South America Beach Trips

The experience was amazing, the trip was very well organised, the countries we got to experience were incredible and the tour manager (Joel) was fantastic, it’s clear he knew a lot about the places we were going to, gave good recommendations, made an effort to build a relationship with all of us and was just very organised in general. If I had one piece of feedback it would be on the Argentine portion of the trip. Whilst I did enjoy the time spent in Buenos Aires, it didn’t feel like it fit in the flow with the rest of the tour, it felt a bit like a completely different trip whereas it felt the Peru and Brazil portions fit quite well together. Additionally, whilst I had no issue with the quality of the Buenos Aires hotel, my roommate had complaints about the cleanliness of the room and made a complaint to the front desk and I felt the way they handled the complaint was very poor, there was no real effort put in to make my roommate feel more comfortable and we had to involve our tour manager and he was really great in the situation but ultimately my roommate felt the need to book her own hotel for the duration of the Buenos Aires portion so I think the hotel choice could be looked into a bit if possible. Additionally, the excursion to Tigre looked like it could’ve been quite nice in the summer, however, our tour took place in winter so the kayaking and swimming that was advertised wasn’t actually available when we arrived on the island. The resort we spent the day at was beautiful but we pretty much ate lunch and then stood around for over an hour, all of us who partook in that FTAO agreed that the experience was not worth the price and maybe an alternate FTAO could be considered in the colder months. The Peru and Brazil portion of the trip was absolutely fantastic and overall it was an incredible experience!

Loved the Galapagos!! was a wonderful guide and had so much positive energy, knowledge about the wildlife, and thoughtful suggestions about things to do. The islands were so beautiful, the wildlife was insane (truly a bucket list trip), the hotels were nice, and the food was better than expected as a vegetarian. I feel like the stop in Santa Cruz was a bit rushed with only 1 night - I wish we had more time there to explore, as well as to enjoy the hotel as it was beautiful and we never really had time to enjoy the pool or amenities. Also note that the boat rides between the islands can be a bit tough if you're someone who gets motion sick. Definitely bring meds and you should be good to go. Highly recommend overall and was a trip of a lifetime!

I loved my tour guide . She was very knowledgeable and a local. I would love to spend more time on each island. I did not enjoy the high speed ferries between the islands. They were two hours long and very rocky. The hotels were each clean and had air conditioning. All of the snorkeling trips were good and the trips to the research centers.

I returned from my Contiki tour about a month ago and, unfortunately, I cannot recommend this experience—particularly for trans or LGBTQ+ travelers, or anyone with dietary or medical needs. From the outset, multiple accommodations on the trip fell below the standards promised in the itinerary. One hotel had tinted glass walls for both the toilet and shower, and no bathroom lock—a deeply unsafe setup, especially as a trans traveler. I had to pay out of pocket for alternate lodging just to feel safe. Contiki acknowledged this and reimbursed the hotel cost, but such a basic oversight should never have occurred on a vetted tour. The issues didn't stop there. Despite declaring a severe dairy intolerance, I was repeatedly served or nearly served food containing cheese or cross-contaminated utensils. I eventually suffered a painful lactose reaction. While the guide was seated beside me when I excused myself due to illness, no one checked on me—for the rest of the tour. This level of neglect, both medical and empathetic, was extremely upsetting. In addition, group dynamics were hostile and exclusionary. I was misgendered, mocked, and left to feel unwelcome for being trans. While Contiki markets itself as inclusive, the lack of response from staff or fellow travelers created an environment that was emotionally exhausting. Before I could initially submit a review, our guide held a group meeting where I was publicly called out for someone else submitting a complaint the tour guide had requested, creating even more pressure to stay quiet and avoid further conflict. To top it off, I injured my thumb on the final day due to poor hotel bathroom design—there was no seating when I became nauseous from motion sickness, and a curved toilet lid snapped back against my hand. I sought medical help back home and, despite it being over a month since my trip, I still have pain. When I informed Contiki (after confirming the injury was real and non-fractured), they refused to acknowledge any possibility of compensation in the future. Contiki ultimately offered me $300 USD as a gesture of goodwill for everything but the thumb, which I accepted—not as full compensation, but because at that point, I felt stonewalled. I also was supposed to receive a 5% travel credit, but they never sent instructions on how to apply or use this supposed credit. This experience left me feeling unseen, unsafe, and unsupported. I had hoped for adventure, but spent much of the tour managing problems that should never have arisen in the first place. If you're trans, have dietary restrictions, or value responsive, professional care on your travels, I would recommend thinking twice before booking with Contiki.

Peru with G Adventures was a dream! Highly recommended for anyone looking for a well-organized adventure of a lifetime.

Overall, this was an unforgettable experience. The itinerary was diverse and well-planned, the group was small and intimate, and I met incredible people along the way. I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried adventures I wouldn’t have done on my own. While there were a few hiccups with accommodation and the final day’s transportation, the trip as a whole was meaningful, exciting, and full of growth. I’m grateful to G Adventures for making it all possible.