~ Galapagos Islands Tours ~
Traveler Comments

April 26, 2010

Judy- 

Thank you so much for helping us organize our stays at Mansion del Angel.  The hotel was absolutely beautiful.  I think we took pictures of every single room.  It was like a museum.  The people that work there are extremely gracious and attended to all our needs.  They arranged for taxis when we were in need and they were always very pleasant and priced reasonably.  

Our trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands was incredible and your assistance help to make it so.  

Warm regards, 

Barbara and George 
 [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]
  

[LARC's Response:] 

BLESS YOU BARBARA & GEORGE,

IT ALWAYS HELPS US TO KNOW WHAT OUR PASSENGERS THINK ABOUT OUR PROPERTIES, AND IT IS OF COURSE VERY NICE TO HEAR SOMETHING PLEASANT. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO GIVE US YOUR KIND FEEDBACK. BEST RGDS, JUDY

April 05, 2010

Hi Judy!  

...so here's the update.  La Mirage was lovely (not sure if we were upgraded, but the room was beautiful regardless), albeit not an easy lodge to locate.  Driving in Ecuador was a breeze, finding things like the Mirage, not so easy, but we made it just fine.  

As to the Red Mangrove...it is a perfectly fine middle-of-the-road hotel group.   I'm not one who likes being on a schedule, so that aspect of it was a nuisance for me, but the trips were well organized, the guides were nice, the food was fresh...it was well done, just not luxe.  The "cabins" on Floreana were very basic...and hot (no A/C and no electricity after midnight, so not even able to have a fan). The hotel in Isabela was perfectly placed on a lovely beach.  We were upgraded to a suite (upon my request because our assigned room was not nice) at Aventura Lodge and that was well worth it.  I would encourage your guests to book the ocean front suites for the trip. Worth the extra few hundred dollars to guarantee the best rooms.  Basically, my feedback is that is a perfect way to see lots of stuff in the Galapagos, be completely directed to do things at specific times, stay in a clean environment d not think.  

Personally, my preference would be (and I might just return and do this) to stay at the Safari Camp (I am SO, SO happy we changed and booked a night there at the end...it was beautiful) and book a private scuba trip for 2-3 days max and relax at the safari camp at the beginning and end.  My favorite part about the entire trip really was being in the water and the tent.  

Thanks again for all your help and I promise to reach back out to you next time I head down that way.

All the best, 

Carla  [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]
 

March 07, 2010

Hi Judy, 

Back from Ecuador and Galapagos, and just wanted to say thank you for your help.  

The accommodations were excellent (Galapagos Safari Inn), and the tour guides and excursions were also great! What a wonderful trip.  

Thanks for all you did to make it possible. I would be happy to recommend LARC and your services to anyone who asks.  

Best, 

Peter   [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]
 

January 15, 2010

Judy....just thought I would let you know that Mr. [*] told me that Safari Camp was one of the most beautiful places he had been and everyone loved every minute of it.  He also said he would go back any time as it was a wonderful vacation.  Quotes "accommodations spectacular, food was wonderful and activates perfect for my family and the service was top notch".  
So....just to let you and the folks down there know.  

I think I may have to go down and see it for myself. Might be good for an article or two for my blog let alone the newspaper I write for in Atlanta (Our Town Monthly).  I am going to be writing (hopefully) for another publication here in Flagler Co. (Florida) soon called The Observer (nationally syndicated from California).  So if any of your folks that need some publicity and its somewhere that I have visited or will visit in the near future....I am always looking for story ideas!
Thanks again for your help and the great suggestion of Safari Camp!

Pamela L. Walker, CTC, ATC, DS, LS

Member of the Travel Advisory Board - Saveur Magazine
Recognized by Conde Nast Traveler as "One of the Worlds Best Travel Agents"
for 5 consecutive years! 

*   [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

April 02, 2009

Hola Judy, 

How ironic to get your email now....Mrs. Papantonio just phoned me.  She raved about this trip and said it was one of the very best they've ever taken.  They really enjoyed the accommodations at Royal Palm (also, they were the only ones on the yacht excursions and the captain went out of his way to show them things most people don't usually see); La Mirage (including the spa and two chocolate massages for the girls!); their driver/guide was great; the Galapagos islands and animals; and the Otavalo Market which was an eye-opener for their daughter about life outside the U.S.  

I could almost see her smiling through the phone as she was talking about the trip!  Please thank everyone for their excellence.  

Best, 

Karen   [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.] 
 

[LARC's Response]: 

I AM SO THRILLED TO HEAR THAT!  

THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW, AND NOW I KNOW YOU WILL HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO
USE LARC FOR ALL YOUR SOUTH AMERICA BOOKINGS.  

IT WILL ALSO HELP SO MUCH FOR YOU TO SEE IT YOURSELF, SO I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL YOU GO AND HAVE THE EXPERIENCE, IT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.  

THANKS KAREN & HUGS, JUDY 

January 22, 2009

I wanted to say thanks for your help with my Galapagos travel.  The Beluga boat was comfortable and the staff was very professional.  The Guayaquil hotel was nice and in a perfect location for walking on my own.  The airport transfers were worth the expense on arrival, so that I could get a feel for the place without a language problem.  FYI - with the "four" day boat trip combined with an early flight off the islands there was no plan for me to see anything on the fourth day.  I was sorely disappointed. Fortunately, the boat owner's wife saw to it that the naturalist got up early and gave me a solo tour of the breeding compound and George habitat before the other guests had breakfast.  Service above and beyond, in my opinion!

