Travelers Testimonials

General Comments About Adventure Life

Ken Keaton (Encounter Panama, Feb 2008)
This was our fourth trip w/AL...a returning customer is a satisfied customer, and you folks are the best I\'ve encountered.

I continue to be amazed that, in Central and South America, you manage to convince the drivers to be precisely on time (to quote Wade Davis, there are no train schedules in Columbia, only rumors). The two guides for the Embera (Kenny) and Barro Colorado (Wendy) were delightful, fun, and knowledgeable.

I have to comment on the local crafts -- the cocobolo and the tagua carvings of the Embera, their magnificent, intricate weavings of baskets, and the Molas of the Kuna. Some of these were amazingly beautiful, executed with magnificent skill. It was an honor to visit the people and have them share something of their lifestyles with us. Obviously, we were delighted.

You don\'t provide an option for the experience exceeding expectations, or I\'d have checked that one. Adventure Life has done it again. This was a great trip!

Danielle Anna Bernard (Rainforest and Ruins, Belize, Mar 2008)
Excellent, Marissa Jensen and Monika Sundem were amazing! They were so supportive and helped me every step of the way. Without them my trip would not have been as wonderful as it was!

Both accommodations were wonderful! I was so happy with the service, the staff was excellent and the excursions were great!

I can\'t wait to book my next trip! The only problem is, with all the great choices its hard to choose which one to do next!

Billie Thompson (Machu Picchu Pilgrimage, Mar 2008)
WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE HOW KNOWLEDGEABLE AND HELPFUL THEY WERE. ANGEL WAS SO FRIENDLY, HE IS GOING TO SEND ME SOME OF HIS PHOTOS AS MY CAMERA WAS STOLEN BETWEEN NEW YORK AND LIMA, AND THE CAMERA I BOUGHT TO REPLACE IT DIDN'T TAKE AS GOOD OF PHOTOS AS HIS. ALSO HIS SPEAKING THE PRE-INCAN LANGUAGE WAS A BIG HELP WHEN WE STAYED ON THE ISLAND WITH A HOST FAMILY. CAN I ADOPT BORRIS, OUR CUSCO, SACRED VALLY, INCA TRAIL GUIDE? HE WAS OUTSTANDING! HIS KNOWLEDGE AND ENTHUSIASM WAS OUTSTANDING. HE WAS PERSONABLE AND FRIENDLY, AND MOST HELPFUL IN WHAT TO PACK FOR THE TREK. ALSO, SOME OF US WERE NOT FEELING OUR BEST, I HAD THE BEGINNINGS OF A COLD, PROBABLY FROM ANOTHER TOURIST WHO DEVELOPED STREP. BORIS HAD A DOCTOR CHECK US,AND THEN MADE SURE WE HAD THE RX HE PRESCRIBED. WHEN I STARTED TO GO UP SOME OF THE STEEPER PARTS OF THE TRAIL ON MY HANDS AND KNEES, BORIS WAS RIGHT BESIDE ME AND TOOK MY HAND. SOME PLACES HE ACTUALLY PULLED ME UP THE STEPS, OTHER PLACES HE HELPED ME DOWN AND STOPPED ME FROM FALLING 4 OR 5 TIMES. I TOLD HIM HE WAS TAKING AS GOOD CARE OF ME AS MY SONS WOULD. WITHOUT HESITATIO, HE SAID, "FOR THIS TRIP, I AM YOUR SON." HE IS A CREDIT TO YOU AND A VERY NICE PERSON. I THINK GOD PUT HIM WITH OUR GROUP BECAUSE HE KNEW I WOULD NEED HELP AND BORIS IS STRONG AND ABLE TO HELP WHOEVER NEEDS IT.

WE HAD THREE DIFFERENT DIET REQUIREMENTS IN OUR GROUP. THEY ... Read All

Michael Wood (Islands and Incas, Mar 2008)
Fantastic to be waited on at airports like that! 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!

