapagos- and will treasure the memories forever.

Angie at KimKim worked closely with my husband and myself both in terms of organising our trip but also keeping in touch during our trip to make sure everything was perfect.

Our hotels were perfect for our family and the trips - boat trips and land based adventures - were fabulous. We were looked after and provided with lots of information which really added to our wonderful trip.

Hotel Reviews
La Casona de La Ronda
Quito

This was a lovely hotel. Great location, wonderful building and fab staff.

Authenticity & Character
Had a wonderful feel to the hotel and we loved it
Location
Very central to old town and a cheap taxi/Uber to other locations. Very easy to walk to keep sires
Staff
Always helpful - nothing was a problem
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean and comfortable beds, clean shower and towels- all lovely!
Galapagos Sunset Hotel
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

Great location and facilities were all perfect for our family. Front desk staff were very helpful too - restaurant recommendations and activity suggestions 😊

Authenticity & Character
Modern and not much character - but clean, perfect location, comfortable and safe
Location
Perfect - close to pier and all restaurants
Staff
Always helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Acacia Galápagos Boutique Hotel
Puerto Ayora

We loved everything about the hotel - it was fab!

Authenticity & Character
Modern but had character and was very tasteful. Definitely 5 star!
Location
Perfect as not on sea front but not too far away from anything - we loved it!
Staff
All amazing - helpful on every level!
Cleanliness & Comfort
We all loved it - comfy beds, lovely sheets, clean and lovely
Activity Reviews
Interpretation Center & Tijeretas Hill
Interpretation Center & Tijeretas Hill
Galapagos Islands

We did this trip on our own as the guide instead took us to the beach to see the Sea Lions and to the only lake in San Cristobal- El Junco

Quality of Experience
Lots of information and detail provided by the guide
Food
We had lunch at a local restaurant before setting off on the trip - hard to avoid meat but not bad!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide was very helpful, chatty and good company
Transport
It was on time, fit us all in and waited at each location
360° Tour
360° Tour
Isla San Cristóbal

The snorkeling was great at all locations and our guide was brilliant- taking photos and videos of everything which he shred. Boat crew were great too despite the return journey being very bumpy! Wet suit definitively needed, which we had been advised about.

Quality of Experience
Food
Food on board was very good and snacks were also provided
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide and boat staff were fab - very helpful throughout our trip.
Transport
Highlands of Santa Cruz Island
Highlands of Santa Cruz Island
Galapagos Islands

We loved it all - a great start to our Santa Cruz expedition. Giant turtles were amazing

Quality of Experience
Food
Lunch at the venue was great
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station
Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station
Puerto Ayora

This didn’t take too long but was an interesting and informative visit

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
We walked with our guide from the hotel - nice to stretch our legs.
Excursion to an uninhabited island
Excursion to an uninhabited island
Galapagos Islands

We loved it all - whilst we didn’t see too much when snorkeling the walk around the island looking at the nesting birds - blue footed Boobies and Frigate birds were amazing. Also the marine iguana 😊

Quality of Experience
Journey, boat, crew, guide and wildlife all amazing. As was the company of other guests.
Food
Fabulous!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit to another uninhabited island
Visit to another uninhabited island
Galapagos Islands

A long trip but the same boat and crew as our previous day trip to North Seymour. The snorkeling whilst colder was amazing. We saw penguin’s, black tipped reef shark, anchovies, rays and loads of colorful fish. 🐠

Quality of Experience
Crew, guide and boat all fantastic
Food
Great food again - snacks, cakes and champagne
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Angie Maldonado
Angie
Angie Maldonado
Local specialist in Quito - Ecuador | Replied on Sep 03, 2024
Dear Caitrin, Thank you so much for your kind words! I am absolutely thrilled to hear that you and your family had such a fantastic time in Ecuador and the Galapagos! It was a true pleasure working with you and your husband to create a memorable adventure, and I'm glad everything went smoothly. I’m delighted that the hotels, boat trips, and land-based adventures were perfect for your family. It’s wonderful to hear that you felt well taken care of and that the information provided added to... Read more

Dear Caitrin,

Thank you so much for your kind words! I am absolutely thrilled to hear that you and your family had such a fantastic time in Ecuador and the Galapagos! It was a true pleasure working with you and your husband to create a memorable adventure, and I'm glad everything went smoothly.

I’m delighted that the hotels, boat trips, and land-based adventures were perfect for your family. It’s wonderful to hear that you felt well taken care of and that the information provided added to your experience!

Thank you for choosing to travel with us, and I hope to have the pleasure of helping you plan another incredible journey in the future!

Wishing you all the best,
Angie

Two-week Trip to Peru and hiking the Inca trail
Peru | Jul 20 - Aug 3, 2024

Victoria
Victoria C.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Aug 10, 2024
This is the third time we worked with Mathias, and it was as always, a great trip. Mathias worked with us to personalize our 2-week trip to Peru with 4 day/3 night Inca trail hiking. With several modifications, we finalized our trip to include visits to Lima, Arequipa, Cusco, and hiking the Inca trail. The entire trip was very well organized with every step taken care of: pick up, drop off, day to day itinerary and local contact person. We didn’t have to worry about anything, just showed up... Read more

This is the third time we worked with Mathias, and it was as always, a great trip. Mathias worked with us to personalize our 2-week trip to Peru with 4 day/3 night Inca trail hiking. With several modifications, we finalized our trip to include visits to Lima, Arequipa, Cusco, and hiking the Inca trail. The entire trip was very well organized with every step taken care of: pick up, drop off, day to day itinerary and local contact person. We didn’t have to worry about anything, just showed up with at the airport. It’s super easy and we feel well taken care of.

Our local contact guide in Peru was Renato Diaz from AllPeru. He is super friendly and responsive to all our questions during the trip. It was most helpful that Renato sent us the boarding passes when we flew between cities. During the trip, there was a misunderstanding of the drop off in Cusco city, Renato arranged a complimentary dinner and show for us as an apology, which was very professional.

Overall, we are very happy with Mathias, Renato, and Kimkim for planning yet another amazing trip for us.

Hotel Reviews
Del Pilar Miraflores Hotel
Lima

Location of the hotel is great. Friendly staff. However, hot water was a problem when taking showers. Water was lukewarm.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casona Plaza Hotel AQP
Arequipa

Hotel was fine. But the water for shower was unstable: it swings between hot and freezing with no warnings. Not a very pleasant experience.

Authenticity & Character
No
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Killawasi Lodge
Yanque

This lodge was super awesome. We loved the little town it is located and the room was spacious and comfortable. Really enjoyed the stay. We went to the hot springs near the hotel and it was nice.

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

Hotel was fine. But hot water was an issue for taking shower. The water was lukewarm.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Camping

Our hiking trip was amazing!!!!! We were with https://x-tremetourbulencia.com/our-porters-2/ and our tour guide was Joel. The hiking was 4days/3 nights. We had a small group of 9 people. The porters and guide were amazing people, without them, it would have been impossible to hike the Inca Trail.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hatun Inti Boutique Machupicchu
Machu Picchu

This hotel was awesome! It had a jacuzzi in the room which was amazing for our tired body after hiking the Inca trail for 4 days!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Pisac, Ollantaytambo & Chinchero tour
Pisac, Ollantaytambo & Chinchero tour
Cusco

This tour was the least favorite of ours. I felt it was not necessary after hiking the Inca trail. Too much driving (all day, 7am to 6pm) with occasional breaks to see the sites. Could do without.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Mathias Onisseit
Mathias
Mathias Onisseit
Local specialist in Quito, Ecuador | Replied on Aug 21, 2024
Hi Victoria & Sen, Thank you so much for your kind words and for trusting us for the third time with your travel plans! It’s always a pleasure to work with you, and I’m happy to hear that your Peru adventure, especially the Inca Trail hike, was an unforgettable experience! Personalizing your itinerary was a collaborative effort, and I’m glad it all came together seamlessly. It’s great to know that you felt well taken care of and that even when there was a minor issue, it was handled in a... Read more

Hi Victoria & Sen,

Thank you so much for your kind words and for trusting us for the third time with your travel plans! It’s always a pleasure to work with you, and I’m happy to hear that your Peru adventure, especially the Inca Trail hike, was an unforgettable experience! Personalizing your itinerary was a collaborative effort, and I’m glad it all came together seamlessly.

