Highlights of Africa

Tucan, Toucan, Tucán, Tucano; what's in a name?

When Tucan Travel was formed in 1987, co-founders Pip and Liliana Tyler named their company Tucan Travel because, as they were Latin American specialists principally operating tours in South America and Central America, it made sense to use the local spelling.

Here at Tucan Travel, we often get people thinking that our name is spelled Toucan Travel. The name 'tucan' actually derives from the Latin American (Spanish) spelling 'tucán' or Brazilian (Portuguese) spelling 'tucano'.

Tucan Travel is named after the distinctive South American toucan bird with a large brightly coloured beak The toucan comes from the neotropics - the tropical regions of the Americas. They are bright, striking birds renowned for their large, colourful bills. Some large species of toucans have bills that are at least half as long as their body, but they are very light and strong so don’t weigh the birds down.

There has been a lot of scientific debate about the function of the toucan's distinctive bill. Some argue that it is necessary for recognition, while others believe its function is wholly practical in the process of gathering food and seeds. There are also claims that the bill is necessary for defence, while some scientists believe that it could be a mechanism to intimidate smaller birds so that they can more easily plunder their nests.

You may see toucans in Mexico and Central America, particularly in jungle areas and tropical ruin sites such as Tikal in Guatemala. In South America, you will find them in the Amazon Jungle (our tours visit areas of the Amazon in Ecuador, Peru and Brazil), in parts of northern Argentina and all across Brazil.

The toucan family includes around 40 species, the most popular being the keel-billed toucan. Related species include mountain toucans, aracaris, and toucanets. Scientists speculate that there could even be species of the toucan that have not yet been documented as there are areas of rainforest which remain unexplored.

Toucans are very intelligent, social birds and are very noisy in groups. Their bodies are heavy with short wings and their first and fourth toes are inverted. Toucans prefer to hop between branches rather than fly. They are usually found in pairs or small flocks, and they do not migrate.

Toucans are frugivorous (fruit-eating), but will also eat bird eggs and small prey such as rodents and insects. Toucans swallow fruit whole and then regurgitate the seeds. Toucans have a good lifespan and can live for about 20 years.

Privately owned & passionate about adventure travel

Travel addicts Pip and Liliana Tyler founded one of the first ever South American adventure tour companies in 1987 and named their business Tucan Travel, after the famous South American bird with its traditional Spanish spelling. As their reputation for offering excellent adventurous public transport tours spread and demand increased, the Tylers decided to expand and joined forces with fellow tour operator Matt Gannan in 1997, and with his fleet of expedition vehicles the company started pioneering many of the first overlanding routes in South America.

The directors’ formidable combined knowledge and ongoing passion for adventure travel drove Tucan Travel’s expansion to worldwide destinations in the early 2000s and in 2003 Budget Expeditions was developed as an independent youth brand for 18 to 35s. In 2008 the youth brand was amalgamated back under the parent brand as a travel style. Tucan Travel now offers more than 470 adventures in 72 countries across  destinations including Europe, Asia and Russia, East and Southern Africa, Latin America and Antarctica.

Although Pip and Liliana Tyler fully retired in June 2014, we are proud to still be independently owned by Matt Gannan and staffed by equally enthusiastic adventure travellers at our offices in London, Sydney, and Cuzco, at our operations base in Bangkok, as well as our tour leaders and drivers on the road. When you’re researching who to travel with and only the best will do, look no further than Tucan Travel!

We can proudly guarantee the high standard of our tours because in 95% of destinations we operate them ourselves and do not sub-contract to other operators. On occasions where we use local guides, they are trained and supported by us and are expected to adhere to the top quality service our clients have come to expect. Staffed by a team of avid travellers, the company shares and encourages its clients’ exploratory spirit and the desire to see the world in an authentic way.

