Anyone who has tried knows that planning a journey in South America can be a daunting experience. Whether you aim to take part in a Brazilian carnaval or just lay back and enjoy an enriching Galapagos cruise, countless aspects are involved in traveling around this vast, mainly Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking continent. So, when arranging your ideal South American journey, exactly how can you avoid getting lost in all the details and complexities?
When it comes to planning a trip to South America, you usually have three options:
• You can try to do it all on your own (a potentially disastrous DIY approach)
• Go through a travel agency, or
• Book your travel through an experienced tour operator
Before going further, though, note that travel agents and tour operators play two different roles. A travel agency acts as an intermediary; they purchase tickets from airlines and secure reservations from hotels. However, a tour operator designs and manages your entire stay. “Land-only operators,” in particular, focus on the aspects of your trip once you arrive at your destination—overseeing everything from domestic flights, transfers, accommodations, dining, local bilingual guides, leisure activities, and site excursions, to all the “little details” that can make or break a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience. In short, a travel agency helps get to your destination, while a tour operator goes further: they make sure you experience it.
With that said, let’s see why choosing a tour operator is usually the wisest move if you’re looking for a rewarding and hassle-free travel experience.
The primary advantage: Homegrown expertise
The benefit of local knowledge is almost impossible to exaggerate on a continent as diverse as South America. Tour operators typically have offices or partners in countries where they operate, which gives them a leg-up compared to travel agencies lacking such an on-the-ground advantage.
Consider the case of the Amazon. By booking your rainforest journey on your own or through a travel agency not intimately acquainted with your destination, you could easily wind up housed at a corny jungle lodge tourist trap catering to oblivious tourists and providing a clichéd stay – your tourist guidebook notwithstanding.
Relying on a tour operator, however, it’s much safer to assume your stay will be at a more authentic, Indigenous-run lodge where your guides are local inhabitants who know the rainforest inside out. They’ll be able to lead you to the top trails for wildlife watching and take you to the best beneath-the-radar restaurants in town. By tapping into a tour operator’s local knowledge, you’ll experience the local culture and way of life in an authentic and worthwhile manner. Your chosen activities organized by your tour operator might range from a traditional ceremony led by an Amazonian shaman to learning to make empanadas from a master chef in Colombia.
Stress-free travel
A travel agent can indeed reserve a flight and your accommodations. However, after that, it’s on you to figure out how to get around and find out what to do once you get to your destination. This already stressful situation is only made worse by any language barrier.
By contrast, a tour operator will have prepared your preferred itinerary in advance, which means you’ll be equipped with a detailed yet flexible plan of expertly guided activities upon arrival. Saving you time and avoiding hassles, your tour operator will have even arranged easy access to some of the most popular sites.
As for lodging, keep in mind that tour operators work with various types of accommodations — from ocean-front guesthouses to luxury eco-lodges — so they know which ones offer the best comfort, services, and value. Also, most of your meals will be organized by your tour operator, which is especially convenient in more isolated South American travel sites where local choices are fewer.
Those who have ever tried, know how much time, effort, and bother is involved in attempting to coordinate all the separate elements of a trip yourself. Relying on a tour operator, everything is taken care of through this all-in-one service from the instant you touch down until the moment you take off. A tour operator takes that stress off your plate so you can just show up and enjoy the journey.
Custom-designed/personalized activities
Rather than off-the-rack packages provided by travel agencies, an experienced tour operator will craft a tailor-made itinerary based on your tastes, interests, and preferences. A tour operator knows that if you’re a nature lover, for instance, your itinerary could include Chile’s breathtaking Torres del Paine reserve, the ethereal Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia, or Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, with each destination filled with activities ranging from A to Z, from archeological site exploring to ziplining.
For adventure-seeking adrenaline junkies, a tour operator can supply you with experiences like sandboarding in the stunning Atacama Desert or trekking to remote Inca ruins. And for those fascinated by a destination’s history, culture, and traditions, customized tours can consist of color-filled markets in Ecuador, food classes in Lima, or a sensual tango show in Buenos Aires.
