Man sitting in a lake pier at Yosemite.

travel insight

Bukitt is born: welcome to a new era of travel

Mariana Riquezes

Mariana Riquezes

Aug 2, 20213 min read

We founded Bukitt on that mission: to give travelers access to incredible trips that go beyond the expected and are designed with them in mind. We want travelers to get out there and experience travel in the best way possible; with tailored experiences and hand-selected adventures — all without the stress.

I’m one of those people that loves traveling, not that it makes me unique, but I prioritize travel so much that it influences my life decisions. Since the summer of 2018, I’ve worked guiding trips all over North America and got the opportunity to not only visit the national parks I’d dreamed of going to but also to really get to know them inside and out. After traversing most of the continental U.S. and supporting travelers from all over the world, I relocated to Colorado to work as a ski instructor at Breckenridge for the winter season. I had plans to return to my seasonal tour guide gig last June but 2020 had other plans. With COVID-19 spreading and communities hunkering down, I found myself without the opportunity to go off on my next adventure.

Bukitt's co-founder Mariana Riquezes in a boat ride at San Francisco Bay.Photo by Max Gonzalez @maxoutthere

In the first few months, everyone’s concern was to keep themselves and their loved ones safe and healthy. Month after month, cabin fever settled in. Dinner conversations were filled with fear of the future and regret for things that had been left undone. For many, having to reset our lives within the confines of our homes was sort of a wake-up call; The universe reminding us how fragile life can be and to not take it for granted.

Countless reflections have been shared on what we have all collectively missed during the pandemic: real human connection, being outside, routine, among others. For me, the lost opportunities for travel was a hard pill to swallow. And while I couldn’t invest time, resources, or experience in traveling during the pandemic, I got to work to create something that would allow me and others the chance to get back to the outdoors. I noticed a common theme when talking about traveling with clients, friends, and family. There was no shortage of desire to discover new places, want to be thrilled by adventure, or longing to connect with foreign cultures, but they felt overwhelmed and discouraged by the intricacies of travel planning.

Bukitt's co-founder Mariana Riquezes walking on a dune at Great Sand Dunes.Photo by Harald Brichta @haraldbrichta

We founded Bukitt on that mission: to give travelers access to incredible trips that go beyond the expected and are designed with them in mind. We want travelers to get out there and experience travel in the best way possible; with tailored experiences, local insights, expertly crafted itineraries and guides, luxury stays, world-class dining, and hand-selected adventures -- all without the stress. Bukitt adventures are designed for travelers who want more out of their trips. We are proud of making sure you get the most out of every second.

Bukitt's co-founder riding a snowmobile at Vail, Colorado.Photo by Harald Brichta @haraldbrichta

Check out our website to learn more about our adventures.