This trip was the best Gate One Trip I have taken. The tour guide Paul taught us so much in the friendliest and most humorous way. He really made this trip special for all of us. It was a great bunch of people and the experiences we had were in creditable. All the other Gate One trips I have taken were really good but this one was the best. From a very happy Traveler

My trip to Ecuador was fantastic. Love the hotels and lodges. Meals were excellent. This trip was beyond my expectation. Wilson, TM took good care of us. He is very knowledgeable of his country and especially the Amazon. Wilson ensured that we were well taken care of and that we were having a great time. Thank you Gate 1.

Our trip through Ecuador was unforgettable, and a huge part of that was thanks to our amazing tour guide. From day one, he welcomed us like friends and made us feel completely at ease. His passion for Ecuador was contagious, and he shared so much about the country's history, culture, wildlife, and local traditions that we left with a much deeper appreciation for this beautiful place. He was always patient, kind, and happy to answer our endless questions. He went above and beyond to make sure everyone had a wonderful experience, whether it was pointing out wildlife we would have otherwise missed, recommending local foods, or making sure we were comfortable every step of the way. By the end of the trip, he felt more like a friend than a guide. Thank you for sharing your country with us and for making our Ecuador adventure so special. We will always remember the incredible experiences and memories you helped create. We highly recommend him to anyone visiting Ecuador-you'll be in the best hands!

We have just returned from another amazing Gate 1 Discovery Tour, 13 Day Galapagos, Ecuador, Andes & Amazon. It was incredible. Our guide, Antonio, met and exceeded all our expectations. He was very knowledgeable and well organized. Antonio is kind, patient and has a great sense of humor. He is obviously very proud of his country and his culture. It was equally obvious that he loved his job and working for Gate 1. All our Naturalist (Pedro in the Galapagos; and Sanshu and Delgado in the Amazon Basin) were extremely knowledgeable, informative and interesting. We both loved the experience of meeting with the Kishwa people and learning more about them. Thank you for another wonderful experience. We have two more trips booked for 2027 (Australia/Tasmania and Peruvian Legends). On a side note, we had recommended Gate 1 Discovery to friends who wanted to visit France and Normandy. They are incredible experiences.

Gate 1 was outstanding in every way. Hotels, food, excursions. I can't begin to sufficiently describe how wonderful it was. Our tour guide Javier and bus driver Alexis can't be beat. Javier knows everything to be known about Ecuador. They met every need and beyond. At the Amaxon jungle Andres and Leo went above and beyond and so knowledgeable as well. I can't praise them enough.

would like to share our positive experience with Gate 1 and folks who may be considering the 13 Day Ecuador Discovery Tour we just completed. From the moment we were greeted at Guayaquil airport by our tour Manager Javier there was an instant connection. Prior to this tour we had only experienced a Gate 1 European river cruise (which was excellent). I have to say Javier was spectacular, his knowledge and love for Ecuador is unparalleled. During the entire tour he was more like an old friend or "Brother/Hermano" to the wife and I. The conversations were sincere and his dedication to our small group outstanding. The wife and I would love to return to Ecuador and see some other sites such as Cuenca. We will continue to review Gate 1 tour offers and see if there is another Ecuador tour that will highlight areas of the country, we have yet to see. Muchisimas Gracias Javier, mi hermano!

I've traveled with Gate1 before, but this was my first time with Discovery Small Group. The trip was 13 days Galapagos, Ecuador, Andes & Amazon. I had an amazing experience that truly let me enjoy the nature, the country and forget about worries. Kudos on providing this broad experience, where in two weeks we could see so many different things in one country. The tour itself was well thought out, and accommodations and service were wonderful. I want to extend special gratitude to our tour manager Daniel . His expertise, organizational skills, knowledge of his country blew me away. There was not a question he did not have an answer to. He was very engaging, supportive, funny. I felt I was treated like a family, with respect, with support, with understanding. Daniel is able to communicate with everyone, he is patient, kind, calm. I felt safe with him, secure, I knew if I needed I could ask him for help. The tour itself was great, but the tour manager can spoil a great tour or make it amazing; and because of Daniel this tour was top of the world. I've been on different tours and I can say for sure that Daniel is at the top of tour managers I've encountered in my life. We, the group, did not need to worry about anything, he worked really hard and made everything happen for us like a clock. He was personable, relatable, funny. It was hard for us to say goodbye because of how amazing Daniel was. Thank you for having this great tour manager on my trip!

