Simple stays with essential amenities. Typically guesthouses, hostels or hotels rated below 3 stars — clean, no-frills, and great for value-conscious travelers.
Comfortable and reliable 3-star stays. Expect private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, and solid amenities — a great balance between comfort and cost.
Upscale 4-5 star hotels and lodges. Enjoy high-end service, refined comfort, and premium locations — ideal for travelers seeking extra indulgence.
The Galapagos Islands—nature’s living laboratory—take center stage on the "Galapagos Experience" adventure trip. Over seven days, you’ll follow Darwin’s trail across San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, and Isabela islands, guided by expert naturalists who bring the islands’ evolutionary wonders to life.
Dive into a moderate activity level, ideal for travelers eager to snorkel with playful sea lions, trek volcanic craters, and observe giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The itinerary includes immersive wildlife activities alongside ample free time, so you can choose between relaxation and adventure each day.
A major USP of this trip package is the land-based approach—accommodations on the islands mean you won’t be confined to a cruise, giving you flexibility and a more intimate connection with local communities and landscapes. For those who dream of seeing the Galapagos’ legendary creatures up close, this tour makes it both accessible and unforgettable.
AdventureMarine wildlife
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Quito, Galapagos Islands, Isla S
Quito, Galapagos Islands, Isla Santa Cruz, San Cristobal Island, Isla Isabela, Puerto Ayora
Fantastic trip, one of the best I have been on. Beautiful country, amazing landscapes, lovely friendly people. Plus we had a fun group and an excellent guide, Marcelo. And we were lucky with the weather too.
Yes, it’s expensive but worth it. Spend the extra to do the optional activities to make the most of it. Loved the walking with penguins, the zodiac trip on Rio Serrano and both the big walks.
The days are very long but you can always sleep on the bus/back at home!
Contrary to previous reviews I thought the hotels were all fine and the breakfasts were great and a good start to each day. The tango show we went to was in a small venue and great. Wish I’d added more time in Buenos Aires before the trip as it’s a lovely city and there’s a lot to see and do there - I will be back.
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
This was an excellent tour. We a nice sampling of Argentina and Brazil in just two weeks. The countries are huge, so many weeks could be spent traveling to much of their sites and cities.
Diego, our tour guide, was terrific!! Hats off to Diego!!
Active and outdoorExplorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
A brilliant trip covering many highlights. Our top 6 would be walking with Penguins near Ushuaia, Hike to Torres base, Boat trip on Serrano river, walking along Perito Merino glacier, hike to Fitzroy base, Iguazu boat ride.
Bear in mind that all except Fitzroy are add on extras costing around £1000 in total ( Perito Moreno is an exorbitant £400). The boat trip to lago del desierto is not available despite being shown as such in the trip notes.
It was a strenuous trip with long bus and minibus journeys as advertised.
We had a great group and Andres our guide was excellent.
It is worth taking lots of dollars and exchanging at the blue rate on the street which is around 20 percent better than the official rate and 10 percent better than credit card rate.
It was the best of our 6 Explore trips.
WildlifeActive and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
16-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Buenos Aires, Perito Moreno Glac
Buenos Aires, Perito Moreno Glacier, El Chaltén, Mount Fitzroy, Puerto Iguazu, Iguazu Falls, Ushuaia, Tierra Del Fuego National Park, Punta Arenas, Torres del Paine National Park, Los Glaciares National Park
Great trip. Beautiful archeological sites and cities included in the itinerary. Would have been helpful for many travelers to know that for the two nights at Machu Picchu you will need an overnight bag for the train ride and hotel stay as your luggage is likely too large for the train to Machu Picchu. Cusco was a great city to walk around and sample a lot of good restaurants.
Adventure
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
5-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cusco, Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu
Cusco, Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu
Page 2 of 161 Trips in Andes during October 2026 with 619 Reviews
Initially before booking the trip I thought it was extremely overpriced.
However(our tour guide) was fantastic. He made the trip worth every penny and was extremely organised and knowledgeable. The locations were great, and the activities were really cool.
was a fantastic character, and became a friend by ensuring we all had fun. He looked after and catered for everyone’s needs and requirements, promoting safety above all else, and more than once went the extra mile to ensure we all had a great time (joining myself at CrossFit and his traditional dance moves were personal highlights).
I hope he gets the recognition he deserves, as I would love to book a similar trip with Contiki in future because of this great experience.
I would also recommend that you include huacachina in future - I went there on my own and it was one of the coolest experiences - maybe this could be added as an extra at the beginning of the trip.
Adventure
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Home-stay
Age Range
18-35 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Lima, Cusco, Puerto Maldonado, S
Lima, Cusco, Puerto Maldonado, Sacred Valley, Aguas Calientes, Arequipa, Puno
As our guide would say "The point is this, my friends"... and the day begins. This was one of the best experience I have had. Our guide - Gary - made sure we were on schedule on the trek. He explained to us all the pros and cons and how to get the most out of the Inca Trail. The porters were great. The chef - Julio - made the best camp meals for vegetarians.
The scenery is breathtaking. Yes it may seem long and a lot of walking but its worth it. The team made the whole journey worthwhile - from booking to the end. Rosmel - our booking contact kept us informed all the time.
Don't hesitate, just do it. Great guide, chef and company.
Mahesh
Trekking and HikingAdventure
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
The itinerary was as expected although some of the details were out of date or obsolete. An up to date review would be useful.
Lucie, the Explore Leader was exceptional!
National parksAdventure
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers