Hi Christian,
Sorry for the delayed response. I wanted to let you know that I had a wonderful trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos. Thank you so much for your help! In fact, I am suggesting you and your company to a friend of mine. Hopefully you can find him a good deal if he decides to go! :)
Thanks again,
Pauline
LIM, Pauline
USA
Santa Cruz
May 2011
We just returned from our trip to Equador and hiking Cotopaxi Volcano (no easy hike!) We had a wonderful experience with our guide Efrain? He told us to call him Lobo (wolf). The best hiking guide we have ever had! Professional knowlegeable, conversational, fun and thoughtful to all our needs! Please give that man a raise! Just wanted to thank you for giving us a great mountain guide and give you the feedback we think he deserves!
Sincerely,
Jared and Lindsay
USA
Cotopaxi Summit
June 2011
Christian,
Sorry for being tardy with this, but we had to catch up on a few things in New York.
In short, our experience with Columbus Travel was fantastic from beginning to end. Your website is easy to navigate and provides all the necessary information. And of course, you were responsive to every request we made -- looking at boats, hotels, etc. as well as pointing us in a direction we might not have thought of on our own (Napo).
We really enjoyed meeting you and your wife in Quito. It really put a personal touch on the trip, and I can't thank you enough for going above-and-beyond in getting the mosquito nets for us. That absolutely saved the day!
As far as the trips themselves, we were surprised to find we liked Napo as much or better as we did the Galapagos. There was a little unpredictability on the guides in the Galapagos -- our first guide Billy was not as knowledgeable as we'd hoped, but our second guide Gino definitely was. I understand all of those guides work on a trip-by-trip basis so you can't guarantee that any one guide will be on any one boat, so as we say "it is what it is".
The other thing I would change on the Galapagos is the time we spent snorkeling. A lot of times that felt like it was just a way to fill time, when we could have otherwise been hiking and seeing new things. Don't get me wrong, Devil's Crown was absolutely amazing. But some of the beach snorkeling got a little mundane.
As far as Napo, that was an incredible trip and a great recommendation. When we first arrived, we thought that we should have booked a longer (7-8 day) trip there. But honestly I don't think I would do more than 4-5 days. We were getting worn out (in a good way) from hiking through all the mud by the end of the trip. We loved every minute of it.
They could shorten up the event with the Anangu women (especially going through the traps) but overall that was a great experience. Frankly I think they should move their gift shop from the hut on the Napo River to the lodge itself. I bet they would sell a lot more stuff if it's right there by the dinner tables. Our guide Juan Carlos was young, energetic and he knew more about Amazon wildlife and plants than I could have ever imagined.
And finally, we had a great time with Juan, who took us to Cotopaxi and the equator. We had a fantastic lunch on our day to Cotopaxi, and Juan was very polite, funny and knowledgeable. He was a great recommendation and the trips were a good value.
We're happy to be references if anyone wants to speak to us about the trips we took, about you or about Columbus Travel. And you can expect to hear from us again -- maybe the Inca Trail or the Ecuadorian coast. There's so much to do that we'll need your help again.
Best wishes,
Britt and Meghan
Brit & Meghan
USA
Galaven I and Napo Wildlife
July 2011
thank you for all your time organizing our trip. It was wonderful to have the drivers meet us at the airport each time and take us to the hotel. The Fuente was very nice.
thank you for the suggestion and the organization.
Valerie
Valerie
USA
Isabela and Napo Wildlife
On : July 2011
Christian,
just to let you know we had a brilliant time on the Galaven - food was fantastic and islands & animals amazing.
regards
Peter Weekes
WEEKES, Peter
ENGLAND
Galaven
June 2011
Hi Christian,
Thanks for the follow up.
All went well in the Galapagos. The cruise was excellent and the hotels were great. The service at Sol y mar could not have been better with a combination of professionalism and personal attention.
Thanks for you help and we will be happy to recommend your services if the opportunities comes up. We were actually referred to you by some friends.
Regards,
Iris and Zvi
Zvi & Iris
USA
Galapagos Explorer II + Casa Iguana Mar y sol + Sol y Mar
June / July 2011
Dear Vero,
Just wanted to let you know we had a fabulous trip and we are all really missing Galapagos and can´t wait to return one day.
Thank you again for making the arrangements, etc.
Jharna & Vikas
England
Mary Anne
June 2011
Hi, Ivonne – I wanted to tell you that my family and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Guayaquil at the Hostel Macaw and our cruise on the Queen of Galapagos to the Galapagos Islands from May 14-22. The Hostel was lovely and clean and the staff most helpful in all areas. The transport services were prompt and efficient – very impressive! On our trip back to the Hostel from the airport after the cruise my brother Bill dropped his wallet in the van. The driver called the Hostel to say he had it and delivered it back to him after he finished his rounds. We were very very appreciative of his honesty and it certainly saved Bill a LOT of inconvenience and headaches at the end of our vacation.
The ship was good – nice crew, good food (lots and lots of vegetables and options for our vegetarians, too!), all in all very satisfactory, although the cabins, while very clean, could have used a few repairs on faucets, hardware, etc. The guide that was assigned to our group – Ruly Menoscal – was terrific. His English was excellent and his knowledge of the islands, history, animals, birds, fish was impressive and interesting. Unfortunately, we did have quite a bit of sea sickness in our group. I had taken some over the counter pills obtained from a scuba/dive shop here in Virginia and I wore the pressure bands so I luckily escaped most of the problems.
Thank you so much for all your assistance in planning our travels to Ecuador. We met some other passengers who booked with Columbus Travel and in comparing notes with other passengers we agreed that your company was the most informative, organized and helpful!
