Latin Trails
Latin Trails is a family-owned Ecuador-based destination management company and experiential luxury tour operator that designs custom South America and Antarctica itineraries for affluent travelers and international travel agents, monetizing owned assets including a Galapagos catamaran, a Quito boutique hotel, an Amazon lodge, and a Peruvian Amazon cruise.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersQuito, Ecuador
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Latin Trails does
Latin Trails is a privately held, family-owned destination management company (DMC) and experiential luxury tour operator founded circa 2002–2003 and headquartered in Quito, Ecuador, with a regional office in Lima, Peru. The company designs and delivers customized, high-end itineraries across South America and Antarctica, targeting affluent individual travelers (families, couples, nature and wildlife enthusiasts) as well as international travel agents and tour operators who resell its services. It maintains a dual B2B/B2C go-to-market, with a proprietary partner portal (b2b.latintrails.com), dedicated regional sales teams for Europe, USA/Canada, Latin America, and Australia/New Zealand, and direct consumer booking via latintrails.com.
The company's economic model rests on ownership of a portfolio of scarce physical travel assets: a 16-passenger Galapagos Seaman Journey catamaran, the 10-room Illa Experience Hotel in Quito's historic center, the Hakuna Matata Amazon Lodge in Napo Province, and the 38-guest Zafiro Amazon Cruise operating in Peru. It also generates revenue through DMC ground-handling and contract-rate services for international trade partners, plus curated sales of third-party Galapagos and Antarctic vessels. Per-unit pricing ranges from $300–$539 per night at the lodges and hotel, $3,692–$7,937 per person on Galapagos expeditions (with full charters up to $116,955), and $9,057–$17,900 on Antarctic expeditions.
Latin Trails operates with 11–50 employees, no disclosed funding or institutional ownership, and no proprietary technology platform beyond a WordPress-based website with standard analytics and live-chat tooling. The company differentiates through 22+ years of destination knowledge, certified Galapagos National Park naturalist guides, citizen science partnerships with the Galapagos Conservation Trust and ESPE University, and a string of industry recognitions including LATA Responsible Tourism Awards (Gold 2024, Silver 2025), Travvy Awards Gold 2025 for Illa, and memberships in USTOA, ASTA, ATTA, and Travelife. Forward growth signals include the planned 2026 launch of the Grand Ocean Spray catamaran, expansion into Antarctica/Costa Rica/Brazil, and pre-published 2026/2027 rate increases on the Zafiro Amazon Cruise.
Latin Trails firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Latin Trails
- Legal name
- Latin Trails
- Website
- https://latintrails.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Latin Trails is a family-owned Ecuador-based destination management company and experiential luxury tour operator that designs custom South America and Antarctica itineraries for affluent travelers and international travel agents, monetizing owned assets including a Galapagos catamaran, a Quito boutique hotel, an Amazon lodge, and a Peruvian Amazon cruise.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Latin Trails industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Luxury Travel Services
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (56152), Tour Operators (561520), Travel Agencies (56151), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)
- SIC
- Water Transportation (4400), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Multi-Activity & Expedition Packages (Guided Adventure Trips) (THAJABAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Luxury Yacht & Small-Ship Expedition Cruises (THAEABAF), Expedition & Remote River Cruises (THAEACAD), Expedition Cruise Lines (Polar & Remote Regions) (THAEABAD)
Keywords
Where Latin Trails is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Quito
- HQ country
- Ecuador
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Latin Trails business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Package Tours: Customized and fixed-departure tour packages across South America including Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, and Antarctica. Revenue is generated through package pricing that includes accommodations, transportation, guides, and activities.
- Hotel Operations: Revenue from operating owned properties: Illa Experience Hotel (10-room boutique hotel in Quito) and Hakuna Matata Amazon Lodge (private hacienda in Ecuador). Pricing is per night stay.
- Cruise Operations: Revenue from operating owned cruise vessels: Galapagos Seaman Journey (16-passenger catamaran) and offering Zafiro Amazon Cruise. Cruise revenue includes cabin bookings at various price points depending on itinerary length and cabin type.
