Traveler Testimonials

I researched many different companies and what they tour. This was the perfect one that not only showed the beautiful and wonderous sites, but showed the culture as well. And that is what we wanted to get out of this trip. Culture, sites, experiences. They have it all.

In a word, our guides were PHENOMENAL. I can't say enough about both. Pablo was so knowledgeable and experienced and his passion for the islands just shone through. Paolo was a warm, kind, steady, constant always one step ahead of everything and anticipating our needs and wants - he just took such good care of us all and made sure we had everything we needed.

Trip of a lifetime! Incredible beyond words.

For a wheelchair user, the idea of traveling in the Galapagos seemed impossible. GalaKiwi made it happen - the complete adventure with all the wildlife, natural history, and experiences! We were able to do much, much more than we thought possible. This was the trip of a lifetime.

This is a great outfit, both professional and personal. They handled our large group extremely well, and the guides were super-attentive, knowledgeable, and personable. Highly recommended!

I cannot say enough positive things about our experience with Galakiwi. Every part of our trip went flawlessly, from the reservation process to the entire itinerary to the final transport back to the airport. Our guide through the islands, Martin, was knowledgeable, dependable, flexible, and fun. Our days were packed with diverse and interesting activities, but not overwhelming. Our hotel accommodations were clean and comfortable. Each of our meals were filling, healthy, fresh, and surprisingly delicious. Pretty much every experience exceeded our expectations! Galakiwi made planning and conducting my first student group trip easy…I will absolutely be a repeat customer!

Our guide Pablo is the Steve Irwin of Ecuador and Karen at Galakiwi offered 24/7, 365 concierge customer service. Truly an exceptional experience from booking to completion that left our family with new life long friends. I cannot recommend Galakiwi highly enough!

Excelente Trip! Our highlights were Swimming with sea lions at Tintoreras, seeing the Blue Footed Boobie dance, Floreana island - quiet and mysterious, seeing the southern cross at night, Pepo’s knowledge of all things Galapagean and his patience and gentle manner and humor, the organization of activities and meals and Pepo’s SuperPlans so we were prepared for the next activity.

Awesome, Pepo is world class. Everything went amazingly smoothly.

A big thank you to the team at Galakiwi for making my holiday in the Galapagos the most incredible experience I could have ever wished for. I thought I had missed out completely when my flight from Miami got canceled but Laura rescheduled everything in Ecuador for me and arranged for me to catch up with my group without missing out at all. Pepo our guide did a superb job and every day was even better than the one before, except the last one when we had to go home ?. From beginning to end every single member of the Galakiwi team was incredible. I couldn't recommend this 6-day Galapagos holiday or Galakiwi highly enough. I will treasure all the wonderful memories of the Galapagos.

I would give this trip six stars if I could. This was my second trip with Galakiwi, the first having been with a small group of adults none of whom I knew before the trip. This trip, I requested a custom itinerary for myself, my adult daughter and her husband, and their bright and very active kids aged 7, 10 and 12. The staff did a great job seeking out activities suitable for us, some of which I'd done previously and some I had not. We were even able to book a surfing session. Pablo Valladares was our guide on the first trip and I requested him for this tour because of his outgoing personality, encyclopedic knowledge about the islands, and obvious deep love for the place where he lives. I cannot recommend Galakiwi highly enough. In addition to all the above, Galakiwi offers a land based tour so you sleep in a hotel every night and not on a boat. What could be better?

I learned so much and had so much fun! It was an adventure I will never forget!

Laura at Galakiwi put together a fabulous private 10-day tour itinerary that met our preferences. The tour went smoothly from start to finish and our guide Pablo was fantastic! Thanks to all the folks at Galakiwi for helping us have a wonderful vacation!

Pablo and Galakiwi were incredible and showed us some really amazing places and wildlife. Pablo's knowledge was seemingly endless and he was so great at answering my kids questions and making sure our time was not only interesting but really fun. We are already asking "when can we go back?"

Galakiwi provided my family with the ultimate customized trip, allowing flexibility and providing experiences and information that everyone could enjoy. The highlight of the trip was seeing not just the kids but the adult (my daughter and her husband) experience so many moments of sheer joy and excitement.

