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.

I want to give a special appreciation to Giovana, our tour guide while in our recent 13-day trip to Ecuador in April. She was very attentive to all our needs and gave great background information at all our destinations: the Galapagos islands, Guayaquil, Quito, Papallacta, and the Amazon basin. She enjoyed talking with us around the table after we had finished our meals. She also made sure we had some free time to do a little shopping after we had finished our local tours. Jeanine, the naturalist on Isabella, and Shonshu, the naturalist at Sacha lodge, were wonderful guides. Lots of interesting information on each of our tours.

i just returned from the 5-day Amazon Express. It was excellent. Javier, our tour guide, was wonderful. He handled everything. At every meal he assisted the waiters to make sure the food was given to the correct person. He was constantly telling us interesting facts about Ecuador. He made the whole experience perfect. Our driver, Hermes, was fun to be around and he seemed to enjoy all the activities we did. Octavio, the guide at the Ecolodge, was an expert in all the local plants and animals. He showed us so many things and obviously took great pride in the native village we visited. The whole trip was perfectly staffed.

Our trip was absolutely wonderful. Our guide, Marco, was the best. He was so attentive to everything. The trip was well organized, very informational, exciting, etc. The hotels were all superb quality. The food was superb. The tours were all great. We couldn't be more positive about our experience in the Galapagos, Quito and Amazon jungle. WOW does not adequately describe our experience, We would HIGHLY recommend this trip to friends and family and HIGHLY recommend MARCO to lead the tour.

The first time I saw a documentary of the giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies in the Galápagos, I knew I had to get there to see them for myself. The Galápagos islands delivered in every way. Glamping at Scalesia Lodge was extra special too. All amazing! I would have liked to stay a day or two longer, but there was so much more in store for us to see in Ecuador. All of the mainland cities we visited were vibrant and very interesting. The Ecuadorian Amazon was also a glorious adventure and surprise for me. Seeing all of the colorful wildlife there and learning about the Kichwa customs, scouting talents and cuisine (shout out to Shanshu, Jerry, Erica and Luisa) was a bonus. Getting to the beautiful Sacha was an experience on its own. And last but certainly not least, the Master of Ceremonies, Paúl, outdid himself. As our Tour Manager and Naturalist Extraordinaire, Paúl was spectacular in every way! In my opinion, the TM can make or break a trip and he made it in spades! Paúl's love and knowledge for his home country was inspiring. His kindness, humor, and patience with us on a VERY busy schedule made it extra fun and memorable. He related so well with the teenagers on the trip all the way up to us oldies. I travelled solo and met my good friends there. I felt very safe and comfortable being by myself under his watch. He always checked up on everyone. The daunting movement of this trip is no small feat, and it was flawlessly organized and handled by Paúl. I also loved all of Paúl's little surprises along the way. Paúl said this trip was a "not a vacation, but an adventure" and that statement tracks. Big effort with BIG rewards. It is so worth it! Shout out also to Javier (our main driver) who delivered on the KFC bucket picture for me. And thank you to all, including the hosts/hostesses that opened up of their private properties to expose us to a local slice of Ecuador. I learned so much and the food was delicious. This trip was very special for me and I will never forget it.

I just wanted to say that our guide, Wilson, and our driver, Hermes, were AMAZING! I have been on several escorted Gate1 tours and Wilson was the best guide we've had so far. He was extremely friendly, funny, knowledgeable, and organized. He also challenged us to try new things so that we could have the best experiences possible, especially when explaining local cuisine, including traditional dishes and indigenous plants and fruits. Our driver, Hermes, was super friendly, always literally lent a hand to help us in and out of the bus, and always had an antibacterial spray available for us when we got back on the bus. His driving was impressive, as he safely navigated the cliff-side roads, and he expertly got us up a cobblestone hill on a rainy day when we needed to get to Hotel Papagayo for lunch. Thank you, to both of them, for making this such an enjoyable and memorable experience!

I just wanted to add a few words about our tour guide, Marco. This was my 12th Gate 1 tour, and Marco was the best tour manager I've had the pleasure of travelling with. We arrived a day early, yet he contacted us in our hotel room to suggest activities and provide safety recommendations. On tour, he was thorough, clear with directions, eager to address concerns, and always attentive to the needs of his "family". He was available "25/8", his term and he meant it. He did everything, including playing the role of local guide everywhere we went. I can't praise him enough. He went above and beyond, friendly and welcoming to all, simply a pleasure to be around, and a fantastic ambassador for Gate 1 Travel. Thank you for sharing him with us.

Overall, we enjoyed the Ecuador tour, and it exceeded our expectations. We had an exceptional Tour Manager Daniel. He is by far the best Tour Manager we ever gotten on a Gate1 tour. He is very experienced, detailed, well-organized, knowledgeable, and friendly. His leadership skills are very astounding. These are the exceptional leadership qualities that everyone would hope for in a Tour Manager. He was very instrumental for the successful enjoyable tour outcome. We departed late on the last day of the tour on a late 11.45pm flight, so we had an opportunity to explore Quito further. Daniel arranged a full day tour with a local tour guide for some of us to explore Quito, and it turned out to be awesome. Thanks, Daniel for for excellent help. With deepest appreciation, we wanted to express our upmost gratitude to Daniel for all the help he has given and the kindness he has shown. He has been an exceptional Tour Manger and has certainly made us very proud of Gate1.

