Emerging from a business idea conceived during a backpacking journey in 2005, Bamba Experience Group has grown into a significant player in the travel industry. Co-founded by Paul Sarfati and Arturo Martinez, the company started with a focus on independent and experiential tourism. Sarfati’s global backpacking adventures and entrepreneurial studies at Babson College served as the foundation for this venture. Over the years, the company evolved into Bamba Travel, specializing in adventure-oriented, experience-led trips. Rather than diversifying a single brand, the firm progressively developed distinct businesses targeting specific travel market niches.
The group’s foray into destination management in 2008 marked a significant milestone, with operations initiated in Mexico and Peru, eventually forming the Be DMC segment. This includes Be Mexico and Be Peru, which cater to tour operators and agencies seeking local expertise. In 2013, the introduction of Urban Day Trips expanded their offerings with a focus on short, locally-oriented travel experiences. A notable shift occurred in 2020 with the launch of Baboo Travel, aimed at travelers desiring customized itineraries streamlined by technology. This innovation bridged the gap between travelers and Local Experts, simplifying the planning process for tailor-made journeys. By 2026, the group introduced Viajando Juntas, a brand dedicated to small-group, women-focused travel experiences that emphasize community and intimacy.
Bamba Experience Group’s diverse portfolio now caters to various segments of the travel market. Bamba Travel offers independent, adventure-centric experiences, while Be DMC provides destination management expertise. Urban Day Trips delivers local, short-duration excursions, and Baboo Travel integrates technology with local expertise for bespoke travel planning. Viajando Juntas focuses on creating shared travel experiences for women. According to Sarfati, adapting to evolving traveler expectations and technological advancements has been crucial to the company’s growth. “Travel changes. Technology changes. Distribution changes. People change,” Sarfati remarked, highlighting the necessity of adapting to these shifts.
Technology has increasingly become an integral component of the company’s strategy. Bamba Experience Group is developing AI-enabled systems to enhance customer inquiries, itinerary planning, proposals, bookings, traveler communications, and customer relationship management. Sarfati emphasized that their approach is to augment human interaction with technology, reflecting broader trends in the tourism industry where digital convenience is balanced with human expertise for complex itineraries and personalized service.
More than two decades since its inception, Bamba Experience Group has transitioned from a single adventure travel concept to a collection of specialized businesses within the tourism sector. Their strategy focuses on market specialization, designing individual brands to meet specific traveler needs while leveraging shared technology and expertise across the group. The company aligns its portfolio with prevailing trends in tourism, such as experiential travel, customized itineraries, destination expertise, digital trip planning, and community-based group travel.
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