- DMC Services: Destination Management Company services for international travel agents, tour operators, and wholesalers including ground handling, contract rates with hotels and suppliers, and 24-hour emergency support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Illa Experience Hotel - Luxury boutique hotel in Quito |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Hakuna Matata Amazon Lodge - Private hacienda near Tena |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Seaman Journey Cruise - 5-day Galapagos expedition |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Seaman Journey Cruise - 7-day Galapagos expedition |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Seaman Journey Cruise - 9-day Galapagos expedition |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Zafiro Amazon Cruise - 4-day Peruvian Amazon |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Ecuador Tours - Various itineraries |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Colombia Tours - Multi-country itineraries |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Antarctica Tours - Expedition packages |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Latin Trails product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Latin Trails designs and delivers experiential luxury travel packages across South America and Antarctica, operating owned hospitality assets including the Galapagos Seaman Journey catamaran, Illa Experience Hotel in Quito, Hakuna Matata Amazon Lodge, and the Zafiro Amazon river cruise. The company sells customized and fixed-departure itineraries direct to consumers and provides destination management (DMC) ground-handling services to international travel agents, tour operators, and wholesalers.
Product overview
Latin Trails is a luxury experiential travel company offering bespoke journeys across South America and Antarctica. The portfolio consists of owned assets including the Galapagos Seaman Journey catamaran cruise, Illa Experience Hotel in Quito, Hakuna Matata Amazon Lodge in Ecuador, and the Zafiro Amazon Cruise in Peru. The company also manages an extended fleet of Galapagos vessels (Magic Camp, Aqua Mare, Integrity Yacht, Galapagos Explorer, Monique Catamaran, Ocean Nova, Ocean Victory, Ocean Albatros, Elite Catamaran, Hermes Catamaran, Endemic Catamaran) and offers customized itineraries, island-hopping tours, concierge services, and sustainable tourism experiences across Ecuador, Galapagos, Peru, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, and Antarctica.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Galapagos Seaman Journey: Boutique luxury catamaran cruise operating in the Galapagos Islands, offering expedition cruises with naturalist guides for up to 16 guests.
- ILLA Experience Hotel
- Hakuna Matata Amazon Lodge
- Zafiro Cruise
- NESTS Project
Products and services
- Galapagos Seaman Journey Boutique luxury catamaran expedition cruise in the Galapagos Islands operated by Latin Trails, offering 4–15 day itineraries with a maximum capacity of 16 passengers, certified naturalist guides, and citizen science programs. Priced per person by cabin tier (Twin Ocean View / Matrimonial Suite) with full charter options.
- Illa Experience Hotel Luxury boutique hotel in Quito's historic colonial center with 10 spacious rooms (4 luxury suites and 6 deluxe rooms), featuring a rooftop bar, gourmet restaurant, wine cellar, and spa & wellness area. Priced at $539 per night.
- Hakuna Matata Amazon Lodge Private hacienda lodge in Ecuador's Napo Province near Tena on a 150-hectare property, offering jungle activities, adventure experiences, and ecotourism with a unique swimming pool, restaurant, and accommodations. Priced at $300 per night.
- Zafiro Amazon Cruise Luxury river expedition cruise in the Peruvian Amazon accommodating 38 guests in 19 spacious suites with panoramic views, offering 4, 5, or 8-day itineraries with wildlife spotting, cultural excursions, and onboard amenities including a jacuzzi and wellness areas. Priced per person by suite tier.
- Galapagos Magic Camp Luxury camping experience in the Galapagos Islands, offering an alternative overnight format for travelers seeking a land-based Galapagos adventure beyond cruise vessels.
- Customized Itineraries Tailor-made travel experiences designed to individual preferences, including themed and private experiences across Ecuador, Galapagos, Peru, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, and Antarctica. Quoted on a per-person basis.
- Destination Management (DMC) Services Destination Management Company services for international travel agents, tour operators, and wholesalers, including ground handling, contract rates with hotels and suppliers, multilingual guides, and 24-hour emergency support across South American destinations.
- 24/7 South America Concierge Service Round-the-clock concierge service for travelers throughout South America destinations, providing continuous in-trip support as a standalone service complementing booked itineraries.
