Chichen Itza
There’s a lot to be said for going to the source. Just as we’d rather eat fresh food from a farmer’s market than overly processed, packaged plastic, with a little searching, you can create vacations with authentic, close-to-the-source travel options as well. A huge agency with phone operators working in call center cubicles can certainly book your tickets and hotels, or you can do-it-yourself with a lot of pointing and clicking, but if you want some on-the-ground expertise in the destination you’ll visit, you might give PureTravel a shot. With a focus on adventure travel, this new company (working itself up to launch for a decade) brings resources together so you can find a tour operator or travel provider in the place you’ll visit. For example, if you are headed to Everest Base Camp, you could book a trip directly with a Sherpa in Nepal as opposed to a trying-to-do-everything company in Colorado. Local knowledge and experience are everything if it is important to you to get off the air-conditioned buses and away from the large group tours. Booking directly with local providers also benefits the communities you visit by keeping your dollars closer to the source. PureTravel’s ethos is “Go Direct, Save Money, and Give More Back.” The company vets all tour providers to be sure they uphold sustainability and green standards and have a commitment to their community’s development.
Your search is simplified by breaking possible trips down into categories that might matter most to you: history and culture, water sports, climbing and trekking, family adventures, etc.
If you’re not booking a trip yet, you can sign up for their newsletter to be kept abreast of special opportunities, time-sensitive trips (coinciding with a festival, for instance), and new offerings.
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