Adventure Journeys is an Ecuadorian tour operator that provides group tours of the Galapagos and mainland Ecuador. They are perhaps the most well-known and reputable of the local operators.
In April 2023, we traveled with Adventure Journeys as part of a 3-week trip wherein we explored the Galapagos and mainland Ecuador on the “Best of Ecuador & Galapagos” tour.
In this review, we will discuss our personal experience as guests on an Adventure Journeys tour and provide as much insight as possible as to who should (and should not) consider booking a tour of Ecuador with them.
For full transparency, we were invited to join the group in exchange for our photography services and an honest review of our experience. This is not an advertisement or endorsement, but simply a genuine account of our time with Adventure Journeys.
π What is Adventure Journeys?
(with a “meditating” tour guide in the background π)
Adventure Journeys is a boutique tour provider based in Quito that specializes in cultural and adventure travel throughout Ecuador.
The company has established a solid reputation as one of the most professional and communicative tour operators in Ecuador.
Their founder, Henry Sisa, was a naturalist guide for National Geographic prior to creating Adventure Journeys.
While group tours in the B2B space have traditionally been their primary market, the company prides itself on the ability to provide curated experiences to meet any specific needs and/or limitations of its customers.
ποΈ DISCOVER MORE:
HOW TO TRAVEL TO GALAPAGOS IN 10 EASY STEPS
ππ½ Is Adventure Journeys Legit?
Adventure Journeys is an honest, reputable, and ethical company. They are committed to providing authentic Ecuadorian experiences while being mindful of the potential impact tourism can have on local residents and wildlife.
If you are reading this wondering if it is safe to book a tour with Adventure Journeys, the answer is a resounding yes.
Whether or not Adventure Journeys is the right choice of tour operator for you is a personal and subjective decision, but you need not worry about scams or questionable business practices from AJ as a company.
On a personal note, our mainland guide (Jorge) was so incredible that we plan on having him as our guest back home in Oregon this year!
π Pros and Cons of Adventure Journeys Tours
We spent 3 weeks in total exploring Ecuador, 12 days of which were spent with Adventure Journeys on the Best Of Ecuador & Galapagos Tour.
Of those 12 days, 5 of them were spent exploring the Galapagos, and the other 7 were spent seeing the best of mainland Ecuador.
In all honesty, we felt the Galapagos portion of the tour could be dialed in better. Unfortunately, we preferred our self-guided time on Galapagos to the tour portion, but we are also very experienced travelers fluent in Spanish and likely needed guidance less than the typical tourist.
That said, the mainland Ecuador portion of the tour was unbeatable! We would have never gotten so much out of our time without Adventure Journeys and our guide, Jorge.
All in all, we absolutely recommend Adventure Journeys for anyone who wants to do a group tour, does not speak Spanish, and/or has never traveled to Latin America independently before.
Pros of Touring with Adventure Journeys
- All planning, itineraries, permits, tickets, etc. are pre-arranged.
- Spanish-speaking guide helps to provide linguistic support throughout.
- An educated naturalist guide provides insight into what you are seeing everywhere you visit.
- High-end accommodation is provided.
- Willingness to curate a personal experience, ie. accommodate mobility issues, etc.
- Truly reasonable pricing.
- Built-in group to share experiences with.
Cons of Touring with Adventure Journeys
- Group travel is as fun as the group you end up with… no guarantees!
- More expensive than self-guided trips for experienced travelers.
- Fixed, rigid itinerary.
- Group travel is slow travel.
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πΈ Is An Adventure Journeys Tour Worth It?
Adventure Journeys provides an exceptional value and is highly recommended for anyone who enjoys group tours. We especially recommend them for mainland Ecuador tours.
If you have decided you want to visit Galapagos and Ecuador via tour and are simply wondering if Adventure Journeys is a good tour operator, the answer is absolutely yes.
Adventure Journeys has been in operation for a long time and is extremely organized. They will expertly and reliably take care of all the details of your vacation so you can just focus on enjoying the trip of a lifetime.
With all of that said, backpackers and experienced travelers who speak Spanish will find that a self-guided trip will be cheaper, more flexible, and provide more autonomy along the way.
πΈ Who Should Tour with Adventure Journeys?
If you have backpacked extensively AND speak at least conversational Spanish, you do not need to book a group tour. You still may want to, especially as visiting Galapagos independently is a bit complicated.
If you are anyone else, then you should strongly consider booking a group tour with Adventure Journeys, especially if you plan to visit Galapagos.
You should book a group tour with Adventure Journeys if:
- You are on a short vacation and want everything pre-arranged.
- You plan on visiting the Galapagos Islands.
- You do not speak at least conversational Spanish.
- You enjoy group travel.
- You find a specific itinerary you love the look of.
- You are seeking an affordable, high-value option.
- You have any special needs, ie mobility issues.
