Why use a tour operator firm to your South America journey

Anybody who has tried is aware of that planning a journey in South America is usually a daunting expertise. Whether or not you purpose to participate in a Brazilian carnaval or simply lay again and luxuriate in an enriching Galapagos cruise, numerous elements are concerned in touring round this huge, primarily Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking continent. So, when arranging your preferrred South American journey, precisely how will you keep away from getting misplaced in all the small print and complexities?

With regards to planning a visit to South America, you normally have three choices:

• You may attempt to do all of it by yourself (a doubtlessly disastrous DIY strategy)
• Undergo a journey company, or
• Guide your journey by means of an skilled tour operator

Earlier than going additional, although, be aware that journey brokers and tour operators play two totally different roles. A journey company acts as an middleman; they buy tickets from airways and safe reservations from resorts. Nonetheless, a tour operator designs and manages your whole keep. “Land-only operators,” particularly, concentrate on the elements of your journey when you arrive at your vacation spot—overseeing all the pieces from home flights, transfers, lodging, eating, native bilingual guides, leisure actions, and web site excursions, to all of the “little details” that may make or break a once-in-a-lifetime journey expertise. Briefly, a journey company helps get to your vacation spot, whereas a tour operator goes additional: they be sure you expertise it.

With that mentioned, let’s see why selecting a tour operator is normally the wisest transfer for those who’re in search of a rewarding and hassle-free journey expertise. 

The first benefit: Homegrown experience

The good thing about native information is sort of inconceivable to magnify on a continent as various as South America. Tour operators usually have places of work or companions in nations the place they function, which provides them a leg-up in comparison with journey businesses missing such an on-the-ground benefit.

Think about the case of the Amazon. By reserving your rainforest journey by yourself or by means of a journey company not intimately acquainted together with your vacation spot, you may simply wind up housed at a corny jungle lodge vacationer entice catering to oblivious vacationers and offering a clichéd keep – your vacationer guidebook however.

Counting on a tour operator, nonetheless, it’s a lot safer to imagine your keep will probably be at a extra genuine, Indigenous-run lodge the place your guides are native inhabitants who know the rainforest inside out. They’ll be capable to lead you to the highest trails for wildlife watching and take you to one of the best beneath-the-radar eating places on the town. By tapping right into a tour operator’s native information, you’ll expertise the native tradition and lifestyle in an genuine and worthwhile method. Your chosen actions organized by your tour operator would possibly vary from a standard ceremony led by an Amazonian shaman to studying to make empanadas from a grasp chef in Colombia.

Stress-free journey

A journey agent can certainly reserve a flight and your lodging. Nonetheless, after that, it’s on you to determine find out how to get round and discover out what to do when you get to your vacation spot. This already annoying scenario is simply made worse by any language barrier.

In contrast, a tour operator may have ready your most popular itinerary upfront, which suggests you’ll be geared up with an in depth but versatile plan of expertly guided actions upon arrival. Saving you time and avoiding hassles, your tour operator may have even organized easy accessibility to a few of the hottest websites.

As for lodging, take into account that tour operators work with varied varieties of lodging — from ocean-front guesthouses to luxurious eco-lodges — so that they know which of them supply one of the best consolation, providers, and worth. Additionally, most of your meals will probably be organized by your tour operator, which is particularly handy in additional remoted South American journey websites the place native decisions are fewer.

Those that have ever tried, know the way a lot time, effort, and trouble is concerned in trying to coordinate all of the separate parts of a visit your self. Counting on a tour operator, all the pieces is taken care of by means of this all-in-one service from the moment you contact down till the second you’re taking off. A tour operator takes that stress off your plate so you may simply present up and benefit from the journey.

Customized-designed/customized actions

Moderately than off-the-rack packages offered by journey businesses, an skilled tour operator will craft a tailored itinerary primarily based in your tastes, pursuits, and preferences. A tour operator is aware of that for those who’re a nature lover, as an illustration, your itinerary may embody Chile’s breathtaking Torres del Paine reserve, the ethereal Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia, or Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, with every vacation spot stuffed with actions starting from A to Z, from archeological web site exploring to ziplining.

For adventure-seeking adrenaline junkies, a tour operator can provide you with experiences like sandboarding within the beautiful Atacama Desert or trekking to distant Inca ruins. And for these fascinated by a vacation spot’s historical past, tradition, and traditions, personalized excursions can encompass color-filled markets in Ecuador, meals lessons in Lima, or a sensual tango present in Buenos Aires.

