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Interpretation International was founded in 1986 and began operations to Ecuador and Galapagos in 1987. We changed our name to Inti Travel and Tours in 1997 and incorporated in 2000. We are a small, family-run Canadian corporation specializing in environmentally, culturally and socially responsible tourism in South America and Antarctica. We have over 30 years experience in arranging a variety of tours that have met a range of specific requirements to fulfill and exceed our clients expectations.

Inti Travel and Tours is committed to the Mohonk framework and principles for the certification of ecotourism and sustainable tourism as follows:

• Focus on personal experiences of nature to lead to greater understanding and appreciation;

• Interpretation and environmental awareness of nature, local society, and culture;

• Positive and active contributions to conservation of natural areas or biodiversity;

• Economic, social, and cultural benefits for local communities;

• Fostering of community involvement, where appropriate;

• Locally appropriate scale and design for lodging, tours and attractions; and

• Minimal impact on and presentation of local (indigenous) culture.

We are also a premium partner of Sustainable Travel International. Sustainable Travel International is a global leader in sustainable tourism development. The non-profit organization’s mission is to promote sustainable development and responsible travel by providing programs that enable consumers, businesses and travel-related organizations to contribute to the environmental, socio-cultural and economic values of the places they visit, and the planet at large.

We also promote the Smart Voyager Certification Program with many of the ships and yachts that we offer in the Galapagos Islands. As one of Ecuador’s leading conservation organizations, Conservación y Desarrollo developed the Smart Voyager sustainable tourism certification program, which awards its seal of approval to tour boat operators and hotels in Ecuador who meet a set of strict conservation standards for protecting the environment, wildlife and the well-being of workers and local communities.

Jeff Waugh is the CEO & Director of Operations for Inti Travel and Tours, Inc. After graduating from Oregon State University with a B.Sc. in Wildlife Science (1975), Jeff began traveling throughout Latin America. From 1975 - 1979 Jeff traveled, studied and lived primarily in Ecuador, Peru and Argentina. In 1979 and '80 he worked with Metropolitan Touring and Galapagos Cruises as a licensed Naturalist Guide in Galapagos National Park.

From 1983 - 1985 (during the Canadian winters) Jeff was working as a tour director with Great Expeditions, Inc. of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, planning, organizing and leading natural and human history and photography expeditions to Ecuador and the Galapagos. In 1986, he was planning and co-leading photography expeditions to Ecuador and the Galapagos with world-renowned Canadian photographer Courtney Milne. During these summer months, Jeff worked as a Park Interpreter in Banff National Park.

From 1986 to 1996, Jeff worked full time with the Canadian national park service in Banff National Park and western Canada. His varied positions included Cooperative Activities Coordinator, Community Relations Manager, Electronic Media Specialist and Internet Specialist for Western Canada. 

Jeff has traveled extensively throughout North and South America, and to Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, the Cook Islands and Bali. Jeff just recently returned from a two and a half month photography trip to Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Egypt. He and his son photographed lions, cheetahs, leopards, and mountain gorillas (just to mention a few), climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, volunteered in a children's home for orphaned HIV+ children in Nairobi, visited the pyramids of Giza and the tombs of Luxor, and snorkeled and SCUBA dived in the Red Sea. Keep checking for our new safari trips - coming soon!

Jeff Waugh now works full-time for Inti Travel and Tours as our CEO & Director of Operations. He has guided more than 60 trips through Galapagos and Ecuador. He will be happy to assist you with your special travel plans.

Inti Travel and Tours is a member of the Banff Lake Louise Tourism Bureau, the Better Business Bureau of Southern Alberta, the BBB Online Reliability Program, the American Society of Travel Agents and Sustainable Travel International. We have qualified through a rigorous screening process for the DotTravel authentication for http://www.inti.travel/ . We are also licensed by the Alberta Insurance Council to sell travel insurance.