Great trip can't say enough good things about our tour manager Daniel. He was super organized. I felt extremely comfortable with his management of our trip. He went above and beyond to help everyone on our trip. He was extremely knowledgeable about a wide variety of subjects, from history to biology and earth science. He would give us very interesting lectures during our downtime on the bus. He was very nice and helped us older travelers with stuff he wasn't responsible for such as technical difficulties with our phones. The places we stayed were unique and outstanding. Especially the Sacha lodge and the lodge in the Galapagos. The staff and local guides at both places were also outstanding. Best Gate 1 trip yet!!

Our Gate 1 trip was excellent! The itinerary & overnight accommodation was more than expected. Our tour guide, Javier, was amazing. His expertise in every area made this trip exceptional. Truly the best guide we have ever had during our world travels. Javier is a huge asset to Gate 1. We will book again.

The trip was excellent, just as we've come to expect from Gate1. The MV Legend was a great choice of boat for our Galápagos Islands segment, as it was very well organized and equipped. We dithered for years about how to see the unique Galapagos creatures, and there is no doubt this was the way, Another trip of a lifetime for us.

Our tour guide, Antonio, was the best!! Knowledgeable, courteous, accommodating and also very funny! We had an absolutely wonderful tour and learned so much about Ecuador, the Galápagos and Amazon rainforest. Thank you again Gate 1 for the absolutely organized and informative tour! Looking forward to the next tour!

It was wonderful!! Couldn't have been better. Our guides Javier in Ecuador and Ronald in Peru were awesome in every way! The drivers were amazing and the local guides were so informative and passionate about their culture and countries. I would certainly recommend it to all travelers and friends.

This vacation was a wonderful experience all the way around. Our Guide, Javier was extremely knowledgeable, helpful and made the whole experience fun! I highly recommend this Ecuador trip!

We loved Ecuador. It was the best time ever and I highly recommend Paul as a guide. He was fantastic.

My husband and I have taken 11 Gate 1 trips. But this trip to Ecuador was the best. The tour manager Paul was extremely knowledgeable in every aspect. He was skillful in managing the tour program and schedule. He was also friendly, polite, and considerate. Every day during the trip was a treat. We were lucky to have him as our tour guide. bus driver Alexia was very good, too. He drove carefully and made sure every passenger got on and off the bus safely. We enjoyed this trip tremendously. I hope Paul and Alexia get to see this review and receive our appreciation.

I just finished the 10 day Kaleidoscope tour of Ecuador, Andes, and Amazon. I cannot say enough good things about our tour, Director Paul, and our bus driver Alexis. They both went way above and beyond to make sure this was an exceptional experience. I am so grateful they were in charge of our tour. They truly made this an amazing trip. I will definitely travel with Gate One again.

Great trip! We had excellent food and plenty of things to see and do. We did the butterflies house as an excursion, and it was amazing, along with a short walk through their small town, and finishing with the wood carving demonstration. We must start getting ready for our next Gate 1 adventure!

A quick note to compliment Javier, our guide in the Galapagos and Amazon. You are very lucky to have such a great guide. He made our trip fun. He was extremely well versed in all aspects of the trip. He was knowledgeable and willing to share his knowledge too. He was a great ambassador for Gate 1 and Ecuador. It was a pleasure to travel with him. He handled long travel days with ease and was always present to attend to our needs. Thanks to him our Gate 1 adventure was perfect.

Being so fortunate, I have travelled extensively in my many years around the sun - on my own and with a group. This trip?? It ranks at the top and that's saying a lot. I don't know how Jose did it with 36 people but he gave all his heart and left no attention to detail undone. His laser focused for us to create memories, be filled with fascinating information while keeping us safe. You have a gem with him and so did we. In addition, our driver Hermes was equally warm and so focused on our safety and comfort. He's a fantastic coach driver too. I cannot believe what a stunningly beautiful and welcoming country Ecuador is. I think I could live there. Our entire group had a wonderful time and we bonded completely. I came home planning my next trip before I even unpacked. You're theabest! Thank you so very much!!