Best to you and wishes for continued success in your business,
Kathy
USA
May 2011
Hotel Macaw & Queen of Galapagos
Hello Elena,
I email just to say again how much we appreciate your assistance in arranging our trip to Guayaquil, the Galapagos, and Quito. Everything went very well, we had a great time, and your help was a big part of that success. My wife already wants to visit again! In particular, the Odyssey and itinerary were varied and interesting and Casa San Marcos was a wonderful window in to old Quito and hospitality. I will certainly tell my friends to call you if they want to visit Ecuador.
Thank you very much.
Jeff
USA
Odyssey
June 2011
Hello Elena,
I think I can speak for our group when I say that our trip to the Galapagos Islands on the Athala was an amazing, magical experience. It far exceeded my own expectations.
The crew was exceptional, warm, welcoming, fun, and provided utmost quality as far as service is concerned.
Our guide, George, did a fantastic job educating us along the way and was of great help to all who needed guidance during our snorkeling excursions;
Pepe (Jose Luis?), the bartender, sang lovely songs and entertained us, as well as served us beautifully for each meal. He made our stay especially fun.
The captain, Miguel, was kind, pleasant and courteous;
Our panga ‘drivers’ Herman and…..sorry I cannot retrieve the other name-both so helpful and kind;
Darwin, the chef –exquisite meals, each and every one! He is amazing;
Martin, who made us giddy with the pleasure of towel sculptures and kept our cabins beautifully clean, with a smile to be remembered;
And those who I cannot remember names….they were all wonderful. All of the crew, wonderful. Please if you can, extend once again our gratitude for such an enchanting time spent on the Athala. I will never forget it.
Elaine
USA
Athala charter
June 2011
Hi!
We thought we ought to send a big "THANK YOU!" to you for getting us
those 8 amazing days on the Mary Anne!
It was truly unforgettable.
Everything about the trip was better than we expected. Thank you for all your help and guidance. Keep up the good work!
Love,
Hilde & Stig
Vero,
My wife & I want you to know that we really enjoyed our Ecuador tour, and that all of the bookings, transfers, etc. that you arranged occurred without any problems.
Thank you for all of your efforts, and for your always quick and clear responses to my many questions!
Glenn
USA
May 18 – 31
Ht Plaza Sucre, Quito city tour, Galapagos Explorer II, Casa del Suizo
Hi Ivonne,
I just wanted to write and thank you for all your help in planning our trip to the Galapagos. We had a wonderful time! It was a truly unforgettable trip and I just wanted to thank you for all your help throughout the process. We were incredibly pleased with Columbus Travel and with the entire experience.
Thank you!
Julianne and family
USA
Galaven May 27-31
Dear Vero,
Dear Columbus Travel-Team,
Now I am back in Switzerland and I would like to thank you for the very good organization of our stay on the Galapagos Islands! We had a great time on the Galapagos Islands with many unforgettable experiences. I am sure that I will come back another time. I will absolutely recommend you to other persons planning a journey to the Galapagos Islands.
Beatrice
Switzerland
Traveled on the the forgotten path and beyond tour
May 2 – 8, 2011
Dear Elena,
About 10 years ago our daugther took a spanish course at the Simon Bolivar school and she made a trip to the Galapagos with Columbus travel.
That’s how we got in contact with Columbus travel.
We are so glad we chose Columbus travel for our trip to Peru and the Galapagos.
Tired, but very satisfied we arrived home yesterday.
Getting the trip organised was no problem at all with you on the other side of the world. Any question we had was answered immediately.
In every place we arrived somebody was waiting for us. The guides were very good and friendly. The transport was perfect and the hotels wonderful.
We enjoyed the beautiful landscapes of Peru and the friendly people.
The Galapagos were even better if possible. Thanks to you everything went well. One little misunderstanding was solved straight away.
You even took care of our luggage in Guayaquil! We thank you again for all you have done.
Because of you this was a wonderful holiday without any worries.
I’m sorry you don’t organise trips in Asia or Africa!
We will certainly recommend Columbus Travel and you specifically as a contact for any of our friends who may wish to travel to Peru or the Galapagos in the future.
Thanks again,
Roel + Irene Straathof and Peter + Ineke Slee
4 pax
Holanda, April 2011
Traveled on the Athala and Peru Tour
Hi Elena,
I wanted to let you know that we’re back from our trip and absolutely loved it! Thanks very much for making the arrangements. Everything worked out great. The Eclipse was fantastic!
We will be telling all our friends about our trip and suggesting that they use you if they want to go to Ecuador/Peru!
Thanks again,
Jim Colvin
Canada
Eclipse May
Hallo Vero !
We are at Home. Thank you for all. The service was perfect !!!!!
It was a wonderful time in Ecuador. We made 8000 Pictures from the Trip.
Say hallo to Alfredo. He was a very good tour guide.
Kind regards
Udo
2 pax
May 8 – 22
Archipel, Napo Wildlife, Marriot, Cotopaxi, City tour
Germany
Hi Elena,
Jim and I want to say how much we enjoyed your country. The tours were great and Byron is just the best tour guide ever. He was always concerned about us and was polite, informative and helpful in all ways possible. One day we would love to come back again and see the other parts of Ecuador.
Thank you again for all your help in planning this trip.
Victoria McGinnis
USA
Land May
Please be sure and share my comments with your boss. First, let me thank you and your staff for the most exceptional trip either Joan or I have ever taken. That says a lot since I travel almost 200,000 kilometers per year. Second, not a small part of the success of the trip was you. I have never received the level of personal service you provided. It was like being hand held through Quito and the Galapagos. The Swisshotel was an excellent property. Room great, breakfast great, staff attentive. The added city tour and room before travel home was deeply appreciated. Third, the Eclipse was all you predicted. Great ship, excellent crew, too much good food, and superb guides. I've already spoken to many about the trip and Columbus Travel. I told them you cannot do Galapagos without them! We will be considering a group trip as we begin to formulate work with the ministry of health.
