Mathias Onisseit

Our trip to Ecuador was indeed amazing (meeting and exceeding our expectations). The excursions were excellent! The trip was fabulous!! From start to finish, the KimKim team (Mathais, Danny and excursion guides) were responsive, on time, professional and courteous. Prior to our trip, Mathais listened carefully to our requests and helped us prepare the perfect itinerary. From the minute we walked off the plane in Quito, we were met by our personal guide Danny who was outstanding! He escorted... read more

Our trip to Ecuador was indeed amazing (meeting and exceeding our expectations). The excursions were excellent! The trip was fabulous!! From start to finish, the KimKim team (Mathais, Danny and excursion guides) were responsive, on time, professional and courteous. Prior to our trip, Mathais listened carefully to our requests and helped us prepare the perfect itinerary. From the minute we walked off the plane in Quito, we were met by our personal guide Danny who was outstanding! He escorted us every leg of the trip and made sure our travels went smoothly and were top notch throughout our mainland journey that included 2 days in Quito, a day in Banos, a day in Archidona, and hours in Papillacta thermal baths before we flew to Galapagos. In Ecuador mainland, we visited all the places on our itinerary, never felt rushed, and were able to indulge or move along at our own pace - Danny had a great knack for knowing when to be there for us or leave us to venture on our own. We opted for standard hotels that were lovely, clean, hosted by nice folks, and served good breakfasts before we ventured out on our excursions. Mathias made a point to meet and welcome us while we were in Quito, which we thought was classy. Danny spent hours driving us between cities and time flew - Danny was a great conversationalist and shared a wealth of knowledge and love for his country and people and nature and history, which made our drives and excursions all the more enjoyable. Great mix of private and small group tours. Highly recommend all the excursions on our itinerary: Quito City, Middle of the World, Swing, Banos waterfalls (esp Devils Cauldron) and tram, Amazon basin Napo river, rainforest lodge and hike, and Papillacta hot springs. Be aware there are some touristy areas (Banos, Middle of world) and lousy internet, but chalk it up to part of the experience. The people, the country, the food, the nature all beautiful. If you are planning to go to Galapagos following mainland trip recommend the Holiday Inn by airport to reset.

This was my first-time using Kim Kim for my travels and I was impressed with the entire process. Mathais was quick to provide information and was very knowledgeable. Milton was an amazing guide and we really enjoyed spending time with him on the first part of our journey. The staff on the Galaxy was also nice. Enjoyed the entire process and plan on arranging another trip to Ecuador in 2024 to see more sites. read more

This was my first-time using Kim Kim for my travels and I was impressed with the entire process. Mathais was quick to provide information and was very knowledgeable. Milton was an amazing guide and we really enjoyed spending time with him on the first part of our journey. The staff on the Galaxy was also nice. Enjoyed the entire process and plan on arranging another trip to Ecuador in 2024 to see more sites.

This was the first time I’ve ever used a Travel Agency and the first time I’ve ever been on a small-group guided tour. It was a fantastic experience. The itinerary that Mathias put together was well coordinated and thought out. The activities varied from the active to the intellectual. Milton was a fantastic guide who was knowledgeable about Ecuador in general and the Andes in particular. He was helpful, patient, and flexible changing plans to accommodate our needs. He went out of his... read more

This was the first time I’ve ever used a Travel Agency and the first time I’ve ever been on a small-group guided tour. It was a fantastic experience. The itinerary that Mathias put together was well coordinated and thought out. The activities varied from the active to the intellectual. Milton was a fantastic guide who was knowledgeable about Ecuador in general and the Andes in particular. He was helpful, patient, and flexible changing plans to accommodate our needs. He went out of his way to make sure everyone had an enjoyable experience. I particularly enjoyed our hike to Catopaxi. I also greatly appreciated his role as translator when he accompanied our group on a hike in the Amazon jungle and an exploration of a cave. His presence made me feel safe and comfortable. Galapagos snorkeling was my favorite part of the entire trip. I had the chance to Galapagos penguins, rays, octopus, sharks.. even two hammerheads, turtles, a large blue spiny lobster, and too many fish to name. Our Galapagos guide, David, and the crew aboard the Galaxy were fantastic. They all were friendly, competent, knowledgeable, patient, and accommodating. I would love to do this again!

Astrid was a terrific local guide and so knowledgeable.
The various islands were great choices. read more

Astrid was a terrific local guide and so knowledgeable.
The various islands were great choices.

Fabulous trip and experience in the Galapagos.
mathias planned a great trip and we loved every excursion. Our hotels were really nice, guides knowledgeable, and boats to islands were terrific. Truly a beautiful experience! read more

Fabulous trip and experience in the Galapagos.
mathias planned a great trip and we loved every excursion. Our hotels were really nice, guides knowledgeable, and boats to islands were terrific. Truly a beautiful experience!

Our guide Ven was phenomenal and very attentive to all our needs. We also were very impressed with the vegetarian meals that the cook provided. We loved the tower, the wall and the river paddling trip. We were able to view over 130 different birds which exceeded my expectations. Thank you for your time. read more

Our guide Ven was phenomenal and very attentive to all our needs. We also were very impressed with the vegetarian meals that the cook provided. We loved the tower, the wall and the river paddling trip. We were able to view over 130 different birds which exceeded my expectations. Thank you for your time.

Hotel Review

Napo Cultural Center

Quito

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arrival to Yasuní National Park - First hikes or kayaking (NCC)

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Parrot clay lick - Intercultural interpretation center - Observation tower - Ancestral catamaran ride (NCC)

Yasuni National Park

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Community projects - Paddling excursion - Traditional dinner - Night walk (NCC)

Yasuni National Park

Quality of Experience

Y

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Last activities - Transfer to Coca

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This company is the real deal. I was skeptical to use a travel agent to book a trip but I am so glad I did. I found Kim Kim on a Facebook page and decided to give them a try. Matthias communicated with me in a timely fashion and listened to what I wanted and made it happen. We were greeted as we walked out of the airport and from there everything was very close to perfect. We had great hotels; great excursions; great tour guides and food. We felt safe every where we went and could not... read more

This company is the real deal. I was skeptical to use a travel agent to book a trip but I am so glad I did. I found Kim Kim on a Facebook page and decided to give them a try. Matthias communicated with me in a timely fashion and listened to what I wanted and made it happen. We were greeted as we walked out of the airport and from there everything was very close to perfect. We had great hotels; great excursions; great tour guides and food. We felt safe every where we went and could not have asked for a better service.
From Quito to Galapagos to Banos and finally Archidona, it was a Fantastic Vacation! Thank you so much.