Galakiwi provided our 7-person group outstanding, professional services throughout the 13 day customized tour. From the expert advice during the pre-trip planning to the booking experience, the efficient on-site logistics, the exceptional, highly knowledgeable guides, and the excellent family-run quality hotels, everything was perfect. It was the experience of a lifetime that our group had dreamed of. Galakiwi is a superb team all around.

All of our services were well planned, and logistics were timely. The hotels and restaurants were great, we felt well-supported in all of the accommodations. Our guide Fabricio was an amazing host for our group. Our students were engaged and inspired by him and his knowledge of the islands. Having such an energetic and engaging guide for our students was key. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this trip possible, we really appreciate all of the planning and support that went into our experience.

We can highly recommend Galakiwi Tours for their professionalism. The tour guides were excellent with their knowledge and attention.

Your tour guide is the person who holds most of the cards when it comes to what type of experience you get. A group of 10 high school students and two teachers requires a different type of guide and client relationship that not everyone can provide. I can only speak for the one tour guide we had, but he was able to deliver a top-notch experience.

I was thoroughly impressed with the organization of all our excursions. We all appreciated Pablo’s energy, enthusiasm and passion that he shared with us throughout our trip. He has gifted us with his knowledge of the islands. Communicating through the website was easy and informative. It was the best snorkeling I have ever done and will never forget! This was a dream trip and it did not disappoint. Thanks to the entire Galakiwi team for making it unforgettable!

I would like to thank Galakiwi for providing an amazing family holiday. It was absolutely seemless and exceeded my expectations. Our guide was so enthusiastic and engaging. The trip was magical and each of us has a different highlight! I highly recommend the 10 day tour and have already suggested it to many of our friends.

Words do not describe this experience of a lifetime for me. Our guide Pablo's enthusiasm is infectious. Their backup crew were so helpful and forgiving. I did not want to leave.

The Galapagos had been a dream trip for a long time, Galakiwi and Pablo made that dream come true. Surpassed my expectations!

Galakiwi is an extremely well run, organized tour that focuses on the details, safety and comfort of all of the people in the group. Our 10 day adventure trip to the Galapagos was phenomenal in every way. Our guide, Pablo and assistant guide, Paulo were enthusiastic and knowledgeable and made every single thing we did exciting and memorable. We couldn’t have asked for a better situation for our first group tour. In addition, Laura was totally responsive and helpful with all of our questions and concerns prior to the trip.

Galakiwi does a wonderful job handling all of the details of traveling in the Galapagos. Our guide was superb and took time to give information about the history, biology, and geology of the islands. The equipment was top notch and we had a memorable experience. I strongly recommend Galakiwi for the adventure minded active traveler who is looking to sample all that the Galapagos have to offer.

We can’t say enough about what an unbelievable time we had exploring the Galapagos thanks to Tim and the Galakiwi team. Our guide, Pepo (Peluche!), was amazing and definitely holds a special place in our hearts. From top to bottom it was a first rate experience filled with an abundance of adventure and unforgettable memories we will cherish for the rest of our lives. Thanks Tim and the entire Galakiwi staff for exceeding our expectations and truly being the best organization anyone visiting the Galapagos could wish for. Until we meet again!

My husband and I have traveled all over the world planning our own adventures and using tour companies. Galakiwi is not your average company. They are a company that is truly invested in their employees and the clients they serve. They have great awareness of the clients needs and strive for attention to details to make your travel experience truly a relaxing, memorable life experience. I would recommend not using any other company if you are planning a trip to the Galápagos Islands.

To anyone considering this trip we'd say don't hesitate to book with Galakiwi if you're looking for a holiday which offers a range of activities providing many wonderful opportunities to learn about the life and wildlife of the islands. We feel privileged to have made such a great choice in Galakiwi! Our guide was the real highlight, enabling us to have such a wonderful experience

We can't recommend Galakiwi enough. They are a first class operation from top to bottom and our 10 day trip with the Post-Covid was as near perfect as you can get. All the staff, food, accommodations and activities were first rate and everyone at Galakiwi should be congratulated for a job well done! Can't wait to come back!

Our trip to the Galapagos (one that we've been dreaming of for years) exceeded every expectation. Pablo's knowledge and love of the islands was clear in everything he said and did. We are already planning for a return trip and will book with Galakiwi again.

This was an amazing trip! I guess it was a bucket list trip, but we plan on going back and seeing more! Galakiwi made the trip. With all of their knowledge, connections, flexibility, and enthusiasm we could not have asked for a better experience.

