AdventureSmith Reviews

Meals Review

The food on the Delfin I was 5 star all the way.  They even prepared our piranha that we caught and it was delicious! 

Crew & Guides Review

Every transfer, driver and guide was professional, reliable and couldn't have been better.  Each became a friend and were flexible enough to accommodate our desires during the day.  Couldn't say enough about all of these. 

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Our AdventureSmith Specialist was available always by email, phone to answer questions and the suggested packing lists were extremely helpful and really we had 3 different climates to pack for; coastal/urban in Lima, tropical jungle in Iquitos and cooler highlands in Cusco and we found that we had packed well thanks to the advice of AdventureSmith.

Accommodations Review

The hotels in Quito and Cuenca were very nice - particularly the one in Cuenca, which like many hotels there is a converted home of some wealthy resident. The accommodations on La Pinta were roomier than I had expected, with a large bed, big window and a bathroom with excellent water pressure and plentiful hot water. The boat, with 41 tourists on board, was just the right size.

Meals Review

The meals we had on our own on the mainland were good, particularly the breakfasts in Quito. On the boat, we enjoyed the meals very much, though breakfast and lunch buffets were clearly the highlight and the sit-down dinners were less impressive. We also had salmon our first night on the boat that could have been fresher. However, the lunches more than made up for the minor glitches.

Crew & Guides Review

All of our guides/naturalists on La Pinta were good. They were very knowledgeable, friendly and enthusiastic. In Quito, we had a good guide, notwithstanding she had a limited palette of locations to work with. Our guide in Cuenca was excellent too. All guides and naturalists were very proficient in English, though when we were off the boat, we tried speaking Spanish as often as we could.

The arrangements were perfect. Not a glitch in the entire nearly two weeks. I was so pleased that drivers and guides were always there when they were supposed to be there and made us feel like we were in good hands.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Andrew was great. That's why I'm planning a trip to Peru through him. Information was provided in a very clear and relatively concise manner. We kept the trip instructions close at hand, particularly when on the mainland. The only thing I did on my own without instructions to prepare for the trip was to visit the Mayo Clinic's travel clinic, where they made sure certain vaccinations were up to date and prescribed Diamox for altitude sickness in case I had an issue, as well as something for stomach upset (which was really not an issue).

I am just very happy to have found AdventureSmith. The agency and agent, Andrew, were recommended by friends of ours who were on the same boat as we were some years ago. I am looking forward to working with Andrew and AdventureSmith again when my younger daughter and I travel to Machu Picchu. I have already mentioned AdventureSmith to several people.

Traveler Advice

Just that they should do their homework to get the most out of the trip, bring the proper clothes (we traveled very light but were just fine), and check in with a doctor to make sure you don't spend days dealing with altitude sickness or have some other issue (after visiting the doctor, we bought DEET mosquito repellent which was not necessary all that often, but we are glad we did). I took Diamox and my wife (who did not take any meds) had just one day on arrival in Quito when she had a splitting headache, but then we both hiked for a couple hours at nearly 13,000 feet and we were both fine. I will definitely make sure my daughter and I have Diamox before we land in Cusco.

Accommodations Review

The Hilton in Anchorage was okay - seems to need a facelift soon but we weren't there long. The cabin at Kantishna was vey roomy and the beds were really comfortable. We had everything we needed. The Sheraton in Juneau was very comfortable and the staff very friendly. The Westward cabins are so efficient! I was amazed at how much room we had to put our clothes and other items. It was perfect.

Meals Review

I cannot say enough about Tracie's food on the boat. It is truly some of the best food I have eaten anywhere! She also baked me an incredible birthday cake! The food at Kantishna was fine. I know they are very remote, but I was dying for some local fish! The service was good and I enjoyed sitting with other guests. We met some really interesting people. 

Crew & Guides Review

Mary was our favorite at Kantishna. She was so enthusiastic and led us on a wonderful 7 mile hike to Skyline Ridge (I think). She knew so much about the plants and all of the wildlife. All four of the folks aboard the Westward were exceptional. Don't know how I can say enough. Bill, Tracie, Kristin, and Liam. All were people I am very happy to have met.

Transportation Review

I really appreciated the detailed itinerary which I carried with me. Knowing exactly which dome train to check in to, for instance, was wonderful and eased any anxiety I may have had about being in the right place. Same with the buses we were on. I think our flights worked out well, although I am now not a big fan of the Seattle airport - it was a zoo! Glad we arrived early for our flight home. I appreciated the cabs being included as well. 

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

I felt that the support from AdventureSmith while planning the trip and before leaving was outstanding. I had all of the information that I needed. I felt that everyone involved was so friendly and quick to respond to any questions I had. We got wonderful, complete info about packing, etc., and felt very well-prepared.

Traveler Advice

Just do it!  Say "yes".

Accommodations Review

Room was, as expected, tight quarters. It's an old ship, after all. The public areas are great. The upper deck is a beautiful place for cocktails, or just relaxing. Seeing the Sea Cloud under sail is a real treat.

Meals Review

Food was excellent. I think I probably gained weight, but that's my fault. I preferred the buffet dinners to the served ones. Variety was excellent. Lot's of great salads. Good seafood and fresh fish.