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. I was particularly impressed that in both Peru and Ecuador you need to get a university degree to become a registered guide. What a difference from 'guides' we've seen elsewhere where we often knew more than them.

We've never been on a guided tour before - always done our 'own thing' - so we approached it with some trepidation of being herded like sheep. Our fears were completely groundless and the end result was fantastic. Not herded but gently guided, educated and informed. How much we would have missed seeing and understanding without their assistance. We were very lucky to be a group of only ... Read All

Lorrie Ledesma (Galapagos 10 day tour, Cormorant II, Mar 2008)
This was truly a life-changing experience. I was very impressed with the Ecuadorian government's efforts to preserve the wonders of this magical place, and keep it in its natural state. The tour was the perfect blend of activity, learning, and relaxation. We were very well cared for, and had a GREAT time.

The crew was awesome. They learned all our names, and greeted us by name. The crew went out of their way to make us feel comfortable and welcome. When they heard that this trip was in (belated) celebration of my birthday, I came back from the next afternoon's shore excursion to find the common area festively decorated with balloons and streamers, and a special dinner and cake prepared in honor of my birthday!

The trip was everything I could have hoped for, and more. Adventure Life delivered on all its promises, and then some. I would happily work with you guys again, in planning and arranging another trip.

Everyone with whom I had contact, before and during the tour, was friendly, professional, and responsive. I have really enjoyed working with Adventure Life Journeys, in both the planning and realization of my dream Galapagos trip. The fact that you guys are mindful of and employ ecotourism and Leave No Trace practices means a lot to me, and was significant in my selecting you as a company I'd like to work with in arranging this and subsequent ... Read All

David Kreindel (Taste of Argentina and Iguazu Falls, Apr 2008)
This was one of the best trips I have ever taken. The tour leader was highly knowledgeable, professional and flexible. There is no way we could have seen and experienced this without a trip like this. The scenery we saw, the people we were introduced to and the overall experience is one I will not forget. The cooking lesson was a very nice addition to the overall experience. The food was excellent - we were able to experience local specialties and wines - all were beyond expectations.

Michael Jarvis (Galapagos Multisport, May 2008)
My wife handled all the pre-trip communications and was always very impressed with the courteous and prompt responses from your representatives. Your outfit was informative and easy to work with.

We enjoyed our stays on the three islands (San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, and Isabela) very much. The rooms were clean, well kept, and not on a boat! We felt our island/tour experience was much more rewarding based on land rather than boats.

I can\'t say enough good things about our tour leader Sebastian. I\'ve never met a more friendly and knowledgeable person with \"people skills\" to boot! He made us feel like we were his first and only tour every day. His arrangements for eating out always provided us a taste of the local cuisine and were outstanding.

I had some reservations about traveling through South America at first but after experiencing this tour, I had a wonderful time and would recommend it to anyone. This tour never had a dull moment. We were always on the \"go\" doing something! The trip was everything advertised and more. The small group we were part of (8 people in all) fit very well together and made the whole experience that much better.

Christopher Jackway (Adventure Pacifica, May 2008)
Everyone was more than helpful. Any question was answered promptly and thoroughly. We nearly had to change our plans due to an injury before we left, and your staff worked tirelessly to get us accommodated. Luckily we were able to go with our original itinerary.

We liked the variety of accommodations, and every place seemed to fit nicely with the environment we were visiting. The food was excellent and the staff always went out of their way to help.

Our guide Clarence was phenomenal! When we take another tour we will request Clarence. He was knowledgeable and insightful. He was able to point out things of interest and add culture to any situation.

From the moment our driver picked us up, to the time he dropped us back at the airport we were impressed by the people, the culture, the food, the accommodations, and the thoroughness of the planning involved with our trip. It was flawless! My wife is a former travel agent and she continues to rave about the quality of planning and execution of our trip. It was her first time doing many of these things and even she can\'t stop talking about it. We will definitely be back and bringing friends!

