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Exoticca
At Travelzoo, we thoroughly research and evaluate every trip we recommend, and we ask: would we take this trip ourselves? With the travel company Exoticca, that's not a concern — a number of our colleagues (and thousands of members) have used the Spanish-based packager to travel far and wide.
It’s no surprise why Exoticca tours are so popular. The travel company aims to make bucket-list trips accessible and affordable. It offers itineraries that span the globe, from Portugal to Peru, Egypt to Ecuador and South Africa to Japan.
These fully formed vacations have a lot of value packed into them: roundtrip flights that you choose at the time of booking, well-reviewed hotels, guided tours, transfers and even some meals. There are options for every type of traveler, whether it’s your first time in the country or your third time; or whether you’re traveling as a couple, with a family or even solo. Once booked, you don’t have to worry about your trip being cancelled, as departures are guaranteed regardless of number of travelers.
On top of that, we’ve found Exoticca’s prices routinely beat those of similar trips. It’s not just the savings that stand out to us but also the experience travelers have.
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Train to Aguas Calientes
Marrakesh
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Machu Picchu
Donna with her guide at Machu Picchu
Denise in Casablanca
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Kyoto, Japan
Woman weaving in Cusco, Peru
Ecuadorian Amazon
Giza, Egypt
Guided tour at Machu Picchu
Melcochas
Cairo market
Andrée with friends at Abu Simbel, Egypt
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There’s often a learning curve when visiting a foreign country for the first time, whether it’s Japan or Argentina or Egypt. So for many travelers, that’s when local guides and drivers, as well as Exoticca’s customer service team, become invaluable.
Andrée, who has worked at Travelzoo for a decade, visited Egypt with Exoticca back in 2022. She commented on the level of communication from start to finish. Her guides set up a group chat for travelers, and were always in constant contact about pick-up times, daily activities and recommendations. In addition, travelers now have the option to talk with Exoticca directly with 24/7 in-trip concierge support on the app. For further peace of mind, Exoticca offers the ability to purchase cancellation coverage with each trip.
We counted more than 350 itineraries to 85 plus countries on the Exoticca’s website — no, really. Even more itineraries are in the works. And we know Travelzoo members love booking them. Perhaps no one encapsulates our members’ love for Exoticca’s trips than Denise. She lives in Albuquerque and has already been on at least four Exoticca trips (and she’s booked for two more).
One of her favorites was a 2-week adventure through Portugal and Morocco last fall. This trip covered so much ground. Denise started her journey in Portugal, where she visited medieval towns and seaside villages. Then she traveled to Morocco – where she strolled through the souks in Marrakesh, something she said she wouldn’t have done on her own. She also wandered through a labyrinth of streets in Fes and saw beautiful mosaic tiles; and stepped into “kashbahs,” or old fortresses, to learn about movies filmed there. “I didn’t realize how many films were made in Morocco like ‘Gladiator’,” she said. “One of the guides on the trip was rolling off names of all the actors he had worked with and escorted.”
Traveling to Machu Picchu can be quite a journey. After landing in Cusco, most visitors head to the Sacred Valley, roughly an hour outside the city. From there, you board a train to Aguas Calientes, the small town at the base of 15th century Inca citadel. Then, you line up for a half-hour bus ride to the top of the mountain.
But with Exoticca’s guided tour of Peru, “everything was so easy,” according to Donna, who’s worked at Travelzoo for almost nine years. Donna said she’s typically an independent traveler but wanted a guide in Peru, so she landed on Exoticca. In fact, Exoticca has sent more than 20,000 Travelzoo members to Peru since 2018.
With all the communication, Andrée said she never felt uneasy or unsafe. She even called it her favorite trip, adding it was very well organized and the guides “really went above and beyond,” helping exchange money, getting them preferential seating during activities and even taking them back to the Pyramids of Giza for more photos.
“They made you feel special.”
These itineraries are the work of Exoticca’s Travel Crafters, who specialize in the destinations they work with. They create three types of itineraries: ones that only visit essential cities; ones packed with more tours; and ones that are comprehensive and go off the beaten path. Plus, they take almost everything into account, from a traveler’s point of view: How big are the group sizes? How long does it take to get from Point A to Point B? Are the hotels well-reviewed? What about their location? Is the schedule well-balanced?
“Everything went really well. The logistics and organization were very good, and I never felt worried or concerned,” Denise said of her trip. Travel Crafters also work to incorporate a number of activities into these itineraries. Along with the must-see sights, many tours include culturally immersive experiences. For example, one of Exoticca’s Ecuador tours visits local artisans who make traditional melcocha candy and takes travelers to taste sugar cane juice. Another goes to an indigenous community near the Amazon and a local cocoa farm.
The package included all necessary tickets to visit Machu Picchu. Donna didn’t have to worry about how to get to the ruins and instead could enjoy the scenic journey through the Sacred Valley. When she did arrive, Donna said her knowledgeable guide explained the significance of Machu Picchu in the Inca civilization.
Even the experience before the trip was seamless. Donna said she went in 2021 — less than a year after Machu Picchu was re-opened to visitors. “We had a lot of questions, but the customer service was amazing. They made me feel that the trip was going to be fine,” she said. “We’re so glad we went.”
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Mount Fuji
Machu Picchu
Sphinx
Pyramids of Giza
Planning done for you | Curated journeys | Round-the-clock service
Planning done for you | Curated journeys | Round-the-clock service