I am writing to let you know what a delightful time I had on my recent Galapagos tour with your company. My family and I were passengers aboard the Eric from Feb 14-21, 2010, and at the end of the trip, I was so busy saying goodbye to everyone and packing that I did not have time to call out how great your staff was in the written evaluation. The entire crew was friendly and accommodating. Both I and my brother-in-law have restricted diets, and I was very impressed with the quality and the diversity of the customized meals your chefs prepared for us. The guides went out of their way to help everyone have a good experience. Lourdes was particularly great about helping those of us who walked a little slower than the rest of the group. Both she and Alexis were incredibly knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
They were able to explain everything from biology and geology to human history and conservation efforts. My whole family has never had so much fun while learning so much. We are all absolutely recommending Ecoventura to our friends!
Sincerely,
-Robin Mayes-Seattle WA USA
I wanted to write and express my appreciation for the wonderful cruise that I enjoyed last week on the M/Y Eric. It was my second trip to the Galapagos in three years, and I enjoyed this voyage even more than my initial visit. (Which I didn't think was possible since I had an amazing time in 2006 with Lindblad Expeditions.)
The crew was wonderful and took excellent care of us. Captain Peter was very gracious and welcoming to us. Hugo worked endlessly to ensure that our meals were enjoyable and that everyone had all the refreshments they wanted. The kitchen crew was amazing and made us an unforgettable Thanksgiving dinner. Probably the best turkey I have ever had....I wish I could cook my turkey to perfection like that!
The naturalists, Alexis and Pepe, were amazing. The ship had a wide range of passengers, from a 7 1/2 year old to a 65 year old, and yet they were able to explain things in a way that was interesting for everyone. Their knowledge and interaction was fun and kept the group interested. They were kind to everyone and made sure that each passenger had an amazing experience.
The zodiac drivers and stewards were also terrific. Luis and Diego made sure that every landing was smooth and that everyone got a chance to take a photo if we were on zodiac cruise. They did an excellent job.
Thanks to all for an unforgettable Galapagos adventure!
Sincerely,
-Julia Simpson-
M/Y Eric Voyage November 22-29, 2009
The trip was FABULOUS and far exceed our expectations at every level! The Letty was so comfortable and inviting that we didn't want to return to land. We were really pleased and impressed with how you managed to get us on a boat where every family was traveling with teens. Our sixteen year old LOVED having so many other kids her age on board. They played cards to the wee hours while Jorge provided them with drinks and snacks.
Now our daughter has Facebook friends in Denmark, UK and Germany. We couldn't have dreamed up a better group of fellow travelers. We especially appreciated Jorge making sure the kids were entertained, nourished and hydrated. Efran (the boat man) always had the warmest smile when we boarded his Zodiac. Our guides, Harry and Pepe,were great. We appreciated that they both grew up on the Islands. They were knowledgeable, entertaining and fun. Harry in particular was extremely engaging, and just has a great way with people. Most of all, we loved Harry's wake up calls "the voice of the Galapagos Islands."
We felt the tour was extremely well-organized. Most of the time we had an island or a snorkel spot to ourselves and only occasionally had to share with another boat. Again, the way Ecoventura broke the passengers into groups for each of the 3 boats was inspiring. While the Letty was the designated teen boat, we noticed the ERIC had families with younger children, and the FLAMINGO had all adult couples, so that was very well organized. The food was great and plentiful. Our daughter is a vegetarian and Jorge made sure she always had great things to eat. We had a good choice of entrees for most dinners. We loved the Ecuadorian dishes, especially the ceviche with popcorn.
It was the perfect size vessel for a perfect adventure. We saw some bigger boats disgorge their 80 or so passengers at one island and thanked our lucky stars that we booked a smaller vessel. We watched the sunset on the sundeck every night while frigate birds flew along side (when they weren't perched on the railing) and whales and dolphins breached in the distance. I have seen pictures of the wildlife on the islands of course but I was simply blown away by how close we could get to courting boobies and baby sea lions ---not to mention life in the water. I've been on trips that say they have "snorkeling opportunities" but this was a snorkeler's paradise: we snorkeled with sea lions and sea turtles every day. We swam with penguins, sharks, rays and huge schools of fish. We timed a marine iguana eating under water. He stayed there over 5 minutes. It was truly fantastic!
- Patricia Perkins, USA, M/Y LETTY JULY 2009
I wanted to thank you for the excellent service you provided re: our recent trip to Ecuador. You were organized, efficient, knowledgeable and responsive to my questions and concerns. Your attention to everything allowed us a worry-free vacation. The Hotel Oro Verde was great- wish we had planned more time in Guayaquil than just the one night. The shuttles worked smoothly, and we were met at the airport by your Ecoventura representative as promised. Our guides, Ivan and Harry were wonderful: informative, skilled, caring, prepared, and funny; and their command of the English language was perfect. My daughter and I appreciated you assigning us to an adults only boat, and we were very happy and grateful that you upgraded us to the Dolphin Deck. The Flamingo crew were terrific: all of them were warm, friendly, proficient and showed a genuine concern for making sure that all onboard had a great time. This vacation was one that my daughter and I have talked about since she was a little girl.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime amazing experience! I took 1031 pictures!
Again, thank you for everything!!
- Dr. Susan Albert, USA
Flamingo July 2009
I have been sorting through all the photos from our trip and remembering the great time we had on the Flamingo with our guides Harry and Ivan. The Flamingo was a beautiful boat and exceeded my high expectations. The naturalist guides, Harry and Ivan really made the whole trip very delightful and memorable. I have attached a photo of me with our guides that really sums up the relationship that they managed to foster with every passenger on board the Flamingo. I enjoyed all the food - especially the soup each evening and the yucca balls that the chef served us after each snorkel dive.
