During the 18th and 19th centuries, each described millions of sq. km of land and sea as they navigated the unknown. Passionate about new cultures, and the fusion of artistic ideas and culinary customs, the many voyages of both Humboldt and Cook are legendary and reminder of what travel should be: an endless set of opportunities to expand our horizons and embrace new environments and cultures. The world opens up in front of us, but also inside ourselves. There is a joy in this, and greater sense of connection, often showing us what we're missing in our own lives.
Luxury Travel in
Search engines do all the searching, but leave out the soul. Humboldt & Cook crafts bespoke journeys around rare experiences centred on art, food and wellness, made possible by personal connections.
Our connections to in-country trailblazers in the fields of Art, Food and Wellness are the foundation on which we choreograph itineraries around your preferences and curiosity. Our travellers get special access to distinguished and knowledgeable art historians, artists, collectors, anthropologists, architects, designers, chefs, wellness pros and other experts in their fields.
The thoughtful connection of body and soul is at the core of our journeys, transcending time and place.
Our
Values
Travel
Visionaries
Eric Sheets
FounDer
"I grew up in an area of Brazil shaped by Angolan heritage, with an Ecuadorian mother who instilled in me a deep love and appreciation for the Galapagos Islands. My multi-cultural childhood resisted the definitions of any one location and led to a life-long passion for uncovering the unexpected.
"For a long time, I was a corporate warrior. But in 2004, I took a few colleagues to Darwin’s archipelago – The Galapagos – and show them what it feels like to be a true traveller. After that, I was hooked, leading to the launch of Latin Excursions, an award-winning luxury travel company focused on Latin America, as a way to share experiential and transformative journeys.
"Decades later, Humboldt & Cook extends this vision, uncovering rare and well-balanced experiences around the world.
Born in the fascinating city of Salvador – Brazil’s most African area – to a U.S. American father and Ecuadorian mother, Eric’s upbringing was nothing short of exotic and enriching. Having been immersed early on in the rich sounds and colors of four Latin American countries, combined with a U.S. academic upbringing, Eric’s worldly perspective led to a passion in finding authentic culture, unique sights and intense rhythms. Founder of Latin Excursions—a reference for personalized experiences in the region with recognition from Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, and others—Eric splits his time between Miami, Guayaquil and researching new destinations.
favorite travel experiences
Art
Visiting the contemporary collection of the unique Inhotim Institute in Brazil. During an inspection trip for a group, this open-air museum helped me come to realize that art does not have to be confined to walls. Why not incorporate the sounds and smells of a tropical forest as part of the setting? Works from world-class artists are nestled among rare species of flora and giant garden spaces, making this arguably one of the most unusual and unexpected art collections in all of South America.
Food
A 2017 trip to Singapore proved to me the Southeast Asia city’s diverse and multi-ethnic culture and food scene. Venturing from my Airbnb, I roamed about town until I stumbled upon a small four story shopping center with some amazing hole-in-the-wall type eateries. To my delight I found a specialty coffee store and asked the owner, a former NYC resident full of tattoos, to prepare me his personal favorite style. He chose Vietnamese, which is now a favorite of mine. That experience in Singapore—and the smell of coffee beans—sticks with me to this day.
Wellness
Nature escapes along the California coast. As a lifelong swimmer I continue to practice and compete, and in 2019 I signed up for the highly competitive U.S. Masters Swimming nationals championship. That year’s edition was held in Mission Viejo, of the Golden State. I was thrilled to be there and gave it my best and was happy with my results. After the tournament I took a drive up north to visit Big Sur, a vast natural area ideal for a spiritual experience or, at least, deep contemplation. It was a great way to wind down from the competition and enriched me with the sensation to be in the moment.