It’s great to know that you felt well taken care of and that even when there was a minor issue, it was handled in a way that added to your experience.

I wish the two of you many more unforgettable trips in the future. Safe travels always, and thank you again for your fantastic feedback!

-Mathias & the Authentic Ecuador team

Not sure how to rate this but we lost a whole...
Galapagos Islands | May 1 - May 13, 2024

D
DEBBRA A.
Minneapolis, MN | Reviewed on Jun 18, 2024
Not sure how to rate this but we lost a whole day practically because one Of our guides in Ecudor Was very insufficient. She didn't have the right change for the pain.When she picked us up and then when she took us to Cuenca she kept getting lost. Before we left, we had to stop so she could have breakfast cause she didn't have anything to eat.At her mother's house before she left that morning. Also she did not know anything about the national park that we stopped at. She could not answer our... Read more

Not sure how to rate this but we lost a whole day practically because one Of our guides in Ecudor Was very insufficient. She didn't have the right change for the pain.When she picked us up and then when she took us to Cuenca she kept getting lost. Before we left, we had to stop so she could have breakfast cause she didn't have anything to eat.At her mother's house before she left that morning. Also she did not know anything about the national park that we stopped at. She could not answer our questions. When we finally got to our destination, she had promised us.We could go to a spot there to get rid of this sress from the day and that did not work out either. I would not consider her a safe driver either. That was one of the reasons for the stress and then being jerked around all over the place From her driving. We were supposed to have a different guide to begin with. And actually he turned out fine. Except he dished us at the airport when he drove his back to Guayaquil Ecuador. Our plane didn't leave till 1130 that night and he dropped us off at the airport.About 330 in the afternoor it might have been earlier. Kim did get back with this about an hour or so later and line up another guide Who was a very good person but we ended up giving two people tips that day or the day instead of just one so that was an extra Twenty dollars from each of us for the guides. We found out later that the guide that was good and dropped us off at the airport.Check another client.So I had to get back to quinca instead of staying with us like he was supposed to. The whole thing made it's very uneasy. The rest of the trip especially the calypso boat was wonderful.

Hotel Reviews
M/Y Calipso

Everything about this boat and crew is absolutely fantastic.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Boutique Santa Lucía
Cuenca
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sheraton Guayaquil
Guayaquil
Local specialist: Linda Schulz
Linda
Linda Schulz
Local specialist in Quito | Replied on Jun 24, 2024
Hi Debbra, thank you so much for taking the time to review your trip to Ecuador! I am happy to hear that all in all you have enjoyed your vacation, especially the Galapagos cruise and the hotels we selected for you, and I am truly sorry about the issue you encountered during your trip. I would like to apologize again for the insufficient service provided by the guide in Guayaquil and Cuenca, as well as for the inconveniences that ensued. We will definitely address this matter with the... Read more

Hi Debbra,

thank you so much for taking the time to review your trip to Ecuador! I am happy to hear that all in all you have enjoyed your vacation, especially the Galapagos cruise and the hotels we selected for you, and I am truly sorry about the issue you encountered during your trip.

I would like to apologize again for the insufficient service provided by the guide in Guayaquil and Cuenca, as well as for the inconveniences that ensued. We will definitely address this matter with the guide in question and take appropriate actions to prevent such issues from happening in the future. Our goal always is to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all our guests, and I regret that we did not meet your expectations in this part of your trip.

