Profile photo for Lucia Cazar
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active 32 mins ago

Lucia Cazar

I started to travel, camping, and go on excursions (especially in natural environments) since I was 10 years old - since then I have never stopped. Before I started my studies in Tourism and Hospitality I realized that traveling was something that enriched my soul and filled me with great memories that later I would love to share with more people from all over the world.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I specialize in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, the country where I grew up. Ecuador is a biodiverse country, the activities that can be carried out are varied such as cultural, adventure, community tourism, "Ecuador has everything in one place", due to its short distances between one region to another, it can be on the Ecuadorian coast and immediately change to a humid tropical zone as well as to a cold place in the middle of volcanoes."

How did you get involved in travel?

"I started traveling when I was a child, then I made the decision to study Tourism and Hospitality at university here in Ecuador, then I had the opportunity to travel around Ecuador to its 4 regions such as Highlands, Cost, the Ecuadorian Amazon, and the enchanted Galápagos Islands. Since then, my wish has been that people from around the world can discover the wonders of Ecuador, enrich themselves with the landscapes, biodiversity, culture, and the Enchanted Galapagos Islands, and its unique marine species."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"An experience that I will never forget is when I was able to travel to other countries and I was able to talk about my own country and realize that we have everything here, wonderful tourist places to be shown to the world. I have also been able to travel to other countries to learn about their culture, I have always thought that the best way to exchange cultural experiences has been to meet people who are passionate about their country and to be able to share ideas from one country to another."

Explore hidden bays and uninhabited islands on cruise around the Galápagos
Ecuadorian Amazon Adventure & Galápagos Cruise - 13 Days

Experience two of Ecuador's most remarkable ecosystems on this diverse 13-day itinerary. Set out from Quito for Yasuní National Park, where a thrilling rainforest adventure awaits. Explore the Amazon by canoe, spot tropical birds and playful monkeys, and meet local Indigenous communities. Then it's time to switch gears and fly to the Galápagos for a once-in-a-lifetime cruise. Spend a week exploring remote and uninhabited islands—where you'll see giant tortoises, iguanas, sea lions, and more.

Spot wild horses in Cotopaxi National Park
Explore Ecuador's Highlands & the Galápagos - 13 Days

See the many faces of Ecuador on this 13-day journey from the Andean highlands to the Galápagos Islands. Starting in vibrant Quito, strike out through Cotopaxi National Park to reach the cities of Baños, Cuenca, and Guayaquil—taking in the sights of waterfalls, volcanoes, forests, and pre-Inca ruins along the way. Then it's time to leave the mainland behind as you hop over to the Galápagos for swimming, hiking, and wildlife spotting on the islands of San Cristóbal and Santa Cruz.

Explore some of Ecuador's most spectacular waterfalls
Ecuador Getaway: Quito, Baños & Archidona - 7 Days

Escape from it all on this exhilarating seven-day journey through Ecuador. Start in the capital of Quito, which sits between two impressive mountain peaks. Take a road trip to Baños to follow the Avenue of Waterfalls along the Río Pastaza, relax in the natural hot springs, and observe the active volcano of Tungurahua. Continue to Archidona for two nights in a rainforest lodge, with canoeing and wildlife-spotting in a lush biosphere reserve.

Pailón Del Diablo waterfall
Discover Ecuador's Cultural Highlights & Natural Wonders: Quito, Cotopaxi & Baños - 8 Days

Experience Ecuador's natural wonders beyond the lively capital city Quito on this eight-day discovery tour. Before heading into the wilderness, you'll base yourself mostly in Quito, exploring its museums, architecture, and cuisine. Day trip to the middle of the world and Cuicocha Lagoon, shop for handicrafts in Otavalo Market, and hike amid the Mindo cloud forest. Transfer to Cotopaxi National Park, sleep in a traditional hacienda and have fun in Baños—Ecuador's adventure capital.

White sands and turqouise waters of the Galápagos Islands
How Many Days to Spend in the Galápagos Islands

The best way to see as many of the 19 major islands that comprise the Galápagos is on a two-week tour. However, you can still pack in the best of Darwin's famed isles on a 10-day excursion that includes wildlife spotting and active adventures. Even five days allows for a quick island hop and highlights tour that covers some major sights and makes for an unforgettable experience.

