South America Tours in December 2027

This was an amazing trip with great people, and we were lucky enough to have the fabulous Carolina as our tour guide. You see so much of the region and some spectacular sights and I would highly recommend doing the optional excursions. The only way to achieve this is to put in the travel time, so read the tour notes as they are an accurate reflection of each day, but you also get some opportunities to have some time to relax. If you can, the Iguazu extension is worth every minute.

Carlos was incredible right from the very first day of the trip. None of us knew him yet, and I didn’t know what to expect, but he immediately stood out to me as someone who was extremely professional, organized, and thorough. Every evening, he gave me and the rest of the group all the details we needed — the route, the roads, the timing, the breakfasts and dinners, the weather, the excursions, the challenges, the highlights. He told us what to wear, when to use sunscreen, what to expect from the climbs, when the rain might come, when to prepare for heat — every little detail was covered. Because of that, I felt comfortable, confident, and fully aware of what was coming the next day. There were no surprises, and that was because of Carlos. And once he finished going through all the serious information, he would sometimes throw in a little joke. Just a quick comment or a funny line to lighten the mood. I didn’t expect that from him at the beginning, but those moments always made me smile, and they helped me relax. It showed me that underneath the professional guide was a warm, funny, genuinely special person. As the days went on, I got to see how much Carlos truly loves to ride. He lives for cycling. He rides long distances, he races all the time, and he never seems to get tired. His passion for biking isn’t something he hides — you can feel it in everything he does. And that passion made the trip even better for me. It made me trust him, and it made me enjoy the rides more. I’ve been on a few guided trips before, and I can say honestly: Carlos is the best guide I have ever had. Professional, caring, sharp, humble, funny, and unbelievably dedicated — he made this entire trip better for me in every way. Carlos is truly one of a kind

I've travelled with Explore many times before because I know they are a reputable company with a good environmental ethos, and THE best tour leaders of any company! Our leader was friendly, fun and efficient - he had the very busy and complicated itinerary nailed to perfection. He was calm and unflappable, but behind the scenes, there was a lot of work going on! Everything was where it needed to be, when it needed to be there. He was incredibly knowledgeable about his country, history, flora, fauna and architecture. His tips on where to eat were perfect. The itinerary took us everywhere we wanted to go and we saw everything we wanted to see. Be prepared for early mornings & full on days - that's how they pack everything in. We call it 'adventure for softies' - you can do and see incredible things, without having to worry about organising it all and knowing there's someone there who you can call on for help if you need it.

The 3 Central America countries cycling trip could be a logistic nightmare, but Mike managed with aplomb, and the changing of bikes, crossing of borders etc. become part of the fun. Mike was truly excellent and we would thoroughly recommend the trip, despite some wet weather. The contrast between the countries was interesting and Mike was a mine of information. This was our 6th Explore cycling trip, and though they have all been great, this was near the top.

This was an excellent, short, if intense tour. So many amazing highlights in this incredible country, crammed into just shy of 8 days. Every national park we visited was amazing; the optional activates varied. Major highlights were the hanging bridges in the cloud forest in Monteverde and the unforgettable Manual Antonio National Park. Our guide (Tyron Vargas) was absolutely outstanding (and our driver was brilliant too!). Tyron was unbelievably knowledgeable, not just about the flora and fauna, but also about the country - its history, its people and its aspirations. All in all, a totally unforgettable experience. His ability to locate animals high in the canopy wasnamazing. He also took photos and videos of the animals via his telescope and then sent the resulting photos and videos to us on WhatsApp, so we could add his incredible photos and videos to our blurred ones! Pura Vida!!!

Many aspects of this trip were most enjoyable, and Luciano, our guide, went out of his way to ensure we had a positive experience. Most of the accommodation was good, but Explore should find another option in Santiago. The Fundador in Santiago is a bit 'tired'. Also, there should be alternative activities in case the weather in Patagonia makes it impossible to follow the itinerary. But in general it was a most enjoyable trip!