Kimkim Trip Reviews for Galapagos Islands

The trip that you guys organized for us was awesome! The sights, the wildlife and the logistics were impeccable. Our guides in Quito (Christian) and Isabela island (Julio) were fantastic.

Our coordinator Karla went above and beyond when we ran into some unforeseen issues related to canceled flights and health issues.

Thank you so much for a once in a lifetime experience.

I must say Maria and her team made this vacation a dream vacation for me. As a solo traveler, it went above and beyond my expectations with making me feel valued and safe in my travels!

I have been looking into going to the Galapagos for a few years now for the last couple being serious. I kept reading up reviews on travel companies or looking on sites where they have group tours and reading up information and just became so paralyzed and being able to make a decision because I looked at too much information and overwhelmed myself.

I happen to see an ad for Kim Kim on the internet and email about the possibility of a vacation in the Galapagos. And it was so easy from there. The team of Maria and everyone who helped her asked me lots of questions what I like to do, what time of year I wanted to go ,what my budget look like, the length of time for vacation and took that all into consideration and gave me a different couple of plans to look at to see which one would best fit my needs.

And so after thinking about it for another couple days I pulled the trigger as nervous as I was and I do not regret a second of it.

Once I selected a plan Maria and her team spent time with me on the phone going detail by detail of the plans even letting me know I never had to worry about setting up my own transportation to and from the airport or with any of my planned excursions which was fantastic because I really needed a vacation where I didn't have to think I just wanted to enjoy it. And removing the barrier of me not having to worry about finding cabs or how do I find cabs how do I get from here to there all that worry and stress was taken away.

The casas and hotels I stayed at were super cute staff was friendly I love that they were nice and small facilities I love the nice breakfast, and especially love that lava house had a house dog ❤️

Oh and my driver in Quito and the hotel in Quito were wonderful as well!!

The area of the casas and hotels were so safe I loved being able to walk around the entire Island and not be worried about anything and I was a standard at how clean the Galapagos was there was not a single speck of trash anywhere on the streets.

The first excursion at lobos island was memorable! The guide was so nice and the other people on the tour as well, it was nice and small! I finally got to see, in real life, blue footed boobies!! The snorkeling in the clear blue water was spectacular!! Some of the guests and I even explored around San Cristobal together and visited the Discovery Center and had a mojito together! The restaurants also had amazing food! The fresh shrimp ceviche was mouthwatering!

I must say kicker rock was my favorite excursion! The people on my excursion were all college students and their professor, the guides kept us all entertained and engaged w us all! We saw and swam w hammerhead sharks, manta rays, seals and sea turtles!

To have my last day on San Cristobal involve that was perfect! I must say how ecologically and forward thinking the Galapagos islands were was quite impressive!

Then I left for Santa Cruz on my second leg of the journey ❤️ another fabulous journey that was seamless!

Lava House was an adorable place to stay! Even had a resident house dog that I got to play with. I also loved the hammock on my balcony!

The first day there was a free day and I wandered to the beautiful Tortuga Beach. Breathtaking in scenery! The swimming iguanas were so cool!

My first adventure there involved visiting the Darwin Station and listening to the guides walk us through the history of Galapagos and how the center came to be, with lots of tortoises to see! There was also a lovely beach not far from their either! thet afternoon a trip into the Highlands to visit another facility with land tortoises and lava caves was great! Ran into more nice people there as well

Floreana Island was the perfect adventure to end my stay at Galapagos 🤩 our guide spent so much time talking w us about his island's history, and took us snorkeling in this wonderful lava rock beach. I had at least ten wild sea turtles just swim right with me and literally looked me in the eye! Tons of gorgeous fish like parrot fish, puffer fish, clown fish, and even saw a shark! It was breathtaking!

Next we went to another part of the island and got to swim at the black sand beaches. A wonderful lunch followed with delicious fresh caught tuna, vegetables and lentils followed. The group was small and we all enjoyed talking to each other and learning about everyone

Then we went to the Highlands of Floreana and learned about their efforts to save the tortoise species endemic to their island, explored lava caverns and enjoyed seeing the gorgeous views!