Blue Footed Boobie
Galapagos Island Hopping - 6 Days

Discover spectacular scenery and diverse ecosystems on this whirlwind 6-day tour of the Galapagos Islands. Focusing on three of the archipelago's inhabited islands, you'll hop between them by boat while spotting rare and remarkable wildlife up close. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, meet giant tortoises in the Santa Cruz highlands, hike the Sierra Negra Volcano, and swim in turquoise waters at Tortuga Bay Beach.

Recent trip reviews for Lucia

The trip was fabulous!! The guides and driver...
Ecuador | Feb 10 - Feb 19, 2023

Wendy
Wendy N.
Mantorville, MN | Reviewed on Feb 20, 2023

The trip was fabulous!! The guides and drivers were on time, professional and courteous. No issues, it was seamless!

Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Reviewed on Feb 27, 2023

Hi Wendy,

Thanks for your kind words in the review, I am so happy you and Melissa enjoyed this special program I made especially for you. It will be my pleasure to receive your family and friends coming to Ecuador.

Warm hugs from Quito - Ecuador,
Lucía

2-week family trip to Ecuador
Ecuador | Dec 22 - Jan 4, 2023

D
Diana H.
Canada | Reviewed on Jan 27, 2023

When I set out to plan a 2-week family trip to Ecuador, I was a overwhelmed with the many awesome destinations, activities and adventures to chose from as well as the logistics to get from one place to the next within the limited time that we had.
I reached out to Kimkim team for help and I was fortunate enough to have Lucia & Angel as my trip advisors - they were both amazing and thanks to their wealth of knowledge and experience, we were able to plan the perfect trip that included our... read more

When I set out to plan a 2-week family trip to Ecuador, I was a overwhelmed with the many awesome destinations, activities and adventures to chose from as well as the logistics to get from one place to the next within the limited time that we had.
I reached out to Kimkim team for help and I was fortunate enough to have Lucia & Angel as my trip advisors - they were both amazing and thanks to their wealth of knowledge and experience, we were able to plan the perfect trip that included our top destinations and every adventure we wanted to experience while visiting this wonderful country.

We were in Ecuador from Dec 24 - Jan 4 and we had an excellent time exploring the history, culture, wildlife and all the unique aspects of its Amazonia and Galapagos that were unparalleled to anything we’ve seen or experienced before in our travels.

I must say that dealing with Lucia was exceptionally pleasant and easy so I have to send special thanks and appreciation to you Lucia! You made this wonderful trip possible and you were so patient, creative and wonderful in find options that suit our plan, time and budget to make this trip possible and super special!! Thank you for your amazing support throughout the planning process and even during and after our trip to make sure we were always well taken care of wherever we were. You are simply AMAZING!!!

Hotel Reviews
Ikala Quito Hotel
Quito

Great hotel in a very good location, amazing service and staff are very friendly. Our room was very spacious and comfortable

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Napo Cultural Center
Quito

A very unique setting for a beautiful and extremely charming lodge - cabins are spacious and super comfortable and the best part is feeling like you are living in the wilderness of the jungle while in the comfort of your private space. The food was delicious and abundant, we were spoiled with fresh cold towels and refreshing natural juices after each adventure. Special shoutout to the chefs and the restaurant staff for doing an awesome job during each meal. But the biggest and best mention and thanks goes to the manager of the lodge and to our guide « Tyson « for making this whole experience so memorable and unique! Highly recommend it!!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Blue Marlin
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galapagos

An OK hôtel, not great - accommodation; facilities and breakfast were just average, service was basic and transactional, nothing special to mention

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
La Posada del Mar
Puerto Ayora

Exceptional and super attentive service from Carlos made our stay at this hotel extremely wonderful and truly memorable. The location is super convenient, walking distance from the ferry port and the facilities are very comfortable. The Views overlooking the harbour especially from the common area were amazing We enjoyed our stay tremendously and we felt right at home thanks to Carlos! Highly recommend staying here when in Santa Cruz!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Quito - Coca - Napo Cultural Center
Ecuador

Amazing, unique experience add super special y our guide « Tyson »

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Parrot Clay-lick Viewing, Visiting a Community Project & The Observation Tower (Sumak Kausay Experience)
Yasuni National Park
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Indigenous Encounter and Hike to Mama Cuna Path (Yaku Kausay Experience)
Yasuni National Park
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Snorkeling at Kicker Rock
Isla San Cristóbal

Wonderful experience but water was too cold to enjoy snorkeling - most of us couldn’t stay in the water for more than 20 minutes. We should have been given long wet suits not short ones. Also the guide was so cold that he was rushing us while going through the kicker rock passage.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kayaking Adventure in Tortuga Bay & Afternoon Bay Tour of Santa Cruz Island
Puerto Ayora

