Kimkim Trip Reviews for Ecuador

This is a long overdue review of a trip we made to Ecuador together with my friend Ewa in April this year. It was one of the best trips I have ever experienced in my life. Our trip was very professionally planned and organised by Mathias, who remained patient and cool even with our very late feedback [SIC!] or constantly changing ideas. Something we are certainly very grateful for.
Our itinerary included Galapagos, Cuenca, Ingapirca, Baños, Cotopaxi, Yasuni National Park and of course Quito and all of this in just … 13 days.
Galapagos is considered one of the world’s wonders for a reason with its beautiful landscapes, exotic creatures big and small, unspoiled nature, all of it makes the visit a once in a lifetime experience. We were staying in the Ikala hotel in Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz. It is a nice, family run hotel, clean with very friendly staff and an excellent restaurant. The hotel offered an early breakfast to go which was a very good idea when heading for day long boat trips to uninhabited islands (Bartolome and Seymour Norte in our case). Exploring Santa Cruz was also an adventure in itself and we were happy to have an extra free day on the island to explore Puerto Ayora and visit the stunning Tortuga Bay. I would also highly recommend a short, half a day visit, to a coffee farm which turned out to be a chocolate farm and aguardiente production site at the same time. Coffee, chocolate, and alcohol in one place, what more could one possibly dream of?
From Galapagos we headed back to the mainland. Cuenca is a unique example of the Spanish colonial architecture with a very vibrant community. We had an opportunity to visit the Panama hat factory, as well as several workshops in the villages nearby, continuing centuries long tradition of local crafts, such as jewellery making, textiles or ceramics. In moments like this you wish you would bring an extra bag or two to be able to bring back home more of those wonders. This was also an excellent opportunity to have a lot of interesting conversations. In Cuenca we stayed in the Hotel Boutique Santa Lucía which has a unique historic charm and a very good restaurant. From Cuenca we went to the archaeological site of Ingapirca, a place to visit if you like history and would like to learn something more about the soul of Ecuador. We visited Ingapirca in rain and fog, but it only added to the experience of mystery and contemplation.
Our next stop was Baños, where we got lucky with the weather, and we could admire the stunning views of the mountains and take advantage of all possible tourist attractions. A visit to the waterfalls is a must. We continued our trip through the volcano road to the bottom of Cotopaxi, again an unforgettable experience topped with a very nice meal at the nearby restaurant. My only regret was that we could not stay longer to do some longer hikes in the area.
The final stop of our trip was visiting the Yasuni National Park and Napo Cultural Center. I would never have thought that I would feel at home in the jungle. Yes, it is hot and humid and there are plenty of insects but the welcome by the local community, its unique hospitality and the unspoiled beauty of the place made an incredible impression on us. The accommodation was simple but clean and comfortable. We made several trips to the jungle (especially a night walk which was an experience in itself) with experienced local guides who were very keen on sharing their knowledge. The eco-lodge provides for the local community allowing it to remain close to the lifestyle of their ancestors and natural environment. It also provides for the local school where children can learn three languages (Kichwa, Spanish and English) which we found very impressive.
As we entered and departed Ecuador through Quito, the guided city tour was an excellent way to end our visit. While in Quito we also had an opportunity to visit the Oswaldo Guayasamín museum, which we would recommend visiting to anyone interested in arts and culture.
On our way back to the airport, a taxi driver asked us what we liked the best in Ecuador, I went speechless, but Ewa brilliantly replied: “gente” – people. We were so very lucky to meet extremely kind and welcoming people all along our journey, proud of their heritage but curious about others. This is why our special words of appreciation go to our two very special guides: Astrid and Milton. Astrid was our guide on Galapagos, and we could not have been luckier! Astrid is very knowledgeable, full of energy and has a sparkling personality; visiting the turtle refuge and the coffee farm with her was a real pleasure. We also haven’t enough words of praise for Milton our guide in Cuenca and further up through the avenue of the Volcanos. Milton is an excellent guide, a great companion, with a sense of humour who is never tired of the strangest question. Even in the most challenging of circumstances, as some parts of our journey were quite difficult because of the weather conditions and heavy rainfall when we had to take a detour around the Pan-American highway through the steep and muddy mountain roads, he kept his cool and we always felt very safe.

the kimkim www site provided a good way to coordinate the planning of the trip among the 6 people in our party.

