Angell Expeditions
Angell Expeditions
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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
161 reviews
Excellent
156
Very good
1
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
2
CTNmom
28 contributions
May 2021
Angell Expeditions provided a great half-day canoe trip for eight of us through beautiful canyons in Big Bend State Park. Charlie, the owner, was professional and responsive during the booking process and provided detailed information about the meeting site, what to bring, etc. Our guide, Sam, was fun and knowledgeable about the area and it was evident she loves this unique part of the country. I highly recommend this company!
Written May 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.
thank you thank you!!! Please tell all your friends, we need more cool folks like you guys!!!
Written July 27, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
guillermo g
San Antonio, TX9 contributions
Oct 2020
We really enjoyed our excursion with this company, especially the extra step these guys went to accommodate us on a last minute tour.
We found out about them through two people during our trip. One was by a kind gentleman who happened to fix the tire of my bicycle and basically saved the rest of my trip to enjoy with my family. I believe his name was Rob Crowly or Moody (out in MARFA, TX.) can't remember but he told me about Charlie Angell Expeditions, and said they are great people.
The other person who gave me their name was the Concierge girl that was working one morning at the Las Lajitas Golf Resort. She was the one who actually gave me their phone number.
We stayed at the RV park resort and unfortunately had no transportation to get to where the expedition was taking off from in Big Bend State Park. Charlie Angel (owner) was kind enough to pick us up (we all wore our masks) at the RV park as he happened to be passing by that morning to go to work.
His expedition guides Tanner, Mike and Doug are all pro's and extremely professional, as it was a family environment tour. Every single one of them was polite, helpful and extremely informative.
We did the Kayaking/Rafting exp. It was my two kids (6,9) wife and I, who did this exp. together with other families we did not know.
The excursion was perfect for the kids, great weather, water level of the river perfect not too choppy and safe for everyone. By the way, they provide cold water in case you run out.
After we were done, Charlie had instructed Tanner to drive us back to our RV park, since we did not have a vehicle. I will say this, we did get charged a little extra for the pick up and drop off, but it was well worth it, since we did not have a vehicle to move around other than our 31 foot Motor Home. So for us that was what did it, so kudos to Charlie and his guys !
Next time we will have to bring our own vehicle to be able to move around in and meet up at the starting point of any expedition.
I will definitely recommend these guys, they are all great people !
We found out about them through two people during our trip. One was by a kind gentleman who happened to fix the tire of my bicycle and basically saved the rest of my trip to enjoy with my family. I believe his name was Rob Crowly or Moody (out in MARFA, TX.) can't remember but he told me about Charlie Angell Expeditions, and said they are great people.
The other person who gave me their name was the Concierge girl that was working one morning at the Las Lajitas Golf Resort. She was the one who actually gave me their phone number.
We stayed at the RV park resort and unfortunately had no transportation to get to where the expedition was taking off from in Big Bend State Park. Charlie Angel (owner) was kind enough to pick us up (we all wore our masks) at the RV park as he happened to be passing by that morning to go to work.
His expedition guides Tanner, Mike and Doug are all pro's and extremely professional, as it was a family environment tour. Every single one of them was polite, helpful and extremely informative.
We did the Kayaking/Rafting exp. It was my two kids (6,9) wife and I, who did this exp. together with other families we did not know.
The excursion was perfect for the kids, great weather, water level of the river perfect not too choppy and safe for everyone. By the way, they provide cold water in case you run out.
After we were done, Charlie had instructed Tanner to drive us back to our RV park, since we did not have a vehicle. I will say this, we did get charged a little extra for the pick up and drop off, but it was well worth it, since we did not have a vehicle to move around other than our 31 foot Motor Home. So for us that was what did it, so kudos to Charlie and his guys !
Next time we will have to bring our own vehicle to be able to move around in and meet up at the starting point of any expedition.
I will definitely recommend these guys, they are all great people !
Written October 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.
Bernie M
10 contributions
Feb 2020
We just completed 3 days of mountain biking with Angell Expeditions. Charlie is extremely knowledgeable about the area. We really enjoyed his insights and knowledge of the geology, history, and plant and animal life, Charlie is very accommodating and willing to alter the trip based upon our wants and needs. We would highly recommend Charlie to anyone wanting to get an inside look at the area. He also has a little Airbnb in a 100+ year old chapel. Its not the Ritz but its great if you want to get an experience in rural West Texas.
Written February 22, 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.
Savvy AZ Hiker
Ajo, AZ2 contributions
Dec 2020
From one hiker & boater to another, please go talk to Big Bend Boating & Hiking Co. or Get Lost Tours instead. They were friendly, helpful, patient, and professional 100% of the many times we interacted with them.
What we got from doing business with Angell Expeditions: Nothing. Mr. Angell did, however, insult us during 3 out of 3 conversations on the phone -- one inquiring, one booking, and one cancelling due to a worsening weather forecast.
What Mr. Angell got: our $250, and the chance to blow off some steam.