Amazing adventure in a beautiful protected bay where sea turtles and white tip reef sharks roam freely and in high numbers. We kayaked through the Laguna and saw so many turtles and sharks up close from our kayak - it was so unique and special to be able to connect with nature and wildlife in such a way without feeling rushed and enjoy all these wonderful encounters!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Reviewed on Feb 01, 2023

Thank you so much for these words, Diana!
We love helping travelers visiting Ecuador!
It was great having you here with us and I'm happy to hear everything went as expected and now you will treasure some beautiful memories from this trip :)
I hope you can come back to South America soon we will be happy to help you plan another great adventure!

Warm regards,
Lucia.

Exceptional service, exceptional vacation!
Galapagos Islands | Dec 9 - Dec 22, 2022

Barb
Barb M.
Forest Hills, MI | Reviewed on Jan 11, 2023

We could not have been happier with the service we received from the kimkim team! Lucia and Angel responded immediately to our questions before and during our travel. Every possible effort was made on their part to ensure we had a safe and exciting vacation with exceptional guides at every turn.

Our time in Peru was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! We had an amazing tour of Lima (thank you Juana!), an educational Sacred Valley tour (thank you Henry!). Lucia and Angel reserved Andre as... read more

We could not have been happier with the service we received from the kimkim team! Lucia and Angel responded immediately to our questions before and during our travel. Every possible effort was made on their part to ensure we had a safe and exciting vacation with exceptional guides at every turn.

Our time in Peru was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! We had an amazing tour of Lima (thank you Juana!), an educational Sacred Valley tour (thank you Henry!). Lucia and Angel reserved Andre as our Machu Picchu guide and he was perfect for us. Andre taught us about Incan culture and history as well as the integration of Incan beliefs into everyday Peruvian life. This was a highlight of our stay in Peru.

Juan Carlos led an exceptional excursion in Cusco and we can personally recommend his services. There were extenuating circumstances during our Cusco stay but Juan Carlos and the kimkim team made sure that we remained comfortable and cared for without interruption.

Off to Ecuador where we were treated like royalty by Angel and Sebastian in Quito. The next morning, we flew to the Galapagos and the attention from the kimkim staff did not disappoint. Rita was attentive to our every need (drivers, boat transfers, flights, ferries) --- she could not have done more for us! Julio (our guide for nature hikes) was knowledgeable, humorous and energetic.

Definitely take the snorkeling trip to the uninhabited island and try to secure Ricardo as your guide. He and the boat captain went above and beyond to create a memorable experience for everyone. The food and staff on board the Nautilus were friendly and accommodating in every detail.

Our final stop was at the Middle of the World where Marco provided an interesting and amusing tour. We truly enjoyed our time with him. Before we boarded our flight home, Angel took the time to meet us personally at the airport and share much-deserved hugs and farewells.

Because of an unexpected event in Peru, we were unable to meet our daughter on the Galapagos Islands as stated on our original itinerary. Lucia and Angel not only ensured that she was able to participate in the activities as planned, they also rescheduled events for us back in Peru until we could join her. We were never concerned for her safety and she even got one-on-one tours from the guides on the Galapagos Islands.

A final observation: You will not be disappointed with the service provided by this kimkim team. Lucia and Angel managed everything: meals, tickets, transfers, taxis, luggage transport, tours, entrance fees... the list is lengthy! You will be well taken care of and can be secure knowing that your agents are on top of every activity, hotel, and transportation need.

No one could have asked more from Lucia and Angel. We recommend them --- and the tour they created for us --- without reservation!

Happy travels to Peru and Ecuador, everyone!
Barb and Dan

Hotel Reviews
Union Hotel Cusco
Cusco

Great food, excellent and attentive staff. Fun location near the mercado and a short walk from the plaza.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Arawi Miraflores Prime
Lima

Location in a funky part of Lima: short walk to Larcomar and Miraflores park.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Excellent breakfast buffet!
Tierra Viva Valle Sagrado
Urubamba

Gorgeous setting, fabulous food, great staff. The room itself was basic, but we were outside most of the time. Beautiful setting near mountains and the river. The town of Ullantaytambo is not remarkable, but it's lively and interesting!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Maritza was a lot of fun. We enjoyed everyone, but she was very kind and friendly!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kitu Hotel
Quito
Authenticity & Character
Definitely a boutique hotel. We were on the 4th floor (walk up) and our drive and guide carried our heavy bags all the way up for us!!
Location
Beautiful night time view from the balcony
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Villa Laguna
Puerto Ayora

