Quasar Expeditions

If you want the best of the best, book Quasar. I just finished one week in the Galapagos on the Evolution. 💯 This adventure far exceeded any expectations of mine. I can't imagine doing it any other way. They handled every single detail of our whole trip. From booking hotels when we landed in Quito, to domestic air travel to the islands, & personal guides through the airport. And the crew of the yacht were exceptional. This crew kept us organized, educated, safe, clean, fed, bandaged, & buzzed. 🥂 Always with a smile and laugh. They took such good care of us. They started to feel like real friends and made it harder to leave this beautiful place. Best hospitality I've ever had. "The mind is a chaos of delight." -Charles Darwin

I will never forget my time in the Galápagos on the Evolution. As much as I love to travel solo, I'm very much of a worrier, but the Quasar team and their guides left no questions unanswered---in fact, I didn't even have to ask any logistical questions. They cover all the bases from the get-go, which is a relief. The only downside to the trip was when I cried in the airport because I didn't want to leave my guides (Bolo, Soto, and Cristina who are all incredible, unbelievably knowledgable people), my new friends, and the wildlife. People always say "up-close-and-personal" encounters, but you don't understand the gravity of it until your guide teaches you how to dance with a sea lion. A small little detail I especially appreciated is that Quasar's guides are quick to ask if you want a photo, which is nice for a solo traveler. It can be daunting to ask for yourself, and they care deeply for the beauty of the islands and know how special it is to people to have memories to take home.

Quasar as always provided a superior trip. This was our second Galápagos excursion and we loved it. Food- incredible. Service- impeccable. Guides-awesome. A special shout out to Arianna our cruise director, no one could ever top her skills and work ethics! We did the western islands and liked them the best. So many birds, penguins, sea lions (lots of new babies), iguanas and flamingos! Second trip of a lifetime!!!

Wonderful trip. Fantastic ship, magical landscapes! The crew and guides are not only excellent professionals, but also super passionate about what they do. I HIGHLY recommend it!

The Galapagos trip with Quasar Expeditions was fabulous. We were a family of 13: 9 grandkids, my two daughters and my daughter-in-law, and me. Aged from 9 to 80! The activities planned by Quasar worked for all of us. The accommodations were perfect. The crew and the naturalists were all friendly, super helpful, knowledgeable. And of course the animals, birds, sea life—amazing. It was a trip that I expect we will remember forever.

My wife and I had the most fantastic, memorable time on our trip to Quito and the Galapagos. The Evolution experience was perfect and exceeded expectations. The crew was professional, accessible, friendly and made sure that everyone was cared for and having the best time. Our cabin was spacious and comfortable. The food was delicious, especially the Ecuadorian cuisine. The naturalists were extremely knowledgeable and made sure that we all had fun. The open sea was an adventure and the wildlife, birds, and terrain of each island was exquisite. Last but not least we really enjoyed getting to know the other guests and felt that we had left the trip with some new friends.

We absolutely had the best time and the most memorable trip. On our way home, we discussed coming back again in the future and doing the opposite route to what we did on this trip - with Quasar of course. Everything was amazing from start to finish - the planning, the support from Quasar, the ship, the guides (Bolo, Christina and Hernan) and the FOOD and ACTIVITIES!! I do want to make note how incredibly inclusive the guides were in adapting to guests’ ability to do the activities. The wild life that we saw far surpassed anything I expected. Snorkelling with sea lions, penguins and turtles was amazing! All the staff on the boat - including the guides - were approachable and friendly at all times. Their knowledge of the Galapagos history and wildlife was a great asset in my view. Everything was perfect start to finish. Quasar has lived up to my expectations and more.

We recently returned from an absolutely fabulous trip to the Galapagos with this company. Diane & Paul, who were the two we worked with to set the trip up, were incredibly helpful in making the process streamlined & painless. They were also wonderful in their suggestions as to what to do both pre & post the cruise itself in the limited time we had to work with. The cruise was a revelation as to the islands themselves of course. We enjoyed every minute of our time during the week. Making the experience even better was the knowledge & care of all the staff on the boat and the naturalists. The crew were extremely attentive to everyone's comfort and needs. The 3 naturalists' attention to detail & desire to impart their love of the Galapagos to all the clientele was evident in every minute of the day. Every excursion was filled with information about the environment, the animals, the history and the unique beauty of the islands. The many snorkeling opportunities were fabulous. The highlight for me was the chance to swim with too many sea turtles to count. Swimming with the rays, the sharks, the sea lions, the octopi, the moray eels and the many exquisite tropical fish wasn't bad either! One word of caution--this is not a laid back vacation for relaxation. The only way to do this environment justice is to participate in all the hikes, panga rides, snorkeling opportunities offered. Bring your walking shoes and adventurous spirit and prepare for a trip of a lifetime!

