Jonathan Dana, Hollywood, California

Diamante, 2007

I have traveled to many parts of the world over the 35 years I have been in the movie business. Without question, my recent trip to the Galapagos was a lifetime highlight. I had no idea I could be so captivated by the variety of flora and fauna, and by the sense of mystery and wonder that one feels when visiting these islands which have changed so little in the millions of years since their beginning. It was a wonderful sense of being part of the history of the planet.

We were very fortunate to be in a small group, eight people, on a wonderful boat, the Diamante, and with a guide and naturalist Fausto Rodriguez,who was a fount of knowledge, a fun colleague, and an expert in everything from volcanoes to photography. He knew exactly how hard to push us, and how to keep us captivated by story after wonderful story. He was interested in each of us personally, and made the trip a "family outing" as well as a lesson in natural history and modern science.

I can't imagine a better time. I could have lived on that boat, with that crew, and with that food, for a year! Just like Darwin!!

Louise and Joe, Atlanta, Georgia

Beagle, July 2008

We felt very fortunate to have you as our guide while on the Beagle. Your knowledge of the islands and the land and sea animals there is remarkable and your passion about their conservation is commendable. We will recommend you highly and hope to take another trip with you in the future. Thanks for making our trip so memorable.

Rowan Russell, London, UK

Beagle, April 2008

Susie and I really enjoyed our trip to the Galapagos last week and your expert guidance was a large part of the success of the week for us. Your enthusiasm and knowledge are infectious and we learnt a lot from you.

I thoroughly enjoyed in particular the snorkelling and will long remember swimming with the sea lion whilst being bombed by Boobies on Floreana!!

I do hope we meet up again -I think you have our details in London. With thanks for helping to make our visit to your Islands very special and memorable

Jan and Ian, UK

Mary Anne, April 2008

We would like to thank you so very much for the wonderful experience you planned and “guided” for us in the Galapagos. We very much enjoyed our time on board the Mary Anne – the crew and Captain were so helpful and friendly – food delicious. We also appreciated all the attention and extra efforts you and the crew made to make our stay such a memorable one. Each day was a new and wonderful experience on the different islands – at times almost overwhelming to the senses .

We have come away with wonderful memories (and photos) of a very unique and special place on earth.

Miranda, Norfolk, UK

Beagle, February 2008

This is very late but seem to have been so busy catching up since we last saw you. It is just to say thank you so much for being such a wonderful guide & companion during the very special week we spent with you on the Beagle. It was a magic holiday & one we will not forget.

You were so kind & patient with me doing the snorkelling and also so full of knowledge. We learnt so many fascinating things from you and saw so much. The photographs bring it back, some not bad at all and if only the camera had not gone wrong.....It now seems perfectly OK.

We would love to come again one day & if so will certainly get in touch with you, can't imagine going with anyone else! & should any of our friends want to visit, we will give them your details.

Should you have time when you next come to England, do get in touch - we would love to show you around Nofolk. Its extremely cold at the moment, so we think of those lovely blue skies & warm water! & wish we were there. Have just had a granddaughter, so are planning a visit to New Zealand, rather dreading the journey - its such a long way from here. With very best wishes and again many thanks for making our holiday so special.

Brad Coupe, Vermont, US

2007

I'm sorry to be so late in getting back to you. I finally got home about midnight on the 19th, slept most of the 20th and was in meetings all day yesterday.

I cannot thank you enough for the trip. It far surpassed my and my students' expectations. Despite the travel problems (a 9 hour delay in Atlanta due to a few inches of snow) but the students were excited and happy about the trip. Many of them commented to me that it was the best trip they had ever been on. That is largely a result of two things. First, the Galapagos are simply an amazing place. Secondly and just as important, your knowledge of the natural history of the islands and your ability to make everyone feel comfortable and at home are phenomenal. No matter how special a place is it can be spoiled or enhanced by the way students learn about it. Because of how you do things, they will never forget this trip and neither will I. As I mentioned, I hope to teach this course every other year for as long as you are willing to coordinate and guide it. I can't imagine doing the trip without you.

Take care and hope you visit me in Vermont soon.