Great pool!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Very close to the piers and the nightlife and the music and the plaza and the restaurants!
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Isamar Hotel
Puerto Villamil, Isla Isabela

Sea breezes lulled us to sleep!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Right on the beach. Nice.
Staff
Stored our luggage, put out a great breakfast buffet, provided extra towels: they couldn't have been nicer or more attentive!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Afternoon Highlights of Lima- City Tour
Lima

We had a unique experience due to political upheaval --- our guide kept us safe and informed!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Juana was excellent
Cusco - The Sacred Valley
Peru

We enjoyed an amusing and educational tour of the area and the peoples of Cusco!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Maras & Moray Tour
Peru
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Machu Picchu - Huayna Picchu - Cusco
Peru

We were blown away by Andre and our experience at the citadel. Mystical, practical, humorous, intelligent... an indescribable experience.

Quality of Experience
Everything was ready for us: train tickets, bus tickets, knowledgeable tour guide. It was perfect.
Food
We ate at Toto's. Good lunch buffet. Avoid the drink "Machu Picchu" unless you like toothpaste or mouthwash!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Andre was amazing!
Transport
Colonial Quito City Tour & Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) Monument
Quito

Marco was hilarious and was a good sport while we practiced our Spanish and asked him to take photos.

Quality of Experience
Great tour on site; the woman was humorous and intelligent
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Thank you Marco!
Transport
Explore an Uninhabited Island
Puerto Ayora

We were unprepared for the amazing the boat ride! Schooner to the island, hike to a spectacular view, snorkeling with penguins and sharks and sea lions. And they never stopped feeding us on the boat!! Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, snack. Lovely voyage!

Quality of Experience
I love boat rides. That was enough for me. The hike and snorkeling were extras. :)
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Ricardo crushed it! Concerned about the environment, intelligent, worked well with the entire group.
Transport
Woohoo! Sailboat!
Dinner by the Sea
Galapagos Islands

Delightful night time boat shuttle to an adorable restaurant.

Quality of Experience
The food was exceptional, great cocktails, loved being near the water
Food
We upgraded to lobster. Worth it!
Transport
Short ferry ride and you're there
Breeding Center & Wetlands of Isabela Island
Galapagos Islands

One of the highlights of the islands! If you want to see tortoises, take this tour!

Quality of Experience
This was a must-see for us. LOTS of tortoises to see.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Julio showed us flamingos, Darwin finches, different flora and fauna of the Galapagos. We arrived when the tortoises were being fed and that was a bonus for sure!
Transport
Well, we walked.
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Reviewed on Jan 16, 2023

OMG Barb and Dan, this is such a beautiful review, just like you guys!!
I am really happy that you had a wonderful experience with us :)
it was lovely meeting you guys I will appreciate those memories forever, especially your day of arrival in Quito and that perfect dinner night!!!
I hope you can come back soon since Amazon is waiting for you, I know the next time you will be speaking Spanish that will enhance the experience in a memorable way!
It's hard to put in words everything I felt... read more

OMG Barb and Dan, this is such a beautiful review, just like you guys!!
I am really happy that you had a wonderful experience with us :)
it was lovely meeting you guys I will appreciate those memories forever, especially your day of arrival in Quito and that perfect dinner night!!!
I hope you can come back soon since Amazon is waiting for you, I know the next time you will be speaking Spanish that will enhance the experience in a memorable way!
It's hard to put in words everything I felt reading this, I am really grateful to have this job where I can Meet travelers like you who become close friends!
Thank you for being so kind and nice all the time!
PS: Pictures are amazing I love them!

Warm regards, and come back soon,
Lucia and Angel.

The Galapagos Island Vacation
Ecuador | Dec 24 - Dec 29, 2022

Vidya
Vidya M.
Maplewood, NJ | Reviewed on Jan 10, 2023

The booking experience was very seamless and all details has been thought about and planned. Lucia was very responsive and quickly answered our questions.

On San Cristobal island our guide was knowledgeable but lacked some patience and often did not respond to our request positively. The hotel Pimampiro was a wonderful place and the hosts very extremely helpful and cordial. They were very accommodative and helped us with small requests and pointed us to information when we needed it .... read more

The booking experience was very seamless and all details has been thought about and planned. Lucia was very responsive and quickly answered our questions.