We had a fabulous time on our tour of the Galápagos Islands with Quasar. We sailed on the Evolution yacht. The service before and during the cruise was exceptional. Paul & Diane were super responsive & knowledgeable during the booking and trip preparation process. The crew on the Evolution catered to our every need. I am Gluten Free & Lactose intolerant. The chef had a modified version of the food being served that fit my dietary requirements at every meal. The Naturalist guides, Bolo, Ernand and Gabby were phenomenal. Every day was action packed with snorkeling, hiking and/or kayaking. Of course you always had the option of skipping any of the excursions and just hanging out on the ship (but I suggest doing as much as you can). The trip exceeded our expectations on every level. I would highly recommend this to everyone!

There are some great things about this cruise- small boat, a very pleasant staff and some great access given the company's long tenure in the region ( the owners are Ecuadorean). And then there are some less pleasant elements. The cabin I was assigned had plumbing issues that should have been inspected and addressed prior to departure. The result was noiseome odors the crew tried to mitigate but couldn't. At one point they used mold treatment ( which was itself an inappropriate response to a plumbing issues) that caused a rash on my body ( I am allergic to clorox). Apparently they had not informed of my allergy despite it clearly being stated in my form. The end result was that I slept in the common area instead of my own room for 2 nights, and the corporate office refused any responsibility or even a token compensation. But this wasn't the worst experience on a quasar cruise one could have. What tourists don't know is that there is a lot of rotation among staff. The tour before ours had completely different staff, for instance. They missed a client literally drowning while snorkelling until she had swallowed so much water her oxygen levels went to 60 ( from typical 90s). She had to be evacuated to Quito and then hospitalized.

I went on the same boat last October and booked again because every single aspect of the trip exceeded my expectations. The itinerary and staff ratio led me to book the first time, but the food, accommodations, and crew made it an easy choice for trip #2. The islands are wildly different depending on the season, I definitely recommend going more than once! The guides are excellent and the small groups lend to not only seeing the animals up close but also amazing pictures. If you're into focusing on the scenery other guests are always glad to share photos (airdrop saved me this trip as I left my DLSR at home). I've done both trips solo but would also return for a 3rd (or more!) trip with a friend or my boyfriend. I'm sure a +1 would be great but as for solo trips, booking with Quasar is by far my favorite. The other guests are good fun and every detail is handled making this the most refreshing week ever. I love that there is no guest phone/wifi service on the boat, I hope that never changes. Food is excellent. I'm vegetarian and was very impressed with their attention to detail and always having separate plates for those of us with dietary requirements/preferences. I requested almond milk and on the first breakfast I was promptly brought a glass before I could even pour my coffee. Outside of the boat, Quasar's level of service is remarkable. I (half-joking) emailed Diane for a local orthodontist recommendation since I melted my retainer on day one of my week prior to the cruise, when they didn't catch me at the hotel - they called my guide en route to our excursion with an appointment scheduled that day. I was impressed but not surprised given their excellence with every other detail of my previous trip. Speaking of recs, Diane's suggestion to stay at Hacienda Jimenita the week before my cruise was also wonderful and I would definitely stay there again! I didn't even have to think of my flight, Quasar organized everything with the hotel for my transfer and pickup time. I cannot imagine visiting the Galapagos with anyone other than Quasar and have recommended them to all of the friends and coworkers that have asked about my trip.

Took the Galapagos cruise in October, 2018. It was simply amazing. All the wildlife we saw surpassed my expectations. Quasar had our in-Ecuador flights and park passes all arranged, so all we had to do was show up. The staff onboard the Evolution was ever courteous and professional. The two naturalists assigned to our group were incredibly knowledgeable about everything Galapagos and just fun individuals. The meals were so healthy and fresh. Even the pickiest eater would be satisfied. I have recommended Quasar to a few people, as it is the best vacation I have ever taken.

Quasar does both land expeditions and cruises. The cruise was 4 stars. See my "cruise Critic" review. But the land excursion was 2 stars. That is what this review is about. My guide for 2 days pointed me to a shop that sold shoddy merchandise. I learned later when I showed my newly purchased "Baby llama" Hat to several people. Suffice it to say, it wasn't of that quality, and my guide assured me it was. He also decided he wouldn't show me one of the sites because he was "too full" from the lousy lunch we just ate. Not recommended.

I traveled solo to Quito and Galapagos Islands with Quasar Expeditions. It was one of the best trips of my life! Anyone thinking of visiting the Galapagos should definitely plan a visit to Quito or Guayaquil for at least 2 days prior to their cruise to get a full experience of Ecuador. Quasar planned a private travel guide to take me around Quito to sightsee - colonial architecture, churches, convents, museums and shop at the Otavalo Market (famous for its textiles and goods). I was fully immersed to the culture and traditions of Ecuador and introduced to some of the kindest people I have ever met. I took 2 short flights to arrive in the Galapagos on the 3rd day. The motor yacht Evolution was gorgeous from the inside and out. It's classy and easily stood out amongst other boats cruising the islands. The crew and guides onboard the ship took care of everyone's need. Boli and Samuel, the naturalist guides, were excellent! Daily excursions included snorkeling (w/ penguins, marine iguanas, sea lions, white-tip reef sharks, etc..), hiking (to bird watch, see land iguanas, sea lions, and more!), kayaking, swimming and more! Cabins were cleaned several times a day, and the food was delicious. I would recommend this trip to anyone.