South America Sightseeing Trips

This was the trip that kept on giving. We were first timers with Explore but nothing disappointed. Carolina, our tour leader was wonderful and made sure everything flowed seamlessly. She found me veggie meals without fuss or issue, patiently translated and made sure we were all happy. A very sensible tweak was made to the itinerary in order to help us acclimatise to the altitude as well. All three countries gave us jaw dropping scenery and photo opportunities and day after day of natural beauty. There were many highlights but those that especially stood out were the huge and colourful rock formations and scenery in Argentina, the salt flats of Bolivia, the sundowners and wonderful stay at Luna Salada, the Atacama in Chile and the night of stargazing in Santiago. All in all, I can't recommend this trip enough and would definitely suggest adding time at the start and end if you can.

Excellent trip and itinerary. The bus in Bolivia had no microphone and so we had no commentary crossing the altiplano. The description of the optional stargazing tour was misleading and expensive - we mostly paid for photo shots with the night sky. The narrative however was excellent. The farewell dinner should not be at individual expense.

John was a super guide who was desperate to show us all that Colombia is a jewel in the crown of South America As always, I was expecting the trip to be excellent, but I was also expecting that air of 'testiness' that comes with travelling in South America but it just wasn't there. The trip was well thought out and showed Colombia off to be welcoming and full of fun. Add to that a fantastic contrast from the cities to the mountains to the coffee plantations to the beaches...I look back and think how did we squeeze all that in?? Would I recommend this trip - 100% Would I like to visit Colombia again - 100%, what's the chance of a wildlife based tour coming anytime soon???

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.