Marilyn

Happy Christmas Fausto
What an amazing trip. You are a wonderful guide, and your love of the Galapagos, and all its wildlife is evident. I have been reviewing my photos - what a remarkable experience. I have to tell you the day we swam with the playful sea lion will stay in my heart for ever. Thank you for the best trip.

Tom Salmond, UK

Sagitta, December 2007

As promised, I've included some details of my trip to the Galapagos Islands. It was an amazing trip and I took lots of photos!

We booked through Fausto at Galapagos Best and Fausto was recommended by numerous colleagues of my sister (who works in the embassy in Buenos Aires). We stayed on board the Sagitta which is a really nice boat with a very friendly crew and excellent food. Fausto was also our guide for the trip and he is known as one of the best guides on the islands and his knowledge was excellent.

Val and David, UK

Sagitta, December 2007

Very many thanks for such an unforgettable holiday in the Galapagos recently and for all you did for us in so many ways.  Your expert knowledge of the islands really helped us understand the various aspects of what we saw and we are looking forward to going through all the numerous photos we took. It was so nice to meet Sonia too and we appreciated her taking time off from the office to meet us.  We are only sorry that we didn't have the time to see more of Guayaquil.

On our return to Buenos Aires at the Embassy Christmas party we told the Ambassador's wife how much we had enjoyed our trip and she is really looking forward to her visit next year.

We hope to see you again either on another trip to South America or in London when you next visit.

With many thanks again and all best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to you, your brother and Sonia.

Patrick and Kati, Netherlands

Samba, December 2007

We really did have a lifetime experience on the Galapagos. Juan was a pleasure to have as a guide. After the tour on Samba we even stayed in his house for 2 nights. It was very nice to stay longer in Puerto Ayora and from there visited Tortugabay and North Seymour.

We will cherish the many memories and pictures and hope we can come back one time. Thank you again for everything and we wish you and Sonia a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2008.

We loved it so much here, that we stayed another 3 days thanks to you both because this was really a dream that had come true. Also our guide Juan was really good. We wanted to come to your office this afternoon because our flight is just delayed, so we probably won't be in time, before you go home.

Simon de Szoeke, US

Sagitta, November 2007

Thank you for your excellent arrangements and guiding. I really enjoyed the Galapagos cruise aboard the Sagitta

I'm back in Colorado analyzing the data I collected in the southeast tropical Pacific. There is a lot to do! Attached is an overview of the VOCALS regional experiment planned for 2008. Investigators submitted proposals in June to do the field research.

Helen and Geoff Woolley, United Kingdom

Diamante, June 2007

A short note to thank you for your part in making our trip to the Galapagos such a great experience. Geoff and I both thoroughly enjoyed our whole holiday it is hard to pick the highlights. We have some great photos which will remind us of a great trip and the new friends we made.

If you ever find yourself in Lincolnshire do give us a call - hospitality is usually pretty good!

4 days back at work and I am ready for another holiday!

Liz Rogers, Scotland

The Beagle, May 2007

Greetings from Scotland! I just thought I would send you some pictures of what I imagine you were feeling like after we all left you two weeks ago. You and the sea lion have some similarities here!

But seriously, our good byes to you at Baltra were wholly inadequate to express our thanks for the truly fantastic time you gave us on The Beagle. It was the best sort of wildlife trip I could have imagined, and you, with Agusto and the whole crew made it extra special. I had feared that I would be depressed by the state of conservation of the Galapagos islands - we are always reading of crises there - but I was very impressed with the state of things, and with the way you and others handle the masses of tourists who come there. What's the best way to contribute to the conservation effort by the Darwin Foundation, or whoever it is who you think would most benefit from a donation?

Thanks a million for all that you did for us, and you can be sure that none of us will ever forget the trip we did in the Galapagos in 2007!

Do contact us if you are coming up to Scotland in August - or whenever.

You'll always be welcome to visit, and if you would like us to fix some talks for you, tell us and we'll do what we can.

Francis & Sara Woodhouse, United Kingdom

The Beagle, May 2007

What a wonderful trip we had in the Beagle from the 1st to 15th May. We enjoyed every moment, and it was a great privilege to be aboard such a beautiful boat, being handled so beautifully by the owner. Your helpful and friendly crew looked after us so well and carefully and provided such good food, that we could not have wished for a better two weeks anywhere. Francis enjoyed his visit to the engine room very much too!