Carol K.   [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

February 21, 2008

Dear Dom 

Thank you for your welcome home message. We arrived late last night after a long journey home. All the flights worked out very well with only a couple of delays due to bad weather in Dallas which did not upset anything and we were able to catch our connecting flights without a problem. The luggage stayed with us all along until we rechecked it in at Johannesburg for Cape Town where one bag went missing (welcome to South Africa!!!!) 

We really liked the Nautilus Explorer but found the dive deck rather cramped and having to climb in and out of the skiffs was a problem at times when the seas were a bit rough. We did not see as many mantas as we had hoped and Roca Partida was very disappointing with only a couple of sightings of sharks. We heard that they had found a lot of nets when they returned after the down season. So very sad. 

Ecuador and the Sky Dancer far exceeded our expectations!! We were met at the airport on time and found the Mansion Del Angel delightful. The next day a really lovely driver picked us up and took us to La Mirage. He was very kind and helpful and managed quite well with his English. There was no need for an actual guide. We had had lunch at La Mirage in 2002 and were so impressed then. You can imagine our delight when we realized it was the same hotel. Our suite was magnificent, the staff were dedicated and efficient and we had a couple of good massages. Our journey back to Quito was great with the arranged stop at the Indian Market. We flew to San Cristobal where we were met by the Sky Dancer crew. Dom, no exaggeration, we have been on many liveaboards, as you know but these guys and the boat are SIMPLY THE BEST. They could not do enough for us including the Captain who was always on the dive deck helping us get on and off the boat as well as helping us undress and handing out warm towels!! We just wished the charter could have been longer. Our cabin was great and the food was excellent. The sea conditions were good though the vis at Darwin and Wolf was not good at all. There was loads of stuff out there but we had difficulty seeing it. We did enjoy a dive being circled by hammerheads and dolphins close enough to film. Gordons Rocks was the best with good currents and everything to see thanks to better vis. Water temperatures were comfortable ranging from 25 degrees C down to 18 in the thermoclines. Thanks for the tip about wearing two hoods, I was not cold at all. We were with a great crowd, mostly British, one American, one guy from St Lucia, a German, an Italian and a Japanese. The German and Italian shared a cabin and their English was not very strong, as was the problem with the Japanese chap but they all got on so well together and became the best of friends, looking out for each other at all times. We found them delightful and Karlheinz was happy to have a fellow country man to chat with now and then in German. We all exchanged mail addresses and hope to keep in touch or at least pass on a photo or two. Our guide, Edwin, was well informed and we enjoyed the land trips with him. We were on the skiff with a young dive guide called Natasha who was fantastic. We were so sad to leave the boat but are looking forward to reliving our holiday when we down load our pictures and edit our video. 

Dom, thank you for everything. This was certainly one of our best trips. 

We will stay in touch! 

All the best from Mary and Karlheinz     [Last names withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

November 28, 2007

Well if I could make you smile as much as YOU have made me SMILE brighter then maybe ever before.. I am a GLOW in the Galapagos and for Debra it was bliss I ADORE YOU GUYS I have to work immediately on march The Party of 8 are wanting to change some of the schedule to include a zip line day in the cloud forest instead of the roller coaster and to check the prices of to offer the same suite 602/604 with the kids (3) zander/and his 2 sisters) with Marianne / 2nd suite is (I guess I may have to call if ok because I am very swamped is that OK for y'all.)  

XOXO  

Really it was a very enlightening Big SKY Country and such sweet gentle people I cannot maybe ever be able to thank you ladies and your team of angels enough I have really to write a proper letter of thanks to send for the walls of fame- to tell how I had the three year old in me awakened to allow the youth to "grow your brain" as [ Seth's] email is.  Anything is possible if you try.  

With Love, 

Renate     [Last names withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.] 

 
LARC's Response: 

WONDERFUL!  

TAKE YOUR TIME WITH MARCH, ONCE YOU HAVE GOTTEN BACK TO REALITY, WE WILL
WORK THAT OUT TO PERFECTION! THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT YOU HAD A
GREAT TRIP. HUGS, 

JUDY & DONNA  

September 12, 2007

[regarding the Galapagos aboard the M.S. Cachalote]

Judy: 

Just a note, because I never followed up. It was wonderful beyond compare. Unbelievable. The best trip ever. We can't say enough good things. ONLY sorrow was that there was only allowed to be a total of 1 hour of kayaking the whole trip. Aside from that (and breaking my camera on day three) I am still, Daniel is still, beside ourselves. Thank you for bearing with us/me through the long process. I'd do it again in a heartbeat!  

Warmly,  

Jennifer J.   [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.] 
 

July 30, 2007

We have just returned from a most perfect trip to the Galapagos, aboard the M/V Beluga, 20-27 July 2007, on a photo tour with Arthur Morris.  The naturalist guide, Juan Manuel Salcedo, contributed so much to the success of the trip that we would like to specifically acknowledge this wonderful young man.  

