Boost your sales with our South America Selling Tips!
Crafting the perfect South America itinerary for your clients involves asking the right questions to gather the information you need, and our insider insights to assist you on this journey!
Our South America Specialists, Pia & Tara, boast extensive experience in effectively promoting South American expeditions. Leveraging their substantial knowledge, they have meticulously compiled a comprehensive checklist of essential questions for you to pose to your clients.
Embark on this checklist, and you'll be thoroughly prepared to present a proposal that will captivate them irresistibly!
Quick checklist of information you need to get from your client:
When are your client’s preferred travel dates?
Although some destinations in South America are fabulous year-round, others are more seasonal. If your client has a specific time of year they want to travel, we can use that information to help recommend the best destinations and experiences for their trip. Or alternatively, if someone has a preferred destination in mind but is flexible with their dates, we can help recommend the best time of year to go.
Here's a general overview of the best times to visit some of the most popular areas in South America:
Argentina, Chile, Uruguay including Patagonia: The southern hemisphere summer is a great time to visit these countries, offering warm temperatures and pleasant weather (peak summer can be hot and humid in some parts).
Iguazu Falls: The falls are a year-round destination, but the rainy season (December to February) can lead to higher water levels and more dramatic cascades. The dry season (May to September) offers pleasant weather for exploring the surrounding areas.
Patagonia: The summer months of December to February are the high tourist season, and the best time for trekking, hiking, and other outdoor activities.
Brazil: The summer months (December to February) are popular for visiting Rio de Janeiro and the southeastern region. This is when you can enjoy the famous Carnival in Rio, although prices may be higher, and accommodations may be in high demand.
If you prefer milder temperatures and fewer crowds, consider visiting during the shoulder seasons of fall (March to May) or spring (September to November).
The best time to visit the Pantanal is during the dry season (May to September).
Peru: Winter (May – September) is the driest season and therefore the best time of year to travel, especially if you're planning to visit Cusco and Machu Picchu. The summer (December – March) is warmer of course, but is also the wettest season, with frequent heavy showers.
The train service to Machu Picchu operates year round, however the Inca Trail closes for the month of February. Machu Picchu is open 365 days a year.
Amazon Rainforest (Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado): The "dry" season (June to October) sees less rainfall, making it easier to explore the rainforest and its wildlife. The "wet" season (November to May) can be more challenging due to higher water levels and increased rainfall.
Bolivia & Salar de Uyuni: Salar de Uyuni is typically accessible year-round.
The dry season (May to October) is considered the best time for photography, as the salt flats are dry and the hexagonal patterns are more visible. However in winter (June to August) it gets very cold at night.
During the rainy season (November to April), the flats may be covered with a thin layer of water, creating a stunning mirror effect. (some people prefer this time as it is very beautiful)
Colombia: The dry season (December to March, July to August) is a good time to visit popular destinations like Bogotá, Cartagena, Medellín, and the Coffee Triangle.
Ecuador: The highlands of Ecuador experience two main seasons: the dry season (June to September) and the rainy season (October to May).
Galapagos Islands: Considered a year round destination, the Galapagos has two main seasons: the warm season (December to May) and the cool season (June to November).Wildlife is abundant year-round, but the warm season brings warmer water temperatures for snorkeling. The cool season is known for its unique wildlife, including the mating rituals of various species.
How long does your client want to travel for?
South America is a huge continent, and this is what many people forget…while many people want to “see South America” in one trip, the reality is to experience the wonders of this amazing continent you are going to want to go more than once! But that is the joy of travel.
Remember that if clients are wanting to visit high altitude destinations such as Cusco and Machu Picchu or the salt flats in Bolivia, then they’ll need to have sufficient time to acclimatise to the altitude and avoid altitude sickness.
Our Signature South America range is designed to give you a good itinerary to start with, and it can be built on from there with options to customise the experience and extension packages easily added pre or post tour.
For example, if they would like to go to Peru, start with our 9 day Signature Peru, giving you a well paced itinerary covering some of our favourite experiences. Our Lake Titicaca and/or Amazon Peru packages can be added to this.
By using our packages as building blocks you will soon get a good idea of how long is going to be needed in each area, and by using the from price it will give you a rough idea of what it is going to cost, so you can give clients a ballpark figure, just to get them started.
Please just give one of our friendly destination specialists a call if you need help doing this.
Will your client be traveling alone, with a partner, or in a group?
This information is invaluable when pricing up a trip. It is good to find out as much detail as you can here, as in some places there are boutique hotels with a limited number of rooms.
Also, if your client is travelling solo, they may prefer to do things on their own, or would rather join shared group tours each day, likewise for couples. We have both private tour options and small group day tours, so we can offer one or the other or a mixture based on preferences.
What is the purpose of their trip? What has inspired them to choose South America?
Is it their first time exploring South America, and they just want to explore some of the highlights they have always dreamed about?
Have their friends told them about their amazing adventures and they would like to do the same thing?
These details can give a valuable insight into the sort of trip that your client is hoping to see in the proposal, and help us to design a trip that matches their needs perfectly.
Are there any specific landmarks, attractions, or cultural sites that your client would like to include in their itinerary?
If there are specific sites that your client has on their must-see list, then make sure to note them down and let us know so they don’t get left off the quote!
For example, some clients have always wanted to go to the floating reed islands on Lake Titicaca, so we need to know so we make sure we book the correct Lake Titicaca tour.
Another example is, for the Galapagos Islands, if they have a particular species they would like to see, ie the Galapagos Penguin, please let us know so we can find the best cruise itinerary to increase their chances!
What is your client’s travel style?
Would your client be happier immersing themselves in the nightlife, or enjoying a peaceful night in a quiet neighbourhood?
Are your clients keen hikers, foodies, or history buffs? Is there anything they do not enjoy? For some, a wine tour of Mendoza sounds like heaven, but for others who don’t drink alcohol, it’s never going to appeal. With so much to explore in South America, understanding your clients interests can help us find the perfect itinerary for them.
Any mobility issues or other special considerations?
Do your clients have any mobility issues that we need to take into account when selecting an appropriate tour or activity? Some tours can be adapted to suit client requirements, other times we may need to substitute an experience. Knowing this information sooner rather than later can save a lot of headaches.
For example , if clients love to hike we could offer either the Inca trail or Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu…however if they don’t like to walk much then they can take the train.
In some towns and cities streets may be cobblestones and/or uneven. If your client has limited mobility it may be best that we book a private tour in these places so the guide can go slower and tailor the tour to make it easier for them.
Are your clients celebrating a special occasion eg a wedding anniversary or birthday? They may like to do something extra-special on a particular day, and our Destination Specialists are happy to help find your clients the perfect way to celebrate while travelling.
The big final question - what’s the budget?
We need to know what budget we’re working with to be able to put together a proposal that your client just won’t be able to say no to.
We know that budget can be a hard question for many clients to answer. To help narrow it down, you can use the from prices on our website to give clients a ballpark figure for the sort of experiences that they are interested in. Remember to check the list of inclusions so you can add any additional costs your clients may need to account for (eg international flights, transfers etc).
We’re here to help!
If you have any questions at all, our friendly team of South America Destination Specialists are happy to help guide you through the process. Simply give us a call on 0800 131 900 or email info@vivaexpeditions.com