Crew & Guides Review

All of the people leading the expedition are true professionals. They know their stuff. One of the regular speakers has her PHD in archeology and is a real expert on the region and Greek history.  I was really impressed with all of them. The two regular guides are Greek and have many years experience in the areas we visited. One of our Lindblad guides, a native Greek, was much too insistent on trying to tell us all about the Greek Orthodox religion. As a non-Christian, I found it a little off-putting. She knew her stuff, but seemed anxious to proselytize...

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Between AdventureSmith and Lindblad, we were well prepared. We made our own flight arrangements, but AS was very helpful. I cannot say enough good about our experience both with AdventureSmith and with Lindblad.

Accommodations Review

We loved the Mountain Lodges Salkantay Hike. The Salkantay Mountain Lodges were fantastic, only one thing would really help would be some form of drying room or oil heaters to dry wet clothing.

Meals Review

I was hoping to take some weight off, but that wasn't going to happen with 3 course meals everywhere we went.  The meals were amazing and having a 3 course lunch made for us up in the mountains was awesome. 

Crew & Guides Review

Peter and Desirae Guides at the Galapagos were wonderfully knowledgeable and friendly people, we really liked them we just found that they lectured for too long, 1km walks taking 3 hours with most of it being lectures.  Just a little too much information.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Very impressed with Andrew's expertise and co-ordination of our trip, I changed my mind on what we wanted to do on numerous occasions and he effortlessly (well that is how he made it seem to me) gave me new itineraries, with prices and times etc. The Galapagos wildlife was my original destination and since we were going to be in the area and its a long way to come from Australia we tacked Machu Picchu on and are very glad we did. Thank you, Andrew.

Traveler Advice

- Make sure to take insect repellent and if you have issues with bites, some antihistamines.

- Possibly go to Cusco and couple of days early to acclimatise and make sure you read the dosage of the altitude medication properly. 

- Take aspirin as pain reliever in high altitudes because it thins the blood. 

- No need to take shampoo, conditioner or body wash as all the lodges and the ships provide it.

Accommodations Review

Superb! Top-notch cleaning of our rooms. 

Meals Review

Every meal at North Face was outstanding! Much of it was grown on-site and was fixed and presented beautifully. They even picked wild blueberries and made blueberry tarts!!

The cruise meals were good as well, but you can't get that fresh quality on a boat like you can on land. They were very timely served and hot things were hot and cold things were cold. I was full every day!

Crew & Guides Review

I cannot remember our moderate hike guides' names at North Face Lodge, but both were excellent and very knowledgeable! John made a most superb leader, along with Andi, and were gentle with their bell before announcements.

Katie, Dani, Sarah, really all the crew on board the Wilderness Adventurer were beyond great. They were also knowledgeable and helpful. They were highly trained and had kind, fun-loving spirits.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Most excellent! We were well prepared for this trip, right down to the rubber boots, which we really didn't need on the boat because they had plenty of all sizes. But our boots came in handy for the rest of the trip. Shuttles, buses, flights, trains, really every mode of transportation was on time and had friendly drivers.

I can't thank you enough for the best vacation I have ever had. When I had questions, you either called me or emailed me in a timely manner, which alleviated any concerns I had. 

I know at least three people who want to "pick my brain" about this trip, and you will be highly recommended.

Traveler Advice

Go for it!  Its worth every penny, and you won't regret it.

Accommodations Review

All of our accommodations from the Safari Explorer UnCruise boat, Camp Denali Lodge and the three Kenai Lodges [Kenai Riverside Lodge, Kenai Backcountry Lodge, and Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge] were amazing and all unique in their own ways.

Meals Review

The meals on each leg of our trip were amazing first class dining experiences. Our favorites were the Safari Explorer and the Kenai Backcountry Lodge.

Crew & Guides Review

We had many different trip leaders and guides throughout our trip and all of them were excellent. They were all knowledgeable in their own areas and helped us to learn about the history or each area we visited, the wildlife in each area, as well as the animals that were native to each area. Even the chefs informed us about the meals we were enjoying. All of our guides, chefs and leaders were so enthusiastic about their areas of expertise.

Itinerary Review

We liked various parts of each leg of our trip. The inside passage for the marine life and the Tongass National Forest and Glacier Bay National Park. Denali National Park for the great hiking, glaciers, the tundra which I knew nothing about but learned to appreciate and enjoy the beauty of as well as the wildlife of the park. And the Kenai Peninsula portion of our trip for the activities like rafting the Kenai River, hiking through the stunning scenic countryside and enjoying the peace of the Backcountry Lodge and boating from Resurrection Bay to the Glacier Lodge and seeing the glaciers coming down from the Harding Icefield. Juneau and Anchorage were not very pretty towns but we were glad that we had the opportunity to see them.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

AdventureSmith, and specifically Taylor, was so thorough and meticulous in planning our trip. She had first hand experience and knowledge of each location and planned our trip with the perfect amount of time in each location. I don't think we would change anything about our itinerary. We would absolutely recommend AdventureSmith and specifically Taylor to anyone contemplating traveling to Alaska.

Traveler Advice

Let AdventureSmith plan your trip and you won't regret it!