Juan’s natural history knowledge is extensive, with a depth usually only achieved after decades of experience. He knows the islands as well as his own backyard. Not only is he familiar with the major animal species, but has a solid scientific grasp of plants, insects, marine and aquatic invertebrates, geology, history, and current management issues. He has excellent command of idiomatic English, and communicates effectively.  

His leadership skills were tested on this particular trip, as you are aware. From the initial injury incident on Española until the eventual resumption of our itinerary, Juan was extraordinarily patient and attentive to the passenger and to the rest of us. He exhibited an unusual degree of maturity for his age and we always felt that the situation was being handled well, given the resources available aboard the Beluga.  

On several occasions Juan was very helpful to us. One of our personal snorkeling masks leaked and he offered to locate a mask that fit better. It made all the difference in our enjoyment of the snorkeling experience. A leg of Steve’s camera tripod broke and Juan and the crew repaired it so well that no further repairs will be needed. When we dropped off the injured passenger in Puerto Villamil, her companions had accidentally packed Steve’s only pair of hiking shoes. Juan spent more than 2 hours in town locating the wayward shoes, not returning to the ship until he found them. We deeply appreciated his persistence since they were the only shoes that Steve, who has foot problems, can wear.  

We always felt well prepared for the daily activities due to Juan’s extensive briefings. He timed our landings and departures so perfectly that we actually managed to stay on schedule, no small feat when herding a group of photographers!  

In our opinion Juan Salcedo is a tremendous asset to Enchanted Expeditions and easily ranks among the best guides in the Galápagos. We will gladly recommend him to anyone considering a trip to Galápagos.  

Stephen and George-Ann     [Last names withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.] 

June 11, 2007

Hi Judy, 

Well, I've finally got myself back together after our fantastic trip. I can't possibly thank you enough for making such terrific arrangements for us. It was a special treat to actually meet you in Lima for dinner.  Everything went as planned- which is rarely the case when traveling in remote areas. The people at Chasquitour were wonderful. They even prepared a local foods picnic for lunch one day-instead of sitting in a tourist restaurant. The transfer men knew our faces after the first meeting and it was great to see them at every airport and train station ready to take our luggage. Machu Picchu is every bit as spectacular as you expect, but it is even better! We even had a sunny day. The Galapagos Islands were a wildlife enthusiast's dream. You just can't imagine how up close and personal you get with the animals. We were very impressed with the service on our boat The Eric. Every person knew his job and did it with amazing efficiency.  The food was abundant and delicious. Once again, thank you for making our 40th anniversary such a special celebration.  

Shelly and Les     [Last names withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.] 

February 12, 2007

Hi Judy,

Thanks for helping make this the best vacation both I and Andrew have ever taken. Every single arrangement was right on the money--no delays, no missed connections, no surprises. Everything went like clockwork, and for
that we are grateful to you and your agents.

We had wonderful times in Patagonia, Guayaquil and the Galapagos. In fact you might say we left our hearts in So. America!!

All the Best,

Ron    [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

December 31, 2006

Ecuador  

Here is another report from our vacation. I hope it's helpful and not too annoying.  

The flight to Guayaquil was easy and the airline was just fine. Even though it's six hours we thought of it as just a little longer than LA, so very doable. The Hilton Colon in Guayaquil is fine and our guide was great, took us to a nice restaurant etc. but Guayaquil is not a city worth hanging out in. I had heard nightmare stories about the flights to Galapagos but we found them, very efficient and easy.  

One note. We were never told of a $100 per person Galapagos entry tax. With six of us that's a lot of cash off the top so travelers should be warned. We were met by Rafael, our guide, who is very knowledgeable, calm, and serious. Strong accent, but we got used to it.  

We took a short bus ride to the harbor and took a dingy to the Sea Cloud. Our hearts sank when we saw the accommodations. Four rooms of the same size. 2 in front, 2 in back by the engine. Tiny cramped rooms with bunk beds, I had remembered pictures of the Rachel and remembered that it had 2 rooms with double beds and 2 rooms with bunks. In any event the Sea Cloud was just too small for even six of us and I can't imagine if we had brought 8.  

One suggestion, bring AS LITTLE LUGGAGE AS POSSIBLE. There is no storage space for bags etc. And don't come if sleeping with your wife or lover is an important part of your vacation. The crew seemed nice enough but we realized that there were 6 of them! Captain, first mate, engineer, cook, crewman and guide. So there were not enough beds for them. This meant that at any time of day or night we would find them sleeping on couches or on deck. This offered very little privacy and no chance to escape. Even the bow deck of the boat was not equipped with cushions for hanging out.  

The distances between the Islands are sometimes 6 or 8 hours so the plan was to sail, under motor, at night. But this made it impossible to sleep. Motoring in a sailboat is way more nauseating than sailing because of fumes etc. And sailboats can only motor at half the speed of a motor yacht and are much less stable. The girls all got sea sick and opted for sleeping on deck. We gave them the patch and told the captain that we would no longer be sailing at night.  

The bottom line is if you are not going to sail, don't take a sailboat. There are beautiful, fast, spacious motor yachts that get you between the islands in half the time.  