Here's the tea:
I called Mr. Angell about a shuttle ride for a hike in Big Bend Ranch State Park. We were shocked by how disparaging, bombastic, and rude he was on the phone with us from our very first conversation, when I asked about the feasibility and price of the ride. He launched into a rant about how hard it is to run a business and all but hung up on me.
Against my instincts, I called back several days later. The same nasty, self-absorbed Mr. Angell answered the phone. (Poor guy — I see why you complained about how much trouble you have running a business.) He hurried us to book and pay immediately. I told him we needed half an hour to check the weather forecast. 5 minutes later his agent called, against my request, and took $250.
The weather forecast worsened and we made the difficult decision to cancel the hike. We called and *we* (paying customers) apologized to *him* (business owner). In response, he berated us for not having read the refund policy on his website. We had never visited his website; there is almost no mobile service in the Big Bend area. He said we were “a waste of time.” Some waste of time when you snatch a freebie $250, dude. We hung up when he called us a “pain in the ass.”
TL;DR:
Charles Angell’s disparaging words to us were uncalled for from the first to the last. He blustered through every phone call with no regard for us or our plans. When the plastic came out, he rushed us. When we cancelled for reasons beyond our control, he took the money and dissed us as hard as he could. Shame on you. I only hope our experience, and our ability to share it here, helps others avoid the same scam.
What we got from doing business with Angell Expeditions: Nothing. Mr. Angell did, however, insult us during 3 out of 3 conversations on the phone -- one inquiring, one booking, and one cancelling due to a worsening weather forecast.
What Mr. Angell got: our $250, and the chance to blow off some steam.
Here's the tea:
I called Mr. Angell about a shuttle ride for a hike in Big Bend Ranch State Park. We were shocked by how disparaging, bombastic, and rude he was on the phone with us from our very first conversation, when I asked about the feasibility and price of the ride. He launched into a rant about how hard it is to run a business and all but hung up on me.
Against my instincts, I called back several days later. The same nasty, self-absorbed Mr. Angell answered the phone. (Poor guy — I see why you complained about how much trouble you have running a business.) He hurried us to book and pay immediately. I told him we needed half an hour to check the weather forecast. 5 minutes later his agent called, against my request, and took $250.
The weather forecast worsened and we made the difficult decision to cancel the hike. We called and *we* (paying customers) apologized to *him* (business owner). In response, he berated us for not having read the refund policy on his website. We had never visited his website; there is almost no mobile service in the Big Bend area. He said we were “a waste of time.” Some waste of time when you snatch a freebie $250, dude. We hung up when he called us a “pain in the ass.”
TL;DR:
Charles Angell’s disparaging words to us were uncalled for from the first to the last. He blustered through every phone call with no regard for us or our plans. When the plastic came out, he rushed us. When we cancelled for reasons beyond our control, he took the money and dissed us as hard as he could. Shame on you. I only hope our experience, and our ability to share it here, helps others avoid the same scam.
Written January 16, 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.
the weather forecast for this clients timeframe was projected to be cold, windy, and snowing. We repeatedly said we weren't interested in providing a shuttle service for them and highly advised against it, and declined. They called us multiple times after being rejected by other companies, sometimes they would call and forget which company they were speaking to. After I refused to provide the service they then switched to a different phone and started over, when I realized this they begged and pleaded to provide the shuttle because it was too late to find another. The park rangers also discouraged them from doing this multi-day hike but they INSISTED they were expert hikers, etc.
36 hours prior to the morning we were to meet them to provide the shuttle we phoned them to verify they were certain they wanted to go through with their hike, they were gung-ho, positive, etc. I charged their credit card the $250 fee the day before, sent a driver to meet them the next morning, and they were a no-show. They did call hours later saying they had changed their mind, etc. Our refund policy is clear and on our website, any cancellations within 7 days of a scheduled trip is non-refundable. We did not "line our pockets" with $250; the driver was paid for 2 hours driving there, 1 hour waiting for the no-show, 2 hours back, plus our fuel expense. I absolutely regret ever being cajoled into this mess by them, but if any client is a no-show no-call we will always keep the money to cover our expense. In closing, we break our refund policy routinely for any reasonable cause and for reasonable clients, these people do not fit that description.
Written May 9, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
hstevens001
142 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Charlie tried hard but there is a lot of room for improvement before I could begin to recommend him for guided birding. He cares about the area a lot.
Charlie, you really should start to use eBird and Merlin. EBird will tell you what birds are being reported where. Merlin and a bigger bird guide and regular study of them will help you improve your working knowledge of harder to ID birds. Your skills may be good for people boating or hiking, but when birders pay a few hundred dollars and take the time for a guided bird trip, they are paying for someone who knows where the birds have been recently, who has an excellent working knowledge of the local birds and who has good optics to help with ID.
Within a half hour, when you got out a laminated brochure pamphlet on the area birds and were referencing that for very common birds, Our confidence in your skills as a bird guide were gone. I felt like it was not a good use of my time or money, and could have gotten the same benefit just going on my own. I hope you will consider the advice I have written here. If there are any bird groups I would also recommend you join them to help your knowledge. If you are going to offer guided birding, then you really should increase your knowledge and get better optics for yourself.
