We had the best time! We had rain, we had snow, we had wind, we had sun. The guides were amazing and filled us with positive vibes and confidence. The group mixed beautifully. Such a great experience.
WildlifeTrekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Camping, Lodge, Hotel
Age Range
12-100 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Torres del Paine National Park
Torres del Paine National Park, Puerto Natales, Full Circuit, Camping Laguna Azul, Lake Dickson Camp, Camp Los Perros, Camp Grey, Camp Paine Grande, Camp Los Cuernos
18% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Honestly, this trip to Chile was something else. I didn’t know what to expect going in, but wow — it blew me away. From city life to total wilderness to the most surreal desert I’ve ever seen… it had everything.
Santiago totally surprised me. It’s got this cool energy. one minute you're walking past old colonial buildings next you’re sipping wine on a rooftop with views of the Andes. And the food? Next level. I was legit full the entire time.
Then came Patagonia and I mean, come on. You see photos online, but being there? Completely different. Puerto Natales was the cutest little town, super chill with killer views, and it just felt so peaceful. And then you're surrounded by mountains that make you feel really, really small (in a good way).
And just when I thought the trip had peaked, boom we’re in the Atacama Desert. I’ve never seen landscapes like that before. Moon Valley looked like Mars, no joke. The salt flats were insanely quiet and still, like the world paused for a second. And those mirror-like lagoons? Unreal. I took way too many pictures.
The whole thing was smooth — flights, guides, hotels — didn’t have to think about a thing. If you want a trip that’s equal parts adventure, nature, and just pure “whoa,” this one’s it. I came back with full camera storage and even fuller memories.
City sightseeingChill out
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Villa
Age Range
8-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Santiago, Atacama Desert, San Pe
Santiago, Atacama Desert, San Pedro De Atacama, Puerto Natales
Hi Vera and Yuna,
We are back in the US and have reflected on our fabulous trip. Thank you for a wonderful tour. We loved the program, the guide (Ava) and the hotels! We appreciate all your work, help and guidance in making this a special 60th birthday journey.
AdventureHoneymoon
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hut, Hotel, Villa
Age Range
5-79 yrs
Operated in
english, spanish
Destinations
Uyuni, Salta, Atacama Desert, Ju
Uyuni, Salta, Atacama Desert, Jujuy, San Pedro De Atacama, Moon Valley, Machuca Village, Laguna Colorada, Chiguana Salt Flat
The cruise to the glaciers and fiords is amazing. The ship is perfect for the conditions, the food excellent and the staff very efficient catering to the guests every need. The naturalist guides are also excellent. Breath taking scenery, wild life and a little secret treat I assure is great fun but must keep a future traveler in suspense. This is a must do when visiting Chile
Glaciers
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
5-79 yrs
Operated in
english, spanish
Destinations
Buenos Aires, El Calafate, Perit
Buenos Aires, El Calafate, Perito Moreno Glacier, Los Glaciares National Park
Our travel agent, Lucila, designed the best trip ever. Everything was just perfect—from the hotels to the wild experiences. We enjoyed the trip so much; every day felt like a dream. I look forward to organizing a new adventure around the world with Lucila.
Everything was just AMAZING!
Thank you, Lucila and team!
