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We travelled with BTE (Boutique Travel Experts) to Madagascar in October/November 2024 for 15 days. What an unforgettable journey. The standout moments were definitely the visits to the Avenue of Baobabs at sunrise and sunset—absolutely magical. Further south, the breathtaking beaches, crystal-clear lagoons, and surreal baobab forests were out of this world. We then returned via Isalo National Park and the Ranomafana rainforest. While there were long drives (some over eight hours), the stunning views were worth it. The accommodations, like the cozy Five Senses Lodge and luxurious Jardin du Roy, were excellent, providing comfort and great food after adventurous days, while others were simpler, but still nice. The lemurs were so fun to see up close, and the beaches were like paradise. Honestly, it’s one of the best trips we ever made.

August 2024 Amazon Rainforest Tour:
Elena was super responsive to our needs and desires as we planned this week long trip to the Amazon Jungle and she continued to be available during the trip for any questions. We were very pleased with the pace of both "seeing" and "doing" with enough down time to not feel rushed. We spent 3 nights in the beautiful Opera Hotel in Manaus where we enjoyed very good food and excursions with the very knowledgeable Francisco who spoke excellent English and was quite considerate. The next 4 nights we spent at the Trapiche Eco Lodge which we traveled to by car and boat. We felt very safe and well cared for at all times. Our guide while at the Trapiche was also extremely knowledgeable about history, plants, animals, and life on the Rio Negra & Amazon. Andre spoke adequate English but didn't always understand our questions. We were warmly welcomed at the lodge by the owners and were surprised to discover we were the only guests. While they were super attentive to caring for us, and Dora made us 3 delicious meals a day with great variety, it would have been nice to have been able to meet and chat with fellow travelers. For sunrise on the river, and other beautiful, peaceful excursions, it was actually nice to be the only ones as we had no distractions from the sights and sounds of nature which were an incredible experience. Swimming with the pink dolphins was a super sweet highlight, but honestly, there was not a single activity which we did not enjoy.
The Trapiche was rustic, as described: There was a small AC unit in our room as well as fans which provided some relief from the 90+ degree heat in the August afternoons. I took a portable baby fan which helped a lot, even on the jungle hike. We had WiFi in the lounge but not in our cabin. There was only cold water in the shower which was OK in the heat. The room was clean but the linens were thin, worn, sparse and the foam mattress could use a nice pad under the fitted sheet. Best touch was the hospitality provided the day our host met us on an island where a BBQ lunch of fresh fish was prepared, hammocks were hung on a stretch of white sand beach for our siesta, and we were treated like royalty! Fortunately, Andrea was always near to translate for us since he was the only English speaker at the lodge.
What would have been nice to know:
~The price of all beverages at the Trapiche, we barely had enough cash at the end to cover the very inflated cost of the few beers and drinks we had while there.
~To bring field glasses to better see birds and wildlife
~A better estimate of how and when to tip
What we were surprised by:
~How little wildlife we saw (some, but I imagined there might be a lot more.)
~How few mosquitos there were! (Elena told us but I could scarcely believe they were nearly non-existent!)
~How clever various guides were in getting great pics for us
~How wonderful the fish, fruit, sides and the Caipirinhas were!
~How much fun it was to shop from local artisans
~How delightful it can be to try a trip a little out of our usual comfort zone!

Thank You Elena for a VERY Memorable Trip!

I've just come back from THE most fabulous trip to Brazil, organised by Boutique Travel Experts ('BTE') and I felt compelled to sing their praises. They have already won multiple awards but I can now totally understand why.

I originally stumbled upon this company by doing a search on the internet and instantly loved the look and feel of their website. Beautiful prose and exquisite photos ~ I am very visual and outstanding photography is a big draw for me. I also loved the fact that BTE wanted to promote the lesser known side of Brazil and didn't settle for the more 'classic' tours. I wanted to work with someone who would be as excited as I was about exploring a lot further afield and I certainly found a kindred spirit in Elena, the Director.

The pousadas she promoted were very quaint and so different from the clinical aspect of the chained-brand hotels ~ all of this really appealed to me. From day 1, Elena was very approachable and very quick to respond to my queries ~ often late at night too, bless her - which you won't get from the bigger travel agencies who stop trading at 6pm.

I had already done a lot of research on what I wanted to see but she had first hand knowledge of the destinations I was interested in, having lived in Brazil for several months herself. She really understood the logistics involved in making my dreams come true (another big brownie point ! ;).

I wanted to spend 1 week in Jalapao and 1 week in Lencois Maranhenses and she worked with my budget, without compromising on the 'boutique' aspect that I so valued. She patiently sent me MANY drafts until we had reached the perfect itinerary... and then she kept in touch practically every day I was in Brazil, checking that everything was running smoothly. Now....considering that she lives in France and that I was 5 hours behind, time-wise, it was no small feat and showed quite a lot of dedication to her clients' satisfaction. This kind of service was something that I had never experienced before as most travel agents stop all contact once they have made the sale, right ? (and I may add here that I have already visited 82 countries, so I have dealt with a LOT, a LOT of travel agencies... so, when I say that BTE is of the highest calibre, trust me, it means something).

Also, the local contractors that BTE partners with were absolutely fantastic, very welcoming and caring ~ my cousin & I felt pampered throughout. Yes, private tours are more expensive, but what you get out of them is SO much more special: you can go at your own pace, ONLY focus on what you want to maximise your time and keep on tweaking things if your local guides make further suggestions based on our particular interests.

I know that Elena personally vetted all these partners and checked their work ethics ~ which was really important, especially in the North East, as so few foreigners go there !

I could go on & on but you get the gist of it... In depth knowledge + on-going dedication = BTE has exceeded my wildest expectations :)

I'm not planning to deal with any other travel agent from now on... 2nd best won't do anymore ;)

Elena organized two great trips for me. The hotels were special and the guides she organized were great!

Viajamos em casal para os Canyons no Brasil, em Aparados da Serra, incluindo as trilhas com guia, estadia e alimentação. Tudo foi fantástico, a Elena acompanhou toda a viagem. A emersão na natureza dos Canyons&cachoeira e o desafio dos trilhos tornou a experiência inesquecível. Com toda a certeza voltarei a viajar com Boutique Travel Experts.

I had a very specific request to create a once in a lifetime experience for a group of entrepreneurs. I called it a survival type excursion. We eliminated the comforts of home and chose to sleep in hammocks and integrate with a local indigenous tribe in the Amazon. The guides were very knowledgeable. We slept in hammocks in the jungle, went hunting with the local tribe, swam with pink dolphins, fished for and ate piranha. The guides helped create our camp including building fires to cook the most amazing food and display it beautifully. When the rain started, the guides got up and put tarps over our group to keep us as dry as possible. After a night of intense rain, I woke up to coffee going over a fire, in the rain. Amazing experience!

The trip was effortless and fully delivered on all promises!

Elena planned a perfect 10 day trip to Brazil for our family of 2 adults and 2 children (ages 8 and 11). Given the length of time, she expertly suggested we visit Rio, Ilha Grande, and Paraty, and we absolutely loved each destination. Her communication- phone and whatsapp- was super timely and thorough. The itinerary was perfectly paced, the private guides fun and responsive, and the boutique hotels just gorgeous. This is far and beyond the best family trip we have ever taken and we can’t wait to plan the next one with her.

Incredibile organization of a fairly specific trip; Elena my agent is so extremely knowledgeable, but most of all she get you and can advise appropriately. I am quite an experienced traveller and how she was able with great patience and dedication to tailor things for me I never had with any other agent. I am very very impressed