The Ultimate Galapagos and Amazon Adventure

I’ve struggled to come up with the words to accurately and appropriately explain how incredible this trip was. If you’re considering booking it, I would highly encourage you to do so. I feel so privileged to have experienced a trip like this - one that brought “pinch me” moments on a daily basis and I’m still moved by a month later. Ecuador is a magical place that is brought to life by the MBA team. The wildlife that you encounter throughout the experience will blow you away. Wilson, Belen, and Edwin made the trip so amazing and I can’t speak highly enough about the work they do and how hard they work to make sure everyone is taken care of and having the best holiday possible. I wish I could live this experience over and over again.

I couldn't recommend this trip more! Of course I have to mirror every other review and mention how fantastic our guides were, especially Wilson and Belén. The attention to detail was incredible (even down to reserving the most comfortable seats for us on planes and boats), and their knowledge of (and love for) the country and its wildlife was amazing.

With any trip focussed on animals you have to manage your expectations, but we saw everything I'd hoped to and more. The days were packed full of activities, but to me it never felt overly exhausting, just one exciting thing after another.

I loved the Galápagos most of all, but am so glad I picked this trip that visits the Amazon too. We weren't very deep but still got incredibly lucky with wildlife, and the river activities were also a lot of fun.

Massive thanks to you Wilson (and everyone you work with) for the trip of a lifetime.

This trip turned out to be even more than we ever could have hoped for. An extremely well put together couple of weeks, everyday was just amazing. A real adventure.

Ecuador is a beautiful country, and it’s difficult to really put into words the incredible experience we had on this MBA trip.

The group was great, and the guides Wilson, Edwin and Belén were superb. Special shout out to Wilson who was so much more than a guide, his care and attention for us was above and beyond.

Ecuador and the Galapagos (and Wilson) will remain in our hearts!

Trip of a lifetime!

I have travelled a lot, and this trip is easily the best thing I have ever done. Every day we experienced something spectacular, from swimming in a picture perfect deserted bay, to snorkelling with turtles and sea lions, to creeping round the amazon at night looking at amazing insects. It feels like I’ve been away for months, a real holiday, I can’t believe it’s only been two weeks!

Wilson was an incredible host from start to finish, taking care of all of our needs, all the ones we hadn’t anticipated yet, and the odd little things we came up with along the way. He went out of his way to make sure all of us were happy and comfortable and having fun throughout. He really loves his country and sharing it with others, making for a really personal and inspiring trip. All our local guides were great too - Belen, our guide in the Galápagos, was extremely knowledgeable and answered all 1000 of my wildlife questions with patience and humour. Ben, Edison and Mitamba looked after us on the river and made us feel safe even when rafting over ridiculous 10 foot waves!

Don’t worry about anything you might have read about crime or danger in Ecuador - it is concentrated in the coastal city of Guayaquil, which we went nowhere near. I felt completely safe and relaxed from start to finish, much more so than I did when I got back to London! The Ecuadorean people are friendly, laid back and genuinely welcoming. No tourist hassling at all, not even to buy a souvenir or enter a shop. If people talk to you, it’s just to say hi and ask where you are from. One of my favourite countries I have ever visited, if not the favourite.

Overall, I can’t recommend this trip enough. I might even do it again,

Overall a great trip. Particular mention to Wilson who was fantastic. You could see his love of his country and his desire to ensure everyone was happy and enjoying themselves.

Without a doubt this was the best trip ever!

Wilson, Edwin and MBA need to be congratulated for putting together a remarkable adventure that was able to juxtapose the best of the Galapogas Islands and the Equadorian Amazon.

Wilson - you are a truly remarkable human being: I have never seen such individualized care and attention to the smallest of details in a group situation!

I would throughly recommend this MBA adventure to ANYONE!!

Hard to put into words how great this trip was. Every day was an experience that put a smile on our faces. The MBA team made us feel welcomed, looked after, and it was clear they wanted to showcase the very best experiences they could for us every moment of every day.