In the mean time our personal Gracias me Amigo for all you did.
Adios
Marv and Joan Wayne
USA
Eclipse June 7-14
Thanks Ivonne!!
We are flying back to quito in an hour.
The cruise was FANTASTIC!
Great crew! Awesome guide!
Terrific adventure!
Best,
Ron Wolotzky
USA
ATHALA May 7-14
Hi Christian,
Nice to hear from you. Our trip was terrific! We really enjoyed ourselves. The service that you provided us was great and excluding the one minor time issue with the Emetebe, everything exceeded our expectations. Particularly the recommendation to take Santa Cruz ship - it was perfect for our needs and was a very professional operation. Of course, we would have like to stay at Le Parc hotel for our last night but it was an unforeseen circumstance and they went above and beyond to accommodate us for the inconvenience.
We will definitely be back to Ecuador and next time will bring our son! I will contact you again for our future travel needs.
Thanks again,
Yaniv.
Santa Cruz del 29 de Abril al 2 de Mayo.
Hi Elena,
We have just returned from our Galapagos trip which was absolutely fantastic.
Thanks for organising our accommodation, transfers and most of all the Galaxy boat
which was superb. The crew, the guide and the boat were fantastic and we had a great
time with them and the other guests.
Thanks again for organising the trip for us.
Regards,
Bob
Australia
Galaxy
Abril
Hola Christian,
Hemos pasado una chévere semana en las islas Galápagos! Era maravilloso; el barco era muy cómodo, el guía muy interesante y los paysajes inolvidables!
Mi mamá se fue hoy en la mañana y yo estoy en Latacunga.
Muchísimas gracias para todo! Todo era perfecto y muy bien organisado! =)
Saludos,
Emilie y Sonia
Dear Christian,
Just a note to thank you for arranging such a wonderful vacation for us, We arrived home safe and sound and will cherish all the memories.
Warm Regards.
Jeanne
Queen Beatriz del 6 al 10 de Abril.
Yes, Elena, thank you VERY MUCH for your help throughout the planning and trip time. We had a great time and will certainly be recommending Columbus Travel to others to use!
Regards,
Janet
USA
Eclipse
Abr 2011
Yes I scheduled. The trip was fantastic. Eclipse crew and the whole experience could not have been better.
All set for tomorrow. Thank you for your efforts for us!
Eclipse
Abr 11
USA
Hi Elena! I just wanted to thank you again for an amazing trip. We had such a great time and I can't wait to visit S America again!
Thanks for all your help -
Angie
Eclipse + Peru
Abr 2011
USA
Dear Ivonne,
we want to say : THANK YOU VERY MUCH, you made our holidays brilliant !!!!
Your recommendation regarding the ship was excellent, we enjoyed it really. We would like to say thank you especially for your help with our luggage problems. Without your help this wouldn´t have gone so fast.
Stay as you are, very kind tour operator, friendly, helpful, ...
If we ever go back to South America it will be a pleasure to book again with you!
Greetings from Vienna
Andreas & Evelyn Steininger
Austria
Evolution
Feb 26-Mar 5
Dear Elena,
back at home we are writing to say thank you for your very good organization of our journey to ecuador/galapagos - everything works how it was planned!
Our holidays were outstanding, especially the galapagos cruise with the Athala and our visit of the hacienda St. Augustin de Callo.
We will recommend you.
Best wishes
Margit Kautenburger & Jürgen Kreusch
Athala
Marzo 2011
alemania
Hi Vero,
I just wanted to write and let you know what a FABULOUS trip we had to the Galapagos. Our guide was wonderful. His English was excellent and he was very knowledgeable. We especially appreciated his flexibility (although the itinerary was so perfect, we really didn't change anything)! Of course, the Iquana Crossing in Isabela was beautiful with amazing service and the Angermeyer on Santa Cruz was also lovely.
I honestly cannot think of one negative thing to say about the entire vacation starting with the excellent service that we received from you and ending with Pablo flying back with us to Quito and not leaving our side.
Warm regards,
Lori
Lori Melman
Israel
Feb 18 - 28
Quito: Hotel Real Audiencia y Relicario del Carmen
Galapagos MULTISPORT PROGRAM
Dear Ivonne
Thank you so much for all your help and the help of yOur team. We had a Wonderful holiday and it was made all the more enjoyable by the excellent management of the trip by Columbus Travel. We really appreciated the professional way everything was organized.
Unfortunately I suffered from altitude sickness when I was in Quito but we were able to leave one day earlier, which made all the difference. Thanks again for making the hotel changes at short notice
Best wishes
Janet
Janet Ellis
Australian
Beagle Feb 8-15
Hello Elena
Thus a greeting from Frants and Lis.
We are very pleased with the entire course of the ride, it's been a pleasure throughout.
Many thanks to you for a good and fast service.
Best regards
Lis and Frants
Dinamarca
Isabela
Febrero 2011
Hi Elena,
I just want to thank you for doing such an incredible job on our trip to Quito and the Galapagos. Everything was
wonderful; actually, better than wonderful! The hotels you chose for us were clean and comfortable, The cruise was
fantastic and, again, the accommodations perfect. The drivers were all prompt, most courteous and helpful. And, to
top it off, you sent us those lovely hand painted gift boxes filled with chocolates and adorable figurines. You really
made our trip special from beginning to end. Thank you so much. A highlight, of course, was meeting you.
We followed your suggestions and went to the stores you thought we would enjoy. You would have been happy to have
gotten a percentage of what we bought! There were so many beautiful things! We also really enjoyed talking to everyone.
