Great trip.

This was a fantastic experience! Alex organized a wonderful trip for three senior ladies who discovered they were much more out of shape than they had estimated. Despite our physical challenges (it was mostly the heat and terrain) we all made the most of our time in Ecuador and the Galapagos. We added a day in Quito at the front end of our experience to see the equator and the city. We had a great tour of the city. Saw some magnificent churches/cathedrals, tasted local fruits at a farmer's market, and enjoyed a chocolate tasting. Our guides helped us through the airport system to get to the Galapagos and we were off and hiking almost as soon as we arrived on San Cristobal. Perhaps it would be good to give travelers some time to adjust before taking them out on a lengthy hike the first day. The "short trek" to Tijeretas Hill was a bit much (heat and terrain) for our aging bodies, so we cut it short to do a little snorkeling on the way back at Darwin Bay. Changing facilities were not what we expected. Perhaps there was a communication issue. Had we known it was "open air" we could have easily put our swim suits on in the rest rooms at the Interpretation Center Gianny Arismendi. But let's face it, we were not the attraction, so we swallowed our embarrassment, got changed and enjoyed the snorkeling. A glitch in the reservation system forced the cancellation of our snorkeling at Kicker Rock. Instead we had a private tour of the island. We hiked El Junco to see the freshwater lagoon, which was beautiful (but a challenging uphill hike) and did some afternoon snorkeling and saw the first of many giant sea turtles, up close view of the marine iguanas and sea lions. I could go on in detail about every day but each day just got progressively better. Takiri Travel more than made up for the Kicker Rock glitch before our trip was complete. We had individual guides each day and every one of them was informative, flexible, and a joy to be around. Our hotels were top notch. The food was some of the best I've ever had. My only recommendations to Takiri would be to more accurately describe the distances and terrain of the hikes/walks/treks and the challenge of just being in the heat and humidity. Perhaps build in a few more rest stops for the older travelers who may be less fit. To future Takiri travelers to the Galapagos (or anywhere else, I suspect), trust the company. They will not steer you wrong. The experience will be amazing. Don't be afraid of trying new things whether it's an activity or something to eat or drink. There was only one island where the tap water wasn't potable. I thought the extra money I spent on a filtered water bottle was a waste. There was usually somewhere to refill my water bottle safely or purchase a fresh bottle of water. Definitely bring bug spray and sunscreen. One of our group was much more attractive to the insects that the others. If you know you get bit when you're outside come prepared. In general, be prepared. This is 8 days of activity. If you need a break, take it but you will have to miss something to do it.

Our guide Alex, and driver, Daniel, were delightful. The tour was appropriately paced, including a brief stop at the Equator, and a juice/baño/hummingbird stop midway. We learned about - and sampled - the Rumisitana artesanal coffee, which was the most delicious coffee we have ever tasted. Heck, we even drank it black and loooved it! We toured the chocolate making process at Yumbos in Mindo, sampled chocolate, and had a chocolate facial. A totally delightful experience!

If you want an immersive Galapagos trip, Takiri excels at this. Their tours are not luxury hotel vacations with lazy beach time, but that is not what we were looking for. The experiences they provide give you a thorough exposure to the history, cultural, people, and natural wonders of this amazing place. The accommodations were at comfortable locally owned hotels with friendly, helpful staff and excellent breakfasts. Lunches were at good restaurants providing tasty local dishes. But what Takiri really excels at is customer service. Arrangements for excursions were with competent quality providers. The importance of this became evident when talking with other travelers who had very different experiences, especially on snorkeling and boat tours where safety procedures were lax. We always felt very safe and cared for on all excursions. And the guides were always friendly, informative and helpful. Communication before and during our trip was excellent, frequent, and easy. Alex, from the main office, made sure that we were well informed and supported. And Manuel, our local contact and frequent driver on Isabela Island, could not have been more helpful and informative. Individualization and modification of plans was easy and done readily to meet our needs. For a full immersive experience, touring the Galápagos Islands is not for the faint of heart. We expected an active itinerary. But given our age and mild physical restrictions, some modifications were needed. All were done quickly and graciously. And all of this is at a very reasonable cost. We’ve traveled frequently and successfully with larger tour companies. Takiri is among the best for value and service. We highly recommend them and will definitely use them again if returning to their area.

We had a fantastic time. Excellent trip with great experiences!