Galapagos is truly a unique place, a place anyone with an interest in the natural world and our planet earth should experience. Our experience was much enhanced, more meaningful and richer all around because we were accompanied by a first rate guide on a well orchestrated tour from GALAKIWI. Thanks to all the staff.

From the moment we read the description on the Galakiwi website we knew this was the trip for us. We were excited to see a trip that was focused on activities and learning, not eating!!!! We were not disappointed. We loved being in the actual communities and contributing to their sustainability. We felt we had such an authentic experience by staying on the islands. The pre-trip communications, arrangements that were made, the gear that was provided, our guide, the meals - all of it was top notch!

Galawiki cares about its customers but we were more like family than customers. The tour was well organized, professional, and informative. Good balance of activities and downtime.

I didn't know what to expect going in but after my trip I was thoroughly impressed by what Galakiwi added to my experience. I could not have experienced the Galapagos in the same way without the knowledge and expertise added by the staff of Galakiwi.

Our Galakiwi adventure was a trip of a lifetime! Everything little thing was outstanding and our guide, Zambo was truly exceptional. I would recommend Galakiwi to everyone!

Galakiwi did an amazing job of fore-thinking all aspects of both logistics and fun to be had. Our guide (Zambo) could not have been better at all the phases of his job: knowledge of the island's flora and fauna and history; herding all of us with a smile and determination; and the stamina to do it all every day, dawn to dusk and after.

I thoroughly enjoyed my adventure tour. It combined many fun activities, with learning a lot about the Galapagos Archipelago. We traveled to four different islands, saw many amazing creatures, and ate excellent local food. Our guide, Zambo, was incredible, a perfect blend of knowledge and enthusiasm. I had a blast.

Galakiwi is a great combination of the Kiwi Spirit, Galapagos charm and support staff and guides second to none. The land based option needs to be promoted more and in particular to Kiwis who love the great outdoors and lots of action. Galakiwi provides this in spades.

My message to all of my friends is to get to Galapagos, take a land-based tour, and if you can see the islands with Galakiwi, you will have an unforgettable experience.

The trip is a trip of a lifetime! Galakiwi's service is first class! Great balance of all the flora and fauna, as well as food and activities. Fantastic customer service, well maintained excellent equipment at all activities and our guide was extremely flexible, attentive and knowledgeable. Highly recommend.

Two hours after arriving on San Cristobal (our first island) my wife exclaimed BEST VACATION EVER. That sentiment stayed with both of us for the entire trip. We felt like we were in a National Geographic magazine most of our trip!

Galakiwi's mission goes far beyond ensuring that its guests have a memorable vacation. Yes, everything is organized to the tiniest detail so that you never have a worry in the world. But more than that, they are dedicated to giving you the trip of a lifetime with experiences you will never forget! Every single day is packed with adventure, fun, good food, and fantastic memories. From the fabulous and extremely knowledgeable guides (Pepo in the Galapagos and Lenin in Quito) to the friendly and helpful staff (Laura) and even the hands-on owner (Tim), you cannot go wrong in choosing Galakiwi to explore Quito and the Galapagos!

Look no further for your Galapagos tour. Galakiwi's tour will prove to be the trip of a lifetime and will literally make your experience beyond memorable. Our family (8 people) had the most amazing time hiking, biking, kayaking, snorkeling and seeing nature first hand like we never imagined. Our guide Pablo brought it all to life. I can't give a high enough recommendation.

My husband and I were blown away by our Galapagos adventure which made all the more enjoyable by the wonderful team at Gapakiwi, particularly our guide, Pablo.

I was very impressed with the professionalism of your company. Branding was excellent & this was good when travelling on boats etc as could clearly identify the Galakiwi staff. All of your staff are so friendly & enthusiastic about the Galapagos & sharing it with you. We were so well looked after by not only our guides but also Paolo in San Cristobal, Francesco in Isabella & Lenin back in Quito.

THANK YOU to Laura, Pablo, Pepo and the Galakiwi team for giving us such an amazing experience!!! I plan to recommend Galakiwi to all of my friends and family who plan to go to the Galapagos.

The x-factor with Galakiwi's tour, being land-based, is the insight you get into real life on the Galapagos. This was what lifted our trip beyond the expected 'trip of a lifetime' to see the natural sights of the Galapagos, to a really meaningful (though short!) experience in another country and culture.