10 out of 10, would highly recommend

Hotel Reviews

Kuyana Amazon Lodge

Archidona

The most beautiful hotel I have ever stayed! Amazing It’s kinda scary to get to but so worth the drive.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The food and staff were amazing. Gorgeous place

Ikala Galapagos Hotel

Puerto Ayora

Great location, friendly staff and clean rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Casa Alquimia

Quito

Very quaint Was not expecting it to be warm but we got a fan and that was cured.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Holiday Inn Quito Airport, an IHG Hotel

Tababela

Nice Hotel Close to the airport Provides a shuttle

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Middle of the World

Ecuador

I really enjoyed this visit to both equator destinations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class

Quito

My son and I did this and loved it. I came home and tried to recreate the potato soup. It turned out famously.

Quality of Experience

Learning new fruits and recipes

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Josue and Alex

Transfer to Quito Airport, Arrival to Galapagos & Highlands of Santa Cruz

Ecuador

I love turtles and tortoise so this was a real treat.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to an uninhabited island

Galapagos Islands

Great snorkeling on Bartolome! Penguins, sea lions, shark, octopus, sting Ray. The boat was great, the staff was amazing, Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Scuba Diving - Day Trip from Santa Cruz

Galapagos Islands

The dive company is fantastic. I felt safe and would absolutely recommend them and dice with them again. The only reason it was rated as a 4 is because the water was super cold and visibility was not great. My son really enjoyed the dive on the second day. Schools of sharks and rays.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canyoning in Baños

Baños

Fun excursion. You do have to hike out but it’s moderate. Great time

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore the Pailón del Diablo Waterfall, Transfer to Archidona

Ecuador

This waterfall is beautiful! Danny was our guide in Banos and he was fantastic. He took such great care of us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rafting Río Jatunyacu

Ecuador

Super fun excursion!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Exploring El Gran Cañon & natural caves

Ecuador

I am out of shape but I still really enjoyed this hike and the waterfall. We did get tired and skipped the cave portion so I can’t comment on them. I would recommend this canyon hike and swim in the pool under the waterfall. Shawn was out guide at the hotel and on this excursion. He was awesome

Quality of Experience

You need to be somewhat in shape to hike this

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everything about this trip was wonderful! Mathias helped us plan the agenda to suit our needs and was very responsive to all of our questions. Sebastian was a knowledgeable and fun guide who introduced us to his country. Every day was full of fun and interesting activities catered to us. They even helped us plan two different tracks of activities in a day - some for those of us who preferred a more active day and others for those of us who didn't. Highly recommend! read more

Everything about this trip was wonderful! Mathias helped us plan the agenda to suit our needs and was very responsive to all of our questions. Sebastian was a knowledgeable and fun guide who introduced us to his country. Every day was full of fun and interesting activities catered to us. They even helped us plan two different tracks of activities in a day - some for those of us who preferred a more active day and others for those of us who didn't. Highly recommend!

Activity Review

Cooking Class

Quito

A fun cooking class that met our dietary needs and gave us some fun ideas for things to cook at home!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing 12 days tour in Ecuador. the beautiful landscapes around the highlands of the Andes, the adventure in Amazon rainforest basin and also the wonderful close look at diverse societies. we stayed 4 days 3 nights in La Selva Lodge, it is a nice place , suitable for most of travelers who are interested in adventure in Yasuni national park. From Quito to Cuenca, we visited some famous Catholic churches and most of the great places like Cotopaxi national park, Quilotoa Lake, the... read more

We had an amazing 12 days tour in Ecuador. the beautiful landscapes around the highlands of the Andes, the adventure in Amazon rainforest basin and also the wonderful close look at diverse societies. we stayed 4 days 3 nights in La Selva Lodge, it is a nice place , suitable for most of travelers who are interested in adventure in Yasuni national park. From Quito to Cuenca, we visited some famous Catholic churches and most of the great places like Cotopaxi national park, Quilotoa Lake, the ruins of Ingapirca and Cacha, a small town in Chimborazo province. Our guide Danny is very knowledgeable, he introduced everything in detail and explained clearly, it left a strong impression us on us about the lives of the indigenous people. all accommodation we stayed were so fantastic with delicious meals, tasty beverage and nice views. we'd like to say thank you to Mathias, he's so helpful, and help us made this trip unforgettable. we will appreciate KIMKIM to connect travel specialist, local tour guides and independent travelers together, and make travelling around world so easy.

Hotel Reviews

La Casona de La Ronda

Quito

the room is clean, the staff is very friendly, the breakfast and dinner is so delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Selva Lodge

Yasuní National Park

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hacienda La Cienega

Cotopaxi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

historic hacienda, worth to stay and take around and enjoy the great views

Hacienda Abraspungo

Guano

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

the room is super clean, the staff is very friendly and the meal is delicious.

Hotel Boutique Santa Lucía

Cuenca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa de las Peñas Siglo XXI

Guayaquil

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Quito City Tour

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class

Quito

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrival to Coca, transfer to rainforest lodge, rainforest hike

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Observation Tower, Rainforest hikes, Night Canoe Ride

Yasuni National Park

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Parrot Clay Lick, Jungle hikes

Yasuni National Park

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Last rainforest activities, Transfer to Coca & Arrival to Quito

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Cotopaxi National Park

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visiting Quilotoa Lagoon & Transfer to Riobamba

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Community of Cacha

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cacha - Ingapirca - Cuenca

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Cajas National Park, Transfer to Guayaquil

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

During my trip to Ecuador, I visited Otavalo, Quito, Cotopaxi and Mindo. Kimkim arranged for transportations, local and indigenous guides, and I had a great time with all of them- especially Danny Arias, David and Fausto.
In Otavalo, I visited the Cuicocha Lagoon, Peguche falls, and the artisan market, followed by a traditional Ecuadorian lunch. I appreciate that the guides catered to my food preferences and allergies!
I enjoyed seeing the hummingbirds and butterflies in Mindo, but freaked... read more

During my trip to Ecuador, I visited Otavalo, Quito, Cotopaxi and Mindo. Kimkim arranged for transportations, local and indigenous guides, and I had a great time with all of them- especially Danny Arias, David and Fausto.
In Otavalo, I visited the Cuicocha Lagoon, Peguche falls, and the artisan market, followed by a traditional Ecuadorian lunch. I appreciate that the guides catered to my food preferences and allergies!
I enjoyed seeing the hummingbirds and butterflies in Mindo, but freaked out when I reached the zipline and decided not to do it😅 I loved the chocolate experience and everything about the trip today, Mindo is so green and beautiful!
On the way back we passed by the Inti nan museum, and I was amazed by the experiments related to the equator.
Cotopaxi was absolutely magical and breathtaking! I wished I had more time to spend in the Andes and the avenue of the volcanoes.

