South America travel tips
Chilean cornucopia
Chilean cornucopia
David Orrock from our supplier Pura Adventure highlights the dazzling variety of distinctive experiences in Chile in his South America travel tips:
“There are so many… wrapped up warmly, star gazing in the Atacama Desert; staying in a family home on the Pacific Coast of Chiloé tucking into the freshest seafood and sipping delicious Chilean wine; travelling by boat upriver into Torres del Paine National Park rather than bouncing around on a gravel road. We spend as much time out and about in the open air to make sure people get a sense of Chile every day of their trip.”
Our South America Holidays
Peru tailormade holiday
Lima, Colca, Titicaca & Machu Picchu in a customisable tour.
From
£1765
14 days
ex flights
Galapagos cruises
Cruise the Galapagos Islands on sailing boats and yachts
From
£1995
8 days
ex flights
South America tour, coast to coast
Epic discovery journey across South America
From
£3233
19 days
ex flights
Patagonia small group holiday
Explore Patagonia's National Parks by foot and small-ship.
From
US $5174 to US $6954
11 days
ex flights
Peru highlights tour, Inca trail, Titicaca and Nazca
Taste Peru's diverse landscapes and fascinating culture
From
£2799 to £3229
17 days
inc UK flights
Hiking the Inca trail holiday
An unrivalled combination of history and spectacular scenery
From
£1999 to £2409
11 days
inc UK flights
Patagonia luxury adventure holiday
Luxury hotels and adventure in Patagonia
From
£3757 to £3987
11 days
ex flights
Bolivia and Peru tour
Explore the Amazon Andes and Inca trail
From
£3290 to £3710
25 days
ex flights
Peru tour, off the beaten track
An cultural small group tour to the Northern region of Peru.
From
£2885
14 days
ex flights
Chile adventure holiday
Chile's best: the Atacama Desert, Lake District and Patagonia
From
£4249 to £4839
15 days
inc UK flights
Ecuador holiday, small group tour
Ecuador small group adventure holiday
From
£2399 to £2479
16 days
inc UK flights
Galapagos & Amazon wildlife holiday, Ecuador
The ultimate wildlife trip to the Amazon and Galapagos
From
US $6190
16 days
ex flights
Ecuador adventure holiday, tailor made
From volcano-top to Amazon basin and everything in between!
From
£1395
9 days
ex flights
Brazil wildlife holiday, tailor made
From the world’s largest jungle to the world’s largest swamp
From
£4070
14 days
inc UK flights
South America overland expedition
South America as few others will experience it
From
£3825
15 weeks
ex flights
Southern Peru small group tour
Journey through south Peru, the heartland of the Inca Empire
From
£3131
14 days
ex flights
Atacama and Patagonia hiking holiday
Explore Chile on foot Atacama Patagonia Walking Holiday
From
£4595 to £5170
14 days
ex flights
Tailor made holiday in Brazil
Green Coast, the Pantanal, and Iguaçu Falls
From
£4500
15 days
inc UK flights
Tour of Patagonia, El Calafate & Torres del Paine
Patagonia's best - Torres del Paine and Perito Moreno Glacier.
From
US $560 to US $1133
5 days
ex flights
Ecuador ecolodge, Napo Wildlife Center
A luxurious eco-lodge in wildlife rich Ecuadorean Amazon
From
£1173
4 days
ex flights
Galapagos holiday cruise options
Excellent selection of small and midsize Galapagos cruises
From
£2835 to £4150
8 days
ex flights
Patagonian adventure holiday
Explore the highlights of Argentine and Chilean Patagonia
From
£2559 to £2701
15 days
ex flights
Peru and Galapagos holiday
An inspirational tour combining Peru, Ecuador & the Galapagos
From
£5195
15 days
ex flights
Inca Trail walking tour, Peru
Customisable holiday including comfort service Inca Trail
From
£1285
8 days
ex flights
Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro tour, 9 days
Discover the highlights of two vibrant and famous cities!
From
£1160
9 days
ex flights
Cloudforest holiday to Manu National Park
Simple lodge and camping hut tours, Manu National Park, Peru
From
£1287 to £1386
7 days
ex flights
Overland tour to South America, Andes to the Amazon
Action packed South American overland tour
From
£2145
53 days
ex flights
Going wild in Brazil
Going wild in Brazil
Anna Scrivens from our supplier Audley Travel offers wise words contrasting the Amazon and Pantanal for wildlife fans in her South America travel tips:
“We’re very careful with how we describe the Amazon because some people go there expecting to see a lot of wildlife. But really you don’t because the rainforest is so dense. So people can be disappointed if they have the wrong expectations. The Amazon is not really about the wildlife; it’s more of a jungle experience. If it’s wildlife you’re interested in then you need to go to the Pantanal. It’s not as famous as the Amazon, but the wildlife is much better. It feels much less like a jungle because the vegetation is so dense – but that’s why you see more wildlife.”
Is an overland tour for you?
Is an overland tour for you?
Jess Millett, from our supplier, Tucan Travel, shares her advice on what sort of traveller is suited to a South America overland trip: “To make the most of an overland tour you need to be very flexible, quite patient, and up for a really good adventure. Due to the very nature of these tours, there’s always a chance that something can go wrong – like a tyre blowing, or a break down – so you need to be able to shrug that off and make the most of it. An overland trip is ideal for solo travellers as it’s a very sociable style of travel – you’re mucking in together; you’re cooking together; you’re cleaning together, so there’s a definite community spirit. You’re almost guaranteed to make some really good friends and share some incredible memories.”
