From heritage to innovation: Quimbaya Latin America, an ever-evolving journey

With 37 years of expertise and a presence in 11 of the continent's most emblematic destinations - Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and Peru - Quimbaya Latin America has built the trust of tourism professionals around the world by demonstrating a constant ability to adapt to changes in the sector while retaining its passion and expertise.

But our History (with a capital H) is more than just a company success story. It's a story of vision and adaptation, innovation and ambition. We refuse to remain stuck in the past.

Each stage of our journey inspires the present and shapes the future, with a clear mission: to reinvent tourism in Latin America while remaining true to our values.

It all began in 1987, when Claudia Terrade founded Quimbaya Tours in Bogotá, driven by a deep-seated passion to help her friends and family in France discover her native Colombia. She was soon joined by Jean Terrade, and together they created Quimbaya Latin America in 1988, with one ambition: to reveal to the world the little-known treasures of Latin America. They were convinced that this continent abounded in natural and cultural riches that were still under-exploited, and that the world deserved to discover them.

The choice of the name ‘Quimbaya’ reflects this philosophy. It pays tribute to a pre-Columbian civilisation renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship and intimate relationship with nature. The name symbolises strong values: creativity, perseverance and respect for tradition. As a tribute to its ancestral heritage, Quimbaya Latin America strives every day to balance respect for its roots with openness to new ideas and practices.

The Poporo Quimbaya (our logo), a goldsmith's masterpiece on display at the Gold Museum in Bogotá, embodies this balance between tradition and modernity. This symbol has become the very essence of Quimbaya Latin America: a company that combines the past and the future to offer unique and memorable experiences.

At Quimbaya Latin America, family spirit is at the heart of our success and continuous evolution. Since 1987, our team has grown and changed, with many members of staff having progressed from guides to Country Manager positions, guaranteeing invaluable expertise and the stability essential to our success.

We don't just preserve what has made us strong, we adapt to changes in the sector and to travellers' expectations. Our teams work together to create ever more innovative experiences, in line with current trends and the needs of the future.

By combining loyalty, local expertise and innovation, we are building a made-to-measure tourism that respects traditions while looking resolutely to the future.

We believe that a tourism industry can only thrive if it stays in tune with the world around it.

The changing expectations of travellers, the impact of new technologies, and the growing awareness of sustainability: all these factors have shaped our ability to respond to changing needs, while remaining faithful to our initial mission.

• Our travellers today are no longer just looking for destinations, but for authentic, connected and meaningful experiences.
• We incorporate immersive formats and the concept of slow travel into our trips, to prioritise in-depth discovery at the pace of local cultures.
• Beyond traditional tourism, we offer tours focusing on wellbeing, gastronomy or cultural exchange, tailored to demanding and curious travellers.
• Trips that allow travellers to immerse themselves in the culinary and craft traditions of each region, while supporting local economies.

In an ever-changing world, our ability to adapt, our sense of anticipation and a high degree of flexibility have always been at the heart of our business model.

Working closely with our partners on a daily basis, we create authentic, tailor-made itineraries, enriched by our in-depth knowledge of local cultures.
In this way, we can offer each traveller a unique experience, tailored to their wishes, and always in tune with the latest developments in our business.

We don't just minimise our impact: sustainable tourism has always been at the heart of our strategy, not as a fad, but as a deep and abiding commitment to the future.

Each of the projects we develop takes into account its long-term impact, and quite naturally we have always supported local initiatives that preserve the environment and respect indigenous cultures.

Quimbaya recently obtained two certifications for Ecuador and Chile, and continues to work hard in all other countries to obtain local certifications, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism in Latin America.

Our actions are based on three essential pillars:

1. Supporting local communities: Each experience is an opportunity to have a positive impact on indigenous populations and artisans, while promoting their traditions. We work hand in hand with these communities to ensure that they benefit from the influx of tourists, while preserving their culture.
2. Protecting the environment: Our tours focus on eco-responsible solutions, sustainable accommodation and local conservation initiatives. Several of our itineraries include stays in ecolodges that support the preservation of tropical forests.
3. Raising travellers' awareness: By promoting educational experiences, such as craft workshops in Peru or biodiversity programmes in Costa Rica, we create a shared awareness. We invite our travellers to become involved in preserving the planet, offering them valuable learning opportunities.

Since 1987, Quimbaya Latin America has been the embodiment of innovation in Latin American tourism. We are convinced that the future of tourism lies in the ability to constantly reinvent ourselves. We offer much more than tours: we open doors to authentic, rich and inspiring worlds, while working towards responsible and sustainable tourism.

Through our history, our evolution and our commitments, we show that it is possible to combine passion, responsibility and innovation to offer unforgettable experiences to every traveller.