Quito – February 2023
Thanks for sending notes, Ramelle–a great help!
The trip was wonderful! Dick and I are continuing to bask in the glow. I do have a lot of photos to sort through, so that’s the next aspect of the trip!
We hope the rest of your time in the cloud forest and elsewhere is equally as great as the part of your trip that we were part of.
Love,
Barbara Moore
Ecuador and Galapagos – February 2023
Dear Ramelle and Michael,
A belated note of huge thanks for organizing such a fabulous trip with family, friends, and now new friends. Everything was perfect, from soup to nuts as they say, and we are now suffering from withdrawal of being with all of you, wonderful Andres, and the always attentive crew of Natural Paradise.
Here’s to future adventures.
Cheers,
David & Kristin Harman
Patagonia, Chile – February 2019
Helen Davies, Stockbridge and Philiadelphia
Dear Ramelle and Michael,
First and foremost, thank you both for putting together this trip. I know a lot of work went into the planning and the execution – finding out how best to get around in an area of the world with few airports or roads (paved or unpaved!), ever changing and dramatic weather conditions, where to stay, good local guides, reliable vehicles, constant monitoring of our abilities and various illnesses while quietly interacting with the local people for guidance and help, and, with our compatible group of travelers.
For me this trip was one of the most memorable (even up there with sailing in the Fijian islands!). I have never experienced such vast areas of total wilderness with few people, free roaming wild animals (for which we did not need to be accompanied by people with guns!) and where geological formations were so numerous, so raw and so varied. The rolling, more tame hills were a wonderful complement, equally beautiful to the Torres in a totally different way. And ah, the penguins and guanacos, what can I say – two of my favorite animals – penguins and members of the camel family – so expressive, even when standing totally still.
Highlights for me included the penguins, the numerous dramatic views of the Torres, gorgeous landscapes in Patagonia Park, the Marble Caves, the glaciers, the Puma watch at night, and last but not least, the people. The guides were phenomenal and for me helped make the trip even more special, not only because of their knowledge, but also their passion for Patagonia.
Especially Hans – what a treasure not only for his knowledge, energy, enthusiasm, total reliability and decisiveness to quickly and calmly handle every potential emergency (I will always have fixed in my brain the image through the dining room window of his van approaching the lodge at night, kicking up the dust and minutes later with Katie in the van going to the hospital in Cochrane, again kicking up the dust as he sped out the entrance), his sense of adventure taking us to the site of the Puma kill at night in hopes of seeing the puma return, multiple back and forth trips between Cochrane where he was staying and Chacabuco Lodge where we were staying for medicine, updates for us and the local authorities on the wildfires, etc. etc., and, all this while arriving each morning in a different colored tie, beret and freshly ironed shirt!
What more can I say…
Thank you both for every bit of work and undoubtedly worry you had to make this trip so enjoyable, memorable and easy for us.
With much appreciation and affection,
Helen Davies, Philiadelphia & Stockbridge
Southwest France 2018
After being on the French tour for 10 days, I can report that all the people on the tour were interesting and easy to get along with. I never would have thought of going to see the towns, caves and castles of the Perigord if it weren’t for Ramelle and Michael. I’m so glad I did. And being an experienced solo traveller I know I couldn’t have arranged as a fabulous a trip as they provided, including arranging an excellent tour guide. Oh, one last thing. I had a bit of a back spasm for a couple of days and Ramelle took such good care of me. She made sure I was helped with my luggage and even walked with me to a pharmacy in a town to help get medications. That’s the kind of thoughtful and personal attention they provide. I highly recommend New View Tours!
Steven Kerner, New York City & Stockbridge MA
France 2018
Subject: Caves & Castles
Dear Michael / Ramelle,
Thanks for arranging and including us in a great fun trip with a congenial group of travelers. We appreciate your attention to detail and feel as though we really got an education about the history of a most beautiful area of France, the wine, and of course the prehistoric caves. We certainly could not have accomplished on our own.