The 10-day adventure trip in the Galapagos is a very special trip. Unlike anywhere else you will ever go. The islands, activities and guide were superb! The entire trip was well-planned, organized and awesome. I can’t stop talking about how wonderful everything and everyone was. If you are looking for a trip to exceed your expectations, this is IT!

Pablo our tour guide was AMAZING! His love and passion for the islands was apparent in everything we did. His knowledge of nature, animals and the islands was superb. He really made the trip!

Galakiwi provides an authentic, locally inspired, conscious, small group experience in south america. We were confident knowing that our investment to make such a huge trip was going back into the local communities and loved experiencing things in such a tiny group. Its hard to find such a personalized way of traveling on a trip without spending hours planning yourself (and believe me it would have been near impossible to replicate this itinerary on your own), and Laura was awesome and available to answer all my questions (and there were a lot of questions!) before our trip. We felt inspired by our tour guides, excited by their knowledge and love for their homes, and learned so much. I'd highly recommend Galakiwi to feel like you had a true adventure, from activities like hiking, biking, and kayaking, to relaxing snorkels and easy going beach dinners, they offer everything for a fun and unique vacation.

Our Galapagos adventure with Galakiwi exceeded our expectations! The itinerary was active and diverse, and the logistics were handled very efficiently throughout the entire trip. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, and his obvious passion for the Galapagos was infectious! We have traveled extensively and had many wonderful experiences, but my husband and I both felt this was one of our best trips ever.

This was the trip of a lifetime! the natural beauty of the Galapagos was beyond our expectations, but was even surpassed by the friendliness, knowledge and enthusiasm of our guide Zambo. He led our teenagers through the islands in an educational adventure that they will never forget. Thanks GalaKiwi!

I thought the tour was very well organized, the guides were professional, knowledgeable and fun, the activities were physical but not overly hard, the food delicious, memories unforgettable and overall I enjoyed this trip very much.

My wife and I had a wonderful six days with Galakiwi. The transport arrangements, the accommodations and restaurant choices were excellent. Our guide Pepo was professional - friendly, concerned about our safety and the environment, and ready with important suggestions. I will highly recommend Galakiwi to anyone planning to visit the Galapagos.

If you're into nature, wildlife and evolution then the Galapagos is somewhere you have to visit. And if you want to see it at its best then Galakiwi is the way to go. Everything about the trip was Magic!

Galakiwi provides the trip of a lifetime. We were thrilled with every activity, the accommodations, food and, especially, our fantastic guide Jessica who made the week so special.

We spent a month in South America and our time in the Galapagos was the highlight. There were new delightful surprises multiple times a day. Our guide, Pablo, shared his enthusiasm with us and kept us entertained with great stories and fascinating information each and every day. The land based tour from Galakiwi was definitely the right choice. We have spoken to others that took ship based tours and we feel that we made a great choice with Galakiwi. It was the trip of a lifetime!

If you like an active holiday and want to understand the nature and culture of the Galapagos at the same time, then join Galakiwi. We saw the value of participating in the land based trip as opposed to yacht based trip when we saw the positive impact on the local community. We can see first hand how going land based help the local economy. The locals expressed their appreciation to us.

We had a great land-based trip with Galakiwi -it as fun being ashore at night and wandering among the wildlife and with the locals in the street. And staying on an extra couple of days gave us time by ourselves but with full support from the Galakiwi team when we wanted it. The best of both worlds with a great professional approach. Thanks heaps as they say in NZ!

My bucket list trip was fully realized with Galakiwi! The team handled our tour with such professionalism and organization which allowed us to simply relax and focus on enjoying the amazing surroundings. Adventure tour was a great active way to experience the islands! Loved, loved, loved it all!

We've been home 4 days and can't stop thinking about our trip. We loved the wildlife, the water, the people, the food and our guide, Pepo. The personal attention from Galakiwi folks was incredible. We especially enjoyed the integration of history, the natural wonder of the islands and the local culture and people on the islands we visited. Our trip exceeded all of our expectations!
We would do it all again in a heartbeat!

To anybody looking to do a tour of the Galapagos I would offer two pieces of advice. Firstly, do a land based tour. The Galapagos is a national park and you are very restricted in where you can go. Everybody visits the same places both on land and in the sea. The difference with a land based tour is that you get to stay in nice local owned hotels and can enjoy the small town and village atmosphere long after the boat people have returned to their ships. Secondly is go with Galakiwi. Superbly organised with brilliant guides (Pepo) and a nice "family owned" feel to the company.

