Happy Gringo
Cultural ToursHistorical & Heritage ToursSightseeing ToursPrivate ToursNature & Wildlife Tours
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
It's all about passion. Happy Gringo is an Anglo-Dutch owned travel company run by passionate travellers for like-minded clients and offers an alternative to the typically frustrating Latin American travel agency experience. Our philosophy is simple: we aim to provide the ultimate travel experience in Ecuador and to bring an element of fun and smiles to your trip here! We offer trips to the Galapagos Islands, the Rainforest and tailor-made travel to all corners of mainland Ecuador. The most knowledgeable trip planners in the market* Personalised tour options and service that will really “wow” you* Quick answers when you most need them!* A simple and easy online booking process* International staff who speak your language (English, Dutch, French & Spanish)* Competitive prices to save your pennies* Full support from first point of contact up to the moment you finish your trip * 100% guaranteed satisfaction & fun!!! no hassles, no worries.
Quito, Ecuador

Awards
Travelers' Choice
2023

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(91 reviews)
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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5.0
820 reviews
Excellent
755
Very good
46
Average
9
Poor
6
Terrible
4

artemis1
Auchterarder, UK1,513 contributions
Jan 2020
I was planning our trip to the Galapagos and was unsure how to arrange it. I had already decided on the boat that we wanted, it was now merely who to organise it through. A couple of agents in the UK had given me quotes but through Trip Advisor I discovered Happy Gringo. A lot of folk seemed to have used them to book trips with so I wasn’t quite so nervous about doing it through them. Bear in mind this was a huge chunk of money so there is always that little bit of concern.

Carmen reached out to me and she was great at responding to my queries, even just weeks before the trip when I had the mild panic about making sure the boat had the right sized wetsuits for my particularly tall husband! Actually, it was another of her colleagues that dealt with that as she was off, but he too was prompt to respond.

All in all, I can say I’d be happy to book a Galapagos trip with them again (and their price was a lot cheaper than the UK agent). Unfortunately my husband was a tad nauseous for most of the boat trip so the chances of me booking us to do the SE itinerary are slim to zero. Ah well, I always thought it might be a once in a lifetime experience! 😁
Written February 6, 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.
Hi, thank you for your 5-star review, we sincerely appreciate that you took the time to write this very nice feedback about our services. For us, the most important thing is that our customers leave our country with memories that can be cherished for a lifetime, and it is nice to know that you had an amazing time in the Galapagos, it is a unique experience, I am sorry tough that your husband didn´t enjoy it as much, mainly because of the seasickness, don´t worry, if you can visit the Galapagos again, it will be a pleasure to help you organize your next adventure on dry land ha, ha, ha, like visiting Ecuador highlands, the amazon region or even Machu Picchu in Peru :) We know sometimes it could be a little bit stressful transferring large sums of money abroad, it is great to see we were able to give you the confidence necessary in order for you to trust in our experience and professionalism. Thanks again for recommending our services, I am sure that Carmen will also love your comments :)
Written February 6, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Suzanne C
Southampton, UK9 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
I highly recommend speaking to Jonathan at Happy Gringo tours if you are looking to book a trip to the Galapagos. He put together a wide range of options at varying price points and helped us decide what was the right trip for us. I would also highly recommend the Yacht Odyssey - we did their 6 day tour which was for us the right amount of time on the boat and the islands. The boat was well designed and very spacious and the crew and our guide Greg were excellent.
Written January 3, 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.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us, and for giving our service 5-stars. We are delighted to know that you enjoyed your time in Galapagos. The Odyssey is a very nice cruise and we are glad it was the perfect fit for you. I am dure Jonathan will be thrilled with your feedback, he is a very dedicated travel agent and receiving positive comments for clients always brighten-up his day :) Thanks again for choosing Happy Gringo.
Written January 4, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

traveling_sun
Austin, TX237 contributions
Jun 2021
We hired Happy Gringo for a tour to Ecuador in June of 2021, early post COVID. Our travel agent, Eva, offered us the best advice and options for this 3 and a half week tour of the Andes regions of Ecuador.

We traveled from Otovalo north of Quito to south of Cuenca, visiting two cloud forests, one rainforest and one paramo region. We also visited the Cotapaxi volcano, a crater lake and several indigenous villages and their markets. We gave Eva a list of stops we wanted to make and she put together the final itinerary so that we had minimal driving time and maximal visiting time. Every one of the 10 hotels she chose for us were excellent--comfortable and welcoming. She alerted them to our birthdays so we always had a surprise awning us: cake, chocolates, cards and even a large bouquet of local flowers. Most importantly, she accommodated both of our skill levels: a 49 year old athlete and a 77 year old slow poke.
Our two drivers were the best! Milton knew all the best turnouts for great photos and introduced us to new fruits, old churches and quinoa fields. He stopped as often as we wished and could explain the scenery we were so enthralled with. Plus, he was a careful, alert driver along some sometimes narrow or muddy roads. Our other driver, Adrian, drove us Cuenca and south to the cloud forest. He was keen to show us an indigenous village with their unusual dress. He helped with hikes in Podocarpas Nature Park when one of us was athletic and the other slow and careful. He went with us to the Cuenca airport and helped us get checked in. So appreciated. Both our drivers added tons to our enjoyment of driving through the countryside. Thank you, Eva, for those choices.
When rain was forecasted on a hiking day, we called Eva and asked to change the schedule. She made it happen with 24 hour notice. She was available during our trip and we sent her photos of our good times to let her know we were having a great time on her itinerary.
Eva also helped us know how to get COVID tested for our re-entry to the US and Milton stood by as we waited for the results late at night.
This company goes out of its way to satisfy their customers and to insure that their travel experiences are topnotch. That can be seen from the first email response to the last 'how are you doing?' email at the end of the trip. We strongly recommend Happy Gringo and Eva for any trips to Ecuador. You will have a fantastic trip with them.
Written July 13, 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.
Hi, thank you so much for this 5-star review of our services, it sounds like such an amazing trip, you got to see a lot of the highlights of our country and we are beyond thrilled that you loved everything about it. We understand that traveling during covid times could be daunting but as you noticed, we take very seriously all of the procedures that keep us and tourists safe. It is great to hear that you liked the services of our two drivers Milton and Adrian and that they helped you through your trip :) I will also make sure to pass along your comments to Eva, I know she will be excited to read this too, it will definitively brighten up her day. If you ever decide to come back to our country or go to other countries in South America, please do not hesitate and contact us again, we will be more than happy to help you prepare your next big adventure :)
Written July 13, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Ashley Alexandre
24 contributions
Nov 2020 • Friends
My group and I stumbled upon Happy Gringo while trying to determine whether or not the Galápagos Islands would be closing again due to COVID-19 (the government website was unclear so we decided to contact a reputable tour company for clarification).

In doing so, we were connected with a representative named Eva who provided us with a wealth of information in addition to answering our general questions.

While we were not initially planning on booking with a tour company, we were so impressed with the recommendations, insight and quick turnaround time provided by Eva that we decided to proceed with using Happy Gringo.

We chose to explore mainland Ecuador over the Galapagos and Eva helped us put together a day by day itinerary that we would have never come up with on our own.

We selected standard accommodations and Eva set us up in some fantastic Hostals/Hotels and special stay accommodations (including Hacienda El Porvenir, Sachatamia Lodge and Bella Vista Lodge).

The guides and drivers provided to us were always prompt and on time. They were flexible, listened to our interests and provided us with great recommendations for restaurants and sightseeing.

Eva also remained in contact with our group over the duration of the trip and encouraged us to contact her if we had any questions or concerns.

Overall, the professionalism and knowledge of Happy Gringo completely blew our group away!

We will definitely use them again when re-visiting Ecuador or one of the other countries they service (I believe they also offer tours in Colombia, Peru and Bolivia).

Thank you Eva for planning our amazing trip!
Written January 5, 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.
Hi Ashley, thank you for your feedback, we are glad to know you were pleased with our service. We honestly value our clients' trust, and knowing you had a wonderful time in Ecuador is what makes us love our job. We understand that traveling during covid times could be daunting, we are happy to hear Eva was able to answer all your questions and reassure you that we take very seriously all of the procedures that keep us and tourists safe. Ecuador is an incredible country and we are happy that you got to experience some of its most important highlights. Feedback like this motivates us, we really do try our best to listen and to adapt trips to each client and we are glad the result was a fantastic trip as a whole We hope you return to Ecuador very soon, we will be happy to assist you again on your next adventure :)
Written January 7, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

OntarioBecky
Ontario123 contributions
Jan 2020
We found this business on trip advisor and decided to use them to organize our trip from Quito, up to Napo Wildlife Centre, in the Amazon Rain Forest, through Ecuador and finishing our trip in the Galapagos. We gave Happy Gringo our 'wish list', and the trip that they came up with was wonderful. We had a great trip with almost everything going according to plan. We kept in touch with the organizer (Josh, who had taken over from Sebastian), and he was extremely helpful. We gave him a full critique of the trip at the end and he took our comments and suggestions to heart, which means that any other traveller undertaking this adventure, will have some of the benefit of our thoughts and advice.

Our trip of three weeks, including premium economy flights from Toronto to Quito, four days in Napo, private guides and drivers through the trip down to the Galapagos, where we spent five days, lovely hotels, - cost less than a week's cruise on a Premium line such as Celebrity.

We would heartily recommend Josh and Happy Gringo for all your travel needs in Ecuador (which is my favourite country in all South America). Can't wait to return.
Written February 14, 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.
Hi, thank you so much for this incredible and informative 5-star review of our services, we truly appreciate that you took the time to post all of your comments about the trip. It is very helpful for future clients as well as for us to have detailed information about the places you visited. We are glad to hear that you had a wonderful time and that the itinerary was custom perfectly to your needs. It is great to hear that you truly enjoyed some of the best highlights that Ecuador has to offer, Galapagos, Quito, and the Amazon Rainforest. I will make sure to pass along your comments to Josh, he is our customer Service Supervisor and he always takes comments and suggestions to heart, I am positive this review will brighten up his day. If you ever decide to come back to our country or go to other countries in South America, please do not hesitate, and contact us again, we will be more than trill to help you prepare your next big adventure :)
Written February 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

buddy4Anchorage
Anchorage9 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
I was extremely happy with my travel plans arranged by Happy Gringos with attention by Eva. I put my trust in Happy Gringos and did little extra research on my trip to Ecuador with my daughter. The Frigata cruise at the Galapagos for 8 days exceeded our expectations because of the itinerary that included snorkeling everyday as well as hikes to witness wildlife in their natural setting. The food aboard was exceptional and the service matched the food. The cabins were cleaned daily and we never felt sand and salt that accumulates from being on the islands. We were 9 guests, half under 35 years and half over 50 years from Europe and the US. The mix of guests were both fun and interesting. Happy Gringos also arranged a tour and hike of Cotopaxi as well as helped us prepare for the Quilotoa loop hike. Lulullama and Black Sheep Inns were a must stay if you decide to do the loop hike. I will recommend Happy Gringos to anyone planning a trip to Ecuador!
Written March 2, 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.
Hi, thank you for your very kind and informative review of our services, we sincerely appreciate it. We are glad that you and your daughter had a wonderful time in our country, for us the most important thing is that our clients get to enjoy the beauty that Ecuador has to offer. It is nice to know that in a short period of time you enjoyed the Galapagos Islands and the Quilotoa Loop, both are breathtaking places. I will pass along your feedback to Eva, I am positive your words will make her smile :) We hope you visit South America again sometime soon, we will be more than happy to help you with your next big adventure!
Written March 6, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