One of many elements you’ll love in terms of working with a tour operator is that you just received’t be tied to rigid schedules or have actions imposed on you. Moderately, they work to search out out what you like to do after which tailor a personalised itinerary only for you. 

Security and peace of thoughts

Journey in South America is an enthralling combine of pleasure, journey, marvel, and awe. Nonetheless, just a few important points need to be thought of, notably security and well being dangers. That is why it’s reassuring to know that your tour operator will all the time “have your back,” notably when exploring extra distant or unfamiliar areas. Tour operators are higher ready than journey businesses to cope with issues of safety.

For one, they’ve native contacts and on-site groups which are acquainted with the ins and outs of the vacation spot and have contingency plans and protocols in place ought to something go south.

Additionally, tour operators continuously monitor conditions that – although unlikely – can disrupt journey plans. Even in situations of political unrest or pure occasions like landslides or flooding, tour operators have backup plans to change or re-route your itinerary as wanted.

The benefit of a tour operator turns into particularly clear within the case of medical emergencies. Must you get sick or injured whereas trekking the Andes or exploring the Amazon, for instance, your tour operator is able to find the quickest entry to well-qualified medical help and getting you to one of the best clinic or hospital.

Finally, utilizing a tour operator provides you peace of thoughts, figuring out you’re in good fingers it doesn’t matter what would possibly occur. 

Unique experiences

Often, tour operators can present experiences unavailable to the everyday traveler. For instance, a tour operator would possibly organize immersive experiences for you corresponding to a day with a Kichwa household within the Ecuadorian highlands or an opportunity to be taught conventional weaving strategies from a neighborhood artisan. These perks are because of the relationships they’ve shaped with native institutions, service suppliers, and native communities.

It’s troublesome to search out these sorts of distinctive off-the-beaten-path experiences whenever you’re reserving by means of a journey company, and nearly inconceivable when trying to drag one thing collectively by your self. 

A surprisingly higher bang for the buck

One would assume that organizing a visit with a tour operator would price greater than planning that journey your self or reserving it by means of a journey company. Suppose once more. In the event you analyze the true prices, you would possibly simply discover that touring by means of a tour operator is definitely a lot better worth for the cash.

For one factor, as tour operators keep relationships with resorts, transportation firms, and exercise providers, they have an inclination to get higher offers than what you would possibly discover on-line or by means of a journey company. Added to this, all-in-one pricing for excursions is obtainable by many tour operators, with the elements of those together with all the pieces from lodging and meals to excursions and even entrance charges. Not solely does this simplify budgeting your journey, however it could possibly additionally prevent cash provided that a few of these providers could be bundled, which equates to a reduction for you.

However let’s step again and assume. Even for those who may save a couple of bucks rigorously patching collectively your journey your self, you’ll spend an outrageous period of time researching, evaluating costs, and making reservations. The time and work saved by going by means of a tour operator provides as much as hours – if not days! Comfort comes within the type of the tour operator’s single worth for a whole journey, which frequently interprets into much less stress and extra worth. 

When touring in South America with a tour operator – particularly on a gaggle tour – you’re most likely going to satisfy different vacationers with comparable pursuits and who actually communicate your language.

Having enjoyable and sharing new adventures develops a way of neighborhood and camaraderie with group members and infrequently ends in associates for all times. Time and time once more, this has proven itself to be true, whether or not within the instances of solo vacationers or {couples} selecting to share their journey actions with different individuals, or smaller circles of household or associates open to connecting with others to make their journey that rather more pleasing and rewarding. 

Depart the small print to specialists, sit again, and benefit from the journey

Planning and organizing a visit to South America is not any stroll within the park. Certain, you may attempt to DIY-it or go together with the storefront journey company; nonetheless, by working with an skilled tour operator, the promise of your journey will rocket from simply OK to fully wonderful.

With benefits corresponding to native experience, stress-free planning, and custom-designed journeys, working with a tour operator is your greatest wager for a protected and rewarding South American journey. Irrespective of for those who’re crusing the glimmering waters off the Galapagos Islands or eating at a tango membership in Buenos Aires, a tour operator will be certain that you do it with the utmost satisfaction, security, and elegance.

Alfonso Tandazo

Alfonso Tandazo is President and CEO at Surtrek Tour Operator. Surtrek Tour Operator is a well-established agency, specializing in custom-designed luxurious excursions in Ecuador, the Galapagos and all through the remainder of South America. If you need to be a visitor blogger on A Luxurious Journey Weblog to be able to increase your profile, please contact us.