Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It’s the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you’re interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.

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55 Reviews

4.8 out of 5

sophie moran

Reviewed January 2024

diverse and exciting adventure

this trip proves you dont need a multi country trip to see it all! volcanoes, cloudforests, the amazon jungle, highlands of the andes… the diversity of what you see in two weeks is unrivalled. often seen as the great Galapagos’s less exciting mainland counterpart…this could not be further from the truth. Be wowed by science experiments only possible on the equator, visit local communities in the amazon rainforest and experience the Andean cultures. i would recommend this trip to anyone with a spirit for adventure, who loves to be outdoors experiences lots of different landscapes flora and fauna.

Most Inspirational Moment

staying in the amazon and going to sleep listening to the soundbath of the amazon jungle. it does not get better than is

Thoughts on Group Leader

Etiel was one of the best leaders I've ever had the pleasure of travelling with. with 15+ years experience he was able to answer questions fully on any topic. with humour and enthusiasm

Advice for Potential Travellers

some of the walks have steep accents and decents. you go at a slow pace as you are doing the walks to see the animals and plants mostly. but being prepared with the right walking shoes and a stick if needed will make this more enjoyable . ( you can always sit these out as well, one person in our group did and saw wild monkeys instead! )

Suggestions

I felt very safe and well looked after in all the towns and cities we visited. Ecuadorian people are passionate about hosting and welcoming people to their country. I hope to go back with friends one day

Roselle Beard

Reviewed December 2023

Ecuador - What a wonderful trip

Ecuador is a wonderful country to visit. This trip had it all as we visited the famous cloud forest, the highlands, the volcano Chimboratzu, the Amazon forest, Cuenca, the Casaj national park and finally the mangrove glades. I would highly recommend going. The hotels were very comfortable and traditional. Our guide, Etiel, was excellent and imparted lots of useful information. The highlight of my trip was on Chimboratzu taking the pony instead of walking. I’m not sure I would have made it without that help. And then in Banos our guide offered to take us to the thermal baths at 5am. It was still dark when we went and the nearby mountain waterfall was lit up. Very magical. I was the only one to take up this very kind offer! Others definitely missed out (from my point of view). We decided to have two extra days in Quito at the start of the trip to get over jet lag and to familiarise ourselves with the city. One couple also did the same but had three days. They booked a guided tour each day. This is well worth considering as the additional accomodation cost is very small.

Most Inspirational Moment

Taking the pony up Chimborazu

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent. Nothing was too much trouble and if something did go wrong you never knew. He was able to sort everything out seemlessly.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Arrive a day or so before the tour starts. Go the thermal baths in Banos especially early in the morning.

Nigel & Margaret Eaton

Reviewed November 2023

Great trip to Ecuador Mainland

We had a wonderful trip to Ecuador. The itinerary is well planned with a wide variety of experiences. Our guide, Etiel, was excellent and very knowledgeable and organised. The hotels were very good. Some of the walks were quite challenging but well worth the effort. The scenery is spectacular! With a great group of people, an excellent guide and driver, and a great mix of activities, it is one of the best Exodus tours we have ever been on.

Gill Morriss

Reviewed November 2019

Excellent trip with great variety

We loved our holiday to Ecuador because of the very varied itinerary, the stunning scenery, a very friendly group and because Eddy was a capable and enthusiastic tour leader. In addition, the quality of the food and accommodation exceeded our expectations. Our favourite place was the Chimborazo National Park with the walk down from base camp being exceptional for the tundra like scenery and the fabulous view of the snow-capped high peaks of the Andes. In addition, the Amazon Rain Forest was brilliant for the boat journey to the lodge, the fascinating night walk, the animal rescue centre, visit to a local family and the wonderful wellies which were a necessity! People were friendly everywhere, the hotels wonderful, with some providing whirlpool baths and food was great with good variety. Nowhere seemed too busy and we didn’t see too many tourists. Eddy, our tour leader, worked hard throughout, conveying his enthusiasm for the country which, combined with his warmth, made him one of the best guides we’ve had. All in all, a fabulous trip that I would recommend to anyone.

Most Inspirational Moment

Chimborazo national park.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the trip notes carefully.

Gill Morriss

Reviewed November 2019

Excellent trip with great variety

Most Inspirational Moment

Chimborazo national park.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the trip notes carefully.

Gill Morriss

Reviewed November 2019

Excellent trip with great variety

Most Inspirational Moment

Chimborazo national park.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the trip notes carefully.

Kevin Parsons

Reviewed September 2019

Fantastic and Stunning!