We concluded that Ecuadorians are especially nice people.
So, please pat yourself on the back for a job well done. We certainly will recommend Columbus Travel to anyone we know who is interested in going to Quito and/or the Galapagos.
Thank you very, very much. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can do anything for you.
All the best, Elena.
Judy
PS You have my permission to use this letter as a recommendation.
USA
Santa Cruz
Febrero 2011
Dear Elena -
Where to begin? From our first contact with Pilar when we landed in Guayaquil to our last contact with her when she said good-bye at the airport as we were going through security on our way home, the trip was beyond our wildest expectations and dreams! The Athala is a gem of a boat - luxurious accommodations, great space to lounge in, sunbathe in, eat and drink in, relax in - just superb; and the crew... first rate, 4-star, personable, attentive without hovering, friendly, always professional; the food was delicious, delectable and so beautifully and creatively presented; and Harry Jiminez, our travel guide, was so knowledgeable and passionate about this most special, treasured part of the world and so eager for us to share his enthusiasm and desire to protect it. AND, the majesty and beauty of the islands is even more than I imagined it to be! As I said on the comment card we all completed on our last night, I felt that, if I were ever lucky enough to return to the Galapagos Islands, I could contact every member of our crew and they'd be happy to hear from me - we really felt like they were our friends and were sorry to see us go.
No adventure like this just happens - it required hours of your time, your thoughtful attention to detail, and a genuine desire to make certain that my mother would celebrate her birthday in a most memorable and special way - AND, she did! So, thank you for all that you did to make our trip the unforgettable five full days that it was!
Fondly, and most appreciatively,
Robin
Charter Athala
Familia de USA
Febrero 2011
Ivonne,
Just a note to say how much my wife and I enjoyed our trip to the Galapagos and the two days we spent in Quito. Your arrangements, vouchers, and tickets all were efficient and exactly as we had planned. The Galapagos Islands are fascinating, the crew on the Athala couldn't have been better, and our guide was superb. The food was outstanding, the room comfortable, and the sights were amazing. It was superb!
Thank-you so much for being flexible with our plans. It was a pleasure to work with you and I'll be glad to recommend you to anyone in the future!
God Bless!
Roger Smith
ROGER SMITH
ATHALA FEB 5-8
USA
Thank you, Vero. We had a fantastic trip! We appreciate all of your help in choosing and booking our tour.
Thanks,
Lindsay
Lindsay Miller
USA
Galaven 2
Feb 8 – 11 / 2011
Christian,
I just wanted you to know that the trip to the Galapagos went very smoothly. I had a wonderful time and I appreciate all you did to make it happen,
thank you again
Christine
Princess of Galapagos del 21 al 24 de Enero
Hello Vero!
We wanted to let you know we absolutely loved our cruise on the Coral I !! The crew and the guides were great, helpful, friendly. The food was very, very good and most plentiful! The little touches that the crew and guide performed were great. And the guides answering our endless questions was so nice.
We had some special moments with sharks one night. They were chasing little silver fish and the captain lit up the ocean for us to watch. And another afternoon, there were dolphins jumping way ahead of us traversing the ocean oh so quickly! We snorkeled with sea lions and turtles! We walked and saw so many birds nesting and courting.
I would recommend the Coral I to anyone. It was as I had hoped, a fantastic trip to remember!!!
Thank you for your part in making the trip come true!
Diane Steelsmith
USA
Aug 6 – 15 / 2010
Corales + Swissotel
Dear Ms. Darquea,
Thanks so much for the excellent service above and beyond expectations. We have recommended your travel agency to a number of our friends who are thinking about going to Ecuador in the future. Is there anywhere else we can post a favourable review of your services.
Cheers
Sabine
Sabine Richarz
Floreana cruise + Fuente de Piedra + Red Booby
Dec 18 – Jan 1/ 2011
Canada
Dear Christian,
We returned to Quito this evening after a very enjoyable trip to Lago Agrio and a lovely stay at Jamu lodge on the Cuyabeno River. We had a great time in Galapagos with Archipel 1 Cruise. I personally wish to thank you on behalf of my wife and myself for making all the travel arrangements in a most professional and helpful manner. We appreciate it very much and will have no hesitation in recommending Columbus travels to our friends.
Thanks again,
Best regards,
Alex and Valsa Kuruvila
Elena ~ The trip was successfully completed and I wanted to thank you for all of your efforts which showed up in so many ways from the arrangements of Javier picking us up and getting us to our flights, the smooth transitions to hotels, the almost flawless transitions between venues, the excellent cruise, guides, travel companions [which you may not have been responsible for..but perhaps]. Through it all there were so many details that we did not have to worry about because of your diligence and attention to detail, that we were free to better enjoy the many delights of travel to the venues in your beautiful country. We will be digesting the experiences for a long time to come. Gracias. Pictures are attached for your pleasure. Michael
Eric Letty Flamingo
Enero 2011
USA
Hello Christian,
The trip started like a Kafka novel! My flight from Toronto to Miami was cancelled and I was switched to another airline. When I eventually got to Quito my luggage was missing. It did not arrive until just before I had to leave for the flight to the Galapagos, and then only because the hotel concierge had a friend working at the airport who kindly picked it up for me. The tour of Quito was very interesting, but I was the only one on it. Then I had a private driver to take me to the restaurant where I dined alone! I was beginning to think: This is weird! However, once on board the Odyssey all was perfection: the crew, the passengers, the food, the activities planned and the guides, especially Tatiana, were excellent. I can sum up my trip in one word : "BRILLIANT" Thank you for your part in it.