Tucan Travel owns a fleet of comfortable, modern Mercedes Benz custom-built vehicles which comply with European emissions standards and are well equipped to deal with the demands of the varied terrain on tour. The company is committed to offering exciting and adventurous itineraries while encouraging responsible travel practices on the road and in its offices. We offer our clients the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions of our tours and pledge to reduce our company emissions by managing our energy efficiently and offsetting business travel

Taking part in the 'Adventure of a Lifetime'

We are delighted that you are considering enjoying a Group Tour with Tucan Travel. In order to ensure that you have the best possible experience, we would like to draw your attention to some aspects of our group tours to make sure that you are fully aware of the nature of the travel which you will be participating in.

Our tours are designed to let you get under the skin of a destination, so you receive an authentic experience. If you enjoy meeting and interacting with local people and are willing to occasionally encounter basic infrastructure and facilities in order to experience the path less travelled, then our group tours will be just what you’re looking for.

On your tour, you may encounter some long travel days. These are usually unavoidable but please be assured our itineraries have been designed with the benefit of our clients in mind in order to maximise your free time in each destination. Please also note that when travelling way from the beaten track in these more remote areas, you may find that road conditions can be rougher than you may be used to at home.

Our tours are of a modular nature meaning that our smaller tours fit together to form longer tours with the longest being 199 days in length. During this time, some passengers may join or leave your tour at different times. One of the advantages of this system is that we can offer you greater flexibility. We have carefully chosen departure dates to allow you to combine tours. This flexibility means you can get the best experience out of the time you have and see as much of your chosen country - or continent - as you want to.

We kindly request that our clients bring along a positive attitude and an open mind. These are most certainly invaluable when travelling in a group. Despite the very best intentions and planning, things can and do go wrong and occasionally we encounter problems beyond our control, such as delayed public transport and adverse weather conditions, in such situations we ask for your patience and we will endeavor to keep as close to your scheduled itinerary as possible.

The accommodation we use are generally locally owned and are chosen for their proximity to local attractions, their cleanliness and customer service. However, in some of our more remote destinations you may encounter basic facilities and on occasion you may not have the luxury of hot water, laundry facilities, local shops or amenities. Our guides and leaders will do their best to forewarn you if this should occur.

Participation in our tours requires a certain level of fitness. The tours are fast paced, packing in plenty of sights into short periods of time. It is also sometimes necessary for all our clients to carry their own luggages. This includes being able to lift your possessions on and off various forms of transport and carrying them up and down flights of stairs in train stations and hotels where there may be no lift available.

Due to the nature of our group tours, we don't allow children under the age of 12 to join them. This is just in case the children are unable to keep up with the rest of the group. The accommodation, transport or excursions offered may not be suitable for children under this age. For children aged between 12 and 18, we ask that each child is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Please note: No children under the age of 13 are able to do the Inca Trail Trek. A minimum age of 16 is accepted on group tours to China. There is no minimum age for our Tailor-made tours.

As some of our tours operate at high altitudes or in malarial zones, we would recommend you consult with your doctor prior to travel. If you have any pre existing medical conditions, travel in these regions may be difficult. Furthermore, we recommend consulting with your doctor at least 6 weeks before your departure date regardless of your present health.

During our Overland Tours and Budget Expeditions you will be required to participate in the successful running of the group. This means that to ensure the happy continuation of the tour you will all be expected to help the tour leader and driver with the setting up of camping equipment, the cooking of meals, pitching of tents, washing up and packing up the vehicle when leaving a campsite facility. It may also be necessary to stop off at a supermarket on the way to your next destination to pick up supplies. Here you will have some time to do your own personal shopping.

We sincerely hope that we have given you a good insight into what travelling on a group tour may be like. We highly recommend that you read the Pre-departure Information Booklet, Tour Dossier and Travel Style description, for more detailed information specific to your tour. You should also read section 9 of our booking conditions if you are in any doubt about the above information.

** If after reading this information, you don't think this particular tour is right for you, remember Tucan Travel has a large range of tours, products and services which can be tailor-made to suit your requirements. Please don’t hesitate to contact our offices to discuss alternative travel styles or if you require more information.

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