...the trip was amazing!!! All went like clockwork and all tours were fantastic! Hey Alma, Thank you all again for all you did to create a unique and memorable experience for us all. Dear EcoAdventures, Thank you all for your work in putting our trip to the Galapagos and Quito together. The trip was wonderful and unforgettable for Lisa, my brother and me. The people you work with in Quito were wonderful, kind and very knowledgable. Please pass on our thanks to them especially Maria Alexandra and Patricio. They increased our knowledge and appreciation for their unique country and people. The Ocean Spray experience could not have been better. The entire crew, especially our guide Harry Jimenez, were superb. Thank you all again for all you did to create a unique and memorable experience for us all. Cheers, John Northway We had a fabulous trip, very much due to your excellent planning. Dear Elizabeth: Ollaintaitambo, the Sacred Valley, the glaciers, etc. fascinated us. Machu Picchu truly forms the top jewel in the crown. Truillajo and Chiclaya and the Moche sit right underneath. No other tourists visited - sad because the site really excited us. The grounds with its pyramid and temple cover as much space as Machu Picchu. We also visited a Chimu site. In Lima itself, a huge village inhabited by the Lima and then the Wari sits right in the middle of the town. I could go on and on, but suffice it to say, you did one heck of a job. You have returning customers forever. Nan Castle ...they couldn't stop raving about the entire experience. Hi Alma and Anne, Hope all is well with you both; I just wanted to let you know that I finally met up with my clients Diane Schroeder and James Chestnut over the holidays and they shared their enthusiasm and photos from their Peru/Macchu Picchu trip that you planned for them (and their friends) last July. They gave high praise to EcoAdventures' arrangements, the hotels, seamless transfers, food, cultural education, and especially to the guides and porters on their Inca Trail Trek. They realized that it took BEING on the trek to fully understand the scope and nature of all the planning, and they couldn't stop raving about the entire experience. There were a dozen other folks also listening in, so perhaps some seeds were planted for future travelers and travels! Lu Maggiora CTC I am so pleased to report that the trip plan was a huge success!!! Hi Alma: It was the most amazing trip. Everything worked perfectly. Hi Alma, Subject: Peru and Equador They couldn’t say enough about what a class act EcoAdventures is. Hi Bill, Just wanted to drop a quick note to tell you that the Lewis’ had a fantastic time on their trip to the Sasha Lodge and the Galapagos. They couldn’t say enough about what a class act EcoAdventures is. They were talking nonstop about all of the different animal encounters and viewings. Everything went off without a hitch, as I’m sure you expected. They were so pleased that I was able to recommend such a good company and were also very impressed with the documents and travel bags. It’s because of your vast knowledge that we were able to book this together and I appreciate all of your help. ‘Til next booking, thanks again, Laureen Tallman Loved LOVED our trip! Hi Mimi, ... ...nothing but rave reports... Bill, We have looked at his many pictures and they are just wonderful… Hope to do business with you soon. Thanks, We loved our guide in Quito and Mindo, and the hotel in Quito was totally charming. The Galapagos Islands were like nothing else. Hi Rose, We loved our guide in Quito and Mindo, and the hotel in Quito was totally charming. The Galapagos Islands were like nothing else. We all loved it. The animals are fearless and so fun to watch. Our Galapagos guide (Latin Trails M/C Journey I) was good, but not very personable, like our guide on the mainland, who felt like a friend. Our guide was Edison and our driver, who was also really nice, was Fausto. Our flight "e-tickets" showed a different Miami-to-SFO flight than we were actually booked on. I figured that out when i confirmed our flight online the night before. Also the EcoAdventures itinerary had the correct flight info. Thanks, The activities were all good. Our driver and other guides were all excellent. Marcia, (forwarded from Casto Travel - client of EcoAdventures), Everything worked out great. The hotel was simple, but had great views, decent service, and decent food, and we loved their hot springs. We had dinner at The Springs hotel. Their volcano views were further, but the property was possibly the most beautiful hotel I've ever seen, and I've traveled extensively. The food was exceptional. If anyone doesn't stay there, I highly recommend at least a meal and walk around. The activities were all good. Our driver and other guides were all excellent. Canyoneering was my favorite thing. Our two 50 year old women were quite apprehensive, but the guides talked them into trying it and they both made it down with no issue once they started, and loved it. Everyone was very pleased with the trip, sorry to be leaving in the morning. BTW, another great trip would be to stay at the Beace Lodge, The Springs' twin hotel on a volcano 1-hour from San Jose in a cloud forest. We would have taken two nights there and two nights a Manuel Antonio. Perhaps a future trip... Thank you! Philip Devorris All in all, a big success! Thanks for everything. Hi Badonna (forwarded from Northridge Travel - client of EcoAdventures), Wanted to let you know that we had a great trip (to Costa Rica)! In particular, Panorama Tours was superb. Everything went like clockwork and the guides were excellent. The San Jose Marriott is a very lovely hotel with a terrific breakfast, and we loved Nayara. What an exquisite resort! The attention to detail was wonderful, the spa was excellent, and the people were delightful. I wouldn’t recommend Gaia though. It doesn’t live up to its potential. Looks cool/sexy in the photos which don’t reveal the poor quality finishes and furnishings. Importantly, key things didn’t work well in either of our rooms: the a/c and lighting. In every aspect of the resort, design seems to have trumped function which, in the end, diminishes guest comfort. Also, they tried to jerk us around. Prior to our arrival, they called and said there was some problem with our rooms but they would give us their best accommodation, the 2000 sq ft villa. Well, it turns out that 1000sq ft is a not very useable roof terrace, and the villa has a lovely master suite with a dim dark 2nd bedroom and small bath. Certainly not suitable for two couples. We didn’t accept it when we saw it and they gave us two junior suites. I’m glad we had these because I don’t think we would have liked the standard rooms. The was our excursions worked out was perfect. There is no reason to go early in the day unless you really want to. The Sky Tram and Sky Trek Tour was fabulous….not for the faint of heart though! And so was Hanging Bridges, but a guide is necessity there. We actually thought the Manuel Antonio Park tour was over-rated as the place was very crowded but we enjoyed the Mangrove tour. All in all, a big success! Thanks for everything. Rena J. Pasick Although their Holland America cruise was great - it was the arrangements by Eco that stood out as a highlight. Alma, Cindy & Bill, We had a wonderful trip! Everything went very smoothly...BEST trip I have ever taken. Hi Bill, "We had