Thank you Mathias and the team for making my trip truly exceptional and authentic!

From the moment I started planning this trip and all the way through to completion, my experience was 5 stars. I travelled with 11 family members to Ecuador (ages ranging from 19 to 86). We E-Biked the streets of Quito, attended cooking classes, travelled and explored the Galapagos on private boats and white watered rafted in the Amazon. We also made chocolate from scratch and ate jungle shrimp (big gnarly slugs).

Mathias worked with me at the inception and helped us tailor a trip that... read more

From the moment I started planning this trip and all the way through to completion, my experience was 5 stars. I travelled with 11 family members to Ecuador (ages ranging from 19 to 86). We E-Biked the streets of Quito, attended cooking classes, travelled and explored the Galapagos on private boats and white watered rafted in the Amazon. We also made chocolate from scratch and ate jungle shrimp (big gnarly slugs).

Mathias worked with me at the inception and helped us tailor a trip that was both action packed and educational. Every detailed was planned and flawlessly executed. We had great accommodations, meals (which I had included) and awesome guides.

My family has gone on trips the last few years (Iceland, Canary Islands, Croatia, etc.) and are not the easiest to please, but everyone commented that this was our best trip yet. Bravo to Matias for the coordination and to all the guides especially Milton.

Hotel Reviews

La Casona de La Ronda

Quito

Perfect spot right in the action. Too bad we didn't have more time to spend here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Plaza Luna Suites

Puerto Ayora

Very clean and new hotel. Right in the middle of all the action. Great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Owner was very nice and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kuyana Amazon Lodge

Archidona

Great place. If you want to hear the jungle, this is the place. You are in it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Urban Bike Tour in Quito

Quito

Staff was great. Really helpful and fun to be with. E-bike were a blast and we loved every part of this trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rafting Río Jatunyacu

Ecuador

A blast. I have rafted many rivers and higher class rivers, but this was by far one of the most fun. Action the whole way!

Quality of Experience

Food

Lunch...tacos excellent!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our tour of Ecuador with Sebastian couldn't have been better. From pickup at the airport to each destination, and finally back to the airport, he was with us every step of the way with local knowledge, humor, easy fluent English, and a great attitude. While some of the roads in Ecuador can be a little concerning, he’s patient and responsible driving put our minds at ease as we traveled easily and safely. He consistently went the extra mile, finding us opportunities for a bit of extra... read more

Our tour of Ecuador with Sebastian couldn't have been better. From pickup at the airport to each destination, and finally back to the airport, he was with us every step of the way with local knowledge, humor, easy fluent English, and a great attitude. While some of the roads in Ecuador can be a little concerning, he’s patient and responsible driving put our minds at ease as we traveled easily and safely. He consistently went the extra mile, finding us opportunities for a bit of extra adventure when available, recommending great restaurants all along the way. I can't recommend Sebastian highly enough. If you're considering a tour in Ecuador, do it with Sebastian. Also our expert trip planner, Mathias, was very helpful during the planning phase but also was diligent on checking up on us during the trip. He responded in a timely manner and seemed very knowledgeable about Ecuador. Highly recommend this company for planning your trips.

Galápagos Islands trip review

This is the second time we worked with Mathias for our trip. The first trip was Ecuador adventure tour including Quito, Banos, and Amazon. It was a great trip.

This time we worked with Mathias for our Galapagos island trip and it was amazing. Mathias is super thoughtful, he made sure that every single detail of the trip was taken care of. He is very patient and is so accommodating with our requests and needs. When we first arrived at the Quito hotel,... read more

Galápagos Islands trip review

This is the second time we worked with Mathias for our trip. The first trip was Ecuador adventure tour including Quito, Banos, and Amazon. It was a great trip.

This time we worked with Mathias for our Galapagos island trip and it was amazing. Mathias is super thoughtful, he made sure that every single detail of the trip was taken care of. He is very patient and is so accommodating with our requests and needs. When we first arrived at the Quito hotel, Mathias met us in person with a gift of wine, chocolate, coffee, and soap. This is such a wonderful personal touch that made us feel so welcome.

During the trip, Mathias was available any time we needed any assistance and fixed any issues. On one our trips that they put us on a tour without kayaking, Mathias made sure to put us on another kayaking tour—complimentary from him. In the morning we left for Galápagos Islands the hotel forgot to pack us breakfast, Mathias offered us free breakfast after we checked in at the airport. In addition, we got an upgrade for our flight back to Quito from Santa Cruz. All these gestures made us feel super welcome and taken care of.

All the day tours we were on were amazing: with awesome tour guides and on time pick up and drop off—not a worry at all from our part. We were confident that we were well taken care of.

I would work with Mathias in the future again. He is truly an incredible person to work with and I give him the highest recommendations!

This was my first experience ever using a travel agent or having any kind of help planning a trip. I didn't even know where to begin when planning a short trip to the Galapagos, and Mathias took my wishes into account and created the perfect trip. He was also very helpful when we had to postpone the trip due to a family emergency. The trip itinerary was just about perfect, full of wildlife growing as we wished. Our favorite day by far was visiting Espanola, which surprised me because I... read more

This was my first experience ever using a travel agent or having any kind of help planning a trip. I didn't even know where to begin when planning a short trip to the Galapagos, and Mathias took my wishes into account and created the perfect trip. He was also very helpful when we had to postpone the trip due to a family emergency. The trip itinerary was just about perfect, full of wildlife growing as we wished. Our favorite day by far was visiting Espanola, which surprised me because I assumed visiting the giant tortoises would be my favorite (and that was still amazing, obviously, and I loved it, but Espanola just blew us away). But I think that's the beauty of using local experts --they know what to suggest and what you might enjoy even more than you. All of our guides were amazing (Sol, Martin, Ulf, and Camilo). We had Martin two days in a row, which we loved, as he was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The Galapagos Sharksky boat and crew were also fantastic, and we were lucky to also have them two days in a row. The liaisons we had were so friendly and informative as well (Liz and Jorge). The hotels were perfect for us and it was so nice having the little things like transportation and snorkeling gear taken care of for us. Overall, it was such an amazing vacation and I'm so grateful for the experience!

