Things to do in South America
Tantalising trekking
The Inca Trail is one of the world's great hikes, taking trekkers through extraordinary high-altitude Andean scenery via mountain passes, Quechua villages, Alpine tundra and humid cloud forests. There are several routes to choose from; the 43km classic route is usually completed in four or five days. Most of the trail follows original Incan stone paths, and leads to the "Sun Gate" – the most dramatic entry point to the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu.
For something just as rugged but dramatically different, hit Patagonia's wilderness: the granite towers of Torres del Paine or jagged peaks of the Fitzroy Range; multi-day treks adorned with fantastic glaciers; off-the-radar treks in Aysén and Tierra del Fuego (next stop: Antarctica).
Alternatively, consider forest hikes to the waterfalls of central Chile's Radal Siete Tazas National Park or the volcanic landscape around Nevados de Chillan (with hot springs to ease any aches), or explore the Lake Districts of either Chile or Argentina, where trails wind through lush alpine valleys and along pristine rivers. And if you're visiting Iguazu Falls, explore its surrounding forest trails.
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
Peru tour, off the beaten track
An cultural small group tour to the Northern region of Peru.
From
£3035
14 days
ex flights
Ecuador adventure holiday, tailor made
From volcano-top to Amazon basin and everything in between!
From
£1795
9 days
ex flights
Patagonia luxury adventure holiday
Luxury hotels and adventure in Patagonia
From
US $4327 to US $4887
11 days
ex flights
Highlights of Patagonia holiday
10 day adventure through the Highlights of Patagonia.
From
£1006 to £1549
10 days
ex flights
Galapagos holiday cruise options
Excellent selection of small and midsize Galapagos cruises
From
£3655 to £4150
8 days
ex flights
Patagonian adventure holiday
Explore the highlights of Argentine and Chilean Patagonia
From
US $3194 to US $4300
15 days
ex flights
Hiking the Inca trail holiday
An unrivalled combination of history and spectacular scenery
From
£2079 to £2479
11 days
inc UK flights
Brazil wildlife holiday, tailor made
From the world’s largest jungle to wild empty beaches
From
£5250
14 days
inc UK flights
Ecuador holiday, small group tour
Ecuador small group adventure holiday
From
£2499 to £2960
16 days
inc UK flights
Chile adventure holiday
Chile's best: the Atacama Desert, Lake District and Patagonia
From
£4249 to £4749
15 days
inc UK flights
Ecuador ecolodge, Napo Wildlife Center
A luxurious eco-lodge in wildlife rich Ecuadorean Amazon
From
£1323 to £1973
4 days
ex flights
Peru highlights tour, Inca trail, Titicaca and Nazca
Taste Peru's diverse landscapes and fascinating culture
From
£2949 to £3379
17 days
inc UK flights
Tailor made holiday in Brazil
Green Coast, the Pantanal, and Iguaçu Falls
From
£5780
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 $625 to US $875
5 days
ex flights
Southern Peru small group tour
Journey through south Peru, the heartland of the Inca Empire
From
£3386
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
Galapagos & Amazon wildlife holiday, Ecuador
The ultimate wildlife trip to the Amazon and Galapagos
From
US $6190
16 days
ex flights
Bolivia and Peru tour
Explore the Amazon Andes and Inca trail
From
£2992 to £3630
25 days
ex flights
South America overland expedition
South America as few others will experience it
From
£3950
15 weeks
ex flights
Peru and Galapagos holiday
An inspirational tour combining Peru, Ecuador & the Galapagos
From
£5398
15 days
ex flights
Inca Trail walking tour, Peru
Customisable holiday including comfort service Inca Trail
From
£1285
8 days
ex flights
Ecuador and Amazon holiday
A journey of discovery and exploration
From
£750 to £1179
14 days
ex flights
Galapagos Islands holiday
Home to many interesting species of endemic wildlife
From
£5199 to £5749
15 days
inc UK flights
Coach football in Brazil
Coach various sports on stunning Florianopolis Island!
From
£1295
4 weeks
ex flights
Paine and Fitz Roy trek, trekking holiday
Spectacular Andes scenery from glacial lakes to towering granite peaks
From
£4840 to £4990
15 days
ex flights
A wild continent
Close to four million species live within Brazil’s borders alone, making it the world's most bio-diverse nation. Hit the Pantanal, the wondrous wetland where 700 species of bird and 100 mammals hang out unobscured by jungle as in the Amazon.
Ecuador's phenomenal habitat diversity has wildlife to match: vicuñas and condors in the Andes; cloud forest birdlife; howler monkeys, sloths and anacondas in the Amazon; whales off the mainland; sea lions, iguanas and tortoises in the Galápagos. Peru's amazing species include giant otters, spectacled bears and pink river dolphins – along with 1,800 birds, the second highest of any country in the world.
Hemmed by the Andes, Pacific and Atacama desert, Chile hosts unique mammals like the pudu (pygmy deer) and colo-colo wildcat, alongside puma, king penguins, dolphins, giant blue whales plus soft-furred vicuna. Twitchers can spot gorgeous hummingbirds.
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
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about South America or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
Be a culture vulture (or,
better, a culture condor)
better, a culture condor)
South America is one of the world's richest melting pots
Brazil alone has over 220 indigenous groups, complemented by African slave descendants and more willing global immigrants, each adding their traditions to a fantastic cultural stew. The Andean highlands are home to Aymara and Inca-descended Quechua, while Chile's Chinchorro mummies date back 7,000 years. Everywhere, colonial architecture recalls an Iberian influx. And on remote Easter Island, the Rapa Nui's brooding statues are among mankind's most potent icons.
Extend your reach...
Be greedy when dipping into South America's selection box!
Why stick to one brilliant country when there's another quite different but equally brilliant one next door? If you can make the time, South America amply rewards crossing borders for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to taste as much as you can of the continent's feast for mind and senses. Pair Brazil with Argentina, or contrast Chile's modernity with Bolivia's rustic awesomeness. Galapagos, meanwhile, is a different world to its parent country Ecuador. South America overland is the way to go.
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...
There are few places that hold such significance for life on earth as the Galapagos Islands.
Towering walls of glacial ice, windswept open steppe and spectacular miradores with views of majestic jagged mountains are Patagonia’s calling cards.
Wildlife in South America has thrilled scientists and explorers and beguiled travellers for centuries.
Latinos are famously welcoming towards children, and will be delighted to share folklore, street food, language and dance with any curious visitor...
Get tips on the best way to explore Patagonia, the Amazon vs the Pantanal, what to do in the Lake District and where to find the best street food...
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.
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Photo credits: [Page banner: McKay Savage] [A wild continent: Joseph C Boone]
[Be a culture vulture (or, better, a culture condor): McKay Savage]
[Extend your reach...: seretide]
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