a wonderful trip! Everything went very smoothly. I absolutely love Peru - the amount of time in each place was perfect, tour guides were excellent. BEST trip I have ever taken. Thanks for all the work you did putting it all together." Nancy said that the hotel in Puerto Maldonado made a birthday cake for her. Not sure who came up with that idea, but it was a hit! I have had a short chat with Nancy, and she said that the guides in Cuzco and Machu Picchu were GREAT! Thanks again for all of your help!! Barbara Stavig-Doane Hi Bill, ....enjoyed the Pisac mkt - could have spent more than 2 hrs there. Flight over Nazca Lines was good - felt very comfortable with pilots, plane etc. The Pisco tour and Tacama winery tour were both interesting. Paracus Hotel was amazing!!! True luxury for the price. Excellent food, excellent service. If the sand dune rides can be done from there I would stay there versus Las Dunas. Setours did an amazing job with everything. Yes Machu Picchu was amazing. Enjoyed the hotel in Aqua Calientes. San Blas Hotel in Cusco was also great. Highly recommend foody people go to Chi Cha for dinner in Cusco. Felt safe the entire trip however Nancy and I were careful. EVERYTHING on the trip was top notch and worth every penny! Barbara Stavig-Doane - Nob Hill Travel Tabacon was fabulous - Mawamba lodge was good - Xandari was fabulous! Hi Cindy and Alma, Thought you would enjoy this feedback from the Glockner party. Thx again for your expertise and direction, Tabacon was fabulous – 4 nights were perfect. The hanging bridges and zipline were very good. We saw LOTS of wildlife on the hanging bridges tour. Arenal hike was ok – pretty easy 2-3 miles and not as much wildlife. If the lava had been flowing it would have been a lot better. I thought it would be a 4 hour hike and it was barely 2 hours. We switched it to the morning since it rains every afternoon so I’d recommend doing that one in the am usually (or not if there is no lava). We used mountain bikes (for free) from Tabacon in the afternoon which was not well advertised, but fun. The one tour I saw that looked interesting that I would have liked to do would have been a canyoneering tour – rappelling down waterfalls. The river rafting was AWESOME, but we had to arrange it there to do the class 3-4 rapids and pay $60 extra. The water was really running fast that day so most of the trip was in class 4 with a couple of class 5 and very few class 3. The original class 2-3 (same Sarapiqui river but downstream) trip would have been too mellow for us. Mawamba lodge was good. The drive/boat in/out though is very, very long – 2 hours gravel road and then 2 hour boat ride. On the way in the ride had some narration, but I wouldn’t really call it a tour. The morning tour was very good for seeing wildlife. We didn’t do the included tour in the afternoon in order to kayak the route instead which I would highly recommend ($35 extra per person) – you get to go on special smaller canals and get closer to wildlife – very mellow anyone could do it. Food was very basic there so I’m glad it was only for 2 nights. The accommodations are nice, but no A/C and lots of bugs so I’m also glad that was a 2 night stay, but you really do need the two nights because the turtle night trip was fabulous – basically everyone who signs up can go, but it costs $30 per person extra – cash only. You literally walk up to the turtles and watch the eggs drop into the nest. The season is June-Sept so I’m not sure the long travel in/out would be worth it when the turtles were not laying their eggs. They hatch in Sept/Oct but that happens more randomly. Sept probably would be the best month to see laying and hatching. Warn people to bring enough cash there since there is no ATM and anything in the park needs cash, not credit. The one negative about the lodge (besides lack of A/C) was the guide to visitor population was not great and so tough to hear. Our guide probably had 30-40 people and so on a single walk more than half the group couldn’t hear. That was one of the great things about the kayak trip – it was just us and the guide. They should have divided our group so only around 10-12 people (ideally same language so you wouldn’t have to wait for the translation each time, but it was a good Spanish enrichment) instead of having so many. However, the actual guide (when you could get close) was very good and extremely bilingual. Xandari was fabulous! I’m staying there anytime I need one night near the airport (it would have been out to far to see San Jose, but it is very close to Poas Volcano so it would be good from there). Our room for 4 was awesome and the dinner we had that night was great. We got a better hike in there than the hike at Arenal. Thanks for setting that up instead of the Hilton. Susan Glockner ...she raved about EVERYTHING...said it pays to go with a first rate company. Hi Cindy, Spoke with Michele Gabai today for one hour as she raved about EVERYTHING. The accommodations, guides, sights, etc. She said it pays to go with a first rate company. The first flight was canceled from Lima to Cuzco but the airlines put different people on different flights and somehow they made it to their destination. The only thing that was an oversight and she blamed herself but not checking probably was the Cuzco to Lima/Truijillo flight day where you had listed 10 a.m. for a 12:30 p.m. flight and the company said 11:30 a.m. pick up ....... they would have missed their flight. They had luckily gone by your voucher and were waiting at 10 a.m. so by 10:15 a.m. the hotel called the tour company and they hightailed it over in 10 minutes to deliver them. Their time for this one was way off. So of all of their arrangements, this was the only thing off. That is terrific ............ Again they just loved their trip. They had just a wonderful time and particularly were grateful for the outstanding guide they had in Quito...The Galapagos cruise was perfect... Hi Bill, The Galapagos cruise was perfect - they especially enjoyed the other passengers immensely. Not surprising since they are such nice people themselves. You put together the most awesome time for us! Subject: FW: OMG I thought you would enjoy reading this from Mary Walker who just arrived yesterday! She emailed me through out the trip...all raving about the service and hotels. THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You are AWESOME! :) Rosalena Huarcaya -----Original Message----- Rosalena, You are our hero! Fondly, Loved, loved, loved, loved, loved it and want to go back :) as does the whole family. Cindy, Jaguar Reef Lodge: it was fantastic. We had those three 2 bedroom villas... which were a few steps away from one of the pools and right on the beach. The rooms were very nice and spacious. Beds actually pretty comfortable, albeit firm. Full living room, kitchenette area, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms in each (in the master the bathroom was en suite... other was across the hall). We had a balcony overlooking the pool, beach and ocean. There was a nice breeze the entire time so it never felt too hot (except a couple times in the restaurant). When we got there the resort was pretty deserted, so the first couple days we had the pool & beach to ourselves. They had kayaks on the beach to use, snorkeling gear, etc. Lots of hammocks. Beach volleyball + pool volleyball (that was the pool in front of us... kids played a ton of pool volleyball). The food was good... although the first couple days we were starving. Then we figured out how to work their system a little better and were fine :). Everything when we got there was order off the menu, but by the end when a bunch more people had arrived they were doing buffets (they were still good). Service in the restaurants was a little slow (when ordering), but not terrible. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. A big wedding party & lots of other people came in by the end of the week so I was glad we backloaded our excursions. Excursions. We did 4 (plus Jon went diving): Anyway, would highly recommend Belize as a vacation destination & the Jaguar Reef Lodge to anyone. Thanks for getting it all arranged!!! Megan Thomason My clients, Cynthia and Kelby had an amazing amazing FLAWLESS trip! Alma and Team, I am so grateful for you and the Team at EcoAdventures, Inc. You are consummate professionals. Your loyal fan, ...it was a wonderful trip, and I would highly recommend it to anyone. Elfi, And it was such a wonderful treat to find a bottle of wine waiting for each of us in our cabins! That was very thoughtful of you and we toasted to you as we drank it one evening with dinner. If you want to see some photos, once we get them uploaded, I’ll send you the link. Thanks again for all the help – it all worked out beautifully. We all had a very fun adventure! Nan Waugh Client of Loved everything...one of the best trips of their lives! Hi Alma, All our connections and transfers worked out. The hotels/resort were all very lovely--I would recommend them all. Hi, Melinda, We had a great trip in Central America. Please thank EcoAdventures and Via Maya, their subcontractor in Guatemala. All our connections and transfers worked out. The hotels/resort were all very lovely--I would recommend them all. Mopan River Resort turned out to be very fun--a lovely setting. The hosts were very accommodating. We had good tours there plus a wonderful time sitting on our deck watching the river and relaxing. Tikal was outstanding. We ended up skipping the tour and wandering around on our own for about 10 hours, both days combined. Staying so close at the Jungle Lodge was great-much better than being in Flores. The hotels in Lake Atitlan, Antigua and Copan were very lovely and comfortable with very nice staff. Via Maya assigned the same tour guide to us for our boat trip at Lake Atitlan and for our last 3 days trip to Copan and back. His name was Leonel. We really liked him so please forward our thanks. Hope you had a good trip to Hawaii. Bonnie Braeutigam Just returned from So America and the trip went beautifully! Hi Alma, Anne and Bill, Just returned from So America and the trip went beautifully! The hotel in Santiago was very good; the Villa Casa Real was fabulous; and the gals had a great time in Rio. I have to commend Francisco, our guide in Chile, he did a great job as well as the bus driver. In Rio, the guide was a doll--he took my sister and I to the domestic airport in Rio--Princess staff on the vessel was not aware of the 2 airports. One of the gals called this morning, they too have returned, and wanted a special commendation for the guide in Rio (I apologize that I can not remember his name!). Sue felt that he went above and beyond! I am very grateful as I was unable to do this portion of the trip with them. I was very happy to hear how well Rio went for the gals. Please....can I have the email address for the manager, Andrea, at the Villa Casa Real? One of the gals may have left a jacket and I need to inquire as to the wines we had at the Villa. You will never know, as a travel agent, how good I felt when we arrived at the Villa Casa Real! The gals are still talking about Antonio..... You folks did a great job for me! WOW. WOW WOW...WOW, WOW! How awesome was that? Our kind of trip. Sign me up for that anytime. Thank you for putting together another flawless trip. Had we been lounge lizards looking for excessive pampering... this would have been terrible. They had us involved, informed, and in the water with amazing animals. Tom Brunner You've done it again!! The perfect trip. Yes, Jan, You've done it again!! The perfect trip. The 8 day trip was necessary because nothing was repeated and those who got on half-way didn't see half the animals/birds/sea life. Each island is different and so are the critters (the whole idea of natural selection and adaptation!!). It was a VERY active Expedition--certainly not a "cruise"!! Everyday the PA system anounced the 7 am wakeup call, 7:15 breakfast, 8:00 on the Zodiacs to the shore of a different island from the day before. Hiking in a group of about 10 to 12 with a very well-educated and well-spoken guide. Groups were by languages so no need to listen to endless repetition. The hike, with frequent rest stops, was usually about 2 km--sometimes very hilly--and lasted about 2-1/2 hours. Then went swimming/snorkeling either at the beach or deep water. Back to the ship for lunch, while the ship motored to another island. Then, at 2:00 another onshore excursion/hike. Back in time for sunset at 6, dinner at 7:30. Sheesh! What a day! EVERY day! The Captain of the Santa Cruz entertained one night (the half-week people missed it!). He has a GREAT voice, plays the guitar, and was devilishly good looking!!! The ship was in the process of being painted as we sailed--desperately needed. But everything the crew could clean was spotless. All were incredibly friendly--informal, yet respectful. Super! Meals were excellent with plenty of variety. Good wine list (limited to Chilean and Argentine and Ecuadorian wines---but they were excellent!) The small hotel in Quito was a wonderful choice. Casa Aviso--maybe 8 or 10 rooms--wonderful staff! Good location, though not central (not really a disadvantage--cabs were unbelievable CHEAP!) Nearby excellent restaurants (especially the one next door). Staff got up and served us breakfast at 4am!!! They were neat--couldn't have been more helpful! The guide our first day (exploring Quito), Marcos, was exceptionally knowledgeable, articulate, and helpful. He was really great! We had him all to ourselves--such a rare occurance! When I saw "City Tour" I must confess I thought, "Oh Lord, big bus, drive past the sights, snap pictures through the bus windows, and wait for stragglers when we stop for shopping at a place that kicks back to the guide! NOT SO here!!! I've been working on my photos since waking up Sunday--We had such fun with our cameras....especially underwater! Snorkeling with the incredible sea life was an awesome experience. Tom's a great swimmer and diver, so he got unbelievable closeup shots. We used up 6 disposable cameras among the 3 of us--that made it so much more fun to dive!!! But then a woman (one of Tom's adoring "harem" of admirers!) lent him her "REAL" underwater (with video) camera and asked him to take photos for her. He could dive 20-30 feet deep and got unbelievable closeups of everthing---including video of him chasing white tip sharks!! Client of ...had a fabulous time on their trip to Peru...They are spoiled now with private guides!!!!!! Hi Bill, I just wanted to let you know that they (Marich party)
had a fabulous time on their trip to Peru. Next year they're hoping to go to Chile. The only thing they commented on was the size of the room (small) in Cuzco and the fact it didn't really have a window and that they wished the Hiram Bingham was longer and not the