I really enjoyed walking the town when we got back and went back to my favorite restaurant to indulge in tuna ceviche and mojitos.

I sat back and thought that I'd never had such a phenomenal experience - I literally forgot what day it was! All of the memories I will have and pictures I've shown my friends!

My last day was seamless as well with my guide taking me from my hotel to the water taxi and then the airport. Absolutely nothing went wrong or was uncomfortable this whole trip! Any questions I had throughout my trip was quickly answered by my local guide or Maris!

I cannot state enough how much work this team put in to give me the ultimate dream vacation. 2024 was a very rough year. Kimkim and their wonderful team gave me the most memorable birthday day over ever had along with the most breathtaking of memories.

I will not hesitate to use them again. I cannot wait to go back and explore more of our wonderful world with them !!

Thank you so much for all that you and your team did for me! I wish I could write all of my guides to let them know how much their time truly mattered to me ❤️

Hotel Reviews

Ikala Quito Hotel

Quito

I arrived late at night, and was still welcomed with open arms by the staff. My room was so nice and comfortable. I especially loved the reminders the hotel wrote in regards to conservation and waste. I really loved the gift bag w chocolates too! My breakfast was perfect for the early morning trip!

Authenticity & Character

It stayed true to being uniqu

Location

It was not far from airport, was well lit, felt secure and so clean!

Staff

Very friendly and reminded me about my breakfast and asked about any allergies

Cleanliness & Comfort

I packed way too much as the hotel supplied everything I needed

Casa Pimampiro

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

This was such a a cute casa with an easy walk down to the town area. It stayed locked and secure, the rooms were super comfortable. I loved that the staff asked each day what time I wanted breakfast as well. The conservation reminders were perfect

Authenticity & Character

Very unique

Location

Easy walking distance, safe

Staff

Everyone was super friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lava House Galapagos

Puerto Ayora

Loved this hotel! From the feeling of safety, the proximity to everything, walking was super easy to get anywhere. The room was extremely comfortable and loved that they had a water refill station! But I must say the house dog, lava, was truly adorable and I love throwing the ball for her

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful plants and maintenance around the facility I really love the hammock on my balcony

Location

Super easy location to walk anywhere you wanted to and walk back, a feeling of safety whenever you were outside the gates and they locked it to stay secure

Staff

Always very friendly , the lady serving breakfast were very nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome to the Capital of the Andes; Quito!

Galapagos Islands

I absolutely love my guy who picked me up. We spent a lot of time talking about Ecuador and keto and other places and he was very friendly and engaging got me to and from the hotel super easy I never had any stress about making it on time to the airport the next morning

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My guide was very nice and friendly and made it so easy to get through customs the next morning to get to my plane it would have been confusing had he not been there

Transport

Wildlife Encountering at Lobos Island

Galapagos Islands

I truly love my guides on this trip. It was a nice small group so they made sure we were all safe and had walking sticks to go over the lava rocks which were not very stable. We got to see all the animals and he gave a great explanation for why this habitat why this animal needs to protected what this environment is all about and really made you feel in awe of nature

Quality of Experience

The planning and expectations set by the guide were perfect.

Food

I loved having the nice lunch of fish rice lentils and veggies they also had a chicken option and a vegetarian option too

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My guide on the islands David did a great job making sure that I had all my supplies for this trip it was perfect

Transport

Very easy and smooth and you're on a boat so you may get wet

Kicker Rock: A Snorkeling Adventure

Isla San Cristóbal

This by far was my favorite adventure! I really love the whole team that helped get us prepared for this from taking us to the initial Beach and explaining to us how this plays a vital role in the galapagosis ecology and then taking us to see the estuary where we got to see baby white tip reef sharks baby manta rays puffer fish all these unique fish and creatures in the mangroves And then our guy spent a lot of time talking to us about safety and expectations when we get to kicker Rock and that rock is even more intense when you see it in person it's like five stories taller if not bigger and just all the time that we spent snorkeling and our guide took wonderful videos and pictures with his camera so that those of us who didn't have them could experience the beauty and the memories of that excursion

