How was your Explore Tour Leader?

"We had two - Diego Torres in Ecuador, I think the best tour leader I have ever experienced and Daniel on the Galapagos Cruise - a different character but a very knowledgeable naturalist who obviously loves the Islands and all they stand for.

I would also like to state that all the crew members on the boat with whom we had contact were courteous, caring and friendly."

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Go with an open mind and enjoy and the sites and sounds, they are amazing.  It is a very energetic trip, not must rest then I don't expect that on an 'Explore' holiday but a wonderful experience.  Ecuador mainland is a hidden gem and the Galapagos are, as stated on the Explore write-up 'captivating'

Do you have anything else to add?

Can I suggest just a few words extra on the Galapagos Cruise write-up in your covering notes.  You state 'Please note: this itinerary is subject to change depending on Galapagos Park Authorities'  No problem with this but suggest you add something to the effect that only some of the islands will be visited not all can be in the time scale of one week.  Some of my travel companions moaned about this and weren't being realistic.  

 

A most enjoyable trip around some extremely high mountains, a taste of the rainforest and an unforgettable sail in the Galapagos islands. Beware the state of the boat but the hotels on the mainland are often delightful. Not a trip for the novice, this tour is quite demanding. (EC -23rd July 2011)

This is simply a wonderful trip, well planned and taking in the very best of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. It is expensive but very good value for money. Our guide was excellent and thought of everything to ensure the trip ran smoothly. He was also extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic which added greatly  to the experience. The accomodation, restaurants and food throughout was of a very high standard and chosen so we ate and stayed in places with real local character. Highlights? Where to begin because there are so many. Ecuador is a beautiful country and the people friendly and hospitable. Quito and the highlands are beautiful. The towns and markets are very interesting. The Avenue of the Volcanoes is breathtaking and we had some wonderful views. The walks were excellent- not too long but varied and fun with lots to see and learn about. A highlight for me was the time in the Amazon. I knew it was not the deepest Amazon but still a real feel for the jungle and the lodge at Misahualli was excellent. Decending through the cloud forest to get there was particularly scenic. We were fortunate the Devil's Nose Railway was restored and working and that was a great day too. The last was the best- a wonderful week in the Galapagos with the boat to ourselves. Lovely boat, great weather and food, professional friendly crew and the privilege of travelling from one island to another seeing a vast array of unique wildlife. I feel so lucky to have been able to do this trip. My best memory is walking in the highlands near Otavalo and coming across an old lady waiting to have her milk collected. She had milked her cow and the milk was in a bucket. She was wearing traditional dress with a beautiful embroidered blouse and glass beads and was embroidering while she waited. Do learn a few words of Spanish before you go. It was so nice to speak to her and ask her a few questions about her life and good to find people maintaining their traditional way of life.  I learned too that Ecuador, like all developing countries struggles with all the problems of the present- urbanisation, loss of habitat, pollution and the dichotomy of their oil industry. I learnt a lot and that is why I go travelling. (EC - 12th March 2011)

Everything was better then expected. Thoroughly exciting and wonderful holiday. (EC - 20th November 2010)

A dream holiday. No, more than that. Three dreams in one. The Andes. The Amazon. The Galapagos. We travel the highlands, breathing cool mountain air, more than once breathless at twelve thousand feet or more. We meet Andean people and taste their food. Guinea pig anyone? We walk in the shadow of snow-capped volcanoes, wild vicuna stepping daintily across the altiplano. We're drenched by the mist from a thundering waterfall, turn pink in a hot-as-we-can-stand-it hot spring. We descend. Down through the cloud forest. From snowline to tropics in a days drive. Amazonia! A long narrow boat cuts through the muddy waters of a wide brown river. Ashore, we slide muddily through pristine rainforest. Huge trees, dazzling butterflies, occasional flowers amongst the green, massive colonies of bees. Whatever we ask - birds, insects, landscapes, our guide Diego has the answers. Modestly, he doesn't tell us about his awards. Back over the mountains we hit the steaming coast and fly west. Galapagos! Just the name raises pulses. But will it, could it, live up to expectations? Now a new routine. Each night the Monserrat sails. Each dawn, we have a new island to explore, lush and green, perhaps, or desert, or bare volcanic rock. Iguanas sit and stare, snorting salt. Comical boobies display their vivid blue feet. Prehistoric-looking frigate birds glide, black and menacing, overhead. And then there are the sealions. They're everywhere. Strewn about randomly on concrete, sand or rock. Put on a snorkel, get in the water, and they're with you. Lithe, agile and playful. Beautifully streamlined and incredibly fast. There's intelligence in those eyes as the give you the once over, before showing you what they can do. Around and around, twisting and turning, stopping to nuzzle a fin, then gone in a flash. You can only watch, amazed. And grin. In a trip of many highlights, for me this is the one. So that's it. A wonderful, amazing trip. A superb introduction to South America - mainland Ecuador is not to be missed - as well an incredible trip to the Galapagos. Now the down side -  there had to be one, didn't there - and because of it we can only rate this holiday 'Good' not 'Excellent'. The Monserrat, our transport around the Galapagos, has two very different sorts of cabin. The four upstairs have huge picture windows and are quite a long way from the noise of the engines. The four downstairs cabins have only one tiny porthole high up on the wall, and being wood-panelled are pretty claustrophobic. They're very noisy too, not just from the main engines but from the generator which runs continuously. It's very much first class against third class. Unfortunately, with Explore they all come at the same price and you cannot choose what kind of cabin you get - it's a lottery. So bring ear plugs and prepare for the possibility of claustrophobia! Or do as we did a number of nights - sleep on a sun bed on the upper deck, open to the moon and stars. That could be pretty magical too! (EC- 13th March 2010)