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.
Our new tours in South America
10 Days From $2,650
Travel to Peru to discover the Inca, Peru's ancient civilisation. Travel by foot, bike...
9 Days From $896
Explore Ecuador and Peru on this adventure through Quito, Banos, Cuenca and Lima.
10 Days From $1,472
Raft a tributary of the Amazon River, hike magnificent Andean countryside and mountain...
8 Days From $1,346
Visit South America and cycle in Peru. Visit Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and...
14 Days From $3,500
Indulge in mouth-watering cuisine and witness stunning sights on Intrepid's Real Food...
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.
8 Days From $1,331
Travel to Peru and retrace the steps of the Inca, Peru's fascinating ancient...
9 Days From $2,195
Visit South America and travel to Peru. Visit Lima, Cusco and Lake Titicaca, tour the...
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.
15 Days From $2,996
Discover Peru's sacred land of the Incas. Visit Lima, the Amazon, Cusco, Puno, Lake...
15 Days From $4,915
Trek through South America's Patagonia region on an overland trip to Chile and...
17 Days From $4,810
Travel to Ecuador and the wildlife-rich shores of the Galapagos Islands. Then visit...
21 Days From $2,230
Travel from La Paz to Buenos Aires and discover the heart of South America. This...
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.
24 Days From $6,525
Visit South America and travel to the Galapagos Islands, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia....
60 Days From $7,305
Go Overland from Lima to Rio with Intrepid Travel. Uncover hidden treasures from Peru...
34 Days From $3,980
Discover penguins, glaciers and eye-popping cities on an epic South American adventure....
42 Days From $5,300
Visit South America and travel through Peru, Bolivia and Argentina from Lima to Buenos...
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Festivals in South America
January
Fiesta de la Santa Tierra, Lake Titicaca, Peru
- During the Festival of the Sacred Land, half the population celebrates at the Temple of Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the other half at the Temple of Pachatata (Father Earth).
Love parade, Santiago, Chile
- The world’s biggest electronic dance festival is a non-stop parade of music, with hundreds of DJs from around the world.
February
Rio Carnaval
- Held 40 days before Easter, Rio is home to the biggest Carnaval party in the world where over 2 million people come to play.
Fiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria, Puno, Peru
- The Virgin of Candelaria is Puno’s patron saint and she is honoured with a huge festival each year, featuring traditional dancing and dazzling costumes and masks.
March
National Grape Harvest Festival, Mendoza, Argentina
- Concerts, street festivals and a cut-throat beauty contest all come to a head in the first week of March with fireworks and gaucho displays.
April
Semana Santa, Uruguay
- During Holy Week there are rituals, processions and prayer meetings all around South America. In Uruguay the whole country shuts down.
May
Festival of the Snows, Peru
- Held on a remote Peruvian glacier, this is a three-day festival known as Qoyllurit’I. Around 30,000 pilgrims take part in music and dancing, finishing up with a torch-lit parade.
June
Inti Raymi, Cusco, Peru
- This Inca Festival of the Sun is held in celebration of the winter solstice. The sun god is honoured with parades and dances, and thousands of visitors fill the streets of Cusco.
July
Septenario Festival, Cuenca, Ecuador
- This Corpus Christi event is a weeklong celebration, where you can indulge in food, games and watch fireworks each night.
Qoyllur Rit'I, Mahuayani, Peru
August
World Tango Championships, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Enjoy free dance lessons and concerts as the world’s best tango dancers converge on the city to compete for the crown.
Feria de las Flores, Medellín, Colombia
- This enormous flower festival features events such as the Cavalgata de Caballos (Horse Parade), Desfile de Carros Antiguos (Antique Car Parade) and the Desfile de Silleteros, a chance to see beautiful flower designs.
September
Rock in Rio, Brazil
- Starting out in 1985 with Queen and AC/DC as headliners, this has grown to become one of the biggest music festivals in the world.
November
Dia de los Difuntos, Ecuador
- All Soul’s Day honours the saints and the dead, where people visit the graves of their loved ones and honour them with special feasts.
December
Feri de Cali, Santiago de Cali, Colombia
- Not for the faint-hearted, this is two weeks of hardcore partying where the streets of Cali become awash with music and dancing.
Independence Day, Chile
- There is plenty on offer, including rodeos and military processions along with incredible food and wine.
Our destinations in South America
South America tour reviews
Bolivia Highlights, May 2018
Ann Smith
This tour was an amazing experience and would be difficult to do this independently. Intrepid ticked all the boxes for our trip
Review submitted 19 Jun 2018
Inca Trail Express, June 2018
Kathleen Graves
This was my 2nd trip with Intrepid and I look forward to planning my 3rd. I am a solo traveler, 54 years old, yet with Intrepid you are never alone. Our group was very cohesive and supported each other to make sure everyone was successful and made it to the end. That's what I love about travelling with Intrepid. Our guide Joseph was the most positive, and encouraging leader and could not have been better. I valued his help and support. Our co-guide Mel had to be the most compassionate person. She was such a comforting supporter. They had a great team. I went during the dry season and it was wet! I advise to bring a very good rain jacket and poncho even if you book in the dry season. The poncho's you buy on the trail and not sturdy enough for the gusting winds and rain.
Review submitted 19 Jun 2018
Ultimate Galapagos - Central Islands - (Daphne), May 2018
Linda Breci
This was an amazing adventure. Knowledgeable naturalist guide, helpful and attentive crew, and all our needs met. I highly recommend traveling to the Galapagos with Intrepid.
Review submitted 19 Jun 2018
Inca Encounter, May 2018
Steven Johnson
Intrepid main team professional and experienced, unfortunately this multi location trip was disjointed and our expectation from the Intrepid Office Team and Itinerary was not matched by the 'make-it-up-as-we-go-approach at a location level.
Review submitted 18 Jun 2018
Galapagos Island Hopping, June 2018
Peter Agar
This trip ticked both Machu Pichu & Galapagos from my bucket list. The Peru leg was comprehensive in what is a spectacularly diverse country. This trip prepared you well for the arduous but rewarding Inca Trail. Book early for the Trail as the numbers are strictly limited.
Review submitted 18 Jun 2018
Galapagos Island Hopping, April 2018
Carol Nicholls
Fabulous trip. Amazing wildlife, beautiful islands. I liked that we were not confined to a boat and had the freedom to move around & see other sights
Review submitted 18 Jun 2018
Best of Bolivia and Argentina, June 2018
Tania Ryopponen
This was my second Intrepid tour and I had a phenomenal two weeks. I made new friends I will see again, I didn’t have to worry about logistics and I managed to see a huge amount of places in a short period of time without having to lift a finger. To top it all off, the guides are professional, helpful and knowledgeable, which makes visiting new places all the more interesting. I would highly recommend travelling with Intrepid!
Review submitted 18 Jun 2018
Peru Encompassed, May 2018
Graham Clothier
Peru Encompassed was excellent. Our guide was excellent and really treated us as if it was our special event.
Review submitted 18 Jun 2018
Peru Encompassed, May 2018
Karen Clothier
Peru Encompassed gave us an amazing cultural experience of the diversity that Peru has to offer. The diversity in Culture, Language, Geography, History, Architecture and Agriculture made this an amazing experience. Peak Adventures provided us with an exceptional experience trekking the Classic Inca Trail. Manuel Alcalde was exemplary in his leadership
Review submitted 18 Jun 2018
Articles on South America
Jun 13, 2018
A bite-sized history of Machu Picchu
There are a few theories as to how Machu Picchu was built by the Incas. Here's a...
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