I wanted to especially commend our tour guide Giovanna. She was outstanding. She demonstrated great communication, friendliness and knowledge of Ecuador. Her enthusiasm and pride in her home country added tremendously to our enjoyment of the tour. Also, the spa tour was outstanding and represented a great "break" in the middle of the tour.

Excellent! Well done. I liked the choice of facilities and points of interest. Tour guide PAUL is very well versed on the facts of the arears visited. He knows the subjects well, whether the structures, plant and animal life, Ecuadorian history or general knowledge. Excellent choice. Thanks!

Exceptional trip. Daniel, our Tour Manager, was exceptional, highly knowledgeable on all aspects of the culture, the animals, the terrain.!

Best trip ever!!! While it was independent- the hand offs in moving day to day were very organized and well orchestrated. The naturalist assigned was very informative and the crew on the boat the Legend was wonderful. Our group got along so well we put together a goggle drive and shared pictures.

Paul was an exceptional guide, and I wanted to make sure to take the extra time to write this to you all. He went so above and beyond for every single person on the trip, including me. He always made sure I had vegetarian options, and then when my phone got fried in the Galapagos, he bent over backwards to help me get it fixed in Quito. He was funny and witty and kept all of us informed and entertained and laughing and smiling. He helped create a great group dynamic and we all had such a great time with each other and with him. Paul is the best tour guide I have ever had and if I have guides even mostly as good as him, I will be the luckiest person. Paul is amazing and made me fall in love with Ecuador. He is so proud of his country and can't wait to show us everything. He also is extremely savvy with logistics I could NOT believe how capable he was of all the flights and buses and boats and canoes, I mean literally Paul was canoeing for us on the Amazon. He is extraordinary.

I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for the outstanding service provided by our group manager, Javier, during my recent tour with your company. From the very beginning, Javier demonstrated exceptional professionalism, warmth, and dedication. They ensured that every member of our group felt welcomed, informed, and well taken care of. Whether it was coordinating logistics, offering helpful insights about each destination, or handling unexpected situations with calm and confidence, Javier consistently went above and beyond. Their enthusiasm and genuine passion for their work created a positive, enjoyable atmosphere throughout the trip. It was clear that they cared deeply about making the experience memorable for everyone, and their efforts did not go unnoticed. Because of Javier's outstanding leadership and the smooth, enjoyable experience overall, I will gladly recommend your company to others and look forward to traveling with you again in the future.

This was my first experience with Gate 1, and I will be back! I would first like to bring attention to our tour guide Javiar; he was amazing! I cannot recommend him enough. He was so knowledgeable about any question that was asked, he was incredible at translating all the time and must be one of the calmest and patient people I've ever met. I will be back just because of him. Yes, the experience was incredible, but it wouldn't have been as amazing without Javiar! This was a great trip to see a lot of the highlights Ecuador has to offer. I felt like the amount of time we spent at each location was just perfect. I can't wait to go on more tours!

Our trip was very good. We had the best Tour Manager, Giovanna, who was not only knowledgeable, but also very kind and helpful.

This was my first trip with Gate 1, and I had the best time. The logistics were very smooth. All the pickups and guides were very nice and knowledgeable. The Galapagos guide (Francisco) was fantastic. His passion for conservation was inspirational. I would go back and tell my friends and families about it.

Our journey through Ecuador and Peru was truly transformative, thanks in large part to our extraordinary guides, Wilson and Ronald. Both brought exceptional knowledge of their country's history, geography, and biodiversity, along with a deep, personal understanding of the indigenous cultures that shaped these lands. Their firsthand experiences growing up within these traditions allowed them to share not just information, but living stories-giving our group a rare and meaningful glimpse into the beliefs, customs, and spiritual heritage of the indigenous communities. Beyond their remarkable expertise, what set Wilson and Ronald apart was their genuine care and dedication to the well-being of every traveler.

Our trip was fantastic! Our guide Marco was top notch. He accommodated our every need. He is a wealth of knowledge with history and stories of all the areas we visited. He gave us just the right amount of information about upcoming plans so that we weren't overwhelmed. It was a very active, busy trip with many modes of transportation, but we loved every minute of it. Thanks, to Marco & Gate 1.