Drivers and Guides all showed up as planned. Big shout out to our guide Danny (of responsible travel) as he was a wealth of knowledge on the history and culture of Ecuador. Our guide, Miguel, at Husaquila Lodge in Amazon was excellent. Our driver Segundo was excellent.

Great excursions around Banos. Great hike to base camp on Cotopaxi.

All hotels/accommodations were comfortable and helpful.

All three of our guides (and Sabastian's father, Alejandro) services were above and beyond any expectation I had. The guides were incredibly knowledgeable about their, country, politics, the flora and fauna, and as an added bonus, where entertaining with fantastic personalities.
Sabastian and Sergio were especially memorable due to the incredible places they took us and their knowledge, and personalities.

Hotel Review

Casa de Vista Alta

Mindo

We arrived in the amazing setting of the Casa de Vista Alta and were warmly welcomed by Ester. The entire casa is intimate, warm, immaculate, well appointed and has an amazing staff. Our room was beyond words. The meals we had there were delicious and beyond plentiful. The bird watching was top notch. My only regret was not spending another day there.

Authenticity & Character

The way it was nestled in the Cloud Rain Forest and the staff.

Location

Staff

Ester was so helpful and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Immaculate! Wonderful towels and robes in the room.

Activity Reviews

The Adventure Continues - Hiking Day at Cotopaxi National Park, departing from Quito

Ecuador

Sebastian prepared us well for this adventure. I was a bit nervous since I hadn't been higher than the Matterhorn in Switzerland. He stopped for a warm tea before driving us up to the parking lot for Cotopaxi. The little store we stopped at was charming. I was thrilled by the experience of walking a 100 feet at that elevation, in the stormy elements of the day. On the way down we stopped at the park's cultural center. Sebastian briefed us on the exhibits in the center. We also stopped at a charming and memorable restaurant for a late lunch. There was a "petting zoo" on the grounds of the restaurant. We all were thrilled feeding the lamas the vegetables provided by the restaurant.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sebastian is an amazing driver, driving us for many hours on all sorts roads and driving conditions. I always felt safe. Also, he tells amazing stories while driving.

Transport

The van was incredibly well taken care of, clean and comfortable.

Napo Cultural Center experience

Yasuni National Park

What amazing memories I have from this part of our adventure! It was the complete package with lots of information on the area, the culture, the animals, plants, birds, insects. The people were warm and gracious. Our guide Sergio aka "Tyson" was incredibly bright, informative and a delight to be around. He made our experience in the wonderful setting of the Napo Cultural Center unforgetable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sergio was top notch!

Transport

There were so many means of transport and they all served us well.

I had a fantastic once-in-a-lifetime holiday in Ecuador - thanks to kimkim! Our local specialist, Mathias, was very accommodating as I had many requests and questions. He was responsive and flexible in setting our itinerary. He was also in great communication with us throughout our trip. I appreciated that we worked with many local tour companies throughout the trip, supporting the local economy and experiencing the culture of Ecuador. I highly recommend kim kim and I am grateful to Mathias for making our holiday memorable, fun and rewarding!

Our guide in and around Quito, Sebastian Carrera, was spectacular.
Our guide in the Galapagos, Vivianna, was good, just not the enthusiasm of Sebastian.
Our guide in the Napo Cultural Center, Sergio, a/k/a, Tyson, was another outstanding guide.

Hotel Reviews

Ikala Quito Hotel

Quito

The hotel was fine, just nothing stellar to recommend. Their breakfast was good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa de Vista Alta

Mindo

The setting of this Casa is absolutely incredible. Our room was large and comfortable. The meals were excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hacienda Pinsaqui

Otavalo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Galapagos Suites

Puerto Ayora

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Napo Cultural Center

Quito

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Mitad del Mundo - Mindo

Ecuador

Sort of hokey. Not worth the stop.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mindo Cloud Forest & Otavalo

Mindo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cuicocha Lagoon Hike & Otavalo Market & Quito

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Teleferico - Quito City Tour

Quito

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Adventure Continues - Hiking Day at Cotopaxi National Park, departing from Quito

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Santa Cruz Island: Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station

