Business & Tech

Rainforest Cruises Offers Trips to the Amazon

Jeremy Clubb, Co-Founder of Rainforest Cruises, is dedicated to conservation and "green" living. Through the business, he spreads his passion.

After spending more than five years in South America, Jeremy Clubb decided that he needed to switch professions. He went from a French perfume company (Givenchy) to a large tour operator in South America. Clubb said that he made the move because he felt a need to do something that made people "happy" and that would "change lives."

Clubb studied locally at Eckerd College, where he focused on International Business and Spanish.

Jeremy Clubb owns and operates Rainforest Cruises together with his business partner, Miles Buesst, who lives in Peru. The duo met years ago and were even teammates on the same soccer team at one point. Clubb takes care of the development of sales, while Buesst works on the operational side of things.

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Gulfport Patch talked with Jeremy Clubb recently and got some infteresting information about his business, Rainforest Cruises.

  • How did Rainforest Cruises come into existence?

"Miles and I had both enjoyed working in tourism for many years, but we felt a little dissatisfied with the scattergun approach of many agencies, which offered a bit of everything. Even within Latin America, there is so much diversity it is impossible to be an expert on the whole region. So within the region, we were drawn to the Amazon Rainforest, as it is both an incredible destination and one that we felt would benefit from tourism, which when done well, can be a very powerful vehicle for conservation and sustainable rural development. There is lots of evidence to support this idea. For the Amazon in particular, when people visit they learn about the pressures it faces such as species extinction, deforestation, illegal mining, illegal logging (to name a few). But when tourists visit, they create employment and support conservation. Locals learn to value and appreciate the flora and fauna of the Rainforest and take an interest in protecting it as opposed to seeking to exploit if for short term gain."

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  • What is Rainforest Cruises?

"Rainforest Cruises is a boutique travel company specializing in Amazon River expedition cruises. We arrange vacations to the Amazon Basin in Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, and Ecuador. Our cruises visit the most important protected areas of the Amazon such as the Amazon Ecological Corridor in Brazil, Pacaya Samiria in Peru, and Yasuni in Ecuador. These are the largest, most diverse parks in the Rainforest, accessible by riverboat. We also arrange pre and post tours for people who would like to visit some of South America's highlights such as Machu Picchu, Rio, Iguazu Falls, or the Galapagos."

  • When did the business launch?

"We began operating at the end of 2011."

  • Who can utilize Rainforest Cruises?

"Anybody. We can help the seasoned world-traveler or someone who wants to travel abroad for the first-time. When people travel with us and it’s their first time vacationing abroad it’s very special to us, and reminds us of our own excitement at first arriving in South America."

  • What can people expect when they come to do business at Rainforest Cruises?

"What sets us apart would be our service and knowledge of the destinations. We don't want large numbers of customers, so we help people one at a time. So far, this has been successful. When somebody calls us, they will deal with us directly. We have had our feet in the mud in most of the destinations we offer, so customers know that the information and suggestions they are receiving come from first-hand experiences."

  • Why do you think a service like Rainforest Cruises is valuable?

"We think that travel adds an important dimension to people's lives. It helps them understand and appreciate not only the lifestyles of other cultures, but also heighten an appreciation for their own customs and traditions."

  • What types of successes are you finding with Rainforest Cruises?

"We are finding that, as we suspected, the market for Amazon Cruises is a wide one. There are high-end clients who are attracted to the impeccable facilities and service of our Luxury riverboats; but there are also more budget-conscious travelers, who are dying to experience the Amazon Rainforest by boat, but for whom price is more important than details."

  • What is your favorite part about running this business?

"We take a great deal of pleasure when someone returns from their trip with a renewed world-view. Being in Lima, Miles often gets to meet our clients at the beginning and end of their trip, and can witness first-hand the excitement and personal development that has occurred."

For more information on Rainforest Cruises, contact Jeremy by e-mail at cruise@rainforestcruises.com or by phone at (727)498-0234.


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