A stunning first trip for us to South America – Ecuador has it all. This trip took us on a journey through all the ecosystems of this beautiful Country, from the turbid Amazon with it’s humid jungle to winding mountain roads overlooking houses clinging impossibly to the slopes from where a living was hewn from fields bathed in cloud. Subtle changes in the costume of indigenous residents highlighted this varied community, whilst equally subtle changes became the norm as one climbs from the rain through the cloud forests to the highlands with vegetation that appears barren until you look closely at the beauty of the tiny alpine flowers and plants.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me, the desolate, windy expanse of the foot of Chimborazo had a beauty of it's own and, the sight of the volcano peak, with it's glaciers and blanket of cloud streaming from it's summit is a view I will remember forever. The experience was made more memorable when picking up a lump of basalt rock that, despite the cooling wind, was quite warm from the equatorial sun's rays.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ivan, our leader was clearly passionate about his Country and quite knowledgeable indeed on all aspects of the trip encounters. Always ready to share this knowledge, he was also quite willing to share photographs he had taken as well as help us to home in on wildlife so we could likewise capture the moment. He made every effort to include all the group and on the occasions where we had "free time" was always keen to show us more of the sights, which is how some of us found ourselves in a Medical museum in Cuenca poring over antiquated dental chairs, ophthalmic equipment and Iron Lungs!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take layers. The climate is such that whilst overall warm, layers help control the changes bought on by wind or the ever changing clouds that block then release the strong sun. We found simple cagoules with layers beneath plenty sufficient for the rain we encountered (which was minimal, it being the end of the dry season). As for mosquitos, we both dressed appropriately long trousers/sleeves when required, combined with liberal doses of Deet, Avon 'Skin so Soft' and mosquito coils at night whilst in the rain forest. Did it all work? - absolutely, I was not bitten at all, whilst Karen received a small bite when we decamped the coach unexpectedly to see a troop of Howler monkeys!

Suggestions

Muck in! Work as a Team with your fellow travellers and you will get more out of it. If you get a chance to try something out, go for it - that is how I found myself ploughing a furrow with an ancient plough pulled by two oxen! Embrace the local food, it is unbelievably tasty. I found green bananas quite pleasing whilst Karen took a shine to the local sugar can juice spiced with alcohol brewed from that very plant!

Jeff Seymour

Reviewed September 2019

You’ve got to see Ecuador

If you want variety then look no further; this trip had it all and more.
Scenery (stunning), history, wildlife and culture.
Boat trips, train rides, walking, easy hiking, wildlife spotting.
Volcanoes, Rain Forest, Cloud Forest, the Andes, sugar and cocoa plantations.
I even learnt how to use a blowpipe.
Great weather throughout the two weeks; only rained for one day (in the rain forest, so expected).

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably the Devils Nose railway but many, many other moments came a close second.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ivan Tarapuez is a typical example of an Exodus guide; simply excellent. His knowledge, friendliness and dry sense of humour made him special. A credit to his industry and country.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pick up the phone and book the trip.

Craig McGarrity

Reviewed August 2019

Andes to Amazon

Gret indroduction to ecuador (Land)

Most Inspirational Moment

Amazon Jungle

Thoughts on Group Leader

Great

Advice for Potential Travellers

Cloud Forest only really for bird watchers.

Suggestions

Trip to Cotopaxi would be more widely appreciated than Bellavista (I think)

Sarah (and Angus) Maude

Reviewed March 2019

Stunning beauty in a geologically active area.

Ecuador is a fascinating, varied and often stunningly beautiful. Apart from high up on some volcanoes, it is very green, with deep valleys dissecting the layers of rock formed of volcanic ash. The people are very friendly and the ” indigenous ” (as they are known) still live in traditional houses in some mountain areas and have colourful fresh food markets.
The programme was well planned, taking in cloud forest, rain forest, the high Andes and the coastal plain. There were activities to appeal to various tastes including bird watching, exploring geologically active areas and wandering in the old colonial centres of towns like Quito and Cuenca. I enjoyed watching the scenery on the long coach journeys (occasionally obscured by rain, it being the wetter season). The hotels, especially the haciendas and the Santa Lucia in Cuenca, were comfortable and large portions of food usually tasty. With so many places included in the itinerary, the pace of the tour was fast with little “spare” time, but that enabled us to see and experience so much.

Most Inspirational Moment

The scenic walk around the Cuicocha crater lake, beautiful and geographically interesting. The valley side train journey to the "Devil's Nose". The walk in the Cajas National Park - hills like the Scottish Highlands only bigger.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fabian, our group leader, was excellent. He worked hard to ensure everything was in order every day but always appeared confident and relaxed. His experience and sense of humour made him a good "minder" for the group, keeping us in order! He kept us well informed about the places and our future movements. I like the way he has so much respect for his countrymen, not allowing us to take inappropriate or intrusive photos.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for a full-on tour with little time to relax, except possibly on the long coach journeys - unless, like me, you don't want to miss seeing everything you pass.

Suggestions

Thank you to Exodus and to Fabian for a wonderful experience.

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