One of the aspects you’ll love when it comes to working with a tour operator is that you won’t be tied to inflexible schedules or have activities imposed on you. Rather, they work to find out what you prefer to do and then tailor a personalized itinerary just for you.
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Safety and peace of mind
Travel in South America is an enthralling mix of excitement, adventure, wonder, and awe. However, a few critical issues have to be considered, particularly safety and health risks. This is why it’s reassuring to know that your tour operator will always “have your back,” particularly when exploring more remote or unfamiliar regions. Tour operators are better prepared than travel agencies to deal with safety issues.
For one, they have local contacts and on-site teams that are familiar with the ins and outs of the destination and have contingency plans and protocols in place should anything go south.
Also, tour operators constantly monitor situations that – though unlikely – can disrupt travel plans. Even in instances of political unrest or natural events like landslides or flooding, tour operators have backup plans to modify or re-route your itinerary as needed.
The advantage of a tour operator becomes especially clear in the case of medical emergencies. Should you get sick or injured while trekking the Andes or exploring the Amazon, for example, your tour operator is capable of finding the quickest access to well-qualified medical assistance and getting you to the best clinic or hospital.
Ultimately, using a tour operator gives you peace of mind, knowing you’re in good hands no matter what might happen.
Exclusive experiences
Occasionally, tour operators can provide experiences unavailable to the typical traveler. For example, a tour operator might arrange immersive experiences for you such as a day with a Kichwa family in the Ecuadorian highlands or a chance to learn traditional weaving techniques from a local artisan. These perks are thanks to the relationships they’ve formed with local establishments, service providers, and local communities.
It’s difficult to find these kinds of unique off-the-beaten-path experiences when you’re booking through a travel agency, and almost impossible when attempting to pull something together by yourself.
A surprisingly better bang for the buck
One would think that organizing a trip with a tour operator would cost more than planning that trip yourself or booking it through a travel agency. Think again. If you analyze the real costs, you might just find that traveling through a tour operator is actually much better value for the money.
For one thing, as tour operators maintain relationships with hotels, transportation companies, and activity services, they tend to get better deals than what you might find online or through a travel agency. Added to this, all-in-one pricing for tours is offered by many tour operators, with the components of these including everything from accommodations and meals to excursions and even entrance fees. Not only does this simplify budgeting your trip, but it can also save you money given that some of these services can be bundled, which equates to a discount for you.
But let’s step back and think. Even if you could save a few bucks carefully patching together your trip yourself, you’ll spend an outrageous amount of time researching, comparing prices, and making reservations. The time and work saved by going through a tour operator adds up to hours – if not days! Convenience comes in the form of the tour operator’s single price for an entire trip, which often translates into less stress and more value.
When traveling in South America with a tour operator – especially on a group tour – you’re probably going to meet other travelers with similar interests and who literally speak your language.
Having fun and sharing new adventures develops a sense of community and camaraderie with group members and often results in friends for life. Time and time again, this has shown itself to be true, whether in the cases of solo travelers or couples choosing to share their travel activities with other people, or smaller circles of family or friends open to connecting with others to make their journey that much more enjoyable and rewarding.
Leave the details to experts, sit back, and enjoy the ride
Planning and organizing a trip to South America is no walk in the park. Sure, you can try to DIY-it or go with the storefront travel agency; however, by working with an experienced tour operator, the promise of your trip will rocket from just OK to completely amazing.
With advantages such as local expertise, stress-free planning, and custom-designed journeys, working with a tour operator is your best bet for a safe and rewarding South American adventure. No matter if you’re sailing the glimmering waters off the Galapagos Islands or dining at a tango club in Buenos Aires, a tour operator will ensure that you do it with the utmost satisfaction, safety, and style.
Alfonso Tandazo
Alfonso Tandazo is President and CEO at Surtrek Tour Operator. Surtrek Tour Operator is a well-established firm, specializing in custom-designed luxury tours in Ecuador, the Galapagos and throughout the rest of South America. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
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