Ecuador Tours & Travel

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-- Amazon Adventure --

Marti de Metropolis (Amazon Adventure, Sep 2008)
Marissa was outstanding. she suggested that I bring educational items and info about my home for the Huaorani community. Fabricio, our guide handed them out. It was a touching experience!

The guides, Febricio, Arturo and Name were beyond excellent. Strong, capable, talented, intelligent, friendly only begins to describe them. I felt safe in very difficult times. Arturo is an outstanding cook. He wanted us to experience the foods of his country. Way more food than I could eat!

It was an adventure trip turned high adventure. Mother Nature and the unpredictable made for a trip that could have been a disaster had it not been for the capable guides and porters! Safe at home, I'll always remember this as my most exciting true adventure.

For true adventure treks, Adventure Life offered very capable guides to keep us as comfortable and as safe as possible. The best of the Amazon rainforest came from those unforeseen times. I've traveled the world and intend to keep going. I'm impressed with Adventure Life and those who you contract with!

Jocelyn Martin (Amazon Adventure, Aug 2008)
Sebastian, our guide, was amazing - he had an easy charm that put us all at ease and made us feel safe on the water and in the jungle. He really knew and understand the Huaranis and the nature of the land.

Andy at Shiripuno Lodge was an amazing guide. he got really excited talking about the plants in the jungle and what they are used for. Our guide at Bellavista was amazing too - he got more excited than we did when he spotted birds.

The tour was an amazing trip. We got to be in the wilds of the jungle without sacrificing comfort or safety. I would recommend it. Amazon Adventurer was sort of like being on Survivor with a personal Chef and group commaraderie. I was really impressed at how environmentally sound everything we did was. The whole trip was about preserving the rainforest, not cutting it down to make it more easily accessible.

Pamela McCarthy (Amazon Adventure, Mar 2008)
Shiripuno Lodge was probably the coolest place I have ever stayed. What an incredible experience!

Alex, our tour leader in Quito, was really great. He was super friendly and knowledgeable and interacted really well with the high school students. Fabricio, our guide in the jungle, was amazing. He really did make our experience one that we would never forget. I also was extremely impressed that a local Huaorani came with us. That was probably the best part of the trip.

This trip was seriously one of the best trips that I have ever been on. We really got a taste of the local culture and environment and learned a lot about the Amazon.

Marcus Frank (Amazon Adventure and Machu Picchu by Train, Sep 2006)
I can't say enough good things about our guides, particularly Washi, who I know consider a friend in Peru. He helped us with good local restaurant selections, and even invited us for a rare delicacy prepared by his mom-cuy. All the guides brought their culture to us by sharing their wealth of knowledge, experience, and other local interactions that helped bring Peru closer to us. Victor had a haunting way of finding things at night in the jungle that was simply amazing. I also came to realize how much trust and comfort there was in his presence as he navigated us through the jungle paths and the waterways. Your guides are the best! Overall, the tour was very good and we will definitely use Adventure Life again for future South American travels.

Narcisse Bakhsh (Amazon Adventurer, Aug 2004)
2004 was wrapping up without any major adventurous trip to seal it and that is not a detail to overlook! Sooooo, I stared imagining the world with all its treasures and fascinating places to discover. I pulled out my magic lamp, started rubbing it hard to wake the genie up & have him plan my next journey. In other words, I typed "traveling in the Amazon" on Google! Ha! Just looking at the list of travel choices gave me a high, similar to what a shopaholic would feel in a mall, the day after xmas!

STOP

After a bit research, I found the perfect trip: Ecuador, 8 day kayaking trip on the Amazon! Wooohooo! Hey, the saying: "if you wish for something hard enough, it could happen" is actually true! Such a simple, yet rich trip - a river and a jungle, the Amazon. Easy to imagine, yet mysterious trip - only paddling all day, what kind of trouble would I get into? Relaxing, yet nerve wrecking - sound of nature and nothingness, the indigenous tribes and the gizillion flies. I was sold! Ecuador August 2004 was going to be my next adventure!

Since keeping the best for last is not a rule I follow: I willl share it with y'all now: My best friend and partner in crime, Maria decided to join me. What a blessing, without her this trip would not have been as fulfilling and exhilarating as it became.

