What Distinguishes SWA?
Specialization:
By concentrating solely in Latin America since 1990, Southwind has consistently provided travel services of the highest quality, tailored to our customers goals and priorities. Our focus is pure and our expertise appreciated by discerning luxe-adventure travelers. We custom design each trip with the utmost care using first-hand experience vetting our offerings. We incorporate valuable input from our in-country staff with feedback from returning guests. We diligently select the finest hotels, resorts, lodges, expedition vessels and haciendas – each offering unparalleled amenities, value and local character. We partner with the most capable in-country providers and work with resident professional guides who share our travel style, ethos and love of wild places.Customization:
We are passionate about crafting a trip for you that is a vacation of a lifetime. We do our best to ensure your trip is fondly remembered for the unique perspective you obtain on the destination – whether in an exclusive setting with your own private group or sharing your adventures in a small group of new friends on a Galapagos cruise, a riverboat down the Amazon or at an all-inclusive lodge in Patagonia. You chose travel dates within the season that are best for your schedule. We provide well-crafted sample itineraries to provide a basis to customize to your liking adding or subtracting days or regional destinations. With our custom approach to planning, you reap the rewards of our extensive knowledge, know-how, exclusive access to sites and activities and long-term relationships in our destinations.Comfort:
Southwind has a portfolio of distinctive boutique hotels we incorporate into your trip based on your travel style. Whether being enveloped in luxury at a resort spa, opening the door to a special cultural encounter or offering you a breathtaking view of a natural wonder, all our properties are the finest in the region and chosen with the highest standards for warm service, ambiance, amenities and you as the guest in mind. If you choose a trek with glamping, we’ve taken it up a notch with top-of-the-line tents, gourmet meals, fresh fruit, a full camp staff and added features like portable sun showers, cushy sleeping pads and cots and even a massage therapist to work out the kinks after a day of exploring.Commitment:
Personal service and attention to detail epitomize Southwind’s exceptional value. For us, your trip begins the moment you call us or search our website and does not end until after you return home. Our job is not complete unless you are thoroughly satisfied. We provide hassle-free planning, adeptly handling of trip logistics – from accommodations and meals to transportation, guides and entrance fees – so all you need do is prepare yourself for exciting new experiences, visual wonders and great friendships. We assure that your trip with Southwind is meaningful and authentic.
Wonderful place, wonderful trip, great companions, great guides and porters – what more can we ask for? The adventure, organization and the location made this the best trip I have had.
— Kevin Ellenor (Inca Trail to Machu Picchu)
Our trip was fantastic from start to finish. We loved every minute of it -- the staff and guides at the Sacha Lodge were excellent, as were the ones on Isabela II in Galápagos. The best grades go to Carlos and his team - they are unbelievable at what they do. Thanks for yet another amazing experience. No doubt we will be booking through you again in the future!
— Troy Cuminskey (Customized Ecuador Adventure)
I just re-read the final documents and they are extremely accurate. Only someone with intimate, up-to-date knowledge of what was happening could have prepared them. I think the close relationship, and constant communication between SWA and your partners is one key to your outstanding service. To me, that hands-on attention to relationship-building and consistent holding of high standards is crucial.
— Lynda Fraser (Private Urubamba/Salcantay Trek)
Bottom line is that the trip far exceeded my expectations. The accommodations and food were excellent. Best of all you employ or contract with outstanding individuals - Percy, Washington, and Ofelia in Lima.
— Louis Henna, Jr. (Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Trek)
Southwind only does South American trips, and lots of them. Therefore, they have the best connections and get tons of attention from their suppliers down there. We've used them several times and everything is always perfect. I really feel a company that specializes is the best bet.
— Marilyn Stowell (Galápagos & Machu Picchu)
Southwind delivers the quality that everyone told us it would. Thanks to you and all of your colleagues for believing in perfection.
— Jane & Ken Parker (World of the Incas)
Francis Casapino was the best guide we have had. He was focused on sharing his country and doing what we wanted to do. It was great to see the people and how they lived.
— Leonard Benson (Machu Picchu & Galápagos)
We had such a wonderful time on our honeymoon to Peru. Thank you so much for all your hard work organizing the trip! I thought it was the perfect balance of luxury and adventure for us.
— Maeghan Whitehead (Inca Trail to Machu Picchu)
Southwind is the only company I've taken adventure trips with (besides rafting trips) and there's a good reason for that. I've never had a bad experience with Southwind so I don't see any reason to try another company. As long as Southwind has new, challenging adventures for me, I'll keep coming back.
