Via Natura
Via Natura is a privately held Ecuadorian boutique DMC and luxury tour operator (founded 1992) that owns two Galapagos cruise vessels — the Hermes Mega Catamaran and the Monserrat Yacht — and sells tailor-made, high-touch itineraries to affluent travelers across Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and the Amazon.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersPuerto Ayora, Ecuador
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Via Natura does
Via Natura (legal entity MORATURA TURS C.I.A L.T.D.A.) is a privately held Ecuador-domiciled destination management company and boutique tour operator founded in 1992 with over 33 years of operating history. It targets high-net-worth individuals and luxury family travelers seeking tailor-made journeys across South America, with a flagship concentration in the Galapagos Islands. The company owns and operates two purpose-built cruise vessels: the M/C Hermes Mega Catamaran (ultra-luxury, limited to 20 guests with a nearly 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio, 12 suites with private jacuzzis, and 7,900 sq ft of social areas) and the Monserrat Yacht (First-Class motor yacht accommodating 16 passengers with 9 crew and 2 naturalist guides, built 2005 and refurbished 2025). It also sells full-vessel private charters, Galapagos flight bookings (USD 550–$685), and a curated land-based tour portfolio spanning Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and the Amazon basin, including multi-day itineraries such as the 15-day Amazon & Inca Trail and 14-day Explore Peru luxury train journey.
The business runs a sales-led, high-touch go-to-market model: dedicated Galapagos Specialists and Travel Designers handle inquiries through vianatura.com forms, phone (USA 1-305-810-8571; Ecuador +593 numbers), WhatsApp, and email ([email protected]). Distribution is augmented by a partnership with Galavail, which provides live-availability booking widgets for both vessels. Marketing combines premium earned media (Forbes, Robb Report, Elite Traveler, Harper's Bazaar, Boat International, The Times, Town & Country) with presence at global luxury travel trade shows (ITB Berlin, ILTM Cannes, PURE, World Travel Market, Connections, Luxperience, LATA, Remote Latin America, EMOTIONS, ILTM North America) and content marketing via the company blog.
Operations are supported by four dedicated offices in Guayaquil and Quito (Ecuador), Cusco (Peru), and Puerto Ayora (Galapagos). Pricing is publicly disclosed for Monserrat Yacht cabin tiers and full charters across 2026 and 2027 (lower-deck cabin USD 2,595–$10,550; upper-deck USD 2,795–$10,995; full charter USD 41,750–$165,395 depending on itinerary length), while Hermes Mega Catamaran pricing is quote-based. There is no disclosed external funding, parent company, or investor base; the firm appears founder/owner-operated. No AI/ML, software platform, or proprietary technology stack is disclosed — the differentiators are physical capital (vessel fleet), human capital (naturalist guides and 33 years of local expertise), and brand authority in the luxury Galapagos segment.
Via Natura firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Via Natura
- Legal name
- MORATURA TURS C.I.A L.T.D.A.
- Website
- https://vianatura.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Via Natura is a privately held Ecuadorian boutique DMC and luxury tour operator (founded 1992) that owns two Galapagos cruise vessels — the Hermes Mega Catamaran and the Monserrat Yacht — and sells tailor-made, high-touch itineraries to affluent travelers across Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and the Amazon.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Via Natura industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Luxury Travel and Ecotourism Services
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Deep Sea Passenger Transportation (483112)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Luxury Yacht & Small-Ship Expedition Cruises (THAEABAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Luxury Cruise + Land Expedition Operators (Cruise-Tour Programs) (THAEABAH), Boutique Yacht Cruise Operators (Scheduled Itineraries) (THAEADAA), Luxury Cruise Charters & Private Expeditions (THAEABAG), Cruise + Guided Land Tour Packages (THAEAHAJ)
Keywords
Where Via Natura is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Puerto Ayora
- HQ country
- Ecuador
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Via Natura business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Galapagos Cruise Packages: Revenue generated from booking cabin accommodations aboard owned Hermes Mega Catamaran and Monserrat Yacht, including all meals, activities, naturalist guides, and excursion services.
- Galapagos Private Charters: Full vessel charter services for exclusive groups, providing complete yacht rental with dedicated crew, butler service, and customized itineraries for up to 16-20 passengers.
- Land-Based Luxury Tours: Tailor-made luxury holidays across Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Amazon region including accommodation, private transportation, bilingual guides, and curated experiences.
