South America Tours
Discover the icons of South America including UNESCO's Machu Picchu set high in the Andes Mountains and the volcanic archipelago of the Galápagos, to the jungles of the Amazon and the grasslands, deserts and glacial fjords of Patagonia in Chile on one of 469 guided adventures through this unique and diverse continent bursting with life and culture.
Popular Tours
28 Days Lima to Buenos Aires
Operator: Bunnik Tours
From
21,564pp
Save
431pp
20 Days Santiago to Lima or Rio de Janeiro to Lima
Operator: Travelmarvel
From
13,665pp
Save
1,630pp
Popular Destinations
Featured Operators Featured Operators
Explore has been taking small groups on adventure holidays all over the world for almost 40 years. The expert team, at home and overseas, works together more to create itineraries that leave you feeling that you’ve really explored a destination rather than just visited. You’ll see the highlights, the must-sees, of course. But you’ll also get away from the beaten track, and get a different perspective on your destination. You’ll get closer to a place, its people and cultures.
Our small groups are typically 12 people – small enough to get right into the heart of your destination, but big enough to find like-minded people to share your experiences with. And the glue that holds these groups together is our local tour leaders, who are uniquely placed to add individual and spontaneous moments to each trips – moments that stay with you long after you return home. All sorts of people travel with Explore – our groups are usually a mix of solos, couples and friends. What unites them is their adventurous spirit and thirst for real travel experiences.
We provide authentic small-group travel, designed by experts and led by experts, with sustainability at its heart and a common desire for unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re on a cultural tour of Lebanon, cycling in Vietnam, walking in Italy or exploring Costa Rica with your family, when you’re travelling with Explore you know that you’re in good hands.
Our small groups are typically 12 people – small enough to get right into the heart of your destination, but big enough to find like-minded people to share your experiences with. And the glue that holds these groups together is our local tour leaders, who are uniquely placed to add individual and spontaneous moments to each trips – moments that stay with you long after you return home. All sorts of people travel with Explore – our groups are usually a mix of solos, couples and friends. What unites them is their adventurous spirit and thirst for real travel experiences.
We provide authentic small-group travel, designed by experts and led by experts, with sustainability at its heart and a common desire for unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re on a cultural tour of Lebanon, cycling in Vietnam, walking in Italy or exploring Costa Rica with your family, when you’re travelling with Explore you know that you’re in good hands.
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers off the beaten track to discover the world's most amazing places for 30 years. Every trip is designed to truly more experience local culture - to meet local people, try local food, take local transport and stay in local accommodation. Led by a local leader, our small group tours offer a sustainable way to travel off the beaten track, while giving back to the places and people that travellers visit.
Bunnik Tours is a family business with a focus on crafting itineraries that really get to the heart of all that a destination has to offer through a balance more of organised sightseeing, special local experiences and time for independent exploration. We know that some of the best experiences are when you wander away from the group and make your own discoveries.
In creating our small group tours, we are driven by two guiding principles. First, everything we do is about your experience, which is why we only run tours with a maximum of 20 people – that’s less time waiting, more time exploring. Second, when done properly, tourism can be an incredible force for good that generates economic and social benefits in the places we visit.
In creating our small group tours, we are driven by two guiding principles. First, everything we do is about your experience, which is why we only run tours with a maximum of 20 people – that’s less time waiting, more time exploring. Second, when done properly, tourism can be an incredible force for good that generates economic and social benefits in the places we visit.
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Some of the Must Do Experiences in South America
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Latest Reviews
What our clients are saying about their journeys through South America
Highlights of South America with 4 Day Extension to the Amazon
Highlights of South America
Peter and Christine, WA, Australia, Apr 2026
We had perfect weather with a fabulous group of people. Our tour guide, Felipe, was outstanding and the quality of accommodation was very good. The high lights were, Iguazu Falls, The Tango Evening in Buenos Aires (superb), Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu, and Copacabana Beach. There were a lot of flights and it was quite tiring as we were on the go the read more whole time. A very busy schedule but necessary to see all that we did. Georgie did a great job with all our pre trip planning. Many thanks!
Wonderful Trip to Patagonia
Adventures in Patagonia with Iguazu Extension
Pauline and Michael, NSW, Australia, Mar 2026
The trip matched the itinerary and we saw and were given experiences exactly as outlined. Each of the local guides gave great value and our overall tour guide Luciano was the best guide we have ever travelled with. He dealt with all issues and made sure everything ran as faultlessly as possible. The spectacular scenery, the trip across the Patagonian read more steppe and then through the mountains were all truly wonderful. We would definitely recommend travelling with your company to Patagonia, and we believe that doing this trip was very good value for our money.