August 22, 2004, Maria and I head to Quito, Ecuador.

As soon as we got ... Read All

Debbie Dyson and John Goss (Amazon Adventurer, Jan 2004)
Excellent! Felipe (guide) was great at sharing info. Arturo was wonderful at organizing equipment, food, etc...Thanks for a great trip!

Dave Layne (Amazon Adventurer, Jan 2004)
Both Arturo and Felipe wer terrific! Couldn't have asked for better people. It was amazing how much and how well prepared the food was on a camping trip. Arturo did a great job.

Susan Willis (Amazon Adventurer and Galapagos, Jan 2003)
Alfredo was an excellent kayaking guide. On the river, I felt totally safe, had a fun, amazing experience...Thank you for providing amazing experiences for my son and myself.

John Sainato (Bellavista Lodge and Amazon Adventurer, Aug 2002)
Richard and Gloria, owner/managers of Bellavista, treated us like family from the first moment we arrived, until dropping us back in Quito after our visit. Bellavista was so relaxing and educational; I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Ecuador.

From Bellavista, we moved farther into the interior of Ecuador and deep into the rainforest of the Amazon Basin. Here we would spend the next week camping and kayaking on the Shiripuno River and visiting with the Huaorani, an endangered tribe of indigenous people who make their homes in the rainforest. During this very adventurous week our guides Alfredo, Fabriso, Raoul, and Moi shared with us an experience that could never be matched.

All in all, I would have to say that the time I spent with my son this summer was the best thing I ever did and will not soon be forgotten. I highly recommend to any parents feeling a distance growing between themselves and their children, spend some time completely removed from distractions, one on one with your child. The rewards of doing this will far outweigh the expense.

John Geary (Amazon Adventurer, Aug 2002)
I've taken several guided trips similar to this one, with many different companies, and in many different locations - in Belize, Africa and Canada - but this trip provided, without a doubt, the best service I've ever experienced from a tour group. Alfredo and his guides were friendly, down-to-earth and real, going way above and beyond the call of duty that is so important in customer-service industries. They were very knowledgeable, educating us about the area and its people. And the gourmet jungle feasts were fantastic!

- John Geary, freelance travel writer/photographer

Amanda & Joseph Berglund (Amazon Adventurer, Jul 2002)
Alfredo brought everything we needed for camping & the Galapagos boat was lovely. Everyone was there to meet us as expected. Alfredo was great and knowledgable. The local guide he hired, Stanley, was wonderful. The crews on both trips were great.

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-- Andes and Amazon --

Brigitte Feicht (Andes and Amazon, Sep 2007)
The Andes and Amazon trip was our first trip to Ecuador. We travel frequently in North America, Europe and Asia independently so this was our first trip with a guided tour and we were pleasantly surprised what a wonderful time we had exploring this beautiful and diverse country under the knowledgeable and personal guidance of our Ecuadorian tour expert. Summarizing this trip in a couple of sentences will not do justice to the lifetime memories we will treasure from this trip for years to come which were made possible by a flawless tour itinerary and organization and enriched by our personal tour guide Luis “the adventure boy,” an incredible young man wise beyond his age. He not only graciously and competently filled the language gap for us, but he also shared his grandfather’s stories about the legends and gave us insights into the daily life and customs of living and growing up in Ecuador.

Besides enriching our learning about Ecuador with historical and cultural data, Luis proved to be invaluable for the demands of traveling around: He negotiated with the laundry places for us, recommended restaurants or activities, made sure we found the right buses, departure points, and connections without any problems and he always knew where to catch the taxi transfers for the haciendas. We enjoyed to travel on the public bus instead of a bus full of American ... Read All

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-- Ecuador Adventurer --

Robert Digney (Ecuador Adventurer, Oct 2008)
The accommodations were great. Love the Hotel Rabida in Quito (rabbit mascot was great). Hot Springs were fantastic. Bellavista Cloud forest was great too.

By far the most friendly, knowledgeable & articulate tour guides in all my trips.

Food was great the entire time. Cooking during the trek was fantastic. Meals at the lodge were great

Alycen Lacombe (Ecuador Adventurer, Jul 2008)
Diego Altamirano for our biking and rafting was extremely friendly and was a wonderful guide. Luis Miguel on our camping was very accomodating and an excellent guide. The chef on our camping trip, Patricio, was so nice and made sure we had everything we needed. The porters and other crew members were extremely friendly.

