Wildlife in South America
Our South America Holidays
Galapagos cruises
Cruise the Galapagos Islands on sailing boats and yachts
Brazil wildlife holiday, tailor made
From the world’s largest jungle to wild empty beaches
Galapagos cruise options, tailor made
The greatest wildlife experiences tailor made
Ecuador ecolodge, Napo Wildlife Center
A luxurious eco-lodge in wildlife rich Ecuadorean Amazon
Galapagos Islands holiday
Home to many interesting species of endemic wildlife
Galapagos land based adventure holiday
Amazing wildlife, both on land and underwater
Peru and Galapagos holiday
An inspirational tour combining Peru, Ecuador & the Galapagos
Ecuador holiday, small group tour
Ecuador small group adventure holiday
Antarctic cruise and hiking in Chile
Walk in Atacama and Patagonia before cruising Antarctica
Flexible Galapagos Islands tailor made tour
Your choice of four to eight-day land-based adventure
Galapagos tailor made holiday
Discover wildlife upclose & personal, guided by Galapagueños
Budget Ecuador and Galapagos holiday, 23 days
Experience all of Ecuador for travelers on a budget
Ecuador & Galapagos holiday, tailormade
Discover the Andes, Amazon and Galapagos
Cloudforest holiday to Manu National Park
Simple lodge and camping hut tours, Manu National Park, Peru
Peru and Galapagos active holiday
Private Inca Trail away from crowds & small boat cruise.
Rio to Iguazu Falls tour in Brazil
Fully escorted group journey of natural southern Brazil
Jungle trekking holiday in Guyana
Trek through the jungle of Guyana to Kaieteur Falls
Galapagos multi activity holiday
An amazing adventure Galapagos Multi-sports
Peru Amazon tour, 4 days
This enthralling jungle adventure into the Peruvian Amazon
Jaguar spotting holiday in Brazil
Jaguar spotting in the Pantanal of Brazil
Bolivia holiday, Madidi National Park & ecolodge
Experience Madidi National Park in the Bolivian Amazon
Mammals of Brazil wildlife tour
Pantanal, Cerrado & Amazon in search of mammals
Atacama to Paine small group holiday in Chile
Walk in the Moon Valley and on the Salar de Atacama
Small group tour in Brazil
An in depth discovery tour of Brazil including the Amazon
Galapagos wildlife cruise
Follow in Darwin's footsteps and meet the inhabitants of the Galapagos islands
Wildlife of Brazil holiday
Jaguars, capybara & caiman: Brazil's ultimate wildlife tour
Paraguay Missiones and Iguazu tour
Signature Paraguay: The Missions and the Chaco
Off the beaten track Brazil tailor made tour
Explore Brazil and the Lençois Maranhenses National Park
Brazil wildlife tour, jaguars and waterfalls
Jaguar spotting 100% success rate, Iguacu waterfalls & Rio.
Where to see wildlife in South America
The Amazon, Brazil
There’s a magic to spending time in the Amazon that goes beyond the thrill of its animals, which is handy, because the dense vegetation can rather get in the way of the wildlife. The Amazon experience is as much about immersing yourself in the cacophony of sound, embracing the humidity and discovering the knowledge and stories of your indigenous guides as it is about spotting individual species.Saying that, while your chances of seeing jaguars or other big mammals are quite slim in the heart of the forest, you’ll still need to keep your binoculars handy for glimpses of sunburnt-looking Uakari monkeys swinging through the canopy. Or red howler monkeys, three-toed sloths, black caiman and a host of vibrantly-coloured birds. Remote lodges, often owned and run by indigenous forest communities, are accessed from the jungle city of Manaus. From here, comfortable yet basic expedition cruises and motorised canoes take you explorer-style along the Rio Negro, Rio Japurá and other tributaries and channels of the Amazon into the heart of some of Brazil’s most pristine forest. Guided walks through the jungle, kayaking, canoe safaris to spot pink river dolphins, wild swimming and visits to remote villages are all possible.
Given the need for a flight to Manaus, it is easy to combine a few days in the heart of the Amazon with a wider itinerary to the Pantanal, Rio de Janeiro or other areas of Brazil. Read more about Amazon adventures in our Brazil travel guide.
Patagonia, Argentina and Chile
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
The islands that inspired Darwin’s Theory of Evolution astound tourists and scientists alike, not for the size of its wildlife but for its boldness in the face of visitors. Centuries of isolation have left these animals with little fear of humans, so the Galapagos have become a unique place to immerse yourself in their wild world. Marine iguanas lounge atop volcanic rocks, sea lions play as you snorkel and giant Galapagos tortoises roam the islands’ highlands. The birdlife here is as noteworthy as the marine life – frigate birds with their scarlet balloon-like throats are a constant companion overhead while huge waved albatrosses launch themselves off the cliffs on Española Island. Among the most unique are the Galapagos penguins, the only species to be found living north of the equator.Small cruise ships, carrying a maximum of 100 passengers and often just a fraction of that number, criss-cross between the islands while a network of locally-run guesthouses on the few inhabited islands make land-based tours a more family-friendly, and affordable, option. Read more in our Galapagos Islands travel guide.
Our top South America Holiday
Galapagos cruises
Cruise the Galapagos Islands on sailing boats and yachts
Daily departures throughout the year.
Manú National Park, Peru
Manú National Park, and its surrounding buffer zone the Manú Biosphere Reserve protects some of the most pristine, untouched rainforest in Peru, as well as swathes of cloud forest and indigenous Machiguenga tribal communities. One of the most biodiverse reserves on the planet, UNESCO-listed Manú is home to thousands of species of birds as well as some of the Amazon’s most endangered wildlife. Jaguars and giant otters call this steamy wilderness home, alongside spectacled bears and the unique nocturnal night monkey.Guided walks in the jungle and motorised canoe trips along the Madre de Dios River reveal the life in this rainforest. Head into the highly protected Manú Reserved Zone to experience virgin rainforest, where pristine Lake Salvador hides families of giant otters and black caiman. Camping huts are a unique way to enjoy jungle life, alongside a network of remote lodges run by Manú’s indigenous communities.
Manú also encompasses the almost-permanently mist-shrouded cloud forest - a unique wildlife-rich environment that sits between the high-altitude Andes and the Amazon lowlands. Hike through the forest to a lek of the Cock-of-the-rock for a chance to watch the wonderful mating dance of these vibrant red-headed birds. Read more about wildlife in Peru in our Peru travel guide.
Tambopata National Reserve, Peru
The Pantanal, Brazil
Brazil’s Amazon may be the headline nature act in South America, but if you want to see swathes of wildlife then there is nowhere better than the Pantanal. The world’s largest seasonal wetland offers almost guaranteed sightings of jaguar in the wilds around Porto Jofre, as these well-camouflaged and notoriously elusive cats prowl the river banks.You might think it would be tough to spot individual creatures in a wetland the size of France, but the openness of the terrain, and lack of dense forest coupled with the sheer quantity of animals here – a thousand species of birds and 300 species of mammal – means there’s every chance you stumble across capybara, tapir, giant otters, piranhas and even jaguar as you explore the flooded forests and grasslands by boat. Guided night walks by torchlight reveal the glowing red eyes of caiman, while gentle horse-back safaris are also possible. Find out more in our Pantanal travel guide.