The tour was curated extremely well! From the moment we arrived in Quito we were made to feel welcome and safe. Wilson, our guide, loves his country and wants nothing more than to share it with others. He is warm, kind, knowledgeable, attentive to his guests and accepting of feedback along the way. Any time a local guide was involved, Wilson allowed them to share their expertise while he took an “oversight” role. Ericka, in Galapagos, is everything you would want in a guide (and more). She knows her islands and loves them with a passion. Ericka even knows where the local karaoke bar is and how to get the group up and socialising after a full day of exploration. While there is a lot more to see in Ecuador and Galapagos, Wilson and Ericka showed us the essentials of both areas.

From being met at the airport by Wilson on day one to the last meal before returning to the airport, this holiday has exceeded all expectations. Wilson, our guide was phenomenal, nothing was too much trouble, and whatever was asked of him was always done with a huge smile on his face. The Galapogas islands delivered. We saw a land iguana within minutes of stepping off the plane and the wildlife sightings never stopped, from iguanas, giant tortoises, turtles, sharks, penguins, sea lions and of course the iconic blue footed boobies, as well as stunning volcanic landscapes. Ericka, our local guide was a fountain of knowledge with an infectious sunny personality. The Amazon part of the trip was amazing from the night walk in the jungle, to hikes, kayaking and white water rafting. The local guides again were outstanding. All the accommodation was more than adequate, especially Kuyana Lodge, the food was delicious, with Wilson always ensuring my vegetarian diet was catered for. Everyone we encountered from the guides to locals were friendly and welcoming and patient with my attempts at Spanish. Book the trip, have an adventure of a lifetime and make new friends.

What a fantastic holiday. I feel I have crammed at least 6 months adventures in to 2 weeks. How could this happen? The credit has to go to Wilson our wonderful tour guide, with us for every step of the way. And Erica our specialist guide in the Galapagos. Activities were packed in to every day, however Wilson was always happy to tweak timings or add in extra if wanted. He has a network of contacts and great local knowledge. Want an extra excursion at the beginning or end of trip?Wilson could organise a driver, cablecar trip, artisan market, and recommended restaurant so that all the stress being in a strange place is removed. Tide times not fitting with snorkeling? Erica had that covered and adjusted the program to maximise the experience. We were a group of 7 single women from age 20’s to 63 (me!) and one couple. We came out with a whole new bunch of good friends with shared experience and laughter. I cant tell you my highlight! Every day contained at least one! Land iguana in the first hour of landing in the Galapagos, a baby fur seal, frigate birds blue footed boobies flying above the water. Wild Tortoise at lunch and marine iguanas before dinner! Add childlike fun swinging over a beautiful landscape, cycling to the beach and cooling off before stalking more wildlife. Boat rides to view wildlife on Las Tintorellas and seeing sharks and turtles before snorkelling to swim with them! There are too many wonderful experiences to count, the Galapagos was a dream destination and fulfilled its promise; the Amazon add on was just as spectacular. Climbing in the jungle, swimming under waterfalls, kayaking and the most incredible white water rafting experience! A pet monkey called Ramona and wild monkeys on a protected island sanctuary. The accommodation was all comfortable to excellent, service good and food in all of the varied venues we went to were enjoyable, varied and introduced us to local tastes and flavours. Also catering for varied dietary needs. At the hot springs, I recommend the the chocolate exfoliation and body wrap! Pure luxury!

What a fantastic trip! We had heard good things about the Galápagos Islands. The wildlife lived up to expectations but we also loved the delightful openness of the local people, and in particular our wonderful local Galápagos guide, Erickita, and our guide for the whole trip, Wilson. They genuinely love their country and their enthusiasm to share it with visitors is amazing. Quito and the Amazon were more developed than I expected but fascinating and fun in equal measure. We are so glad we chose MBA’s tour over a Galapagos cruise, as we were able to explore so much more of Ecuador and furthermore, we saw that our tourist dollars were genuinely benefiting local families rather than large corporations. The whole trip was superbly organised, stress free and loads of fun. Highly recommended!!

Everything was excellent—Wilson’s professionalism and enthusiasm truly elevated the entire trip.

Very exciting trip, wonderful guide!

A lovely experience!

What a wonderful couple of weeks! So full of adventure and variety - not sure where to start! The magic of the Galápagos Islands - the Amazon jungle, the thriving capital city Quito. Wilson and team looked after us all exceptionally - nothing was ever too much trouble. What a magical country Ecuador is!