— Ann Ehlers (frequent SWA traveler)
I wanted to let you know what an extraordinary experience this trip was! Thank you. I took an African trip to Kenya with A&K and you are both equally excellent, however I felt Southwind was the better choice for South America. Your articles & maps were appreciated and you have excellent background material.
— Loretta Klassen (Galápagos & Machu Picchu)
Southwind is probably one of the most friendly, efficient, and caring organizations we have encountered in 40 years of travel. My only recommendation is that you continue doing what you have been doing. We have seen more personal attention in our brief dealing with you than with any other travel company. Our best wishes for your continued success. We hope to use your services again soon.
— Dr. Alex & Janet Ciegler (Manu Rainforest Adventure)
The trip was superb. The team was A+++. Couldn't have asked for better guides and more wonderful people. We loved every aspect of the trip even though it was a lot to do in the days that we were there. The restaurants, chefs, food discoveries were delightful. We loved hiking to the top of Young Mountain at Machu Picchu! Thank you for putting together the perfect trip!
— Layne Lieberman, RD, Author of Beyond the Mediterranean Diet (Custom Peru Adventure)
This was my first guided tour anywhere. Every aspect of it far exceeded my expectations. The quality of the accommodations was surprising. Comfort aside, the whole trip was an exciting course in geology, paleontology, zoology, botany, and sociology.
— Charles Hepner (Patagonia Nature Discovery Tour)
Our Mission
Southwind Adventures provides travelers to Latin America with attentive personal service, hand-crafted customization and exceptional value. We design and operate our trips in a responsible and professional manner, respecting nature and local cultures while sharing the benefits of sustainable tourism with our host destinations. We offer trips that are safe, congenial and educational, rewarding guests with authentic experiences that open the heart, mind and spirit to the wonders of Latin America.
SWA Travel Style
Personal Service:
We believe a memorable adventure vacation happens when a trip is catered to your goals and priorities. Being prepared for what to expect through expert advice is paramount, but so is flexibility to allow for the serendipitous aspects of travel that are often the most memorable. We know our guests by name and we remember your preferences. Our day-by-day itineraries provide a descriptive narrative of sights of interest and helpful details of elevations and distances you’ll encounter. You receive a comprehensive pre-departure manual with training tips, accurate health and security information, packing list and cross-cultural advice to ensure you get the most from your trip.Quality Experience:
By actually testing and participating in the adventures we design, and by listening to traveler feedback, we are continually improving our offerings – adding a gourmet meal in a highly regarded restaurant, a private visit to an intriguing but relatively unknown archaeological site, or forgoing a hotel room for at an exclusive stay in a family-owned estancia. We have partnered with the most capable in-country operators, and without exception, we work with experienced, bilingual resident guides who are among the most knowledgeable and enthusiastic professionals in their region. Our guides offer you an insider’s perspective, showing you hidden corners of their country you may never discover on your own.Who are Southwind travelers?:
Our trips consistently attract thoughtful world travelers who steer clear of being herded from site to site on large group trips. They are innately inquisitive and relish the idea of personal participation, exploring outdoors during the day and enjoying creature comforts at night. Our guests typically range in age from 7 to 77 with most being in their mid-thirties to mid-sixties. We plan for families, couples and individuals mostly from the US and Canada. Southwind travelers tend to follow a healthy, active lifestyle, they are responsible, well-informed citizens with a sense of adventure and a strong interest in and respect for nature and local cultures.Exceptional Value:
You will find our Land Cost to be competitive with other established luxury-oriented US based tour operators. But it’s a feeling of something special received from our personal service, attention to detail and a quality experience that exemplifies Southwind’s exceptional value. It’s the peace-of-mind having all of your trip logistics, accommodations, meals, transportation and best local guides pre-arranged and reserved in advance. It’s a sense of security having us oversee your travels to ensure a safe and pleasant journey. It’s the satisfaction and security knowing you’ll receive what’s promised in our literature and an opportunity to relax and unwind from your daily norms.Sustainable Travel:
We believe tour operators have an obligation to conduct business in a conscientious, responsible and sustainable manner ensuring that their presence in a region has the most positive effect possible. Our philosophy and business practices have embraced the concept of eco-travel since our inception. Our travel style focuses on keeping our trips small in number to assure minimal impact to the people we encounter as well as on the wildlife and natural areas we explore. Traveling privately or in a small group allows each trip member to receive personalized attention from their guides, in-country staff and our experienced US team. We respect and strive to preserve the cultural integrity of local communities and discuss the importance of minimum impact travel for residents and visitors alike. We are actively involved in regional and local conservation efforts and continually work to maximize the economic benefit of our tours to our host countries.Our Team | Media & Awards | Career Opportunities | Chaski News | Southwind Blog