shorter version they got. They raved about the private guides, the food and everything else. They did take the hotel's private boat on the Ballestas
Islands and loved it. They are spoiled now with private guides!!!!!! Thank you!!!! The ground tour through EcoAdventures was just one fabulous surprise after another. EcoAdventures' comments: Hi Alma, Here is a report from the Hardcastle Taylors. They LOVED their trip and wanted to share this with you. Thanks again for being an operator we can count on to take good care of our clients! Tracy Greetings, Tracy! Hope you’re doing well and have been having fun. We just returned yesterday (brain dead but happy) from the most fabulous holiday we’ve EVER taken! I could go on and on and on but I’ll just say that the weather we had for the entire trip, including the ground tour, was the best those in the know had seen in YEARS. We all had to keep pinching ourselves to make sure it wasn’t just a wonderful dream. The ground tour through EcoAdventures was just one fabulous surprise after another. The accommodations, particularly 2 really, really interesting ones, were great. The wine tours, although that wasn’t necessarily a focus that we would have chosen, turned out to be fascinating and oh, so fun. And most importantly, we had some absolutely wonderful tour guides, a couple of whom I would have loved to bring home with me. We worked with 3 of their affiliate tour groups and all their representatives were professional, extremely helpful and great fun. Again, I could go on and on, but please pass our extreme pleasure with their services to Alma. We were given an opportunity in Iguazu Falls (OMG, was that unbelievable) to complete a client satisfaction survey, but not with the other 2 tour groups so we want to make sure they get this feedback. Thanks again, Tracy, for arranging the most wonderful journey we’ve ever done (and we’ve done a few). We can’t stop smiling! Looking forward to seeing you again soon. Take care! Our best, Okay, anyone envious yet? Hola! We are staying now at a wonderful small family owned inn (outside of Mendoza) a short walk from wineries with swimming pool and with great food and it is mucho calor. Walked to an incredible gourmet restaurant last night with wine pairings with every one of the 5 courses total cost $30 per person. Went for bike ride today and then laid by the pool. Okay, anyone envious yet? Manana, we leave Noah to his own travels before he returns to Aptos in about 10 days and Kris and I head back to Buenos Aires for 2 nights and hopefully a Tango show returning home on Feb 1. Earlier update below: We are now in Mendoza for 3 nights. We got stuck for a night in Buenos Aires at a lousy hotel (Eco note: hotel provided by Lan Chile), (but had an interesting buffet style dinner at a very local non touristy restaurant) because of a Lan Airline problem. So, missed an airline connection and a night in Bariloche but had 2 nights in San Martin de Andes, a small beautiful Swiss like town by a swimmable lake with beach and neat shops (lots of chocolate) and good restaurants. We then had a fun day and night in Bariloche (more chocolate, craft fairs and shops) a much bigger town by a huge lake surrounded by beautiful snow capped mountains and stayed in beautiful hotel overlooking Lake Nahuel Huapi. Today the airflight from Bariloche to Mendoza took us over some of the most spectacular scenery we have ever experienced of many beautiful clear blue lakes surrounded by huge snow capped mountains (and its summer here with temperatures from high 50's at night to 80's in day). We walked for miles in a big park today with 7 continents fountain and rose garden and crew races on the lake. We had a late lunch at the #2 rated Trip Advisor restaurant in town that was fantastico and not muy caro (Pablo the chef came out and talked with us about the restaurant and wineries and Northern Ca.). Tomorrow we move to an inn near a winery for 2 nights!! Most all the Argentines we have met are muy amables. And Noah is out partying tonight with some interesting Canadian guys we met while waitng for the same delayed airflight. Traveling can be stressful at times but we continue to enjoy our trip very much and will soon send pictures. Besos, Clients of Our trip was AMAZING!!! Flawless!!! Hello Alma, Terry Oremland EcoAdventures arranged a fantastic trip!
Hi Magda, 1) EcoAdventures arranged a fantastic trip! I would strongly recommend using them again for this type of trip for other clients. They used Setours in Peru. Everything was on time with meeting at the airport, hotel pick up/drop off. 2) City tour was perfect 3) The hotel in Lima, Casa Andina Private Collection was wonderful. Quiet area, wonderful staff. On our 2nd stay they upgraded us to a suite at no extra cost. 4) The cruise on the Delphin II was fantastic!!! The room was awesome, staff & food amazing given it’s all served on a boat in the Amazon jungle area. Cruising the different rivers in the area we were the ONLY tourist boat. Everything else was dugout canoes, small cargo barges and a couple of taxi type boats. This area has not really been discovered by lots of tourists which was super nice. The pace is busy if you choose to do everything & we did except for the 2 hour walk in the jungle. The night boat trips were wonderful. 5) Naturalist guides on the boat were fantastic. We saw so many birds, monkeys, sloths, flowers, a 5 foot Anaconda snake & I caught a piranha in the river! 6) The Inkaterra Lodge Reserva Amazonica was beautiful. The grounds are so manicured & again the food was wonderful. The southern jungles in Peru are much hotter than on the cruise. Never experienced that level of heat or humidity. Most likely because we did not have air conditioning just fans. Our room or cabin was wonderful, towels & linens were very high end. We really relaxed at the lodge & utilized the spa facility. Just sitting in our screened in porch was a wonderful bird & butterfly show all day. We traveled in the dry season, but it can rain anytime. We were very lucky & only had rain one night. In the dry season the rivers are down by 45 feet. There is still lots & lots of water. The only caution to clients is that anything on land means a steep climb up stairs or something that might look like stairs. We discovered going to South America is pretty easy with only a 2 hour time change if you stay on the pacific side. 2011 is India! You delivered everything and more than you promised. Hi Alma, I now have clients for life! Hello Alma, I just spoke with my clients, the Brennans, about their big trip to Central/South America. They had a wonderful trip! They were quite pleased and impressed on how well they were taken care of by EcoAdventures! Thank you so, so much!!! I can't wait to use your company again! Donna Caruso ...compliments on how wonderful the (South America) trip was, how smooth everything flowed... Just wanted to pass along that my client Cheryl Davies just got back from her extensive South America trip and complimented on how wonderful the trip was, how smooth everything flowed, and the fact that everyone there was so accommodating. I want to thank you Bill for doing such an outstanding job and I look forward to working with you and EcoAdventures again. The trip was the perfect combination of relaxation and exhilarating activities! Hi Linda, We are finally back from the whirlwind