One of the things our travelers value the most in our tours is our guides.

They enthusiastically welcome our guests to their destinations, explain the historical and cultural background of our tour attractions with outstanding knowledge and professionalism, and make all of us feel at home—because it is their home. We at Vive Mas Tours are proud to have the best local guides on our team!

Group of tourists posing together in front of colorful buildings. — Roger (in the brown Cuba shirt) with a group in Trinidad, Cuba. He is also an expert birder and published author with over 2 decades of local guiding experience.

A study done in 2001, published by the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, has shown that international travelers are fond of local tour guides because of their “professional skills, customer relationship/empathy, and communication.”

But how exactly do these skills benefit international trips? What are the practical reasons behind having a local tour guide?

Here are some reasons why we choose to hire local guides—and why you should consider going on tours with them:

1. Local tour guides take you on authentic experiences

Have you ever gone on a trip only to find months later that you missed visiting great spots just because you didn’t know about them? It is a frustrating experience that most of us travelers have had. We focus so much on touristic and well-known places that we sometimes forget that there is so much hidden beauty in the more secluded spots of our destinations.

It is one thing to hear all about the “hidden gems” of these places, it is another, way more complex, to actually visit places like that. Maybe because of language barriers, concerns about safety, or even a lack of knowledge about how to get around, experiencing these authentic activities is harder than we think it is.

Two people playing bongo drums outdoors. — With the help of local guides, our guests have the opportunity to make rich, cultural memories as they enjoy authentic experiences on their tours.

That’s when having a local tour guide makes our trip so much more enjoyable! Local guides not only know the language and have a GPS in hand, they are at home in these places. They know where to go and what to avoid, they know tips and tricks to get around and stay safe, and they are very enthusiastic about the culture and beauty of these sites that are off the beaten path.

2. Local tour guides are great storytellers

The writer J. K. Rowling said that “there’s always room for a story that can transport people to another place,” and that is why storytelling is so crucial to experiencing the history and culture of places different from our own. It’s hard to imagine what the local community went through to get to the point where they are today without putting ourselves in their shoes.

Because they are great storytellers, local tour guides make this empathetic task that we as responsible tourists desire to undertake so much easier. They are not telling stories that they simply read in a book, they are telling their own stories—the ones they heard from their families and friends, and the ones that made them who they are. It is a great privilege to listen to these stories in the locations where they took place and from the people who experienced them.

Another reason why local tour guides are such great storytellers is because they do it for a living! Those are not simply their stories, but they reflect the core of their vocation. Local tour guides have chosen to tell those stories time and time again in a professional and engaging way. You will not simply be listening to someone telling their story—you’ll experience the storytelling of someone who has mastered it.

overlapping circles showing identification, empathy, and professionalism for great storytelling — Local tour guides have developed the skills of great storytellers: identification, empathy, and professionalism.

3. Local tour guides make you feel at home

Local tour guides are great at welcoming us to their home. We all know that if you want to make someone feel at home, you need to be at home… and these guides are! Not only are they familiar and comfortable with our destinations, but they are excited to make us feel the same way.

Local tour guides are great hosts. They are involved in the process of crafting itineraries, and they are not afraid to voice their opinions about the locations and activities travelers would like to visit and experience. They have the travelers’ best interest in mind and they know how to make the most of their trip.

Because of their familiarity with the place, local tour guides are always prepared to meet their travelers’ needs. Medical emergency? Need for transportation? Short on cash? Local tour guides are the most qualified people to take care of any issues that may arise on a tour because they know where they are and what they’re doing.

man in green shirt with a backpack standing against a scenic backdrop. — Luis, our Colombian guide with over 10 years experience, is a professional chef and will help you find the very best cuisine in all of Colombia!

4. Local tour guides are great interpreters

Local tour guides speak the local language and know those social cues that are so specific to culture. You will never feel disconnected from your destination with a local tour guide by your side. They have years of experience bringing together tourists and the local community. With their help, we are able to connect with people in ways that would otherwise be impossible.

By being part of the local community, local tour guides have access to the dialect of specific groups of people, avoiding awkward interactions that even experienced students of the language are susceptible to. They are familiar with the ever-changing slangs and customs, and they are willing to help travelers broaden their vocabulary if they so desire.

Finally, not only are local tour guides familiar with the language of the local community, but they are outstanding English speakers. Having made interpreting a great part of their profession, they are great communicators, as discussed previously. Because of their refined skills, communication issues don’t have to be a disappointment. When false cognates create misunderstandings (as they often do), local tour guides are ready and equipped to deal with it—and many other language problems—like pros.

By now you must have gotten some idea of how wonderful it is to have local guides on our trips and why they are such valuable members of our team. They take our travelers on authentic experiences, welcome them into their world by being great storytellers, and are essential in the process of connecting tourists to the local community.

If you want to know more about our guides, our tours, and what we at Vive Más Tours value in our business, don’t hesitate to reach out to us, browse through our website, and sign up for our newsletters.