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The answer might surprise you—because there is no one answer. We see an endless panoply of unique and interesting individuals, but they do share a few common traits: Openness, curiosity, enthusiasm, courage, and more than a little love of adventure.
Over the years, we’ve identified a few general personality types that many—not all, of course—of our guests tend to display. Take a look at our list and see if you can find yourself or someone you know in one of them. Let us know in the comments if you think we’ve hit the nail on the head with any of them, or know of a type we missed.
Aaron the Adventurer – Age 56
Aaron is a bank VP by day, with a corner office overlooking a bustling cityscape. He’s a classic adventure personality, escaping the stress of his job with active weekends hiking, biking, and kayaking. Each year, he plans one extraordinary adventure to test his limits, to pit himself against Mother Nature and all she has to offer. Last year, Aaron spent 12 days hiking and kayaking the fiords of Norway.
This year, he’s trekking somewhere new—Patagonia and the infamous “W” trek in the Torres del Paine National Park, a four-day journey through snow-covered mountains and sheer granite cliffs, summiting at one of the most incredible and widely recognized mountain landscapes in the world. At a height of 900 meters (about 3,000 feet), the “Towers of Blue” are believed to be the world’s highest natural cliff faces.
Even that isn’t enough for intrepid Aaron. He’s going to strap on his crampons and shoulder his pick axe to ice climb Grey Glacier in Chile before exploring Argentina’s breathtaking Perito Moreno Glacier. He’s debating a third week to explore Northern Patagonia and the Ring of Fire, the volcanic belt in the Chilean Andes.
Culturally Curious Carl and Christine – Ages 48 and 47
Carl, an architect, and Christine, a social worker, met 25 years ago on a cultural tour of China during their last year at university, and they’ve always shared a passion for cultural travel. They’ve recently made the last tuition payment for their daughter’s university education and decided to celebrate their new financial freedom with their first couples’ holiday in 13 years—a cultural exploration of Peru seemed like the perfect fit.
They’ll begin in Cuzco, in the heart of the Incan Empire, visiting the archaeological marvels at the “House of the Sun.” They’re excited to hike the Lares Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and watch the morning sun break through Inti Punku, the Sun Gate. They’ll even do some trekking through the Amazon rainforest.
What really speaks to their heart, though, is travelling through the farms and villages of the Andes, especially visiting the Quechua people near Lake Titicaca and experiencing their ancient culture, unchanged over the centuries.
Bucket-List Betsey – Age 61
Betsey recently retired from her job as a public school administrator and is excited to begin checking items off her bucket list. She was widowed four years ago, but refuses to let her single state prevent her from taking part in the lifetime adventures she always dreamed about. She’s excited to visit the Galapagos Islands to snorkel with the gentle reef sharks, hang out with the marine iguanas, and visit a few giant tortoises.
One of the best parts for Betsey is being part of a congenial travel group—the thought of finding suitable travel companions on her own nearly derailed her plans. She’s excited for the opportunity to meet new people who share her passion for travel and unusual destinations. Spending a few days at a gorgeous seaside lodge and photographing a few friendly dolphins on her journey are just icing on the cake.
Zest-for-Life Zoey – Age 33
Everyone knows a Zoey. Ours is a city planner in Chicago who lives for stolen weeks away from her cubicle. Single and fun-loving, Zoey loves nothing more than escaping the city and trying new things, preferably far away from the bustle of urban life. She takes a few short getaways during the year and saves for one exceptional adventure each year. Last year, she did the glaciers in Jasper and Banff, but this year, she’s looking for some fun in the sun.
Zoey and two friends are heading for Ecuador and some lifetime adventures—like cycling down Cotopaxi Volcano, hiking the Amazon rainforest, marveling at a cloud forest, and soaking in some amazing hot springs. They’ve got their cameras ready in case they spot the elusive spectacled bear in the grasslands around Quito. They plan to end their excursion with an Ecuadorian street food tour of that ancient mountain city, because what’s better than street food if you want to get to know a city?
Globe-Trotting Gabe and Grace and their children Ethan and Amelia – Ages 41, 39, 11, and 8
Gabe and Grace own a commercial real estate company—the hours are long and the business tends to consume their lives. They love to unwind and reconnect as a family with international travel. Their last two trips were two-week DIY tours of Italy and France, but the planning process, arranging all the details, was so labor intensive, that quite honestly, the trips felt almost like work. This time, they want an interesting, exciting adventure vacation that the whole family could enjoy in a completely stress-free way.
It’s no surprise that our Capybara Peru adventure fits the bill. Everything from logistics to meals are arranged for them so they are free to immerse themselves in unforgettable experiences like motorised canoe rides through the Amazon rainforest (with night-time excursions to spot the nocturnal caiman), shadowing macaw researchers, exploring the Incan ruins of Cuzco, kayaking Lake Titicaca (and learning a few dances from the Quechua people), and even taking a guided tour of Machu Picchu. That Gabe and Grace get a free afternoon in Cuzco while the Active Adventures staff entertains the kids is an almost unbelievable bonus.
They’re even planning to extend their trip for a few days to explore the history and culture of Lima—not to mention the gastronomic delights (Lima’s long been recognized at the food capital of South America).
Ready to Embark on an Adventure of Your Own?
Did you recognize yourself in any of our South America travel types? Or find inspiration for your next active adventure holiday?
Why not get in touch today to see how easy it is to arrange the perfect South American adventure trip for you, and even your family? And if you’re not quite ready to chat with a member of our team, sign up for our free email course. You’ll learn everything you ever wanted to know about the amazing experiences waiting for you in South America.
N.b. Characters are fictional and do not match those in images.
Source: activeadventures.com