that was the wedding and the honeymoon and wanted to say thank you so much for planning such a wonderful honeymoon for us. We enjoyed it thoroughly - the trip was the perfect combination of relaxation and exhilarating activities that kept us active and busy! Everyone was so nice in Costa Rica - the staff was amazing, the hotels/amenities were great and we loved exploring the beauty and scenery of the country. You did a great job and we wanted to thank you personally. Warm regards, The Rohde family is back and they are raving about the arrangements! Dear Anne - Hi Elliot, Elliot Serfaty Everything went perfectly and I highly recommend the company you went through. Hi Bill, The Shanfield’s are home and I thought you’d like to see the email she sent me...... Becky we had a GREAT trip to Guatemala. Everything went perfectly and I highly recommend the company you went through. The owners of the company actually accompanied us on the tour of the market and Lake Atitlan and they were delightful. They met us at the airport in Guatemala city each time, which was so nice of them. - The Shanfield’s Thanks for all your help, until the next booking..... Best regards Becky Knaup AWESOME TRIP! Hi Stephen, wanted to say hello and let you know Mindy and I had an AMAZING trip (to Costa Rica). The weather was awesome, the place was beautiful, the locals were lovely...and all around we just had the greatest time. We did most everything there was to offer. We almost went river rafting but decided against it at the last minute just because we were so tired from all the other stuff. And since it was rainy season, the river was at a level SEVEN in rapids!!!! Again, thank you for all your help. Everything worked at perfect and we did not have one problem. Talk soon. The arrangements all went very smoothly with the car transportation... and the hotels were lovely. Hola! We had a wonderful time in Costa Rica! The arrangements all went very smoothly with the car transportation... and the hotels were lovely. The Arenal Springs Spa hotel needs some work since they are relatively new and haven't worked out all the practical problems but the staff is lovely and accommodating. I would say that the Tamarindo area was my least favorite but that was just because of the sandflies which somehow didn't care that we had all kinds of bug repellent on us. We made all our land arrangements with the hotel concierge and they were great. We zip lined twice and kayaked once. The weather was raining during the afternoons so we planned most all our excursions during the morning. I was just delighted with the flora and the fauna and the animals that roamed freely around our hotel at Capitan Suizo. We had a resident baby raccoon, a few monkeys that were very people friendly, iguanas and many birds. The Panorama driver/guides were very pleasant and stopped in various places for us. I'm happy to talk to you some more about the trip if you wish. My photos are on a disc and if I can figure out how to put them online I will send them to you. Thanks a whole lot for all your help in making this a very memorable trip for Stacie and me. Best regards, Client of Tami Hodges ...nothing but rave reports ... Everyone was so great and helpful. Bill, I just wanted to let you know that my client Mr. Richard Knight had nothing but rave reports on his trip to Peru. The tour guide in Lima "Segundo" was great , as was Sophia in Lima. Richard in Machu Picchu was "the best". Also said to mention "Pascuel" too. Everyone was so great and helpful. We have looked at his many pictures and they are just wonderful… Hope to do business with you soon. Thanks, Sharon Shaw, Travel Consultant They were really happy with all their hotels and activities in the itinerary. Hi Cindy, Kind Regards, Your patience and professionalism made my work so much easier. Hello to you both (Elizabeth & Bill):
I just heard from Dianne Finkelstein and she was so happy and excited about her trip with you. Thank you so much and I hope to work with you in the future. Your patience and professionalism made my work so much easier.
All the best,
Janet Najarian ...thrilled to know that you are doing the itin for us! Hi Alma, I took your GREAT advice and
called Delta. The air contract I got was just as you said - Q and all
other taxes included in fare quote - making the deal work. Out of LAX
it actually was better for group than SNA. Amazing!!! ... So, I called
the office to tell Sandy to watch for the contract, mentioning I had
taken up your entire day with Waldorf. She had so many nice things to
say about your presentation awhile ago - and was thrilled to know that
you are doing the itin for us! Will read what you sent and we will be
in touch tomorrow. The group mother who is my contact was of course
really blown away when I told her about the SIX HOUR bus ride fortunately
avoided. Sandy said "we need some days like this when we actually
get to be travel agents - not just searching a screen for the cheapest
fare to Phoenix." I would like to pass on our commendations to Setours, the travel agency used by EcoAdventures in Peru, whose service was truly excellent. To Whom It May Concern, ...had a great time in CR. The hotels, tours and transportation all worked out well. Hi Tracy, Just wanted to let you know that Julie and I had a great time in CR. The hotels, tours and transportation all worked out well. Please let EcoAdventures know too. Thanks!
Douglas Childs AIA ACHA Fun trip to BA, Mendoza and Rio - The hotel locations could not have been better ... Our tour guides were excellent and added local flavor to our visit. We, three couples, recently completed a fun trip to Buenos Aires, Mendoza, and Rio de Janeiro. The weather was great and the experience was memorable. Not enough time but, we did see enough to thoroughly enjoy ourselves. The hotel locations could not have been better and the Hyatt in Mendoza was outstanding. Our hotel in Rio was not the best but, not much time was spent in the room. Our tour guides were excellent and added local flavor to our visit. All connections were on time and the guides were very helpful at the airports. Thank you Your presentation was excellent and we both learned many interesting things about Latin America and Costa Rica. Hello Alma, Thank you for all your great help! Good Morning Bill, The Flahertys
and the Starbirds returned from their trip to Guatemala and had a wonderful
time. I have not heard a detailed report but did receive a call telling
me what a great trip it was. Just wanted you to know and thank you for
all your great help! Joanne Wilhelmsen Bill B. had a great time in Guatemala and said what a great job EcoAdventures did. Hi Bill, EcoAdventures and Setours did an outstanding job in arranging this trip. Hi Magda (& Cindy), Thank you, Albert R. Lobo Well, we have to say Guatemala exceeds expectations. No hitches, no glitches! Well, we have to say Guatemala exceeds expectations. No hitches, no glitches! Perfect weather, beautiful country, magnificent Mayan antiquities! My little bit of Spanish gets us by and is appreciated by natives for the effort if nothing else! Michele R. Campbell, Ph.D. One of the most memorable, care-free, and perfectly individualized trips I have ever been on. Hi Elizabeth, I have already contracted Rebecca, my mother's travel agent ... about scheduling my next CR vacation with you in spring of 2010 ... I can't wait to return. Again, thank - you for everything.