Thanks again,
Marc Lavietes / Rose Rosal
New View Tours arranged a January 2018 tour to the High Sierras of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands for two couples….
HI Ramelle,
Thank you so much for arranging the fantastic trip. Both hotels were amazing and the cruise was fascinating and wonderful. We so appreciate your knowledge and thoughtfulness in creating this unforgettable experience.
Best,
Lisa Steinberg
Hello Ramelle!
It has been a while since we traveled to Ecuador together, but I never told you how much the trip changed my life. January 2017 opened my eyes to culture, friendship, travel, and so much more. The trip helped me decide to change my education path and who I want to be as a person. I am working on my BFA at UNCG and integrating lessons I learned in Ecuador into my life, such as the spiral, upward moving philosophy. You made my dream of studying abroad possible and I am forever grateful. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I wish you nothing but the best.
Sincerely,
Megan L. Gottfried
Ecuador, January 2016 Tour
We really didn’t know what to expect with your Art Tour to Ecuador… actually apprehensive about South America travel, yet we took the leap based on knowing you folks. So how did it go?
Now back less than a week, we agree it was pretty amazing. Up in our few Trips of a Lifetime caliber.
We were on a spiritual high so much of the time, with all of the breathtaking beauty of the Andes … the intimate immersion in local traditions and cultures … meetings with remarkable artisans that felt personal, not staged or voyeuristic.
Each place we stayed was comfortable, and distinctive, again with a personal touch, from Peter in the Cloud Forest to Caesar in Hacienda Cusin, with its 1602 foundation to many gorgeous gardens. The pacing was good, always up to us really. The yoga sessions with Michael added to the spiritual wonderfulness and ease of the trip. Plus Monica got a half dozen one-one-one Spanish lessons, amidst the language immersion.
Great travel companions, too.
We see you’re going to offer this trip in the coming year. We highly recommend the Art Tour to Ecuador, and we’re certainly open to other New View excursions, so keep us informed.
With thanks and best wishes, Dan & Monica Shaw
Ramelle (left), Monica, Ivan, XXX, Michael (Ramelle’s husband and a wonderful yoga teacher!) and Dan. All having lunch at Laguna Cuicocha. Trout for everyone!
#NewViewTours Ramelle Pulitzer shared a breathtaking hiking path that is one of her favorites. here with EunYoung Sebazco & Sarah Owens w Marco – Cusin pooch.
Leeann Lavin
Ecuador, January 2016
To Ramelle & Michael
We really didn’t know what to expect with your Art Tour to Ecuador… actually apprehensive about South America travel, yet we took the leap based on knowing you folks. So how did it go?
Now back less than a week, we agree it was pretty amazing. Up in our few Trips of a Lifetime caliber.
We were on a spiritual high so much of the time, with all of the breathtaking beauty of the Andes … the intimate immersion in local traditions and cultures … meetings with remarkable artisans that felt personal, not staged or voyeuristic.
Each place we stayed was comfortable, and distinctive, again with a personal touch, from Peter in the Cloud Forest to Caesar in Hacienda Cusin, with its 1602 foundation to many gorgeous gardens. The pacing was good, always up to us really. The yoga sessions with Michael added to the spiritual wonderfulness and ease of the trip. Plus Monica got a half dozen one-one-one Spanish lessons, amidst the language immersion.
Great travel companions, too.
We see you’re going to offer this trip in the coming year. We highly recommend the Art Tour to Ecuador, and we’re certainly open to other New View excursions, so keep us informed.
With thanks and best wishes, Dan & Monica Shaw
Castles & Caves 2015
I am writing you rather bleary eyed and ‘happily’ weary after just getting
back from a most engaging ‘expedition’ and adventure exploring Prehistoric
cave art, charming castles and following a pilgrimage trail to fantastic cathedrals
in the sky! All in the beautiful and breathtaking French and Spanish countryside.
In other words, we went from Pre-historic to Post-Modern (Bilbao Museum),
from ‘Medieval’/14th Century lodgings to a most Modern Hotel and from cave
art (dating back thousands and thousands of years) to Jean-Michel Basquiat’s
‘graffiti’ art, with no stops in between!!