Puerto Ayora

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Pinzon Island & La Fé

Puerto Ayora

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience the Pristine Beauty of Galápagos Islands: Discovering an Uninhabited Island

Puerto Ayora

Took the day off so didn't participate.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cycling at Cerro Mesa Reserve & Kayaking at Garrapatero Beach

Galapagos Islands

The cycling was fun but not long enough. The wasn't anyone at the beech to let us kayak so we didn't.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quito - Coca - Napo Cultural Center

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Napo Cultural Center experience

Yasuni National Park

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Indigenous community - Mama Cuna Path

Yasuni National Park

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sacred Wayusa Ritual, Goodbye and return to the City (Yaku Kausay Experience)

Yasuni National Park

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tamer was an INCREDIBLE travel agent for our trip to Ecuador! He was all we could ask for:
1. Very attentive to our needs and wants for the trip
2. Patient when I needed time to make decisions for the trip
3. Helpful in giving us tips to prepare and pack for the trip
4. In contact with me daily during the trip to make sure we were well taken care of.

So pleased with his service and I highly recommend him to help you plan your trip to Ecuador!

Hotel Reviews

Patio Andaluz

Quito

Great location, wonderful breakfast, beautiful building. Two story room for the 4 of us which the kids loved!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Fiesta

Puerto Ayora

This hotel left a little to be desired. Staff in the front lobby was not helpful. Rooms were clean at first but a bit dingy and run down. Location was nice bc it wasn’t in the heart of town (aka noise) but an easy walk to restaurants and shops.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Front lobby staff and daily housekeeping

Casa Opuntia Galapagos Hotel

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

We loved this hotel! The staff really made the experience for us— so thoughtful and friendly. Great location facing the water and delicious breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were a bit tight for 4 people and our luggage but not unmanageable

Activity Reviews

Colonial Quito City Tour & Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) Monument

Quito

We enjoyed this day tour, mostly bc of our excellent guides. Mitad del Mundo is a must see but it’s actually a little hokey when you get there (think kids’ magic show) Colonial city tour was very interesting.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Santa Cruz Island: Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station

Puerto Ayora

Another fantastic day tour. Lunch at Rancho Primicias followed by seeing the giant tortoises up close in their natural environment was amazing! Then seeing the baby tortoises at the Charles Darwin station made it a full circle day!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking Adventure in Tortuga Bay & Afternoon Bay Tour of Santa Cruz Island

Puerto Ayora

This was a VERY full day but also amazing. If you’re not up for a high impact day, I would do both of these activities but split them into 2 half day tours. Tortuga Bay was beautiful. The 2 mile walk to/from the bay was also really nice but make sure you’re prepared for it (water, sunscreen, hat and not carrying too much). Kayaking in the bay was awesome. The second half of the day is more like an eco-trek and a swim in a very cool cove. Not much snorkeling to be had but lots of interesting sights.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Speedboat to San Cristobal Island - Interpretation Center - Tijeretas Hill

Ecuador

The speedboat was ok. If you’re prone to sea sickness. I don’t recommend it. It was fine as a one time experience but I’m glad I didn’t have to do it twice. We only made it half way up Tijiretes Hill as the kids were tired but the halfway walk was nice as well. Snorkeling was the best part of this tour, as we saw tons of fish, turtles and sea lions!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

She seemed a bit preoccupied with her phone

Wildlife Encountering at Lobos Island - Family Activities

Isla San Cristóbal

Absolutely incredible! We saw so much wildlife on this tour! Guide and boat captain/staff were awesome.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

When the guide I had been talking to about our upcoming trip to Ecuador fell through, I reached out to Kimkim on a lark. Mathias responded shortly thereafter and, over the next couple of weeks, put together a fantastic itinerary for us - all the while keeping our wishes and budget in consideration. The week we spent in Ecuador turned out to be our most fun, interesting and relaxing trip ever! Mathias had arranged for Danny Guaman to be our guide – Danny was absolutely wonderful from the moment we met him. Each day was full of things to do and see, while allowing for leisurely meals and time to unwind. We toured the old city and had a cooking class in Quito. We beheld amazing vistas of lakes, lagoons, mountains and volcanoes. We went birdwatching, and visited a butterfly farm and a hummingbird sanctuary. We had a chocolate tour and ate delicious food. We went to the Middle of the World and did fun experiments. We learned about the culture and history of Ecuador, met kind locals, and went shopping at the huge handicraft market in Otavalo. There was also a very sweet birthday surprise at the chocolate shop in Mindo for our son who turned 16 during the trip. Throughout our travels, Mathias kept in touch and checked in on us. I can easily say that, from our airport pick up to drop off, this was an extremely enjoyable and stress-free vacation, and a deeply memorable one – thanks to Mathias and Danny and the entire team! We fell in love with this gorgeous gem of a country and hope to return to see more of Ecuador one day.