Our experience with GALAKIWI in the Galapagos Islands was a trip of a lifetime from start to finish. We learned so much from our amazing guide Pablo. The owners of the company added a wonderful personal touch to the trip that we loved. They made us feel like we were being hosted by family. Each and every member of our family absolutely loved this experience. We plan to look into booking another trip with GALAKIWI in New Zealand in the very near future!

It ended too soon. ALL the staff is awesome. Laura, Cristhian, Rodolfo. You make it so smooth in spite of the fact that things had to be juggled because of the uncontrollable weather. How can I come stay? :)

My Galakiwi trip to the Galapgos far exceeded my expectations. The trip will stay in my memory as the trip of a lifetime!

A wonderful experience in a unique part of the world, greatly enhanced by a well organised organisation with wonderful staff.

Galakiwi was such a wonderful company to work with from beginning to the end. Laura was the person who helped with booking and logistics and she is absolutely wonderful. This trip to the Galapagos was a dream come true for me and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. We explored the biodiversity with the help of Pepo, who is such an amazing guide that you will feel like you took the best hands on Biology class ever. Our group grew closer and shared such a wide array of amazing experiences such as snorkeling over hammerhead sharks and swimming next to sea lions, sea turtles and marine iguanas. As a nature lover and Darwin enthusiast this is a vacation that I will never forget. The sunset and night sky in Floreana alone was worth the money. Even the boat rides between islands were amazing and we were able to float along with multiple species of dolphins and whales. I would recommend this trip to anyone.

For anyone who is active & enjoys an adventurous holiday the Galápagos Islands are a perfect destination with unique scenery, sea life, and endemic species on each volcanic island. The Giant Tortoise in their highland habitat are worth the trip alone!!

Visiting the Galapagos on Galakiwi’s land based tour is the best way to experience the islands. My son and I are repeat Galakiwi & Galapagos tourists. One can take the same vacation and the flora and fauna will be different. Having the ability to explore, eat and sleep on four islands lets the visitor see the diversity of each island. In addition, the activities are fun and thrilling. It’s hard to choose what’s best, the snorkeling, kayaking or hiking. Galakiwi’s itinerary and focus on details makes the experience to the archipelago a great vacation and NOT a ‘once in a lifetime trip’.

Galapagos Islands experienced through the highly organised/personalised Galakiwi company is THE best way to go! Great opportunity to snorkel, swim, bike, hike and learn so much about this wonderful diverse paradise. Accomodations, food and, most importantly, the guide Pepo were all top notch. Grateful - thanks for an amazing experience.

Hi Galakiwi team,

The wedding trip has finally finished now that the last guests have just left Santiago. We just wanted to write a quick note to say a massive thank you to everyone in Galakiwi who have helped make this trip so memorable for us. Everyone had a great time and really enjoyed it.

just wanted to thank you for the wonderful trip you planned for Al and I. It was perfect!! The guides were outstanding. Pepo is a knowledgeable young man with a passion for nature. He lead the group in a competent manner and always had our safety in mind. He was very encouraging and my co-travelers agreed that he was top notch. Fernando was excellent and perfect for his part of the trip in Peru. He treated us like royalty and constantly checked us for any physical distress along the way. This is obviously his land and he is really "one" with it. He is also knowledgeable, kind, and a wonderful guide. We really liked him. Again, thank you for your excellent service.

While I knew I would enjoy the Galapagos, the trip with Galakiwi became for me the highlight of our South American travels.

Should be on everyone's bucket list. Galakiwi being shore based is a bonus with more freedom ashore.

I'd really like to say a very sincere thank you to you and to all the members of the Galakiwi team as we had a fantastic trip! The tour more than exceeded our expectations. All of the students had an unforgettable experience and now they're all asking when we can do it again!

Everything from the accommodation, food and activities was perfect...we have no complaints! Special thanks to Zambo and Pepo who really made the trip extraordinary. Their passion and enthusiasm was so inspiring and they had a wonderful rapport with all of the kids.

We could not have had a better trip and have been praising your team to anyone and everyone who is still willing to listen to us go on and on about our awesome trip.

We definitely look forward to organising another visit in the future.