Now a few word about the Galapagos. AMAZING, INCREDIBLE, AWESOME, MIND BLOWING. We had some of the most memorable experiences of our lives. Encounters with animals unlike any other in the world. Everyone should go, but as Rafael put it, "the Galapagos is not an easy vacation" Up every day early to hike or snorkel, lunch and then back at it in the afternoon, but every outing was better than the last, and the memories will last forever. We tried to think of family members and friends that would have enjoyed the trip and they were few and far between. You have to be ready for boats and a lot of activity, but if you have the energy it's so worth it and very safe. The animals are very friendly because they are not threatened by humans. Even the SHARKS are friendly! We were very happy to have the Satellite phone as it enabled us to make calls as our plans changed. It worked very well considering that we were in the middle of the ocean in the middle of nowhere. We stayed in a cute hotel in town called Solymar. Brand new and inexpensive, but clean and comfortable and the owner, Renato, will do anything for you.  

So bottom line get a good boat, or stay on land and do day trips (although you will miss some amazing Islands) Get a good guide, because they know the secret places and how to avoid the crowds. Pack light and bring a good camera with an underwater housing if you can.  

We found the trip to Quito pretty easy but the landing in the Andes can be a bit bumpy. The drive to La Mirage really drives home the notion that you are in another world. La Mirage is a beautiful place. In a small town that specializes in leather goods. It has nice gardens and every room is different. Charming, cozy with fireplaces and hot water bottles in the foot of your bed at night. The food is fine, not great. The spa is OK. They try hard but they weren't the best treatments we ever had. Unfortunately the pool is indoor and the exercise equipment hasn't worked since the 80's.  

We went for a beautiful walk up into the mountains and found a little Indian village. The Indians are tiny. Barely 4 feet tall. But very friendly. It's great to explore Otavalo, the Indian market. They have beautiful handcrafts, rugs, scads, etc. for dirt cheep.  

Our guide Miguel was very knowledgeable about the area and took us to some out of the way villages. Guinea pig is the local delicacy but we passed on that one. The mountains are spectacular and we lucked out with the weather but either way tacking on an Andes visit to a Galapagos trip is definitely worth it.  

KB 12/31/06      [Name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

September 28, 2006

Galapagos trip had a great boat (Aida Maria). The guide was an excellent naturalist.

Dan    [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

September 11, 2006

Donna - we had the BEST TIME EVER!  

The jungle was fun and Kapawi was quite nice and the Galapagos were just amazing. 

We couldn’t believe how nice the Evolution was and chock full of interesting people: A Member of British Parliament, Joan Didion’s Assistant, and Crazy-rich International Financier...It was too much fun. The guides were great and we snorkled almost everyday. We were going to go to Banos for a couple of days, but because of the volcano we went to the Hacienda San Augustin de Callo instead for 2 nights. It was terrific and Cotopaxi stunning (although I nearly died climbing up it - there’s no oxygen there.)  

Now I’m broke and must go back to work. Very sad. See attached happier time.  

-Sandy K. (& Brian F.)    [Last names withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

August 01, 2006

We loved Ecuador and the Galapagos!!!  The land trip was just right and the guide, Henry Richard Espinosa, was terrific. We had a medical emergency and he helped us get through it wonderfully.  We really like Cochasqui better than Ingapirca because it's the real thing, not just some restoration.  Cochasqui is completely intact as the ancient people built it.  The Evolution is an excellent boat with a really nice crew, good food, and just the right number of passengers.

All in all, we'll certainly recommend this trip. 

Gladys M.   [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

July 14, 2006

Dear Janie, 

The trip was fabulous!  The Beluga was great and all the crew members were outstanding. The food delicious, all the crew members went out of their way to make us comfortable, and I must say, a group of photographers is a high maintenance group. They lugged our equipment safely in and out of the dinghy, had meals and snacks waiting for us. It was super. Our guide, Juan, was the best. He was so knowledgeable, and there wasn't a question he couldn't answer.  He was flexible, allowing us to do pretty much what we needed to, to get our photographs, within the limits of the Nat'l Park rules. 

We had a once-in-a -lifetime experience and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Metropolitan Touring was also great. The people we were in contact with went out of their way, giving us their phone numbers to contact them with any difficulties. They made the transition so much easier, being in a foreign country. They arranged for private transportation, and an individualized tour on two separate occasions, once in Quito and again in Guayaquil. A great experience. 

We also went to Sacha Lodge. Our guide, Miles McMullen was a bird expert and did a great job. We also had a native guide who was very adept at sighting birds and all kinds of wildlife. Every day was filled to the brim with adventure. Pirhanna (sp? ) [Piranha] fishing, jungle hikes, hikes to the top of the canopy, even a night hike to seek out tarantulas, bugs, and frogs. Wow. Will try to send you some images. We sure have a lot to go through and edit! Hope to meet you someday. Maybe an African tour??? 

David    [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

July 14, 2006

Judy,

Paul, Eduar and I had a great time and saw a lot! The Cartuja was lovely and well located. The trip down to Cuenca was spectacular, and our guide Hugo was excellent. Please pass along our thanks to Miguel, and thank you for your help.

George    [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

LARC responded: The Crespo and the Abraspungo are lovely too.  Crespo is better located than the 5 Star option in Cuenca.

