Nature Tours

What Nature Tours does

Nature Tours Inc. is a privately held, single-office travel agency headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana (70119), established in 1991 by Carlos E. Monge, who continues to serve as President. The company specializes exclusively in custom-designed travel packages to Mexico, Central America, and South America, with advertised coverage of Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Its core product is bespoke itinerary design bundled with personally inspected accommodations, guided tours, and adventure activities (hiking, white water rafting, kayaking, diving, surfing, zip-lining, canopy tours) as well as cultural and historical site visits (Mayan and Inca ruins, colonial cities, indigenous villages). The firm sells four customer-segment variants — families (primary), destination weddings and honeymoons, student groups, and corporate incentive groups — and emphasizes competitive pricing via negotiated rates with on-the-ground suppliers.

The revenue model is transaction-fee based: Nature Tours acts as an intermediary that curates and resells inventory from partner hotels, tour operators, and eco-lodges (including featured properties such as The Westin Playa Conchal, Hotel Tamarindo Diria, Morgan's Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge, and Jicaro Island Ecolodge) plus activity providers (Rios Tropicales, Sky Adventures, Careli Tours). Pricing is non-public and fully customized per traveler, with the company stating customers "do not pay us any more than you would online." Distribution is direct-to-consumer and direct-sales driven — phone, toll-free, fax, and email — with a content-marketing website (naturetoursinc.com) and a single Facebook page serving as the primary digital presence. There is no app, no API, no booking platform technology disclosed, and no evidence of any automation, AI, or proprietary technology stack; the company's value delivery is human-mediated by the founder/President and a small team. The business is boot-strapped with no venture capital, private equity, or debt funding disclosed and no parent company, operating as an independently owned lifestyle specialty agency for over three decades.

Name

Nature Tours

Legal name

Nature Tours Inc.

Website

https://naturetoursinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nature Tours is a privately held, founder-operated New Orleans travel agency established in 1991 that designs and sells customized leisure and adventure itineraries to Mexico, Central America, and South America for individual travelers, families, weddings, student groups, and corporate incentives, sourcing inventory through personally inspected partner hotels and tour operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Agency Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Adventure & Expedition Travel Agencies (THAKAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Multi-Activity & Expedition Packages (Guided Adventure Trips) (THAJABAL), Eco-Adventure Multi-Day Expeditions (Trekking, Hut-to-Hut, Pack Trips) (THAAAEAJ), Rainforest & Jungle Ecotourism Tours (THAAAEAF)

Keywords

• Custom travel packages
• Latin America tours
• Travel agency services
• Adventure travel packages
• Destination weddings travel

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Custom Travel Packages: Nature Tours generates revenue by designing and selling custom travel packages to Latin America. The company acts as an intermediary, negotiating rates with hotels and tour operators to offer competitive pricing. Their business model emphasizes that customers 'do not pay us any more than you would online' while receiving personalized service and expert knowledge from personally inspected properties.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Nature Tours designs and sells custom travel packages to Mexico, Central America, and South America. Acting as an intermediary, the agency negotiates rates with hotels and tour operators, and bundles accommodations, ground transport, guided tours, and activities into personalized itineraries. The offering spans adventure activities (white water rafting, zip-lining, hiking, kayaking, diving, surfing), cultural and historical site visits (Mayan and Inca ruins, colonial cities, indigenous villages), rainforest and wildlife experiences, and beach vacations, with specializations for families, destination weddings/honeymoons, student groups, and corporate incentive groups.

Product overview

Nature Tours is a New Orleans-based travel agency established in 1991, specializing in custom travel packages to Mexico, Central America, and South America. The company operates as a tour operator and travel agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of products including custom-designed travel packages, pre-packaged itineraries (ranging from 4-10 days), guided tours, hotel accommodations, and specialized group travel services. The product portfolio includes various tour types (adventure, cultural, ecological, family-oriented), accommodation options across partner hotels and eco-lodges, and pre-designed itineraries combining multiple destinations and activities. Services are tailored for families, weddings/honeymoons, student groups, and incentive groups, with personally inspected properties and negotiated rates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Travel Packages to Latin America Customized travel packages to Mexico, Central America, and South America, designed to fit traveler goals and budgets. Services include arranging accommodations, guided tours, activities, and transportation, with all properties and tours personally inspected by the agency. Targeted at individual travelers, couples, families, weddings/honeymoons, student groups, and incentive groups.
• Tour Operations Guided tours across Latin America including adventure activities (hiking, white water rafting, kayaking, diving, surfing, zip-lining, canopy tours), wildlife viewing, and cultural/historical site-seeing tours to destinations such as Mayan and Inca ruins, colonial cities, and national parks. Sold to individuals, couples, and groups booking through the agency.
• Hotel Bookings and Accommodations Handpicked and personally inspected hotels and lodges across Latin America, ranging from budget to luxury options including eco-lodges, beach resorts, colonial hotels, and jungle lodges. Booked on behalf of individual travelers as part of a custom package.
• Group Travel Services Specialized travel services for families, destination weddings and honeymoons, student groups, and corporate incentive groups, with custom itineraries designed around the specific group's needs, ages, and budget.
• Pre-Designed Itineraries Pre-built package itineraries including themed trips such as 'Adventure – Adrenaline – Relaxation 9 Days / 8 Nights', 'Dream Honeymoon 9 days / 8 nights', 'Ecology 8 Days / 7 Nights', 'Family Oriented Program', and 'Discover The Mayas 8 days/7 nights'. Available as starting points that the agency customizes for individual travelers.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rios TropicalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNature Tours partners with Rios Tropicales, pioneers of Pacuare River white water rafting since 1985, for white water rafting experiences. Rios Tropicales has hosted world championships in rafting and kayaking, providing high-quality adventure rafting services integrated into Nature Tours' Costa Rica itineraries.
• Sky AdventurescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNature Tours works with Sky Adventures for Monteverde Cloud Forest experiences including Sky Walk (hanging bridges), Sky Trek (zip lines), and Sky Tram (gondolas). Sky Adventures pioneered hanging bridges in Costa Rica and provides canopy tour experiences integrated into Nature Tours' itineraries.
• Careli ToursminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCareli Tours operates as a local outfitter providing optional tours (Canopy Tour, Surf Lessons, Snorkeling, Sunset Cruises, Adventure to Parque de Aventura Las Nubes) for Nature Tours customers visiting San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.
• The Westin Playa ConchalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured hotel partner - Starwood's first Costa Rica all-inclusive resort, set on 2400 acres on the Northern Pacific Coast of Guanacaste with championship golf course, 8 restaurants, 5 bars, and kids club.
• Hotel Tamarindo DiriaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured beach resort partner at Tamarindo Beach in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Iconic beach getaway with three villages (Sunset Village, Tropicana Village adults-only, Lagoon Village family-friendly), watersports, golf, and nightly entertainment.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• G Adventures: Large global small-group adventure travel company with extensive Latin America itineraries (Peru, Costa Rica, Galapagos). Overlaps heavily with Nature Tours' destinations and customer base but operates at much greater scale and with broader geographic scope.
• Audley Travel: Specialist tailor-made travel company with country experts designing custom Latin America itineraries (Costa Rica, Peru, Argentina). Directly comparable custom-itinerary model serving affluent independent travelers, but operating at significantly larger scale.
• Lindblad Expeditions: Premium expedition travel company offering nature and cultural voyages including Galapagos, Patagonia, and Peru. Comparable focus on experiential nature-based travel to Latin America but at much higher price points and with a broader global portfolio.
• REI Adventures: Adventure travel division of REI Co-op offering guided trips in Costa Rica, Peru, Patagonia, and Galapagos. Overlaps in outdoor/adventure activity focus and Latin America destinations but operates under a national retail brand with broader trip catalog.

Direct peers

• Wildland Adventures: Boutique adventure travel company specializing in Latin America, Africa, and Asia with custom-designed itineraries and personally vetted local guides. Comparable niche positioning, founder-led ethos, and emphasis on cultural immersion and small-scale trips.
• Classic Journeys: Boutique walking and cultural tour operator with strong Latin America portfolio (Costa Rica, Peru, Patagonia). Comparable as a small, expert-led, custom-and-guided tour operator with personally vetted local guides and upscale positioning.
• Geographic Expeditions (GeoEx): Family-owned adventure travel company since 1982 offering small-group and custom trips across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Directly comparable in vintage, founder-driven ethos, and curated itineraries to Latin America destinations.
• Journeys International: Custom adventure travel company offering tailor-made itineraries across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Direct competitor in the small, expert-led, custom-itinerary model serving experienced independent travelers.
• Adventure Life: Small-group and custom adventure travel operator with deep Latin America coverage (including Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Galapagos). Closely comparable as a specialist tour operator selling bespoke itineraries to similar nature and culture-focused travelers.

Regional players

• Travcoa (by Luxury Gold): Luxury guided travel company with curated Latin America journeys including Peru, Patagonia, and Galapagos. Overlaps with Nature Tours' premium hotel and adventure offerings but focuses on a higher-end fully-guided format and broader global portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/naturetoursinclatinamerica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nature-tours

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nature Tours