GALAPAGOS ISLANDS DISCOVERY TOUR 4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

Customer Reviews

• PB

  Patrick

  · December 22nd, 2023
  Too short, but that was our fault. They do nickle and dime you to death; $1here, $5 there for all the transport. The location was beautiful, the hotel was good. Guides were nice and helpful. The trip was overall worth it, will most likely go back.
  Trip date: December 2023
• AC

  Amanda

  · July 14th, 2023
  When we arrived in the Galapagos, Johnny, the owner of Natura Gardens welcomed us with a sign. He showed us how to get a bus ticket, rode with us in the boat taxi and then transported us in his vehicle to the hotel. Upon our arrival at the Natura Gardens, Johnny, his family and staff were so welcoming, accommodating and generous. My husband and I were celebrating our Honeymoon. Johnny created the word "LOVE" with rose petals on our bed and made us a romantic candlelit dinner with fresh flowers. We were astonished and overjoyed with his thoughtfulness to make our stay so special. You can feel Johnny's love for his community and excitement for the excursions we participated in. He always asked about our experiences and our thoughts. Johnny knows a lot about the Galapagos and told us a lot about the area. He did a wonderful job giving us our itinerary and what to expect for each activity. The food was excellent and always served in a timely manner. We absolutely recommend the Natura Gardens for your next stay! The staff are so friendly and welcoming, their generosity is unmatched.
  Show more
  

  Via Natura Ecuador commented on this review

  Dear Amanda, Greetings from Ecuador. Thank you very much for your lovely comments. We are very glad to know you had the life-changing experience and the unforgettable honeymoon that you were looking for and enjoyed your time in the Enchanted Islands.... Show more
  
  Trip date: July 2023
• 

  Rachel

  · November 8th, 2022
  Accommodations and food: The hotel was nice enough. It's a little bit far away from everything we did, but transportation was provided so it wasn't a big deal. Hotel was clean and accommodations were adequate. Low water pressure in the shower, and it took about 10 minutes for the water to heat up, but it was adequate. Breakfasts were not very good. We were served stale rolls, a half slice of deli ham, a gooey block of cheese, and cold scrambled eggs every morning. Lunches were delicious and dinners were pretty good. Hospitality: Johnny as a host was... mediocre. He drove us and dropped us off at our excursions, most of which were us joining another group of travelers being led by one of Johnny's friends. Johnny was very much a middleman, just dropping us off with other tour groups that we had no connection to. Johnny spoke no English and communication was a bit difficult. The whole hotel is run by Johnny, his 13-year-old son and two younger children, and another woman in their family who is apparently not Johnny's wife (she runs the kitchen). It's a little bit of a strange dynamic having children serving you your meals. Activities: The tours and activities we went on were wonderful, but too short. We loved seeing the tortoises and lava tunnels, we loved going to Tortuga Bay, and we loved our day on Isabella Island. However, the activities each day ended around 4 PM, and then Johnny dropped us off in Puerto Ayora to "explore the city" until 7:30 each night before picking us up for the 25-minute ride to dinner back at the hotel. The whole "city" is very small and walkable; we got bored looking at the same souvenirs in the same tourist shops after about an hour, but we managed to take our time enough to fill the full 3 hours on our first night. We were surprised and disappointed when Johnny dropped us off in the same spot the second AND third nights. There's nothing to do but buy cheap souvenirs and go to bars, which we don't do, so we were pretty bored. Johnny told us the alternative was just going back and sitting at the hotel, which has no wifi or cell service and very few activities to do. When we only had 3 days in the Galapagos Islands, we were hoping to use more of that time experiencing the islands themselves. We wish there had been more activities/tours included in this package. It was a bit slow paced for us.
  Show more
  

  Via Natura Ecuador commented on this review

  Dear Rachel Thank you for contacting us. We appreciate your sincere and objective comments, as they are the best way to improve the experience for future travelers. Casa Natura is characterized for being a cozy and family-own lodge that disconnects... Show more
  Trip date: October 2022
• 

  Heidi

  · May 9th, 2022
  We had a great time! Very personalized service. Johnny and his family made sure everything was good for us. Each day we had awesome excursions and enjoyed every part of our Galapagos trip. Gracias!!
  

  Via Natura Ecuador commented on this review

  Dear Heidi, Greetings from Ecuador. Thank you very much for your comments. We are very glad to know you had the life-changing experience that you were looking for and enjoyed your time in the Galapagos. Wishing you all the best and looking forward to... Show more
  Trip date: April 2022