Aneefa Ali
French & Spanish Teacher
Dean
The British Academy

We are three couples with different interests and abilities, but the trip was great for all of us. The activities were a blast, our guide was top-notch and everything went just as we had hoped. We really loved it and would highly recommend Galakiwi to anyone thinking of a land-based Galapagos trip.

The Galapagos Islands are a treasured natural wonder. A Galakiwi tour is the ideal choice for an active adventure in this beautiful location. Attentive staff, knowledgeable personable and truly caring guides, and a great local feel makes this the perfect land based tour of the Galapagos. A vacation of a lifetime.

We will use Galakiwi again for our next trip to South America. In fact, we will return to South America for another holiday because of Galakiwi and the experience we had with them! We heard that Galakiwi may be expanding into new countries and will use Galakiwi for our future trips. Everyone associated with the company acted professionally. All were highly organized and attentive, and made sure we were always comfortable and happy. The service went way beyond our expectations. Thank you.

I have been very lucky to travel around the world, to see some beautiful countries and to go on some of the greatest tours, but I can put my hand on my heart and swear that my time on the Galapagos was by far the best. It was the best ten days I could have imagined. It exceeded my expectations and I had very high expectations! The tour I was perfectly paced and suitable for all ages. Tim, the tour guide, was very patient and very knowledgeable, and my time was certainly an adventure! I have no problem at all with recommending Galakiwi Adventures and I can't wait until I am able to do another one!

Thanks to Galakiwi, our Melbourne Girls College educational trip to the Galapagos Islands was a huge success. We wanted an all-round travel, community, scientific experience for our girls and Galakiwi delivered a fantastic program. There was an excellent combination of conservation work with the Giant Tortoises, interaction with local school children and the chance to experience the unique wildlife of the Galapagos Islands. The tour guides on each of the islands demonstrated a genuine love for their country and an astounding knowledge of their environment. Nicholas, Pablo and Pepo obviously love passing on their knowledge to visitors and lead us in fun and challenging activities. Tim accompanied us for the time on the islands and his sense of humour and ability to connect to a variety of personalities made our trip really memorable. The addition of a few days on the mainland of Ecuador was fantastic. It added an extra cultural and geographical aspect to our trip. Thanks to Galakiwi for putting together such a wonderful program for our students to experience.

We booked the Adventure Tour at short notice and had the trip of a lifetime. The company really does provide excellent service, from beginning to end, and enabled us to experience the unbelievable wildlife and the islands in a direct and eco-friendly way. Highly recommended!

A trip to the Galapagos was not on our "bucket list" but having gone there, it should be on everyone's.

I had been planning a trip with my family for ages, and when the idea to go to Galapagos emerged, I thought what a better place to reunite with family and induce some very needed bonding opportunity. The fantastic natural setting was super conductive to this goal, but if it wasn't for GALAKIWI's immaculate service and attention it wouldn't have happened. So thanks to you guys for everything!

My trip was for about 25 days on the three main islands, and my first trip on my own. It was perfect with good snorkling, exiting and tough bike riding and many other great experiences. This is my favorite destination on the planet and this is words from a guy who normally is much more into traveling to big city and stuff like that.

6 or 7 years have passed since I was on a Galakiwi trip and it’s stuck with me like a curse. I compare every place and every trip to San Cristobal and the rest of the islands and nothing comes close to it. Tim’s hospitality is amazing and he will show you a side of the islands not many get to see. Go Galakiwi!

Fantastically organised trip from start to finish, never bored, with activities to suit all types of ‘adventures’. Tim and the rest of the crew went absolutely out of their way to accommodate all my requests. Would easily do it again when the family is old enough.

I have been looking forward to visiting the Galapagos for well over a decade and this trip exceeded all my expectations, simply incredible.

This was the trip of a lifetime, and I would highly suggest it to someone looking for an adventure in the most beautiful place in the world!

Excellent trip, well organized, fun activities, nice hotels, friendly and helpful guide and staff. A very positive impression! It seemed that Galakiwi was very serious about sustainable tourism.

The Galakiwi trip is the trip of a lifetime for water enthusiasts. Traveling from island to island in the Galapagos ensures you’re always near the ocean and the amount of dives and snorkeling is perfect for the weeklong trip. The way the sea lions play with and follow you through the water every time you hop in was the ultimate highlight for me.

