Ecuador trip review
Ecuador
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Sep 9 - Sep 28, 2026
Ariel was great to work with, and he made it very easy to plan this somewhat complex three-week trip, spanning almost the entire length of the country, including a week in the Galapagos Islands. His attention to detail was much appreciated as well as his perfect English language skills. We did all of the planning quite easily through email communications and the kimkim ap. We eventually were able to meet him in person in Quito on our first day. Authentic Ecuador was the in-country tour company that contracted with our personal guide on the mainland, Sebastian, who also turned out to be a fantastic host. He was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable, friendly and fun, and a very skilled and safe driver. He really helped us to better understand and truly appreciate our Andean adventure. The week in Galapagos was more self-exploration and joining up with other tourist groups for snorkeling and boating activities to view wildlife. Park sanctioned guides were also very well trained and knowledgeable.
Hotel Reviews
Clean. comfortable and quiet!
This is a great place to stay and probably our favorite of the entire trip. Not super fancy but overall perfect.
Good location to walk around town and even had a view of the waterfall.
Would have preferred to be more on the outskirts of town.
Good location to walk around town.
Very nice garden and vibe. Staff were excellent, especially Franklin.
Pretty standard fare for a big city airport hotel. We didn't spend much time here, but breakfast was good and we were able to walk to the airport for our Galapagos flight.
Great to be on the lagoon and so close to the beach. Staff was very accomodating.
Activity Reviews
Very touristy and not as interesting as the historic Quito City tour.
We adjusted this hike to better fit in with a visit to the Zumbuhua market. Did a hike in Isinlivi the following day which worked out well.
Do not bypass Quilotoa, a absolutely gorgeous spot.
Cajas hike was very nice and a good leg stretcher.
Viviana was our sanctioned guide who met us at the airport and David was our driver on Santa Cruz. Lunch was great and the tortoises were amazing. Lava tubes were interesting.
Good to experience the volcanic zone.
A nice adventure even in the rain. Darwin was a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide and boat crew was great.
Saw lots of wildlife on this activity. Micheal was a good guide.
Actually preferred visiting the market in Zumbuhua as it was more authentic and less commercialized. The hike at the Cuicocha Crater Lake and stop in Cotachi for leather shopping were good.
Dear Scott,
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! It was a pleasure helping you plan your three-week adventure across Ecuador and the Galápagos, and meeting you in person in Quito was a highlight. I'm happy to hear that Sebastian made your mainland journey so special and that your time in the islands was just as memorable. Hope to welcome you back again :)
Warmly,
Ariel