Best wishes,
Kevin
Hi Vero,
We are back home - in the snow and cold. Just wanted to thank you for helping us so much in planning the biggest trip of our lives. We loved the La Pinta & its crew. Our cabin was perfect. The islands were awesome - each one so beautiful, yet different. And the wildlife - so varied, yet so peacefully co-existing and so totally unafraid of us! And of course, the boobies were adorable. And thank you also for the lovely gift (wine!) It was very good. Unfortunately, our stay in Quito was cut short by altitude sickness, so we were not able to stop by and meet you in person. Too bad. But thank you for everything - and who knows, we may be back!
Have a wonderful 2011,
Desiree
14 – 21 enero
La Pinta
Desire Coyne
USA
Hello Ivonne,
It seems like so long ago that we were in your beautiful country and the Galápagos, but it has only been about a month. How time flies!
This note is long overdue. For that, I truly apologize. Lynn and I want to extend out most sincere gratitude for creating what was a spectacular trip to Quito and the Galápagos Islands. From start to finish, we all had an absolutely terrific experience! Juan in Quito and Enrique in the Galápagos were superb guides.
The Hotel Dann Carlton was exceptional; thank you so much for suggesting we stay there. Everyone loved it. We were also very pleased with the boat. The crew on the Princess of the Galápagos was wonderful, as was the food they served—every meal and snack was delicious.
In short, there really aren’t enough superlatives we can use to describe how wonderful everything was. In fact, it was such an overwhelmingly positive experience, that we hope to offer the trip again. That being the case, we will definitely call upon you again to work with us. We have nothing but praise for you and Columbus Travel.
Best regards,
Anne L. Bizub & Lynn Gillie
USA, May 2009
Traveled on the Princess of Galapagos
Dear Elena,
It was nice to meet you in Quito. We are now back in Norway after a wonderful trip to Ecuador. The highlight was of course Galapagos. The boat, the crew, the guide, the food, everything was great. Thank you very much for all the help.
Best regards,
Geir
Norway, June 2009
Traveled on the Sagitta
Paola,
I just want to thank you for the excellent job you did in booking my trip on the Galapagos Odyssey - June 13 through June 22. All the arrangements went perfectly, with someone to meet me at every stop and no trouble with tickets or hotel rooms. The ship was outstanding.
I have recommended Columbus Travel to everyone on our cruise. Again thank you for arranging such a wonderful trip for me.
Renata Perlove
USA, June 2009
Traveled on the Odyssey
Hi Cristina,
About the nina:
It was a great ship. Nice staff. Large clean cabins. Good beds
We had a knowlegdable guide and every day we went hiking or snorkling. So well arranged.
For dinner we had soup, maincourse in buffet and dessert. So we got big!
We enjoyed every minute on the island ...in paradise.
Warm greetings
Henk and Claudia
Netherlands, June 2009
Traveled on the Nina
Hi Fernanda,
Thank you very much for all your help in planning our honeymoon - and also
thanks for handling our change of plans so quickly. I'm feeling much better
and we had a spectacular time in the galapagos!
All the best to you,
Marina
USA, June 2009
Traveled on the Eclipse
Olga;
My trip to Ecuador was fantastic and I really enjoyed all of the adventure. It was planned very well and I want to thank you for all your hard work and help to make this trip so wonderful for me. I hope to someday return to Ecuador to see more of the country and experience some more of this very beautiful and diverse country.
Thanks again for all your assisstance in planning and making this trip a reality.
Best regards
Robby
USA, June 2009
Traveled on the Archipel
Ivonne,
We had a wonderful time. Everyone was friendly. Food and Boat were great. Islands beautiful.
Scott White
USA, June 2009
Traveled on the Nina
Ivonne,
I've returned to Reno and dug through the paperwork that had accumulated. I wanted to take this opportunity to make a few comments.
First, you and Columbus travel did a great job. Thank you.
So you know, the Swissotel was magnificent. The staff was great, the accommodations wonderful - all in all a credit to Ecuador and a very good way to start and end the trip. I'll send you a copy of my letter to the general manager.
The Coral 1 also did a good job. I would be happy to recommend it to others considering a trip to the islands. We were also fortunate to have been assigned some really great guides. I came to understand the Park Service itself assigns the guides. We were lucky to have gotten a couple of their more senior people both of whom were assigned at the last minute - Victor Hugo and Jonathan Aguas S.
Thanks again.
Jerry
USA, May 2009
Traveled on the Coral
Hi Elena!
Thanks so much for organizing a great trip for my friends and I - we had a wonderful time and were very pleased with our experience on the Millenium!
Thanks!
Evelyne
USA, May 2009
Traveled on the Millenium
I am home safe and sound and I wanted to thank you for your help in planning our trip. It was absolutely incredible and everything went without any problems.
Thanks again.
Christine Thompson
USA, May 2009
Traveled on the Alta
Dear Olga,
I want to thank you for the most wonderful week - as the fabulous Guide Harry would say - "You are in Paradise---- The Galapagos Islands." The "Nina" was a beautiful boat, the crew were delightful pleasant and efficient. I might just have to steal your chef from you - the food was delicious fresh and far too tempting.
I had read a lot about the Islands but I was amazed delighted and surprised by the diversity, and also the difference from Island to Island. Harry was so knowledgeable about the marine and land animals, the birds and the volcanoes we were very lucky to have him. My son had the best time also and thank you for giving him five young girls to entertain!!! It was a very happy week and the rest of the passengers delightful I had a great time.
The hotel in Quito was delightful and tres chic, and the wonderful meal at Theatrum was an unexpected surprise Thank you for everything I will tell everybody
With kind regards
Susie and Dan Toomey
Australia, May 2009
Traveled on the Nina
Moi, moi!