This was a brilliant trip! We saw fantastic sites and wildlife, aswell as great activities like snorkeling, cycling, rafting, kayaking, hiking etc.

Most importantly, our guide, Wilson, was amazing - he went over and above to make sure we had a great experience, as did the separate site guides, drivers and hosts! I'd definitely recommend this trip to everyone!

I have thoroughly enjoyed my adventure in Galapagos, Quito and the Amazon! Just amazing from start to end. Wilson our guide was just brilliant!! He couldn’t do enough to make sure we had the best time. All the guides and staff were friendly and knowledgable. We stayed in family run lodges and hotels all were great. The dining experiences were excellent and a lot of choice. Being so close to the wildlife and in amongst nature made this trip unique. Thank you to Wilson and all those that made this trip memorable. Highly recommend!

We had the most amazing experience in the Galapagos and Ecuadorian Amazon jungle. Wilson our guide was the best we could have asked for. Nothing was too much trouble (even large bugs in the rooms!!). He always had a smile and was full of energy and even more important, the places we visited all loved him too. I can't recommend this trip and company enough.

The trip was absolutely fantastic and a experience of a lifetime. Having been fortunate to travel to many places I can honestly say this up there with the best of them. Galapagos delivered the Attenborough experience , followed by action and adventure in the Amazon. The trip was made all the more special by our exception guide Wilson. Nothing was too much trouble for him. His passion to share Ecuadorian culture and the pride in his country ensured we had a fully immersive experience. Anybody of thinking of doing this trip, just do it you will love it.

Great trip with an excellent mix of activities across both the Galápagos and the Amazon

This trip was hands down phenomenal! The Galápagos Islands, Amazon jungle and Quito are all incredible places to visit. This tour has so much to offer and the perfect amount of adventure and chill time. Wilson’s passion for his country and his zest for life made him the best tour guide. He brought the good vibes, went above and beyond to make sure we were looked after and having the best time. As a person with food allergies, I had never felt so looked after!

There is so much beauty surrounding you with the landscape, flora and fauna. The hotels we stayed were exceptional and had wonderful staff. The drivers were fantastic too. I loved that we were supporting local communities, eating amazing food and fully able to immerse ourselves in the culture. 100% recommend!!

Everything about this trip was truly incredible. So much so that it’s hard to express in a review! I feel very lucky and grateful to have explored somewhere that’s been on my bucket list for a very long time with a bunch of hilariously fun people and such kind, caring and knowledgeable guides, Wilson and Belén.

Unsurprisingly, the Galápagos Islands are breathtakingly stunning. The interactions you’ll have with nature are like nowhere else, and the collective spirit of conservation, care and respect of the wildlife is beautiful to witness and be part of. Highlights included giant tortoises (of course!), snorkelling with sea lions, turtles, a shark and even a penguin, and Wilson showing us the secret mangrove paradise filled with fishing boobies to cool off after a hot sunny day of cycling. Belén is extremely knowledgeable and so passionate about her job - I will be forever grateful for her patience and enthusiasm over all my bird questions! We were so fortunate to see so much. Wilson told us to bring the positive vibes and it certainly paid off!

Fellow adventure spirits will absolutely love the Amazon. The lodge that Wilson has found is jaw dropping stunning - you will fall asleep each night to the sound of birds and other night critters, and be awoken to a stunning dawn chorus alarm ready for a day of exploring. The waterfall hike was one of my absolute favourite days of the trip (out of many favourites!). Wilson warned us that we would get wet, and he was not wrong…we were a soaked but happy group who laughed the entire hike. The night walk through the rainforest was awesome too, we saw so many creepy crawlers. Kayaking was also hysterical and white water rafting was brilliant fun while we also learned a lot from our indigenous river guides about the local population and the struggles they are facing from outside mining companies encroaching on native land for deforestation.

This trip is the perfect combination for those who love adventure, being with fellow active people and those who care about conservation, global community and conservation. You absolutely must go.

