Ecuador & the Galapagos - Deluxe Traveller Reviews

A truly fantastic 2 week tour of the Galapagos Islands on a small 16 berth tour boat. Both the local guide and the boat's crew were first rate and took great care of us during our stay onboard the Beluga.

Have used Naturetrek for 6 tours now and they are always well organised, and respond very quickly to any queries. I will continue to use them for future trips.

Cruise on 16 berth Beluga with expert naturalist guide. In two weeks we were able to visit all the less known sites and the wildlife viewing was comprehensive assisted by our guides expert knowledge

Naturetrek are both caring and efficient. Booking with them means no worries that the arrangements may go wrong or the local operator be unsuitable.

This was an important 'bucket' trip for my 70th birthday. I was recommended to go with Naturetrek by a friend, as he had been with them before and had a great time. From the initial enquiry through the booking process, and the information provided before we left I was confident that we had chosen the right holiday with the right firm. The Galapagos Islands did not, of course disappoint, and the seamless organisation of transport and transfers, the choice of accommodation and day excursions from Quito did live up to the advertised 'de luxe' description. With a great crowd of like-minded people on board, an excellent crew, delicious food, a dedicated tour guide and blue skies, what was not to like?

The holiday information and advice provided was extensive, detailed, accurate and importantly, updated just before leaving. This gives extra confidence that someone is looking after the important details and communicating with the travellers to ensure they have the latest information, particularly for connections and timings. Combined with emergency contact numbers for several of the Naturetrek staff should problems arise before, or during the trip, this again gives peace of mind that contact with home would be possible if needed.

We stayed for 15 nights aboard the beautiful yacht Beluga. The Beluga is a small yacht with 8 double berths. The Captain and crew provided excellent care and service and nothing was too much trouble for them. Having 15 nights gave us enough time to visit most of the Galapagos islands and to fit in deep sea and off the beach snorkels almost every day(sometimes twice daily). The most amazing and spectacular part of the trip was the landings on the islands and the thrill of seeing the mammals, reptiles, birds and sea life so close that can even pick out each hair, feather or scale. The islands are so different that each day offered a new and exciting experience, helped by our very knowledgeable guide. We would not hesitate to recommend this holiday and cannot praise our experience highly enough. This was truly the holiday of a lifetime.

This holiday was arranged through Naturetrek. We have used Naturetrek previously and had such a positive experience that we booked through them again for this trip. Once we arrived in Ecuador the tour operator Enchanted Expeditions provided the tour guides and excursions in Quito and also the Beluga, her staff and guide. We cannot fault the service provided by Naturetrek or Enchanted Expeditions.