I'm Eric, your local expert for Bolivia
European by birth, moved to Brazil decades ago and love living in fascinating Rio de Janeiro. peaking different languages came naturally to I communicate in six in total, even though Portuguese and English are my most common.
I founded our tour operator in the early 2000s. Our team, including your local expert Viviane, is an international, multi-lingual eclectic group and we also have a great portfolio of guides in many different languages and of many different specialities.
Our tours are most suited to those looking to cover several cities or regions in Brazil, wanting to make the most out of their time.
Why travellers love Eric
Eric
15/10/2026“We wanted an ecotourism adventure, rather than just a holiday and Insight Guides put us in touch with a Brazilian travel company called Castelo Designer Travel, based in Rio. They listened to our dream of visiting the Amazon, Pantanal, Iguacu falls, Ihla Grande and Rio and put together an itinerary that worked brilliantly for our 24 night trip. They managed all our flights, including 8 internal ones, all transfers and local guides. We couldn’t have asked for more support, they looked out for us every step of our complicated itinerary.”
Renu S.
07/02/2026“Eric organised our Brazil holiday perfectly. He was a real pleasure to work with and always responded promptly to all our questions. We had the opportunity of meeting Eric in Rio which was really great. He also kept in touch throughout our trip to ensure things were running smoothly. All the guides at the various destinations we visited were excellent. Very pleasant personalities and full of local knowledge. Overall a fantastic holiday organised by an excellent company”
Alessandro A. 
“Eric was amazing at coordinating our trip to Brazil. Our itinerary was quite complex and customized, with several internal flights and transfers and everything worked perfectly. Hotels were great and guides were always professional. I would have never been able to realistically put this together alone and I highly recommend his services.”
David S. 
“Eric Van Hecke crafted an unforgettable experience for us in Argentina and Brazil. During the planning process, he was patient and worked to tailor the trip to our specific requests. Our hotel stays, transfers, and guides were wonderful. We got off to a rocky start in Rio and Eric stopped by the restaurant to meet us. He listened to our concerns and made a much appreciated change. What a surprise that he came to personally meet us. Throughout our travels he was always available by telephone. Eric’s planning allowed us to relax and enjoy our time in South America with worrying about flights, transfers, and booking private excursions. Thank you!”
Stephen M.
“I had a great tour of Rio Roosevelt including a stay with the Cinta Larga tribe. I would like to thank my translator Rebecca, driver and guide Izaias Gomes, Jeff the local team coordinator and Eric from Insight Guides. They all did an excellent job for my custom tour and I highly recommend them.”
Arjun
29/08/2025“thank you so much! We had a great time and appreciate your help Eric”
Who is your local expert?
Who is Your Bolivia Travel Expert?
Think of your Bolivia Travel Expert as a friend who actually lives and works in the country you want to explore.
They know the destination inside out – from seasonal weather patterns and lesser-known regions to the best local restaurants and boutique hotels. They’ll help you plan and book a trip that’s 100% tailored to your interests, with no cookie-cutter templates.
Our local experts work with handpicked accommodations, trusted drivers, and top-rated activity providers. So you get a smooth, authentic experience – while supporting local businesses along the way.