Todd Beel (Ecuador Adventurer, Jan 2006)
On a scale of 1 to 10, this trip was a 10! You did a wonderful job. I love Ecuador and am hoping to go back next year.

Michelle Carrie and Brian Scott (Ecuador Adventurer, Oct 2002)
The organization of the trip was seamless. Each day unfolded exactly as planned. Bravo to Adventure Life...This trip is well suited for those who want an active, fast paced trip. We were a little apprehensive about our safety on this trip, but those fears were extinguished when we saw all of the safety precautions adopted by the local guides. (ie when biking, we were followed all day by a van in case of emergency or if we needed spare parts for the bikes. On the rafting days, a kayaker paddled ahead in case rescues were required.). Thankfully, we never needed the van or the kayaker but it was just nice knowing that they were there! The final day at the hot springs was the perfect finish...time to indulge in a well deserved massage.

Peggy Doekson (Ecuador Adventurer 16 day, Jan 2001)
This trip was the sort of trip I love- I learned loads, met people to continue connecting with and  moved through Ecuador in a just right "insiders" way. I was introduced to the very best of Ecuador...I have never had such a short trip that I had so many stories to tell-it seemed like we lived about a year in our short time...I think the  variety of accommodations from hacienda to hostel was excellent!

Tanya Smith (Ecuador Adventurer 16 day, Jan 2001)
Very Organized! Very enthusiastic leaders,…excellent knowledge, very accommodating, very friendly and helpful.  Everything at the jungle lodge was superb! The trip was more than I expected, much more!

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-- Finch Bay Eco-Hotel --

Sean Yutzy (Finch Bay Eco-Hotel, May 2008)
I do not think that the snorkling was given enough print time in any of the books reviewed for the regular traveler.I was able to swim with seals, sea iguanas, sea turtles, penguins and several species of sharks. None were fed/baited or harrassed in any way. We saw manta rays jumping out of the ocean and a large school of dolphin swam with the boat for 20 minutes. We stood on cliffs and watched black tip sharks attack schools of mullet. The hotel was great, food-great, guides-great, tourists--well, just OK but for me the ocean was worth the price of admission. I think that for those who might not be interested in taking 300 more pictures of the "different" iguanas on the next island the ocean produced diversity and excitement without going to the hassle of scuba.

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-- Galapagos Multisport --

Barbara Lewis (Galapagos Multisport, Oct 2008)
Rebecca & Renee answered all of my husband's MANY questions promptly and with great information.

I would recommend this to to anyone that wants an adventure filled (aka non-stop) vacation.

We had the most awesome time. The other members of our trip were great and a joy to travel with. The trip was everything that I expected and more. Snorkeling with baby sea lions was extra special.

Rodney Lewis (Galapagos Multisport, Oct 2008)
Our tour leader, Fabisimo, was the best and despite him being sick during the trip, he never complained and did more than necessary to make the trip great for all of us.

Overall, could not have asked for a better trip which was our second with your firm. We'd recommend your trips to all of our friends. Exactly the adventure we read about and planned for. We went to bed each night, exhausted and happy.

We thought our previous Adventure Life trip to Costa Rica was great but this multisport to Galapagos was even better. The activity plan was well laid out and our guide was outstanding.

Rhea Guertin (Galapagos Multisport, Sep 2008)
Our Guide Alfredo was just the best. The local guides were good also helpful. Both went out of their way to be helpful to me.

The trip was just what I expected. We saw and did what we wanted. I have always wanted to visit the Galapagos Islands and was very happy to find a land based tour . Being able to see more of the Islands by the diverse activities was very good. Seeing up close a sea lion nursing her young was just great. Getting to see the birds I had only read about and the snorkeling was spectacular.Seeing things I didn\'t expect like the Galapagos Air Force( Blue footed boobies diving in formation) was a highlight. As you can see I did ENJOY!

Jennifer Lile (Galapagos Multisport, Jul 2008)
The standard pre-departure material sent to us was very helpful, but we especially appreciated the quick, personable responses from Adventure Life staff whenever we called or emailed with a question.

