Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Sachatamia Lodge for birds and I mean lots of different types and numbers. Chachimbiro Hots Springs, excellent We got onaly a 10 minutes and a 30 minute boat ride in the Amazon River Basin. Cajabama Indian Market, great local color of locals selling and buying fruit, vegetables, plants. Hiking in Cajas National Park for animals viewing and great scenery Churute Eloological Reserve for mangrove swamp boat ride to see many birds and bird species.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fabian is an outstanding tour guide. Exodus should be happy to have him

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go only in Andes dry season, July-September

Suggestions

Exodus needs to add more boat time on the Amazon Basin rivers. 10 minutes and 30 minutes are about 3 hours too little.

Most Inspirational Moment

Two moments stand out. The first was the climb up Chimborazo from 4800 to 5000 metres. It was exhausting and exhilarating at the same time. The second was at Cuenca. we were there on new year's eve. Totally unexpected and unplanned we came across a massive parade with local ethnic groups demonstrating their affinity with the deity. There were loads of floats and children and adults in colourful costumes plus music.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Eddie was excellent, extremely knowledgeable and well organised. He was at ease with the group and enjoyed a joke. He had to cope with several issues affecting group members and did so calmly and effectively without this affecting the attention he gave the rest of the group, a real asset.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Outside of the rainy season you don't need a mosquito net for the rainforest. We didn't see any at all. For the rainforest take a bag that is big enough for all the things you will need for two nights in the rainforest. The boat to the lodge is not big enough to take the main bags. Also make sure you have a powerful torch both for the night walk and the room. There are candles but the matches and match boxes provided were useless.

Suggestions

Take plenty of layers. On the last day we went from 3600 metres plus to sea level with temperature changes to match. It was the coldest and hottest day in one.

Most Inspirational Moment

Loved the night walk through the rainforest.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Edi was excellent, best tour guide we have had so far.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Poundland ponchos, deet, if you like wine Clos litre boxes in the supermarkets are great for a pre dinner drink (a box costs $6 which is the same as a glass in the hotels)

Most Inspirational Moment

Loved the night walk through the rainforest.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Edi was excellent, best tour guide we have had so far.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Poundland ponchos, deet, if you like wine Clos litre boxes in the supermarkets are great for a pre dinner drink (a box costs $6 which is the same as a glass in the hotels)

Most Inspirational Moment

Really too many to count; it depends on whether one's main interest is in the Various cultures or in the huge diversity of flora/fauna.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Pablo was amazing - highest marks!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't worry about bugs, mosquito nets, or anything like that. Just come with some dollars for food, tips, and a few souvenirs and an adventurous spirit. You will need a sweater and windbreaker on a couple of occasions (hiking on Chimborazo or in the National Park), but otherwise moderate temps are typical everywhere. Long sleeve shirts are normal, but a couple of short sleeves will also come in handy. Bring a swim suit in case you want to spend 30 minutes on floating down the river.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing a full size crocodile launch itself into the river in the Mangrove swamps - too quick to get a photo. I had no idea that crocs existed in South America.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was excellent. Despite being under stress from both vehicle issues. (We had to abandon the first minibus after just two days) and domestic issues (his flat in Quito had caught fire because of a defective refrigerator) he remained calm and made sure that we were all comfortable, well informed and well fed. Specifically he took us to fascinating markets, through doors into extraordinary buildings and into roadside sugar processing plants. He had a wicked sense of humour but showed great compassion when one of our party had to return home early because of an unexpected bereavement and when my wife struggled with the altitude.

Advice for Potential Travellers

1)

Suggestions

Wear a hat during the day. The mosquito, dengue and yellow fever risk in the part of Amazonia that we visited was minimal to non existent. Don't buy a toy blow pipe. Only an 8 foot long one is accurate enough and powerful enough to amuse your relatives in the UK. Wine is exceptionally expensive. Do try to learn a bit of Spanish before you get there. Consult your GP about tactics to overcome altitude problems. Coca tea is pretty ineffective.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved it all - but the stand-out moments were the visit to St Clemente, the time in the jungle and shopping in Cuenca.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Pablo was excellent - extremely knowledgeable, very friendly and highly organised. Mauricio our driver was also fantastic - I always felt very safe on the sometimes challenging roads.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Things I took which I didn’t need! 1. Mosquito net. 2. Expensive and heavy Electricity voltage converter - the cheap 2- prong adapters worked perfectly well. 3. Thermals and too many cold weather clothes - we really only had one activity where extra layers were required and even then only a fleece and light-weight jacket, although a warm hat was welcome. 4. Beach towel - towels are provided for the hot spring swim and tubing.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved the cloud forest - the birds and plants were glorious. Cuenca is a lovely colonial city and it is relatively flat - a nice change as most of the time the trip is up and down hill.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fabian was the best guide we have ever had. Showed us and told us about the country and its life, stopping the minibus when something caught his eye. He had a fantastic sense of humour. We were looked after but never smothered with too much fuss.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Midge repellant, anti histamine and and sun screen. The midge bites were rare but very itchy. Long sleeves are a good idea. The altitude can take it out of you so tell your guide if you feel rough. Walking poles handy and walking shoes/ boots essential. Warm hat for high altitude volcano walk, sunhat at other times. You need waterproof cover (poncho/mac) for the waterfall but goretex would probably be too hot. Dark swimwear for the thermal baths as the water will dye light colours. Wellies are supplied in the rainforest but your feet can get very sweaty so take several pairs of dry socks. No electric so you need a torch, which you also need for a night walk. You can only take a small bag (not your main bag) to the rainforest.

Suggestions

This is a bit of everything trip - scenery, wildlife, insects, culture, hot, cold, altitude, river, mountains. Accommodation is good but because the days can be long you don't always get to make the most of it. There are a couple of hotels where you stay 2 nights which will do laundry.

Most Inspirational Moment

The diversity of the flora was amazing - particularly ferns and the general greenness of the diverse topography. The constantly changing landscape and ecology that the trip itinerary presented was quite breathtaking.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Pablo Molveda was one of the best tour leaders we have experienced in nearly 20 years of travelling in small groups. He was patient, humorous, knowledgeable, kind and inspired confidence - the perfect guide to a new country.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Despite your grading of leisurely/moderate we found the trip relatively full-on compared with others we have experienced. Whilst we were happy with the pace of the trip, others may find it a little strenuous with respect to activities and the amount of travelling/moving on between hotels and the relative lack of free time.

Suggestions

The driver (Mauricio) was probably the best we have encountered and everyone felt supremely safe in his hands.

Most Inspirational Moment

Can't pick out one? I loved traveling down river in the jungle and the Mangroves, and being up in the Cajas National Park. Cuenca was a lovely city and joining in the Mardi Gras celebrations as we went along made the trip very special.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was excellent. He was very good at including everyone and dealing with various illnesses suffered by the group. He had heaps of local knowledge.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Keep luggage to a minimum. Lots of outdoor wear clothes which protect from sun and insects. Make sure you are fit for the walks which are quite hard, and be prepared for very long journeys.

Suggestions

Only that cutting out one or two activities or stays may have made it more relaxing. Personally the jungle activities were my least favourite although I enjoyed staying in the lodge.