- Galapagos Flight Services: Operational flights booked through the company to Galapagos archipelago, including economy, first row, and premium economy class options.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Monserrat Yacht 2026 - Lower Deck Cabin (4-15 day itineraries) |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Monserrat Yacht 2026 - Upper Deck Cabin (4-15 day itineraries) |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Monserrat Yacht 2026 - Full Charter (up to 16 passengers) |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Monserrat Yacht 2027 - Lower Deck Cabin |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Monserrat Yacht 2027 - Upper Deck Cabin |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Monserrat Yacht 2027 - Full Charter (up to 16 passengers) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Galapagos Flight Rates (Quito - Galapagos - Quito) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Galapagos Flight Rates (Guayaquil - Galapagos - Guayaquil) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Galapagos Park Fees & Transit Card (per person) |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Hermes Mega Catamaran - Ultra-Luxury (20 guests max) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Via Natura product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Via Natura sells luxury cruise cabin accommodations aboard two company-owned Galapagos vessels (M/C Hermes Superyacht and M/Y Monserrat Yacht) and tailor-made multi-day escorted land tour packages across Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and the Amazon. Offerings are sold as packaged itineraries that include lodging, meals, naturalist guides, internal transportation, and curated experiences, with optional full-vessel private charters and bundled Galapagos flights.
Product overview
Via Natura is a boutique luxury travel agency and tour operator with over 33 years of experience specializing in tailor-made journeys across South America. The company operates two owned cruise vessels—the ultra-luxury Hermes Mega Catamaran (20 guests, 1:1 crew ratio, 12 suites with private jacuzzis) and the first-class Monserrat Yacht (16 passengers, 10 cabins, 2 naturalist guides)—alongside a portfolio of curated land-based tour experiences spanning Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, the Amazon, and the Galapagos Islands. The product portfolio is organized around three pillars: owned cruise vessels (Hermes and Monserrat), destination-specific escorted tour packages (ranging from 8 to 16 days), and specialized experience modules (diving, culinary, cultural, family, wildlife) that can be incorporated into custom itineraries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hermes Mega Catamaran: Ultra-luxury superyacht experience in Galapagos Islands - World's Largest Luxury Catamaran with private butler service
- Monserrat Yacht
- M/C Hermes Superyacht
Products and services
- Hermes Mega Catamaran (M/C Hermes Superyacht) Ultra-luxury superyacht cruise in the Galapagos Islands limited to 20 guests with nearly 1-to-1 crew-to-guest ratio, private butler service, 12 suites with private jacuzzis, 7,900 square feet of social areas, full-service spa, hammam, and fine dining. Sold per cabin or by full-vessel private charter.
- Monserrat Yacht (M/Y Monserrat) First-Class motor yacht cruise in the Galapagos Islands accommodating up to 16 passengers across 10 cabins (seven twin, three double), with two expert naturalist guides, sun-deck jacuzzi, Latitude Restaurant, and 4-to-15-day expedition itineraries. Sold per cabin or by full-vessel charter.
- Ecuador Complete – 15-Day Tour Experience 15-day/14-night luxury escorted land tour of mainland Ecuador covering Quito, Otavalo Market, Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, Devil's Nose Train, Cuenca, and Guayaquil with luxury hacienda and boutique hotel accommodations.
- Amazon & Andes Adventure – 9-Day Tour Experience 9-day/8-night luxury expedition combining the Ecuadorian Amazon (Napo Wildlife Center, Yasuni National Park) with the Andean region around Quito, Otavalo, and Hacienda Zuleta.
- Amazon & Inca Trail Adventure – 15-Day Tour Experience 15-day/14-night luxury expedition pairing Peru's Amazon (Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica) with the Sacred Valley, Inca Trail, and Machu Picchu.
- Premium Wine, Chocolate & Panama Hat – 9-Day Tour Experience 9-day culinary and agritourism land tour through Ecuador featuring Dos Hemisferios Winery, chocolate-making at Hacienda La Danesa, Panama hat factories in Cuenca, and Cajas National Park.
- Explore Peru with Luxury Train Journeys – 14-Day Tour Experience 14-day cultural and luxury train expedition across Peru covering Lima, Nazca Lines, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Machu Picchu, and Lake Titicaca.
- Galapagos Land-Based Tours Hotel-based 5-to-8-day Galapagos adventures with island hopping between Santa Cruz and Isabela, wildlife encounters, and nature exploration.
- Diving Tours SCUBA diving excursions in the Galapagos Islands with encounters featuring hammerhead sharks, manta rays, whale sharks, and Galapagos penguins, offered as resort-based or live-aboard experiences.
- Agritourism & Culinary Experiences Specialized food and agricultural tourism experiences including chocolate-making workshops, Pisco tasting, farm-to-table dining, and wine tasting at Ecuador's Dos Hemisferios Winery.
