Surtrek
Surtrek
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Founded in 1993, Surtrek began by offering extreme adventure trips in South America, gradually evolving to become a luxury tour operator specializing in custom-designed tours for those seeking original experiences across the continent. Today, staffed with these expert professionals, Surtrek offers informed advice so that each of our clients can enjoy the trip of their dreams. We take care of even the smallest details to ensure an extraordinary experience – whether your trip is as a family, an individual, a group of friends or for special events. As our philosophy is to offer services in each client's mother tongue, our well-traveled international staff is composed of expert advisors from Germany, the United States, Japan, and China, as well as Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil. In addition, Surtrek is a company that acts responsibly in relation to the environment and local cultures, as we are committed to the sustainability of ecosystems.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
142 reviews
Excellent
131
Very good
9
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Gejsi R
1 contribution
Dec 2020
We booked our trip through Surtrek following a positive recommendation from a friend who had previously used them. Ligia was incredible to work with and so responsive while we asked a series of non stop questions leading up to the trip. We knew it would be a bit of a challenge traveling during the Pandemic, and so we wanted to be sure that we would have all the necessary preparation and documents to ensure our trip would go smoothly, and Ligia was always on top of it with the right information. Having traveled to 20+ countries, I've never used a tour service prior to using Surtrek as I generally like to do my own thing and not really follow an itinerary, but in this case the convenience and peace of mind that was provided really may have changed my mind for future trips. Certain things like arranging airport transfer, or finding the right flights that Surtrek took care of ahead of time, would have been difficult to plan on our own, keeping in mind that up to date information on the islands (especially during the pandemic) can be limited. We spent 5 days/ 4 nights board the Eco Galaxy Catamaran and it was a great experience. The trip was fantastic, I highly recommend using Surtrek to book in advance, and I hope you have the pleasure of working with Ligia.
Written January 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Danielle M
2 contributions
Nov 2020
We used Surtrek to book our trip to the Galapagos and Quito and they were a pleasure to work with. Ligia was incredibly responsive and very thorough in the information she provided. We traveled during COVID, which added an extra layer of complexity, but Surtrek made it easy to understand the requirements we needed to meet. In Quito, we had David Carron as a tour guide and he was OUTSTANDING; I have traveled to over 45 countries and he was the best tour guide I have ever had.
In the Galapagos we cruised with thE Alya catamaran and would definitely recommend it. The ship was very clean and the furnishings were all new. The food was delicious and the chef was very accommodating to food allergies (ex: seafood, gluten, etc.). The crew was knowledgable and respectful and we had a great week with them.
Overall, we had a great trip and would recommend using Surtrek and the Alya Catamaran.
In the Galapagos we cruised with thE Alya catamaran and would definitely recommend it. The ship was very clean and the furnishings were all new. The food was delicious and the chef was very accommodating to food allergies (ex: seafood, gluten, etc.). The crew was knowledgable and respectful and we had a great week with them.
Overall, we had a great trip and would recommend using Surtrek and the Alya Catamaran.
Written November 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kris D
Rochester, NY14 contributions
Jun 2021
I have dreamed of going to the Galapagos since seventh grade. Went for a month this year and trusted Surtrek to help me choose the best cruise — boat, itinerary, activities and handle all of the arrangements for park fees, airfare to and from Quito to Baltra, and everything associated. Alfonso, the owner, is clearly a passionate traveler, expert and has in-depth knowledge and insight into the Galapagos and all things Ecuador to help clients choose the best experience for themselves. The boat/cruise he recommended was AMAZING and perfect for me - truly exactly what I wanted and hoped for. Could not have found it on my own and i am grateful. Every aspect of my journey was seamless and smooth, from pick up at the airport even late at night, a guided city tour, and the most easiest check-in at an airport (Quito to Baltra) in my entire life of traveling to 40 countries. Surtrek checked in on me, ensured everything was on time and even arranged for me to get a covid test at my hotel before departing for Galapagos so I could get in. I cannot recommend this company enough. I had never used an agency before and would not hesitate to let Surtrek plan anything for me, anywhere in the world.
Written July 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carolina C
Quito2 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
The tour was better than we could have ever hoped. Even with coronavirus everyone made us feel safe and comfortable. In fact it turned out to be a great time to go on the trip because the service we received was better than what we would have received if the ship was full. The crew was very welcoming; the tour guides were very knowledgeable and accommodating. The food was delicious and they listed to all the special requirements we had. We can't wait to go back!0
Written September 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shelly G
Massachusetts6 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
I want to recommend Jorge Trujillo of Surtrek Travel based in Quito Ecuador for planning your trip to the Galapagos. ( jorge@surtrek.net) Recommended by my niece who also planned her Galapagos and Amazon trip with Jorge, we were also 100% happy with our trip and the service provided. We were celebrating a 70th birthday as a family trip and spent 7 days on the Treasure of the Galapagos Catamaran. We loved every aspect of this trip from beginning to end: the guide, crew and ship were amazing and our itinerary to the western most islands enabled us to see so much wildlife and learn a lot. The tour guide (Victor Hugo) was knowledgable, friendly and very warm. The 14 passengers had similar goals of seeing as much as possible. The first mate and the chef were excellent. The ship accomodated special food needs. They prepared a special cake for our family member's 70th birthday celebration. The Galapagos is a life changing experience. Among our favorite experiences were snorkeling with sea turtles and sea lions and seeing the many species of fish; Seeing sea lions including several mothers who had just given birth to new pups; all the bird life including the blue footed boobies; seeing marine inguanas and land iguanas; seeing two large tortoise breeding sanctuaries; the hiking up to Lake Darwin; among many other amazing sights. From the beginning of planning this trip, Jorge was extremely patient and explained options and was willing to assist us. We stayed for 36 hours in Quito and enjoyed an afternoon tour of the city (would recommend this) and we also had 24 hours in Quito at a hotel near the airport on the way back at the Hacienda Jimenita (would also recommend). Jorge and a driver picked us up at the airport, made sure we were comfortable at our hotel, arranged our tour of Quito with a guide the next day, picked us up early the morning we were heading to the Galapagos and took us to the airport. On the way back he arranged for another drive to pick us up and take us to the Jimenita and then he and a driver made sure we were at the airport for our flight home. I greatly recommend travel to the Galapagos. I give this trip an A+++
Date of experience: December 2023
Date of experience: December 2023
Written February 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ohheyhihello
California60 contributions
Nov 2021 • Friends
Sofia from Surtrek was in an invaluable resource. I did a lot of research prior to approaching Surtrek and Sofia was extremely helpful in finalizing our itinerary, arranging transfers and flights, and matched the discounted prices I had found for various hotels and excursions. She was attentive to our requests and and very responsive. I contacted her about an issue that arose during our stay at Casa Gangotena, and she resolved it immediately on our behalf. She was a great advocate for us and ensured everything went smoothly on our trip. Our point of contact in Quito, Ligia, and our driver, Christian, were very thoughtful and helpful. We greatly appreciated being escorted through the airport check in process for our domestic flights by Ligia. This was a trip of a lifetime visiting the Galapagos, Amazon, and Andes and we are so grateful to Surtrek and Sofia for the excellent level of service they provide.