Hotel Reviews

San Francisco de Quito

Quito

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Geranio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa de Piedra

Mindo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Mindo Chocolate Tour

Mindo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Otavalo Market

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cuicocha Lagoon

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Birdwatching and time at leisure in Mindo

Mindo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quito City Tour

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quito Cooking Class

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day trip to Cotopaxi National Park

Quito

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quito - Middle of the World - Otavalo

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We have spent very nice and rather intensive holidays in Yasuni Natonal Park (by plane and boat), Quito-Mindo-Otovalu-Cotacachi (by car), Galapagos - San Cristobal-Santa Cruz-Isabela (by boat staying/sleeping on 3 islands)
Our experience was very good and I will recommend this type of trip to Ecuador to all people who are limited on time and have no time to plan/manage everything personally. It is possible that you can do it cheaper but you need to have a lot on information and do it long time in advance. I’m no longer a backpacker and wanted to see as much Ecuador as possible during given time. I decided to give this planning to the KimKim company. I think it was good idea.

There are two topic which I want to share however.
In hotel in Mindo someone has stolen a mobile phone of my wife. It was very unpleasant as she had already her pictures/movies from Amazon forest and obviously other important info there. It was family owned small and very nice hotel. The reception area was very small – we noticed that some local people are walking across without any control. The area was not monitored – no cameras. We realized that phone is lost and reported the fact to the owner. But he was of opinion that he can only ask some other guests. It was very disappointing. We left the hotel as there was already next activity planned but my wife was not in good mood… Fortunately and surprisingly after 1-2 hrs our guide (Ximena) got info that smartphone has been found… I do not how the owner has managed it but finally we got the phone back. Apparently someone was already unlocking the phone because date and some other settings were changed. My advice – keep all you important stuff with you, never leave it unattended and ask if there are cameras in the hotels. This is however another argument to travel through agency because owner of the hotel has been contacted by agency representative and this was probably most important.

Second comment is on guides. In general our experience with them was very good. Usually we had a local guides who ware looking after logistics and giving some practical information, sometimes travelling with us. Other guides were in the national parks - the certified professionals. Local guides however were sometimes also very talkative and helpful – sharing a lot of information with us (we send our best regards to Ximena in Quito and Stephany in San Cristobal). I have to mention however that on Santa Cruz Island we met a very nice person but she was not really speaking English. So the guide was only ordering taxi and informing us about time of departure and arrival. This was in contrast to all other locations. I recommend to address it. We were asking some questions about possible activities and places to visit on Island but there was no info - it was embarrassing for both sides (I guess).
I think KimKim/Responsibletravel knew that we do not understand Spanish.

Overall experience was fantastic and we regret that we did not have more time to explore more places.
I travelled with my wife and 13 years old son.

Activity Review

Kicker Rock: A Snorkeling Adventure

Isla San Cristóbal

this was definitely one of the best snorkeling points. Regret there was no time to organize scuba diving. We have seen white tip sharks, many turtles and hammerhead shark - which is not that often showing up. I advise to consider diving and during all snorkeling wear a swimming cloths (against sun)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tamer and Alejandra were wonderful to work with while planning our adventure in and around Quitó! They listened to all of our needs and concerns and crafted an agenda that was near perfect. Alejandra also supported all of our needs while traveling in Quito and checked to make sure all was going well.

Christian was our tour guide and was an absolute expert and very fun to be with for the week. It would be impossible for us to see as much as we did without him running the show.

We would absolutely return and use the same team on our next trip to Quitó.

Tamer at Kimkim was great to work with. Very patient with our many changes of plans. He recommended Huasquila Lodge to us. Wonderful!