It was a perfect solo adventure with a company that respects the land,
animals, and people of Costa Rica. My clients returned
-- had a fabulous time -- all arrangements went very well. My best, I take the good work of organizations like yours for granted until something happens! Hi Alma, Marti Sealander I'm gaining a tremendous amount of knowledge just by speaking with you! Bill, I highly recommend EcoAdventures for your discerning clients. To All Leisure, I thought I would like to share with all of you my experience with EcoAdventures. Through what I observed at the EcoAdventures seminar which was held at Sorrento a couple of months ago, I was very impressed and decided to touch base with Alma (the President) to do a proposal for a group of 7 couples who endeavors a trip of their lifetime to South America with a very special request, strict vegetarian meals throughout their trip. Alma paid attention to every little detail in tailoring a proposal for my group PROMPTLY. I was very impressed with her very well thought-out suggestions for a very demanding group. She was very quick in addressing to every of my clients’ multiple queries and concerns. She exudes compassion, expertise, professionalism and teamwork. I almost wanted to experience EcoAdventures’ product myself! Though the trip will not be consummated until November 2008, most of my clients already committed to the deposit required. I had total confidence that my clients will no doubt receive the best itinerary to South America and the best times ever for their 2008 destination they chose. I believe with EcoAdventures in the wings, they cannot go wrong. I highly recommend EcoAdventures for your discerning clients. Yen Flynn He raved about the way your plan went down and how well they were looked after. Hi Alma, I had a call from a client by the
name of Tom Kennedy. His wife is Dorothy. Tom has been on 15 trips with
us over the years. He called to say thanks for all the good times AND
ALSO TO PRAISE ECOADVENTURES FOR THE TRIP OUR AGENT CATHIE WORKED WITH
YOU ON TO SEND THEM SOMEPLACES IN SOUTH AMERICA. HE RAVED ABOUT THE
WAY YOUR PLAN WENT DOWN AND HOW WELL THEY WERE LOOKED AFTER. Your arrangements went off without a hitch. Dear Alma, Wonderful time in Peru!!!! Hi
Bill, We will be using your company again very soon. Bill, We will be using your company again very soon for our return trip and other clients who are interested in a CR experience. Thank you, The
Chavez's are home and they loved the trip! The Chavez's
are home and they loved the trip. They had high praise for your company
and Argentina! Gilbert is a very apprehensive traveller and he didnt even have a clue, (no matter how much I tried to tell him) how well they were going to be taken care of. Thank you! Leilani
Burns I hope to be able to send more clients your way. Alma, Just to let you know the Galapagos cruise was wonderful. Even though I am not in good shape I did keep up on all the hikes and climbing in and out of the dingy. I met some wonderful people and we are exchanging pictures of Galapagos and Machu Picchu. The Friendship Group thought everything went really great. The hotels were great. Everyone loved the Pakaritampu Hotel. They called it the garden hotel. Some wished that we went back there after a day in Machu Picchu since it was only one hour's train ride. I want to thank you for the time and effort you put into putting the package together. Also, Charles Switzer had a wonderful time on the individual itinerary you put together for him. I hope to be able to send more clients your way. Mary K. Cloward They loved the hotels and the wonderful guides they had. Dear Alma,
My client came by Sunday night to show me their 3 albums of pictures from Peru with EcoAdventures. What a great time they had. They loved the hotels and the wonderful guides they had. In Cuzco they went to see the Inca Museum which to their eyes is the best Inca Museum they have seen. They also enjoyed Caesar and Betsy in the rainforest lodge (Posada Amazonas & Tambopata Research Center). They were so knowledgeable!
Thank you for such a great team work! Sincerely, Pascale LeJeune, CSS, CTS, NCS Wow, what a trip! We had a great time! Yes, we love Costa Rica. The tour guides/drivers they sent us were really good. The couple that met us at the airport and took us down to the coast in Quepos were husband and wife. She spoke English very well and he was learning, they were really nice (Maria and Alex). The driver that picked us up in Quepos understood English but didn't speak too much, he and Charlie took lessons from each other. He was also very nice. The driver that picked us up after our cruise spoke pretty good English (Mario) and he and Maria were teamed up to take us to the volcano the next morning. WOW, you have to go and stay at Xandari if you have not done so! That is so so nice! The people bent over backwards to accomodate us. The grounds are gourgeous! We walked down the 266 steps to the waterfalls on the grounds (either I miss counted or both but it is a lot more than 266 steps). We were awed by the falls and the surroundings, but let me tell ya, there were not kidding when they said it was steep! We did it and are glad for it, but next time we will hopefully be in better shape! The cruise was really nice. Yes, you were right when you said we would love it. No lines to speak of the crew was nice and yes, they all knew us and us them before it was over all too soon. Our only suggestion to them was to skip Nicaragua and maybe go to Panama instead. The stops were good, not a whole lot to see but very beautiful. Thanks for steering us in the right
direction once again. We can't wait to go back! I look forward to hearing
about your trip while we were gone, hope it was all you could ask for.