Quality of Experience

The guides did a fantastic job just explaining and showing everything they could of their world in that experience I cannot thank them enough

Food

They have a chicken vegetarian and tuna option but if you're in the Galapagos always choose the tuna it was so fresh with the lentils and the vegetables in the rice loved it

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were so warm and caring and made sure we all had a great experience and they just feel like a team too

Transport

From the moment I was picked up at the hotel to the water taxi to the boat to the excursion was flawless

Welcome to Santa Cruz Island & Afternoon at Leisure

Puerto Ayora

I really enjoyed getting to explore the island by myself for a bit on my own and visit a beach and some restaurants on my first night

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Station, Highlands & Planting a Tree

Puerto Ayora

The Darwin station is amazing. From the little area you can walk without your guide, to the entire tour from the beginning to the end you just fall in love with Galapagos and it's love for its environment whether it be animals or plants or the water.

Quality of Experience

Food

Transport

History and Nature: Full Day to Floreana Island

Puerto Ayora

This day was utterly amazing. The sheer beauty of floriana just really hits you only 150 people live on this island. Yet there conservation efforts out due our large cities. The cleanliness and respects this place has for nature and its land is just awesome inspiring. The beaches are Christine the waters are clear the people are friendly the food is amazing every experience they'll let you see something different of our world

Quality of Experience

The guide was on point. Very passionate about his island and the shear beauty of nature

Food

That restaurant had the most amazing fried tuna, veggies, rice and lentils 🤤

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Airport on Baltra Island - Flight back to Mainland

Galapagos Islands

I am so grateful for my guide that picked me up from the hotel and then took me to the water taxi then rode with me and the water taxi then rode with me on the shuttle to the airport as it's the most unique airport I've ever been to and how to get there. It made it stress-free. In the States you have to get to the airport at least 3 hours ahead of time at that airport I was there an hour and 20 minutes ahead of time and there was no problem. Plenty of time to make the plane and he made sure that I had plenty of time I was never worried

Quality of Experience

My driver was more than I could ask for making that sad day of leaving the Galapagos to go home run smooth

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We thought all of our guides were great! Stephano, Alexis, Justin, Azu did a great job teaching us and helping us to have fun! Jacquie was our support person and she made everything run very smoothly. If I had a question, she could confirm the plan or make sure things went as planned.

Hotel Reviews

EB Hotel by Eurobuilding Quito

Quito

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel

Puerto Ayora

Authenticity & Character

Location

You have to take a little walk and free boat (provided by the hotel) to get to town, but it was all part of the experience and we loved the location!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was a bit small, but we didn’t spend much time there! The beds were very comfortable and the room was kept very clean.

Hotel Indigo Galápagos

San Cristóbal

This is a lovely hotel by the water and close to everything. We enjoyed sitting by the pool in the mornings and listening to the sea lions.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kayaking Tortuga Bay (by boat) - Afternoon at Leisure

Puerto Ayora

Tortuga Bay was beautiful. We saw so many marine iguanas and learned about the sea turtles nesting. The waves were incredible and made the walk to Mansa beach a lovely one. We kayaked in the calmer water and saw the mangrove and many, many sea turtles. My daughter loved this!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Puerto Ayora

We had a great time seeing all the different birds and learning how to identify them. We saw iguanas and sea lions as well. The snorkeling was fun too! We saw rays and reef sharks as well as many varieties of fish.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

There was a lot of waiting on this tour. We had a great time, but when it was all over we had to wait a long time to leave.

Welcome to San Cristóbal Island! Visit the Interpretation Center, Tijeretas Hill, or La Lobería

Galapagos Islands

We enjoyed talking with our guide, Justin. The Interpretation Center was okay. La Lobería was beautiful and it was cool to see the sea lions. The conditions were a little rough for snorkeling, but we had a good time. There was heavy rain on the way back to our ride.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to the airport for your flight back home (Departure)

Galapagos Islands

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Santa Cruz Island: Highlands (Plant a Tree) & Charles Darwin Research Station

Puerto Ayora

This was a very cool experience. The restaurant was nice, and we were able to watch the tortoises in the rain. They had rain boots and umbrellas for us. We didn’t end up planting a tree, because my daughter got stung by fire ants in that area. My only suggestion would be to find a way to treat for fire ants.