On San Cristobal island our guide was knowledgeable but lacked some patience and often did not respond to our request positively. The hotel Pimampiro was a wonderful place and the hosts very extremely helpful and cordial. They were very accommodative and helped us with small requests and pointed us to information when we needed it . Snorkeling experience at Kicker rock was good and boat and the crew were knowledgeable and helpful

The public ferry we took from San Cristobal to Santa Cruz was not the best experience as the boat broke down a few times and it was crowded

Taxi services we used and the restaurants and stores were very good and people were friend and helpful in San Cristobal

The hotel Villa Laguna was good only thing to note is there were no elevators and our room was on the first floor which was ok with us . Hotel was clean and helpful staff. Breakfast was good

Our trip coordinator was good and helpful. The guide and the boat crew who accomplished on our snorkeling to Pinzon island and La Fe were very friendly, knowledgeable , attentive and accommodative . The food was prepared on board and excellent

Our guide and driver to the highlands and beaches were very good

Our only suggestion would be to ensure that The Darwin Research Center is included as part of the itinerary. At least for the 1.5 hours guided tour at the center is worth the visit

Our driver Abdur at Guayaquil airport picked us up and dropped us off at the hotel on the day of arrival and took us back to the airport next day for our flight to the Galapagos. He is very i helpful to navigate the complicated check in process for our flight to the Galapagos.

We definitely recommend using Lucia to book your Galapagos vacation

Hotel Reviews
Wyndham Guayaquil, Puerto Santa Ana
Guayaquil
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casa Pimampiro
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Villa Laguna
Puerto Ayora

No Elevators and we were ok but May be an issue with senior Patrons

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Welcome to San Cristóbal Island! Visit the Interpretation Center, Tijeretas Hill, or La Lobería
Galapagos Islands

The views were fantastic

Quality of Experience
Food
Food at Rositas was good
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide was knowledgeable but we felt he could have been nor accommodating and interactive . He was as knowledgeable
Transport
We took local taxis everywhere. The guide came with us
Snorkeling at Kicker Rock
Isla San Cristóbal
Quality of Experience
Food
Food on the boat was ok. I had asked for vegetarian food but there was not much option
Guides, Drivers and Staff
L
Cerro Mesa Reserve - Garrapatero Beach
Galapagos Islands
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver didn’t know much about the place or didn’t know English
Transport
Discover Pinzon Island & La Fé
Puerto Ayora

We had a very nice snorkeling experience . Clear water and lot of marine life

Quality of Experience
Food
Amazing food. Cooked on board and very fresh
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide and boat staff were fantastic . They gave us a very nice snorkeling experience
Transport
Exploring The Charles Darwin Research Station (Self Guided)
Galapagos Islands
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Exploring the Santa Cruz Highlands
Galapagos Islands
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Reviewed on Jan 19, 2023

Hola Vidya,
It was my pleasure to help you with this amazing trip!
I am really happy everything went as planned :)
Thank you very much for all the details you are giving us this is very helpful so we can keep improving our service!
I will be looking forward to help you plan any other trip you might want to South America!!

Best Regards from the Middle of the World,
Lucia.

Great times in Ecuador!
Ecuador | Dec 31 - Jan 8, 2023

Jessica
Jessica G.
South Salt Lake, UT | Reviewed on Jan 09, 2023

We had a wonderful experience in Ecuador with Kimkim. Our guide Sebastian was simply wonderful: warm, helpful, and knowledgable. Our driver, Guillermo was excellent and very sweet. Lucia helped us plan a wonderful a trip. We will definitely use them again! read more

We had a wonderful experience in Ecuador with Kimkim. Our guide Sebastian was simply wonderful: warm, helpful, and knowledgable. Our driver, Guillermo was excellent and very sweet. Lucia helped us plan a wonderful a trip. We will definitely use them again!

Hotel Review
Termas de Papallacta
Papallacta

This hotel was like an oasis. It felt like a special escape in the tops of the mountains!

Authenticity & Character
Charming casitas with fireplaces surrounding hot springs
Location
It's at 11,000 feet in the Andes!
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Reviewed on Jan 16, 2023

Hola Jessica!
It was amazing to have you and your family with us in Ecuador!
Sebastian told me he had so much fun with you guys, thank you for that!
I am really happy everything went as expected and of course, we will be happy to have you with us again! South America is huge I hope you can visit Peru, Chile, and Argentina which are the countries we can help you with!
Warm Regards to all the Guynn Family!!
See you soon,
Lucia.