On your last day in Guayaquil, I tried my best to arrange for a new guide immediately, and I am glad to hear that the new guide provided a better experience for your last hours in Ecuador. Additionally, I hope the dinner provided as compensation was enjoyable for you!

Thank you once again for bringing these issues to our attention. We greatly appreciate your feedback and will use it to improve our services.

All the best for you and Lynn, and always safe travels,
Linda

Being looked after by trustworthy guides and drivers every step of the way.
Galapagos Islands | Apr 20 - Apr 28, 2024

Ora
Ora Y.
Florence-Graham, CA | Reviewed on May 01, 2024
My son and I just returned from a trip to the Galapagos islands planned and arranged by kimkim.com. It was an amazing and wonderful experience made easy and worry-free by Isabel Pérez's diligent planning and responsiveness to our requests and force major causes requiring changes in the itinerary.
Our guides were prompt, knowledgable and friendly: Andrei and Christian in Guayaquil, Solange in San Cristóbal, Danielle in Santa Cruz as well as the crews of the boats to Kicker Rock and North...
Read more

My son and I just returned from a trip to the Galapagos islands planned and arranged by kimkim.com. It was an amazing and wonderful experience made easy and worry-free by Isabel Pérez's diligent planning and responsiveness to our requests and force major causes requiring changes in the itinerary.
Our guides were prompt, knowledgable and friendly: Andrei and Christian in Guayaquil, Solange in San Cristóbal, Danielle in Santa Cruz as well as the crews of the boats to Kicker Rock and North Seymour island. The hotels Ibis in Guayaquil, Miconia on San Cristóbal and Galapagos Suites on Santa Cruz were clean and accommodating with a friendly and courteous staff.
We will definitely recommend the kimkim company to family and friends who are thinking of the Galapagos islands as a trip destination.
Sincerely,
Ora Yadin & Gil Benezer
Manhattan Beach, CA
USA

Local specialist: Isabel Pérez

KimKim is the Perfect Way to Set Up Travel
Galapagos Islands | Mar 30 - Apr 6, 2024

Marcia
Marcia J.
Redmond, WA | Reviewed on Apr 22, 2024
Linda was beyond fabulous- knowledgeable, friendly, accommodating. Keep this woman happy, she is a wonderful asset to KimKim! 5 Stars: Ikala Hotel, Hotel Galapagos Suites, Highlands of Santa Cruz and our guide Daniela, Excursion to Seymour Norte and our guide, our guide Fabricio in Quito and his surprise add-ons to our Quito tour. Special 10 stars to driver Alejandro and Casa Playa Mann for the biggest hearts and sincerest souls, as well as doing their job excellently. They are... Read more

Linda was beyond fabulous- knowledgeable, friendly, accommodating. Keep this woman happy, she is a wonderful asset to KimKim!

5 Stars: Ikala Hotel, Hotel Galapagos Suites, Highlands of Santa Cruz and our guide Daniela, Excursion to Seymour Norte and our guide, our guide Fabricio in Quito and his surprise add-ons to our Quito tour.

Special 10 stars to driver Alejandro and Casa Playa Mann for the biggest hearts and sincerest souls, as well as doing their job excellently. They are wonderful ambassadors for their country.

4 Stars: Kicker Rock. Best suited for true snorkel enthusiasts, which is not us- we are vacation snorkelers. Choppy and cloudy water, some strong currents that really took work to navigate, and while it was cool to see a few hammerheads, not much else to see. Honestly, perhaps the best part of the trip was the spectacular closeup views of the Galapagos birds. Great guide.