Molly Delamarter (Manco Multisport, May 2008)
We felt very supported as we planned for this trip.

I was very impressed with the accommodations, even the tents, believe it or not, seemed very clean (and bug proof) and it was nice to feel as though things were well planned. Each of the places we stayed were very welcoming and prepared for us.

Our guide Juan Barrios went above and beyond. Starting off by telling us that he was, \"our guide, our bodyguard, and our friend\" made him instantly likeable, and then his experience made this trip look effortless from our standpoint.

The food was exceptional. The cooks were VERY professional, and we were continually surprised at the variety and wonderful flavors that they provided.

I have never traveled with a tour company before, and the things that surprised me the most were all of the special extras that we could not have anticipated. A short tour here or there that lent insight to the bigger picture as we approached Machu Picchu, the guide\'s personal thoughts and experiences having lived in the midst of an evolving story of the past, and the feeling of camaraderie as you experience the challenges of this type of high-altitude adventure with your fellow tour-mates. We had an absolute blast!

Tuan Cheng Ch\'ng (Mundo Maya, May 2008)
Adventure Life staff were professional, prompt and thorough - it gave me a great impression leading towards the commencement of the trip.

We spent the most time with Hugo (Lemus), i.e. 5 days. He thoroughly impressed us with his professionalism, enthusiasm, intimate knowledge of Guatemala and sensitivity to our needs. Most so, I was struck by his sincere and warm want to introduce and share with us about his country.

I love the way Adventure Life immersed us fully in the Guatemala culture and life. Besides showing us the great Guatemalan tourist highlights, we got opportunities to get off the beaten track (and away from where the other tourists flocked). For example, we stayed with a traditional Mayan family in a village in the highlands and was able to more intimately understand their lifestyle and culture ... and we made a few wonderful friends!

Beth Sullebarger (Machu Picchu by Train, Jun 2008)
Our trip to Peru was the most wonderful we have ever taken. The Andes are astonishing! We saw many Inca ruins, amazing mountains, engaging people, public markets, beautiful valleys, and exotic animals, and to top it all off— Machu Picchu on the winter solstice. Dave and I are very grateful to our personal guide, Edwin Vasquez Salas, who shared countless compelling scenes, experiences and ideas. He took excellent care of us and provided enlightening insight into everything we saw.

The trip was extremely well-organized, so that each experience built on the previous one. Each day the sights got more and more dramatic, and our accommodations got better and better, so that by the time we reached Machu Picchu we were ready for our “peak” experience. As we lined up to catch the bus up the mountain before dawn, we were treated to a tableau with full moon and glowing Venus framed in the sky by the dark silhouettes of soaring peaks. Watching the sun come up over the mountain and hit the sun dial was an unforgettable moment.

Our guide was indispensable; he performed above and beyond his regular duties on several occasions. After I ruined my camera by dropping it in a salt flat, he took many photos on his cellphone/camera and emailed them to us at the end of the trip. When my credit card was “eaten” by an ATM as a security guard was closing the door to ... Read All

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.

Catherine Pendlebury (Galapagos Cruise: Corals, Jun 2007)
The Casa Aliso is a beautiful hotel. This was the best tour ever and will be hard to top!

Hannan Family (Custom Costa Rica, Jul 2007)
We wanted to make a last-minute change and really appreciated Adventure Life accommodating it, especially when it involved two lodges and a change in transportation time. The trip was wonderful, very relaxing, but plenty to do when we wanted to. Marcos, who drove us to and from Puerto Jimenez, was great about stopping to show us wildlife - he pointed out monkey and crocodiles!

Marianne Kutz and Antal Szijj (Guatemala Custom Tour, Jul 2007)
We were so pleased and thrilled by the amount of effort your staff went through to take care of EVERY detail and request on our custom tour, from the birthday wine to finding specialized birding guides. It was perfect! Very organized, yet flexible to our needs every step of the way. We couldn't have been happier with everything.