Quality of Experience

The ants made it a little less amazing. But otherwise it was great.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Stephano was very knowledgeable and his English was great. We learned so much that day!

Transport

Wildlife Encountering at Lobos Island

Galapagos Islands

This was our favorite day! We saw lots of wildlife at Las Lobos Island and enjoyed snorkeling as well. Right after snorkeling we actually followed a pod of Orcas rather than going to the beach. Apparently this is super rare, so maybe don’t expect an orca sighting!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Expedition to El Junco Lagoon - Galapaguera Colorado Hill - Puerto Chino Beach

Galapagos Islands

Welcome to Ecuador: Let Your Adventure Begin!

Galapagos Islands

Marco was so kind. He took us to the hotel and then picked us up early in the morning. The process to fly between Quito and Baltra was not self-explanatory, so it was nice to have his guidance!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hello Alavaro

First of all, many thanks for the recommendations on the itinerary to Quito/Galapagos.
I would like to share my feedback with you.

What went well
1. Good planning prior to the event with Alvaro via chat online and WhatsApp,
2. Good choices of hotel throughout my stay. The room in Isabela has defective AC and the hotel changed my room immediately,
3. Mr Julio on Isla Bella provided his contact details share some local recommendations on my free time,

Not so well
1. The hiking to Sierra Negra supposed to be a small group but it has more than 20pax on the hiking group,
2. A lot of the activities was marked as small group, but it seems the local guides in Galapagos tends to consolidate their trips into larger groups to share resources,
3. I paid for my own lunch on the Quito Local Street Food Adventure. The guide is helpful, but I don’t think he has the experience for a food tour. He does not have a fixed itinerary and seems to be planning “on the go”. My last foodie tour in Peru was great, where the guide has a fixed itinerary of the various food for us to try.

Even better if
1. I took a later flight to GPS and missed the tree planting activity. It would be better to remind the next traveler, so they book an earlier flight to GPS,

All in all, it was a good trip but it was not as exclusive as my previous Peru trip with KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Las Plazas

Quito

Good location but the room is small with no window

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mainao

Puerto Ayora

good location and nice room

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel La Laguna Galapagos

Puerto Villamil

I did not stay in this hotel. It was changed from my original itinerary

Activity Reviews

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

Puerto Ayora

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Good to see Candy again

Transport

The boat was clean and spacious for a large group

Local Street Food Adventure in Quito

Quito

I paid for my own lunch on the Quito Local Street Food Adventure. The guide is helpful, but I don’t think he has the experience for a food tour. He does not have a fixed itinerary and seems to be planning “on the go”.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Santa Cruz Island: Highlands (Plant a Tree) & Charles Darwin Research Station

Puerto Ayora

I took a later flight to GPS and missed the tree planting activity. It would be better to remind the next traveler, so they book an earlier flight to GPS,

Quality of Experience

Food

good introduction to the local Galapagos food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Candy was great guide

Transport

Exploring the Underwater World: Diving Day in Santa Cruz

Galapagos Islands

Seems there were some miscommunication between Kim2 and the local dive company but Alvaro and Veronica sorted it out. It would be better to provide a local contact number for me so I can sort things out locally.

Quality of Experience

Poor water visibilty and did not see much

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dive Master should pay more attention on the dive group and make sure everyone is around him. Rather than swimming ahead and leaving everyone behind

Transport

Wildlife Encounter at Los Tuneles (Cabo Rosa)

Galapagos Islands

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking the Sierra Negra Volcano

Galapagos Islands

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I assumed small group means less than 5 pax, but it was a large hiking group

Transport

Discover the Wonders of Tintoreras Islet: A Journey into Breathtaking Biodiversity

Puerto Villamil

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome Back to Quito

Galapagos Islands

would do again, Paola was very informative and made the trip easy

Hotel Reviews

Ibis Styles El Malecón

Guayaquil

excellent service and room perfect great restaurants near by and boardwalk

Authenticity & Character

Location

location was perfect

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa de Nelly

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

not the best

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cally Galapagos

Puerto Villamil

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lava House Galapagos

Puerto Ayora

this was a beautiful place clean great breakfast and staff were amazing

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Galapaguera Tortoise Reserve

