South America Sightseeing Trips

Two weeks through Colombia and Peru, and it felt like we packed in a lifetime of memories. It was busy, yes, but in the best way, every day brought something new and unexpected. Cartagena was our first stop, hot and humid, but absolutely beautiful. Great seafood & some of the most charming streets I’ve walked through in a long time. The coffee region was a real highlight for me. I’ve always enjoyed a good cup but actually seeing how it’s grown and meeting the people behind it added a whole new appreciation. Brought back a few bags and now I can’t drink anything else. Bogota was big and bustling. A bit hectic at times, but had a nice energy to it. The view from Monserrate was well worth the climb (well...cable car in our case!). Then Peru — absolutely stunning. Machu Picchu is everything they say and more. Pictures don’t do it justice. The Sacred Valley was peaceful, Cusco was full of character, and Lake Titicaca? Fascinating. I had no idea about the floating islands before this. A few early mornings here and there, but that’s part of the deal when you want to see so much. Would definitely recommend this trip to fellow travelers 50+ who are still up for an adventure but want it all organized for you. Just pack your walking shoes and an open mind, South America will take care of the rest.

The trip was awesome with stunning landscapes of desert canyons, inca archaeological sites, salt flats and the unique geological formations of red sand and wind covered canyons in the valley of the moon, Atacama Desert. Every day had a unique and unforgettable experience with unbelievable nature views at their best. The tour leader Andreas attended to everyone's needs and questions with patience and humor. His knowledge about the local setup and different cultural norms across the 3 countries was very helpful. The drivers and local guides at every destination were very efficient, especially driving on Bolivia's salt flats is no easy task. The guides interchanged the days itinerary while visiting argentina's salt flats to get folks acclimatized to the high altitude which was a bonus. The accomodation in all the locations was clean and comfortable. There were just 6 of us on this trip and 2 SUVS was more than enough for all us to view the salt flats and its stunning scenery at leisure. The food was decent at all the restaurants recommended by Andreas and one could get a taste of the local cuisine and different culinary flavors in each country. I highly recommend this tour for anyone who is looking for something different and loves nature.

My first trip with Explore and, even though they’d been recommended by close friends, they exceeded my expectations. Customer care from the very start was exemplary and pre-departure information was clear, timely and comprehensive. The itinerary is very well chosen, with stunning landscapes, cultural variety and a good range of activities. It’s hard to pick highlights as there were so many but walking in the Humuaca Gorge, the incredible Uyuni salt flats and early morning Tatio volcanic geysers, and opportunities to view the stunning southern hemisphere night sky in clear and very dark conditions really stood out for me. The trip lives up to its “full on” billing - expect early starts, cold high altitude weather (down to -15C), and long days in the vehicles but you’ll be paid back amply in rich experiences. Tour leader Andres was second to none in knowledge, attention to detail and enthusiasm and the local guides were all first rate too.

This was my first visit to all three countries (but my 10th with Explore). The itinerary was definitely 'full on', but we saw and experienced so much. The altitude and cool winter temperatures were challenging at times as we were traveling mid southern hemisphere winter, but we had the advantage of few other tourists around. Our tour leader, Andres was excellent in all ways, and ably supported by the local guides and drivers. Everything was perfectly orchestrated which in itself was a remarkable achievement. Altogether this was a wonderful trip. Extra info for travelers - all hotels had hair dryers in the room, and almost all had a tea/coffee maker in room or in the lobby

The Peru and Bolivia trip was absolutely amazing! The Inca trail was a challenge but I am so glad I did it. The salt flats in Bolivia was beautiful this trip really had everything! Mountains, volcanoes, desert. Honestly the best Contiki I have been on. The included meals on the tour did not disappoint I recommend every one to do it! our trip manager was honestly the best!

We planned a trip to Paraguay, Bolivia, and Chile with the tireless help of Sofia, who designed the itinerary according to our requests. During the trip, a few setbacks arose (the Chilean border was closed, flights were canceled…) that had to be resolved, and Milagros showed exceptional attention, care, and competence in finding solutions and saving the trip thanks to her availability and ability to find alternatives. For all of this, I am truly grateful and would like to express my appreciation for everything they did. I highly recommend the agency, and in particular, the two team members I mentioned. Thank you