Finally back home, but not for very long...since I'll be heading for Greece in a few days time. In between I've been working quite a lot, so I haven't got time to thank you and your collegues for your help and guidance on my trip to Galapagos.- It was truly amazing experience, thank you for making it true.
The ship/vessel Encantada was also a great choose, I really enjoyed my time there. Special thanks to crew and guide Juan, who took with a good humour care of our trip...it was a real blast. As my whole trip to south-America was very good experience, I've given your e-mail address to my collegues, should they be interested to come over. Summer has finally came over here, it's nice and warm, for few days atleast.
All my best to you and take care, yours Arwi.
Ari Rankinen
Finland, May 2009
Traveled on the Encantada
Hola Antonieta,
I wanted to send you a note earlier, but hustle and bustle of travelling and getting back into work was taking the time. I do apologise for that.
Main thing is we had a wonderful time going round Quito and of cause Galapagos. We want to turn round and go back. The boat 'Nina' was vary comfortable and all crew and guide were excellent. Also the group of travellers was nice and friendly and that made for good time. We were taken around some beautiful place with magic scenery and loveable animals. There were four snorkelling sessions, which gave us chance to admire underwater life - full of colourful fish, playful sea lions, even sharks and feeding iguanas. All will be lasting memory.
I want to thank you very much for arranging it for us, having patience with payments and all the questioning from me. You made it very friendly and comfortable for us.
It also made us to yearn to return to Ecuador and explore more of its countryside.
Look after yourself and many regards.
Jaro and Majka Kolarik
UK, May 2009
Traveled on the Nina
Hello,
This letter is in response to the trip scheduled with your company on April 19, 2009.
Please accept my sincere thanks for making the trip all that I expected and more!
Our trip started with our departing flight being canceled which threw the whole schedule off immediately. Your company took charge of the situation and even though we arrived 12 hours later, we didn't miss a thing. You scheduled our tour of Quito at a convenient time regardless of our late arrival, we enjoyed a lovely late lunch and a wonderful dinner when we returned to Quito.
Your group made sure that we got what we paid for.
The tour guide in Quito was excellent and tried very hard to get all the sightseeing in even though we got a late start.
The person meeting us at the airport was punctual and efficient, and the Nina and all her staff were top of the line.
Please pass this email along to everyone involved with my heartfelt thanks for making this such a wonderful trip.
Regards,
Susan Fox
USA, April 2009
Traveled on the Nina
Hi Christian,
The trip was great, the Swiss Hotel was super and the boat was good. The food was only fair on the boat, but the guide was excellent and a fun group of younger people. The transfer driver was great as well.
Thanks for your help, it went well!!
Nanci and Larry Steiner
USA, April 2009
Traveled on the Anahi
Elena:
Don't know if Helen was in touch with you, but I wanted you to know that we all loved out trip to Galapagos. Everything was great. The Nina and its crew, the guide and the food was superb. (I've tried cooking Ecudorian food since returning home, but not having much success.)
Also, I wanted you to know that we we were very happy with the service that your agency gave us. The arrangements you made for us at the the Finch Bay hotel, transport from the Nina and then later to the plane, were excellent. We wouldn't have changed anything. Also, of course, thanks for all the prompt communication prior to our trip and also when I was alone in Quito, during Helen's hectic time in Houston.
Elizabeth Phillips
USA, April 2009
Traveled on the Nina
Elena,
Just a short note to thank you very, very much for one of the most wonderful experiences. Everything was just perfect, professional and totally satisfying.
Three days, was just to short. What with swimming with dolphins, sealions and sharks and rays and massive schools of sardines and seeing the iguanas, finches, tortoises, seabirds and the very unique vegetation, it couldn't have been better. The crew and guides were great and the people on our cruise were a great mix.
Again, muchisimo gracias por un viaje extraordinario!!
Randy
USA, May 2009
Traveled on the Coral
Fernanda,
“The boat tour itself was excellent. The Nina is an excellent ship and the accommodations were fully satisfactory. The naturalist Javier was excellent for the group we had--a rather active group. So we had a lovely 7 days on the boat.”
Seymour Spilerman
USA, May 2009
Traveled on the Nina
Fernanda,
This is a long overdue note!
I wanted to let you know that we had a fantastic trip and that I was very impressed with how smoothly all the details worked out. You had everyone organized very well and there was always someone to meet us and take care of the details for us.
The hotels were great and the Coral II excellent as well. I particularly wanted to single out the lead naturalist on board, Lobo, who was just amazing. His knowledge and passion for sharing his knowledge was truly remarkable. We met some others later on the trip who had followed the same itinerary in a different boat, and in comparing notes, found that our experience was a superior one entirely due to the efforts of Lobo.
Also, I have to say that the Royal Palm hotel was just amazing and comparable to hotels costing much much more. Truly great value as well as an outstanding facility.
Thank you again and my aplolgies for waiting so long to send this.
Best regards,
Peter
Canada, April 2009
Traveled on the Coral II
Dear Maria,
I just got back to London yesterday. It was the most memorable experience in my life during the cruise on Nina. Everything was superb!! Also it was lovely to see you at your office the other day.
Just wanted to thank you again to arrange my fantastic time in Ecuador. Probably I should start thinking about next holiday to Amazon forest next then!
Hope you are well,
Regards,
Masashi
Japan, May 2009
Traveled on the Nina
Ivonne,
“Excellent service, we were very impressed with everybody, punctuality and attention to detail. We had more time to visit the other villages and cities in the excursion”
Dina & Patrick
Sweden, May 2009
Olga,
The trip was great. The lodging was everything we expected, the food was better than we expected, and the guides were outstanding. The guide (Edwin) accompanied us to Coca, and when it appeared that our flight might be canceled, he arranged (bribed?) seats for us on a charter flight for oil company employees (we were the only non-oil company employees on the flight). Clearly this was more than expected and certainly appreciated!