Self-drive or vehicle rental
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
12-99 yrs
Operated in
english, spanish
Destinations
Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Salt
Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Salta, Purmamarca, Jujuy, Humahuaca, Tilcara, Cachi, Cafayate, Puerto Iguazu
There’s times when it’s appropriate to dip a toe in, and there’s times when it’s best to dive in head first. Get ready to jump straight into the action on this trip from Lima to Rio, with plenty of time for independent exploring and taking things at your own pace. This trip takes in the very best of the centre of South America – from trekking the Inca Trail to Macchu Pichu to partying in Rio de Janiero. Visit Iguaza Falls, stroll the barrios of Buenos Aires, snap pictures at the incredible Uyuni Salt Flats, look out over the Nazca Lines and explore the histories and cultures of this incredible part of the world at a pace that allows you to do as much as you want.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Camping, Home-stay
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Cusco, Oll
Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Cusco, Ollantaytambo, Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, Puno, La Paz, Sucre, Potosi, Salar De Uyuni, Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve, Tilcara, Buenos Aires, Colonia Del Sacramento, Estancia, Iguazu Falls, Iguazu Falls, Nazca, Arequipa, Colca Canyon
We just returned from a 5-week trip to South America. The team was AMAZING. They helped us plan a very complex itinerary that included multiple cities in Chile and Peru, a side-trip to Easter Island, Machu Picchu and the sacred valley, and finally Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Peru. The advice they gave and the hotels they chose were truly exceptional. The detailed day-by-day itinerary was very helpful, and all of their in-country partners (e.g., drivers, tour guides) were terrific. Everything went perfectly. Best travel experience ever! Thank you, Analia and Antonella!!!
Cruise
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Ship Cabin
Age Range
5-79 yrs
Operated in
english, spanish
Destinations
Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, Patagonia
Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, Patagonia, Wulaia Bay, Pia Glacier, Agostini Fjord
Take an adventure in diverse South America on this 25-day trip from La Paz to Rio de Janeiro. See amazing natural wonders, walk the streets of busy cities and meet the charming locals with a leader by your side who knows all the best spots. Tour the city of Colonia del Sacramento, discover why Salta is nicknamed ‘La Linda’ (‘the beautiful’) and tick immersive Buenos Aires off your bucket list with your new group of friends. Witness the magic of the Iguazu Falls, journey through the untamed desert scenery of San Pedro de Atacama and see the otherworldly Salar de Uyuni salt flats. You’ll have plenty of free time to explore each location, and all the logistics are taken care of for you, so you can concentrate on making new connections and discovering new places.
Adventure
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-35 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Rio de Janeiro, La Paz, Buenos A
Rio de Janeiro, La Paz, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Estancia, Iguazu Falls, Paraty, Ilha Grande, Salar De Uyuni, Altiplano, San Pedro De Atacama, Salta
18% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
This Fly and Cruise itinerary features the best of Antarctica and with the absense of the Drake Passage crossing, allows extra time for exploration. Get up close with iridescent icebergs, vast colonies of Adelie and gentoo penguins, as well as islands that are alive with leopard seals busy with courtship, bustling penguins and maybe feeding whales! In this frozen area of extraordinary beauty, powerful orcas and leopard seals patrol the waters, while ethereal snow petrels grace the skies against a backdrop of bristling mountain ranges and surreal icebergs. Threading our way through an intricate system of icy waterways, we aim for the glorious Crystal Sound at the mouth of The Gullet. Get ready for an exciting Antarctic adventure, complemented by powerful whales, shimmering mountain ranges and mesmerising icebergs.
Visit some of Antarctica's historic huts - enjoy visits to scientific research stations
Get up-close - with humpback and minke whales
Enjoy the freedom of Antarctica - being in the vast, ice-sculpted Antarctic wilderness
Polar expeditions and cruise
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Ship Cabin, Hut
Age Range
16-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, Antarctic
Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, Antarctic Peninsula, Drake Passage, King George Island
If you love big landscapes, deserts, rock formations, volcanoes, geysers, remoteness and views that go on forever, then this is the trip for you. This was combined with very friendly people, local culture and good wine, making for one of the best trips I've ever had.
This was my first trip with Explore. (All the other members of the group had travelled multiple times with them). I would say the trip exceeded my expectations in every respect. Judging by the comments of the rest of the group, it was one of the best many of them had been on too. I have taken away memories that will last forever and met some wonderful people along the way.
There were six travellers in the group (all solo travellers) as well as Andres our guide, local guides and drivers. This was the first trip run on a new itinerary or at least one which Explore has not sold for a number of years. So in that respect our group were the guinea-pigs for the trip. I felt the group got on very well. I would say six was a good group size for the minibuses. It gave us room to spread out with our bags and snooze if needed on the longer journeys.