Every hotel was amazing--far better than we expected in every way. In fact, we've never stayed at nicer places in all of our travels. We almost felt a little guilty! Our absolute favorite was Casa Opuntia ...the rooms, the food, and the service were perfect. We honestly could have stayed forever.

Alfredo spoiled us for all other tours ... I can't imagine anyone leading a tour better than he does. He had the knowledge and skills of a seasoned guide (which he is) but the enthusiasm and passion of someone just starting out. He was funny and approachable, and he always welcomed our questions. He not only said that it was his job to make us happy and comfortable, but he always made sure that we were. He even took me surfing during an afternoon of free time, which cut into his own free time! We would love to go on ANY tour he's leading ... I have no doubt he's one of the best guides in the business.

The tour exceeded every expectation we had. We'd never been on a tour before, and we were actually concerned that it would feel restrictive after traveling in Ecuador for nearly a week on our own. It turned out to be exactly what we were looking for: action- and ... Read All

Nathan Pajor (Galapagos Multisport, Jan 2008)
It was better than expected. We feel like the land based tour of the Galapagos was the ideal way to experience the islands. We loved every part of it. Jan, our tour leader in the Galapagos was excellent. He did a great job explaining things and making things interesting.

Lisa Marie Jagielski (Galapagos Multisport, Aug 2007)
Having traveled with Adventure Life last year and having a great trip I had high expectations of this one as well, but it far exceeded them! I cannot say enough good things about our guide Fabricio. He was friendly, very enthusiastic, knowledgable and more than competent. When we had a plane delay and were short on time, he always had a plan B. When he saw we all had had enough of the ocean, after getting seasick on the boat from Santa Cruz to San Cristobal he again had a plan B for us. He was very alert and responsive to our needs, sometimes he knew what we needed even before we did. He far exceeded my already high expectations!

Again I don't really have the words to describe how great this trip was other than to say I had very high expectations and it far exceeded them. When I go on vacation I want to have fun, be active and see new things. I want to go to bed each night exhausted from a full day of activities. I got to do all of this on this trip. The Galapagos Islands are an amazing place. The animals are unique. The terrain and plants are so wierd it seemed like we visited other planets at times, not just another part of the world. I can't recommend this trip or Adventure Life enough!

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-- Galapagos Multisport --

Chris de Esparza & Marejka Shaevitz (Galapagos Multisport, Dec 2007)
We didn't come in with a lot of expectations, except to have lots of fun. Outside of that, we've described to our families and friends that this trip felt like a page right out of National Geographic or a scene right out of the Discovery Channel.

We had Luis as a private guide for day trips to Otavalo and Mindo - and he was an absolute delight to have with us. In addition, we had Juan Fernando as a tour leader on the Galapagos - and he was a fantastic guide. He was personable, friendly, flexible, brought a sense of humor, knowledgeable, responsible, and overall excellent. As for local guides on the Galapagos, our favorite guide was "Gallo" on Santa Cruz Island - his knowledge and experience were unsurpassed, and his laughter was contagious.

The variety of activities was exactly what we were looking for. We also appreciated the pace of this trip - there was always something to see or do. Our trip leader was particularly helpful in helping us brainstorm ideas for things to do during our free time (e.g. a spontaneous hike to observation decks on San Cristobal, a sunset swim at Tortuga Bay on Santa Cruz island, etc.).

Larry Hardoon (Galapagos Multisport 10 Day, Mar 2007)
"In a nutshell - we had a GREAT trip from start to finish. The driver who picked us up early Sat morning to take us to the airport was very friendly and conscientious. He stayed with us until we were checked through on to our flight to the Galapagos. David who picked us up in San Cristobel and was our guide for the first day was really friendly, knowledgeable, and similarly conscientious. He provided a wonderful introduction to the Galapagos and we enjoyed our first day's activities (hiking and snorkeling) very much. For the next seven days of our trip, Sebastian Jurado was our guide. He really did a FABULOUS job with our group. We couldn't have had a better, more enthusiastic, friendly, personable, conscientious, competent, knowledgeable, guide. The kids truly enjoyed his company and we and they spent extra time with him outside of the planned agenda. I'm sure that one of the reasons we had such a good time was our good fortune in having Sebastian all to ourselves. He was able to devote 100% of his attention to us. He arranged everything perfectly. Since we were the entire group, flexibility was totally possible. His English is really perfect, though the kids conversed with him in Spanish much of the time. They all only spoke English for my benefit (I studied French). The planned activities were terrific. We enjoyed a couple of great long ... Read All

Kevin and Janet Conway (Galapagos Multisport, Dec 2006)
This was a five star tour and we had a great time! We loved our guide, Miguel, in fact we want him to be the guide on our next trip.

