South America

Colourful, candid and everything in between, South America beats to the rhythm of an infectious, eternal drum. It’s the sequined heat of Carnival and a cool breeze blowing across the Andes, a fiery Argentine tango and the soft silence of an Ecuadorian cloud forest. You taste it in the crackle of slow-cooked barbecue and the tang of a good pisco sour. About the only thing the continent lacks is monotony. From the rocky slopes of Galapagos to the dawn-lit ruins of Machu Picchu, South America is effervescent with sights, sounds and salsa. Now, pass the empanadas and let's talk adventure. 

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Departing	Trip name		Days	From USD
28 Jul 2019 Ultimate Peru, Argentina & Brazil	Ultimate Peru, Argentina & Brazil Lima to Rio de Janeiro	× Ultimate Peru, Argentina & Brazil	30	7315 6584	View Trip
30 Jul 2019 Absolute Galapagos (Daphne)	Absolute Galapagos (Daphne) Quito to Quito	× Absolute Galapagos (Daphne)	17	10370 7295	View Trip
30 Jul 2019 Galapagos at a Glance: Southern Islands (Daphne)	Galapagos at a Glance: Southern Islands (Daphne) Quito to Quito	× Galapagos at a Glance: Southern Islands (Daphne)	6	3340 2374	View Trip
30 Jul 2019 Complete Galapagos (Daphne)	Complete Galapagos (Daphne) Quito to Quito	× Complete Galapagos (Daphne)	10	6265 4422	View Trip
31 Jul 2019 Bolivia Highlights	Bolivia Highlights La Paz to La Paz	× Bolivia Highlights	12	1955 1662	View Trip
1 Aug 2019 Galapagos Venture	Galapagos Venture Quito to Quito	× Galapagos Venture	9	2280 2065	View Trip
2 Aug 2019 Galapagos on a shoestring	Galapagos on a shoestring Galapagos Islands to Isla Santa Cruz	× Galapagos on a shoestring	7	1195 1089	View Trip
2 Aug 2019 Inca Trail & Amazon	Inca Trail & Amazon Lima to Lima	× Inca Trail & Amazon	12	3050 2898	View Trip
2 Aug 2019 Inca Trail Express from Lima	Inca Trail Express from Lima Lima to Cusco	× Inca Trail Express from Lima	8	1805 1715	View Trip
2 Aug 2019 Galapagos Adventure: Northern Islands (Daphne)	Galapagos Adventure: Northern Islands (Daphne) Quito to Quito	× Galapagos Adventure: Northern Islands (Daphne)	7	4120 2920	View Trip
3 Aug 2019 Inca Trail Express	Inca Trail Express Cusco to Cusco	× Inca Trail Express	7	1325 1259	View Trip
4 Aug 2019 Peruvian Pathways	Peruvian Pathways Lima to Lima	× Peruvian Pathways	14	4685 3983	View Trip
4 Aug 2019 Peru Encompassed	Peru Encompassed Lima to Lima	× Peru Encompassed	21	4310 3879	View Trip
4 Aug 2019 Best of Brazil	Best of Brazil Rio de Janeiro to Rio de Janeiro	× Best of Brazil	8	995 896	View Trip
4 Aug 2019 Inca Encounter	Inca Encounter Lima to Cusco	× Inca Encounter	10	3465 2946	View Trip
5 Aug 2019 Real Peru to Bolivia Ages 18 to 29	Real Peru to Bolivia Lima to La Paz Ages 18 to 29	× Real Peru to Bolivia	15	3465 2946	View Trip
5 Aug 2019 Real Peru Ages 18 to 29	Real Peru Lima to Lima Ages 18 to 29	× Real Peru	15	3460 2941	View Trip
6 Aug 2019 Ultimate Galapagos: Central Islands (Daphne)	Ultimate Galapagos: Central Islands (Daphne) Quito to Quito	× Ultimate Galapagos: Central Islands (Daphne)	10	6265 4422	View Trip
7 Aug 2019 Pure Galapagos (Daphne)	Pure Galapagos (Daphne) Isla Baltra to Isla Baltra	× Pure Galapagos (Daphne)	8	5145 3638	View Trip
8 Aug 2019 Peru: Bike, climb & hike	Peru: Bike, climb & hike Lima to Cusco	× Peru: Bike, climb & hike	10	2800 2100	View Trip
9 Aug 2019 Peru Real Food Adventure, with Amazon Extension	Peru Real Food Adventure, with Amazon Extension Lima to Lima	× Peru Real Food Adventure, with Amazon Extension	14	3665 3116	View Trip
