Our Purpose is to open people’s eyes to the wondrous diversity of people, cultures and habitats across the world.
to build memories, to learn and to support local business
people, cultures, habitats and wildlife
to improve who we are, what we offer and the lives we touch
Tucan Travel was established in South America in 1987. Our vision: to provide exceptional travel experiences to adventurers around the globe. Over the years, we have evolved. We are now a comprehensive platform offering a wealth of valuable insights. We aim to assist you in making informed decisions about the perfect tours and destinations. Whether you’re seeking a thrilling adventure in the heart of the Amazon rainforest or a relaxing beach getaway in the Caribbean, we are here to guide you every step of the way. Our website is dedicated to curating unique and unforgettable travel experiences that cater to all interests and preferences. Trust Tucan Travel to be your ultimate travel companion on your journey to discovering the world’s wonders.
it is only by seeing and engaging with people, cultures and habitats that we can begin to understand our shared world. Only through this understanding can we hope to learn how to conserve the world for future generations of all species.
We would like to live in a world where our adventure experience is open to everyone. Doing nothing isn’t an option. So, we act with purpose to do what we can where we are. We trust all Tucan travellers to do the same.
that ‘adventure’ may mean different things to different people. At Tucan Travel, we recognise how fortunate we are to have the opportunity and freedom to choose our own adventure. Others are less fortunate. For many, ‘adventure’ may be the dream of living free from fear, hunger, poverty and exploitation.
Tucan Travel’s long term commitment to responsible travel is informed by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. These offer the world’s best plan to end poverty, reduce inequalities and tackle climate change. Our Purpose sets out how we support our travellers to make informed decisions. We do this so that they are able to travel without causing harm, and be in a position to offer benefit to the people, cultures, animals and habitats they encounter. In this way we can all contribute to the realization of the development goals.
is shared by all of our staff and destination partners. Further information is available for Tucan travelers on request.
We seek to operate in a manner that is responsible to this generation, whoever or wherever they are, without compromising the potential of future generations.
Human welfare starts with the opportunity to earn a living wage under fair working conditions.
As a company we shop local, wherever that local may be. For example, we prefer to use small, locally owned hotels on our tours. When we provide food we source local, seasonal foods preferably from the local markets. This strategy channels our spend into businesses that are embedded in and supportive of the local communities. This enables sustainability and empowers growth.
We work with our partners to ensure that everyone involved in our tours are paid a living wage and have fair working conditions.
Travelling opens our eyes to different people, cultures, and ways of living. Seeing and experiencing cultures other than our own helps us understand, leading to mutual respect.
We encourage our travellers to shop locally, eat in local restaurants, buy locally sourced and sustainable goods, and visit local attractions. This channels your extra spend into the local communities. It is also the best way to learn about the communities you are visiting.
We trust our travellers to respect the cultures and traditions of the people and places they encounter.
People are not tourist attractions and should never be treated as such.
Everyone in the travel industry is passionate about travel and adventure. Of course we are – It’s why we are here! Tucan Travel staff are no different (though we would argue we are more passionate than some). But we are also passionate about protecting and preserving the world for this and future generations.
We want to put our values into action, which is why we are working towards value based recruitment and staff development.
Tucan Travel has a Child Safeguarding policy and is committed to keeping children safe from harm. We require that all staff undergo a minimum of Awareness Training. Staff are required to report any concerns in a timely and appropriate manner. We operate a Modern Slavery policy throughout our supply lines. We require all staff to be aware of their responsibilities and to be vigilant to all forms of trafficking.
Human welfare depends upon our willingness to be observant and to report any concerns that we may have. If you have any concerns during your tour we ask that you raise these directly with your tour leader.
Our approach to responsible travel means that we seek to operate in a manner that ensures that Tucan Travel, our staff, partners and travellers have a positive impact on all animals, habitats and ecosystems that we encounter on our tours.
We work in line with the Global Welfare Guidance for Animals in Tourism by committing to assessing and monitoring animal welfare throughout our supply chain.
Tucan Travel is highly selective of local partners and works only with those who share our commitment to the promotion of animal welfare and who can demonstrate that they uphold the principles of animal welfare.
An extremely important part of animal welfare is working with animal owners and carers throughout the destinations we travel to. We recognise that our commitment to animal welfare can have a huge impact on both the animals and those dependent on them for an income. We therefore remain committed to providing our suppliers with guidelines for animal welfare, and discussing ways to make sure they adhere to these guidelines.
Tucan Travel do not promote wildlife performances, animal rides (with the exception of domesticated animals), the use of wild or caged animals as photographic props or cuddling and playing with wildlife. We have a few limited exceptions, principally where human contact may be required for the rehabilitation or care of certain animals.
We recognise that seeing animals in the wild can be the very reason why some people travel. Seeing majestic lions on the plains of Africa can be a once in a lifetime experience. We are committed to ensuring that lions, and other animals in the wild are safe and protected in their lifetime, and to conservation that ensures that there is a ‘wild’ for all future generations.
We expect all of our Tucan Travel staff to adhere to our Animal Welfare Policy on all tours that involve contact with animals. Our staff are supported to challenge any activity that they believe may cause harm or that is contradictory to the welfare and conservation of animals, their habitats or the wider ecosystem they inhabit. This means that our staff will advise travelers against visiting shows where captive animals are made to perform, venues where animals are used as props for photographs and from buying wildlife souvenirs.
We acknowledge the work of Born Free Foundation and their commitment to Compassionate Conservation.
Animal welfare depends upon our willingness to be observant and to report any concerns that we may have. If you have any concerns about animals during your tour we ask that you raise these directly with your tour leader.
Our approach to responsible travel means that we seek to minimise our impact on the environment, both at a global and a local level wherever we operate.We will Reduce waste in all its forms, Reuse resources whenever possible and Recycle at every opportunity.
Let’s be honest. We promote tours. Whilst we are totally committed to environmental protection, we would be hypocritical in the least to say that our business does not have implications for the environment. The vast majority of our travelers fly to their tour destinations. We acknowledge this, and the impact this has.
So, whilst we acknowledge that traveling has an impact on the environment, we are committed to reducing that impact whenever possible.
All of our group tours use public and local forms of transport whenever possible. Not only does this reduce our footprint, it provides revenue directly to local businesses and communities. Our transport options including local buses, ferries, junk boats, felucca, bicycles, canoes, trains, taxis, tuk tuks and of course, trekking and walking.
Short, local flights are included in some tours. When they are included it will only be because no reasonable alternative is available.
On our group tours We limit our groups to a maximum of 19 (with averages of 8-12) in order to limit our impact on the local environment, resources and on the cultural spaces and communities we visit.
Whilst tourism can bring economic benefits to an area, it can also put pressure on local resources such as water and electricity.
Traveling to remote or developing areas is a privilege. One that offers untold opportunities for learning about cultures other than our own. We ask that travellers to such locations accept that sanitation may be different from what they are used to at home. Not all of the people in our host destinations have access to running water or western style flushing toilets. The sewage systems in many countries cannot cope with non-human waste. Blockages, caused by tissues or non-biodegradable waste, can disrupt vital water supplies for local people and services.
Tour leaders and local guides will keep travellers updated on issues such as water scarcity and offer tips on reducing waste in all its forms.
Tucan Travel recognises that we all have environmental responsibilities whether we are at home, at work or traveling. Our offices endeavour to be environmentally sound through practising energy conservation and adhering to recycling schemes.
Tucan Travel believes in leading through example and operates in this manner to encourage other businesses and individuals throughout our supply chain to be considerate of the environment.
Environmental welfare depends upon our willingness to be observant and to report any concerns that we may have. If you have any concerns during your tour we ask that you raise these directly with your tour leader.
Our approach to responsible travel means that we seek to operate in a manner that is sensitive, respectful and observant of the cultural identity and historic assets of this generation, whoever or wherever they are, without compromising those cultures or assets for future generations.
At Tucan Travel we work with individuals and communities to achieve a sustainable balance between opening the space to visitors, while generating the income necessary for welfare, education and conservation.
We find that traveling as and with local people gives travelers the opportunity to try out your language skills, share stories and make new friends for a mutually enriching, cross-cultural experience.
Many of our recommended tours offer opportunities to visit ancient places such as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Entrance fees contribute to the maintenance and restoration of these unique places. Tucan Travel asks that our travellers follow the instructions of staff and local guides at all times. All travellers must respect signage and instructions given and leave no litter or graffiti behind, even if others have done so.
We ask that travellers do not attempt to remove any rocks or stones or other souvenirs of the location and never purchase such items from vendors. Such actions can encourage the ongoing destruction of local areas of interest.
Some of our recommended tours may involve camping elements. We urge all travellers:
People are not tourist attractions, and should never be treated as such. We ask that our travellers respect all people, cultures, sites and landscapes we visit.
Many of the tour leaders and guides of the tours we recommend are local to the tour locations. Many are socially and culturally connected to the heritage sites and landscapes we visit. All are passionate about the protection of historic sites and cultural histories. Bringing tourists to these spaces supports local economies and generates growth, but at Tucan Travel we recognise our responsibility to respect and preserve these fragile communities and ecosystems. That is why we are committed to working with operators to respect the limits to the numbers and impact of visitors to heritage sites and communities.
Tucan Travel supports visits to appropriate local social projects that directly or indirectly benefit the host community, and we rely upon the expertise and cultural sensitivity of local staff in identifying and collaborating with these communities.
Cultural welfare depends upon our willingness to be observant and to report any concerns that we may have. If you have any concerns during your tour, we ask that you raise these directly with your tour leader.
We are passionate adventure travelers who want to share the world and our travel experiences with everyone…
Social Purpose
Tucan Travel are aware that many of our fellow tour operators have created their own charitable foundations. We applaud them and wholeheartedly support all and every genuine effort towards responsible travel.
We have given much thought as to whether or not we should follow suit and develop something similar. After careful consideration we at Tucan Travel have chosen not to go down this route. We have always been a small and independent company. With less than 10 staff across the world, we know each other by name and connect with each other daily.
For over 30 years Tucan Travel has supported many different community-led projects around the world, to ensure that our business, tours and travellers make a lasting difference in the local communities we visit.
We ensure that local economies benefit from our business by only recommending operators that support locally-owned accommodation, employing local people as specialist guides, working with local operators and suppliers, sourcing food from locally-owned stores and eating and drinking in local bars and restaurants. In doing so, responsible operators are not only investing in local communities but also offering you a genuine insight into a country and its people.