KE Chicago
Chicago, IL33 contributions
Jan 2022 • Friends
We recently booked the Quilotoa day trip with Happy Gringo for a group of five. The organization of the trip and communication from Viv was outstanding. Jose was our guide and Nicolas was our driver. Both were fantastic. Jose went above and beyond in accommodating us and sharing a wealth of information throughout the day. We were leaving the next day and he helped one of our group organize a pcr test and helped us arrange transportation for 5 people and a huge amount of luggage to the airport the next day. It felt like being with friends and not on a typical group tour. Both Jose and Nicolas were willing to adjust any plans and make sure we had the best day. I highly recommend Happy Gringo!
Written February 2, 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.
Hi, thank you for recommending our services, we appreciate that you took the time to share your experience for future clients to read. We are glad to hear you had a fantastic time in our country and that your tour was a great experience. The Quilotoa crater and its magnificent scenery, captivate everyone that visits. Thanks again for recommending our services, we hope to help you plan your next trip to South America :)
Written February 11, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

kt
7 contributions
Jul 2021 • Friends
From start to finish, Eva at Happy Gringo made our time in Ecuador fabulous. She helped us device a great itinerary and the guides and drivers that they sent were conscientious and very safe. The sanitary measures in Ecuador are exemplary and now with the vaccinations in full swing, we felt very safe. The hotels that were recommended were great as well. Eva was quick to respond to any issue that popped up and overall the trip went as planned. I wouldn’t hesitate to use Happy Gringo again. Thanks for the great trip😊
Written July 28, 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.
Hi, thank you for your kind comments, we are thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful time in Ecuador. I know that Eva will be pleased with your comments too, positive feedback always means a lot to her. If you ever decide to come back to South America don´t hesitate and contact us again, we will be pleased to help you prepare your next big adventure! Thanks again for choosing Happy Gringo Travel :)
Written July 30, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jessica R
1 contribution
Nov 2020
Eva at Happy Gringo did an amazing job organizing our Galapagos cruise aboard Alya end of November/early December! I cannot imagine taking this trip without her expertise, guidance, and ability to thoughtfully maneuver through uncertain and fluid pandemic changes. She was very responsive and really put our fears to rest about traveling which was no small feat as my husband and I had many reservations. We originally booked this for June 2020 and moved because of COVID, in the fall she told us we could push it again which was very appreciated, however, after considering our options as well as the state of things at that time in Ecuador and NY (where we live) we decided to go for it. We stayed at the Sheraton in Guayaquil before and after the cruise which was lovely. Our local guide that Eva arranged to pick us up and get us to our Galapagos flight was so nice and I would even say being at the airport with her was relaxing as she handled our TCT and necessary customs items. Eva also went the extra mile on helping us meet some necessary travel steps like the PCR test before returning to the US - for that she organized directly with our hotel in Guayaquil for local PCR testing which was seamless and stress free for us. While each person needs to come to their own decision on whether travel now is right for them I can say that our trip turned out beautifully with many happy and cherished memories. I cannot recommend Alya enough either, the ship was absolutely stunning and the guide, crew and excursions 5 stars. Our guide, Juan, was so knowledgeable and personable and we saw so many animals it was unreal! If you are to travel, I highly recommend both Happy Gringo and the Alya cruise! They will take care of you :)
Written January 20, 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.
informative review of our services, we appreciate it. We love it when our clients take the time to give us this type of detailed feedback. I will pass your comments along to Eva, and I'm sure it will certainly make her smile :) The Galapagos Islands are a destination that can only be described as a once in a lifetime experience, and we are glad you were able to enjoy it to its fullest! We are glad you enjoyed your visit to our country, we understand that planning a trip during these uncertain times can feel daunting, and we are happy that you trusted us to handle your trip. We always try to ensure the security of our passengers by taking the necessary precautions and safety measures. We hope you come back to visit us very soon. We can help you plan your next South American adventure :)
Written January 25, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

barry a
New York City, NY11 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Happy Gringo did an excellent job of working with us and arranging a perfect ship based tour of the Galapagos. We chose a 5 day passage on the Legend (which carries up to 100) passengers. Our junior suite was fine , daily excursions for snorkeling, wildlife viewing and walking were interesting and stimulating. On board naturalists were knowledgeable and erudite. The staff created a relaxed, upbeat, an stress free ambience from start to finish.
Written January 29, 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.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us, and for scoring us with 5-stars. We are thrilled to know that you enjoyed your time in Galapagos. The Legend is a very nice cruise and we are happy it was the perfect fit for you. Thanks again for choosing Happy Gringo, we hope you return soon to South America for a new adventure :)
Written January 30, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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