(Wendy Morgan (Guantanamera), Aug 2007)
Wendy Lee Morgan

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One of the reasons I finally choose Adventure Life was the feeling I got when talking to your representatives. DarAnne was enthusiastic and helpful in picking out the right trip for my family. Marissa was very efficient in processing our travel info. This is the first time I have every done something like this over the internet and I always felt secure.

We loved the boat (Guantanamera). Again, the staff was so nice and our guide(Victor Mendia)was knowledgeable and had a gentle nature. The Hostal de La Rabida was perfect! My son said it felt like home. The staff was very nice and even had breakfast for us at 5am when we needed it! Our favorite was the Sacha Lodge. My husband is telling everyone it is the most amazing thing he has ever done! The lodge, the setting, the accommodations and the staff were amazing! But, I must say the person that really made it most amazing was our guide, Gustavo Recalde! He was knowledgeable, fun and made us feel special! He really tailored the experience to us! It was amazing!

As you can tell, we were extremely happy! I will certainly recommend Adventure-Life and vacationing in Ecuador!

Wendy Lee Morgan (Galapagos, Guantanamera yacht, Aug 2007)
One of the reasons I finally choose Adventure Life was the feeling I got when talking to your representatives. DarAnne was enthusiastic and helpful in picking out the right trip for my family. Marissa was very efficient in processing our travel info. This is the first time I have every done something like this over the internet and I always felt secure.

We loved the boat (Guantanamera). Again, the staff was so nice and our guide(Victor Mendia)was knowledgeable and had a gentle nature. The Hostal de La Rabida was perfect! My son said it felt like home. The staff was very nice and even had breakfast for us at 5am when we needed it! Our favorite was the Sacha Lodge. My husband is telling everyone it is the most amazing thing he has ever done! The lodge, the setting, the accommodations and the staff were amazing! But, I must say the person that really made it most amazing was our guide, Gustavo Recalde! He was knowledgeable, fun and made us feel special! He really tailored the experience to us! It was amazing!

As you can tell, we were extremely happy! I will certainly recommend Adventure-Life and vacationing in Ecuador!

Katie Egerton (Machu Picchu by Train and Wildlife Odyssey, Oct 2007)
A wonderful once in a lifetime experience. It was everything we expected, and better than expected in most parts!

I will definitely recommend Adventure Life to people planning to travel in South America. The standard of accommodation, tour guides and the fact that we could rely absolutely on being managed in transition was fantastic.

Abhijit Ghosh (Machu Picchu Pilgrimage, Nov 2007)
I had all the information I needed for the trip. Colin answered all my questions in a timely manner. Very impressed with the responsiveness of the team.

This was a great trip, one of the best I have ever been on. Peru is a magical country that everyone should visit, and the Inca trail and Macchu Pichu are so beautiful that I cannot describe them in words. You guys have an excellent crew there and Ayul Acuna has got to be one of the best guides there is. What can I say about him? Let me think. Excellent. Fantastic. Funny. Knowledgeable. Friendly. Quirky. Weird. Hilarious. Great communicator. I have not met a better guide in my life.

The porters and the rest of the crew on the Inca trail were fantastic. They were incredibly helpful. They cooked us great meals, and they set everything up so well. We are immensely grateful to them. Even the food on the Inca trail exceeded my expectations. I mean this is not 5-star camping, this is like ultra-luxurious camping.

This trip was everything I expected, perhaps more!

Pam and Brian Layzell (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Feb 2006)
We not only enjoyed the activities and sites that we visited but also the way that the tour was conducted with respect to supporting the local economy. This allowed us to become more intimate with the people, their culture and their way of life. This could not have happened on a typical vacation, or if we would have planned the trip ourselves.

Dennis Riordan (Galapagos Category 1 Cruise - Angelique + Sacha Lodge, Mar 2006)
Amazing! The duration of my trip was one month - and this was my first international travel experience! With Adventure Life I always knew someone was there for me. What a great comfort! The trip was far beyond my expectations!!

