Ecuador/Galapagos Testimonials
We had a great trip! ... The guides were good and the facilities were very nice. Morning pick-up and travel to the airport went smoothly, the air trip to Baltra (Galapagos) was fine... The cabin on the Coral II was very nice and the crew was great. The daily schedule of trips and snorkeling was well organized and the naturalist guides were knowledgeable and attentive.
The trip back to Quito and hotel check-in went smoothly. Our new guide, Eduardo, was personable and knowledgeable. He gave us some suggestions for the next day's free time and we ended up taking a cab to the Plaza Grande and walking around in the old section of Quito.
The next day Eduardo picked us promptly and we headed to Mindo... The local naturalist/guide from the lodge was wonderful! The two birdwatching walks we took were great for both bird and plant identification. Overall, the trip was great! The accommodations were very good as were the side trips and other attractions. Thank you for the good work in putting this trip together.
Geoff H.
Idaho
Galapagos Cruise and Mainland Ecuador, April 2013
The Kleintours people were great. Each and every driver and guide was great. I became friends with one of them and all were terrific.
The Legend was wonderful. I think the factor of being on a bigger boat was a plus. More stable, more facilities. My friends who went on a small (20 passenger) boat talked about being bounced out of bed by waves. We rolled but didn't bounce. On the Legend my teenage son found several families with teens, which was nice for him. With fewer passengers the odds of that drop.
Dan M.
Denver, Colorado
Galapagos Cruise and Mainland Ecuador, June 2012
Just a quick note to thank you for the arrangements for the recent trip. Everything went flawlessly. The weather wasn't always fully cooperative, but nevertheless the students had a great trip. The guides, Dario and Carlos, were excellent and very efficient.
I will book through you again for a repeat trip in May 2012.
Mark B.
Florida Institute of Technology, USA
Galapagos Island Hopping, May 2010
The Galapagos was actually the second tour I have taken with AWR. The first was Tanzania where I reached the summit of Kilimanjaro and toured the Serengeti as part of an African safari. Both trips have been true life experiences, and I attribute much of the success to AWR’s coordination and scheduling.
The Galapagos is best experienced aboard a larger boat (100-person), and while I took the three night version I recommend the four- or seven-night. Of course, the three night/four day left me wanting more which is the best sign of a great vacation. While you may think a larger boat creates crowded situations with lines and congestion, this was not the case at all. The boat is organized, and there are two trips a day to the islands providing extensive time viewing the animals and feeling Darwinesque. Yes, the blue footed boobies do have blue feet, and yes, the iguanas do actually swim. Words do not describe the experience, and pictures do the booby’s feet an injustice. Do not leave this earth without the experience!
When you depart the boat a two-night stay at the Finch Bay Hotel is a must for all travelers. From the airport on the Galapagos, it takes two car rides, two boat rides, and a 200m walk to arrive at the hotel. The entire time one curses, convinced a Motel 6 awaits. Quite the opposite, the Finch Bay Hotel has all the modern conveniences only with the Galapagos as the backdrop. The rooms are air conditioned, the bar fully stocked, the pool at the beginning of the beach, and the staff extremely accommodating. Dare I say the J.W. of the Galapagos?! Better still, only a 200m walk, boat ride, and car ride away are the gigantic turtles the size of Mini Coopers. Walking about the turtles, even after having been to the Serengeti, I felt as if I was in Jurassic Park. Even the sounds were similar -- would you believe the turtles actually hiss?!
While these trips are not inexpensive, the experiences will last with you much longer than any dollars saved. AWR packages the trips and handles all concerns professionally and promptly. The only bad decision is the decision to not go! Bon voyage!!!
Roger S.
Washington D.C., USA
Galapagos and Ecuador, January 2009
[The Galapagos cruise was] wonderful..the personnel were professional and knowledgeable, the boat was fantastic. The trip was incredible...great guides, great people, guests, at both places [Galapagos and Selva Lodge]...it was super!!!!
Shari and Pete
Galapagos and Deep Amazon
December 2007