June 28, 2006

Dom: Thanks for contacting us!  

First of all, what is your new venture: "diveadvice.com"? (I don't seem to get a web sit when I go to that address?)   

Second, Bob and I had a great time on the trip.  

Our time at La Mirage was terrific, and all of the plans went off without a hitch and as advertised. The Heils and we went horseback riding and took advantage of the spa facilities one afternoon. The food was good.  

La Cartuja had received all of our reservations accurately and were accommodating as usual.  

The diving was fantastic (this is our second trip to Galapagos): We were thrilled with a significant whale shark encounter on our first day at Wolf. She was a BIG girl. Unfortunately we had only one other whale shark sighting on scuba (a juvenile) and one sighting at the surface. That was my biggest disappointment but out of everyone's control, of course.  

However, the other shark activity was truly remarkable. During 8 full days at Wolf and Darwin, we had significant numbers of hammerhead sharks on every dive. In addition, at Wolf, the Galapagos sharks were everywhere, and we had encounters with black tips, white tip reef sharks, and silky sharks (too many in that case!) We literally dropped in looking at sharks from the first moment.  

Dolphin, turtles, schooling fish, and sea lions were all abundant depending on where we were. The water was warmer than I expected in the northern islands at this time of year; the southern/central islands were a mixed bag. Roca Redondo was freezing, with poor visibility and limited life. That was probably the worst diving, and I know it can be outrageous depending on currents and other conditions. Cousins Rock was awesome as always.  

Bob and I were very happy with the Sky Dancer's Captain Rafael, naturalist Jaime (who had been one of our naturalist/dive masters on the Lammer Law in 2002) and dive master Kike. Service overall was good. The food was fine, particularly the lunch and snacks. The housekeeping service in our room was excellent.  

Dom, thanks for all your help. As we said before, your detailed planning on our behalf was a significant relief for us. Again, we wish you the best, and please let us know about your new position.  

Kind regards.  

Jacqueline    [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

June 28, 2006

Judy Judy Judy !!  Thought you might like to see this very positive feedback from Skip's clients who loved all your arrangements. 

Thanks, Dom

----------------

Dom, 

Well we had a most delightful time in Ecuador, thanks!!!!! I particularly wanted to thank you for all of your help in arranging our plans for the week prior to the Galapagos travels. I copied the notes you sent in reply to my various questions about hiking, etc & reviewed them on the trip to help us figure out where to go (you supplied enough details about hiking in Banos that our guide asked if he could join us . . .I got a map from travel shops in Banos which helped us determine various paths to take for our hike up to view the volcano there ... )   

We adored our guide!!  He was pleased to join us on the rafting trip . . . his 1st rafting trip!!  By the way, the raft trip was quite fun (& the folks leading the trip were both professional & heaps of fun!!!!!) We made two more hiking trips in the Andes (to the Refugio at Cotopaxi & then to Imbabura near Cusin's Hacienda . . with a guide from the area). After feeling rather good about having a fine mainland stay, we were actually swept away (i.e. all was so very easy) and arrived without any work on our part, in the Galapagos on board the Sky Dancer. What a great crew (all of them) . . .so very friendly, hospitable, with such caring attitudes . . . a wonderful place to be for 2 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Loved the boat . . . all was made so very easy in all ways for us.  Oh my gosh, just a fairy tale!!!!  

The diving was quite fun; the surges and bit of current made it adventurous!!  Schools and schools of hammerheads . . . again unbelievable!!!!  Saw everything underwater possible . . . no complaints in this department!!  The only issue was that Skip couldn't get his itinerary approved; consequently, we had to forgo many of the intended land trips. I think that I would have preferred to take more land trips, although I was quite satisfied with the panga rides (we saw such wonderful things from the zodiac!!!!)   

Thanks for being right there for us . . . Are you still in this line of business??  If so, please let me know what trips you might organize as we would love to go to Indonesia as well as to Truk & Palau.  Arrange any trips in Australia??? 

We would love to stay in touch!! 

Thanks again!!!!! 

Joan & Marsh     [Last names withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

June 27, 2006

Judy,

Dave here. Just wanted to thank you for all your help with our Ecuador trip. Every part was truly wonderful. We loved the Cachalote and the Galapagos. Our guide was amazing and fun. That said, if we could do it all over again, we probably would not go back to Sani Lodge (which had been totally our choice). They didn't have a lot to do during the afternoons, no electricity in the rooms, and they were a four hour boat ride from Coca (other lodges aren't so far). We heard much better things from other travelers about Sacha lodge. Also, La Mirage was over the top fun, but we probably would only stay there one night, as those four course meals take a long time and it was expensive.

Thanks again,

- Dave    [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

ps do you handle Bolivia?  I'd love to go there some day.

June 12, 2006

Hi, Judy and Miguel and Mike,

We made it home late last night. Thank you again for all your excellent work in organizing the trip for my students and others. Everybody learned so much and had a great time. For the evaluations they completed for the university, your logistical support and the travel and food and accommodations and guiding were all rated extremely highly.

One of the days in the rainforest we all went to 2 parrot licks downriver in Yasuni NP, then went to the home of one of the indigenous guides (Donaldo, in the community of Pilchi), where we interacted with his family and met the village schoolteacher and saw the school, infirmary, common building, etc.; and then took a 3 hour hike back to Sacha. This was a nice change from the regular Sacha guided tour sites, and the students especially liked the more strenuous hiking and seeing so many parrots.

Miguel: Jose was an excellent guide at Sacha Lodge. He was quite good at Otavalo and the highlands. And he was only moderately good for the old town Quito tour; I don't think old churches and art work are really his thing as much as birds. Also, I think he rushed things quite a bit to be done in time for the football game between Ecuador and Poland (which many in our group were also excited to watch).

Judy: special thanks to you for finding the San Jose. We had a very good experience on it. The free-lance guide they retained--Efrain Zambrano, a class III naturalist from the highlands of Santa Cruz--was terrific. And unlike other great guides from the past, he didn't proposition the women all the time, which saved me some headaches. I was really glad to see much more of Isabela Island than I had in the past (paddling in the mangroves at Bahia Elizabeth and seeing beautiful hawksbill turtles and large groups of spotted eagle rays was especially memorable), as well as Floreana Island, which was new to me. We experienced very rough seas on the south coast of Isabela all the way over to Floreana, and again from Floreana over to Espanola--which we were told was quite unusual for this time of year.

The San Jose fit the bill for us very well. But just so you know for the future, I'll offer a few comparisons with Ecoventura boats. SJ: except for guide Efrain and bartender/meal server Jefferson (both from Galapagos), all 9 other crew were from Guayaquil and spoke Spanish only; and only a few of our group were fluent in Spanish, so our group didn't interact with the entire crew as much as on Ecoventura voyages. SJ: the cabins were more spacious but less fancy in terms of woodwork, fittings. The food was equally good, but the dining room wasn't as formal on the SJ. And the SJ did not have chairs/benches to sit on up near the bridge for us to look for whales, dolphins, etc.--only the backwards-facing recliner lounges up on the sun deck.

So, all in all, a great trip, and I am very appreciative to you all for your terrific work in setting everything up.

Cheers, Tom    [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

 

June 02, 2006

Hi Judy, 

We are back from Galapagos, it was a great trip. Got to see all the animals on my list. Happy to be home to eat good tasting food and drink the water.  I met another one of your clients.  Nancy from Las Vegas. 

Thank you, 

Paula    [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

May 22, 2006

Donna

Just wanted to sent a note to tell you thanks for all your help with the Galapagos / Ecuador trip. We all had an incredible time. Everyone involved with helping us was very kind. Our driver, Ernesto, was especially awesome and we all enjoyed him very much. 

Thanks again from all of us

Wendy Y.   [Name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

May 10, 2006

Thanks for your help. The tour in Quito worked out well. The Rachel was special - 8 of us with our own boat with crew and naturalist.  Definitely the way to go. Unfortunately, Ellen broke her wrist on Santa Fe [Island] on our last full day, but she still raves about the trip.  My daughter, who states that she's anything but a nature girl absolutely loved it.

Hope all is well.  

Ira H. S.      [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

January 29, 2006

Our trip was wonderful and exhausting and very educational.  All the arrangements you made were excellent and flawless.  Miguel is a very accommodating and responsible agent and tourguide.  The sites for meals (Cienega, Puerto Lago) and lodging (Fuente Piedro, Pinsaqui) were each unique and very hospitable.  Otovalo market is delightful (we could have used more time), with a few actual artisans interspersed among scores of secondary vendors.  Visiting the nearby crafts towns generally exposed us to a higher level of craftsmanship.  Miguel took us to the studio of a weaver in Peguche whose work was outstanding (and now well represented in our house in Ithaca).

Sacha is a delight, but is very different from the naive perspectives we had of the jungle.  We saw many fewer exotic species than we'd anticipated, but this was due to our lack of understanding about diversity and numbers. Outstanding staff, excellent food and lodging.  The trekking is a bit arduous - lots of getting into/out of canoes, the footing on the trails is often uneven, and there is some extensive climbing.  Mary Lee was able to keep up with most, and the guides were very accommodating to her special needs.  The 2.5 hour trip along the Napo is delightful.  If someone wants to see lots of species of toucans and exotic birds up close, they should go to Bush Gardens, but for an easy and enlightening adventure this is a wonderful place.  

Ecoventura is a first rate organization.  The ship was clean, the food and other service were outstanding, and all the staff were very friendly and helpful.  Everyday there were small extras provided, which added significantly to the individual and collective enjoyment of the passengers.  Here again, our guides and crew were very attentive to helping Mary Lee on/off of the pangas (twice daily) without disrupting the activities of the other passengers.  The uniqueness of each of these islands must be seen to be appreciated. 

Some of the passengers on the lower deck reported having air that smelled of diesel and also mentioned the noise from the engines as being disruptive, but our upper deck rooms were very airy and bright, and also more convenient.  I think some air purification system was not functioning properly, but you might want to mention this to future clients.  We were very glad to have paid the extra $$ for the upper deck rooms.  We are infrequent travelers to such exotic places, so a little extra investment to enhance the comfort is worth it.  