9 Aug 2019 Best of Bolivia & Argentina	Best of Bolivia & Argentina La Paz to Buenos Aires	× Best of Bolivia & Argentina	15	2385 2147	View Trip
9 Aug 2019 Peru Real Food Adventure	Peru Real Food Adventure Lima to Cusco	× Peru Real Food Adventure	10	2585 2198	View Trip
9 Aug 2019 Explore Bolivia to Brazil	Explore Bolivia to Brazil La Paz to Rio de Janeiro	× Explore Bolivia to Brazil	31	5895 5306	View Trip
10 Aug 2019 Best of Colombia	Best of Colombia Bogota to Bogota	× Best of Colombia	17	3870 3483	View Trip
10 Aug 2019 Best of Chile & Argentina	Best of Chile & Argentina Santiago to Buenos Aires	× Best of Chile & Argentina	8	2755 2067	View Trip
10 Aug 2019 Six Days on the Inca Trail Ages 18 to 29	Six Days on the Inca Trail Cuzco to Cuzco Ages 18 to 29	× Six Days on the Inca Trail	6	1230 923	View Trip
10 Aug 2019 Cafe Colombia	Cafe Colombia Bogota to Cartagena	× Cafe Colombia	9	2090 1881	View Trip
11 Aug 2019 Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu	Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu Cusco to Cusco	× Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu	13	2020 1515	View Trip
11 Aug 2019 Northern Peru	Northern Peru Lima to Lima	× Northern Peru	7	1960 1470	View Trip
11 Aug 2019 Peru, Chile & Argentina Explorer	Peru, Chile & Argentina Explorer Lima to Buenos Aires	× Peru, Chile & Argentina Explorer	21	7375 5900	View Trip
12 Aug 2019 Epic Peru to Brazil Ages 18 to 29	Epic Peru to Brazil Lima to Rio de Janeiro Ages 18 to 29	× Epic Peru to Brazil	32	6230 5607	View Trip
12 Aug 2019 Epic Peru, Bolivia & Argentina Ages 18 to 29	Epic Peru, Bolivia & Argentina Lima to Buenos Aires Ages 18 to 29	× Epic Peru, Bolivia & Argentina	26	4930 4437	View Trip
15 Aug 2019 One Week in Peru Ages 18 to 29	One Week in Peru Lima to Cuzco Ages 18 to 29	× One Week in Peru	8	1780 1424	View Trip
15 Aug 2019 Explore Peru & Bolivia	Explore Peru & Bolivia Lima to La Paz	× Explore Peru & Bolivia	25	5275 4748	View Trip
15 Aug 2019 Essential Peru Ages 18 to 29	Essential Peru Lima to Lima Ages 18 to 29	× Essential Peru	11	2925 2340	View Trip
17 Aug 2019 Argentina & Brazil Adventure	Argentina & Brazil Adventure Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro	× Argentina & Brazil Adventure	10	2910 2619	View Trip
17 Aug 2019 Sacred Land of the Incas	Sacred Land of the Incas Lima to La Paz	× Sacred Land of the Incas	15	3590 3231	View Trip
17 Aug 2019 Explore Colombia	Explore Colombia Cartagena to Bogota	× Explore Colombia	10	1900 1425	View Trip
18 Aug 2019 Peru and Galapagos Explorer	Peru and Galapagos Explorer Lima to Quito	× Peru and Galapagos Explorer	30	7625 6876	View Trip
23 Aug 2019 Best of Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil	Best of Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro	× Best of Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil	10	2240 2016	View Trip
23 Aug 2019 Buenos Aires to Rio Explorer	Buenos Aires to Rio Explorer Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro	× Buenos Aires to Rio Explorer	17	3145 2831	View Trip
25 Aug 2019 Essential Galapagos Ages 18 to 29	Essential Galapagos Quito to Quito Ages 18 to 29	× Essential Galapagos	9	2195 1989	View Trip
26 Aug 2019 Real Bolivia & Argentina Ages 18 to 29	Real Bolivia & Argentina La Paz to Buenos Aires Ages 18 to 29	× Real Bolivia & Argentina	12	1965 1769	View Trip
26 Aug 2019 One Week in the Galapagos Islands Ages 18 to 29	One Week in the Galapagos Islands Galapagos Islands to Isla Santa Cruz Ages 18 to 29	× One Week in the Galapagos Islands	7	1205 1098	View Trip