Hotel Reviews

Casa Blanca

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

Authenticity & Character

Location

I'm

Cleanliness & Comfort

Posada del Mar

Puerto Ayora

The bed was huge and comfortable, the staff was friendly, and it was a wonderful location off the main road but so close to everything. The WiFi was terrible, which was only an issue because we had a family situation come up that we needed to deal with, but everything else about the hotel was amazing. Thank you for a great stay!

Location

Good restaurants next door! Easy to walk around, closer to the center of town, safe.

Staff

The staff were so friendly and accommodating!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day-Trip to Española Island

Galapagos Islands

This was our favorite activity. I had no idea I would enjoy seeing the albatrosses as much as I did--the mating ritual was fascinating. The blue-footed boobies were amazing as well, and so close I couldn't believe it. We also saw a Galapagos hawk and its nest. We saw a baby sea lion so young the placenta was still next to the mom. Marine iguanas everywhere, swimming and basking on lava rocks. Sweeping views of the ocean and the unusual landscape. The whole day was just magical.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Martin, our guide, and the boat crew on the Sharksky were beyond amazing.

Highlands of Santa Cruz Island

Galapagos Islands

I couldn't believe how close the tortoises are (stay back 6 feet, but sometimes that's tricky!), nor could I believe how many there were. The cloud forest atmosphere was a nice change from the beaches and sunny skies on the other parts of the island. Having a super knowledgeable guide also made the experience perfect--we even had a stranger asking him questions, she she said we were lucky to have him as our guide! We knew Ulf was the best already, but that helped confirm it. We had great discussions and he answered all of our crazy questions. Also, the bike riding ended up being way more fun than I expected, even though it was raining and I got super muddy. It was so nice that the bus followed us, so my boyfriend was able to stop when he didn't feel like continuing but I was able to keep going.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station

Puerto Ayora

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excursion to an uninhabited island

Galapagos Islands

We went hiking on Bartolome and snorkeling at Pinnacle Rock, and both experiences were amazing. It was such a contrast to the other islands we had visited. The diversity of the Galapagos is just stunning. The hike up the 365 steps is actually really well designed, so it's doable for people of many fitness levels. Our guide stopped a lot to talk about the geography, geology, etc, which gave us a chance to catch our breath. The stairs are wide and safe. The timing on everything was really great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkel at Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido)

Galapagos Islands

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Matthias was our travel specialist for our 2-week trip to mainland Ecuador and Galapagos Islands. He planned an itinerary including the capital Quito, the Amazon jungle at the Cuyabeno Reserve, the highlands with the city of Banos and Cotopaxi and Quilotoa volcanoes and finally Galapagos Islands. It was a fantastic trip and everything worked out very smoothly. As the time of our trip approached, Matthias provided us with plenty of exciting alternatives as it looked liked the protests by the... read more

Matthias was our travel specialist for our 2-week trip to mainland Ecuador and Galapagos Islands. He planned an itinerary including the capital Quito, the Amazon jungle at the Cuyabeno Reserve, the highlands with the city of Banos and Cotopaxi and Quilotoa volcanoes and finally Galapagos Islands. It was a fantastic trip and everything worked out very smoothly. As the time of our trip approached, Matthias provided us with plenty of exciting alternatives as it looked liked the protests by the indigenous communities will severely affect our initial plan (we were very lucky and it did not affect us in the end) but it was very reassuring to have him backing us up. He also showed up on the night of our bus to Cuyabeno to make sure there were no issues and was always available and making sure everything was right for us.
The guides provided for the activities also made sure we were having the best of the experiences. We'd like to give an special mention to Jimmy in Cuyabeno and Ulf Torsten in Sta Cruz (Galapagos). Overall it's been a great experience and we're happily recommending it!

Hotel Reviews

Vieja Cuba

Quito

Good overall hotel, good location, good breakfast, staff was attentive. As to improve, rooms felt slightly cold sometimes.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Jamu Lodge

Quito

Great place in the middle of the Amazon jungle. Staff made sure we had all the commodities. Shower water pressure and temperature had some problems but it was fixed considering the circumstances of the location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Isla de Baños

Baños

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lava House Hostal

Puerto Ayora

Great place in Sta Cruz. It's a 10-15 minutes walk from the pier so it's quiet and the atmosphere is very nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Excursion to an uninhabited island

Galapagos Islands

Unbelievable experience. We went to North Seymour and spotted lots of animals both in land and sea (turtles, rays, sea lions, iguanas, countless bird species...) The boat was very comfortable, food was good and all the staff were very helpful and kind. Our guide was very informative too.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jungle Hike, Dolphin & Caiman Spotting

Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve

The pink dolphins were probably our favourite experience of the whole trip, a truly magic moment. Our guide was really good at looking for the animals (big and small) and tried restlessly for us to have the best spotting experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We honestly can't say enough how much our family appreciated all the effort that went into planning and orchestrating our trip. There was some unexpected civil unrest throughout the country when we visited, we even considered cancelling the trip all together but we're so glad that we didn't. Mathias and his team were amazing and were great at keeping up to date on the situation and changed our itinerary to help us avoid protests and demonstrations. Although it was a bit dissapointing that we... read more

We honestly can't say enough how much our family appreciated all the effort that went into planning and orchestrating our trip. There was some unexpected civil unrest throughout the country when we visited, we even considered cancelling the trip all together but we're so glad that we didn't. Mathias and his team were amazing and were great at keeping up to date on the situation and changed our itinerary to help us avoid protests and demonstrations. Although it was a bit dissapointing that we weren't able to do everything we had originally planned on, the activities they replaced them with seemed just as good if not better and we still had a great time.

The other standout was just how well everything was coordinated. Between our tour guides, bus drivers, and hotel staff, it seemed like everyone knew our itinerary better than we did, and were so great about keeping us updated with the time table and what to expect. This was especially nice since we were travelling with small kids and helped us focus on the experience and not the logistics.

We would highly recommend Kimkim to anyone and of course Matias, Liz, Milton, and all the other great people we interacted with during our trip.