10 days in Mainland Ecuador
Ecuador | Nov 11 - Nov 20, 2022

Minda
Minda H.
Maple Grove, MN | Reviewed on Nov 23, 2022

Lucia put together a trip that hit all the things we wanted to experience. Our guide and driver, Sebastian was terrific. He was a cautious driver and an entertaining, knowledgeable guide. We enjoyed things that weren't on the itinerary, like dropping into his grandfather's bakery for a taste treat. We also enjoyed the interaction with some indigenous communities and checking out local cuisine. Besides being a beautiful country, the people of Ecuador are warm and welcoming.

Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Reviewed on Nov 23, 2022

Hola Minda, Gary and Nathan!
It is great to read all this :)
I am so glad you had a great time here in Ecuador!
I will share this with Sebastian, I know he will be so happy with this. Thank you so much for trusting us to organize this great adventure. We will be waiting for you to come back, I am sending you a big hug all the way to the US.

Best Regards From the Middle of the World,
Lucia.

Amazing Peru Ecuador and Galapagos islands Lucia did a great job of meticulous planning ...
Galapagos Islands | Sep 4 - Sep 24, 2022

Sundar
Sundar S.
India | Reviewed on Sep 25, 2022

Lucia did a great job of meticulous planning and it was a great trip though for senior citizens like us it was tiring
Lucia was very patient and kind and despite our cranky requests she went out of the way to help
Suggestions for Indian tourists
Ecuador Visa is not easy to get for Indians
Process is long with police clearance and personal interview in Delhi
Vegetarian food most places are ok but in one Hotel Deja Vu they gave ham sandwich as vegetarian to us in the Box breakfast and it... read more

Lucia did a great job of meticulous planning and it was a great trip though for senior citizens like us it was tiring
Lucia was very patient and kind and despite our cranky requests she went out of the way to help
Suggestions for Indian tourists
Ecuador Visa is not easy to get for Indians
Process is long with police clearance and personal interview in Delhi
Vegetarian food most places are ok but in one Hotel Deja Vu they gave ham sandwich as vegetarian to us in the Box breakfast and it will not be acceptable by many Indians
Indians need English guides and mixing with Spanish group despite so called dual language guide not very encouraging
Indians need to go with English group predominantly as guides are more comfortable in Spanish and talk more in Spanish
Senior citizens should get a more relaxed tour especially if they ask for it
These are only suggestions to help not complaints
Outstanding tours Machu Pichu
Guide Javier excellent
Very sad We couldn't do rainbow mountain and lost the money
Napo Cultural centre awesome
Chef Eric excellent for vegetarian food
Guide Valencia very good
In Quito Alejandro and his son Sebastian were outstanding and good and kind
Galapagos Volcano Hotel Paola is a sweetheart and very very nice she even gifted us few souvenirs from her own money
Volcano tour by walking was very very exhausting so this needs to be highlighted for senior citizens
The north Seymour tour Last day was climax of good ending
Thanks Lucia and Kim Kim travels for making us fulfill our bucket list 🙏🙏

Hotel Reviews
Holiday Inn Lima Airport
Lima

Excellent breakfast and good staff

Authenticity & Character
Nice
Location
Nice
Staff
Excellent
Cleanliness & Comfort
Good
Costa del Sol Ramada Cusco
Cusco

Small boutique hotel very friendly especially food services staff

Authenticity & Character
Nice
Location
Excellent
Staff
Excellent
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms small
Kitu Hotel
Quito

Nice location Good staff Senior citizens like us should be given rooms in first floor

Authenticity & Character
Nice
Location
Good
Staff
Excellent
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms small
Napo Cultural Center
Quito

One of the best places to visit and stay Strongly recommend the place Wish we had electric buggies to transport senior citizens like us from the boat Pier

Authenticity & Character
Simply best
Location
Eric the chief all the staff working as family very happy and helpful
Staff
Very humble kind and felt like home
Cleanliness & Comfort
Decent
Hotel Volcano
Puerto Villamil

Excellent hotel Paola is a blessing goes beyond call of duty to help

Authenticity & Character
Location
Excellent near the beach and tortoise breeding area
Staff
Excellent especially Paola she is a blessing goes beyond call of duty to help
Cleanliness & Comfort
Paola
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Reviewed on Sep 28, 2022

Hello Sundar & Shoba,

Thank you for taking the time and share your experience with us! It was such an amazing experience to share this trip together, I am glad to hear your trip was good, also thank you so much for the feedback it is very important for us your suggestions and comments, that is very helpful for us to grow up as a travel specialist!
I hope you come back to Ecuador again, this time you could enjoy different places, Ecuador has many destinations to offer!
I wish you all the best,
Best regards,
Lucía.