On our last day in Quito we hired a guide from Sacha (who was home on break in Quito) to take us to Bellavista and a nearby orchid farm and also a private hummingbird reserve (owned by Tony Nunnery, who leads tours for Victor Emanuael).  We were not especially impressed with the Bellavista lodge, but the other two sites were fantastic.  The bird house has recorded the greatest number of hummingbird species per day of anywhere on earth, and we saw about 15 species.  

That's it in a capsule.  Again, we thank you for all your efforts to make this journey easy and enjoyable for us.  We hope 2006 brings you much happiness.  Please let me know if you are ever coming by Ithaca.  Cornell has a very active herpetology club, and they might be particularly interested in meeting with someone of your experience 
and interests.

Drew   [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

November 22, 2005

We just returned from a week at the Royal Palm and were delighted with the magic of the place.  If you seek elegance and comfort and something quite different, the Royal Palm is a good choice.  We were upgraded to a Villa which is a four room house.  Besides the very large bedroom, living room (with a fireplace), enormous bathroom (separate rooms for the w.c. and large shower) there is an equally large [hot tub] room with surround windows that overlook the surrealistic views.  We checked the Veranda room which we had originally booked and found it to be beautiful, just smaller, with a [hot tub] outside.  The Royal Palm is a romantic and quiet get-away. The staff is attentive, and the setting amazing.  Being in the highlands it is subject to the Garua depending on the month.
It has a mystical mist. 

Martha O.  [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

Received: September 19, 2005

TRIP REPORT - ECUADOR AND THE GALAPAGOS
AUGUST 12-29, 2005


Friday, August 12th - Departure and Introduction

Jan and I left Washington National Airport around 2 pm on Friday, Aug 12. American Airlines flight to Miami (2 and 1/2 hours), followed by a short lay-over and a very long walk between gates and another American Airlines flight (3 and 1/2 hours) to Quito, the capital of Ecuador, arriving around 8:30 pm. We were met by our tour guide, Miguel, and taken on a relatively short drive to our hotel.

First, a few words about Quito. It's a large city (pop around 2 million), and the capital of Ecuador. It's around 30 miles long (north-south) and only 4 miles wide. Basically, it sits on a high Andean plateau, at around 9,000 feet, in the midst of several large volcanoes. It is a very beautiful setting. In the morning, we looked out our window onto the two large and still active volcanoes, the Pinchinchas. The most recent eruption of these was in the late 1990's and covered the city in ash. The whole area is very active, geologically speaking. Apparently, there are daily "earthquakes" in Quito, but none strong enough to even be felt. The last big one was around ten years ago, seriously damaging several cultural heritage sites. The altitude is high enough that you really notice it. Particularly when climbing stairs. There were mornings that I really felt the hike up and down the two flights of stairs in our hotel (no elevator). I don't think anyone on our trip ever got really altitude sickness (headaches, etc). But we all knew we were up pretty high. In comparison, it is about 1,000 feet higher than the village at Snowmass, Colorado where we have skied.

Our hotel was lovely. We used the same hotel (and actually stayed in the same rooms) whenever we came back to Quito. It was called Mansion del Angel. It was very comfortable. Large rooms, comfortable beds, large showers with lots of hot water, etc. Very nicely decorated. Very helpful and friendly staff. And not terribly expensive. Roses were everywhere. It turns out that, after petroleum products, Ecuador's largest export is roses. When you drive around the highlands, you see all these huge greenhouse complexes that grow roses for shipping to the US and around the world. In Ecuador on the streets, you can buy 25 roses for a dollar. As a result, our hotel was filled with huge bouquets of beautiful roses. And the odor of roses was everywhere. Whenever we were in Quito, we had breakfast on this wonderful, glassed in terrace with views of the mountains.

To read more of this account, Click Here

Received: July 11, 2005

Galapagos and Guayaquil, Ecuador
June 12 to 24, 2005


Joan planned this exciting and educational trip with grandchildren to Ecuador and the Galapagos Archipelago. The travelers were Joan and I, Gage and Lily C., Hanna W., Florence D., and Michael I.. On Sunday, June 12, Joan and Tom flew to Houston and met Hanna, who flew in from Dallas, and Lily and Gage, who flew in from Denver. We met Florence and Michael, who flew from Boston to Houston. The flight connections went smoothly. We left Houston at about 7 pm and arrived at Guayaquil a little after midnight, June 13.  (Continued...)

For more read: A Personal Account of a Family's Visit to the Galapagos Islands and Guayaquil, Ecuador - June 12 - 24, 2005 

[Last names withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

April 21, 2005

Judy,

We are back from Peru. Other than the slight hiccup on the return Galapagos flight, everything came off flawlessly. We actually got on the flight, although it was uncertain until we got to the airport. The Royal Palm has a lot of clout at the airport and with TAME.

Your colleagues in Lima, and Cusco were very helpful. And, we particularly liked Lucretia, our guide in Cusco/Machu Picchu. Both of us got the bug for 24 hours during the trip, but it didn't slow us down.


Thanks so much for your help in planning and pulling together the trip. You were very enjoyable to work with. I think we will return to South America in the coming years and we will certainly call you when we do.

Regards,

Dan   [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

[Response from Judy at LARC below: ]

HI DAN,

THANKS FOR THE REPORT. I WAS TRACING YOUR EVERY STEP FROM HERE. THE NIGHT WE SPOKE WHEN YOU WERE IN GALAPAGOS, I CALLED PERU TO HAVE THEM LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU ARRIVED, WHEN I RECEIVED THE CALL, YOU CAN IMAGINE MY RELIEF! ALLS' WELL THAT ENDS WELL!