As we were warned in the Itinerary, the schedule often involved changes to the itinerary, some requiring very early starts resulting from changes to flight schedules. Several times we would arrive somewhere very late (eg. 10.30pm) and be required to be up very early to be collected - such as at 3.00, 4.00 or 5.00am.
This particularly occurred during the 3 day Iguazu Extension. For example we arrived late into Buenos Aires the night before and had a very early start the next morning to get the plane to Iguazu. We arrived there at 9am but there were no activities planned for the rest of the day and then we couldn’t check in to our excellent hotel room for about 4 hours.
By the end of our trip after several nights of late arrivals followed by very early departures we were pretty exhausted.
As we were warned in the Itinerary, the schedule often involved changes to the itinerary, some requiring very early starts resulting from changes to flight schedules. Several times we would arrive somewhere very late (eg. 10.30pm) and be required to be up very early to be collected - such as at 3.00, 4.00 or 5.00am.
This particularly occurred during the 3 day Iguazu Extension. For example we arrived late into Buenos Aires the night before and had a very early start the next morning to get the plane to Iguazu. We arrived there at 9am but there were no activities planned for the rest of the day and then we couldn’t check in to our excellent hotel room for about 4 hours.
By the end of our trip after several nights of late arrivals followed by very early departures we were pretty exhausted.
This was an amazing trip. Yarina Lodge is a wonderful place to go. Room facility is good and clean. A special praise to the staffs - the management, the restaurant, the kitchen, they are very attentive care. The guide is very professional, he customize programs according to your fitness level and requirement. This is a place for relaxation and also adventure.
Sacred Inca Valley Tour
Solo-ish Peru
Anthony, BC, Canada, Feb 2026
Fantastic tour! Be prepared for some pretty intense climbing/hiking at altitude. Machu Picchu was surreal. I learned so much more about the history of the Inca and the other cultures that were present throughout out the area. Fascinating and well worth the effort!
Beautiful, safe Colombia
Colombia: South America's Eternal Spring
Loyal Global Journey Travellers, NT, Australia, Jan 2026
Well organised, informative and a very safe trip to Colombia. Travelling with Tauck is a luxurious experience. The travel itinerary was interesting and varied, hotels were good quality, transportation was well organised and comfy and the food was plentiful (lots of quality three course meals included). Key highlights included a private tour of Boltero read more museum in Bogotá guided by Botero’s grandson, Colombian Paso Fino horse experience at Normandia Equestrian Center in Medellín, staying at the beautiful Sofitel Legend Santa Clara hotel in Cartagena and an impromptu salsa class in Cartagena. The local guides generously shared their knowledge along the way and were instrumental in facilitating efficient check in for internal airline flights. Highly recommended trip for those wanting to go beyond traditional places especially as tourism in Colombia continues to grow. Beautiful country, beautiful people.
Tip: If booking airline flights through Global Journeys, ask for each passenger to have their own individual travel reservation number. Due to airline system upgrades, Colombian/ Panamanian airlines at international airports do not appear to recognise multiple passengers booked under the same travel reservation number (you’ll be stuck at the airline check in counter for an additional 2 hours for each flight you take).
Tip: If booking airline flights through Global Journeys, ask for each passenger to have their own individual travel reservation number. Due to airline system upgrades, Colombian/ Panamanian airlines at international airports do not appear to recognise multiple passengers booked under the same travel reservation number (you’ll be stuck at the airline check in counter for an additional 2 hours for each flight you take).
Beautiful Rio!
Brazil & Argentina Escape
Annette and Mark, QLD, Australia, Jan 2026
Thank you Hannah and Global Journeys for organising our wonderful trip to Brazil and Argentina. It was an amazing way to kick start our month long adventure in South America and Antarctica. We loved Rio De Janeiro, such a beautiful city. Huge highlight was visiting Iguassu falls and getting to see toucans and flamingos at the bird park. We also loved read more Buenos Aires, the Paris of South America. As per usual Hannah took care of everything for us and answered all our questions. We'll be booking with Hannah again in the future! Thank you Global Journeys.
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Your guide to travelling through South America