Charlie, you really should start to use eBird and Merlin. EBird will tell you what birds are being reported where. Merlin and a bigger bird guide and regular study of them will help you improve your working knowledge of harder to ID birds. Your skills may be good for people boating or hiking, but when birders pay a few hundred dollars and take the time for a guided bird trip, they are paying for someone who knows where the birds have been recently, who has an excellent working knowledge of the local birds and who has good optics to help with ID.
Within a half hour, when you got out a laminated brochure pamphlet on the area birds and were referencing that for very common birds, Our confidence in your skills as a bird guide were gone. I felt like it was not a good use of my time or money, and could have gotten the same benefit just going on my own. I hope you will consider the advice I have written here. If there are any bird groups I would also recommend you join them to help your knowledge. If you are going to offer guided birding, then you really should increase your knowledge and get better optics for yourself.
Written November 14, 2023
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.
Jennifer V
33 contributions
Jun 2021
Angell Expeditions took us (family of four, two teenagers) on a four day/three night adventure through Boquillas Canyon on the Rio Grande. We spent our time on the river with our amazing guide, Sam, who took care of us with a great amount of knowledge and patience. Camping under the stars in a dark sky region allowed us to see the night sky from a different lens. The river gave us a break from the heat whenever we needed it and we all had a fantastic time.
I would highly recommend Angell Expeditions to anyone looking for a well organized and personalized adventure in Big Bend or surrounding areas!
I would highly recommend Angell Expeditions to anyone looking for a well organized and personalized adventure in Big Bend or surrounding areas!
Written June 18, 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.
Very much appreciate you guys choosing us in this difficult world, hope to see you again on a future trip,
THANKS!!
Written July 27, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bonjorno
Boston55 contributions
Feb 2020
There are many outfitters offering this trip, but I am glad I chose Charlie & his Angell expeditions. The greatest difference is that Charlie goes out of his way to tailor your expedition to your group's needs. We were able to do a three day trip through Santa Elena Canyon on Canoes when other outfitters only offered "boomerang" trips, showing only a small portion of the canyon. The trip was amazing. Our guide, Tenor, was super helpful, yet stepped back when we needed time to talk and bond as a group. The scenery was gorgeous, and we were able to do three hikes in the evening after we were done paddling. Food was great as well. I highly recommend Charlie and his company!
Written February 8, 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.
jackik538
katy, tx10 contributions
Nov 2021
Driving the scenic river road in the National Park has been on my bucket list for years. I finally saw that dream come true with Angell Expeditions. Needless to say, I was not disappointed, nor were the other members of our party. Charlie Angell, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable of the flora, fauna, geology, and history of the region. He was professional, courteous, and mindful of our limitations. He actually stopped along the way to give check on 2 cyclists. Fortunately for them, they were out of water, and he refilled their water reservoirs. The tour of Marascal Mine was one of the many highlights of this trip.
Written November 27, 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.
Mike
Houston, TX49 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
First time visit to Big Bend after living in Texas for almost 30 years. Booked a 1/2 day canoe trip with Charlie. Unfortunately got rained out but fortunately there was a spot to join 2 other couples the next day. So glad we did that as it was a beautiful day on the river. Our trip was in the state park which was great. Our guide, Sam, was very knowledgeable about the area and really made the extra effort to tell us lots of interesting facts about what we were seeing. She even added a little extra time at the end to go a little farther down river to a really nice spot for a snack. Would definitely recommended them and hope to be back soon!
Written April 27, 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.
So glad we were able to make the date switch and keep your vacation on a positive! Please tell your friends and family, we try to be as flexible as can be to keep people happy on their travels, talk soon!!
Written July 27, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
bstgeorge
baton rouge64 contributions
Feb 2020
My wife and I did a 2 day 1 night trip into Santa Elena Canyon. It was the highlight of our trip in Big Bend. The canyon was one of the things I really wanted to see in the park and I was glad that we got to see a lot more of it through this trip.
Wes was our guide. We could not have asked for a more patient and effective guide. He was also a fantastic cook. He gave good advice on the best route. He also kindly took almost all of the supplies, so our canoe would be lighter.
Booking was easy and straightforward and the trip delivered more than we expected. We look forward to future trips with Angell Expeditions.
Wes was our guide. We could not have asked for a more patient and effective guide. He was also a fantastic cook. He gave good advice on the best route. He also kindly took almost all of the supplies, so our canoe would be lighter.
Booking was easy and straightforward and the trip delivered more than we expected. We look forward to future trips with Angell Expeditions.
Written March 27, 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! We’re considering booking this weekend (late July). How is the heat this time of year? Also, we’re staying in Marfa. Would we need to stay overnight here?
Written July 23, 2019
This time of year is usually very hot .
Written July 23, 2019
I'm about to book possibly the same trip in about 10 days. How typical are those headwinds?
Written March 20, 2018
I believe it was $130 pp with lunch for a day trip to the Hot Spring that included the petroglyph area, Old Ore Rd, hike to Ernst Tenaja water hole and canyon. We'll worth every penny for the expertise and knowledge AND driving on rough terrain in his vehicle.
Written October 5, 2015
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