When planning a beach vacation, putting together a killer itinerary is one of the most important steps. It guarantees you’ll have a fun-filled trip with plenty to do and see, helping you make the most of your time away.
But what should that itinerary include? While you’ll certainly want to make time for relaxing on the beach and swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the tropics, scheduling a walking tour is also a worthy addition.
The Benefits of a Walking Tour
Including a walking tour on your beach vacation agenda is a wise move for a variety of reasons. For starters, a walking tour helps you get authentic exposure wherever you’re visiting. Seeing a place on foot—especially when guided by a local who lives and breathes the destination—is one of the most immersive ways to take in a new culture and see everything up close. The tastes, smells, sounds of daily life swirling on about you… it’s all part of the experience and there’s no replacement for it. According to Bernard Sury, Business Developer at GuruWalk,
“Walking tours are the best way to capture the essence of any city. There are indeed so many small details and anecdotes travelers could miss without a walking tour, and that’s precisely what gives so much charm to a city. It only takes a couple of hours to discover the soul of a city that goes beyond seeing its main attractions.”
In addition, walking tours help you stay fit! Vacation is no time for slaving away in the gym, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stay active. A walking tour is a perfect way to get moving while still squeezing as much fun as possible into your vacation.
Support Local Companies on a Walking Tour
Best of all, in many cases, walking tours help support the local economy. It depends on what company you go with, of course, but when local residents are the guides conducting the tours and making an income off of the tour fee and tips, you can feel good about investing back into the community.
Lastly, walking tours tend to be quite cheap—some charge tips alone—and there are so many different variations! Enrich your beach vacation without breaking the bank—whether the walking tour is centered around food, history, architecture or culture, you’re sure to learn a lot. How does a taco crawl in Mexico City or a chocolate tour in Puerto Vallarta sound?
“Tours based on tips, also known as free walking tours, are a very affordable option to see the city like a local,” explains Sury. “Travelers can indeed give what they want at the end of the tour, according to their budget and experience. Moreover, the guides are doing their best to make the most entertaining experience possible in order to get more tips.”
Looking for a great walking tour? If you’re heading to Nassau on your next beach vacation, give Tru Bahamian Food Tours a call. You’ll learn about the history of the Bahamas while indulging in delicious traditional eats. Or, in Havana, Cuba, Strawberry Tours offers tours that cover everything from the Cuban Revolution to nightlife in Havana, and each guide donates a portion of their proceeds to a local charity.
Make the most of your next beach vacation with a walking tour that suits your interests!