Dot Meola (Hamanasi Adventure + Ambergris Caye, Mar 2006)
This was our second tour with Adventure Life and it was so relaxing and fun. We were very confident going to Central America knowing that everything would run smoothly. We had a great mix of adventure and relaxation, and are trying to decide where to go next!

Mary Hilton (Galapagos Category I Cruise (Angelique), Mar 2006)
Thank you so much for making this somewhat inexperienced world traveler feel so confident. The trip to the Galapagos changed my worldview and the trip went so smoothly. I had a wonderful time!

Larry Brassem (Machu Picchu by Train, Mar 2006)
As a rule, we take beach type and cruise trips. This was our first "adventure"-type trip. We loved it! There is not a better way to integrate into the local culture.

Elinor Petusky (Inca Pathways, May 2006)
Everything went off like clockwork and everyone took great care of us. Our guide was great - knowledgeable, caring, competent, enthusiastic and good company.

Thank you for organizing such a wonderful and carefree adventure for me and my friends. We will talk about it for years to come!

Sheila Babbie (Incas and Rainforest + Nazca extension, May 2006)
I typically travel solo, but after this trip I may never plan again! You made everything simple and painless.

Gerald and Judith Porter (Guatemala Explorer, Jun 2006)
We have done extensive adventure travel prior to this trip, and we would rate this as the best organized trip we have taken. We'd be happy to highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this type of travel.

Ann Astrove (Adventure Pacifica, Jun 2006)
You were the first site on the Internet that I looked at. I was so impressed with the amount of information and how thorough it was that I hardly looked at any others. Even though this was my first time traveling with a travel group/company, I felt comfortable with my choice based on the support of your staff and the supply of details. I'm looking forward to another trip!

Christopher Nurko (Independent Testimonial - Inca Trail, Jul 2006)
Dear Adventure Life -

I would just like to compliment your company on one of your guides for the Inca Trail. I booked my trip with a competitor firm but while on my trek met one of your guides named Vidal. I was happy with my tour guide - but was impressed with Vidal and his knowledge, friendliness and concern for trekkers other than his "clients". As it turned out - I became friends with his trek clients through him which enhanced my experience and visit. However -the most impressive thing was his concern on the final day of the trek for a girl who had fallen and injured herself (a torn ligament). Vidal helped her to receive medical attention at Machu Picchu, he carried her backpack, and generally lent assistance - and he wasn't even her guide! To me - this is a professional - and one who well represents your firm; plus it is the true spirit of Peru - kind, helpful and not only in search of tourist dollars! I hope you may be able to commend him or reward him. Next time I will consider Adventure Life on the basis of his representation of your firm!

Christopher Nurko

London, England

Bonnie and Joseph Lamphere (Rainforest and Ruins - Belize, Jan 2005)
We did things, went places, and saw things we never would have otherwise. This was not the "same old vacation" - and we had fun! I don't think that we've ever dealt with a travel company that took so much care with its customers. Usually, once the money is paid for a vacation, you're pretty much on your own. But we never felt that way at all with Adventure Life. There was always a resource person available and we really appreciated that. Thanks, we had a great time!

Annie Gage, Barbara Green, and Corey Greengage (Beaches and Rainforest, Feb 2005)
The trip was wonderful! We had so much fun. Selva Bananito was just amazing.

Stewart and Maryann Shaw (Earth, Fire, and Water, Mar 2005)
The tour was marvelous! This was the first time we used a tour company to plan our vacations, and we felt really catered to. Having a guide who was so knowledgeable made the trip so relaxing. We didn't have to worry about where we needed to go to next or if we would have problems with the language barrier, so it really took the pressure off of us!

Jeralyn O'Brien (Awesome Argentina, Mar 2005)
Adventure Life put together a great trip, did all the planning and work, and I just enjoyed! It really was an awesome trip and I would definitely be interested in traveling with your company again!