I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR NEXT TRIP TO S.A. BEST RGDS, JUDY

March 21, 2005

Dear Judy;

Thank you, thank you, thank you for cabin 8 on Beluga! It really was the penthouse. It was strange, almost all the 14 people on the boat were tall and slim like us, so they envied the roominess of cabin 8. However most of them were comfortable, just found it noisy when traveling at night with the engine running.

Silvia, our guide, was really good. She is passionate about the islands and being from Switzerland, she talked freely about the government of Ecuador and how it handled (or mishandled) the Islands park. She is dead set against these bigger boats of 90 people. We saw one pull in at one anchorage and it really is an assault on the fragile islands environment. If you and other brokers can book passengers on the small boats only, maybe it would help.

I can't think of anything to change on the trip. We had two landings a day and snorkeling almost every day. The cook was excellent and was attentive to the few people who had dietary restrictions.

La Mirage is something else, isn't it? Wow. We spent too much money in the leather town and we really enjoyed those few days in the market towns. I must say we were glad we spoke some Spanish. We needed it in Quito.

Thanks again for helping us with a memorable trip.

Fran and Greg   [Last names withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

-----------------------

[Response from LARC president, Judy Martin: ]

HI FRAN,

SO GLAD YOU ENJOYED THE TRIP!  I LIVE FOR THOSE GOOD COMMENTS, IT IS WHAT MAKES MY JOB WORTHWHILE. 

BEST RGDS,

JUDY

February 22, 2005

[To Judy at LARC:]

Thanks for all your amazing work in taking such good care of my client Randy.

Cheers, Dom

[Dominick Macan            ]
[Reef & Rainforest France]

-------------

Hi Dom,

What do you think? Do I look like a vaquero?

If I could sum up this trip with one word it would have to be 'flawless.' I liked the country; I liked the people; I liked the culture; and I absolutely loved the diving. In the annals of my diving experience I have rated just 4 sites as the proverbial 10.

Wolf and Darwin far exceeded my expectations. On the first dive in the morning at Wolf we were greeted by schooling Hammerheads, Galapagos Sharks and a very close encounter with Dolphins. At Darwin, on the first dive in the morning, we saw a Whale Shark. Each dive was a truly unique experience where I saw something I had never seen before. The currents at both dive sites made for some wild drift dives but they were fun! The boat could not have been better. The crew was outstanding and so were my diving companions.

As I am sure you aware, there is usually one person who is voted the jerk of the week. On this boat there was no such vote because there weren't any!

I must commend you and Tuula for the incredible [I'm starting to run out of hyperboles] land package you put together. Once again, I don't think it could have worked out better. At Cotopaxi, where the picture of me on horseback was taken, I saw an Andes Condor [according to my guide] and an Ecuadorian Wolf with a rabbit in its mouth! LARC tours were absolutely fantastic! When I arrived Miguel, the owner and one my guides, explained to me the there were two different ways of keeping time, Regular and Ecuadorian. To his, and his employees credit, he adhered to the former.  They were never late. They were also very friendly and went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and welcome in their country. The ocean plus the land portion added up to a perfect vacation. I would not hesitate to visit the country again. It remind me very much of Costa Rica except with more variation.

So Dom I think you realize by now that as far as my arrangements for any future trips go there is only one company I need to do business with. I am not independently wealthy and am only entitled to one vacation a year because I have to work for a living. It is absolutely essential that I maximize the dollar value of my trips. I know with you and Reef and Rainforest that I get what I pay for. In the immortal words of the Governator "I'LL BE BACK!!!!!"

Your friend

Randy [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

 

January 27, 2005

Hi Judy,

I wanted to tell you that the Arizona Audubon really enjoyed the Floreana, its food, and service. I received many good reports on it!

Thanks,
Cheryl  [Last names withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

January 14, 2005

Hi Judy,

Audrey and I want to thank you for all the hard work and effort you put into making our holiday in the Galapagos Islands so wonderful. The Royal Palm Hotel was fantastic and the people were so nice and friendly they couldn't do enough for us. We would have to say that it was by far the best place we visited and will always treasure the memories we have of the place and not forgetting the people.  Everything went according to plan and the flights with TAME were great.  If we were thinking of doing more Latin American holidays say Peru / Machu Picchu / Inca Trail would you be able to help us with that. Let me know as we would have no hesitation in dealing with you again.  Hope this note finds you well and eagerly looking forward to 2005.

All the very best,

Wilma/Audrey from Scotland  [Last names withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]

November 1, 2004

Just a quick note to let you know that we had the BEST honeymoon ever. We felt taken care of and pampered every step of the way. Thank you for making our honeymoon as perfect as our wedding.

I have to also RAVE about the Beluga yacht. The yacht itself was beautiful and the crew was outstanding!!! 

If you need any testimonials from travelers or info please do not hesitate to use Rob and myself. We will gladly answer any questions or just gush about the Galapagos.

Sincerely, 

Charlynn W. E.  [Last name withheld in compliance with the LARC privacy policy.]