I have attached a picture of us at Lancanster Gardens. We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and here's to wishing you a Happy New Year! Melanie & Charlie THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME LOOK
WONDERFUL AGAIN!!!! Thanks
for . . . making their vacation so memorable! Wonderful job on difficult booking! Bill - KUDOS!!!! to EcoAdventures... I was just talking to the (clients) who just arrived home last evening from Costa Rica. KUDOS!!!! to EcoAdventures....they are a very, very fussy couple and not shy about telling me criticism. Well, they have nothing but positive things to say about CR and EcoAdventures. They thought the driver/car was perfect and Peace Lodge outstanding as well as Guanacaste resort (can't think right now of the name)....(Paradisus Playa Conchal 6 nights) all inclusive....perfect for them....didn't tire of the food....thought the staff was friendly and warm, and told me they didn't want to come home. That is the ultimate compliment. They are very hard to please and we pleased them!!! Belize clients are very excited and can't wait to begin their 2nd honeymoon!!! Thanks again and thanks again to Bill... Marian Finkelstein No reason to use anyone else when you do such an excellent job! I want to thank the staff at EcoAdventures, Inc. for putting together a fabulous vacation to Costa Rica for my family this year. You did a great job on our itinerary…everyone in the family enjoyed themselves. All the hotels were "top notch" and just what we were looking for. Your guide, Carlos, was one of the best I've ever experienced. We actually tried to trip him up a couple of times with some tough requests but to no avail, we asked and he delivered! His knowledge on flora and fauna was amazing and made our trip throughout the countryside special! For our next trip to Latin or South America we will be certain to ask the staff at EcoAdventures to put it together. No reason to use anyone else when you do such an excellent job. Thanks again EcoAdventures! Sincerely, Tyler Peak South American adventure - exceedingly pleased . . . and were thankful for your expertise Hi Alma, Argentina /BA/San Martin de Los Andes/Bariloche/Iguazu . . . they absolutely loved it I know you'll want to know this . .
. they absolutely loved it. There was not one complaint that came to
me . . . In Iguazu most of them were sorry they didn't sign up for the
Andes extension, they had so much fun. Keith Tucker Chile . . . It was totally awesome Just wanted to send you a quick email
to say THANKS!!!!! for setting up such a wonderful trip. It was totally
awesome — all of the connections, arrangements, etc. went off without
a hitch, all of the adventures were Think it was probably our favorite trip ever, so thanks so much for all of your hard work to make it happen. The horseback ride, in particular, was phenomenal — everything was great. Anyway, thanks again. Trip was fabulous! Just wanted to tell you Bill's trip was fabulous! The guides were great. He was very pleased with our hotel choices. One flight was cancelled/delayed but obviously that was not our fault. So, thanks for all your hard work. Had a fabulous time! Hello Alma, Colleen Your trip to Costa Rica was superb! Just wanted
to let you know that your trip to Costa Rica was superb. Both my husband
and I who had been to Costa Rica, and our friends who were first time
visitors, enjoyed our stay immensely. Accommodations were very good
and ending at Makanda was a wonderful finish. The trip went perfectly! Just wanted to say that the trip went perfectly. All details, arrangements, transfers, etc. were absolutely seamless. The Radisson was great, with free happy hour (!) every evening; and employees who were very helpful in giving us directions, advice, and instructions to taxi drivers. They were also helpful in regards to that whole 3rd person in the room problem, which they helped us to solve quite nicely. Metropolitan Touring was impressive. They were friendly, timely; informative re: flight schedule changes, etc., and our Cotapaxi Tour and Otovalo day were both wonderful, and far beyond my expectations. Our guide Cecelia and driver David for the tours were absolutely awesome with information, skill, and flexibility re: our requests (they actually picked us up @ 6:00 A.M. so that we could visit the livestock market @ Otovalo prior to the regular market). Galapagos and the Flamingo and it's crew; our guides there and all of our experiences were wonderful. Food was excellent; service excellent; and the schedule allowed us to see as much as possible. Galapagos is amazing, and I was very pleased to have such a satisfying experience. Sacha Lodge was also excellent - food, lodging, guides - all were top-notch. The jungle was fascinating, and I was really happy that we added that trip on as an extension. Wildlife was incredible, and I couldn't get enough. Some were not as thrilled as I was - anacondas and tarantulas and agouti - oh my! Our group
did well together, and by the way, your friend Robin is a great gal
- I enjoyed getting to know her. Argentina /Buenos Aires/Montevideo . . .excellent plans you made for us We are back home and want to tell you how much we appreciated the excellent plans you made for us. All the travel guides who met us and took us around were excellent and full of information. We were especially glad someone met us on the Argentina /Buenos Aires/Montevideo portion of the trip. Even tho' Terry speaks Spanish fluently, the airport protocols were very confusing and we were glad to have the help from someone who was taking care of us. We said when we get "old" and can't travel alone, we can have you make the arrangements for us and we will be able to manage okay! Thanks for arranging everything so well.
We enjoyed ourselves the whole trip, thanks to your excellent planning. Back from Costa Rica
. . . We had a fantastic time! . . . We had a fantastic time in Costa Rica (as suspected) . . . We didn't have any problems; everything was perfect and hassle free. Even our flights with Continental were on time and they had our special meals. We loved the country and the people. . . The hot springs were fabulous. I think we went 3 times in 2 days. Monteverde was perhaps the highlight of my trip (although I could have permanently taken up residence at the hot springs). The area was magical. We enjoyed the skywalk and we went on a guided tour of the Monteverde Reserve, which was awesome. From Monteverde we went to Manuel Antonio. . . . The beaches are beautiful and the park was gorgeous. . . All of our hotel accommodations were great. We liked all the properties. They upgraded us from a junior suite at El Establo to a full suite. It was like living in a Swiss chalet. We had two floors all to ourselves with a great view of the mountains in the distance. We woke up each morning to a beautiful rainbow. At Si Como No they upgraded us from a deluxe room to a deluxe suite. So once again we hit the jackpot. The room was fabulous. It was a first class property. . . We loved the food everywhere we went in Costa Rica. We never did get our fill of beans and rice. . . I just wish I had brought back some guarro. Ann Edwards Costa Rica - Everything was well laid out . . . we were free to enjoy the beauty around us. My husband and I recently took a trip to Costa Rica and had booked everything through you and you contracted with Central American Tours. Central American Tour Company and EcoAdventures are two outstanding companies. Everyone we came into contact with was courteous, helpful and very friendly. We were particularly pleased with Francis from CAT. Francis helped us whenever we had a question or concern. We had contacted him on a number of different occasions and he was always willing to help us with our varied requests. To be specific, he arranged for a change of hotels when we were unhappy with one of our accommodations. Also he rearranged flight plans for us when