Quantifiable outcome
- 4.9/5.0 TripAdvisor rating from 43 verified reviews
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Latin Trails
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Latin Trails technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Latin Trails partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
29 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Galaxy Orion (Galapagos Boutique Yachts)minorPartnership for Galaxy Orion luxury Galapagos cruise available through Latin Trails booking platform. Listed among curated Galapagos cruise options.
- Monserrat (Galapagos Boutique Yachts)minorMonserrat cruise offering available through Latin Trails, featuring 8-day Galapagos itineraries.
- Galapagos Angel (Galapagos Boutique Yachts)minorGalapagos Angel luxury yacht cruise partnership for Galapagos tours.
- Calipso (Galapagos Boutique Yachts)minorCalipso cruise available for booking through Latin Trails platform.
- Grand Majestic (Galapagos Boutique Yachts)minorGrand Majestic premium Galapagos cruise option.
- Natural Paradise (Galapagos Boutique Yachts)minorNatural Paradise Galapagos cruise through partnership.
- Galaxy (Galapagos Boutique Yachts)minorGalaxy cruise offering for Galapagos tours.
- Infinity (Galapagos Boutique Yachts)minorInfinity Galapagos cruise available through booking platform.
- Eco Galaxy (Galapagos Boutique Yachts)minorEco Galaxy eco-friendly Galapagos cruise option.
- Horizon (Galapagos Boutique Yachts)minorHorizon cruise for Galapagos exploration.
- Ocean Spray (Galapagos Boutique Yachts)minorOcean Spray Galapagos cruise available through partnership.
- Alya (Galapagos Boutique Yachts)minorAlya luxury Galapagos cruise option.
- Elite Catamaran (Galapagos Boutique Yachts)minorElite Catamaran luxury Galapagos cruise offering.
- Hermes Catamaran (Galapagos Boutique Yachts)minorHermes super luxury catamaran for Galapagos tours.
- Ocean Nova (Antarctic Cruise)minorOcean Nova Antarctic expedition cruise available for booking.
- Ocean Victory (Antarctic Cruise)minorOcean Victory Antarctic expedition cruise offering.
- Ocean Albatros (Antarctic Cruise)minorOcean Albatros Antarctic cruise available through Latin Trails.
- Galapagos Conservation TrustcoreCitizen science partnership enabling guests to participate in conservation programs including Happy Whale tracking, Garbology ocean plastic reduction, and Marine Iguana Count through iNaturalist.
- ESPE University (Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas)coreAcademic partnership supporting iguana research through guest-contributed iNaturalist data for the Marine Iguana Count program.
- LATA (Latin American Travel Association)coreIndustry association membership with award recognition (Gold 2024, Silver 2025 Responsible Tourism Awards). Promotes responsible tourism in Latin America.
- ATTA (Adventure Travel Trade Association)coreIndustry association membership recognizing commitment to sustainability standards in adventure travel.
- TravelifecoreSustainability certification partner providing Travelife Partner status to Latin Trails for meeting environmental and social standards.
- Ensemble Travel GroupcoreProud partner of Ensemble, a network of luxury travel specialists who resell Latin Trails experiences to their clients.
- ASTA (American Society of Travel Advisors)coreMembership in American Society of Travel Advisors supporting travel industry standards and professional development.
- USTOA (United States Tour Operators Association)coreMembership in major tour operator industry association representing quality and reliability standards.
- Expedition Cruise NetworkminorIndustry network for expedition cruise operators and partners.
- Dalca Travel (Chile)coreRegional support partner in Chile with dedicated sales and product managers (Andrea Hopfner, Rudyard Ullrich, Nicolas Briones, Cristobal Morel) for Chile tours.
- H&T Argentina (Argentina)coreRegional support partner in Argentina with operations manager (Ludmila di Palma) and international sales (Belen Sosa) for Argentina tours.
- INES RestaurantminorRestaurant opened February 2022 as part of the NESTS project, providing employment and training opportunities for young gastronomic talents from rural Ecuadorian communities. Run under the mentorship of Chef Juan Carlos Donoso.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Latin Trails competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- International Expeditions: U.S.-based small-ship expedition and nature tour company with Galapagos, Amazon, and Peru programs. Comparable in nature-focused cruises, naturalist guides, and DMC-style custom Latin America itineraries.