I loved every moment except the Amazon. We are from Arizona and used to very dry weather. We were not told that the hotel was not allowed to have air conditioning. Even eating was outside. We were warned about Mosquitos but were not it at all. Hacienda Zuleta ,I think that is how you spell it, was the most beautiful place I have ever been in my life.
We rode horses to the Condor refugee camp and goes down in History as the most of a day I have ever had!!!
I would have scheduled another place to stay again, somewhere else in Quito. Maybe the other part of town. Just to be able to see another area.

We had fun! Isabel was excellent in providing the right amount of preparation and support for this vacation. Quito and the national parks were truly unique experiences for our party of seasoned cyclists yet there were no fears, there were no surprises and nothing went wrong on our vacation. Thank you Isabel for maintaining What'sApp contact with us throughout our journey. Biking guide Alirio and driverJose were the best , always accommodating to our needs. Both anticipated our biking abilities and had prepared routes that were appropriately challenging. KimKim, Isabel, Alirio, Jose you are the best! Thank you.

Our Mindo forest tour was great. Marco picked us up on time and was more than flexible with what we wanted to do. Back on time with great memories of birds, zip lining and the scenery of the Mindo area.

Activity Review

Expedition to Mindo Cloud Forest

Quito

We did a small group personal tour to Mindo with Marco. He was great to deal with and fluent in English. We were flexible on what to see and do and so was Marco. Ended up skipping some planned items and added some others on. Great day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Marco was driver and guide and was great at both.

Transport

Nice vehicle for our small group.

Alvaro was extremely good with making all my arrangements which were last minute. Everything ran very smoothly and according to my itinerary. All the bookings for transfers were with credible local guides who were friendly and very helpful and thoughtful. All in all an excellent service

Cristina planned our trip to Ecuador highlands and to Guayaquil. I had my 17 year old and 7 year old with me. We had an absolutely eye opening and unforgettable experience. Our unfatigueable driver-guide in the Highlands, Pablo, took us everywhere and taught us all about Ecuador along the way. We really couldn't have seen all that we did without him, and we felt really grateful. Our itinerary was perfect--interesting for me and fun for the kids. In Guayaquil we had Freddy and Cristopher and had kind of an off the beaten path experience visiting the dolphins and then a chocolate plantation. Everything was so interesting and the food everywhere was fresh and tasty. Cristina did a great job putting together our itinerary. I will recommend friends to visit Ecuador and hope that they will be fortunate enough to work with Cristina though Kimkim. We love Ecuador! Absolutely amazing country!

Tamer was a great and very responsive planner with us. He worked with us on redesigning the itinerary a few times to prioritize seeing as much of Ecuador as possible even if it meant some long days of travel (he did warn us!) he helped all the way through planning and then was very communicative while we were on our trip as well, helping to suggest restaurants or other activities if we wanted to add / change up our days. Overall, highly recommend Tamer for helping you plan your Ecuadorian vacation!

Tamer was great with local color and super responsive. And our guide Sebastien in Quito/ Cotopaxi/ Otavalo/ Baños was awesome. He showed us all the highlights and provided tons of inside color. Would highly recommend!

Activity Review

Canyoning in Baños – Quito

Ecuador

Our guides were super knowledgeable and genuinely loved what they do - and the feeling was contagious. It was a great day

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Melardo was super high energy but really tuned into how everyone’s comfort level

Transport

We had a thoroughly enjoyable trip. The activities, Mountain Bike riding, zip lining, hiking up the Cotopaxi Volcano and rafting were so much fun. Our guide was exceptional, very knowledgeable about his country, the various fauna and birds. Our unplanned visit to a chocolate factory was excellent. Christian Chalcualan made the trip for us. Nothing was too much trouble for him. The owner of the biking tour Eric, our Cotopaxi guide Luis and Ronnie the rafting and Kayaker were all top notch people.

Unfortunately the 1st 3 hotels were not up to a standard that we would wish on anybody. All 3 suffered from poor or not enough food. Location were either remote or in a dangerous area (the receptionists comment), all had hot water issues and one of them was in the middle of a road building site with deep mud on the access. To arrive at a hotel 5 miles from anywhere to be presented with a box room, awful food (boiled beef of some description), heating was a very noisy fan and heated blankets on the bed and no hot water was disgraceful: no signal to call our guide to get us out was annoying.

