Aug 13, 2024
Great tour company for trips in central Ecuador - Amazing, just a great tour, good prices, super communicative, wonderful guide. Note that I am late writing this review, we actually travelled in July 2023.
There was a degree of flexibility in the tour, we wanted to tweak things a little and we pushed the envelope a little in terms of what we could pack into the trip and added a bit extra. I wasn't well for a part, and Sebastian was very helpful. We had a 12 yr old with us and that was no issue. The itinerary was as great as you'd expect but the real benefit was the ability to set it all up in advance, discuss things and still end with a price that felt more than reasonable. I would recommend the company to anyone looking to travel in the region.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dec 15, 2023
Beautiful scenery, fabulous guide, highly recommended! - We absolutely loved this tour! Our guide was Sebastian - he was always right on time, matched our activities to our needs and pace, and answered the millions of questions we asked with a smile…teaching us continuously for 5 days about the country, the landscape, the food, the people, the culture, etc. We had spectacular weather and so saw Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Tingurahua and Chimborazo in all their glory. We loved the hikes, the views, the hummingbirds, and the history. We stayed in fabulous haciendas, and enjoyed lovely lunches. This tour is a great way to experience the Ecuadorian Andes. Enjoy!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 16, 2023
You couldn’t hope for a more authentic, comfortable and expert way to see this beautiful country! - Wow what a tour we had! Javier was such a legend - so knowledgeable about everything Ecuador, perfect English, knew all the best spots and it even felt like he controlled the weather! Also he is a great driver, the transport was super comfortable and we saw and did everything we wanted to. All of the accommodation was great and the food was fantastic. Javier knew locals everywhere we went which helped to give us such an authentic feel of the country. I can’t recommend this tour highly enough - if you are considering it, just book it. You will not be disappointed!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 30, 2023
Andean Mountains to Amazon, all in one day. - This is my third tour with Cuenca Tours and they again surpassed their previous tours. They were able to smoothly accommodate changes in plans due to delayed flights and each person we dealt with from their company was kind and generous with their time. We were taught and driven by tour guide Andres Leon, who we had requested from the year before. His knowledge on the history of the places we visited was wonderful, and he went out of his way to ensure the experience for each of us was unique. His love for his country was uplifting and we are grateful to him for all he shared. ( including his choice of lunch spots which helped to support local economy) .It was also lovely to go a bit off the beaten path and meet, listen and learn from local people which included the process of bean to chocolate, an art class from a local artist and participating unexpectedly in towns parades.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 7, 2023
Viva Ecuador - It is jampacked with exciting historical places to visit and thrilling activities. Our tour guide Sebastian and our driver have been very helpful, knowledgeable, friendly, and courteous.
Review provided by Viator
Jul 4, 2023
Excellent Tour! - We did the 1-day tour from Guayaquil to Cuenca + 4 days from Cuenca to Quito. It was an amazing road trip. Sebastion was our tour guide. He is not only an excellent tour guide but also a great travel companion. Kudos to him we had a fantastic experience for the trip. Through him we also learned so much more about Ecaudor! We took the premium option. The hotels and the lunches arranged by Cuenca Bestour were all top quality. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
May 12, 2023
Wonderful trip between Cuenca and Quito - My husband and I worked with Cuenca Bestours to plan a 6-day trip between Cuenca and Quito. Javier, the owner, was very easy to work with and tailored our trip specifically to our interests. He was very flexible about adding sights we wanted to see and removing ones we had already visited. He gave us a choice of accommodations (standard or first class) and we choose the standard hotels. Each hotel we stayed in was very good with excellent breakfasts. We enjoyed speaking with the owners of these smaller family-run hotels. The tour included lunches were also excellent.
The first day, Sebastian was our driver/guide and Lincoln was our driver/guide the rest of the way. The landslide on the Panamerican Highway was the reason for the switch in drivers so that it would be easier for them to return at the end of the trip. Both Sebastian and Lincoln were excellent drivers – very careful especially when passing on the narrow mountain roads. They were both very knowledgeable about Ecuador and the sights we visited: Devil’s Nose Hike (unfortunately, the train is not running), Chimborazo Wildlife Refuge, Baños, Quilotoa Lake, Cotopaxi National Park and Limpiapungo lake, and Mindo Cloud Forest, hummingbird farm, and chocolate factory. Both Sebastian and Lincoln were very patient and encouraging as we are slow hikers and take lots of pictures. They were also very good about stopping for unique photo opportunities. Both were quite willing to take pictures of us with our camera. Lincoln also took photos with his cell camera during the trip and shared them with us which was very nice. Sebastian and Lincoln were always willing to discuss options and other things to do if we had extra time. It was also nice to share their insights as to what life is like in Ecuador and compare with the way things are done in the USA.
It was a wonderful trip, and we enjoyed every minute. We would highly recommend working with Cuenca Bestours to plan your excursions in Ecuador.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 4, 2023
Off to new heights - Our 4 day trip covered so many incredible sights. Our guide and driver, Sebastian, gave us more information than we could ever hope to remember. The Ingapirca site was impressive along with the Inca trail. We made the hike to the second refuge on Chimborazo reaching 4867 m (16,000 ft.). This was the highlight of the entire trip. Our stop in Alausi for lunch and shopping gave us an opportunity to eat local foods and buy local crafts. The Alpaca sweaters there were an incredible buy. The Treehouse in Banos with its swing was not for the feint of heart! Crater Lake was a beautiful sight. We were fortunate that the skies were mostly clear so we could see the lake. Each time I mentioned that I wanted to find a hat, honey, or a jacket, Sebastian would know a place to find the items I wanted. The hotels we stayed in were first rate, the food along the journey was interesting and tasty and plentiful.
I can’t say enough good things about our guide, Sebastian or about the company he works for, Cuencas Bestours and Javier the owner. I would use them again if we ever return to Ecuador.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
May 24, 2022
Great Guide = Terrific vacation. Absolutely one of the best tour guides we've had. - When you go to a country far away from home...it is good to have a friend. Javier (and Sebastian) put up a perfect tour for us, showed us mainland Ecuador south to north... we were put up in some of the best hotels, did all activities we wanted to do and we had an absolute great time for all the five days. Thank you, Javier!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 22, 2022
Avenue of Volcanoes 5 day tour - Greatly enjoyed this trip and we were very well looked after by Cuenca Bestours. The Andean region in Ecuador is really beautiful and we enjoyed staying in the haciendas out in the countryside. Especially loved the day trip to Quilotoa Lake and could have spent more time hiking in the nearby countryside. Thank you Javier, Wilson and Andres!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