City tips
City tips
Elena Larkin from our supplier Natural World Safaris is originally from Lima, and highlights its growing appeal in her South America travel tips:
"Lima is changing - and it's all due to the gastronomy boom of the last few years. The city itself has a lot to offer: the centre is still very colonial, there are lots of museums and we have ruins about an hour away. It's been understated for so many years - people just stayed there for a night before heading to Cuzco - but nowadays people are starting to stay for two or three nights.”
Argentine Patagonia
Argentine Patagonia
Kathy Jarvis from our supplier Andean Trails goes misty-eyed about vast skies and cowboy culture in her Argentina travel advice:
“Immense skyscapes are one of Patagonia’s key features. Though travelling distances can be long these amazing skies and vast empty scenery are so different you switch into a different time mode – hours float by. Glacier lakes and granite spires are oases in the landscapes. Spit roasted lamb and huge chunks of beef accompanied with a fabulous Malbec epitomises the Argentine attitude to food: plenty of it, tasty, nourishing and uncomplicated.”
Our top South America Holiday
Peru tailormade holiday
Lima, Colca, Titicaca & Machu Picchu in a customisable tour.
From
£1765
14 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Helpdesk
Hello. If you'd like to chat about South America or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help. Rosy & team.
Health & safety
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Tips from our travellers
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful South America travel travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful South America travel travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
Talking to local people about their lives was one of the most fascinating aspects of this holiday
Joanna Rothon
"Make sure you're in good shape for long and sometimes challenging hikes in Patagonia." - Karen Cutler
"In the Atacama, be ready for no internet. But the experience is worth it." - Victoria Edwards
"The ability to speak a little South American Spanish would make it a lot easier. Also make sure you take some warm clothing for early starts and high areas visited. But don't forget the sun hat and sun screen as well." - Dave Thalrose
"Peru and Bolivia are developing countries and hygiene and timekeeping are rather different there. Remember to respect locals and their way of life too!" - Kristiina Puusaari-Sheahan
"In the Atacama, be ready for no internet. But the experience is worth it." - Victoria Edwards
"The ability to speak a little South American Spanish would make it a lot easier. Also make sure you take some warm clothing for early starts and high areas visited. But don't forget the sun hat and sun screen as well." - Dave Thalrose
"Peru and Bolivia are developing countries and hygiene and timekeeping are rather different there. Remember to respect locals and their way of life too!" - Kristiina Puusaari-Sheahan
In the Atacama, be ready for no internet. But the experience is worth it.
Victoria Edwards
"In Iquazu, all payments for tours are required in cash - no cards accepted. And the US dollar is in favour - but in the shops/restaurants cards are OK." - Vera Alladitta
"Make sure your camera has a huge memory card... and take a good lip balm because the altitude makes your lips dry!!" - Jo Curry
"If you are not on a direct flight back to the UK - we changed planes at Madrid - you may have to change terminal and the authorities will take any liquid duty free off you. I'm still cross about my vintage wine!" - Patricia Stott
"Talking to local people about their lives was one of the most fascinating aspects of this holiday." - Joanna Rothon
"Make sure your camera has a huge memory card... and take a good lip balm because the altitude makes your lips dry!!" - Jo Curry
"If you are not on a direct flight back to the UK - we changed planes at Madrid - you may have to change terminal and the authorities will take any liquid duty free off you. I'm still cross about my vintage wine!" - Patricia Stott
"Talking to local people about their lives was one of the most fascinating aspects of this holiday." - Joanna Rothon
More about South America
The best time to visit much of South America is any time outside of the Jan-March rains. Remember that in the southern hemisphere, seasons are reversed...
We take you trekking, bushwhacking, rafting and salsa-ing your way across this thrilling continent, from Amazon depths to Andean peaks...
Our map helps you choose which places to visit in South America, whether you're enjoying an epic overland tour or a relaxing two-week holiday...
Trek in the Andes, spot Andean wildlife, discover Aymara, Quechua, Afro and Latino culture, or cross remote borders on a thrilling overland tour...
Latinos are famously welcoming towards children, and will be delighted to share folklore, street food, language and dance with any curious visitor...
Is there really such a thing as an ethical wildlife selfie? The spread of social media has encouraged a worrying trend in pictures of tourists holding, hugging and feeding wild animals, and NGO World Animal Protection has campaigned to stop this.
Across the continent there are issues with the displacement, deforestation and deep set poverty. Our guide helps you make wise - and kind - choices...
Find all of our South America guides in one place, for particular places in South America such as Bolivia, the Galapagos or Peru.
Why book with Responsible Travel
Photo credits: [Page banner: McKay Savage] [Chilian cornucopia: Christopher Michel]
[Going wild in Brazil: Neil Palmer/CIAT]
[City tips: Art DiNo]
[Argentine Patagonia: Douglas Scortegagna]
[Health & saftey - Cusco rooftops: Kenneth Moore]
[Review intro: Nick Jewell]
[Review 1 - Joanna Rothon: Geraint Rowland]
[Review 2 - Victoria Edwards: Nicolas de Camaret]
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