- Adventure Life: Small-group adventure tour operator with strong South America (Peru, Ecuador, Galapagos, Patagonia, Antarctica) presence and DMC-style custom itineraries. Comparable in multi-country South America custom tours, B2B travel trade relationships, and expedition cruise offerings.
- Metropolitan Touring: Ecuador-based DMC and tour operator with owned Galapagos yachts (Santa Cruz II, La Pinta), Amazon cruises, and historic Quito hotels (Casa Gangotena). Most directly comparable to Latin Trails given shared Ecuador HQ, owned-asset model, and overlapping Galapagos/Amazon/luxury-experiential positioning.
- Kensington Tours: Luxury tailor-made tour operator with strong South America and Antarctica offerings and travel-agent-led distribution. Comparable in customized luxury itineraries, DMC ground-handling model, and affluent experiential traveler focus.
- Quasar Expeditions: Galapagos boutique yacht and adventure operator offering small-ship cruises and active expeditions. Comparable in target market (high-end experiential Galapagos travelers), fleet-based delivery model, and emphasis on naturalist guides and conservation.
Broad incumbents
- Intrepid Travel: Global adventure tour operator with South America small-group tours and Galapagos/Amazon offerings. Comparable in experiential travel focus, multi-country itineraries, and commitment to responsible tourism certification.
- G Adventures: Global small-group adventure tour operator with deep South America coverage including Galapagos, Peru, and Antarctica. Comparable in DMC-style custom tours, B2B trade partner network, and emphasis on local guides and community-based tourism.
- Abercrombie & Kent: Luxury experiential tour operator with global DMC capabilities and South America luxury itineraries including Galapagos and Antarctica. Comparable in affluent experiential traveler segment, B2B travel advisor channel, and bespoke private-guide model.
- Lindblad Expeditions: U.S.-based expedition cruise company with National Geographic partnership operating Galapagos, Antarctica, and Amazon voyages. Comparable in small-ship expedition cruises, naturalist-guided itineraries, and citizen-science programming through conservation partnerships.
Emerging players
- REI Adventures: U.S.-based active adventure travel brand offering Galapagos, Peru, and Patagonia guided trips with sustainability focus. Comparable in experiential outdoor itineraries, conservation-oriented positioning, and small-group naturalist-led tours.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Latin Trails social profiles
Digital presenceLatin Trails compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Latin Trails financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Latin Trails leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Latin Trails subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Latin Trails funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Latin Trails M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Latin Trails
What does Latin Trails do?
Latin Trails designs and delivers experiential luxury travel packages across South America and Antarctica, operating owned hospitality assets including the Galapagos Seaman Journey catamaran, Illa Experience Hotel in Quito, Hakuna Matata Amazon Lodge, and the Zafiro Amazon river cruise. The company sells customized and fixed-departure itineraries direct to consumers and provides destination management (DMC) ground-handling services to international travel agents, tour operators, and wholesalers.
Is Latin Trails a public or private company?
Latin Trails is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Latin Trails founded?
Latin Trails was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Latin Trails based?
Latin Trails is headquartered in Quito, Ecuador, in the Latin America region.
How does Latin Trails make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Package Tours are the primary driver. The others are hotel Operations, cruise Operations and DMC Services.
Who are Latin Trails's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are International Expeditions, Adventure Life, Metropolitan Touring, Kensington Tours and Quasar Expeditions. Broad incumbents are Intrepid Travel, G Adventures, Abercrombie & Kent and Lindblad Expeditions. REI Adventures is listed as an emerging player.
Does Latin Trails have an API?
No public API is recorded for Latin Trails.
What industry is Latin Trails in?
Latin Trails's product category is Luxury Travel Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJABAL, Multi-Activity & Expedition Packages (Guided Adventure Trips), with a secondary code of THAEABAF, Luxury Yacht & Small-Ship Expedition Cruises. Its NAICS code is 56152 and its SIC code is 4400.