A quick note that my family had an amazing trip to the Galapagos. A special thank you to Mathias who helped with the pre-planning, advance trip details and check-ins during the trip to make sure everything went smoothly.
We visited all three islands and had great excursions and experiences on all. Mathias planned just enough snorkeling, hiking and travel with down time to spend with the family. ALL of our guides were top notch and were prompt and very knowledgeable and engaging.
It is... read more

A quick note that my family had an amazing trip to the Galapagos. A special thank you to Mathias who helped with the pre-planning, advance trip details and check-ins during the trip to make sure everything went smoothly.
We visited all three islands and had great excursions and experiences on all. Mathias planned just enough snorkeling, hiking and travel with down time to spend with the family. ALL of our guides were top notch and were prompt and very knowledgeable and engaging.
It is hard to pick favorites as we encountered something special everyday from swimming with playful sea lions to having an hour on our own private beach. Bartolome Island is a must and seeing and snorkeling with the penguins was an added bonus.
It was a once in a lifetime trip for my family and the service we received was A+ - thank you Mathias

Hotel Reviews

Albemarle

Puerto Villamil

Services were very good. Staff was very helpful. The hotel had a good courtyard for breakfast and leisure, and we enjoyed the rooftop for evening family social time.

Authenticity & Character

Location

right on the ocean

Staff

very helpful. We did our laundry on this portion of the trip with the hotel. Well done and very reasonable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Acacia Galápagos Boutique Hotel

Puerto Ayora

Very comfortable rooms and beds. Breakfast was good and location close to but off the strip was ideal for my family.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Interpretation Center & Tijeretas Hill

Galapagos Islands

Enrique was a great guide. He got us all setup with our snorkel gear and wet suits. He gave us a good overview and let us view the interpretation center before going snorkeling. He was a great snorkeling guide. We went further into the cove with him and definitely saw more marine life. The sea lions were great, and this was the first place we swam with the turtles.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fantastic!

Transport

Timely and comfortable

Snorkel at Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido)

Galapagos Islands

Great rip- we really enjoyed the beach stop and of course kicker rock. Snorkeling on the beach was fun and then seeing the hammerheads and marine life around kicker rock was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was excellent, boat was very good. They spotted dolphins on the way out and engaged us with them.

Transport

Timely. Boat was comfortable.

Exploring Isabela Island by bike

Puerto Villamil

This was our relaxing day. Bike ride was fun and we stopped at different spots on the ride. We really enjoyed body surfing and swimming on the beautiful beach.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

picking up the bikes was easy with the service from Emilee

Snorkel at Los Túneles

Galapagos Islands

Maximo was excellent - the kids got to see a school of 20+ young sharks. The tunnels and landscape are amazing. We were treated to some great blue footed boobie dances on this trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking & Snorkeling at Las Tintoreras

Galapagos Islands

This was very close to the hotel and a shorter trip. We saw sea lions, many turtles and snorkeled over the sleeping sharks.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to an uninhabited island

Galapagos Islands

This was a very special day and trip. Roughly two hours to get to the island via boat but well worth the time. The hike tour was very information on the volcanic formation. And the view ..... WOW. The lunch was great and the snorkeling with the penguins was something everyone wanted to see.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides were very information, engaging.

Transport

Highlands of Santa Cruz Island

Galapagos Islands

This was a very relaxing day before we left the island. Our guide was simply fantastic! Seeing and learning about the tortoises were great.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mathias understood right away our needs and wants and developed a great trip that left out nothing. Since we have family in Ecuador, he was able to weave in our requirement to do some things with family.
Sebastian, our guide, was equal to the task of integrating everything we were to do. Tip: go over the next day's schedule with him the night before so that he knows your expectations. He is great at anticipating needs and wants and fulfilling them before you can even ask.
All in all, a... read more

Mathias understood right away our needs and wants and developed a great trip that left out nothing. Since we have family in Ecuador, he was able to weave in our requirement to do some things with family.
Sebastian, our guide, was equal to the task of integrating everything we were to do. Tip: go over the next day's schedule with him the night before so that he knows your expectations. He is great at anticipating needs and wants and fulfilling them before you can even ask.
All in all, a fantastic trip of a lifetime. This is the way to travel.

Hotel Reviews

Casa de las Peñas Siglo XXI

Guayaquil

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique Santa Lucía

Cuenca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hosteria La Andaluza

Riobamba

One of the best hotels we have ever stayed in.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Samari Spa Hotel

Baños

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Fantastic massages!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hacienda El Porvenir

Machachi

Spectacular location, hard to get to.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vista del Angel Hotel Boutique

Quito

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hacienda Pinsaqui

Otavalo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sacha Lodge Yasuní

Quito

ONly place with air conditioning. A truly amazing experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Stay here. It's the best of the best.

Activity Reviews

Expedition to the Churute Ecological Reserve

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

A wonderful lunch and even better tour guide.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cuenca - Ingapirca - Riobamba

Ecuador

Cuenca is wonderful as is Ingapirca. I would skip Riobamba

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding at Cotopaxi National Park

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I spent 15 days in Ecuador touring areas around Quito, the Amazon, and the Galapagos islands. I traveled alone with a guide until he dropped me off to go to the Galapagos.
I used Quito as a home base and took a free day, explored the old town and middle of the world museum, Otavalo, and Cotopaxi. I also stayed in Mindo and Banos. They were worth visiting.
In the Amazon, I stayed at the Kuyana lodge and in the Galapagos used Santa Cruz as a home base.
I was pleased with the... read more

I spent 15 days in Ecuador touring areas around Quito, the Amazon, and the Galapagos islands. I traveled alone with a guide until he dropped me off to go to the Galapagos.
I used Quito as a home base and took a free day, explored the old town and middle of the world museum, Otavalo, and Cotopaxi. I also stayed in Mindo and Banos. They were worth visiting.
In the Amazon, I stayed at the Kuyana lodge and in the Galapagos used Santa Cruz as a home base.
I was pleased with the work Mathias did on my travel plan, his response time, and how he kept in touch nearly daily. He managed to incorporate my special requests of a visit to the rose farm, the Condor Parque, and a horse ride. I had a special interest in those things and thought they were worth the time, although the ride to the Condor Parque was long. The horse ride added a lot to the visit to Cotopaxi as I did not care to climb. The horse guy was terrific. It was my first time on a horse!
I can not say enough good things about Kuyana. The food was terrific and authentic. The grounds and rooms are beautiful. The activities are wonderful and individualized to the traveler.
It was relaxing too! It was the best!
The Galapagos lived up to their reputation. A special thank you to my guide, Julian, from Day 1, and the man who helped me complete the exit steps on the final day! Awesome job, guys!
Ecuador has a lot to see! GO!