Every part of the trip, exciting, enlarging, dynamic and awe-inspiring,
as our New View Tour scouts/guides, the Plulitzer’s, lead us through it all with
curious and probing minds that kept us focused , engaged, and informed.
My traveling companions were grand fun and all went-with-the-flow, and
included an artist and a photographer (who will send me a disc picturing
our ‘indescribable’ trip, which I will try to share with you.)
WE ended up at the Bilbao Museum, which is something you must see to believe.
It is an explosion of massive geometric shapes made of glass, steel, titanium and
lime stone, filled, of course, with the most modern of modern art! Challenging?!
In short, a learning journey that was an unexpected and bountiful surprise, leaving
me with a lot of new facts, unchartered waters that need more thought and a great
enjoyment of the ‘unknown’…
It was COOL and most memorable!
Katherine Abraham
From the first Cuenca Tour 2015
MUST DO!
Dear All,
IF, at all possible, you must take a ‘New View’ tour with the Pulitzers, to wherever and whatever suits your interests. New Views is exactly what you get: unique and special.
Out trip to Ecuador with them was ‘memorable’. It was a perfect mix of adventure, exploration and learning about a new culture and country. All of it was done with a personal touch and they took great care in our planning the trip and while traveling that we were comfortable with what we were doing and where we were going.
Every guide they used was excellent, our accommodations varied from modern to a Colonial homestead, a bird refuge in the Cloud Forest and ending with the most ‘magical’ Hacienda Cusin, San Pablo, Ecuador.
Along the way, Michael even gave us our first yoga-meditation session in a room that faced the peaks and valleys of Ecuador’s magnificent volcanoes.
WE really can’t give our trip its due justice in an e mail. We highly suggest that you go to their web site blog and read about where they are going next.
WE know there is a trip to Ecuador planned for March and an exciting and ‘new view’ tour to France to visit caves and castles.
Your happy travelers, Katherine and Lee
from the Argentina Tour 2014
“We thank you for all the detailed planning and attention to our needs that made our trip to Argentina a huge success. ”
Gail and Richard Davis from California & Massachusetts
Chile and Argentina, 2013
I pronounce that being with you all (the group) in Chile and Argentina was a wonderful dream. What good travelers, what good company! Each of you brought an element that helped me to enjoy details of the trip in an new way. From our harbor cruise in Valparaiso, thru the boat launch to see the penguins, crossing the Andes by boat, the public bus. Oh, my, too many things to highlight, but it was a great 2 weeks, with lots of food for thought upon return, and now OUR pope. Hope the rest of your 2013 continues in such a stimulating vein.
Georgeanne Rousseau, Stockbridge, MA
Galapagos 2013
Hi Ramelle and Michael,
We’re home and slowly getting back into the routine of daily life.
We had a fabulous trip in the Galapagos – it’s another world out there. The Galaxy was perfect – comfortable, good guide and crew and yummy food (way too much of it). Our group was very compatible on the cruise. Our favorite was the group touring the mainland. Every transfer worked without a hitch thanks to your arrangements. Thanks a million for all your effort-we really appreciated it. We thoroughly enjoyed our entire visit and especially meeting all of your friends and your cousin, Lorna. Hope your travels went well.
See you soon.
Sarah Boyd, Stockbridge, MA
Greetings Ramelita y Miguel,
I wanted to drop you a line; the Galapagos trip was excellent, memorable and unique. Our Flamingo boat with 20 people was a great group, very well planned. Four families each with two daughters of similar ages and two other couples of similar ages.We had two outstanding guides Billy and Pepe, and the crew was outstanding , friendly, and highly organized. And we were fed very well with three meals and two snacks per day. But we were very active every day with hiking, snorkels , explorations.All exceeded expectations and it will be hard to express the experience to people , but we will have a few photos to share.We also thoroughly enjoyed our brief Andes adventure and your group was super friendly and welcoming. We now have a taste of the high Andes for the next time.