Written December 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MamataDesai
Cupertino, CA60 contributions
Dec 2021
Alfonso's team at Surtrek made our visit to the Galapagos a lifelong memorable one. From the beginning, giving us intro to the islands over Zoom calls, helping us get bookings to finally booking a charter cruise aboard Galapagos Spirit (Grand Queen Beatriz), everything was handled smoothly by Surtrek. The guide Jaime, cruise director Anita, and entire crew of the yatch provided us excellent service. For 5 families (including 6 teenagers), we explored islands and wildlife above water and below water to our hearts content. Kids kept asking for more snorkeling trips :) We were blessed with amazing weather and a guide who made the best of the weather.
Written January 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nonsrspn
New York City, NY129 contributions
Apr 2022
To Surtrek, thank you for organizing the trip of a lifetime for us; it was one of the most pleasant journeys that we have embarked on. The accommodations were great; food was delicious; services and people were nice. There surely is a high standard Surtrek is upholding and would recommend the Company to anyone visiting Ecuador. We were there for more than two weeks, covering Quito, Galápagos Islands, and the Amazon.
Special thanks to Ligia, Jorge, Alex, Andres, Peter, Sebastian (& Arial), and Geranio (probably the best guide in the Amazon)
Special thanks to Ligia, Jorge, Alex, Andres, Peter, Sebastian (& Arial), and Geranio (probably the best guide in the Amazon)
Written May 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adam
6 contributions
Jan 2020
My girlfriend and I had a terrific experience with Surtrek. Sophia and her team arranged for our cruise in the Galapagos and then a week in the Andes mountains. Both legs of our trip were well designed and organized and we would love to travel with Surtrek again. We chose Surtrek because they were the fastest to respond to our inquiries about travel to Ecuador and they provided the best service and clear answers and information whenever we had questions. Their itineraries were excellent and included everything we wanted to see and do (which was a lot!). The catamaran (Eco Galaxy) that they arranged for us was amazing; modern, environmentally friendly, with an excellent crew and guide. And our guide/driver who took us around the Andes was superb! So knowledgeable, with excellent English, and quite the photographer when we wanted some couple photos. I highly recommend Surtrek to anyone looking for a fun, safe, and yet adventurous trip to Ecuador.
Written January 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Adam,
Great..!! I’m elated to hear about your Surtrek-designed “fun, safe, and yet adventurous trip to Ecuador.” As you now know firsthand, this is indeed an amazing country filled with exciting experiences, from the waters of the Galapagos archipelago to the snowcapped volcanos here in the Andes.
I greatly appreciate your feedback and note that Surtrek’s quick response to inquiries, our professional service, and clear answers to questions were what won the day in your choosing our services. This is why we’re so proud of our completely professional travel designers, like Sofia, as well as our carefully vetted guides, who all do such a fine job in seeing to our clients’ every want and need.
Thanks again for your comments, and please keep Surtrek in mind the next time you think of traveling here in South America. An absolutely amazing continent awaits..!!
Yours truly,
Alfonso Tandazo
President & CEO
Surtrek - South American Travel
Written February 4, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MThree2011
Boston, MA41 contributions
Sep 2021
WOW! What a great trip we had and so happy we booked with Surtrek. We were a group of 3 girls traveling to South American for the first time. Alfonso answered all our questions and he organized an amazing trip for us. We didn't have to worry about a thing. We told him what we wanted to do and see and he recommended 3 nights on Isabella & the rest a cruise. Perfect itinerary. We mostly had 2 tours each day & each one was different from the last one and we saw different animals and sites on each tour. We were always picked up on time and we never had to worry about a thing. Some of the other reviews mentioned sending a wire transfer for payment & they were worried and I can tell you, there is no reason to worry. Alfonso confirmed when the money was received on his end and promptly sent a receipt. A big shout out to our driver in Quito (Alejandro). Not only did he drive us to old town Quito & airport transfers but he really cared about us & our safety & took care of everything at the airport for our departure to Galapagos. He navigated everything for us including covid testing to come back into the US. We highly recommend Surtrek & we will definitely use them again for Peru/Amazon.
Written October 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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