Our only neutral-to-negative outing was the Interpretation Center and Tijeretas Hill. These two sites definitely do not need a guide and would have been far more enjoyable exploring on our own. Karen, our guide, was not a good storyteller, and told us little that I hadn't already read in the guidebooks; perhaps if she had turned the walk up Tijeretas Hill into a nature walk, but she made few comments as we walked up this paved and well-signed path. But the truly negative experience was the snorkeling. There was a yellow flag out, and the entrance to the water is on sharp rocks, difficult for nonlocals to negotiate- during our time there, two tourists had to be saved from the big waves/currents and helped back onto the rocks. Karen gave no instruction, but after verifying that we could all swim, jumped in the water and began snorkeling. Only one of the four of us decided to try snorkeling, as the other three felt it too dangerous. My husband lost a flipper, and waited back on the rocks as Karen managed to retrieve the flipper (good for her), but then continued to snorkel as we all waited for her. While pleasant during her guiding, Karen seemed bored with this excursion and I think would be better suited to aquatic excursions only, as this seems to be her true love.

Hotel Review
Casa Playa Mann
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

Lovely place run by a lovely and sincere family.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Interpretation Center & Tijeretas Hill
Interpretation Center & Tijeretas Hill
Galapagos Islands
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station
Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station
Puerto Ayora

Tortoises everywhere, need I say more? Ask for guide Daniela!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Quito City Tour
Quito City Tour
Ecuador

Much better experience with a guide than exploring on one's own. Ask for Fabricio!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Our transport dropped us off at one end of Old Town and picked us up at the other end, so no backtracking!
Snorkel at Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido)
Snorkel at Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido)
Galapagos Islands

Everything about the day was great- transport, guide, the excursion to a remote beach- except the cloudy snorkeling itself is only worth it for the interesting experience of seeing hammerhead sharks.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Highlands of Santa Cruz Island
Highlands of Santa Cruz Island
Galapagos Islands

Tortoises everywhere, need I say more???

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Linda Schulz
Linda
Linda Schulz
Local specialist in Quito | Replied on Apr 24, 2024
Hi Marcia,
thank you so much for taking the time to share this wonderful and helpful review with us! I am pleased to hear that you were more than happy with all the hotels. I will also make sure to forward your compliments to Fabricio, Daniela, and Alejandro!
I really appreciate your feedback about your time on San Cristobal Island; we will take your experiences and recommendations into account for future tours.
If you decide to return to Ecuador one day (there's still so much more to...
Read more

Hi Marcia,
thank you so much for taking the time to share this wonderful and helpful review with us! I am pleased to hear that you were more than happy with all the hotels. I will also make sure to forward your compliments to Fabricio, Daniela, and Alejandro!
I really appreciate your feedback about your time on San Cristobal Island; we will take your experiences and recommendations into account for future tours.
If you decide to return to Ecuador one day (there's still so much more to see!), please don't hesitate to reach out, we would love to welcome you and your family again!
Always safe travels,
Linda

Our trip was perfect, everything was designed...
Galapagos Islands | Apr 12 - Apr 20, 2024

Mariela
Mariela G.
Costa Rica | Reviewed on Apr 21, 2024
Our trip was perfect, everything was designed so we just has to worry about enjoying our trip. Read more

Our trip was perfect, everything was designed so we just has to worry about enjoying our trip.

Hotel Reviews
Ikala Quito Hotel
Quito

Very nice hotel. Both times we stayed there was no electricity and that meant no internet, no hot water and no food. Besides from that, very friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Pillows
Hotel Galapagos Suites
Puerto Ayora

Beautiful cozy hotel. Very friendly staff. Breakfast is continental but good.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Blackout curtains since there is a lot of light coming in from the street
Albemarle
Puerto Villamil

Great hotel and has a pool which made it so much better

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Transfer to Quito Airport, Arrival to Galapagos & Highlands of Santa Cruz
Transfer to Quito Airport, Arrival to Galapagos & Highlands of Santa Cruz
Ecuador

Our host Astrid was very nice and helpful. She was patient with us and answered all our questions. Lunch in the highlands was delicious.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station
Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station
Puerto Ayora

Learned lots of stuff, very interesting and Astrid our guide was very nice.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Excursion to an uninhabited island
Excursion to an uninhabited island
Ecuador

We went to Barrolomé. We had a stop first with a little walk, it was at noon and there is no shade. The guide was making stops along the way to explain things but climbing steps at noon with no shade was terrible. Would be better if they explained on the boat so we could do the walk without stopping. The snorkeling part was amazing, wish we could have had more time.