Pepi Leids, Taylor, Wyatt, and Cody Buchalter (Galapagos Multisport and Otavalo & Banos, Jun 2006)
Accomodations on Santa Cruz, Isabella, and Quito were excellent. Our guide, Alfredo, was the best. He loves kids and my nephews had a blast. He made the trip in the Galapagos really fun!

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-- Hiking Galapagos --

Renate Johnson (Hiking Galapagos, Oct 2008)
Our tour leader Sebastian was very informative about Galapagos and caring about everyone's welfare in our group.

Pepe at Hotel Optunia on San Cristobal is a great cook!!! Great view. Staff at Hotel Fernandina very helpful with phone calls and e-mail. Casa Marita on Isabella had a great view and beautiful sunset!!!

Gayle Kearns (Hiking Galapagos, Jun 2008)
Very impressed by the whole experience. I have traveled extensively and Adventure Life was A-1 in all areas. I was most impressed with the travel guides, Sebastian and Jan that stayed with us in the Galapagos. I learned SO much from them about the wildlife, culture, etc. They were very patient with all our questions and demands. I talked to them about a return trip and look forward to visiting the islands again in the future.

Laura Read (Inca Pathways, Jun 2008)
Teddy contributed hugely to our enjoyment of the trip. He was fun, knowledgeable, responsible, thoughtful. He fit perfectly with us as a traveling companion, and gave us many laughs along the way. Also, his enthusiasm about architecture, history, birds and flowers is wonderful.

Susan McLeland (Hiking Galapagos, Mar 2008)
I cannot say enough good things about our guide, Sebastian. He is personable, enthusiastic, organized, friendly, knowledgeable, encouraging, and above all else, patient. He made sure that we fit in as many once-in-a-lifetime activities as possible at the same time that he worked to balance every member of the group's individual needs. Everywhere we went the locals greeted him with real enthusiasm, and I can understand why. It speaks well for your company that you attract such competent, compassionate and spirited guides.

I didn't want it to end. We loved all of the activities and really appreciated Adventure Life's agents taking care of the details so we were free to just enjoy them. We'll always treasure our memories of this tour. Thanks for providing us with an adventure that was exciting, challenging, fun and educational for every member of our family.

Nevokshonoff Family (Hiking Galapagos and Sacha Lodge, Dec 2007)
I'd recommend this tour to anyone interested in Ecuador. We feel that we were able to get an excellent overview of the country in a very short period of time. The trip was well organized and each guide was well informed and obviously well trained. The tour was everything we expected . . . and more. I never thought for an instant that I'd ever swim with hammerhead sharks!!! It was crazy, and with my wife, and 10 and 12 year old kids, too. Fantastic.

Kris, Mollie, Lucas & Aidan Jensen (Hiking Galapagos, Nov 2007)
Our trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos far exceeded our expectations. We have never done a packaged 'tour' before and were concerned it would lack spontaneity and privacy. The reality was the quality of the guide, the well-thought out agenda and attention to detail provided an experience we could never have created on our own. Our kids (10 and 7) will remember this trip for its adventure, culture, animals, great food and friendly people. We could not have asked for more. Outstanding!

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-- Islands and Incas --

Robin Storey (Islands and Incas + Cruise on Coral II, Sep 2008)
Teddy, our guide in Peru, was terrific, and the naturalists in the Galapagos were knowledgeable and very friendly. Everyone else who helped us with our travels were wonderful.

Especially enjoyed the barbecue dinner. Food was plentiful - not gourmet but adequate. Snacks following our outings were appreciated!

Important to pack lightly; be prepared for tourista and consider how you'll deal with the altitude (we took Diamox which worked well so we had no problems). While in the Galapagos, you are very out of touch with no news, internet and little cell phone coverage. That can be very relaxing but good for people to know that in advance. Very disappointed with the international cell phone we bought to use on our trip. Make sure you have lots of memory cards for your digital cameras! Fellow travelers were great and it was fun to meet people from all over the world. For most of your time in the Galapagos, there are no stores so don't think you can pick up what you need in a shop.