We’d had enough at this stage and after reviewing the next disaster in the middle of a noisy environment we paid over $200 to stop at a 4 star hotel. The final 3 hotels were outstanding just superb and everything we’d hoped for in the 1st place.

Overall a trip made memorable by our guide and mentor Christian. His tried to hide his embarrassment at our accommodation but it was obvious he was in a difficult position.

Hotel Reviews

Kitu Hotel

Quito

Dangerous area, no facilities after hours. Mainly a hostel. A few drunks worn and tired.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The dangerous area.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Worn out hotel with poor facilities.

Casa de Piedra

Mindo

Clean and comfortable accommodation. Inadequate hot water supply with very low pressure. No out of hours facilities. This hotel is in the middle of a road upgrade program. Access into and out of the hotel to the town was wading through mud and various building sites. Breakfast was very small and we asked for more bread. We got an extra croissant. We left went into town and stocked up.

Authenticity & Character

Location

right in the middle of major building works

Staff

When available friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms where great but hot water was an issue.

Cuello de Luna Mountain Lodge

El Chasqui - Pastocalle

Just no! 5 miles from anywhere. Food was appalling. lump of boiled beef of some description, polenta and lentils for our evening meal. Breakfast was adequate and plenty. Room was a box room. The suitcase was in the way so i put it in the hall. No heating except for a very noisy fan that was on all night and a heated under blanket. No hot water and no-one to complain too until the morning. More suited to a budget backpacker who just wants a mattress.

Authenticity & Character

Oh yes a very old dated ranch type environment

Location

Remote valley

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean but no real facilities. No hot water until we complained in the morning.

Hotel El Jardin Aleman

Puerto Misahualli

What a great place with many animals, birds and character. Staff were very attentive when needed. the room was comfortable and spacious.

Authenticity & Character

Claimed to be a jungle hotel and it was. Authentic with character.

Location

Beautiful location on the riverbank.

Staff

When we saw then they were helpful allowed us privacy but were there when needed.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Well maintained

Termas de Papallacta

Papallacta

Great staff (especially Jennyfer on reception) Outstanding food. To come out of your room and step into a hot spring 24/7 was amazing. Rooms were well appointed. Some great walks around the hotel and the spa treatments were fantastic

Authenticity & Character

well thought out hotel.

Location

In a valley at 3000m with hills either side stretching to 4000m. Great walking out of the hotel.

Staff

everyone was very attentive. Nothing was too much trouble.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless rooms and facilities especially the spa.

San Jose de Puembo Quito Airport, an Ascend Hotel Collection

Puembo, Quito

Location not brilliant but the on site facilities more than compensate for it. pools, spa various activities. Animals wandering the ground. it sits on a 40km bike route out the back of the hotel. Bikes for hire. Food was excellent and the rooms very well presented with tea and coffee making facilities. The staff were all very good and attentive.

Authenticity & Character

Modern built accommodation for the main annex.

Location

40 minutes from Quito but only 20 to the airport.

Staff

Attentive and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Excellent very clean and well presented.

Activity Reviews

Jatunyaku River Rafting - Papallacta

Ecuador

Mad mad fun. The guide Ronnie was a real character. Level 4 & 5 rapids. Serious safety brief before we setup. The best new experience of the trip.

Quality of Experience

An absolute hoot af an adventure. But safe.

Food

A small adequate beach picnic half way down the river.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

2 real characters full of fun.

Transport

Bicycle day tour: Nono - Mindo

Ecuador

The 40km ride down the hills from the clouds, cold and mountain tops down to the rainforest was amazing. Eric the owner and his staff made us so welcome and ensured we also had some genuine Ecuadorian experiences in a local restaurant

Quality of Experience

Food

Real Ecuadorian experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great bunch of guys

Transport

Mindo – Canopy - Cotopaxi

Ecuador

Great fun. 10 rides over the rainforest

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From Cotopaxi Hacienda to Hiking in Cotopaxi National Park, then onto Baños

Ecuador

An amazing experience. We hiked from 3400m up to 5010m. the mountain guide was awesome. Knew his stuff, refused to let us push it and guided us at a pace he believe we should be comfortable at. Very hard work in the thin air. As an experience hiker and off piste skier this was probably one of the hardest things I have done. At 69 years old to reach 5010m to the glacier was a personal best for me. We arrived in the area to sunshine and volcano was there in all its glory. As we came to the end of the climb the volcano started to erupt smoke and ash but we were in no danger but it was an awesome sight.