Thanks for all of your help.
Paul Toom
USA, April 2009
Dear Christian,
We would like to say a big Thank you for a superbly organized trip to the Gallapagos. From the moment that we touched down in Quito until the end of our Galapagos trip, everything was excellent, The hotels were extremely comfortable and the guides excellent.
We would like to make a special commendation to the Athala which we found wonderful. Nothing was too much trouble for the crew and our guide (Yvonne) was fantastic with a wide knowledge of the islands and an amazing enthusiasm for the environment there. We cannot recommend Athala enough and feel we were extremely fortunate to have experienced a week on such a beautiful boat. We would be very happy to be a reference for any future holiday makers and thank you again for your excellent professional organization.
Anthony & Lorna Hamilton
UK, April 2009
Traveled on the Athala
Dear Elena,
We have just returned to Hong Kong after the most amazing trip to South America. The Galapagos in particular was most memorable. Many thanks for all the arrangements you made on our behalf. We shall recommend you to all our friends.
All the best to you and your colleagues.
Warm regards,
James and Heather
British, April 2009
Traveled on the Samba
Diego,
I just want to let you know that the cruise you had arranged for us was wonderful. I also need to thank you for having the trip document delivered to our hotel before the cruise.
I'll definitely recommend my friends to use Columbus Travel for cruises to Galapagos.
Sincerely,
Eriko Mogi
China, July 2008
Travelled on the Santa Cruz
Dear Fernanda,
Everything was perfect; we couldn't have been any happier with the cruise or the hotel in Santa Cruz. This was the best vacation we've ever taken; everything ran so smoothly, and the Galapagos are amazing!
Thank you so much for your help.
Kelly Connelly
USA,
July 2008
Travelled on board Aida Maria
I want to thank you for all of your assistance during our travel to Ecuador. You made our trip much easier and we are very happy with the service you provided and the hotels, flights, tour guide, and the Galapagos trip.
I will certainly recommend you to anyone that will be traveling to Ecuador. Also, if you need a reference for anyone who is considering your service, please have them contact me.
Thank you again, and best regards.
Mitch Kadish
Usa, July 2008
Travelled on the Gps Explorer II
Hello Ivonne,
I just want to thank you for arranging our vacations in Quito and the Galapagos islands, also for the hotel room upgrade. We had extraordinary times. Both guides Santiago for Quito and Cotopaxi tours and Gustavo on the Millenium were outstanding. I can confirm that they made the difference. We really enjoy our trip and I would recommend you for my family and friends should they decide to visit the Galapagos.
Cheers!
Jean-Noel
Usa, June 2008
Travelled on the Millenuum
Dear Washington,
Just to inform you that we are back home from the cruise and our stay in Guayaquil.
The cruise was a lifetime experience and we enjoyed it a lot.
Thanks for your assistance, I understand that the fact that we arrived few days before the cruise and stayed few days after caused some misunderstandings, but eventually all was o.k.
Best regards,
Uri Levy
Israel, June 2008
Travelled on the Galapagos Legend
Hello Elena,
Thanks so much for the fantastic trip for our group from Loveland, Colorado. I enjoyed meeting and and am enjoying the book you gave me. I love history.
Thanks, too, for helping with our 4 stranded travelers. You and Ivan were fantastic. It made me breathe easier to know that you were taking care of them. I've been recommending you and Columbus travel to all my friends and have told Diane at Hoffman Travel how incredible you are. I'll be meeting in the next week or so with Diane to give her the gift you sent with me. I know she'll love it.
Thanks again. I can best be reached by phone at 970-663-2948. This e-mail address is at my school and is difficult to get to during the summer (June-August). I'll be using it when I get back in September.
Thanks again. This was the best of my 3 trips to Ecuador.
Denny Heyrman
Usa, June 2008
Travelled on the Coral
Hi Fernanda,
We had a fabulous visit to Equador and the Galapagos Islands! Javier was always there...on time...and ready to go. We loved Juan on our two private tours. He is super well informed, entertaining, charming and a teriffic guide. My luggage was destroyed in my flight to Quito and Juan even took us to a shopping center so that I could get a suitcase. Truly a gentleman. Our only regret is that we didn't have him for all of our tours.
The Galapagos Voyager was a great boat. The crew was perfect..always available and ready to assist. Our guide Williams was amazing. There was no question that went unanswered. He is patient and can truly herd his adult crowd with expertise and gentleness. The food aboard was amazing, beautiful, delicious plentiful and healthy!! The Santa Barbara was perfect for us. It is quaint, graceful and beautiful. The staff was at all times helpful and available. You were also wonderful...even down to getting us picked up at the Swissotel when the tour guide missed us. I felt protected knowing that you were there to assist. All in all we had a perfect trip and wonderful experience of you, the majesty of the Galapagos and the wonderful people of Equador.
Thank you for everything you did for Kathleen and me.
Wendy S. Kane
Usa, June, 2008
Travelled on the Gps Voyager
Fernanda,
Thank you so much for the arrangements you made for our trip to Ecuador and Galapagos. Once we made it out of the U.S., everything was went extremely smoothly. Thanks for your extra help in trying to rectify our passport situation. My wife and kids really enjoyed the Guayaquil city tour. Louisa did a good job with the connections, transfers and arrangements to and from Galapagos. The islands were amazing as expected, but the Voyager cruise exceeded our expectations. The boat was clean, spacious and well run. The food was good. Our guide William was a truly nice guy who went out of his way to make sure that everyone enjoyed the trip and learned a lot. We hope to come back again to see Quito and more of the islands. Thanks again.