James Storey (Islands and Incas + Machu Picchu by Train Tour + Cruise on Coral I, Sep 2008)
Our guide in Peru,Teddy Romero, was excellent - a real wealth of historical, archaeological, and naturalist knowledge. The naturalists in the Galapagos were very good too.

The total experience in the Galapagos was fabulous. The boat was very comfortable and the crew was very nice and accommodating. We had day after day of jaw dropping sights and otherworldly vistas. The naturalists were very good and made sure that we saw all the various animals and learned about their habits. There was a good mix of hikes, beach walks and snorkeling. Each island had its own unique wow factor. A real photgrapher's paradise. I was very happy with the way we saw the Inca lands. Some people took the train right from Cusco to Machu Picchu and back, but by taking the car trip through the sacred valley, we say far more and got a much better appreciation of how extensive the civilization was. We spent the night in Ollantaytambo and even got to hang out in the town square for the Friday night festival. My compliments to whoever arranged for us to get the two front seats in the train to Machu Picchu - with full plate glass window view!

Michael Wood (Islands and Incas + Machu Picchu by Train Tour + Cruise on Millennium, Mar 2008)
The assistance with the Galapagos flight check-in in Quito (which is complex, confusing and poorly signed) was particularly invaluable. Two guides just dealt with it - one getting the passes and one dealing with the luggage while we just stood and boggled. Amazing service. We also arranged an on-the-fly unplanned city tour when we arrived in Quito. Your local office dealt with it instantly and the guide even called ahead and got a museum to stay open late for us - wow!

I can't praise all the guides enough. Always helpful, always friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Their enthusiasm for their countries and their profession was infectious. These were people who enjoyed what they did and were proud to do a good job.

You seem to have a good and well deserved reputation locally. We had an absolutely fantastic time and would unreservedly recommend you to our friends.

Suzanne Stroh (Island and Incas (Legend), Aug 2007)
I can't say enough good things about our experience in Peru. It is so culturally rich and colorful and such a physically beautiful country. Our time there was handled very smoothly. What really opened our eyes to Peru was our wonderful guide, Washington Gibaja. Actually, he was beyond wonderful! He is pleasant, knowledgeable, thoughtful, considerate, organized, flexible, sincere, and helpful. He has a lively sense of humor, shares his cultural heritage with proud enthusiasm and lives the principles of helping others every day. Washington shared many Inca traditions and stories, gave us both Quechua names, and generally put a human face on what it means to be the descendent of the Inca culture working to preserve the best of the traditional ways in these modern times. I can truly say that meeting him may prove to be life-changing as I think about the ways I might continue to be associated with the principles he shared with us! Visiting Peru with Washington as a guide made me feel that I would return in a heartbeat.

In the Galapagos portion of the tour, the food was excellent and has dining room service to match. The MV Galapagos Legend is the best-run cruise ship I have ever encountered. The ship itself is gleaming white, clean and polished, attractively and comfortably furnished. The transportation back and forth on the pangas is done with ... Read All

Kathie Keane and Grace Becton (Islands and Incas 13-Day, Dec 2006)
Our guides made our trip wonderful!

Casey Kaptur (Islands and Incas -- Beluga, Oct 2006)
The Adventure Life Incas and Islands trip was excellent. Every aspect was as good or better than we had hoped. The Adventure Life contacts were always where they needed to be, pick-ups were prompt, the hotels were very nice, and the tours excellent.

I can't say enough good things about Ayul Acuna. He was a superb guide, but perhaps even more importantly, just a wonderful man who obviously took great pride in his country and his culture. He made our tour of Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Macchu Pichu a tremendous success.

Thanks for a great trip!

Rick and Barbara Desautels (Islands and Incas (Fragata), Dec 2005)
We had an exceptionally great trip! Our guides, both in Peru and the Galapagos, were excellent - very personable and very knowledgeable. All of the members of the crew on board the Fragata were exceptionally cheerful and helpful.

