Amazon Explore: Amazon Enters the (Virtual) Travel Game

Ever wish you could Amazon Prime yourself to an exciting new destination? You can’t ship yourself around the world for free (yet) but Amazon is betting that you’ll pay to travel virtually via their new Explore service.

Amazon Explore is an interactive livestreaming service featuring experiences from all over the world. The experiences are usually around 30-60 minutes and include things like cooking classes, virtual city tours, or craft-making.

Current featured virtual experiences include: An Argentinian empanada cooking demonstration, a walking tour of Mexico City’s street art, and a wildlife tour at Costa Rica’s Toucan Rescue Ranch.

The livestreams are one-on-one and can be customized to your interests. You’ll be able to see the host, but the host will only be able to hear (not see) you, so you don’t have to worry about getting camera-ready.

Of course, since this is Amazon, there’s a built-in shopping option for many of the experiences, where you can buy items that you see on your tour and have your host mail them to you directly.

Interested in showing off your own hometown or skills? You can apply to be an Amazon Explore host here.

More from SmarterTravel:

• 15 Weird Things to Buy on Amazon (That Are Actually Perfect for Travel)
• 10 Secret Amazon Prime Perks
• 7 Things You Shouldn’t Buy Before You Travel