I wanted to take this opportunity to recognize our Guide Paul from Ecuador. He was absolutely superb and, in my opinion, made this trip a wonderful experience for the entire group. Paul is a really wonderful, warm, kind and caring person and he took the time and trouble to get to know each one of us and find out ways to support us during this trip. In the end, because of Paul's generosity and support, all 19 of us enjoyed being with each other and came together like one large happy family. I will always remember this trip and the way that Paul helped us create connections between everyone. Bravo Paul!

The trip was fantastic. Tour guide Giovonna could not have been more accommodating to our every need. She even provided local candies on the bus after rest stops. Accommodations were exceptional and we enjoyed every lodge. The meals provided were very good and provided wonderful selections. I would advise travelers to consider this itinerary.

I wanted to follow up on a recent tour, the "5 Day Amazon Express". Ecuador is one of my favorite countries I have traveled to, and this trip was no exception! Part of what made the trip so enjoyable was the fantastic guide, Marco. He is very knowledgeable about Ecuador's history, the wildlife and the local customs. In addition, his proactive handling of route changes due to road closures helped ensure the trip went well. Marco's calm and resourceful demeanor despite dealing with unexpected road closures not only solved the problem, but he was also able to accommodate everyone by adding additional experiences during our trip which made for a positive travel experience. The short Amazon Express trip was really enjoyable with a great group, and Ecuador is a highlight in my travel experiences. I hope to visit again on another Ecuador tour to different locations.

Trip was awesome and memorable! Tour guide Paul and driver Hermes are the best! Paul very knowledgeable about his history. Hermes great and safe driver! Both are always smiling, readily available, full of surprises! Ecuador is a beautiful country to visit.

This was my first experience with Gate 1 Travel and I can't say enough about the level of service that was provided. Our tour manager Daniel was exceptional. His level of knowledge and professionalism was above the best I've seen. He was involved in the trip every step of the way and made sure that everyone was well taken care of, comfortable and having the best trip they could have. Even though we had multiple roadblocks, he found a way around and made us feel like it was supposed to happen that way. He knew everyone on a first name basis on the very first day. Everyday brought a new adventure better than the day before. Our bus driver Fernando was also excellent and safety minded. I will never forget this trip and how it made me feel. Thank you Daniel, and thank you gate one travel!

Our trip was fantastic! We enjoyed our visit to Ecuador. The Galapagos was the best part of the trip. Our naturalist guides, Peter and Darwin, were so knowledgeable and friendly. The hot springs in Papallacta were very relaxing along with the massage. The Amazon rainforest was such a great adventure. Our tour manager Wilson was one of the best we've ever had! He was very knowledgeable and so organized getting us through all the different modes of transportation. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone with the comment that it is a very active trip.

This trip to Ecuador was my 16th with Gate 1. All your/my tour managers have been excellent. However, my wife and I are compelled to note that Paul was our very best so far. Super friendly, caring and knowledgeable. Not only did he serve as the tour manager but also as the local guide for our daily visits. He even accompanied the group for end-of-day outings to ensure our safety and comfort. We cannot say enough good things about Paul. Would certainly consider another visit to Ecuador if it were guaranteed that he would be the tour manager again. Paul is a gem; an asset to Gate 1 Travel.

The Ecuador trip was absolutely OUTSTANDING, probably the best Gate 1 tour so far, because ALL of the experiences were so different: the Galapagos, the Quito/Andes area, AND the amazing Amazon Rain Forest. All the hotels were superb and the food uniformly excellent for every meal. Best of all was our Tour Manager Daniel who went above and beyond our expectations to make us feel safe and pampered every minute of every day! it was fun to have our local guide Alejandra be so well connected family-wise and well informed of the areas we visited.

The Ecuador Trip was wonderful from start to end. Our tour Guide Marco was amazing! He had the ability to share his country's history with ease. He showed understanding and compassion in situations that arose, humor, funny and very respectful. He was engaging with every person on this trip and interested in knowing about each person. Our driver Alexi was an amazing driver, respectful and funny. We were fortunate, with the personalities of the people on this tour. We quickly became friendly and more of a family looking out for each other and enjoying each other's company. The hotels were beautiful, the staff very friendly and the food absolutely delicious. At sit down meals presentation of meals was incredible! As usual, Gate 1 didn't disappoint. I enjoyed all the activities offered on the trip. Very happy to have been on this trip, but more so with this specific tour with Marco and the group of people on it.

