Feedback from happy OLA adventurers …
I thought the tour service was top notch in every way. You were knowledgeable about all the areas we passed along the way and gave interesting running commentary. You very attentively inquired as to what exactly we were looking for and with our feedback tailored the trip to our liking. All in all I don’t think there is much more one could ask for on a tour. I would definitely like to travel with you again.
We enjoyed the entire experience….guide, lunch, the equator. We felt the guide (Joe) was in tune with us and our needs. We also appreciated the pictures and DVD. A great addition.
- Ron & Geraldine (USA)
Loved every moment of the day trip, will go on more with adventures with Joe. Notify me of your future expeditions and never lose the personal aspect.
- Joan & Jim (USA)
Joe’s expertise at each location set the trip miles above a large tour group trek.
- Ed (San Franscico, USA)
I wasn’t interested in being “looked after”, but Joe was always available for questions. I don’t really like the traditional guided tour where you feel like herded sheep. I rather liked the “expert friend” version of guided tours that Joe provided.
-Jon (London, UK)
Tireless attention to detail - Great fun.
-Charlie (UK)
Many thanks to Joe (and Joe) for leading an excellent trip around the Quilotoa loop and then for the following one to Guagua Pichincha and down to Puerto Quito. Also thanks to everyone else on the trip, it was great for us to meet so many likeminded fellow travellers to share the experiences with.
Sarah and I had an excellent time on this trip. Joe´s flexibility and knowledge meant that we (and I think everyone else on the trip) achieved everything we wanted to from kayaking on a lake at 3500m above sea level to visiting the peak of Guagua Pichincha at 4780m (about the same as Mont Blanc apparently) amd descending through the cloud forest to almost sea level in just one day.
We can´t recommend OLA-Adventures more highly.
Glad we saw the poster! Flexibility was excellent and options available for the 3 days were just right. The Unimog is clearly the vehicle for choice for “the loop”
The Laguna (Quilotoa) was beautiful & people we met were friendly.
-Sarah Cox & Chris Haywood, UK.
What a fantastic trip. We were so fortunate and incredibly lucky to have you as our guide. You introduced us to an incredible country and culture. We where particularly grateful for your patience with little Frances (3yrs). Thanks for sharing Ecuador with us, its was an unforgettable experience.
We’ll be back
Ditto to all! (the above) We had an excellent luck discovering OLA-Adventures and Joe, never would we have seen so much or survived our gone “tropo” 3 year old. Any one considering a guide should look no further!
Thanks Joe.
-Dave, Meighan and France, USA
Right at the start of our 15,000 mile solo trip a few years back we bumped into Joe whilst doing some planning in the South American Explorers Club.
What a find! Not only is Joe a top form good bloke, he knows loads of stuff! Over a period of days whilst we waited for our landy to arrive Joe shared his extensive knowledge and experience of travel through South America with us and pointed us in the direction of some really great off the beaten track treats.
If Joe is guiding you we are sure you’ll have a great time!
Ed & Sue, UK. ( www.overlandy.com)
I had a fun few days too, but that’s not all it was. I am always interested to observe other cultures and with your help, I came to a more thorough understanding of the Andean way of life.
Claire, California, USA
I have to say that I too can not recommend Joe and OLA Adventures highly enough. Due to the efforts of Joe F and his fellow OLA Adventurer Joe J they turned what was personally a difficult time for myself and my mum (Sue) into a positive and highly entertaining experience. The peace, tranquility and natural beauty of Puerto Quito and Mindo is something that every visitor to Ecuador needs to experience. The peace in Mindo was somewhat shattered though by the screams of Sue as she flew across the canopy of the jungle in true superman pose whilst attached to a young Ecuadorian on a zip cord. She assures us these were screams of joy as opposed to fear and has spent the last few weeks regaling her friends with her tales of bravery and the world of backpacking, hostels and of course bats…. I cant thank you enough Joe for showing us the true, beautiful side of Ecuador and its people. I look forward to returning next year and discovering more!
Until then happy adventuring….
Right at the start of our 15,000 mile solo trip a few years back we bumped into Joe whilst doing some planning in the South American Explorers Club.
What a find! Not only is Joe a top form good bloke, he knows loads of stuff! Over a period of days whilst we waited for our landy to arrive Joe shared his extensive knowledge and experience of travel through South America with us and pointed us in the direction of some really great off the beaten track treats.
If Joe is guiding you we are sure you’ll have a great time!
Ed & Sue ( www.overlandy.com)
If you are going to Ecuador, you must let Joe take you on an adventure. Whether you are going to the jungle, the mountains or the coast, trust me when I say you need to let Joe take you. I cannot say enough about how great he is! My brother and I had gone to Ecuador in January and rented a car for a week and travelled around some ourselves. However, this trip was so much better. My father and brothers and I recently booked him for a tour across the Andes to go whitewater rafting in Tena. We didn’t really have an agenda other than getting to our destination for rafting and we were very flexible. The trip, which would have been boring if we had simply taken a bus or a taxi, was incredible. We stayed a night at the hot springs in Papallacta. We also stayed in a jungle retreat (suggested by Joe) which in itself was worth the trip. And the rafting company that he suggested was awesome. It was truly amazing and all because of Joe. He is extremely knowledgeable and a really good driver (which is rare in Ecuador). Whether you want to take a paragliding flight in Canoa, surf or hike through the jungle, you really should get Joe. I feel as though he is part of the family. We all were very sad to have to part with him after the three-day adventure. Even if you just wanted to tour around Quito, I would recommend you get him even if just for a day. The only negative thing is that once you have Joe as your guide, you will never want to travel again without him.
The 3 days we spent with you was an amazing experience.Although we were apprehensive of using a guide the whole experience was wonderful We feel we got to see the real Ecuador, the part travellers just dont have the time to find.The local places you took us to eat were very special and the ideas you came up with for us as a family felt very personal .We would recommend you to families,young travellers ,older travellers and also the well seasoned traveller.Your knowledge of the local area and the local people was vast and this made our time in the high Andes trouble free and exciting.So a BIG THANK-YOU JOE you are a very exciting and interesting guy who will be definitely travelling with us again. Soon i hope.
Thanks Joe for the great Quilitoa Loop trip in beginning of December !
For anyone planning a trip with Joe: you will be well taken care of and learn loads about Ecuador on the way. Well worth the money to arrange this with OLA Adventures. If you are lucky you have sunshine along the way, and Joe is always keen on getting you those best pictures. Nothing is any trouble.
If you are interested in other trips Joe is very flexible in handeling any request you might have. And always with a small on his face. Thanks for this Ecuador experience !