Richard
GBFIVE STARS to Southern Exploration & Galapagos Marisa at Southern Explorations gave wonderful guidance to plan our Galapagos vacation. My wife and I are experienced travelers; however, traveling through Ecuador and aligned with the National Park operators definitely required proven experience! The Tip Top V crew was professional and welcoming, and our Park Guide, Nancy, was quite expert. We also benefitted from calm seas, perfect temperatures, and all flights “on-time”. Arriving a day in advance to enjoy Quito (and have a 24 hr buffer in case of delays) was great advice and our Quito hotel stay and old city tour very worthwhile. I did not appreciate Quito is 9,000’ elevation! Marisa and Southern Explorations arranged all the “pre” and “post” Galapagos stays and logistics and the on-site service for all was top notch. If you are in the mood to visit the Galapagos, certainly we give Marisa/Southern Explorations and Tip Top our highest recommendation.
SoCal Travelers
GBBeyond expectations! We had a truly wonderful, memorable trip in South America, and we are so happy we found Southern Explorations to organize our trip. They provided expert guidance and patiently answered questions during the planning stages. When we arrived, the local guides and personal service were outstanding. The itinerary, travel arrangements and excellent hotels all made for a seamless and fun trip. Great mix of hiking and relaxation in beautiful surroundings. Southern Explorations' expertise in knowing what to visit and how to plan activities made the trip live up to its “luxury” billing.
Kathleen
GBExperience was beyond our expectations… Experience was beyond our expectations from start to finish! We were met at the airport and escorted to our bus transportation with our luggage seamlessly! Our boat and staff were excellent and luggage was moved to and from our staterooms with no problems. SE took us through the Quito airport on our departure day also! Only let us go once everyone was through security and on their way. Our guide and hotel in Quito were incredible! Old town tour and gondola ride great! Wonderful trip!
Jvp
GBGuides knew their subjects and were… Guides knew their subjects and were polite, patient and reliable. One time only, our excursion pick-up came late (1/2 hour late, early morning pick-up) even though we had discussed the scheduled time the night before. No other glitches occurred.
CS
GBThe trip was well-organized and… The trip was well-organized and well-paced. The guides, especially in Bariloche, were excellent! They were able to pivot and provide an alternative hike/activity when the original first-day hiking trail was closed due to rain the previous day. The hotels were well-situated and comfortable.