Quality of Experience
Food
Bigger portions
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Snorkel at Los Túneles
Snorkel at Los Túneles
Ecuador

Best tour we had on our trip. The views are amazing, nice guide he even took photos and gave them to us. Captain even let me drive the boat for a while.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kayaking & Snorkeling at Las Tintoreras
Kayaking & Snorkeling at Las Tintoreras
Ecuador

Nice activity. The guide was not very helpful though, wouldnt explain much and seemed king of mad. Beatifil views though and the penguins were amazing.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Linda Schulz
Linda
Linda Schulz
Local specialist in Quito | Replied on Apr 27, 2024
Mariela,
thank you so much for your feedback about your trip! I am happy to hear that you enjoyed the activities and hotels, and I am sorry that you were affected by the current power outages here in Quito! Hotels, restaurants, etc. are getting prepared as best as they can to handle the situation, and we hope that soon everything will be back to normal.
Looking at your photos, I can see that the four of you have spent a few memorable days on the islands, with lots of snorkeling, wildlife...
Read more

Mariela,
thank you so much for your feedback about your trip! I am happy to hear that you enjoyed the activities and hotels, and I am sorry that you were affected by the current power outages here in Quito! Hotels, restaurants, etc. are getting prepared as best as they can to handle the situation, and we hope that soon everything will be back to normal.
Looking at your photos, I can see that the four of you have spent a few memorable days on the islands, with lots of snorkeling, wildlife encounters, and laughter :)
Hopefully, you can return to Ecuador one day to explore other parts of the country as well!
All the best for you, María José, María del Carmen and Laura!
Warm regards,
Linda

Excellent Ecuador trip
Galapagos Islands | Feb 15 - Feb 23, 2024

E
Erin T.
Canada | Reviewed on Mar 13, 2024

Good planning by Mathias. Everything went smoothly. Our guide in Quito was knowledgeable, and accommodating to our requests
The five day cruise booked in Galapagos was excellent

Local specialist: Mathias Onisseit
Mathias
Mathias Onisseit
Local specialist in Quito, Ecuador | Replied on Mar 15, 2024

Dear Erin,

Thanks a lot for your feedback! I'm happy to hear that everything went smoothly during your trip, including the interesting and flexible city tour in Quito and the wonderful cruise in the Galapagos. If you have any future travel plans for exploring the mainland of Ecuador (Andes, Rainforest, Pacific Coast), please don't hesitate to reach out!

Always safe travels,
Mathias and the team from Authentic Ecuador

EcuadorThe trip was excellent as we got to ...
Ecuador | Feb 16 - Feb 24, 2024

N
Nina S.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Mar 03, 2024
Ecuador The trip was excellent as we got to see both the old town and the new town of Quito. The country side of both the mountains and jungle gave us interesting perspectives of the culture. We enjoyed eating at the local places that our guide recommended. And a special shout out to Ramona, our simian assistant who enjoyed taking free rides on our families shoulders. Read more

Ecuador

The trip was excellent as we got to see both the old town and the new town of Quito. The country side of both the mountains and jungle gave us interesting perspectives of the culture. We enjoyed eating at the local places that our guide recommended.

And a special shout out to Ramona, our simian assistant who enjoyed taking free rides on our families shoulders.

Hotel Reviews
La Casona de La Ronda
Quito

Nice breakfast, nice location to restauramts

Authenticity & Character
Location
Close to restaurant
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Sangay
Baños de Agua Santa

Cabanas did not match the identity of the hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Good complete breakfast
Location
Close to town.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kuyana Amazon Lodge
Archidona

We liked the space in the middle of the rain forest.