The whole tour was well organized and very professional.The birds, iguanas, and marine life that we experienced on this trip is better than anything I've seen on six continents. We even saw a mother sea lion give birth to a pup right in front of us! I have been diving on the Great Barrier Reef, the Mediterranean Sea, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and the California coast and have never seen anything like the varied marine life around the Galapagos Islands. We had sea lions, penguins, and sea turtles swimming right along with us in the clear water. I have already recommended this trip to friends and family and have had many ask me about the trip after viewing my photos on my gallery. The whole trip was arranged by my son, Nathan Cannon and it was a great father and son experience. Thanks for the wonderful memories!
- Russ Cannon, M/Y Flamingo June 15-22
Our holiday fully lived up to expectations - it was absolutely fantastic. The Galapagos Islands were stunning - we had no idea that all the beasts were so tame and allowed one to approach so close. Ecoventura & Flamingo 1 were really excellent. This size boat was ideal as we visited several islands where larger ships weren't allowed. The crew & naturists were amazing and worked so hard 24 hours a day.
- Mr. John Crafts, Flamingo May 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed my cruise on the Eric. The crew was competent and friendly and a did a great job. The guides, Lourdes and Karina, were super knowledgeable and pointed out flora and fauna that I might have missed. My only complaint is that the week seemed to go so fast! I chose Ecoventura based on what I read in guidebooks and on internet travel sites. The great itinerary was also another prime consideration. I would heartily recommend your company to anyone who is planning a Galapagos cruise.
- Mr Charles Lewis, May 2008 M/Y ERIC
The trip was amazing and went far beyond our expectations! It was something that we shall never forget. The yacht was very comfortable, the crew was so kind and accommodating and extremely knowledgeable. They left nothing undone, no matter what we needed they made sure we were comfortable and well taken care of. The cabin was comfortable and well tended. The dinghy rides were so convenient to get us ashore. Ivan and Lolita were great guides and Victor was a wonderful captain. To sum it all up the trip was FANTASTIC!!! Ivan as not only knowledgeable but also quite charming. He entertained us with his singing and his guitar playing. He made sure we were always safe and he taught us so much about the flora and fauna. He also instilled in us a love of the Galapagos Islands and a true respect for nature.
The food was always delicious and plentiful. Having snacks available to us upon our return from an island excursion was such a treat. Having fresh cold drinking water always available was such an important touch. We have recommended the trip to many of our friends, I can't think of anything else you could have done to make the trip better for us. The outings were well organized. The use of the snorkeling gear was great an the way to organize the life vests was clever. Not a single detail was missed. You could also feel the happiness of the crew and their camaraderie thanks to the leadership of Victor. This made our trip even happier because everyone got along so well and looked after one another.
- Cathy Swami, May 2008 FLAMINGO
“The trip was everything and more than we could have expected. First of all, our guides—Ivan and Jaime were sensational. They really are Galapagos naturalists rather than guides. Their knowledge of the islands and its fauna and flora was outstanding. Their patience and ability to get along with everyone was remarkable. They gave you the feeling that they were seeing things for the very first time—even though they obviously had led many trips. Ivan particularly had a personality and sense of humor that is rare and refreshing. This aspect alone was worth the price of admission! The rest of the crew—Luis, the bartender, Maria, Pablo, the captain, both Jorge and the everyone else were very polite and helpful. There was nothing they were not willing to do for you.”
- Arnold & Joanne Miller, M/Y Flamingo May 2008
The Letty exceeded our expectations. Everything was well maintained and kept very clean. Claudia and Jorge stood out, but everyone was just great. Lourdes was an absolute delight. She was clearly passionate about the Galapagos and was really fun, too. We were not expecting the food to be nearly as good as it was. The quality, freshness and preparation were all great. We especially enjoyed the Ecuadorian meal. We would recommend Ecoventura without any hesitation. We already have and will continue to do so. From the phone call to our hotel the day before departure to the return to Quito everything was well organized and thorough. We were delighted with all aspects of our trip. We cannot imagine a better Galapagos experience. We did a lot of research before choosing Ecoventura and it really paid off. You turned out to be a great choice!!!!
- Joe Lane, March 2008, LETTY
“The Letty was FABULOUS!!! I keep telling everyone that if you can only take one vacation for the rest of your life, go to the Galapagos Islands and go on an Ecoventura boat. I especially loved the 20 passenger limit. The small boat experience can't be beat. Another thing I found to be so impressive were the ecologically responsible policies you adhere to. I can never say enough positive things about your company.”
- Valerie Morillo
“This turned out to be the trip of a lifetime. I cannot say enough good things about the quality of the Ecoventura staff. Everyone from the booking agent, to the crew on the Letty, to the naturalists who accompanied us on all our adventures, were truly extraordinary people.”
- Jennifer Rennet
“We just returned from celebrating our honeymoon on the Flamingo I in the Galapagos. Besides having a phenomenal visit with the wildlife (in and on the water) and reveling in the scenery, we also thoroughly enjoyed the social life.We've never toured with a more across-the-board delightful group of employees than we found on the Flamingo I.”
- Maria Doyle and A.J. Rogers
“We enjoyed the luxuries of the Eric, the good food and great level of service provided by all the crew. More importantly, the manner in which Ecoventura makes it possible for visitors to experience nature in small groups when traveling on the Flamingo I is a rare and greatly appreciated experience.”
- Emilie Barber