Galapagos Islands

The service that we received from Mathias, our local specialist was nothing short of spectacular. We had to abort a previous trip due to illness. Mathias worked with us for 2 years, assisting us in getting our travel insurance money and rebooking our trip. He stayed in contact with us over the course of the booking process and also once we were in country. He even made a special trip to take us for dinner at the airport during a long layover. I would strongly recommend him for any travel you are considering!

Very well-planned trip. KimKim allows you to easily tailor your holidays to your tastes. We have done three trips with KimKim, and we have been very satisfied with each of them. Also, they seem to have a knack for finding very good guides.

Ecuador has so much to offer- from the sights of Quito- with amazing walking tours and dining experiences, to hiking Cotopaxi volcano, trekking through Diablo waterfall and the beauty of the cloud and rainforests…..and then topped off with the Galápagos Islands. Paola at Authentic Ecuador executed our 2 weeks flawlessly choosing wonderful hotels (GO Hotel and Kuyana Lodge were particular highlights) and paired us with an exceptional guide (Danny was attentive, knowledgable, friendly and anticipated our every need). They ensured that we were well prepared for our upcoming activities and were intuitive about the cadence of our day, ensuring the itinerary fit our needs and preferences perfectly. We experienced great dining, stunning photo ops, and activities that spanned breathtaking hikes, soaks in hot mineral springs and heart stopping swinging out over rocky cliffs! Many thanks to Paola…… From the initial planning process to our last day (where she quickly adjusted to changes in our departure plans) we felt well informed and supported. I will cherish this Ecuadorian experience for years to come!

Majo was amazing! She helped us craft a number of experiences that met our budget, answered all of our question promptly and adjusted her recommendations to meet our needs.

The team they work with in Galápagos was so great! From our arrival at Baltra airport, they had everything covered and through mostly different guides and drivers each day, we were always well taken care of.

The experiences were mostly different so hard to pick the best. We spent most time on Santa Cruz and enjoyed the El Chato tortoise preserve and lava tunnel experience. Kayaking on Tortuga Bay was fun and the guide even stayed with us when we chose to snorkel after (bring your own mask/towel). Bay tour was great as well.

For our trip to Isabela, they took us to the pier for the ferry (with all passes ready for us) and met our guide upon arrival. The Tintoreras tour had a little bit of duplication but still great experience.

Majo and the Galapagos lead Rita communicated with us daily via WhatsApp (we had Airalo eSIM that worked great everywhere). We were well cared for and so nice to be able to relax and just enjoy the amazing experiences they curated.

Alvaro and Jacquie did an excellent job planning our Galapagos trip. On a video call we discussed what we wanted to see, and more importantly, they suggested a number of activities for our consideration. We added a number of these ideas. The itinerary they planned with transportation, guides and accommodations worked seamlessly. The guides were knowledgeable, personally engaging and gave an in depth understanding of the geology, plant, wildlife and human history of the islands. The were resourceful and allowed us to revise the plan for one outing so all of us could more comfortably complete the hike. Highlights were the giant turtles of Santa Cruz, penguins, Sierra Negro volcano hike, and Kicker Rock snorkeling. Jacquie kept in touch during the trip to ensure all was going well.

Tamer with KimKim planned an amazing trip to Quito, Mindo Rainforest, Amazon Basin and Galapagos !! It was a trip of a lifetime! He was so helpful planning the trip and answering all our questions. Everything went smoothly from beginning to end and he kept in touch the whole time we were there.
The guides for each part of our trip, Sebastion in Quito and Mindo, Pedro in at Napo Wildlife Center in Yasuni NP, and Carlos in the Galapagos were incredible and added so much to our experience. They had so much knowledge about the country, culture, and areas we visited.
The amount of wildlife and plants we saw were amazing! Caymans, giant river otters, monkeys, sloth, so many birds everywhere, bats, sea lions, penguins, sharks, rays, turtles, tortoises, frigate birds, iguanas and red and blue footed boobies...
The food, accommodations, and people on the Galapagos Endemic ship were awesome!
We highly recommend KimKim! Thank you for helping us create such beautiful memories!