Quality of Experience

The experience of a lifetime that will stay with me.

Food

Greta food in a local restaurant.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

This guy really knew his stuff.

Transport

We had an amazing time on our trip in Ecuador. The hotels were perfect, providing clean places to sleep along with delivering character. All of our guides along the way were kind, punctual, and very informative. Mathias met us on the second day and checked in regularly with us. Santiago was so fun and informative on our bike tour. Alerio was wonderful. He was patient and fun and very informative. We really enjoyed our time with him.

The whole trip ran smoothly and according to plan. Thank you!

Hotel Reviews

Vieja Cuba

Quito

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cuello de Luna Mountain Lodge

El Chasqui - Pastocalle

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Floresta

Baños

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Huasquila Amazon Lodge

Cotundo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Urban Bike Tour

Quito

The trip was fantastic and a great day to start our time in Quito. Santiago was really fun and informative. We learned a lot about the city and chocolate.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class

Quito

The staff was very kind and welcoming. The food was out of this world delicious. I only wished we were able to learn more about the food preparation to have more of a cooking lesson.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Caving at The Temple of Ceremony

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking Quilotoa Lake & Transfer to Cotopaxi National Park

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking Cotopaxi & Transfer to Baños

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Biking Llanganates

Baños

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pailón del Diablo Waterfall & Canyon Exploration in the Amazon

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rafting Río Jatunyacu

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great trip to Ecuador coordinated by Mathias. It was easy to plan, he was great with our questions, and the experience that was delivered was amazing! Our guide Alirio was top notch. He traveled and did all of the activities with us for the entire trip. We had other guide specialists join us for specific activities. Everyone we worked with was super friendly and very knowledge about the area and the activities. We had 100% trust in our guides! Hotels we not only clean and comfortable, they also offered an authentic experience. I will not hesitate to book another trip through KimKim!

Hotel Reviews

Homestay Tena

Tena

We ended up not doing the Homestay Tena and did the Indigenous Amazon Lodge instead which was great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vieja Cuba

Quito

We had a great stay at Vieja Cuba. The hotel was comfortable and met all our needs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cuello de Luna Mountain Lodge

El Chasqui - Pastocalle

Cuello de Luna Mountain Lodge was a fantastic place to stay. The lodge was comfortable, and the location was perfect for our Cotopaxi hike.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Floresta

Baños

La Floresta was a great place to stay in Baños. The city itself was cute, and the hotel was comfortable and met our needs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Huasquila Amazon Lodge

Cotundo

We loved our stay at the Huasquila Amazon Lodge.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rafting Río Jatunyacu

Ecuador

We enjoyed the rafting experience, and our rafting guides were great. They were knowledgeable and made us feel safe throughout the activity.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Urban Bike Tour

Quito

I had a great time during the Urban Bike Tour. Our guide was knowledgeable and provided us with a fantastic experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking Quilotoa Lake & Transfer to Cotopaxi National Park

Ecuador

Hiking Quilotoa Lake was an amazing and rewarding experience. The weather conditions were challenging, but that made it even more memorable. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and made the hike enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class

Quito

The cooking class was not exactly what I expected. However, the food was delicious, and the people were very nice.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking Cotopaxi & Transfer to Baños

Ecuador

Hiking Cotopaxi was another incredible experience. The altitude and gradient were challenging, but being from Colorado, we were somewhat prepared for it. Our guide was fantastic and made the hike enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Biking Llanganates

Baños

The Biking Llanganates experience was great. Our equipment was in excellent condition, and our guide was knowledgeable and made the activity enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pailón del Diablo Waterfall & Canyon Exploration in the Amazon

Ecuador

The Pailón del Diablo Waterfall and Canyon Exploration in the Amazon was my favorite activity. The Indigenous Lodge was fantastic, and the canyoning was really cool.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport