Vaya Adventures

Who We Are

Vaya Adventures was founded in 2004 by Jim Lutz, who developed a passion for Latin America while living and working in Ecuador after graduating from Harvard University.  He has lived, worked, and traveled extensively in South and Central America, as has every member of our team of specialists.  Vaya Adventures has a deep network of local contacts in each of its destinations, with the finest guides and most reliable operational staff in Latin America all working to ensure that your trip exceeds your expectations.  Our Destination Specialists have deep knowledge of their areas of specialty, and will put together an itinerary that perfectly matches your interests, dates, and budget.

Where We Go and How We Go

Vaya Adventures specializes in travel to some of the best places in South & Central America, including Peru & Machu Picchu, Ecuador & the Galapagos, Patagonia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Belize and Costa Rica.  We create exceptional travel experiences for independent travelers, with an emphasis on the best regional lodges, inns and small hotels, top quality local English speaking guides, and outstanding excursions, including hiking, biking, sea kayaking, snorkeling, and cultural exploration.  Whether you choose one of our suggested itineraries or want us to help you put together a customized trip that matches your interests and travel dates, Vaya Adventures will help you have the trip of a lifetime to South or Central America.

Why Travel With Us?

Casa Palopó, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Read our testimonials, because they explain it better than we can!  The bottom line is that you’ll have an outstanding trip.  In planning a trip to South or Central America, there is a lot to figure out: which local guides and operators you can trust, which hotels really stand out, how to find the out-of-the-way highlights, and how you get from place to place, to name just a few.  Vaya Adventures allows you to leave all of these issues in our hands while you focus on making the most out of your trip.  We have years of first-hand experience in the region, will work with you to create exactly the trip you want, and work with the best local guides.  In all of our destinations we offer unique and off the beaten path excursions that bring the best of the country to life.  On top of all that, we have a value guarantee!  Call to speak with one of our Destination Specialists and you’ll come to see, as our thousands of travelers have, that we are offering an exceptional level of expertise and service for your trip to South or Central America.

Vaya Adventures and the Environment

One of Vaya Adventures’ main goals is to help create a strong positive incentive for the preservation of the remaining natural places in Latin America.  Vaya Adventures is a contributing member and supporter of a variety of organizations that work to preserve the natural environment in Latin America, including the Rainforest Alliance, The International Ecotourism Society, Conservation International, The Galapagos Conservancy, and The Nature Conservancy.  We promote lodges, such as Posada Amazonas in the Peruvian Amazon, that have received funding and support from Conservation International for their pioneering ecotourism projects.  Jim Lutz, the founder of Vaya Adventures, is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association, an organization that works to promote genuinely sustainable tourism in the Galapagos. For more about the work we’re doing in our destinations, please see our Vaya Giving Back page.

Our Guarantee: You won’t find a trip of this quality at a better price

Our value guarantee is simple:  We guarantee that you won’t be able to find a trip at the same level of quality in services and accommodations for a better price.  If you do, let us know and we’ll refund the difference to you.  You can be confident that the quality and value of your experience will be unsurpassed.  We want every traveler who takes a trip with us to come home raving to his or her friends about every aspect of the experience, including the value.