KimKim did an incredible job planning our trip. Their communication was excellent. When we wanted to change something at the last minute, they got it done. Fast! I will absolutely use their services again and will tell others to use them too. Shout out to Jacquie and Alvaro! Thank you both so much for showing us the best parts of the Galapagos!! ❤️

The trip was absolutely amazing! The cooking class in Quito with Denis was delicious and fun. We enjoyed visiting the markets with Denis and he is so knowledgeable and fun.
Once aboard My Angel, the service was incredible ( as were all the smooth transfers). I loved the hot chocolate and towels when we got back from snorkeling.
The amount of wild life we saw was amazing! Sea lions, penguins, sharks, rays, turtles, tortoises, frigate birds, iguanas and blue footed boobies!!!!
Andre our guide was incredible. So funny, knowledge and just a pleasure to be around!
Paula did a fabulous job with dining room, bar etc. Housekeeping was fabulous. You take a nap, come back to room and beds been made again! So clean.
The food was very delicious! The entire staff was so responsive and helpful.
My only suggestion would be to organize the bar tab in a better way than writing down in paper and handing you the bill right before departing. Luckily I noticed that we were charged for 3 bottles of champagne instead of 2 and adjustments were made.

Otherwise, it was an incredible trip of life time. Thanks so much

Our Galapagos Islands trip was an absolute dream come true! From the moment we first talked with Alvaro and later Jacquie from Kimkim Travel/Responsible Travel, we knew this was going to be a truly special experience. They handled everything with utmost professionalism, even when we had delay upon our arrival in Quito.

Our guides were nothing short of fantastic—friendly, knowledgeable, and incredibly passionate about the islands. It was challenging to single them out, as each one was exceptional in their own way. They took us to breathtaking locations on land, in the water, and introduced us to a diverse array of wildlife and marine life ecosystems. Their stories were simply incredible and left us in awe.
The accommodations were cozy, clean, and the staff was incredibly welcoming, especially at Ilatoa Lodge, Ninfa Lodge, and Loja Hostel.
I am so grateful for this unforgettable experience. If you’re planning a visit to the Galapagos Islands, I highly recommend Kimkim and their incredible team.
Thank you so much, Jacquie and Alvaro!

Hotel Reviews

Ilatoa Lodge

Quito

Absolutely gorgeous! Staff extremely helpful!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Las Ninfas

Puerto Ayora

Exceptional staff. Accommodations perfect. Close to everything!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Loja Galapagos

Puerto Villamil

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa de Nelly

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kicker Rock: A Snorkeling Adventure

Isla San Cristóbal

I was unable to go on this trip.

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

Puerto Ayora

Loved this trip. Saw iguanas and red bellied frigates.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Ecuador: Let Your Adventure Begin!

Galapagos Islands

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wildlife Encounter at Los Tuneles (Cabo Rosa)

Galapagos Islands

First time I snorkeled. Incredibly supportive staff. I saw sharks, sea turtles, and a sea horse!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Santa Cruz Island: Highlands (Plant a Tree) & Charles Darwin Research Station

Puerto Ayora

We got to the highlands and spent the afternoon with the tortoises. Never got to the Charles Darwin Center.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking the Sierra Negra Volcano

Galapagos Islands

Very rigorous hike. I’m 75 and opted to do the last 3 miles. I finished it but not in time for the rest of the group. They had to catch another tour, so they sent a private escort for me and my friend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Bay Tour in Santa Cruz

Puerto Ayora

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome Back to Quito

Galapagos Islands

Great evening in downtown Quito with Jacqui, our tour administrator. Yummy food and great company. Celebrated Jarkas birthday!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Michelle was great. Helped make the cotipaxi trip fun even though we were not aclimented to the altitude. Andreas was excellent. Had great knowledge and was always enthusiastic.