We travelled with Galakiwi in 2008 and had an outstanding time. The small group size and the mix of snorkeling, hiking and biking activities gave us a variety of ways to enjoy the islands and experience the animals up close. While other tours were riding around in zodiacs, we were actually swimming with dolphins. Unforgettable!

These 10 days were without doubt the best back-to-back 10 days of my life! Incredible place, fantastic friends, and the best guide ever!

My 9 day adventure through the Galapagos Islands with Galakiwi not only met, but exceeded all expectations. Each island offers its own beauty and personal adventure, but my experience on all islands will stay with me forever. Three islands in seven days…who would’ve thought one could have the experience of a lifetime in just a week! Amazing! Travel, accommodation and an amazing adventure in the Galapagos…Galakiwi helped create the perfect adventure in one of the rarest places left on the planet. Can’t wait to return!

My wife and I had a once in a lifetime experience in the Galapagos with Galakiwi. With mountain biking, scuba diving with hammer heads, snorkeling with white tip reef sharks, sea lions, and sea turtles, sea kayaking, and hiking across a live volcano, there was NEVER a dull moment. And when we weren’t actively pursuing the adventures of the Galapagos we were enjoying relaxing walks on the beach, drinks, and the best fresh sea food we ever had.

The Galapagos Islands are the most amazing and beautiful islands in the world! I have never seen such a diverse and fantastic array of wildlife in such a small area and everyone is so friendly. I got engaged after the perfect day of swimming with turtles, rays, sea lions and over fifty hammerhead and Galapagos sharks out at ‘Kicker Rock’, and then saw one of the best sunsets in the World! Perfect Day, Perfect Tour, Perfect Place!

Galakiwi provide a very professional tour of the Galapagos Islands with knowledgeable guides, interesting accommodation and excellent equipment.

I rate the entire trip 5 stars out of 5. It is rare for me not to have recommendations for improvement, but on this trip I have none. The pace was right, the days were full, and the experience was exceptional. Accomodations were great.

We had an amazing experience while in Ecuador, Galakiwi made the travel arrangements seamless. We could focus on enjoying nature, kayaking, hiking and other fun activities. Staff members and lodge hosts at Napo were friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Our naturalist guides were outstanding.

Thanks to Galakiwi, our educational trip to the Galapagos Islands was a huge success. We wanted an all-round travel, community, scientific experience for our girls and Galakiwi delivered a fantastic program. There was an excellent combination of conservation work with the Giant Tortoises, interaction with local school children and the chance to experience the unique wildlife of the Galapagos Islands. The tour guides on each of the islands demonstrated a genuine love for their country and an astounding knowledge of their environment. The addition of a few days on the mainland of Ecuador was fantastic. It added an extra cultural and geographical aspect to our trip. Thanks to Galakiwi for putting together such a wonderful program for our students to experience.

The Galapagos mountain biking adventure trip was an amazing experience. Having to dodge a giant tortoise in the middle of the road is not something that happens every day. A great way to see these beautiful and unique islands in a slightly more detailed way.

During May 2015, we were lucky enough to tour Peru and the Galapagos Islands with Galakiwi. We cannot speak highly enough of their organisation. The interesting and varied itinerary, the wonderful tour guides, the accommodation, and travel arrangements were all excellent and made up an unforgettable adventure. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience they provided and would not hesitate to recommend tours organised by them.

We took the ten day adventure trip in the Galapagos. We were expecting it to be a trip of a lifetime but it exceeded all expectations! With the help of our guide Pablo we met the animals of the Galapagos and really felt the history of the islands come alive! The activities were varied and enjoyable and the wants and needs of the group were always taken into account. As a vegetarian I felt very well thought about and the other food was delicious!

We had an amazing experience while in Ecuador, which was facilitated by Galakiwi. The company made the travel arrangements seamless, from taxis to boats to planes to outdoor recreation equipment. They helped us to customize a 17 day itinerary that matched our interests and wildlife watching pace in the cloud forest in Ecuador. We could focus on enjoying nature, hiking, excellent food and other fun activities. When asked by friends and family – we told everyone to go to Ecuador and to use Galakiwi.

I met Tim in New Zealand at the start of an amazing adventure across the South Island. He elevated the New Zealand tour beyond expectations for our small group. We had lunch at his family house and dinner at his cousin’s house during the tour, which made us all feel like part of the family. The craziness of Queenstown, amazing glacier and rainforest hikes, plus kayaking in Milford Sound made it an epic trip.