Authenticity & Character
Very authentic food and living. Fun monkey chilling there as well
Location
It’s in the jungle
Staff
Staff very helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tambopaxi Cotopaxi Lodge
Parque Nacional Cotopaxi
Authenticity & Character
Cows
Location
It’s in the National park. Not near anything
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Patio Andaluz
Quito

Breakfast was terrible. Location was ok but not really close to restaurants.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Mathias Onisseit
Mathias
Mathias Onisseit
Local specialist in Quito, Ecuador | Replied on Mar 12, 2024
Hola Nina, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful review! I'm thrilled to hear that you and your family had an excellent trip exploring Quito, the Andes, and the rainforest, It's fantastic that you found the places you visited to offer intriguing perspectives on the local culture. I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed the culinary experiences at the local places recommended by our guide. Exploring the authentic flavors of a destination is such an integral part of the... Read more

Hola Nina,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful review! I'm thrilled to hear that you and your family had an excellent trip exploring Quito, the Andes, and the rainforest, It's fantastic that you found the places you visited to offer intriguing perspectives on the local culture.

I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed the culinary experiences at the local places recommended by our guide. Exploring the authentic flavors of a destination is such an integral part of the journey, and I'm glad it added to your overall experience.

And I'm glad to hear that Ramona brought an extra layer of joy to your Amazon adventure!

We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back to explore Ecuador's other treasures in the future.

Safe travels!

Best,
Mathias & the entire Authentic Ecuador Team

We had an amazing trip to the Galapagos :)
Galapagos Islands | Feb 24 - Feb 28, 2024

C
Celia M.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Mar 01, 2024
Linda and team were amazing in planning our custom trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos! My husband and I had a fantastic time and (almost) everything was taken care of for our 5 day trip that included Santa Cruz and Isabela islands. It was really nice to not have to worry about any transfers, have our itinerary planned out for us, and to stay at great hotels. Finch Bay on Santa Cruz island, Galapagos was AMAZING, as were all the tour guides, drivers, and escorts that interacted with us through... Read more

Linda and team were amazing in planning our custom trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos! My husband and I had a fantastic time and (almost) everything was taken care of for our 5 day trip that included Santa Cruz and Isabela islands. It was really nice to not have to worry about any transfers, have our itinerary planned out for us, and to stay at great hotels. Finch Bay on Santa Cruz island, Galapagos was AMAZING, as were all the tour guides, drivers, and escorts that interacted with us through the company.

We loved the activities we did, and Linda did a great job taking our preferences into account. She is super communicative, friendly, helpful, and responsive, including when we had some last minute requests / change of plans. Highly recommend!

Hotel Review
Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel
Puerto Ayora

Seriously beautiful and incredible hotel. Very luxurious, beautiful, and peaceful. Staff are excellent and very on top of things, accommodating, and friendly. Food is delicious too -we loved the breakfast buffet! It's also great that they have a gym, and you can rent wetsuits and snorkel gear for free. We only wish we stayed longer here!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Linda Schulz
Linda
Linda Schulz
Local specialist in Quito | Replied on Mar 01, 2024

Celia, it was a pleasure to help you plan your trip, and I am very happy to hear that you have enjoyed your time on the Galapagos Islands, and especially your stay at Finch Bay Hotel! Hopefully, you can come back one day to explore other islands and other parts of mainland Ecuador as well :)
All the best for you and Phil, and safe travels in the future!
Linda

The trip was absolutely perfect! The staff,...
Galapagos Islands | Feb 1 - Feb 9, 2024

I
Ivey O.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Feb 16, 2024

The trip was absolutely perfect! The staff, food, excursions, boat etc were the best. We loved every moment. Thank you

Local specialist: Mathias Onisseit
Mathias
Mathias Onisseit
Local specialist in Quito, Ecuador | Replied on Feb 27, 2024

Hi Ivey,

thanks a lot for your feedback! I'm happy to hear that you and Richard had a wonderful time here in Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands and that you enjoyed every moment of it.

I hope there will be another opportunity for you to visit Ecuador, to live more unforgettable moments in the many other breathtaking locations!

Always safe travels,
Mathias & the Authentic Ecuador team