Clair and Jonson group (Islands and Incas (Eric/Letty/Flamingo) + Kapawi Lodge, Jul 2005)
The staff on the trip was great. Our transfer person in Quito even helped us by running back to get our camera that we forgot at the hotel! The tour was amazing. It was more than we expected in so many ways!

Jonathan Siekmann (Machu Picchu by Train + Inti Raymi, Jun 2005)
The tour was everything we expected and more! Peru is such a charming country. I really appreciated the values and spirit of Adventure Life. I got a sense of them from the website, and the reality on the ground reflected my expectations.

Jonathan Siekmann (Machu Picchu by Train + Inti Raymi, Jun 2005)
The tour was everything we expected and more! Peru is such a charming country. I really appreciated the values and spirit of Adventure Life. I got a sense of them from the website, and the reality on the ground reflected my expectations.

Layman Family (Salcantay Trek + Peru Amazon, Jun 2005)
What a fabulous trip! Everyone was warm and friendly, especially to our nine-year-old twins! Adventure Life does an outstanding job of finding the best local operators who made our tour so special. Thank you!

Mike Rossell (Inca Pathways, Jun 2005)
I had never visited South America before, so I wasn't sure what to expect! Likewise, I hadn't realized how much there would be to see and experience. It was very helpful that our guide was a Cusco local - it was so nice to have this local knowledge. On other holidays the tour guide has often been an enthusiastic European who quotes from guidebooks, so this was a welcome change! The best part of the holiday for me was probably the Puno/Lake Titcaca area.

Frances and Robert Gillis (Islands and Incas - Fragata, May 2005)
Our trip was excellent! If we had custom made this trip, it would have been the same as what we experienced with this tour package. We were surprised at how comfortable and relaxing it was on the boat. We were also pleased with the quality of and the quaint character of the hotels. Our guide in the Galapagos was very knowledgeable and his love of nature and his work was contagious! Our Peruvian guide was also exceptional. His shared not only his knowledge of his country but also his spirit and devotion to his land and his people. He made us feel like more than just tourists! What else can we say? You provided us with the perfect blend of creature comforts, nature, and activity. We were lucky to have found you!

James and Christine Ryan (Galapagos Deluxe Cruise - Cachalote, Mar 2005)
The tour was excellent! The crew on the Cachalote was the best!! We loved every minute with them.

Jennifer Nicole Miller (Islands and Incas, Dec 2004)
I would recommend your comany to my friends. Peru was filled with color, from the people to the food. I enjoyed the markets in Cuzco Pisac. Ollaytaytambo and Machu Picchu were very spiritual places. It was wonderful to have two full days for Machu Picchu. Galapagos is a biologists paradise. I hope to go back again with you. Our trip was, without a doubt, one of a lifetime.

Susan Karpeil and Martin Stanley Karpiel (Islands and Incas, Dec 2004)
In Cusco we had the extreme pleasure of being guided by Ayul. By far the best guide we have ever had our 30 years of traveling. He was knowledgeable, but not too much, fun, exuberant, entertaining, very athletic and compassionate. We cannot say enough good things about Ayul. As I mentioned earlier, he is the best guide we've ever had (we have been to 82 countries) so I have a good basis for comparison.

Lisa Urness (Islands and Incas, Oct 2004)
Thank you so much for a fantastic adventure! My husband and I will never forget it! Peru was an enchanted land, both culturally and scenically. Ayul Acuna was incredibly enthusiastic and introduced us to all aspects of Peruvian culture and antiquities with such humor and charm. We have no doubt that we would have missed many fascinating places had we chosen a different tour. The Galapagos leg of our tour was great fun and very relaxing. The Fragata is a wonderful yacht and the food was excellent. We have been home less than 24 hours and I'm already planning our next trip with Adventure Life to Costa Rica - I'm not kidding!!

George and Mary Beth McClain (Islands and Incas, Oct 2004)
This tour was better than we ever expected! We look forward to another "adventure" with Adventure Life. What else can I say? We kept pinching ourselves to make sure we weren't dreaming. It really was a much better trip than we though it was going to be. We had a wonderful time. THANK YOU ADVENTURE LIFE!

Brad Heric and Tara Parker (Islands and Incas, Jul 2004)
A life adventure. A fantastic honeymoon. A whole new world - well, three worlds we explored and loved. Thank you for making it go so smoothly for us!