After our Galapagos adventure with Galakiwi we wanted to see more of Ecuador. Flying all the way from New Zealand we had to see as much as possible! Fun boat rides, so many birds and interesting hikes in the forest were major highlights. We also could not believe how good the food was in the Amazon. It was a great addition to our travels in South America.

Having such an amazing guide, Pablo, we learnt an incredible amount about the Galapagos. More than just geology, flora and fauna. It was interesting learning about how land based tourism helps so much in conservation as it generates income directly to the islands. The wildlife was of course amazing and the sea lions were a highlight. Isabela was our favorite island but they all had something amazing to offer.

We booked the Adventure Tour at short notice and had the trip of a lifetime. The company really does provide excellent service, from beginning to end, and enabled us to experience the unbelievable wildlife and the islands in a direct and eco-friendly way. Highly recommended!

Imagine the best day you have ever had out enjoying the beauty of nature and then extend that for every day of the trip. It's impossible to pick a favorite part of this trip because each island, each activity, everything is unique and can't be experienced anywhere else. Galakiwi has designed a tour that makes you feel like you are experiencing the best of the Galapagos, while at the same time, maintaining a sense of mystery about and deep respect for the islands and its inhabitants. All that best trip of a lifetime stuff - it's true.

We are writing to thank you and your team for the great holiday we’ve just had in Quito and the Galapagos. My Husband and I were part of Jay & Chi’s Wedding party. Everything went smoothly and we had a wonderful time especially when we had children as young as 2yrs old in our group. Your staff were tops, nothing was too much trouble, thank you. The accommodation was excellent. Thank you once again for a Holiday of a lifetime.

We wanted to visit the Amazon, to see the interesting wildlife and cultures of this part of Ecuador. Galakiwi helped us enjoy a great tour of the Amazon, and everything at the lodge was perfect.

Our 10 day Galapagos Adventure was a high energy, green tour which gives back to the islands. Unlike many of the tours to the islands, we stayed on the islands enjoying the local culture, highlights and cuisine. The guide was beyond excellent; he was on top of every aspect of our trip from being a wealth of information about nature, culture, and history to arranging our meals at local establishments. I am confident that we learned more about the culture and gave more back to the communities than any of the boat based tours. The nature hikes, snorkeling, kayaking and bike ride were true adventures. A million thanks to Crystal for all her help prior to our arrival and Mauro during our time in Quito. And, of course, this trip could not have been any more exceptional had it not been for our guide Pepo. This was truly a “dream come true” vacation for my daughter and myself. Thank you, Galakiwi!

I felt sorry watching the other tourists on their boring trips. Galakiwi had us packing in adventure non-stop day after day!

A huge Thank You to Galakiwi for an absolutely fabulous eco- friendly holiday experience . Our trip was so well organised from the minute we stepped onto Galapagian shores . Actively participating in fun adventure-filled days and nights from cycling, hiking, kayaking, jetboat-riding, snorkelling, starglazing to relaxing back basking in the warm Galapagos sun whilst in awe of the stunning array of birdlife, marine and wildlife on display.

An unforgettable lifelong experience!

We just returned from seven days with Galakiwi. Pepo was our guide. Dolly and John enjoyed the snorkeling. I enjoyed the land based activities most. We all went for the natural history and the Darwiniana. Pepo insured that we had plenty of time for that and he added his own fine understanding. On top of this we enjoyed the small hotels and fresh fish for lunch and dinner at each of our four stops. We've taken a good number of trips together to Dolly's home in the Philippines for my own international research activities. This was the best ever. Pepo and Galakiwi have our very finest recommendation. Thanks ever so much.

HOLA! We were WOWED from the moment we touched down @ Baltra until we reluctantly departed! Controlled tourist numbers ensured we had close and personal access to all the wildlife and sea creatures who trusted us as we did you guys and you certainly delivered! From kayaks, snorkelling in shore and at Kicker Rock to boating and walking trips we were constantly enthralled by the environ, people and YOUR team who have come home to Golden Bay with us by way of our photo memories, retelling an envious audience adinfinitum! We hope to send our family to you in the future. Magnificent time in our dreams came true! Tim, Pepo, Christian, Em & Claudia you ROCK.

The Galapagos cruise itinerary, boat and crew were great, thanks Galakiwi. The food and accommodation were better than expected, we had a great time. Thanks again!