Yaz was one of the naturalist guides on my recent (and first!) trip to the Galapagos. His passion for these islands and the many creatures that inhabit them shines through in the way he explains the ecosystems, the landscapes, the history - and in the ways he encourages the group to experience the islands. He’s also wonderful at offering to take photos (a big plus for solo travelers especially). I was quite impressed with all of the knowledge shared and fell completely captivated by this place. Highly recommend!

This tour had amazing snorkelling. We swam beside sea turtles, sea lions and marine iguanas! David the tour guide made sure that the tour was really well organised start to finish. He also knew all the great snorkelling spots as he has lived on the island his whole life. Lunch was great! If you enjoy being in the water then this tour is a must do!

The snorkelling on this trip was unreal! We saw sea turtles, eagle rays, sea lions, loads of fish, and black tipped sharks! My wife and I have suba and snorkelled all over the world and this matches any place we have ever been! Overall the trip was seamless with the guides Diane and Jonathon always being there and educating. I do have to say Dianes English was perfect which always helps on tours. Lunch was at a restaurant direct on the beach and the food was delicious

Booking was simple and online. We had to visit the office the evening before our trip for a briefing and fitting of fins etc - this wasn't clearly explained, but luckily we arrived to confirm meeting time and place. The actual tour was very enjoyable. We had a guide who was very friendly and knowledgeable. We saw lots of marine, land and air wildlife, so lots of ticks in my book! Lunch was excellent! The only criticism was that our guide strode out in front when we were walking to different places. It would have been more enjoyable had he walked at our pace and explained what we were seeing as we walked.

I was in the Galapagos at the end of December 2024, I booked various tours with this agency. They are very precise and very helpful towards the customer, since I was booking from Europe I asked for a lot of information and they were very patient and very clear. The organization is very precise and each tour was punctual and nothing was missing. What else to say? 5/5 A big hug to Stephanie and her great staff

Our day tour to San Cristobal with Guiding Galapagos was truly outstanding. Unlike the large, impersonal tours that pack 16 people into one group, this experience was intimate and tailored to perfection. With a private guide who was both incredibly knowledgeable and attentive, we felt completely taken care of from start to finish. Every detail was thoughtfully planned, making the day stress-free and enjoyable. From the seamless logistics to the personalized attention, it was clear that Guiding Galapagos prioritizes quality over quantity. The guide’s insights into the island’s wildlife and ecosystems made the experience even more enriching. If you’re looking for a high-quality, personalized tour in the Galapagos, this is the way to go. Everything was flawless—it couldn’t have been better. Highly recommended!

This tour to Santa Fe and Hidden Beach was an incredible experience! Swimming with sea lions, spotting rays and sea turtles, and relaxing on the stunning Hidden Beach made for a perfect day. What really set this tour apart was the exceptional service from Guiding Galapagos. We had high-quality snorkeling gear and long wetsuits, which were a huge plus—not only for staying comfortable in the water but also for sun protection. The night-before briefing was also a great touch, ensuring we were well-prepared and could enjoy the day to the fullest. The boat was comfortable, the guides were knowledgeable and friendly, and the food and snacks were fresh and tasty. Choosing a reputable operator like Guiding Galapagos made all the difference. Highly recommend!

We booked a day trip to Isabella incredibly last minute, but the staff was very helpful. Our trip was well executed. We took the speed boat from Santa Cruz to Isabella, boarded another boat to tour the bay, hiked on an Islet, and snorkeled. They arranged lunch for us at a nice beach-side restaurant before we visited the Tortoise Breeding Program and the flamingo lagoon. Our guide was very knowledgable and provided neat insights into the Galapagos' ecosystem and culture. A big part of the value was in the logistical support. At each step along the way, someone was there to ensure we got where we needed to go when we needed to be there without any difficulty or stress.

My family and I just returned from our fabulous trip to the Galapagos. It still feels like a dream come true. And this wonderful trip was made possible by an extraordinary team at Guiding Galapagos. Can't say enough good things about them. I don't know where to start in terms of listing all the big and small things that they planned and executed to perfection. Not a fan of cruise ships, we decided to go with a land based package. A friend recommended GG and I am so grateful to them. I worked with Stephanie through many iterations of our 8 day itinerary. She was AMAZING - prompt, uber helpful and patient in answering the bazillion questions I had right up till the time we arrived in Santa Cruz. Their pricing and payment schedule was transparent and the itinerary was detailed and very well laid out. Omar and Daniel were GG's on-the-ground support team. They were exceptional. Daniel handled the WhatsApp communications (very clear and timely) and Omar took care of us from the time we arrived till departure at Baltra airport. His daily briefings, providing us with cleaned up wet suits each day and top quality snorkel gear, accompanying us to the day's expedition boats and receiving us on return... everything, every little aspect of our day's excursion was managed FLAWLESSLY. We only had to focus on having a good time. Rest was managed by GG :-) We stayed at GG's Ocean Pier hotel (right above their office) with stunning views. The room was comfortable and the breakfast was fresh and made to order. The itinerary put together by Stephanie was PURRRRfect.We did Pinzon, Isabela, Seymour, Lava Tunnels, Santa Fe. The guides GG selected for our snorkeling and walking excursions were phenomenal. I am, at best, an anxious snorkler and also have poor balance. No problems. The guides took such good care of me in the water as well as on land -- in the water, they pulled me along with a ring (and every so often, they would check in with me to ensure that I was able to see everything that the other snorklers were viewing) and on rocky, uneven walking paths, they would give me a helping hand. A special shout out to guides Susie, Darwin, Yazmany and Jimmy -- you truly made it possible for me to enjoy the wonders of Galapagos; couldn't have done it without your kindness. At the end of each activity, the guides air dropped or WAed their pics to our phones so that we could have a recorded memory of the amazing sea and land creates we had seen. The boat crew were also very good -- and the lunches they served on board their boats were fresh, delicious and sumptuous. I am running out of adjectives to describe how fantastic this trip to the Galapagos was. A BIG THANK YOU to the entire Guiding Galapagos team for giving us such a memorable experience. Would highly highly recommend them.