Gregory Morrison (Islands and Incas + Sacha Lodge, Jul 2004)
Ayul in Peru was perhaps the best guide I have ever had in tours of >16 countries. He did tons of extra research and brought materials to heighten his oral presentations. Ayul was Superior!!! I understand why your company gets rave reviews. I concur.

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-- Sacha Lodge --

James Kuhn (Sacha Lodge, Aug 2008)
The accommodations at Sacha Lodge were great, the food tasty and plentiful, the guides knowledgeable and effective, and the social experience rewarding. The amount of physical activity was challenging but manageable and exciting. This is a once in a lifetime experience and I highly recommend it.

Barbara Ash (Sacha Lodge, Aug 2008)
It was a dream come true for me. All the staff were very helpful and was very patient in answering my questions which I am sure I asked more then once before I went. I saw birds , sloths, an Anaconda and yes I swan with piranhas and cayman. I am sixty eight as of yesterday and was able to do all the hikes, climb the tree, and the tower, which for me is a very big deal since I am not crazy about heights. Thank Thank you Thank you

Tara Rodarte (Sacha Lodge + Machalilla National Park, Dec 2007)
Everyone at Adventure Life was great! Thank you very much for working through my itinerary and getting all of my requested activities in. Sacha Lodge was wonderful! I would highly recommend it. Can't say enough about the Sacha Lodge staff, cooks, etc. They work hard and behind the scenes to make the lodge comfortable and accommodating. What was one of the most notable aspects...the food! Very tasty! Mantaraya Lodge was also incredible -- clean, great views and very friendly staff.

All the guides were very knowledgeable and showed an enthusiasm for the country and their culture. They shared personal stories making the walks and activities engaging.

It was a wonderful and amazing holiday! Ecuador is a beautiful country with many landscapes. The Adventure Life agent made great suggestions, which allowed me to spend time at the beach, trek Cotopaxi, and explore the Amazon. Perfect mix!

Acaba Family (Sacha Lodge, Apr 2007)
Our tour leaders were awesome!! The crew was very friendly-just fabulous and outstanding service. This tour went beyond our expectations.

David & Turalu Murdock and Wyatt Gould (Sacha Lodge and Otavalo Market, Jun 2006)
The guides were friendly, helpful, enthusiastic, and willing to accommodate our desires and wishes. Our 11 1/2-year-old grandson also enjoyed it! It was a perfect mix of freedom and aid through guides and drivers. We have been in the rainforest and the Amazon before, and this was the best rainforest adventure we have ever had.

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-- Wildlife Odyssey --

Roberta Koenig (Wildlife Odyssey trip with a Galapagos cruise on the Millennium, Jul 2008)
Our accommodations were excellent at all points along the tour. Our hotel in Quito was good, and we were very impressed with Sacha Lodge and the Millennium. Food, accommodations, services, etc.

Our two guides at Sacha Lodge were great. They managed to tailor our hikes to our capabilities and we were able to see and do all we had intended to. They were friendly, informative and just very willing to lend a hand, especially when I got stuck in the mud.

The food was marvelous. I had hoped to lose a few pounds, but it didn't happen. Sacha Lodge had some of the best food I've tasted outside of a 5 star restaurant. Some of the recipes were unique, but delicious. Three desserts at lunch and 3 different ones at dinner made many of us weep.

Gail and Abigail Malone (Wildlife Oddyssey: Legend, Apr 2007)
The tour was superb. Sacha Lodge was unforgettable, and Pinsaqui was gorgeous. We felt coddled- every detail was attended to. I would use Adventure Life again without hesitation.

Christina Lemes (Wildlife Odyssey and Galapagos Cruise aboard Sulidae, Dec 2006)
I was blown away, especially at the hacienda in Otavalo. Hotel Eugenia was very charming and I loved the Sulidae and Sacha Lodge. All of my tour guides were excellent and extremely helpful. I am recommending this tour to everyone I know. I am highly satisfied with Adventure Life and my tour experience.

Dotty Woodworth (Wildlife Odyssey , Aug 2006)
The pre-departure support from Adventure Life was excellent. I called with a question about items for the orphanage and got excellent information. I loved every minute and my photos have made all of my friends jealous.

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