Galapagos Islands Review
Galapagos Islands | Jul 18 - Jul 25, 2022

J
Jessica J.
Sweden | Reviewed on Sep 17, 2022

The Galapagos Islands were an unforgettable experience. We did an 8-day trip during the month of July to the islands where we visited two of the islands--Santa Cruz and Isabela. The wildlife and the natural habitats were spectacular. We saw sea turtles, giant tortoises, lizards, sea lions, reef sharks, penguins, rays, and various birds and fish. On the island of Santa Cruz, there are multiple biomes so you are able to see pristine beaches, a foggy and moist highland, and an arid lowland. The... read more

The Galapagos Islands were an unforgettable experience. We did an 8-day trip during the month of July to the islands where we visited two of the islands--Santa Cruz and Isabela. The wildlife and the natural habitats were spectacular. We saw sea turtles, giant tortoises, lizards, sea lions, reef sharks, penguins, rays, and various birds and fish. On the island of Santa Cruz, there are multiple biomes so you are able to see pristine beaches, a foggy and moist highland, and an arid lowland. The volcanic element to the islands also created an impressive backdrop that made you feel as if you were on a different planet. It is a place we highly recommend visiting.

The people we met were very friendly and all of the guides were very knowledgeable as only resident Galapagueños can be guides on the islands. The one thing that we feel would have made this experience better would have been to have one point of contact person for the whole trip. We had different tour guides every day as they all specialize in different areas, which was fine, but we had a different point-of-contact person each day which resulted in there being inconsistencies between the information in our itinerary and what they communicated. Additionally, they did not always tell us what we would need to be prepared for the following day's activities (e.g. recommending that we hire a wet suit or have appropriate footwear for some of the walking activities). Other than that, it was a really great trip.

Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Reviewed on Sep 26, 2022

Hello Jessica,

Thank you for your words and for taking the time to leave us this kind review, we will be working to improve those details! We look forward to welcoming you to Ecuador again!

Kind regards,

Lucía.

AMAZING! We will definitely use KimKim again ...
Ecuador | Aug 26 - Sep 2, 2022

K
Karla C.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Sep 06, 2022

AMAZING! We will definitely use KimKim again and again to help plan our vacation. We had very limited days in Ecuador, about 7 days. Lucia did an amazing job customizing our travel itinerary to include all of the things we wanted to do, like a food tour to experience the most typical and traditional dishes in Ecuador. She also helped us plan our adventure in the Amazonian Rainforest. Lucia took care of booking the hotels, transportation, and tours. Thank you! This gave us such peace of mind and we were able to really enjoy our vacation.

Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Reviewed on Sep 06, 2022

Hola Karla,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I love to hear you enjoyed your trip to Ecuador, it was a pleasure to plan your vacations!
We are looking forward to welcoming you to Ecuador again.

Best regards!
Lucía.

7 day trip to the Galapagos
Galapagos Islands | Jun 9 - Jun 15, 2022

Ciaran
Ciaran C.
Colombia | Reviewed on Jun 16, 2022

Lucia helped us out so much after we had some inconvenience getting into Ecuador, and had to change our flights and plans at such short notice.
The itinerary was amazing, with lots of snorkeling, and day trips, with some free time to explore and do more ourselves.
The only minor inconvenience was that when it said that breakfast was included we were not sure if it was in the hotel or on the tour. It was in the hotel so we missed breakfast our first day
All the guides in the Galapagos were... read more

Lucia helped us out so much after we had some inconvenience getting into Ecuador, and had to change our flights and plans at such short notice.
The itinerary was amazing, with lots of snorkeling, and day trips, with some free time to explore and do more ourselves.
The only minor inconvenience was that when it said that breakfast was included we were not sure if it was in the hotel or on the tour. It was in the hotel so we missed breakfast our first day
All the guides in the Galapagos were very knowledgeable and helpful.