The planning was good although there were some things that my husband and I thought could have been improved. Regarding the tour, our time in Quito was great and we had a fabulous bike tour with Jonathon. However, some of our group went to Cotapaxi, and to go to that altitude the first day of the trip seemed risky for a group of seniors. The hotel in Quito was great, transfers were seamless, and the trip itself was excellent. Mathias was very responsive but several times did not answer all of our questions and we had to ask them multiple times. A packing list could have been sent out early in our planning to allow us to purchase any items we might have been lacking. Payments should have included the items we were paying for and our names on them without us having to request it. Information on baggage restrictions could have been given to us as part of the information package. Overall, we were pleased with our trip and would recommend booking a trip through kimkim to others.

Overall the trip was a bit challenging in that spending only 2 nites in each of the 3 islands was tiring after a couple of hours riding speed ferries followed by water activities like snorkeling requiring more speed boat rides. I relied on motion sickness pills after a terrible motion sickness episode initially.
My recommendation for other tourists is spend at least 3 nights on each island.

Excursions or activities on San Cristobal and Isabela were well organized and carried out well by the local guides, etc.
Activities on Santa Cruz were, imo, waste of time and money. They did not meet my expectations and I could have skipped them.

The Galápagos Islands were amazing in that I saw how the marine and sea animals can coexist harmoniously.

Nicholas did a good job except one miscalculation of the dates on his part costed me extra several hundred dollars. Ouch!

Activity Reviews

Colonial Quito City Tour & the Middle of the World

Quito

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to San Cristóbal Island! Visit the Interpretation Center, Tijeretas Hill, or La Lobería

Galapagos Islands

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the Wonders of Tintoreras Islet: A Journey into Breathtaking Biodiversity

Puerto Villamil

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kicker Rock: A Snorkeling Adventure

Isla San Cristóbal

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Puerto Ayora

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Bay Tour of Santa Cruz Island

Puerto Ayora

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wildlife Encounter at Los Tuneles (Cabo Rosa)

Galapagos Islands

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to the airport for your flight back home (Departure)

Galapagos Islands

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

No English. But the driver was very sweet.

Transport

Free Morning Until Departure

Galapagos Islands

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands was a celebration of Beth and my 50th wedding anniversary and has been on our bucket list for sometime. We were not disappointed! It was exceptionally well designed by Nickolas at Kimkim and we were pleased with all aspects (except for our contact not picking us up upon our arrival, noting that Nickolas remedy the situation in the early hours of the morning). Our accommodations at the Patio Andaluz in Quito were very good and exceptionally situated for touring the old part of the city. We have to give a shout out the staff at the hotel for their exceptional level of service, support and friendliness.
Our guide for city, Sebastian Carrera, was outstanding, providing us with great recommendations for dinning, visiting and strolling. His knowledge of Quito and Ecuador was deeply appreciated, as well as his friendly demeanor. Beth and I thought that the highlight of the day was the cooking class we experienced with Sebastian at the La Casona de la Ronda. The chef, Carlos, guided us through the preparation of several Ecuadorian dishes, which turned out to be one of the best meals that we experienced. We highly recommend this opportunity to visitor, getting to know the people, food and culture! It was additionally special to visit the Middle of the World exhibit and straddle the equator!
Our tour of the Mindo, with Diego, was exceptional in all aspects. His knowledge of the ecosystems, wildlife and birds of the Mind Cloud forest was informative and fascinating. He took us to the resort Bella Visit, where we saw so many tropical birds, and he provided his time to help Beth with the use of her professional camera for which she was deeply grateful. The photos and memories from this part of the trip will be cherished.
The center piece and absolute highlight of our trip was visiting several islands in the Galapagos on the Archipel 1 and with our guide, Christian. We want to thank Nicholas of Kimkim for arranging our trip on the ship, Archipel 1. This vessel is owned and operated by the people of the Galápagos Islands, which had profound meaning to Beth and I, knowing were supporting the local economy. The ship, its amenities, and especially the crew were top flight in all aspects (excluding running out of hot water on a few occasions). The 10-person crew members did everything they could to provide you with the best experiences on the ship and make your life comfortable. They deserve a 5-star rating. Our guide, Christian, is also from the Galápagos Islands. His exceptional knowledge of the people, culture, natural history, and ecosystems of the islands provided us with incredible insights and opportunities. The agenda and information that Christian provided us everyday on the trip encompassed all we could have imagined, blending field excursions and evening briefings with opportunities to snorkel and swim with the sea life. Christian is a star and anyone who gets the opportunity to be with him should be very pleased.
Overall, the trip that Kimkim provided for us was truly five star and we would recommend them to anyone and everyone.

