Vaya Isn't Like Most Other Travel Companies

We are TRUE specialists. Nearly every person at Vaya is a current or former U.S. expat who has spent years living, working, or exploring in the destinations we offer. Our focus means everyone here knows these places intimately, and that comes through in the thoughtful planning of your trip. Each journey is "tailor-made" by our knowledgeable specialists to match your interests and timing, with no big tour groups or tour buses. The superlative feedback we regularly receive from our travelers says it better than we can. With Vaya, you'll experience more of the best of what the world has to offer.

The Vaya Style

Vaya creates exceptional travel experiences for independent travelers, with an emphasis on best in class small hotels and lodges, truly superb private guides, and thoughtfully designed excursions that get you off the beaten path. Accommodations include first class boutique hotels, premier eco-lodges, beautifully restored haciendas and historic homes, stunning mountain lodges, and the finest small expedition ships. Guides are the single most important thing on any of our trips and we are uncompromising when it comes to finding the highest quality English speaking local guides. Our unique, carefully crafted excursions will help you get to know these places up close, even if you happen to be traveling at the busiest times of year.

An Environmental & Social Commitment

Our commitment is more than just talk. One of our main goals as a company is to help create a strong positive incentive to preserve the remaining natural places in our destination countries. Vaya is very active in environmental and community efforts. Our founder is a leader in conservation, serving for the past 6 years as President of the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association, an organization of over 40 travel companies that raises money for conservation and promotes truly sustainable tourism in the Galapagos Islands. For more on our environmental and community efforts, please see our Vaya Giving Back page.

Who We Are

Vaya Adventures was founded in 2004 by Jim Lutz, who developed a passion for travel while living outside the United States for 3 years after graduating from Harvard University. He spent a year traveling through Europe and North Africa and then lived and worked in Quito, Ecuador for two years. He has lived, worked, and traveled extensively in our destinations, as has our experienced and engaging team of specialists.