Ed McGlumphy
Columbus, OH, USA, June 2008
Travelled on the GPS Voyager
Dear Elena,
I've been meaning to email you to thank you for planning and booking such a wonderful trip for us. It was absolutely fantastic, and getting back to the "real" world was very difficult.
The stay in Quito was fantastic. The Hotel Le Parc is a luxurious property and the staff and service was first rate. The cruise on the Athala was amazing. Gorgi and the rest of the crew took wonderful care of us, and we just loved the cruise. Xavier took great care of us in Quito, and Micha, my wife, said multiple times how comforting it was to have someone waiting at the airport to take us to and from the hotel.
The trip to Peru was a great addition to the Galapagos cruise. Although we didn't care for Lima very much, Cusco and Machu Picchu were amazing. The package you put together in Peru was perfect. The Travel Group staff in Cusco and Lima was friendly and very helpful. They took great care of us.
Our only concern about the trip is to decide which part of it was better. We're still debating.
Thank you very much for all your help planning and booking the trip. Thank you also for all the little special touches we received throughout our trip for being on our honeymoon - the bottle of champagne waiting for us in our cabin on the Athala from the crew, the bottle of wine waiting for us on our last night on the Athala from you, the room upgrades at the MiraFlores Park in Lima and at the Monasterio in Cusco . You had clearly made sure everyone knew it was our honeymoon, and we were just amazed by the special attention. Thank you, it just made a great trip that much better! Micha and I were thrilled with the quality of the package you arranged for us and will be you and Columbus Travel to any of our friends who express interest in traveling to the Galapagos (we'll highly recommend the Athala and Le Parc hotel), Ecuador or Peru.
Micha and I have already discussed that traveling to South America again for next year's vacation would be a great idea, and you will be the first person I contact to help us plan it.
Thank you and the staff at Columbus Travel for such a great trip.
Sincerely,
Gauthier van Marcke
USA
April, 2008
Gentlemen:
I just wanted to extend a great big “Thank You” to you and to Columbus Travel for the great time I had on my recent vacation in Ecuador. It was the first time I had booked a trip online and I was very pleased with my experience. I would recommend Columbus Travel to anyone who would be interested.
I appreciated you calling me and checking up on me. Christian was terrific with e-mail and telephone responses as well. I admire the level of customer satisfaction of all of your staff members that I met. Congratulations to you for hiring obviously the best personnel in Ecuador!
I was incredibly impressed with my guide, Ivan as well. He was so knowledgeable with all aspects of Ecuadorean history, architecture, myths, etc., etc., etc. Given the rain, landslides, road closures, and train derailments, I felt he had my safety in mind first and foremost and yet he kept me entertained with alternate adventures. I was impressed by the way that Ivan and two other Columbus guides got together to caravan three vehicles through questionable road conditions. The effort that was made by these young men to ensure all of us were safe should be recognized. An excellent job was done by all.
Again, I wish to thank you personally and to congratulate you on hiring the ‘Cream of the Crop’ in personnel.
Very truly yours,
Suzi Clarke
USA
March, 2008
Hi Ivonne,
Well, we are back in Canada after our wonderful trip in Ecuador. Thank you for all of your help (especially when we had a bit of confusion while we were there).
We appreciated you taking the time to make sure all went well for us. I wanted to tell you too how much we enjoyed Alfredo Carrera as our guide. He was so knowledgeable, helpful, caring and had a great sense of humor. He made our trip most memorable, and we learned a lot about Ecuador from him.
We also had a chance to meet Ivan and Byron, and I have to commend Columbus travel on hiring the absolute best guides. I know from talking to the other travelers who had those to men as their guides, that they were extremely happy with them as well.
I have not stopped talking about what a wonderful travel company Columbus Travel is, and I am recommending to all my friends (and the next dental team that goes to work in Ecuador) to use Columbus Travel for their sight seeing once their work is done. It's the only way to go!
Thanks again for making it an amazing adventure for us.
Sincerely,
Leslie Crowley Edmonton,
AB Canada
March, 2008
Hi Elena -
We just wanted to thank you for aranging the most marvelous trip for us. We thoroughly enjoyed both our Galapagos adventure and our time in Quito and the Andes. Everything went like clockwork with the pickups, transfers, and tours. We couldn't have asked for anything better. Our guides were especially wonderful. Luis on the Legend was fabulous. Byron in the Quito are and the Andes really made the trip so unique and special for us. Cliff particularly liked Byron since they had a mutual interest in birding. Byron took us to some places that were off the beaten trail and that made the visit extra special. Thanks again for all you did. You were really on top of every detail and I never worried a bit. I will highly recommend you to others traveling to the Gallapagos and Ecuador!
Susan and Cliff
USA
March, 2008
Dear Elena,
We wanted to let you know what a wonderful trip we had to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos. Everything was planned perfectly and we really enjoyed it. Thank you for all your help. If you would like to use us as a reference for other clients, please do so.
Susan and David Werner
USA
P.S. Ivan, the guide in Quito, was outstanding.
February, 2008
Dear Ivonne:
I am writing to thank-you, Juan and Columbus Travel for organizing such a memorable tour through Ecuador. Our trip was fantastic and your country is absolutely stunning.
Our guide, Juan, was such a pleasure, we thoroughly enjoyed our time with him. He was knowledgable, informative and truly interested in making our trip special. Most importantly, thanks to his support and encouragement I chose to ride the train from Riobamba to the "Devil's Nose," which turned out to be one of my favorite experiences of the entire trip! We also enjoyed his sense of humor.
I am sorry to hear that one of the volcanoes outside Quito is currently erupting and has caused the evacuation of one of the villages.
Thank-you again for a wonderful experience and we wish you the best in the coming New Year!
Jeff and Kari Hoffmann
USA
December, 2007 