Trip went well. Our tour manager Ivan, was very good. The three days in the Galapagos was the highlight for me.

Our trip to Ecuador was fabulous. Marco was our tour manager, and he was the best ever! Marco has excellent group management skills, and his delightful personality and broad knowledge base enhanced our experience. Also, Marco has a wonderful sense of humor that made everyone comfortable and helped bond our diverse group. Marco went above and beyond to ensure that everyone had a great time. We really appreciated that the schedule was active and fairly busy. All of the local guides and naturalists were top notch. Our trip couldn't have been better!

Our trip was amazing. My wife & I have travelled around the world and had many tour guides, but Javier was the best ever. He was so informative and went above & beyond throughout the trip. When Javier saw something interesting, he would point it out and even stopped at several roadside produce stands so we could sample some delicious Ecuadorian fruits. One day he gave us a card with some fruit to find in a city market. Javier then collected all this fruit and spent several hours preparing it so we could enjoy it with dinner. Our bus driver Alexis was also fantastic. He had several days of driving on winding roads through the Andes mountains in the rain. He made everyone feel safe, helped the passengers off the bus, and had hand sanitizers for everyone when we boarded the bus.

My trip to Ecuador was perfect. Beginning with our amazing and knowledgeable guide Jose, the accommodations, the local guides, food, and great places we visited. A special thank you to Jose who was so wonderful and helpful. I realize it's not an easy job keeping us moving and taking care of any problems along the way. He made my trip an adventure I'll never forget. This was my 1st gate 1 trip and I'm looking forward to more trips with your company.

Was Marvelous. Our tour guide Javier was so wonderful. So impressed about how well organized and beautiful everything was. Normally I travel on my way but I had a lovely experience with our group.

Hi there...just returned from the 8-Day Ecuador trip with Jose. It was one of the most rewarding trips for me...I LOVE being out in nature. The hot springs, floating down the Amazon on a raft...I had to pinch myself to believe it was real. It was one of the most active trips, which was fine. The hikes in the Amazon were great for working off the incredible food. The places that we stayed were....so far beyond expectations. Thankful that Gate 1 has the pull to provide these types of places on a Classic Tour. I kept up a daily facebook posting for my family and friends and people were blown away by the trip...they kept saying it is now on their bucket list! Jose was obviously incredible...his experience, joy, amazing energy and true care for the folks on the trip...he knew our names right away and used them often. I don't know how Gate 1 consistently has such wonderful guides...but thank you. That really makes the trip. He provided lots of suggestions for free time...I did take the gondola up to the top of the mountain and it was beautiful. The people at each of the places we stayed were so helpful, serving and pleasant. Staff in the Amazon resort were a blast of fun. Thank you once again for just blowing my socks off and truly giving me more of the world for less!! 21 days in South America with your 5-Day Colombia trip, 10-Day Rio, Iguazu and BA trip and 8-Day Ecuador trip back to back. It was just right. (I threw in 2 day in Panama between Colombia and Rio...since the plane route went that way) and Day trip to Uruguay from BA, leaving one day early from BA for Ecuador because I had already spent time there on the Patagonia trip. It all fit together perfectly...very thankful for that!

Our tour manager, Paul, did an exceptional job. He was organized, patient, knowledgeable, passionate, and helpful, and he really made the trip easy and fun. I can't say enough good things about him! This was my first Gate 1 trip, and I will definitely book more!

Cynthia, our Tour Manager - I would like to sincerely thank Cynthia's exceptional services for an amazing tour. She went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time in Ecuador/Amazon. Her professional knowledge, expertise, enthusiasm and effort made our travel experiences seamless and stress free. We have learned about so much about Ecuador. She is the best tour manager we have had ever!

Antonio was a truly remarkable guide for us in the Galapagos islands, Amazon rainforest and the Andes. You could really tell Antonio has a love for his country as he shared with passion the many historical landmarks, the animals, fish, birds and butterflies unique to Ecuador. Antonio is a great people person and problem solver. He went the extra mile, over and beyond, to help us with anything. We had an incredible time, and Antonio played a big part in making that happen. Can't wait for our next Gate 1 adventure.

Our trip to Ecuador was really good. We cannot say enough about our tour guide, Giovanna - she was fabulous with personality, knowledge and caring for us. Top notch!!! Our driver, Hermes, was beyond great, especially with the roads he had to drive. We've never seen so many mountains with curves, steep inclines and downward roads and he kept us safe!!!! He's a keeper. This was our 20th trip with Gate 1, and we are so appreciative of all the behind-the-scenes work the company and employees do. We've never been disappointed. Thanks to everyone.

My trip to Ecuador was perfect. The tour manager, Giovanna, was so friendly and educational. She kept us all appropriately informed about all aspects of the trip as we traveled. The driver, Alexis, was helpful and careful, as the roads, although generally good, were dotted with true hazards. The Itamandi lodge, the food, the activities and staff were beyond imagination. I was surprised with how clean everything was at the lodge and how organized. I appreciated that Giovanna was with us every step of the way. The thermal spa at Termas was a first for us. I wish we had about 4 extra hours of daylight there, but it was an express trip and I can't figure out a way it could have been accomplished while still getting the best of the Amazon and Center of World. So, it was just a perfect trip. This is one of our favorite trips. I think having Giovanna meet us at and return us to the airport along with her being so enthusiastic and sweet just really added to the journey.