Discovery Tours

Introduction and suitability

Discovery Tours are suited to travellers who want to experience Latin America with the added security and flexibility that travelling in a custom-made vehicle provides and the extra comfort of door-to-door travel. If you are not travelling with a friend or partner, don’t worry many of our passengers travel on their own and know that meeting up with a group of like-minded people is all part of the fun.

If you enjoy group travel with the added flexibility of being able to travel when and where you want and the comfort and assurance of competent personal guiding, then this style of tour is perfect for you. Based on the nature of this travel style, Discovery Tours are open age and are generally suitable for people aged between 10 and 65 years old. If you have any questions about this please contact us or speak to your travel consultant.

Degree of difficulty/ fitness

Discovery Tours suit people who are relatively fit and healthy. Although no experience is required there is occasional moderate walking at medium to high altitude. Some excursions, such as the Inca Trail Trek, Lares Trek and Lake Titicaca are at high altitude – if you have any concerns about how you will cope with altitude, please talk to your doctor.

Accommodation: Comfort hotels

Our Comfort class accommodation comprises of small friendly hotels and guest houses which are usually conveniently located near the town centres and sights. We try to ensure that each hotel has plenty of local character to give you a taste of life in the country in which we are travelling. They are usually family run and are chosen for their location, cleanliness, security and accessibility for our vehicles.

Comfort hotels are generally the equivalent of a three-star hotel and may include amenities such as cable television, swimming pools, restaurants, lifts, internet access, room service, hair dryers and English-speaking reception staff. A Comfort hotel may also take the form of a lodge, chalet or tented accommodation.

Standards may vary due to local conditions but our preference is mid-range comfortable rooms with ensuite facilities. Please be aware that hotels sometimes have occasional erratic services like lack of hot water or no central heating, and staff members don’t always speak English. In general, facilities are very good but please be prepared for the occasional mishap, which is all part of the travelling experience!

Travellers will share rooms with other group members of the same gender. Mostly this will be in twin rooms although sometimes in triples depending on the group composition and hotel rooming structure. When staying in the Amazon jungle in Peru, accommodation will be in rustic ensuite cabins with cold water only and mosquito nets will be provided. On Amantaní Island we stay in mud-brick houses and we stay in two-person tents on the Inca Trail Trek. In the Torres del Paine National Park we stay in campsites where your tent is erected for you. All accommodation is included from the arrival day until checkout time on the final day of the tour.

Single supplements

Travellers wishing to have their own room are able to pay a single supplement. On certain occasions it may not be possible to have single occupancy, for example in the Amazon jungle in Peru, on the Inca Trail Trek, the Amantaní Island excursion and in the Iberá wetlands. Please contact our reservations team for more details.

Pre and post tour accommodation

Pre and post tour accommodation is available if you would like to spend more time exploring your joining and departure cities. You will find the details of Discovery Tours pre and post tour accommodation details under Prices on the appropriate tour page. Please contact us or speak to your travel consultant for more information.

Accommodation is included from 1pm on day 1 until checkout time on the morning the tour ends. If you wish to use the services of a room before or after checkout time, or you are arriving very early in the morning of day 1, you will need to book an extra night, which we can arrange for you. All rooms are on a bed only basis unless otherwise indicated. There is an extra charge if you change your hotel or transfer reservations once booked or if you add a hotel / transfer reservation to your booking within one month of the tour departure date. Please refer to the booking conditions for more information.

Meals

Certain meals are provided in Latin America. When travelling over the lunch period on the Tucan Travel vehicle, we usually provide a picnic style lunch prepared from fresh ingredients purchased at local markets and supermarkets by your tour leader. The lunches usually consist of cold meats, cheeses, salad, bread and fruit (drinks are not included). Our vehicles carry all the necessary equipment required for the group to prepare food as well as tables and campstools for your convenience.

All other meals, extra snacks and drinks on the tour are at your own expense. Meals are not included on some included excursions and are not included on most optional excursions. Please see country dossiers for more information about the local food you will experience on tour.

Excursions

Discovery Tours offer a variety of included excursions, such as visits to national parks, local communities, ancient ruins, glaciers, waterfalls and other natural and cultural highlights of your chosen destination. Some excursions such as the Inca Trail Trek, Lares Valley Trek and Amazon Jungle need to be booked in advance of travel, but you can opt out of these in advance if you prefer to have some free time instead.

You can also choose from a range of optional excursions which you can book locally with help from your tour leader - you can find the full list on our website. Please contact us or speak to your travel consultant for more information.

Transport

We choose the most suitable vehicle depending on the region we are travelling through to ensure you get the most from your tour. This may be either a modern coach, one of our more robust Mercedes Benz trucks or a combination of both vehicles. On Tucan Travel expedition vehicles you will find superior comfort, from our carpeted interiors with curtained and tinted windows, to modern coach seats, overhead storage shelves, writing tables, a small library and a stereo player for the group’s use. Most vehicles also have a refrigerator for food and sometimes cold drinks.

There will also be plenty of storage space for your luggage and souvenirs as well as kitchen equipment, tables and camp stools carried for picnic lunches. Tucked away in storage we carry specialised equipment for the maintenance and upkeep of the vehicle. On rare occasions it may be necessary to utilise a privately hired vehicle for the duration of the tour. Although modern and comfortable, some vehicles may not include all the facilities and equipment listed above. See our expedition vehicles page for more information.

Driving times

The distances between attractions can be great in parts of South America and Africa so please be prepared for some long travelling days. The longest travel days are about 8 -10 hours although toilet and lunch stops will be made throughout the day. This time spent travelling is unavoidable but you will not be disappointed once you arrive! There will be travel on modern highways as well as bumpy gravel roads. Please also note that there are many short travel days and many non travel days which leave you free to explore at your leisure.

Transfers

Airport transfers are not included in group tours but can be booked through Tucan Travel at an additional cost. If you would prefer to make your own way to and from your hotel, you can find details on public transport and taxis in the joining letter for your tour.

Group size

The average group size is between 15 and 24 although on the busier departure dates there will be up to 34 passengers. In Cuzco and on some included excursions this number may be larger. If you are not travelling with a friend or partner, don’t worry: many of our passengers travel on their own and know that meeting up with a group of like-minded people is all part of the fun. If you enjoy group travel with the added flexibility of being able to travel when and where you want and the comfort and assurance of competent personal guiding, then this style of tour is perfect for you!

Staff

Discovery Tours are accompanied by a Tucan Travel tour leader and Tucan Travel driver. You may be assisted at other times by local guides and local representatives.

Tucan Travel tour leaders are genuine travel addicts and will share their passion for their destination with you. A tour leader will accompany you on your tour and will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the tour, so you are free to sit back, relax and enjoy the journey.

Tucan Travel drivers are an integral part of the group and are of varied nationalities. They are used to the varied road conditions of our destinations. Safe driving is their priority and they are experienced in vehicle maintenance.

Tucan Travel representatives will escort you at times when your tour leader may not be available.

Local representatives own and operate their own local businesses and on occasion they are responsible for transfers.

Local guides accompany many of our excursions, such as visits to archaeological sites and the Inca Trail Trek. Their knowledge of the local area and familiarity with its customs and history will enhance your experience and lift your journey out of the ordinary.