Itinerary:
The itinerary covers a lot of ground in a short space of time so is definitely full-on. However, overall, I thought it was well-paced with well-timed rest periods. Given that this was a new itinerary, there are a couple of "tweaks" I would make (mentioned below). However, they are minor changes only to what I found to be a well-rounded and balanced trip.
HIghlights for me included the Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia. I loved the desert, lagoons, volcanoes, flamingoes, the salt hotel and of course, our meal with our wonderful Bolivian guides - which I'll never forget. Another highlight was the sunset and moonrise over the Atacama Desert near San Pedro. I felt the trip was a gift that kept on giving. Just when you had one experience which you thought could not be topped, along came another one. The trip was cleverly planned in that sense.
In terms of amendments, I would suggest the following:
HIgh altitude is a feature of this trip and perhaps needs to be emphasised and explained a little more fully in the trip notes so that travellers can take a view. However, for me, any discomfort was more than compensated for by the remoteness and beauty of the landscapes we saw.
I particularly loved Bolivia and perhaps Explore could consider adding that another day to this leg of the trip. This would allow more time to get to know this fantastic country and its people but would also allow more time to acclimatise.
We had a wonderful day in the wine region of Cafayate. Both wine and food were delicious and plentiful. However, I think we all felt the number of tours and tastings should be reduced a little to allow us to relax into one wine tour and the meal without worrying about time.
Guiding:
Andres was our Explore guide and I cannot speak highly enough of him. Most of the group had travelled extensively over the years with Explore and said that he was one of the best guides they had ever had. Andres was excellent in every respect - professional, knowledgeable, organised but relaxed and very person-centred, attending well to the different needs of the group. The trip ran very smoothly and to time. Andres paid close attention to detail, making small changes to the itinerary as needed, He found good places to eat, and timed visits to avoid any crowds in particularly popular places. As far as I am aware, there was one small logistical glitch during the whole trip. This was beyond Andres' control but he took it in his stride, dealt with it and it did not affect the group. Definitely 5* for Andres.
The local guides and drivers in each country were very friendly and efficient. I would say the guides in Argentina and Bolivia were particularly knowledgeable. The warmth and kindness shown to us was lovely. I would single out Wilbur in Bolivia for particular praise.
Accommodation:
Before the trip, I did not have particularly high expectations of the hotels, thinking that location would take priority over hotel standard and that budget hotels would be used to keep costs down. To a certain extent this proved to be the case. I would say in most places the standard was 3*. I found all of them were perfectly acceptable although some had variable hot water and wifi which is only to be expected really given the region. All hotels were very friendly and in a very good location. Some hotels stood out as having more character and better service than others. The Salt Hotel (Laguna Salada) on the Uyuni flats was something truly special. The stunning location, the hotel design and the friendliness of the staff there were something I will never forget. The Hotel Los Flamencos at the Laguna Hedionda was graded as "simple" and we warned to take warm sleepwear as it can get cold at night. However, I found the hotel to be warm and characterful and again, the location was stunning. Standing outside the hotel (albeit at about -5 degrees Celsius), watching the flamingos on the lagoon and the sun come up over the volcanoes behind was something truly memorable.
San Pedro de Atacama was the most touristy place we visited and I would say the hotel there reflected that. It felt a bit more generic than the others, although the barman was excellent and served some knockout Pisco sours.
Overall, I would give this trip 5* without hesitation. Unforgettable - in the best possible way. Any quibbles are very minor ones to me. I would highly recommend.
Sightseeing Tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Buenos Aires, San Pedro, Santiag
Buenos Aires, San Pedro, Santiago, Salta, Cafayate, Purmamarca, Tilcara, Tupiza, Uyuni, Incahuasi, San Pedro De Atacama
