David Attenborough in Latin America

Sir David’s first visit venture to South America was back in the mid 1950’s, when he travelled to British Guiana (now Guyana) for BBC series Zoo Quest.

Using an approach that was revolutionary at the time, Sir David captured rare footage of animals in their natural habitat, bringing previously unseen species to the wider public. He was one of the pioneers of eco-tourism, teaching us to not just look at animals, but to respect them.

Perhaps no place on Earth is more synonymous with Attenborough than the Galápagos Islands. He has presented several films about the islands, and in 2022 he was honoured with the ‘National Order of Merit’ by Ecuador for his contribution to conservation there.

Through his lens, we witnessed the heart-breaking story of Lonesome George, the last Pinta Island tortoise, and the iconic racer snake hunt scene in Planet Earth II. Sir David has long argued that the Galápagos are a "parable for the planet"—a delicate microcosm where we can see both the fragility of nature and the success of dedicated conservation.

From the cloud forests of Costa Rica, to the wide reaches of the Amazon Basin, Attenborough’s work has been a catalyst for sustainable travel. He famously noted that tourism in these regions is a "necessary evil"; without the income provided by visitors, many of these habitats would have long since vanished to industry.

As a specialist Latin American tour operator, we see his influence every day. He taught us to watch a sloth move with patience, to listen for the roar of a howler monkey, and to understand that we are not masters of this wilderness, but its temporary guests.

Happy 100th Birthday, Sir David. Thank you for showing us the wild heart of Latin America. We promise to keep exploring it with the same curiosity and care you taught us.

Are you inspired to follow in Sir David’s footsteps? Explore our Galapagos cruises, our Costa Rica tours or even visit Guyana to see these regions for yourself.