Christoph and Nancy Schachinger (Beaches and Rainforest - Costa Rica, Apr 2005)
This is the best vacation we have ever had!!! The trip wasn't what we expected - it was better! We are not "tour" type of people, and so we were apprehensive about the trip at first. But we never felt that we were part of a tour group during our time in Costa Rica. Everything was perfect and we can't imagine going anywhere in Latin America without going with Adventure Life!

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.

Jill Montgomery (Galapagos Luxury Cruise - Eclipse, Nov 2005)
This was one of the best trips we have ever taken! It is the first time we have traveled with a company making the arrangements for us - we usually travel independently. We loved what Adventure Life did for us and we would not have seen or done so much as independent travelers.

We hope to spend more time in the future traveling to South America, and we now would not attempt to do so without Adventure Life making the arrangements!

Brenda Simmons (Guatemala Explorer, Dec 2005)
I've never had such a well-executed tour anywhere, anytime! Traveling in a third world country is generally a crapshoot, at best. Adventure Life made it an amazing adventure!

Tuhin Sen (Machu Picchu by Train, Dec 2005)
This was our second trip with Adventure Life. We couldn't believe it, but this trip even outdid our first one! There really is no equal when it comes to South American vacation packages. Please keep up the good work!

Suzanne Bland (Reefs & Cayes + Mayan Mysteries + Adventure Pacifica +Peru Custom, Feb 2004)
I had a fantastic trip. I was extremely impressed by all the tour guides Adventure Life had selected, the accommodations, meals, tours, and the whole organization of my trip. It was far better than I could have hoped for. Thank you for organizing it so well. I also recommended Adventure Life to many other travelers along the way as they were impressed with the activities I was doing and how I was able to fit so many tours together without one single problem all the way through.

Scott and Pamela Orton (Mare Australis + Iguazu Falls, Apr 2004)
Having private tours and small group expeditions is the only way to do this type of trip. While others were herded like sheep, we were given hands on experiences such as tasting medicinal bark and learning to use lichen as dye.

Joyce Able (Wild Tambopata, Jul 2004)
On the final day of our trip Sandy said, "I can't think of any way to have made this trip better." Neither could I. The Wild Tambopata 7 Day trip was absolutely fantastic!!!! When we signed on with Adventure Life, we did it with some apprehension. After all, I had found Adventure Life by doing an internet search. All we really knew about Adventure Life was what was written on the web site. Truth or fiction? We have the answer to that question now- truth!...From the time we were picked up at the airport in Puerto Maldonado by our guide, Gaby, and our driver we felt in good hands. Gaby was our guide during the time we were in the Amazon. Almost unbelievable.... If I were to plan another trip to any part of South America to which Adventure Life arranges trips, I wouldn't have to do another internet search. I'd go straight to Adventure Life!

Marc Simon (Beaches and Rainforest, Dec 2004)
I just want to tell you that we had a fantastic time and thank you for the great job Adventure Life did on putting our trip together. I don't know how you found the places and people that you connected us with, but they were awesome. Your people even pulled us through when our luggage did not arrive with our international flight by coordinating its retrieval. We will definately keep you in mind for a future trip. It was one of the best things we've done together as a family, and a trip we'll be talking about for many years!

Price Family (Adventure Pacifica, Dec 2004)
This was the best trip we have ever taken! We had never done a tour before, but after this experience we would go on another. Everything was perfect and we felt pampered, informed, and well-cared for. Our guide took care of any arrangements that needed to be made along the way, so we were free to enjoy the trip. It was an "adventure" and a true vacation in every sense of the word. Thanks for making our trip so very special!

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Evan Hughes (Machu Picchu Pilgrimage, Jan 0)
Our guide, Ayule, was so passionate and informative and generous. We got along with all the others in our group so well. I definitely would recommend Adventure life to anyone considering this type of trip. This was a truly amazing trip, I think my best holiday/vacation I have ever been on. Physically challenging but so rewarding and getting engaged at Machu Picchu was pretty cool too.

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