Contours Travel has come a long way from its first trip from New York City to Rio by bus in 1975. Clocking up half a century of travel to Central and South America in 2025, the Latin America specialists will celebrate the milestone with specials, discounts, famils and extra commission for advisors.
Contours Travel Founder & Managing Director Ted Dziadkiewicz started out in the industry as a Contiki bus driver in Europe in the early 1970s before embarking on his own path.
After returning to Australia, he took advantage of a gap in the market for overland touring and set up Bustrek with friend and fellow driver Graham Strachan.
Dziadkiewicz led his first trip to Latin America in 1975, driving from New York City down to Rio de Janeiro – and promptly fell in love with the region.
Named for the contours of the Andes, Contours Travel is considered a pioneer in promoting Latin America to the Australian market, exclusively specialising in this region for 50 years.
Marking a milestone in Latin America travel
The Melbourne-based tour operator will celebrate the golden jubilee with promotional discounts and specials throughout the year, increased commission for advisors on select products and a Peru famil planned for October 2025.
Throughout 2025, Contours Travel will share memorabilia from Dziadkiewicz’s vast collection of old brochures and photos on social media, demonstrating the 50-year transformation of travel in Latin America.
Some of the challenges the team has navigated over the years include wars, safety issues, infrastructure, communication restraints (long-distance, pre-booked phone calls, anyone?) and technology changes.
While Dziadkiewicz is unsure where the travel industry will head in the next decade, he hopes those new to the sector will continue to promote off-the-beaten-path travel.
“We should help clients plan holidays along the ‘roads less travelled’, meet with the locals and share stories and experiences,” he said.
“We should get involved with local community projects like sanitation, health, clean water, education, well-being and clothing for children.
“It’s a great industry we work in because it’s a people-to-people relationship, starting with your local travel advisor all the way through to making new friends overseas.”
For more info, head to contourstravel.com.au