Hotel Reviews

Archipel I

Guayaquil - Ecuador

The crew on the Archipel I were phenomenal, extremely supportive, and friendly. The food was outstanding, and the catamaran itself was ideal for relaxation. However, the hot water availability was limited, which was a minor inconvenience. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, especially with the guidance of Sebastian on board.

Wyndham Quito Airport

Quito

The Wyndham Quito Airport was a great place to stay for relaxing and decompression before the flight back home. It was a good place to decompress after the trip to the Galapagos before flying home, and was conveniently located for airport access.

Activity Review

Colonial City Tour, Cooking Class & the Middle of the World Monument

Quito

The cooking class was fantastic! We made a traditional potato soup that turned out to be phenomenal and also prepared a fish dish with sautéed vegetables, followed by a fruit dessert. It was an enriching experience, and we're even planning to recreate the soup for friends at home.

We had a fabulous trip to the Galapagos Islands! Everything went smoothly (including transfers thanks to Alejandro) and it was an incredible adventure. We loved the Palma Polo Club where we stayed for two nights upon arrival in Ecuador and one the night before going back to the US. It was relaxing, the rooms were huge and lovely, the bed was the biggest I have ever slept in. My husband said the gym was the best he ever experienced in a hotel (it was open air and overlooked the heated pool) and they even managed to arrange a massage therapist to come to the hotel and treat us to in-room AMAZING massages. The restaurant was also very nice with delicious food.

Upon arrival in Baltra on December 30th we were greeted by our guide for the 8 day cruise, Andres. He was fantastic...passionate, knowledgeable, and dedicated. He was so full of interesting information about every place we visited on the cruise I wish I could remember it all. The cruise on the Natural Paradise was awesome. All the other passengers on the tour were wonderful and we became fast friends while experiencing the trip of a lifetime. There were several excursions a day, and I loved the level of activity. We snorkeled, hiked and toured interesting and spectacularly beautiful places. The natural world is thriving in the Galapagos and this was such an inspiration. The wildlife is abundant and appears to be doing really well....they certainly manage the tourism to these islands which helps ensure a healthy ecosystem for the many animals that live there.
The entire crew of the Natural Paradise was skilled, kind and helpful. Their attention to detail including food preparation and presentation, safety concerns, condition of the boat and equipment was top notch. Shoutout to Jorge, Camilo,, Maria, Jose and all the crew . I had prepared for motion sickness (bring your Bonine just in case!) so I never had any issues. I enjoyed a cappuccino each morning as I watched the sunrise from the sundeck. One morning I was treated to a Bryde's whale sighting which was amazing. Our room was huge, the bed was comfortable, even the bathroom was large! Maria was magical...so efficient and fast...we never once saw her go into the room but it was always spotless. Using the hot tub after snorkel trips was so lovely and the afternoon we saw the big pod of dolphins before sunset was unforgettable. Every meal was delicious, with something for everyone. Omelettes made to order in the morning, fish dishes for lunch and dinner in addition to meat options, and lots of fresh fruit, veggies and salads.
We truly had an amazing journey to the Galapagos and wish we could have explored Ecuador for longer. So many more places to visit, including the Cloud Forest, the Amazon and the Andes. I hope we are able to return to this amazing and interesting country again soon. A country with beautiful sights, lovely people, fabulous food and spectacular wildlife and nature! Thanks to everyone who made this journey so special, including Alvaro who planned it for us!

We loved our visit to Santa Cruz Island, including all of the guided tours and the hotel stay. The outings were informative, interesting, well-planned, and enjoyable. Thanks for all the help planning our trip! We'll always remember the fun we had.