Thank you for getting Fausto to accompany us: he must be the best guide in the Galapagos! We had the best of every thing, including our very special tour of Floreana, to see giant tortoises, the Witmer caves and the spring, and where those wonderful fresh eggs came from.

We are telling all our friends about our Beagle voyage, and we will always remember May 2007.

When we got home, we checked Francis's father's diary of 1955/6, and noted that he met some of the Angermeyers at Puerto Ayora, when he was in the yacht Diana.

Thank you again for such a wonderful trip.

Rachel Price, United Kingdom

Diamante, March 2006

Beauty Expeditions offer everything they say 'on the label' and more! Working in wildlife conservation in the UK, I know a number of people who have recommended different guides for Galapagos, but I believe you could not find better than Fausto Rodriguez. Fausto and the crew of Diamante manage to make every client they meet feel like the first person on the islands. The boat is magnificent, and the hospitality truly special with that personal touch. Sr. Rodriguez has been working as a National Park Guide for the last 15 years, so his knowledge of the islands' geology, formation, flora and fauna is superb, and coupled with his obvious pride, energy and enthusiasm, it all made for the most special and memorable trip of this unique place on earth.

When looking to explore any of these amazing places I think it is so important to choose your tour agent carefully. With tourism such a huge and varied market it is great to have the privilege of travelling with small, local companies rather than the foreign multi nationals or firms which are destroying the very beauty you are hoping to see. Do not go on cost alone; look into what you are paying for and where your money is going. Beauty Expeditions are a fine example of what tourism can and should be if these areas are to be protected into the future.

David and Salie

Sagitta, October 2006

Thanks for your message. We eventually got back safely, having almost missed our connection to England by falling asleep in Amsterdam. I managed to get Salie away from Claire, but they were still giggling madly as they were dragged apart!

We have got lots of wonderful photos, and the group have exchanged addresses so we can send each other CDs with our photos on, so maybe we'll end up with 3,000 photos!!!!!

Salie and I thought you did a magnificent job for us all. At the end of the first day we said how can the second day be better? But it was. At the end of the second day we said how can the third day be better? But it was. And each successive day it got better and better. It was one of the best holidays we have had, and thank you for making it so.

The best photo we have is of a sealion imitating the way Salie swims when she is cold - with her arms across her chest. She was doing it just before I took the photo and the sealion was swimming next to her - so - was it imitating her? I like to think it was.

Anyway, thank you for your part in making this a most memorable holiday.

Candy Childrey

Diamante, April 2006

John and I had such a wonderful time in the Galapagos. We have you as our guide to thank. We would like to give your name and company to family and friends because you did a fabulous job for us, and I am sure they would like to have you as a resource. I have included two pictures of the group. I came home with terrific pictures of our trip. And enjoy the trip again each time I look at them.

Val Guinness

Sagitta, August 2006

I sent on about 15 cards from the whaling boat barrel and 4 people sent me little thank you notes.

The card I put in the barrel for my husband arrived posted by one of his cousins who must have gone there the week after us ... I have been dashing about since my return and miss the peaceful organised life on the boat. You took wonderful care of us all and Rupert and I loved our trip.

Sarah

Sagitta, September 2005

Our boat was incredibly comfortable and the crew couldn't do enough for us, it was a bit like being royalty! We had our feet hosed down every time we came back aboard, as every effort is taken not to transfer any material, even sand, between islands. Dry towels were provided to wrap yourself in as you got out of the water after snorkelling and once back on the boat the chef and his mate would appear on deck with hot drinks and snacks. It was very luxurious. Due to our original boat having engine trouble we were upgraded to the Sagitta and the 11 of us had the run of the ship (she's normally for 16). The only difficulty sometimes was finding each other as we had a dining room, a bar, a library and the after deck saloon to sit in!

Our guide was called Fausto Rodriguez, if you´re thinking of going to the Galapagos I'd recommend him. He works for a number of companies but also leads his own tours, www.beautyexpeditions.com. He really made the trip for us with great information and always giving us a realistic assessment of what we might see. The pessimistic side of my nature used to think "well, perhaps" when he'd tell us we'd be snorkelling with turtles or seeing giant tortoises, but he was right every time!