Hotel Review

Sisakuna Lodge

Mindo

Authenticity & Character

beautiful grounds, basic furnishing

Location

Staff

They made pizza for me for dinner during Carnivale!

Cleanliness & Comfort

clean.

Activity Reviews

Middle of the World

Ecuador

Super cool outdoor setting with activities to highlight the effects of the equator! Loved it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Horseback Riding at Cotopaxi National Park

Ecuador

Great experience! Took me 3 tries to get on the horse. The man was very patient. It was my first time. I really enjoyed it and the meal we had at the Park lodge.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transfer to Quito Airport, Arrival to Galapagos & Highlands of Santa Cruz

Ecuador

This is a great tour with lunch included. One of the most memorable photo ops with the amazing large tortoises! You can get very close. It was wonderful fun even in light drizzle. Bring a jacket, just in case! Mud boots are provided.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excursion to an uninhabited island

Galapagos Islands

This is a long day with a couple of boat transfers and a ride to the dock. It is worth it. The boat is relaxing if you can find the right spot to sit yourself down! It was hosted by a member of the awesome "white shirt Park staff" They are heroes of the Galapagos. I am a non-snorkeler so I was treated to a few minutes on a deserted beach. Heavenly. We also made the stop at Baltra island and took a long walk up to the lighthouse. I needed a little encouragement for the last little way! Thank you sir, that was great! The food on the boat was delicious. A breakfast, lunch, and snack were served. Don't forget the sunscreen! It is much needed on this trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to another uninhabited island

Galapagos Islands

This is a little shorter trip out to Seymour island. I had previously gone to Bartolome' island. Another hero of the Galapagos "white shirted Park ranger" led the way to Seymour! It was similar to the other trip, on the same boat even. This time, I knew exactly where to sit! It was another enjoyable day with a trip to an islet and some snorkeling time. I saw some amazing birds nesting. I saw great frigate birds "Man of War" , Magnificent Frigate Birds, and blue-footed boobies. Equipment to snorkel was provided each time including life vests. The food was good. It was fish. They really can do fish well there! No breakfast due to the shorter day, but again a snack was provided. Well worth getting on the boat again! It is well spent time on the boat. Relax and enjoy! Don't forget the sunscreen, really!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was an absolutely amazing trip, Mathias and his team were excellent. We were planning a trip for spring break with our 12 and eight-year-olds and looking for adventure that would also be appropriate for this age range. He worked with us on several different itineraries to give us options, listened to our requests for Accommodations, and provided us with the most amazing driver Sebastian who was so knowledgeable about the country, and very patient with our children! He went above and... read more

This was an absolutely amazing trip, Mathias and his team were excellent. We were planning a trip for spring break with our 12 and eight-year-olds and looking for adventure that would also be appropriate for this age range. He worked with us on several different itineraries to give us options, listened to our requests for Accommodations, and provided us with the most amazing driver Sebastian who was so knowledgeable about the country, and very patient with our children! He went above and beyond to make sure everything was organized and we had everything needed. It was the little details, like buying fruit in the market for our family, and following up with pictures from our adventures that we really appreciate. My children could stop hugging him at the end of the trip! Mathis met us at our hotel at the beginning of our adventure and checked in with us throughout the way to make sure our expectations were met. He works with top notch Accommodations and vendors. We would not change a think about this trip, other than we wished we stayed longer! We can’t wait to go back and would 100 percent book with Mathis!

Hotel Review

Isla de Baños

Baños

Activity Review

Quito - Cotopaxi National Park - Baños

Ecuador

Mathias was excellent, very responsive, even to last minute changes, and met us in person when we checked in! The Alejandros, Jose, Fabian, Dario, Julian, and probably some others i may not remember names, were all wonderful. Ecuador is a beautiful place, not to mention the Galapagoes, WOW. highly recommend it. Never felt unsafe. Accommodations were all excellent. Loved the cooking class. 2 favorites: the Amazon jungle lodge - Aguas Negras( Fabian), and of course the Gallapagoes which was... read more

Mathias was excellent, very responsive, even to last minute changes, and met us in person when we checked in! The Alejandros, Jose, Fabian, Dario, Julian, and probably some others i may not remember names, were all wonderful. Ecuador is a beautiful place, not to mention the Galapagoes, WOW. highly recommend it. Never felt unsafe. Accommodations were all excellent. Loved the cooking class. 2 favorites: the Amazon jungle lodge - Aguas Negras( Fabian), and of course the Gallapagoes which was the whole reason we went. Snorkeled with Pengiuns!!! Can't recommend this company enough!! 5+ stars!!

Hotel Reviews

La Casona de La Ronda

Quito

This was an amazing restored hotel. staff is great, facilities including restaurant, excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Termas de Papallacta

Papallacta

Love this place, wish we had stayed longer.

Tips for future travelers

plan to stay more than one night!

Authenticity & Character

Location

beautiful

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hot springs right outside the room :)

Aguas Negras

Lago Agrio

If you want to get away, this is the place. Beautiful. rustic. Animals!!!!!

Tips for future travelers

This is a rustic place. Electriciy is by generator, so have fast chargers. Watch for spiders if you get up in the middle of the night ( they are harmless, but don't want to step on them) Bring a Flashlight or 2.

Authenticity & Character

great way to experience the jungle, without even going hiking if you don't want. I have limited mobility but was able to manage getting in and out of the canoe :)

Location

AMazing! All the noises - cicadas, Birds, and especially the morning wakeup call of the Howler monkeys. Swimming in the river was wonderful, even with high water.

Staff

Can't say enough about Fabian. very knowledgeable , caring, and environmentally conscious.

Cleanliness & Comfort

beds comfortable, netting was good too! Never did have hot water, but lukewarm in this environment was fine )

Activity Review

Cooking Class

Quito

Learned to make the classics, potato soup and fried plantain, for starters. Chef was very nice, it was so fun. Made the soup and salsa first night we came home!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

walking distance of hotel

This was the most memorable and educational trip of my life. Mathias was very attentive to every question I had. He kept in touch with me. He even checked on my health condition and my husband's injury while we were away. I cannot say enough good things about him.

Our first guide, Sebastian, was a very fun young man to be with. He was polite, attentive, and laughed with us. He was very knowledgeable about the country of Ecuador. He will go far in his career as a guide.

Our guide in... read more

This was the most memorable and educational trip of my life. Mathias was very attentive to every question I had. He kept in touch with me. He even checked on my health condition and my husband's injury while we were away. I cannot say enough good things about him.