Additional note for those with allergies/intolerances/dietary needs: I have never had a guide be so ON IT about my serious allergies before. Wilson went above and beyond in making sure every single dietary requirement of the group (and there were quite a lot on our trip!) was met and catered to. He would triple check every meal for me every single day at every restaurant, as well as making sure to know where I kept my epipens and antihistamines just in case. I sometimes feel like a bit of a pain with my list of allergies but he could not have made it clearer that he didn’t see it that way at all, and that his priority was my health, happiness and enjoyment of the trip above all else. He was one of the best guides I’ve ever had for many reasons, but this was so impressive and I can’t express my gratitude enough. Thank you, mi amigo, Wilson!

This trip was amazing and exceeded my expectations! We saw so much wildlife in the Galapagos: sea turtles, sea lions, tortoises, iguanas, penguins, sting rays, sharks, flamingos and blue footed boobies! The snorkeling was a definite highlight especially as it was my first time snorkeling! We had penguins and sea lions swimming around us!

I also loved the Amazon part of the trip especially the lodgings. It felt like we were staying in the middle of the jungle! Not touristy at all. So serene! The kayaking and white water rafting were so much fun! The rapids were exciting but not too challenging for beginners.

The accommodations throughout the trip were fantastic, especially on Isabella Island and in the jungle. Food and restaurant choices were also great.

Wilson was an amazing guide and he looked after us so well to make sure our every need was met throughout the entire trip! I felt the organization of the trip was flawless and I appreciate all the logistics being handled. I was very impressed by Wilson - he is truly the chef’s kiss among guides! Belen, our guide in the Galapagos was awesome! She knew so much about Galapagos and was so easy to talk to. Edwin was our guide in Quito and he did a fantastic job of showing us around and getting us started on our first day as a group! I met some amazing people in my group and I’m glad to have shared this experience with them! Ecuador is a beautiful country. I could not recommend this trip enough.

This trip was truly special from start to finish. Both the Galapagos and the Amazon were teeming with wildlife. I arrived with my fingers crossed, hoping to see a giant lizard or a blue-footed booby or a penguin or a flamingo or a giant tortoise or a giant sea turtle or a monkey. In reality, I had encounters with all of the above, multiple times. The snorkelling was particularly breathtaking with turtles, sea lions, lizards and penguins swimming around us as we gently drifted. So, if you love animals and nature, this trip is a great choice.

Our Galapagos guide Belen was very knowledgeable and happily answered my many questions about ecology, geology and sustainability. I learned a lot. Including why boobies have blue feet. And why Lonesome George was the last of his kind. Being somewhere so focused on sustaining balance and harmony between humans and nature felt particularly at odds with the rest of the world right now, and that's what makes the Galapagos so special. Let's hope it stays that way.

Our host Wilson was also excellent. He did everything he could, every day, to maintain good vibes. He was always there when you needed him, but also gave the group space when we needed it. A really good host with a great balance, and an infectious laugh that I'll greatly miss.

The group was mainly solo travellers, all very sociable, appreciative of our surroundings and eager to explore, swim and trek. So, by the end, we were very close. Already excited for my next adventure.

Such an amazing adventure and such a fantastic country! I was impressed throughout at how welcome we were made and how well looked after. The Galapagos experience was incredible. We saw sharks, sea lions, tortoises, turtles, boobies and even snorkelled with penguins. The Amazon activities were so much fun. A great itinerary and much better activities, accommodation and value for money than I've had with similar tour groups.

This trip is amazing! The Galápagos Islands are full of wildlife and our group got to see so many animals. The Amazon was also incredible and definitely worth seeing as well. The group was 30-40 somethings and we quickly formed friends. The itinerary is busy but not exhausting and the hotels are great, particularly the Isabela island hotel and amazon lodge. The guides Wilson and Belen are really great and they went above and beyond to help everyone have a great time.

This has been an incredible trip! The Galápagos Islands were beautiful and the wildlife everywhere was amazing. The Amazon was another world. The lodge was fantastic and I loved the rafting! We were looked after brilliantly by our guides Wilson and Belen. The food was really good and the accommodation extremely comfortable. I would highly recommend this tour!

I loved every minute of it and was blessed to have a fantastic group of fellow travellers and awesome guides including Wilson for the whole adventure and Daniella in the Galapagos. Wilson is so kind, goes above and beyond to ensure you have a great trip and an all-round great guy, and Daniella is so passionate about the Galapagos and eager to answer any question.