Nick Kukulan, Piedmont, California
Ecuador 2013
Dear Ramelle and Michael,
Thank you, thank you! What a fantastic trip to Ecuador and what an absolute pleasure it was to travel with you and your group. I had an amazing experience and am so grateful to you both for your thoughtful planning and cheerful leadership. There were so many highlights I’m not even sure where to start, but the people on the trip were some of the nicest I’ve ever met. I can’t wait to reconvene and share pictures! Please be in touch if you’re in near South Boston.
Nancy Kukulan, daughter, Boston, MA
Just a quick note to say how much we enjoyed our trip to Ecuador…Quito and the highlands were a high point for sure, and the Galapagos trip was wonderful as well. We are still working on our photos, unpacking and putting things away, catching up on the mail, etc. etc.
Thank you again for all that you did to make our trip so pleasurable. We had wonderful experiences all along the way – from our hikes in the higher elevations to our snorkeling adventures in the Pacific.
Managed to avoid Montezuma’s revenge, seasickness, altitude sickness, lost baggage, canceled flights, and the many ills that can accompany travel to faraway places. And we are very grateful for that.
Looking forward to seeing you soon.
Lenore and Paul Sundberg, Stockbridge, MA
2012 Tour to Ecuador
Ecuador beckons again, but I will remain here in Austin. I wish you and Michael well and hope that your travels continue to be a success. I fondly recall our Spanish lessons in Otavalo and the warm receptions at Las Palmeras and Hacienda Cusin — and the tours of Quito — and all your many efforts to make things interesting and comfortable for all of us. The various excursions and accommodations were excellent. You do a lot of effective planning! Thanks again.
From George Stricker
“When New View Tours send us their High Sierra Tour to Ecuador information last November Lamar’s book club had just finished reading The Mapmakers Wife, a story of a scientific expedition that went to Ecuador in the 1730’s to investigate whether the world was in fact round or oblong. We had friends who had been to Ecuador and said what a
wonderful trip it had been. We decided to join Michael and Ramelle on the 8 day trip and we were blown away by the beauty of the region. We stayed at Monasterio adjacent to Hacienda Cusin and Nik Millhouse was our gracious host there. Our small group made half day trips out from there, a wonderful pace and stress free thanks to Ramelle’s careful
planning and linguistic skills.
“We had time to visit and tour Quito the colonial capital of Ecuador. We were amazed and surprised to find Quito such a beautiful city with architectural wonders not seen in Europe.
Lamar and I have not reservation in recommending this trip and indeed we look forward to returning ourselves.”
Charles and Lamar Taft (2011 tour)
“Ecuador is an incredibly beautiful and welcoming place. The flight from Miami was only about four hours long, but it seemed as if we landed much farther from home. Quito is a huge, bustling, modern city, and then the mountains and the smaller towns bring a feeling of long-ago-and far-away. Going to the markets was fun–and I am not generally much of a shopper–and the prices were certainly right. The fact that they use United States currency (and electric currents) made transactions easy. Lasting impressions: color, color, color; friendliness; big mountains, a sky closer than at home; cool nights, warm days. A very good trip.”
Genie Carr, Winston-Salem, NC (2009 Tour)
Andean Condor Sculpture, Artist: Guyasamin
“The well planned adventure with lovely lodging at Casa Cusin, excellent transportation, articulate guides, and the discovery of hidden gems through out the country side made this trip one of the best values in travel.”
Judith Smith, Winston-Salem, NC (2008, 2010 Tours)
“A slow horseback ride, a mountain hike to 14,000 feet, delicious soups and new fruit juices, a visit to a rose plantation, buying a wool sweater at the Otavallo market, a fireplace we used each night in our room, seeing the cultivated hillsides, enjoying our fellow travellers and tour guide and appreciating the history of the people of Equador: these are a few of my favorite memories!”
Bill Gramley, Lewisville, NC (2003 Tour)
Follow us 