our flight from Quepos to Palma del Sur was cancelled. Francis really eased our minds and helped make our trip all the more memorable. You have a great company. We have told everyone that if they ever want to go to Costa Rica, that they should book through your company. Everything was well laid out with the vouchers and drivers so we were free to enjoy the beauty around us. All of the employees we encountered were fabulous. Thank you for making our trip one that we will never forget. Sincerely, Peru & Bolivia - All went well with our trip . . . a great value for the money! . . . Quick note to let you know that all went well with our trip. We had a good time. The hotels were all good and with very friendly staff. They were unique too. Antara in Lima was fantastic. All transportation was good. The drivers were safe. The guides were par excellence! I could not believe the caliber. The guide in Lima was unbelievable and kept interest of all 4 teenagers — which is a HUGE compliment. Of course Machu Picchu was the highlight and we had sufficient time to do some hiking and bask in the wonder of the place. Lake Titicaca was fantastic. Met all our expectations! All in all — there were no significant hitches and was a memorable trip. I will not hesitate to recommend EcoAdventures to my friends. It is a great value for the money! Thanks for all your help! Sincerely, Buenos Aires & Uruguay - Thank You! My husband and I were in Buenos Aires recently (Jan. 27-30, 2003) and wish to commend to you the guide who picked us up at the airport and transfered us to our hotel and finally on to the Buquebus to Colonia. His name is Ignacio Frydman. He provided us with valuable information about the city, spoke excellent English, had a marvelous sense of humor and checked up on us to see that we were happy and comfortable. He made our introduction to Buenos Aires a memorable one and we wish to make certain an employee of such calibre is recognized by the company in which he works. Should we return to Buenos Aires someday or have friends who will be visiting, we will recommend your services and most definitely Ignacio Frydman. Please thank him again for us. Sincerely, Ushuaia - They had a wonderful time! Explora was an interesting experience for Scottie....all the others staying there were gung-ho, macho outdoor jocks. She wanted to sit outside, looking at the gorgeous scenery, reading a book. Not only don't they have an outside area, but they wouldn't hear of someone not "doing" and "going". Scottie is a strong woman.....went out with the group and came back with a guide when she'd had enough. Their favorite part was Terra Luna (which they said was absolutely gorgeous.....no justice done by the Website) and their drive around the lake to Chile Chico. She said that the whole southern part of that lake is breathtaking. The first part of the journey from Balmaceda to Terra Luna, is a paved highway. They stayed a second night at Terra Luna, cuz they loved it so much. They then went to Chile Chico and went to the Hostal Patagonia that they'd cancelled the night before. She said that Chile Chico itself isn't even a town, and that the Hostal Patagonia looked like a rundown old hacienda. They almost turned around and fled, but opted to check it out. She said it was surprising when they entered.....it was perfectly acceptable inside. They found places out of Ushuaia that were to die for. They followed the families on New Year's Day.....everyone heading out for family picnics. They drove on the high road on the hills/mountains surrounding the Beagle Channel....said it was breathtaking and really memorable. Every family they met invited them to join them. It was pristine and clear when we sailed out of Ushuaia through the Beagle Channel last year, so I can imagine what their vistas were. She called and "dumped"
for 2 hours last week. Her only real surprise was their drive on the
Carreterra Austral, with high fences on both sides of the narrow road.
She had packed a picnic lunch....thought they'd explore off in the country
somewhere. Great trip. Thank you! Everything worked out perfectly, the hotels, the tours, EVERYTHING! Hi - We've been back from our trip for a few days now, and I haven't even emailed you to thank you for such a wonderful trip. Everything worked out perfectly, the hotels, the tours, EVERYTHING. Buenos Aires was beautiful and we didn't feel at all threatened like everyone said we should feel. The people were friendly and polite. We went to a ranch one day to watch the Gauchos work with the horses - a typical bar-be-que, which they are very big on. It's a good place if you like beef - everything was meat, meat, meat. We even went over to Uruguay for a day. That was beautiful. Iguasu was fantastic, as I knew it would be, and it was such a good idea to stay on both sides. We went under the falls, and hiked in the jungle. It was great. That hotel (Tropical Cataratas I think it was called) on the Brazil side was one of the most beautiful hotels I've ever seen. Then on to Rio, which I loved. Your friend Monica's ideas were all very helpful, and I especially like the cod fish balls. We saw all of the typical sights which were really prettier and much more spectacular than pictures. We also went out on a tropical island tour which was great for a day on a boat and on a beach. That was fun! We also went to a Tango show and wanted to go to a Samba show, but we didn't have time. We walked all over everywhere. We were careful, but we felt very safe, also. Thanks again. It was a great experience, and I would recommend EcoAdventures to anyone. They really knew what they were doing. Hope to see you soon. Your traveling pal, Belize - one of their best vacations . . . . . . the Sellers who went to Belize had such a wonderful time at the Mopan resort you recommended—they swooned about it—the fabulous food and service—they had a great time with the owners—said it was one of their best vacations—loved their room at Ramon's (Ambergris Caye) too. Thanks again, Extraordinary assistance I received . . . for my honeymoon booking As I am closing files and clearing
emails from this past year, I am reminded of the extraordinary assistance
I received from you for my . . . honeymoon booking. This couple had
a great time. They returned home happy . . . (all due to your
instruction). Thank you for sharing the wealth of knowledge that is
within EcoAdventures. Inca Trail Romance Casey Family Trip - Costa Rica - Everyone enjoyed it 100% We are back from our trip and I just wanted to let you know that everyone enjoyed it 100% We were particularly impressed with the guide and driver we had. They were both exceptional! My mom participated in everything including the zipline canopy tour and she even went across one cable without a guide to help brake. The family was very impressed with "my" planning but I assured them that everything had been carefully suggested and arranged by you. Thanks again for making things go so smoothly. Sincerely, Way Beyond Their Expectations Roz called to say they had a fabulous
time. Their trip was perfect and very special, and was way beyond their
expectations. That's what we like to hear. They were just so enthusiastic...
Thanks for the great job. I Want To Tell You That I Am Very Impressed! I want to tell you that I am very impressed! Your travel documents are complete to the point where I would use them as an example of what should be universal throughout the industry. I have been singing your praises to everyone I meet who may want to use your company for their clients. I am especially impressed by the copies for my agency as well as an extra client copy of the itinerary for her to leave with her family/friends...thank you so much and I have no doubt that the same attention will be paid to my client's travel as has been spent in the thorough compilation of her travel documents. Makes me look good...perfect!!! Heather Hintzpeter Holme, CTC, DS |