You should NOT book a group tour with Adventure Journeys if:
- You do not enjoy group travel.
- You have experience and are comfortable traveling Latin America.
- You cannot find a tour itinerary that truly interests you.
πββοΈ Adventure Journeys Tour: Our Personal Experience & Review
In April 2023, we spent three weeks exploring the Galapagos Islands and mainland Ecuador.
For this trip, we (Sophie and myself) were joined by my 70-year-old mother who had never visited South America before.
During those three weeks, we spent around 10 days on a self-guided trip in Quito and the Galapagos before joining Adventure Journeys for the “12-Day Best of Ecuador & Galapagos Guided tour.”
Below, I’ve detailed our personal experience traveling with Adventure Journeys for the first time.
As already stated, this is an honest and genuine review!
While we were not charged for our seats on the tour, they were only accepted on the condition that no terms be set that would inhibit our ability to freely express our opinions.
π² Booking Process
For most travelers the booking and planning process will be simple: find the tour you want, book it, and plan your flights and accommodation around the start and end date.
As we enjoy solo travel, we weren’t the norm and wanted to ensure we allowed plenty of extra days to experience the country on our own.
We had a myriad of requests, all of which Adventure Journeys were able and willing to accommodate. For example, we flew to the Galapagos 8 days prior to the start of the tour in order to explore San Cristobal (which was not included in the itinerary).
Adventure Journeys was more than happy to arrange our Quito to Galapagos flight to allow for this. Additionally, they arranged for a member of staff to pick us up separately and deliver us to the group when they arrived over a week later in Santa Cruz.
Upon meeting our group, we learned this willingness to adapt was not unique to us. Several other members had their own personal circumstances, such as later arrivals and major mobility issues, and had received a modified itinerary to meet their specific needs.
One of the other positive elements of booking with Adventure Journeys is the ability to easily book online via Viator, TourRadar, or directly on their website.
This may seem like a given, but you will soon discover this isn’t the case with all Galapagos or Ecuadorian tour companies! Many require contact through WhatsApp and may even ask for payment through wire transfers or cash on arrival.
Finally, they have both local UK and US phone numbers, making it easy to get in touch with someone should you have any issues or questions.
Based on our personal experience as well as the feedback we got from other members of our tour group, Adventure Journeys gets a 10/10 for booking!
πΊ The Itinerary
We chose the “12-Day Best Of Ecuador & Galapagos Tour” as we wanted the opportunity to explore both the Galapagos and mainland Ecuador.
Adventure Journeys took care of all the necessary domestic flights, hotels, permits, and paperwork which made the journey back and forth to Galapagos incredibly easy. This is where we found the most value in having a local, trustworthy tour operator design our vacation.
Galapagos Itinerary Review
We spent almost two weeks in the Galapagos, but only around 4.5 of those days were with the Adventure Journeys tour group.
There were 13 of us in total in the group; Sophie, my mom, myself, plus another group of 10. The rest of the group seemed thrilled with their time in the Galapagos. However, we were often frustrated with the Galapagos itinerary.
As a trip to the Galapagos islands is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most people (ourselves included), we would have appreciated more flexibility to adapt to weather and conditions.
As an example, we spent most of the day on a hike to the spectacular Sierra Negra volcano on Isabela island, despite knowing that the weather up top was horrendous. We trudged for hours through a torrential downpour, to arrive at a viewpoint where we could see nothing, just to turn around and walk back.
Additionally, we spent the majority of the morning kayaking to a spot where penguins can be seen… only to learn that they had not been seen there for over 4 months! We would have much preferred to have spent this time snorkeling, or hiking the volcano that morning instead when the weather was clear.
Of course, we appreciate Adventure Journeys cannot control the weather or conditions. However, finding a way to adapt on the go is something we would advise them to work on.
It is also worth mentioning that ALL tour operators, Adventure Journeys included, have limited options regarding the group tour guides they can hire for Galapagos. Only an official Galapagos National Park naturalist guide is allowed to do group tours and there are not many freelancers available.
We did not love the guide we received but, while not directly stated, we got the impression she was unfortunately among the best available.
Mainland Ecuador Itinerary
Our 7-day guided tour on mainland Ecuador was truly incredible! It is here that Adventure Journeys really shined, and was clear that they have more control (and perhaps experience?) with mainland tours.
We were impressed the minute we met our tour guide, Jorge. Bubbling with enthusiasm and energy, he was clearly passionate about his job and was easily the best group guide we have ever had on any trip in our lifetime.
Unlike the tour guides in the Galapagos who are freelance, those on the mainland are employed by Adventure Journeys directly and seem far more experienced and invested.
As for the itinerary itself, it was absolutely perfect!
By the end, we felt we had seen all of the major highlights of Ecuador without feeling like we spent the whole time in a bus nor feeling rushed. There was a harmonious mix of nature, culture, adventure, and comfort, while still feeling authentic.