I have been very impressed by ALL the tour guides we have encountered on our Gate 1 travels but out tour guide in Ecuador was above and beyond. He really made the trip amazing from start to finish. Very professional, accommodating, knowledgeable, funny, charming, I honestly can't say enough about him. Thank you for making this memorable trip even more memorable Jose!!

Our Tour Manager, Giovanna is an Ecuadorian National Treasure. Her attention to detail, organizational skills, and overall passion for her country is outstanding. Her interaction with others our entire trip was one of respect and admiration. She is very well received and so in turn, so was our tour group. I highly recommend she receives either a huge raise and/or bonus! She is that great! This was a trip of our lifetime, we have never experienced anything like it before. The bar is pretty high up for future expectations but, we are interested in travelling with Gate 1 again, hopefully soon.

This was my first trip with Gate1, and it was an amazing one. My mother booked it and we had our first mother daughter trip together. Everything was planned so well and the organization made us feel safe and well taken care of. Antonio is an amazing tour guide. He went above and beyond and truly made us feel like part of the family. My mom had fractured her ankle prior to this trip, and he made sure to accommodate and assist her everywhere she needed. I saw the same care offered to everyone else. Mario is an amazing driver, especially with all the elevation changes and turns. The whole tour group was in awe of his skills. Octavio at Itamandi lodge was the best guide for the rain forest, it was very authentic, and he made us feel very comfortable. We got rained out on the night rain forest walk, but they made sure to fit it in somehow by walking around with flashlights around the lodge and finding animals and insects. All the hotels were great, and my only feedback is that I wish I had extra time at the Termas resort. Antonio did his best to get us there as early as possible, which I appreciated because it was an amazing resort, especially the hot springs. We would've loved staying there an extra night to take advantage of the facilities.

This one of the best travel experiences my boyfriend and I had ever had. This was our first time to travel with Gate 1 but definitely not our last. We were so impressed with the Communication, knowledge, and care of all of the following people: Antonio, Octavio, Nixon, and Berta. Also, we felt totally safe at all times on the road with Mario as our driver. We are very much on a savings plan for our next trip with Gate 1 due to the professionalism, care, and communication that we received the entire time.

Wanted to let you know that this was one of the best trips we have ever been on with Gate 1. Very diverse areas of Ecuador was a great experience; the itinerary was full of extremely interesting exposure to the country/culture/people. A key to our experience was the engagement of a very passionate tour director - Wilson. He tended to every detail to ensure all the logistics happened as planned; there were a lot of moving pieces to manage throughout the trip. He was perfecto!!! Wilson is a tremendous ambassador for his country (Ecuador)- full of knowledge on most any topic and a great communicator possessing a great wit and a comfortable demeanor in dealing with the group. We enjoyed his company and learned a great deal. He was fun to be with. He made the difference in creating our great trip experience. Gate 1 is fortunate to have someone as talented as Wilson on the team. He is very well connected and respected by most all the locals at all places we visited. He is focused on ensuring all goes well with trip logistics, our satisfaction and safety. We were in good hands on a great trip. We just booked our next Gate 1 trip!!

This was a trip of a lifetime and met all expectations. Tour manager Wilson went above and beyond to be sure we had a great time. He is so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about his country which engaged us at all times. He is so personable, and it really showed at each location because all the locals we encountered just smiled and were so glad to see him and our group. He is well-connected with the locals and their culture. He was always checking to be sure we had everything we needed and very clear with instructions and what was next on the itinerary. Wilson is a great asset to Gate 1 because of all these things. He has a great sense of humor and was entertaining with facts and stories. We were a very small group which gave us even more time to get to know Wilson and chat during and after dinners especially. He was simply the BEST! To use one of his favorite words...the trip was PERFECTO! Gate 1 should be proud to have such a wonderful, valuable employee. He made the trip! This was my second trip with Gate 1 and he, by far, was the best of the 2 tour managers. Because of that, I will definitely take more Gate 1 trips and hope your other tour managers are of the same quality and enthusiasm.