Our first guide, Sebastian, was a very fun young man to be with. He was polite, attentive, and laughed with us. He was very knowledgeable about the country of Ecuador. He will go far in his career as a guide.

Our guide in the Cuyabena reserve, Fabian, was fun to be with as well. He and the indigenous people of the rainforest were very attentive in our care in a land where we were so isolated. We learned so much about the native people and how they live. When my husband Russell was bitten by a piranha while trying to take it off the hook, Clever, the indigenous young man knew exactly what to do treating his wound with medicine taken from tree bark. He was absolutely amazing in rowing the canoe even at night, and his knowledge of the rainforest.

I love the peace of the rainforest; no traffic sounds, not even an airplane flew over; just the sounds of the wildlife and downpours.

The highlight of the trip was seeing a tapir in the wild and even getting pictures! I am still amazed.

Hotel Reviews

Vieja Cuba

Quito

Very nice little room. Comfortable and safe, especially because it was gated. The only reason I don't give it five stars is because I do not like big cities, but it was necessary the night before our trip home.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Put it in the rainforest! lol. I just do not like city life. It was a fine hotel.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Termas de Papallacta

Papallacta

Authenticity & Character

Location

Everything except the rain!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Guango Lodge

Papallacta

Authenticity & Character

Location

The fireplace should have been kept burning since it was so cold. We got cold a lot.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

So many hummingbirds!!!

Kuyana Amazon Lodge

Archidona

This was the most BEAUTIFUL place we stayed. The gardens are breathtaking. Leo is an excellent host. The food was good, and we really enjoyed the cooking school and waterfall hike.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aguas Negras

Lago Agrio

Do not stay here if you need modern conveniences. It is a wonderful rainforest home, kind of like camping without the work. It was a wonderful experience for us. Fabian was a great guide and fun to be with. The indigenous staff were wonderful. I wish we could speak their language so we could have interacted more. We learned about how people live in the rainforest. We enjoyed the beauty and wildlife. The highlight was seeing a tapir!!! Not many people are this lucky!

Tips for future travelers

Do not bother with makeup for fixing your hair. If you are picky about food do not stay here. I highly recommend it for the adventurous nature lover. Not a good place for small children.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The rainforest! The breeze off the river when it rained was so nice.

Staff

The indigenous staff was over-the-moon attentive to us. They know jungle survival skills.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nothing can be improved being deep in the jungle. But the comfort is the best that can be expected without air conditioning and iced drinks. I craved cold drinks but they were room temperature.

Sacha Lodge Yasuní

Quito

This is a luxury jungle motel. You get air conditioning and gourmet food. Our guide Oscar was a walking encyclopedia. He knew every tree, plant, and bird by scientific name. The only thing I was not crazy about was the evening meal. They put more effort into a fancy presentation than in flavor. The lunch meal was the best meal.

Authenticity & Character

The rainforest!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Hot Springs of Papallacta

Ecuador

The hot springs felt so good! I liked the hottest one, my husband picked one a level down.

Quality of Experience

Hot springs

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sebastian is the best.

Transport

Breakfast was good. Our room was neat and clean.

My wife and I recently completed a 10 day trip to Ecuador and had a tremendous time. We knew very little about the country but wanted to see and learn as much as possible during our 10 day journey. We communicated with Mathias of Authentic Ecuador and found him to be very responsive
and helpful. We traveled Feb. 8-17, 2022 just as the Omicron variant was complicating travel in
many parts of the world. We were helped with all of the details and felt well supported. We arrived in Quito about... read more

My wife and I recently completed a 10 day trip to Ecuador and had a tremendous time. We knew very little about the country but wanted to see and learn as much as possible during our 10 day journey. We communicated with Mathias of Authentic Ecuador and found him to be very responsive
and helpful. We traveled Feb. 8-17, 2022 just as the Omicron variant was complicating travel in
many parts of the world. We were helped with all of the details and felt well supported. We arrived in Quito about 01:00 am (late) on our flight from Houston and after being efficiently being gotten through passport control and customs we were pleasantly greeted by our driver who got us to our hotel in old town Quito. Our superb guide, Cristian Portilla, met us promptly the next morning and we spent two days seeing all of Quito and the surrounding area. We particularly enjoyed a day trip to Mindo and the equator museum and exhibits. We then traveled through Banos, Riobamba, Cuenca and on to Guayaquil. Cristian was with us all of the time and provided superior services in taking us to all
of the places of interest in each area. He helped us get a feel for the local culture and took us to
local restaurants. We felt very fortunate to have a guide with his knowledge and dedication.
We booked at pretty much the last minute and could not have been more pleased. The accommodations were in boutique smaller hotels and they were all excellent and unique as well
as comfortable. We always felt safe and well cared for during the travels and give Kimkim, Mathias and Cristian our unqualified recommendation. This was a special trip and we are more
than delighted that we took it.

Hotel Review

La Casona de La Ronda

Quito

My wife stayed here Feb. 8-10, 2022 and found it very clean and comfortable. The bed was comfortable and the bathroom was modern and fully functional. The breakfasts were very nice with made to order omelets. We also had dinner in the dining room one evening and it was superb. They do not have an elevator so if one is not able to climb stairs it would be a problem. The staff were excellent and we very much enjoyed our stay in this small hotel in the center of the old city.

Tips for future travelers

Be aware there is no elevator.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We could walk to many old town sights and restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Visit the Pailón del Diablo Waterfall, Explore Baños

Baños

The hike along the river and down to the falls was extremely picturesque. Well worthwhile.

Quality of Experience

Food

We enjoyed the local Ecuadorian foods.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wow!! What an amazing journey! Mathias and the entire Authentic Ecuador team were just amazing. We already had a trip planned to Southeast Asia that got derailed because of the Omicron variant of Covid. We were able to book an amazing trip through Kim Kim and with Mathias To South and Central America. We began in Peru and then arrived in Ecuador. Ecuador was absolutely magical! We explored Quito, Banos, Archidona and The rainforest at Yasuni National Park. Our guide and driver, Cristian,... read more

Wow!! What an amazing journey! Mathias and the entire Authentic Ecuador team were just amazing. We already had a trip planned to Southeast Asia that got derailed because of the Omicron variant of Covid. We were able to book an amazing trip through Kim Kim and with Mathias To South and Central America. We began in Peru and then arrived in Ecuador. Ecuador was absolutely magical! We explored Quito, Banos, Archidona and The rainforest at Yasuni National Park. Our guide and driver, Cristian, was an amazing guy. He was kind, warm, laid back and very knowledgeable. From the city bike tour and cooking class, to the gorgeous villa in Archidona, we grew to love the people, culture, history and nature of Ecuador during our stay there. We will be back one day for sure! We would love to bring our children next time! Thank you to the entire team!

