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Services include New York City Guided Walking Tours and Coach Tours, International Cruises and Land packages include Africa, The Caribbean, The Mediterranean and Brazil.
| Photography Credits: | |||
| JoSiah James | John G. Esford | Gordon Balkcom | Kevin McCormick |
| Daniel B. McNeill | Steve Odom | John Vidolich | Anthony Washington |
The idea for Equator3 Tours was conceived in 1995. The concept was activated in the year 2000. After realizing that we shared a passion for travel and had 28 years plus of combined experience in the tour and travel field, we determined that we could provide the quality and expertise that the industry strongly needed. Both of us have professional tour guide licenses and are members of The Guides Association of New York (GANYC). We have conducted tours for literally thousands of clients of various nationalities in New York, in other domestic cities as well as in international locations. Our travels have taken us to five of the seven continents. We are destination experts |
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We have had teaching experience that spans from camp counseling to teaching at the preschool, elementary, adult education and university levels. There also exists many years of entrepreneurial experiences. We have each operated our own successful business enterprises in various but related industries. We have been in the business of "people" and have attached a tremendous value to the issue of providing quality service. The partners of Equator3 Tours have demonstrated the kind of caring, creativity and energy that meld together to formulate the successful touring experience. Equator3 Tours has selected destinations that offer an array of the fun, the the exciting, the educational, the cultural, and the exotic, while at the same time providing adequate opportunities for often much needed relaxation. We use some of the best hotels and restaurants that offer the true taste of each region we visit. When special evenings and cultural events are included, you can be sure that they will be stylized to the group and indigenous to the area. All of the components of our tours are carefully and intelligently crafted by our skilled destination experts. Equator3 tours are custom designed to meet the special needs of each client group. Tours may be as structured or as casual as each client desires. Equator3's aim is to please. With Equator3 the client always has on-site staff members at their disposal that are knowledgeable, professional and accommodating. Equator3 delivers quality service throughout the client's journey because we are dedicated to excellence. The bottom line is that the client can depend on Equator3 Tours to have "the ultimate touring experience" ... A World of Difference. |
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"The (African Heritage Tour 2009 - Ghana) was extremely imformative for me..." Virginia C. Robinson, Shreveport, LA "This trip (African Heritage Tour 2009 - Ghana) was spectacular...I just wish I could get every African-American to see the need to go to Africa. We have so little knowledge of who we really are and I believe a visit there would help us to redeem our self-respect." Jessica Jemison, St. Thomas, VI "Although I lived in Ghana for a year, I did not see and experience as much as I did in the ten days on the Equator3 African Heritage Tour. As a post graduate student at the Institute of African Studies at University of Legon from July 1971 to July 1972, I traveled independently throughout the country from Accra to Bolgatanga. I visited schools and churches and recorded music and interviewed ghanian musicians. However, when I traveled to Ghana in July, 2009 with Equator3 Tours, I had the opportunity to attend the Panafest, visit more places and meet more people on the guided tours. I found Charles, our excellent tour guide, to be very knowledgeable, personable and professional. I was especially pleased to have the opportunity to tour the Mampong Plant Medicine Center to see how Ghanians are researching and recommending herbal medicine for treatment of many diseases. I enjoyed visiting the rainforest in Kakum National Park where we also had an excellent guide who taught us about the many species of butterflies, flora and fauna. Additionally, it was an exciting experience to walk across the rope bridge 100 feet above the forest floor. Although I had visited Cape Coast and Elmina Castle in 1971, I found that the slave castle experience with Equator3 was just as disturbing and emotional for me as it was on my first visit; but, this time with an excellent tour guide, I found it to be more educational. I would highly recommend the Equator3 African Heritage tour to people who want to learn more about their African culture and enjoy a safe and comfortable trip to the Motherland" |
| "Dearest Queen Latifah: How blessed we have been during this tour because of your professionalism, expertise and knowledge of Manhattan and all of the wonderful places we visited. We truly cannot thank you enough!...Your patience and careful planning of this tour will be remembered for a lifetime...May God bless you always and our many thanks again for a fantastic tour of New York City!"...Fondly, Percy & Mary Alexander 2008 "P.S. The meals were most abundant! :-) !"
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| "Dearest Verl: Thanks for a great job of guiding us around N.Y. We really appreciate it!" Lois 4/23/08 |
| "You did an excellent job guiding our tour this past Saturday!! Thank you so much for a wonderful and educational time!!" Camilla Douglas, Jacksonville, FL 2/19/07 |
| "I recently came to New York with a Senior Adult Bus group and Latifah was our guide. She was fun, knowledgeable, and made our trip memorable. I just wanted to let you know what a great guide she is...Thank you for excellent service." Gail Keck, Huntsville, AL 10/8/07 |
| “I felt safe traveling with Equator3 Tours”. B. Solomon New York, NY 2/10/08 |
| “I enjoyed the tour because you make each of us feel special.” P. Boyd 2/10/08 |
| “I will recommend Equator3 to all my friends. Friend a Black experience, the Equator3 is A+. I look forward to future trips.” U. Mitchell California |
| “This (Brazil Cultural/Carnival Tour) was the most exciting international trip I’ve taken…excellent choices of dinner restaurants, attention to clients, activities, amd ear;y seating – definitely a plus. I definitely felt the atmosphere of Bahia and Rio. Night club was great” C. Bell St. Louis, MO 2/10/08 |
"I would love to have Latifah every time. I would also like to team up with her husband as well. Latifah is absolutely to die for as a course leader". |
"Thank you so much for your wonderful tour!" |
"Verl was a great guide, especially when riding the subway. He was very informative on all the sites he stopped to tell us about". |
"We want Verl again next year. He is so professional and is great with kids. His knowledge of NY is unbelievable. We want him again next year". |
"Thank you again for all you did to make our time in NY so memorable. It is outstanding to have students exposed to people like you who are intelligent, articulate, and a wonderful person. The students are so positive about their experiences and telling everyone who will listen to them... Again, thank you for being a great part of our New York experience. We all hope that we have an opportunity to see you again. |
"...you will always hold a place in my heart whenever I think of my first trip to NYC! You were definitely a WOW factor! I was really impressed by the way you captivated and so elegantly demanded the attention of your listeners... I didn't know many of the of the facts you told us about NYC and its boroughs and of course I was in awe when you spoke of the African-American influence in NYC. The tour was such an educational experience for my two teenage daughters and myself. I learned many things that day and thank you for that..." |
"book me (for brazil) for next year, i think four people" |
"...i truly enjoyed the trip to brazil. you and verl provided a first class tour. i loved the contrast between salvador and rio"... |
"excellent, fun, relaxing, educational & revealing (brazil), |
| "i met lots of new friends & learned about new culture. it (caribbean cruise) was a great trip; would do it again. D.Gillard Dansville, NY |
