Not as good as my previous trip with Kim2

Galapagos Islands | Feb 14 - Feb 22, 2025

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