Hotel Review

Kuyana Amazon Lodge

Archidona

What an absolutely stunning and peaceful place. Wish we could have stayed longer. The owner and the staff are so kind and the property is immaculate. With the backdrop being the Amazon and in the amazing country of Ecuador, what could be better. We had a super fun cooking class and a really great night walk through the rainforest. What an amazing experience. Thanks guys!

Tips for future travelers

Don't bring too much luggage. Easier for you and the staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Community projects - Paddling excursion - Traditional dinner - Night walk (NCC)

Yasuni National Park

We loved the Napo Cultural Center and our guide Vince is the absolute best!

Quality of Experience

Food

Amazing food! Thanks Chef!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Planning my trip to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands was a daunting task. Luckily I found kimkim and especially Mathias to guide me on a fantastic journey. Mathias worked closely with me to customize the perfect itinerary for all the things I wanted to do and see. Not only this, but Mathias gave me great advice ranging from packing lists to to restaurants to how to split up my time across locations. He also scheduled things like airport/hotel pickups, taxi boat fees and Covid testing which... read more

Planning my trip to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands was a daunting task. Luckily I found kimkim and especially Mathias to guide me on a fantastic journey. Mathias worked closely with me to customize the perfect itinerary for all the things I wanted to do and see. Not only this, but Mathias gave me great advice ranging from packing lists to to restaurants to how to split up my time across locations. He also scheduled things like airport/hotel pickups, taxi boat fees and Covid testing which made my life so much simpler. It’s also great that kimkim has a chat tool that let us communicate throughout the whole process.

What put Mathias and this service beyond 5 stars is that after booking, the support didn’t stop. We had frequent communications each day of the trip, ensuring I had a good time on the excursion and was ready for the next day. And each event was top quality, often with private guides!

I was beyond impressed with Mathias and the kimkim service. I 100% recommend the use of the service for a complicated trip like Ecuador and the Galapagos.

Hotel Review

Tambopaxi Cotopaxi Lodge

Parque Nacional Cotopaxi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Kayaking & Snorkeling at Las Tintoreras

Galapagos Islands

So great to get some exercise in the kayak and explore where a boat cannot go. Swam with marine iguanas and sea lions, and saw penguins too!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mathias was extraordinary! He helped us through the entire process from customizing the trip to our needs and physical abilities to covering as much as possible culture and nature. He had a network of amazing guides in all locations to that truly cared for us. He even came to meet us in person at our hotel and left us a little present w Ecuador goodies. From Quito bike tour & cooking class to Quitsao& Otavalo and then Galapagos we had an great time in Ecuador! Also, we appreciated the... read more

Mathias was extraordinary! He helped us through the entire process from customizing the trip to our needs and physical abilities to covering as much as possible culture and nature. He had a network of amazing guides in all locations to that truly cared for us. He even came to meet us in person at our hotel and left us a little present w Ecuador goodies. From Quito bike tour & cooking class to Quitsao& Otavalo and then Galapagos we had an great time in Ecuador! Also, we appreciated the transparency of the process and how easy it was to communicate w Mathias. We are already thinking of our next Ecuador trip ( this was our first time in South America, usually we travel to Europe). Highly recommend Mathias and KimKim!

Mathias put together a fantastic photography trip in the Quilotoa and Imbabura regions of Ecuador. All lodging, guides and drivers were excellent and on schedule. Mathias was always available for questions and assistance when needed and he even went to the length of accompanying me for a couple of days in the trip. He is very professional and has a gift to quickly and exactly understand his clients needs. I cannot thank him enough and would recommend him to anyone for future trip planing in Ecuador, a country he knows very well.

Simply put, my wife and I had a spectacular three-week trip to Ecuador. Mathias and his team provided a very well-organized adventure for us that was well-paced and filled with new sites, learning, and exploring. From Quito to the Galapagos, to Mindo, the Amazon rain forest, and the highlands of Cotapoxi our trip was superb. Every local guide was on time, thoughtful, and very knowledgeable. The wonderful sections of beautiful boutique hotels and the excursions were safe and exciting. Every... read more

Simply put, my wife and I had a spectacular three-week trip to Ecuador. Mathias and his team provided a very well-organized adventure for us that was well-paced and filled with new sites, learning, and exploring. From Quito to the Galapagos, to Mindo, the Amazon rain forest, and the highlands of Cotapoxi our trip was superb. Every local guide was on time, thoughtful, and very knowledgeable. The wonderful sections of beautiful boutique hotels and the excursions were safe and exciting. Every day was a new adventure.

We experienced so much of the culture and the hospitality of the Ecuadorian people that we were thrilled to get up each morning for our new adventure. We have already made many referrals to Kimkim.com and know that we will continue to do so in the future. Thanks for a trip of a lifetime!

Would highly recommend traveling to the beautiful country of Ecuador. The country is welcoming and beautiful, and the people are even more so. We felt safe and well taken care of the entire trip. Our local specialist, Mathias, took care of all the planning/bookings. The local people, drivers, and guides could not be more genuine lovely people.

We visited the Amazon for 4 days, Quito for 2 days, and the Galapagos for 5 days. It felt like the perfect amount of time in each location, the only... read more

Would highly recommend traveling to the beautiful country of Ecuador. The country is welcoming and beautiful, and the people are even more so. We felt safe and well taken care of the entire trip. Our local specialist, Mathias, took care of all the planning/bookings. The local people, drivers, and guides could not be more genuine lovely people.

We visited the Amazon for 4 days, Quito for 2 days, and the Galapagos for 5 days. It felt like the perfect amount of time in each location, the only downside was the amount of travel time between locations. I would absolutely recommend visiting Ecuador, and all it has to offer.

Will be returning soon!

Mathias is extremely responsive and organized. I asked for an adventurous trip filled with culture and that’s exactly what Mathias put together for me.

Matias was amazing. Quick responses, answered all the questions we had, most before we thought to ask them. The partners he worked with were on time, friendly, and knowledgeable. The hotels we were set up in were all great, from hot tubs heated by volcanos to having breakfast with a troop of monkeys, it was places that were unique, clean and friendly. I would send anyone I know to Ecuador and I will give them Matias' contact information to make their trip as special as he made ours.