26 Aug 2019 Epic Bolivia to Brazil Ages 18 to 29	Epic Bolivia to Brazil La Paz to Rio de Janeiro Ages 18 to 29	× Epic Bolivia to Brazil	18	3390 3051	View Trip
29 Aug 2019 Real Colombia Ages 18 to 29	Real Colombia Bogota to Cartagena Ages 18 to 29	× Real Colombia	12	1940 1746	View Trip
1 Sep 2019 Cycle Peru with Inca Trail (Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley)	Cycle Peru with Inca Trail (Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley) Lima to Cusco	× Cycle Peru with Inca Trail (Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley)	11	2545 1782	View Trip
1 Sep 2019 Cycle Peru: Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley	Cycle Peru: Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley Lima to Cusco	× Cycle Peru: Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley	8	2065 1446	View Trip
1 Sep 2019 Essential Quito to Lima Ages 18 to 29	Essential Quito to Lima Quito to Lima Ages 18 to 29	× Essential Quito to Lima	10	1135 852	View Trip
5 Sep 2019 Galapagos & Peru Adventure	Galapagos & Peru Adventure Quito to La Paz	× Galapagos & Peru Adventure	24	7110 6412	View Trip
5 Sep 2019 Best of Galapagos	Best of Galapagos Quito to Quito	× Best of Galapagos	10	3635 3285	View Trip
6 Sep 2019 One Week in Argentina and Brazil Ages 18 to 29	One Week in Argentina and Brazil Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro Ages 18 to 29	× One Week in Argentina and Brazil	7	1530 1377	View Trip
6 Sep 2019 Galapagos Island Hopping	Galapagos Island Hopping Isla San Cristobal to Isla Santa Cruz	× Galapagos Island Hopping	8	2240 2029	View Trip
7 Sep 2019 Ecuador to Peru Adventure	Ecuador to Peru Adventure Quito to Lima	× Ecuador to Peru Adventure	9	1315 1118	View Trip
7 Sep 2019 Highlights of Ecuador & Peru	Highlights of Ecuador & Peru Quito to La Paz	× Highlights of Ecuador & Peru	28	4240 3604	View Trip
7 Sep 2019 Peru Essentials	Peru Essentials Lima to La Paz	× Peru Essentials	21	3045 2741	View Trip
7 Sep 2019 Adventure through Peru, Bolivia & Argentina	Adventure through Peru, Bolivia & Argentina Lima to Buenos Aires	× Adventure through Peru, Bolivia & Argentina	35	5460 4914	View Trip
8 Sep 2019 Ecuador: Raft, Hike & Bike	Ecuador: Raft, Hike & Bike Quito to Quito	× Ecuador: Raft, Hike & Bike	10	1635 1227	View Trip
8 Sep 2019 Best of Chile	Best of Chile Santiago to Santiago	× Best of Chile	8	2480 1860	View Trip
20 Oct 2019 Patagonia Wilderness	Patagonia Wilderness Buenos Aires to Buenos Aires	× Patagonia Wilderness	15	5145 4888	View Trip
3 Dec 2019 Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake from Punta Arenas	Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake from Punta Arenas Punta Arenas to Punta Arenas	× Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake from Punta Arenas	8	14895 12661	View Trip
25 Jan 2020 Antarctic Express: Crossing the Antarctic Circle from Punta Arenas	Antarctic Express: Crossing the Antarctic Circle from Punta Arenas Punta Arenas to Punta Arenas	× Antarctic Express: Crossing the Antarctic Circle from Punta Arenas	11	21795 19616	View Trip
7 Feb 2020 Antarctic Explorer from Ushuaia 11 day	Antarctic Explorer from Ushuaia 11 day Ushuaia to Ushuaia	× Antarctic Explorer from Ushuaia 11 day	11	10495 9446	View Trip
14 Feb 2020 Antarctic Peninsula, Falkland Islands & South Georgia	Antarctic Peninsula, Falkland Islands & South Georgia Ushuaia to Ushuaia	× Antarctic Peninsula, Falkland Islands & South Georgia	20	21395 19256	View Trip

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Our new tours in South America

Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu

13 Days From 1515

Hike ancient Inca pathways that journey through the stunning Andes on this challenging,...

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Highlights of Ecuador

17 Days From 4720

Amazing wildlife, both on land and underwater, is the drawcard of the remote Galapagos...

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Peru Real Food Adventure, with Amazon Extension

14 Days From 2932

Indulge in mouth-watering cuisine and witness stunning sights on Intrepid's Real Food...

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Highlights & Gems of Patagonia

14 Days From 4695

Travel from Chile to Argentina through the Patagonia region, stopping at Santiago,...

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Falkland Islands Expedition: Past & Present

8 Days From 5805

Explore the Falkland Islands in this 8-day tour

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Argentina Expedition: Aconcagua Base & Mt Bonete

10 Days From 3045

Adventure through the Andes to Aconcagua base camp via Mendoza. Tour local wineries and...

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Southern Ecuador Highlights

9 Days From 1415

Travel from lively Guayaquil to the wonderous, mountain-based Cuenca before exploring...

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Cycle Peru: Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley

8 Days From 1446

Visit South America and cycle in Peru. Visit Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and...

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What to see in 7-10 days in South America

Stick to to one or two countries so you can see some of the big-ticket items but also relax and get a feel for daily life. Peru is ideal because you can fly into Cusco and visit Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, then take the train to Aguas Calientes and see Macchu Picchu without the long hike. You could take the Inca Express to Puno and spend some time on Lake Titicaca, and even squeeze in a flight to Arequipa and the Colca Canyon.

Another option would be to explore both Brazil and Argentina. There’s a mix of the great outdoors (Iguazu Falls), beautiful beaches (Rio de Janeiro), local villages, incredible food, world-class wine and plenty of dancing. Alternatively, with 10 days in Ecuador you could experience the Amazon, shop in the Otovalo Markets, visit historic Quito and meet locals in the vibrant little town of Banos.

Inca Trail Express from Lima

8 Days From 1625

Travel to Peru and retrace the steps of the Inca, Peru's fascinating ancient...

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Classic Peru

9 Days From 2275

Visit South America and travel to Peru. Visit Lima, Cusco and Lake Titicaca, tour the...

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What to see in 3 weeks in South America

Combining three countries like Peru, Chile and Argentina will allow you to really get a feel for the destination. You’d get to explore the Amazon, trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and wander the winery trail in Mendoza. However there would also be plenty of breathing room to wander the streets of Santiago and meet the laidback locals on Lake Titicaca.

Swap Peru for Bolivia and you could add La Paz, Salar de Uyuni and a journey across the Bolivian altiplano to the mix. Nature lovers could use this time to hike through Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park and Argentina’s Los Glaciaries National Park. See the Perito Moreno Glacier, catch views of Mt Fitz Roy, journey along the Chilean Fjord Coast and drive the the famous Carretera Austral, probably one of the most stunning roads in South America.

Sacred Land of the Incas

15 Days From 3170

Discover the sacred land of the Inca on this 15-day tour that through Lima, the Amazon...

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Patagonia Wilderness

15 Days From 4888

Trek through South America's Patagonia region on an overland trip to Chile and...

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Galapagos & Inca Trail Adventure

17 Days From 5090

Travel to Ecuador and the wildlife-rich shores of the Galapagos Islands. Then visit...

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Highlights of Ecuador

17 Days From 4720

Amazing wildlife, both on land and underwater, is the drawcard of the remote Galapagos...

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What to see in 6 weeks in South America

Now we’re talking. The world’s your empanada, so take some time to really think about which countries you want to focus on. You could cross the middle of South America, from Lima to Rio and trek the Inca Trail, walk on the Salar de Uyni salt flats, wander through Mendoza’s wine region, dance up a storm in Buenos Aires, witness the stunning Iguazu Falls, get a tan in Rio and look up at Christ the Redeemer when you’re done. Throw Ecuador into the mix and you’ll get to experience the Amazon, Quito, Cotopaxi Volcano and beautiful Banos.

You could even spend a week in the wildlife playground of the Galapagos Islands, meeting giant Galapagos tortoises, white tip reef sharks, sea lions, marine iguanas and a staggering amount of birdlife. You won’t regret stopping in Colombia to experience the nightlife of Cali, the crayon-box colours of Cartagena’s buildings, the beaches, national parks and of course, the coffee.

Galapagos & Peru Adventure

24 Days From 6412

Visit South America and travel to the Galapagos Islands, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia....

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South America tour reviews

Articles on South America

Jul 18, 2019

8 awesome experiences you MUST have in Argentina

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No matter what kind of traveller you are – foodie, wine-lover, hiker, nature...

Jul 07, 2019

A practical guide to drinking yerba mate in...

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A world of mystery surrounds yerba maté for foreigners in Argentina. What is it?...

Jul 02, 2019

What to eat in Argentina (that isn’t steak)

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If you're travelling through Argentina and have hit your red meat quota (hey,...

Jun 26, 2019

Why trekking the Inca Trail was the best way to...

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A psychologist may have some theories about why two 50-year-olds decided to mark...

May 23, 2019

What it’s like trekking the Inca Trail, in 24...

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Lots of lush greenery, ancient pathways, atmospheric fog... and so much more.

May 12, 2019

10 things you’ll only know if you’ve travelled...

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As I found on my 8-day Inca Trail trip with Intrepid Travel, you'll visit for the...