The Galapagos Islands are incredible, so much wildlife everywhere from seals lounging on the harbour side in Puerto Ayora to dozens of sharks in the shallows near Tortuga Bay, from giant tortoises at the roadside to the more unusual blue-footed booby!

Isabella Island is less developed but just as magical and I can highly recommend the Happy Hour cocktails at the Isabella Sunset bar whilst you watch the sunset!

We had a clear day for the volcano hike which meant we could truly enjoy some spectacular vistas. The track is very dusty so I recommend bringing a buff and be prepared for some dirty trouser legs at the end!

The Amazon rainforest part of the trip was just as epic as the Galapagos! I highly recommend doing the trip which includes Amazon if you can. The lodge is stunning and the trekking takes you to some beautiful spots. The kayaking and rafting were some of my favourite days of the trip, the guides here were top-notch. They take safety very seriously but keep it fun and ensure you have an amazing time.

Book this trip! You won't regret it.

This was a trip of a lifetime! I can’t put into words how incredible this trip was - the Galapagos was breath taking and the Amazon was incredible. If you’re considering this trip just take the leap and book it, you won’t regret it! Wilson is without a doubt the best tour guide I have ever come across, he went above and beyond to make sure our group had the most amazing experience! He is passionate about his country, extremely knowledgeable and is so much fun to be around! The trip itinerary ran so smoothly - there wasn’t a single issue for the whole two weeks thanks to his organisation! So I want to say a massive thank you to Wilson - you made the trip a thoroughly enjoyable experience! Daniella (our guide in the Galapagos) was outstanding, she was so enthusiastic and passionate about the wildlife (and we saw a lot) and openly shared her wealth of knowledge about the islands and their inhabitants. She is amazing! Our guides in the Amazon were brilliant too, Santi took us on the most wonderful jungle hikes and Ven (our guide for the kayaking and rafting) is one in a million. I had never been white water rafting but felt very safe in his hands and had so much fun! All of the hotel and restaurant staff we met during the trip were friendly, helpful and so accommodating. There is such a great range of activities to enjoy, but there’s no pressure to do anything you’re not comfortable with and anything can be tailored to give you the experience that’s right for you. I cannot praise this trip, the guides, the scenery and the wildlife enough…. This trip deserves more than five stars!

Wow where to start, this was a fantastic trip from start to finish, really well thought out and planned. Wilson was exceptional, nothing was too much trouble he was a fantastic guide and his passion for Ecuador and the Galapagos really showed. We arrived early on the first day and Wilson arranged for us to go into Quito to go up the cable cart and for lunch. We were a group of 9, mixed couples and single adventurers in our 30s and 40s. Edwin gave a brilliant tour of Quito the next day taking the group round all the must see stops. The hotel in Quito was great the staff could not do enough to help you. Next was the Galapagos, Daniella our naturalist guide meet us off the plane, her knowledge, enthusiasm and spirit for the islands was a joy, there was nothing she couldn’t answer. The days were rammed packed with adventure, the lunch breaks in local restaurants were perfect to sit back and take in the culture. We were extremely lucky with all the wildlife we saw in land and in the sea. A highlight was swimming with the sea lions and seeing blue footed boobies. We were sad to leave the islands behind, but the second part of our journey venturing into the jungle was equally as amazing. The lodge was stunning, you really felt like part of the Amazon. Waking up to the sounds of the jungle each day was soul inspiring. Santiago led us on some beautiful jungle treks, I won’t give any spoilers apart from it was just incredible. This really is the trip of a life time, the accommodation in every location was great, the local people so welcoming, I love how all the trips we took benefit the local communities. There were so many little extras packed in to each day that we weren’t expecting that were a real treat. The kayaking and rafting were brilliant our guide was very knowledgable and kept everyone safe whilst having loads of fun. The food was delicious we were really well fed, with lots of local dishes and fruits, all perfectly made. Being a vegetarian I was really well catered for and shall definitely miss such a wonderful variety of dishes and cooking. This truly is a must do adventure, I shall miss Ecuador and all it has to offer. Finally a shout out again to Wilson he is just a brilliant guide who really made the trip unique and perfect, thank you Wilson.