- Cultural Tours Cultural exploration experiences including UNESCO World Heritage sites in Quito, Cusco, and Cuenca, Nazca Lines overflights, Lake Titicaca floating islands, and Aymara village visits.
- Family Tours Family-friendly adventure activities including ATV experiences in the Sacred Valley, designed for multi-generational travel with age-appropriate activities.
- Nature & Wildlife Lovers Tours Wildlife-focused experiences in the Galapagos Islands, Amazon Rainforest, and Uyuni Salt Flats featuring up-close encounters with endemic species and luxury lodge accommodations.
- Private Galapagos Charters Exclusive full-vessel private charters of the Hermes Mega Catamaran or Monserrat Yacht for bespoke group expeditions with full itinerary customization, dedicated butler service, and private chef experiences.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 1-to-1 crew-to-guest ratio on Hermes Mega Catamaran
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Via Natura
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Via Natura technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Via Natura partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- GalavailcoreGalavail provides the booking platform infrastructure for Via Natura's cruise availability and reservation system. The partnership enables live availability calendars for both Monserrat Yacht and Hermes Mega Catamaran vessels through embedded booking widgets.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Via Natura competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Geographic Expeditions (GeoEx): Boutique adventure and Galapagos cruise tour operator running small-group and custom South America trips; closely comparable on HNW outdoor/expedition focus.
- Aqua Expeditions: Luxury small-ship cruise operator in the Amazon and Peru (and Southeast Asia) with owned vessels and high service ratios; strong analog on Amazon-and-river-cruise components of Via Natura's product.
- Quasar Expeditions: Boutique luxury Galapagos yacht and cruise operator offering small-ship expeditions; directly comparable on vessel ownership, HNW targeting, and multi-country South America packages.
- Adventure Life: Small-group and tailor-made South America tour operator covering Galapagos, Amazon, Peru and Patagonia; competes for the same HNW experiential-traveler bookable via DMC.
- Metropolitan Touring: Ecuadorian DMC and Galapagos cruise operator with its own yachts (e.g., Yacht La Pinta) running 4–8 day itineraries; matches Via Natura on Ecuadorian DMC roots and owned-fleet cruise model.
- Ecoventura: Operates a small fleet of luxury yachts in the Galapagos with naturalist-led itineraries; competes with Via Natura's Monserrat Yacht at the first-class tier.
Broad incumbents
- Abercrombie & Kent: Global luxury tour operator with deep South America and Galapagos programs; broader portfolio and global brand but sells similar high-touch experiential journeys.
- Ponant: Global luxury expedition cruise line with small-capacity yachts including in the Galapagos; broader luxury cruise portfolio, similar HNW customer profile.
- Lindblad Expeditions: Larger expedition cruise operator partnered with National Geographic; overlaps with Via Natura on Galapagos and small-ship expedition cruising but at broader portfolio scale.
- Kensington Tours: Bespoke luxury tour operator running tailor-made South America itineraries including Galapagos cruises; comparable on sales-led DMC distribution to HNW clients.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Via Natura social profiles
Digital presenceVia Natura financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Via Natura leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Via Natura subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Via Natura funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Via Natura 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 Via Natura
What does Via Natura do?
Via Natura sells luxury cruise cabin accommodations aboard two company-owned Galapagos vessels (M/C Hermes Superyacht and M/Y Monserrat Yacht) and tailor-made multi-day escorted land tour packages across Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and the Amazon. Offerings are sold as packaged itineraries that include lodging, meals, naturalist guides, internal transportation, and curated experiences, with optional full-vessel private charters and bundled Galapagos flights.
Is Via Natura a public or private company?
Via Natura is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Via Natura founded?
Via Natura was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Via Natura based?
Via Natura is headquartered in Puerto Ayora, Ecuador, in the Latin America region.
How does Via Natura make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Galapagos Cruise Packages are the primary driver. The others are galapagos Private Charters, land-Based Luxury Tours and galapagos Flight Services.
Who are Via Natura's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Geographic Expeditions (GeoEx), Aqua Expeditions, Quasar Expeditions, Adventure Life, Metropolitan Touring and Ecoventura. Broad incumbents are Abercrombie & Kent, Ponant, Lindblad Expeditions and Kensington Tours.
Does Via Natura have an API?
No public API is recorded for Via Natura.
What industry is Via Natura in?
Via Natura's product category is Luxury Travel and Ecotourism Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAEABAF, Luxury Yacht & Small-Ship Expedition Cruises, with a secondary code of THAEABAH, Luxury Cruise + Land Expedition Operators (Cruise-Tour Programs). Its NAICS code is 561520.