Link Experiences, the Gateway to Discovering Luxury in Ecuador
After joining forces with Polimundo, the boutique tour operator is betting on responsible and wellness tourism. Its strategic partnership with Minga Lodge & Sanctuary in the Amazon demonstrates Ecuador’s potential to captivate the most discerning international traveler while also encouraging local visitors to reconnect with their own country.
Ten years ago, a group of friends and business partners decided to bring together their knowledge and experience in the tourism industry to create a company capable of designing and delivering fully customized, tailor-made travel programs. It was a luxury proposition in which Ecuador would be the flagship destination.
Juan Xavier De Guzmán, Managing Director of Link Experiences, recalls that there was a need for a specialized luxury-focused operator. At the time, a major U.S. travel agency was looking for a local partner in Ecuador capable of offering exclusive, highly personalized itineraries. The company met with several local operators, but Link Experiences won the business, helping establish its hand craft travel proposition during its early years.
Three years ago, Link Experiences merged with Polimundo with the goal of reaching new markets. “Polimundo became our main partner. It was a wonderful synergy because we began to see new opportunities and grow as a company,” says De Guzmán.
The company has maintained its core business: a high level of detail and personalization that makes its destinations and experiences particularly appealing. Link Experiences operates as an inbound tour operator, meaning that international travel agencies contact the company to take care of the entire travel experience for their clients.
The company welcomes travelers from the United States and Europe, along with a small percentage of domestic travelers. Today, one of its main challenges is to demonstrate that Ecuador offers much more than the Galápagos; that it is a country of four worlds in one, where the Amazon showcases extraordinary biodiversity, the Andes offer majestic landscapes, and the Pacific Coast surprises visitors with paradisiacal beaches.
“We want to show international travelers that there is so much more to discover in mainland Ecuador. We have heritage cities, more than 84 volcanoes in the Andes, an Amazon that is more accessible than many people realize, and a unique culinary culture,” says the executive.
International travel agencies are Link Experiences’ primary sales channel. De Guzmán and his team participate in trade shows, host international webinars, and regularly train their international counterparts in different markets to showcase Ecuador’s destinations and the wide range of activities available in the country. Through these efforts, they have built a network of more than 20 agencies in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States, and France that send travelers to Ecuador.
“Throughout our 10 years of operation, we have maintained an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 across the main customer review platforms. This reflects the satisfaction of our travelers and is our greatest reward: seeing them return home happy.”
The company works with a network of more than 300 suppliers nationwide, including hotels, restaurants, guides, transportation companies, and experience providers. For this reason, De Guzmán believes that the tourism industry has a multiplier effect, benefiting numerous businesses, communities, and individuals.
Diego Padula, CEO of Polimundo and partner at Link Experiences, shares this vision. He emphasizes that strategic partnerships with projects such as Minga Lodge & Sanctuary are key to consolidating this impact. Located in the Amazon, approximately a 40-minute flight and two and a half hours by canoe along the Napo River, Minga is focused on responsible, sustainable, and comfortable tourism.
“Minga Lodge represents the kind of wellness and luxury tourism that allows international travelers to experience the Amazon while contributing to local communities through a 360-degree offering with gastronomic, educational, and comfort-focused experiences,” explains Padula. He also emphasizes that this immersive experience is ideal for travelers seeking to connect with nature in a safe environment.
Although the company’s focus is on customizing travel programs, Link Experiences has also specialized in designing immersive experiences. Its goal is for every activity and destination to be experienced through all the senses and to remain in travelers’ memories through the flavors, aromas, and sensations that accompany the journey.
“We want our travelers to experience destinations in a different way. In Quito, for example, we do not limit ourselves to showing them the city’s most iconic landmarks; we also take them on a journey to discover its flavors. We organize visits to traditional local eateries in the historic center, chocolate experiences that reveal why Ecuador is the world’s leading producer of fine-flavor cacao, and private dinners in unique heritage settings,” explains De Guzmán.