Activity Reviews
Welcome to Santa Cruz Island: Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station
Puerto Ayora

Great way to get to know the Galapagos and the local wildlife

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Morning Bay Tour & Afternoon at leisure in Santa Cruz
Puerto Ayora

Great snorkeling, some great videos and pictures from this experience, and our guide knew the best places to see turtles and other fish. The hike and swim were also incredible

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Speedboat to Santa Cruz Island & Kayaking on Tortuga Bay
Galapagos Islands

Our guide Viviana was great but we couldn't see much on the kayaks as the water was quite cloudy and dirty. Tortuga bay is a must visit on Santa Cruz island though!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Excursion to Los Túneles
Galapagos Islands

Incredible snorkeling experiences, guide knew the best spots and was very accomodating to help get pictures and videos using the GoPro. Very knowledgeable on the local wildlife and surrounding area

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Discover Pinzon Island & La Fé
Puerto Ayora

First snorkel spot was very wavy and tough to see much. Second snorkel spot was so clear as we swam with sea lions, turtles, sharks and more! Definitely worth it for the second snorkel alone. Did some fishing (didn't catch anything unfortunately), got a lovely lunch on the boat, and enjoyed both la fe and pinzon

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Wildlife Tour on Isabela Island
Galapagos Islands
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Reviewed on Jun 20, 2022

Hola Chas,

Thank you for your nice words, we will be working to improve those details! We look forward to welcoming you to Ecuador again!

Kind regards,

Lucía.

'Last minute' solo trip of high expectations to GALÁPAGOS 🇸🇱
Galapagos Islands | Feb 21 - Mar 2, 2022

Katarzyna
Katarzyna W.
Qatar | Reviewed on May 03, 2022

* It was a 'last minute' solo trip of high expectations - they have been meet in 99% .
1% missing for skipping few breakfasts ahead of several-hours long activities - overlooking timings of my breakfast VS my departure - accommodation places could have prepared take away breakfast.

* Quality level of the activities will depend on a random assignment of the available guide. I have had a luck to meet wonderful knowledgable Señor Wilson Rojas at San Cristóbal Island, who provided me with... read more

* It was a 'last minute' solo trip of high expectations - they have been meet in 99% .
1% missing for skipping few breakfasts ahead of several-hours long activities - overlooking timings of my breakfast VS my departure - accommodation places could have prepared take away breakfast.

* Quality level of the activities will depend on a random assignment of the available guide. I have had a luck to meet wonderful knowledgable Señor Wilson Rojas at San Cristóbal Island, who provided me with the knowledge for the whole trip in one go.

* Planning the trip conversation is very American-tourist oriented; you are flooded with overly merry and abundant in adjectives vocabulary, as if you haven't chosen the place yet and you need to be convinced (feels like advertising to sell) - unnecessary; you need to fish out from all the redundant content what actually is the essence that the place has to offer - bullet points KIKKIM Guys, no need to sell me, what I have chosen to buy already, lol.

* Reliable, fluid logistics, well-in-place communication and organisation (even though remote), all details, including most of petty expenses have been secured. Overall great experience with KIMKIM; and guides preparing my plan - Lucia and Dani - gracias!

Hotel Review
Hotel Deja Vu Galapagos
Pto. Ayora

Overpriced for the value ($140 per night is outrageous); * Choice of young travellers (16+); very noisy, as adolescences are fun (not rest) oriented * Room comfort is low (old furnitures, bed sheets, no aesthetics) * Insufficient internet - almost not working when hotel has 50% of residents in place * Far from the main street

Authenticity & Character
Furniture, bed sheets, overall aesthetics and integrity of the place - all seemed of random choice
Location
Nothing... building is built already :) ...bit far from the main street, unpleasant too come back to at night
Staff
Standard, polite, informative staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Not much comfort, noisy, practically no internet
Activity Review
Snorkeling at Kicker Rock
Isla San Cristóbal

Very interesting deep water spot, lots of wildlife to observe, long satisfying activity, rest on serene scenic island in vicinity. Enjoyable boat facilities.

Quality of Experience
Uninhabited island visited after the snorkelling, where you can observe marine iguanas.
Food
Excellent diversity available for customers on any type of diet.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Standard
Transport
Great full-day-trip-equipped boat, unfortunately gasoline polluted water in a bathroom, they had it covered with extra water supply.
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Reviewed on May 04, 2022

Hola Katarzyna

Thank you so much for your kind words, Katarzyna. We really appreciate you taking the time out to share your experience with us, I am glad you enjoyed The Galapagos Islands. We count ourselves lucky for travelers like you. Thank you so much for sharing those beautiful pictures with us! Also thank you for the feedback we will be working to improve those details! We look forward to welcoming you to Ecuador again!

Kind regards,

Lucía.