My wife and I visited the Galapagos Islands for 9 nights starting on November 5th. We spoke to Stephanie with Guiding Galapagos and exchanged emails on several occasions explaining how we like to travel while she explained what the Galapagos Islands have to offer. Our preference was to stay in hotels vs. sleeping on a boat and have plenty of free time to enjoy the sights without rushing. (We’re retired so there’s just no rush). WOW, she created the perfect trip to exactly meet our needs. We had a few days with a private guide doing land tours and 4 days where we were part of a small group where we took a boat for a combination of a land tour and snorkeling. Every activity was a memory of a lifetime. There are two further things I can say about Gilding Galapagos which truly stand out. First, we were with someone literally everywhere we went so there was no concern about getting lost. It started with them meeting us at Baltra after our flight for the 5-minute water taxi to where the driver was ready to take us into town. Guiding Galapagos had a driver there to take us to every activity and pick us up afterward. On day 3 of the trip, my wife stepped into a hole while waking in the ocean and stress fractured her foot. One of the Gilding Galapagos staff members (Omar) brought us to the hospital and stayed there with us for many hours to get treated. I had to do some activities without my wife for a few days (she insisted so don’t get upset with me). Omar and his associate, Daniel, visited my wife in the hotel throughout the day to be sure she was doing well. Plus the staff at “Villa Escalesia Galapagos” hotel took amazing care of us. Regardless of how you like to travel, I suggest you contact Gilding Galapagos and spend the time to discuss what the Galapagos Islands have to offer and how you enjoy spending the time. You won’t be disappointed.

From start to finish this was a first class tour. We were personally fitted with our wet suits. The gentleman running the tour walked us to the pier, went on water taxi to make sure we were on the correct boat. Our guide in San Cristobal was there waiting for us when we arrived. He was professional and knowledgeable of the area, sites, and marine life. We are not expert swimmers and he taught us how to snorkel making it enjoyable. We saw many fish, sea turtles, and sea lions. Lunch in town was amazing! When we landed back in Santa Cruz the travel coordinator was there waiting again.

Speak to Stephanie Mair, she’s the best person to handle all your concerns. Snorkeling with Max Naturalist Tour Guide was truly amazing.

They have everything arranged for you so you do not have to think at all! We were met by the first guide on Santa Cruz at the shop and he walked us to the pier and even made sure we made it from the water taxi to the proper boat. If we tried to do it on our own it looked very confusing which boat you are suppose to take for which island and not that many people speak English to help. Once we arrived on the island we were met with our tour guide who explained the whole day and stayed with us from each activity to the next. Overall the way the tour was set up was perfect. It is a great way to see Isabela island when you don’t have enough time to move from island to island like us. Would 10/10 recommend the day trip!

I was thoroughly impressed with the exceptional service provided from the outset. The tour was a truly unforgettable experience, comprising swimming with sharks, turtles, fish, and sea lions, as well as encountering Galapagos penguins. The lunch was exquisite, and the expertise of Jonathan and guide Jimmy made my visit to Isabela truly memorable. I extend my gratitude to Omar for his invaluable recommendations, which greatly enhanced my tour experience. I would highly recommend this tour operator and would certainly choose them again.

Guiding Galapagos organised for our group - two families - entire private program during our short 4 nights island-based trip to Galapagos. They were very flexible as we preferred to book hotels on our own. GG organised all Excursions, local transportation, inter island ferry, Guides, boat Expeditions and snorkeling equipment. All our guides were just great and everything was perfelctly organised. GG picked us up at Baltra airport at arrival to Galapagos and took care of us until departure from San Cristobal airport. We had a coordinator at each island making sure that the progran goes smoothly. We took various activities, including highland tour, Santa Fe Island and Hidden Beach and Tortuga Beach at Santa Cruz Island, as well as Kicker Rock tour at San Cristobal. We also had a great walk along San Cristobal cliffs with blue footed boobies spotting and visit to the interpretation centre. All our tours were great and each different. I think that you need to take several tours on each island to understand a bit how special Galapagos Islands are. This was probably the best adventure that I ever had! Animals were increadibly close to us, interacting with us without any fear. I think that I was in paradise for a few days... You will not believe this if you dont go to Galapagos, and if you decide to go, I strongly recommend doing this with Guiding Galapagos. Great tours, knowable guides, good communication before, during and after the stay. We even received video clips from our underwater expeditions.