Click on a travel provider's name below to view details about the company.
The travel providers selling through Detour's Adventure Travel Marketplace are the best local travel companies on the planet!
Detour doesn't operate any of the trips in the Adventure Travel Marketplace -- instead, we use our many years of experience in the international adventure travel industry to hand select the top companies in each destination. You don't have to try to determine who operates good trips because we've done it for you! The highly screened companies and their professional guides selling trips in the Adventure Travel Marketplace take their jobs seriously, and they know the key to their success is pleasing you, the customer. All of these companies are professional and reliable, and are respected leaders in the travel industry in their own country. Each provider has its own strengths, and offers trips in its own style, allowing you to choose a provider who offers a trip that matches your desires--your dream trip.
All travel providers selling through Detour's Adventure Travel Marketplace have their headquarters in the country/region where they operate trips, and they all practice socially and environmentally responsible tourism. They have implemented programs like dental care for porters, donating money to local schools, and paying living wages to local staff.
When you travel with a local company and local guides they can show you sights and share local knowledge that no outsider could know---giving you an insider's view into your local destination! Of course when traveling with a local company and local guides you may notice some differences from what you would experience with a guide/company from your own country, such as different views of time or details of sharing information about the schedule. These are cultural differences to be enjoyed, and they can actually enhance the experience of your trip, not signs that the guides or companies are unreliable. We suggest you keep an open mind, remember that your guides and tour operator are reliable professionals, and you will have a wonderful trip and a memorable cultural experience too! To really experience a destination you need to interact with local people, and there is no better way than by traveling with a local guide.
Additionally, by traveling with a company located in the destination where you will travel, you can be assured that the vast majority of the money you spend on your trip will make it into the local economy where it provides jobs, stimulates the economy, improves the lives of local people, and helps protect the natural resources and local environment you have traveled to see. When you buy a trip operated by a company based outside the region of the trip, often way more than 50% of the money you spend never gets close to the local economy, and instead ends up in the pockets of people far from your travel destination where it can't have any effect on improving lives and protecting your destination's cultural and natural resources.
See all our travel providers below. To read more about a provider click on their name and you can read about their environmental policies and their company philosophy, as well as view all trips they offer. Not every provider is right for you, but we're sure you will find a provider and trips that will match your interests, helping you get your dream trip!
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TESTIMONIALS
The Inca trail trek can only be described as magical. I tried my best to be cynical, but it didn’t work. This trip was pure magic and absolutely perfect.
The logistics of the trip were impeccable. The ground transportation was on time and they made sure I was able to obtain my boarding pass and pay the airport tax at each leg of the trip.
Out on the hike, my guide Oswaldo was fabulous.
The food on the trail was amazing. The chef created simple and fresh meals that were bursting with local flavor.
-- Terry B, Inca Trail 5-day with Andean Adventures
Just returned from Costa Rica last night ... trip was a GREAT SUCCESS! We all thank you VERY MUCH for arranging the trip.
-- Bob Fenchel, Custom Costa Rica with Camino Travel
We’ve been home just over a week now and I just wanted to send you a quick note to let you just how fantastically well everything went! Ok, so we did end up paying the full whack (which I’ve decided just not to think about!). However, we had a fantastic guide and everything ran really smoothly and we had a fantastic time. From being collected from the hotel (Vieja Cuba which was lovely) to being looked after once we got to the Galapagos it was all just perfect, so thank you very much for being an important part of our fabulous trip.
Cheers Greg !
-- Marayka K., Galapagos Multisport 7-Day Adventure
We had a great time on the Galapagos Cruise. Our guides were very engaging and informative and everything was timed just right. We had the right amount of activity, food and leisure time every day. We are not \"cruising\" people and were apprehensive at first about being stuck on a boat for 7 days but we didn\'t feel \"stuck\" given the number of excursions we had each day and the fact that we snorkeled at least once or twice a day. We also extended our trip on the Islands and stayed at a hotel but definitely would recommend a cruise over staying on the islands. The islands gets very hot and there are lots of mosquitos but on the boat there is shade, wind and no bugs! Great amount of variety of animals and geography we saw. Sad to leave!
-- Wendy K., Galapagos Islands on the Eric, Letty, and Flamingo
WHAT'S NEW
Feb 5, 2010 Do’s and Don’ts of splurging on the Inca Trail
While trekking the Inca Trail is a trip of a lifetime, it doesn’t mean you should blow your entire life savings on one adventure. Here’s some tips to keep in mind about when to upgrade and when to pinch pennies when planning your Inca Trail trek.
DO . . . . Splurge on getting a comfortable [...]
While trekking the Inca Trail is a trip of a lifetime, it doesn’t mean you should blow your entire life savings on one adventure. Here’s some tips to keep in mind about when to upgrade and when to pinch pennies when planning your Inca Trail trek.
DO . . . . Splurge on getting a comfortable and charming hotel in Cusco. You’ll be spending quite a bit of time here on your first day in the city while acclimatizing, so you may as well not stay in some dingy hostel. This may not be considered a “splurge” for some, but you’ll at least want a place somewhat near the Plaza de Armas and the old buildings with Inca stonework is really lovely.
DO . . . . Book a private trek if you’re really concerned with the overall group size and attention you’ll receive from your guide. While many group treks don’t have more than 10 trekkers, there’s no guarantee that a group departure will stay at four people.
DON”T . . . . buy the spiffiest hiking boots on the market the day before your trek. No matter how pricey or nice the shoes, they need time to break in (a few weeks, including some hiking and stair climbing).
DON’T . . . Arrive in Cusco expecting to find a great deal on an Inca Trail. Permits need to be bought months in advance and you absolutely cannot trek the trail without it. Anyone claiming to provide permits within a few days is probably scamming you. Before you arrive in Peru, make sure you’ve booked your trek and your permits are confirmed.
DO . . . . get a pisco sour, Peru national drink. Yes, it’s a mix of raw eggs, lime, cinnamon, and generous amounts of pisco (a type of South American brandy), but the result is surprisingly delicious. Besides,
DON’T . . . . go for the most expensive hotel just because it’s closer to Machu Picchu. The site closes at the same time each evening and opens at the time each morning. Staying in a closer hotel does not mean you get to stay after hours at the ruins.
DO . . . . consider getting an “all-inclusive” tour. These include at least one night in Lima, one night in Cusco, and internal flights (between Lima and Cusco). Often, the hassle of doing this on your own proves exhausting for most travelers and local operators usually have an ideal itinerary to offer.
DO . . . . buy some handicrafts that will remind of your amazing journey. The Sacred Valley and Cusco are famous for high quality woven goods, such as alpaca sweaters and gloves.
DON’T . . . . spend extra on a trek so you’ll have an American (or Canadian or Austalian) guide. Peruvian guides who speak your language usually make the best guides and the trips tend to be less pricey (no extra flight for the foreign guide).
Detour, The Adventure Travel Marketplace - Travel Providers
