About Inca
About INCA
The company that started in 1976 continues to be the leader in luxury adventure in Ecuador, Peru, Patagonia and beyond
Why INCA?
At INCA we are discerning, particular, and have a passion for perfecting the details. We cherish adding the personal touches and the unexpected treats. We see ourselves as being in the business of "delivering dreams." Our travelers tell us that we do it well, frequently exceeding their expectations. We like to hear that, but we don't dare let it go to our heads. We know we have to keep our attention on every detail, big and small.
We believe that putting dream adventures together is a lot like making a fine necklace. Elegance and beauty come from selecting the best pearls and stringing them strongly, and artfully, together. In remote and challenging parts of the world the string is always tenuous. That keeps us on our toes, ready to round up any pearls that try to escape. Once we have done that, we feel good about being trusted with your travel dreams.
Our Story
1976: Inca Floats was launched
INCA (formerly Inca Floats, Inc.) began in the 1970s as a family adventure when Bill Roberson, a scientist and professor, and his two daughters, Kim and Marika, traveled to Peru and the Galapagos Islands. They had such an adventurous, entertaining and educational time that they couldn't wait to share it with their friends. And so a company was born.
1996: Inca Floats becomes INCA, International Nature and Cultural Adventures.
Bill returned to the Galapagos to become a licensed naturalist guide under the auspices of the Galapagos National Park. Bill led trips in the Galapagos and eventually befriended Rolf Sievers, who today owns and operates the yachts Integrity and Reina Silvia. Rolf emigrated to the Galapagos from Germany as a boy and his first job was tending the seismograph at Charles Darwin Station. Rolf eventually became manager of the station, a position he held for a decade before leaving and starting a yacht operation. Today Rolf and his sons ensure the yachts are impeccability maintained and exceed our clients' high expectations.
2015: A fresh modern update
In 1996 Inca Floats became INCA, International Nature & Cultural Adventures, to reflect our adventures outside of South America in Turkey, Africa, Alaska and Antarctica.
INCA is now more than the Roberson family supplying, guiding, and cooking as on our early treks. We have grown at home and abroad with dedicated, talented staff here in Oakland and in each of our destinations.
Along the way we have continued our devotion to making each trip enriching—as hassle-free and as comfortable as possible for each of our travelers—without sacrificing any of the adventure.
Adventure with a Conscience
We are proud to be one of the first adventure travel companies whose corporate mission statement expresses the principles of ecotourism. We are committed to increasing the awareness of human responsibility toward the environment; to working with conservation organizations to protect the animals, plants, and artifacts of the special places we visit; and supporting the local economies by employing local associates who share our vision. As an INCA traveler, you participate in sustainable pleasure in the wonders of our world.
The Galapagos Conservancy
Formed in 1986, the Galapagos Conservancy has its roots in two organizations that merged in 2002: the Darwin Scientific Foundation, an organization which managed an endowment for research in Galapagos, and Charles Darwin Foundation, Inc., an organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness for Galapagos conservation. The Galapagos Conservancy is dedicated exclusively to the long-term protection of the Galapagos Islands. This single focus allows them to maximize the impact of the financial investments of their members, who include individuals and institutions that care deeply about the Galapagos Islands and understand the scientific importance of preserving this extraordinary ecosystem. They advocate through programs of constituency building, education, and fundraising in North America.
INCA has a long partnership with the Galápagos Conservancy. INCA has run cruises for organizational donors in addition to supporting the organization’s mission. Our guests have made significant contributions to the ongoing scientific research projects and local education programs organized and supported by the Galapagos Conservancy.
Galapagos Conservation Trust
Galapagos Conservation Trust is a UK-based charity focusing solely on the conservation of the Galapagos Islands, with 25 years of experience supporting conservation programs across the Archipelago. Partnering with Ecuadorian authorities, NGOs, local communities, and leading scientists, Galapagos Conservation Trust’s efforts really make a difference.
Galapagos Conservation Trust raises funds and awareness in the UK and is able to support and deliver projects in Galapagos and respond to key threats facing the Islands. The focus is on restoring natural habitats, conserving threatened species, and driving sustainable solutions, helping to contribute to the overall management of this unique ecosystem.
INCA proudly contributes to the efforts of Galapagos Conservation Trust on behalf of the UK guests who benefit from the impact of their programs.
Andean Textile Arts
Andean Textile Arts is dedicated to supporting, preserving and revitalizing the textile traditions and the people and communities of the Andes.
American anthropologist Ed Franquemont and ethnobotanist Chris Franquemont moved their family to Chinchero, Peru in the 1970s. Their neighbor, a 14-year-old Quechua weaver Nilda Callanaupa, whose family welcomed the Franquemonts, began teaching them the local ways.
Modernization in Peru and other Andean countries was beginning to take hold, and along with it, a drop in demand for intricately crafted traditional clothing, which then threatened the livelihood of many Andean people—especially women. Faced with a desire to go to school, but also to preserve the traditions that defined her cultural identity, Nilda eventually joined her mother and several other weavers to recover and preserve ancient textile practices that had sustained their people economically, socially, and spiritually for centuries.
The Franquemonts helped Nilda obtain a grant to study at a California textile school so she could learn more about the textile trade. Working with Ed Franquemont, Nilda began to lead lectures and workshops across the U.S., where she made friends and gained support for her cause. Along with Nilda and the weavers, the Franquemonts founded a cultural center in Chinchero with preservation of textiles as its focus. In the 1980s and 90s, Nilda, the weavers and their supporters also formed a young weaver’s group to learn and preserve traditional designs and techniques from Chinchero which eventually grew into the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco in 1996, later renamed Andean Textile Arts, with Nilda as its director.
Contact Us & Business Hours
INCA’s Offices are open from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday through Friday
Offices will be closed on the following upcoming Holidays
Christmas Day (observed) - December 26th
New Year’s Day (observed) - January 2nd
We’d love to speak with you during regular business hours. Please feel free to give us a call at (510) 420-1550 or use the Live Chat feature in the lower right corner of your screen.
You can also EMAIL us or send an after-hours chat message and we’ll do our best to get back to you as soon as we’re open.