Profile photo for Paul Cisneros
61 messages
active 7 hours ago

Paul Cisneros

I love to travel and discover new places. Born and raised in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, I grew up admiring the rich history of my city and the breathtaking landscapes of the Andes. I have been involved in tourism for over 4 years; I’m passionate about exploring my country and helping travelers from around the world create unforgettable memories as they experience the megadiversity of Ecuador.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Ecuador is the perfect destination for travelers seeking to experience the best of nature and wildlife. I love to show the highlights of the country and create itineraries that feature hikes in the Andes, cultural experiences in the Amazon rainforest, and encounters with unique wildlife in the Galápagos Islands."

How did you get involved in travel?

"I worked for many years at the front desk of a hotel in Quito and always enjoyed meeting people from other countries. During the Covid pandemic, due to a reduction in hotel staff, I took on responsibilities from another department. Without realizing it, I began helping guests plan day trips to Cotopaxi National Park and Mindo. From that moment, I understood I wanted to share my passion for Ecuador with travelers, and pursue this path."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"It was probably the first time I visited the Galapagos Islands. For me, it felt like discovering another world. Encountering the giant tortoises like Lonesome George, snorkeling with sea lions and sharks, and observing all the animals that inhabit the islands was unforgettable. It fueled my passion for nature and wildlife."

Paul is part of the following groups: Galapagos Islands Travel Agents, Ecuador Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Paul

I contacted kimkim to help craft a custom iti...
Ecuador | Apr 4 - Apr 10, 2025

Scott
Scott G.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Apr 16, 2025
I contacted kimkim to help craft a custom itinerary with a guide spend almost a week hiking in the Ecuadorian Andes. The kimkim staff was professional and responsive. Most importantly, they contracted an independent local guide who spoke excellent english and specialized in hiking trips. During the trip we had to adjust the itinerary based on road conditions after a very strong storm closed the road to one of our our planned overnight stay locations. Alternative accommodations were... Read more

I contacted kimkim to help craft a custom itinerary with a guide spend almost a week hiking in the Ecuadorian Andes. The kimkim staff was professional and responsive. Most importantly, they contracted an independent local guide who spoke excellent english and specialized in hiking trips.

During the trip we had to adjust the itinerary based on road conditions after a very strong storm closed the road to one of our our planned overnight stay locations. Alternative accommodations were made seamlessly, and it was great to see that the kimkim folks and our local guide were on the same page and kept us in the loop.

My one change would probably be to find a location closer to Chimborazo outside of Riobamba instead of staying in town. The town is not terribly clean and fairly noisy. While our time there was completely fine, l would suggest this improvement for the next group interested in doing a trip similar to ours.

Lastly, I can't say enough good things about our local guide Milton. He really made our trip special and we will treasure our time together for a long time.

Hotel Reviews
Mansion Santa Isabella
Riobamba

While the Andalusian style is nice, the staff was only moderately helpful and the room overlooking the street was very noisy.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
The weekend staff was not terribly friendly or helpful. It didn't seem like they enjoyed their job very much.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Santa Lucia House - Forum
Cuenca

Wonderful staff, great location, and a lovely interior. Our room was situated at the front of the hotel, so we heard som street noise, but the large sitting room just outside our room more than made up for it. Breakfast was good. We really appreciated they adjusted their breakfast schedule to accommodate us leaving early in AM on two different occasions.

Authenticity & Character
Lovely traditional Andalusian style.
Location
Less than 5 minutes to the town center.
Staff
Everyone we met was friendly and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Explore Cotopaxi National Park
Explore Cotopaxi National Park
Ecuador

We totally lucked out to see the mountain. Great hikes to the Rifugio and around the lake.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
We used a local driver for the last part of the drive.
Explore the Quilotoa Lagoon
Explore the Quilotoa Lagoon
Ecuador

The hike around the crater is terrific. There is some steep vertical in the first quarter of the hike going counterclockwise, so be ready for that.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide Milton recommended going counterclockwise, which was totally the right call.
Transport
We made a decision the night before to stay in Chugchilan instead of Isnilivi. Not only were we closer to the lake the next day, but we luckily avoided a major landslide that would have kept us from getting to Quilatoa at all.
Cuenca City Tour
Cuenca City Tour
Ecuador

Cuenca is a special town. We were fortunate that our guide Milton was from there, so we totally benefitted from having a local experience.

Quality of Experience
Meeting our guides family.
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Milton's family was awesome.
Transport
Cajas National Park
Cajas National Park
Ecuador

Who knew Scotland was in Ecuador. This is a very special place to hike.

Quality of Experience
We lucked out on the weather. Go early!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Angie Maldonado
Angie
Angie Maldonado
Local specialist in Quito - Ecuador | Replied on Apr 16, 2025
Hi Scott, Thank you so much for your kind words. I’ll make sure to share them with Milton and the rest of our team. I’m very happy to hear that, despite the changes due to the heavy storm in Isinlivi, you had a great trip seeing the Cotopaxi volcano, hiking around the Quilotoa crater, discovering the beautiful Cuenca and the Cajas National Park, tasting our local food, and experiencing our culture in each place you visited. I love the photos you upload! I’m sure you have fond memories of... Read more

Hi Scott,

Thank you so much for your kind words. I’ll make sure to share them with Milton and the rest of our team. I’m very happy to hear that, despite the changes due to the heavy storm in Isinlivi, you had a great trip seeing the Cotopaxi volcano, hiking around the Quilotoa crater, discovering the beautiful Cuenca and the Cajas National Park, tasting our local food, and experiencing our culture in each place you visited. I love the photos you upload!

I’m sure you have fond memories of our country, and hopefully, you’ll visit us again in the future.

I really appreciate your note about your stay in Riobamba; it is very helpful for us to continue improving our services, and I’ll definitely consider that in our new itineraries.

Wishing you all the best!
Angie & the team