The entirety of the itinerary, which included everything from a primitive jungle stay to a 5-star Hot Spring Hotel, was designed perfectly.
There was always something to do but also just the right amount of time to rest, and unlike Galapagos, it felt like not a minute was wasted.
π¬ Our Review In Summation
Overall, all three of us were extremely happy with the services provided by Adventure Journeys, particularly by our mainland guide (Jorge).
We would recommend Adventure Journeys with absolute confidence for anyone traveling to mainland Ecuador and for most people seeking group tours to the Galapagos.
Personally, we would also book another mainland Ecuador tour if we saw one that featured stops that we missed on the first visit.
With that said, we would be more likely to recommend a Galapagos Cruise over a land tour to anyone visiting the Galapagos islands.
It should be noted that we discussed the experience with everyone in our group individually and each was genuinely happy with every aspect of the itinerary – our perceived lack of value for the Galapagos portion is in large part due to our comfort in traveling Latin America.
π¨βπ©βπ§βπ¦ Top Adventure Journeys Tours
At no cost to you, we receive a small amount for any bookings made using the links below.
Below are some of the best tours that Adventure Journeys offer in Ecuador and the Galapagos. All of them are 5-star rated so you can be confident that you’re going to have the most incredible time.
Adventure Journeys Tours: Galapagos
The Best of Galapagos Adventure 7-Days
This land-based tour will take you to Santa Cruz and Isabela islands, exploring some of the best the Galapagos has to offer.
Booking options: Viator | TourRadar | Direct
10-Day Galapagos Multi-Sport
Experience Santa Cruz, Isabela, and San Cristobal on this island-hopping tour packed full of active adventures.
Booking options: Viator | TourRadar | Direct
12-Day The Best Of Ecuador & Galapagos
Looking for the best of both? This is the tour we did and spends 5 days in the Galapagos and 7 days exploring the highlights of mainland Ecuador.
Booking options: Viator | TourRadar | Direct
Adventure Journeys Tours: Mainland Ecuador
8-Day Ecuador Multisport Once in a Lifetime
For the more adventurous explorers, this active tour explores a variety of ecosystems by bike, hike, raft, boat, and more!
Booking options: Viator | TourRadar | Direct
10-Day Ecuador Highlights
See the best of Ecuador on a 10-day trip from Quito to the Amazon, BaΓ±os, and Cuenca.
Booking options: Viator | TourRadar | Direct
8-Day Ecuador Trekking the Avenue of Volcanoes from Quito
Combine nature and culture as you explore the Ecuadorean Andes on foot. Walk through Cotopaxi National Park, swim in Quilotoa Crater, visit local villages, soak in hot springs, and climb to the Chimborazo glacier.
π More Galapagos Islands Travel Guides
The two of us work very hard to create these free travel guides to help you plan your dream vacation. If you think we’ve done a good job and would like to say thanks, please consider clicking the donate button below π
Hopefully, this guide has answered all of your questions, now it’s time for the rest of your planning!
These guides will help you through the process step-by-step, providing insight on everything from finding flights to top activities and so much more.
Planning Guides
- Where to Stay in Galapagos
- How to Travel to Galapagos in 10 Easy Steps
- Galapagos 5-Day Itinerary
- Galapagos 7-Day Itinerary
- Galapagos 10-Day Itinerary
- Best Time to Visit the Galapagos Islands
- How to Island Hop the Galapagos
- Galapagos Packing List
- Galapagos Trip Cost & How to Budget
- How to Visit the Galapagos on a Budget
Local Guides
- Santa Cruz Island Ultimate Guide
- San Cristobal Ultimate Guide
- Isabela Island Ultimate Guide
- Bartolome Island Ultimate Guide
- Pinzon Island Ultimate Guide
Things to Do Guides
- Top 50 Things to Do in Galapagos
- Best Islands to Visit in the Galapagos
- Best Galapagos Day Tours
- Galapagos Photography Guide
- Best Beaches in the Galapagos Islands
- Why You NEED to Visit the Galapagos Islands
- Best Galapagos Snorkeling Spots
- Iconic Galapagos Animals & Where to See Them
π€ Final Thoughts on Adventure Journeys Tours
The two of us work very hard to create these free travel guides to help you plan your dream vacation. If you think we’ve done a good job and would like to say thanks, please consider clicking the donate button below π
I truly hope you have found this personal review on touring with Adventure Journeys useful in whatever capacity you were seeking information.
This is a company we were excited to experience and a destination that is truly one of a kind. I hope your experience with them is as amazing as ours was.
Now we’d like to hear from YOU!
Do you have any unanswered questions? Concerns? Compliments? Have you just returned from a tour with Adventure Journeys and want to share your experience?!
Help us help others by sharing your thoughts in the comments below!
Enjoyed this honest review of Adventure Journeys? Pin it! π
