GROUP TOUR (FOR AGES 18 - 55): Set out on the ultimate South American journey with this 21 day tour, packed with bucket-list experiences, breathtaking landscapes, and thrilling adventures! Take in Medellin and Bogota, trek through the Andes to the legendary Machu Picchu, take a boat ride on Lake Titicaca, and explore the vibrant streets of La Paz. Cross the otherworldly Uyuni Salt Flats in a 4x4, marvel at flamingo-filled lagoons, and soak in high-altitude hot springs. Finally, chase adrenaline in the Atacama Desert, from cycling in the Lunar Valley to stargazing under one of the clearest night skies on Earth.
Explorer
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Guest House, Hostel, Hotel, Sleeper Bus
Age Range
18-55 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Medellin, Santiago, Machu Picchu
Medellin, Santiago, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Puno, La Paz, Uyuni, San Pedro De Atacama, Santiago, Salento, Cali, Bogota, Inca Trail
15% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
ABOUT THIS TRIP
This small-group tour of Chile will show you the most exhilarating sites and breathtaking attractions this country has to offer! From cosmopolitan cities to magnificent deserts, you will fall in love with the beauty and magic of Chile. Begin your tour in Santiago, the capital which is famous for its magnificent mountain views. Learn about the history and culture of the city as you visit the Plaza de Armas and Santa Lucia Hill. Catch a flight to Punta Arenas, from where you will travel to Puerto Natales. Discover the extraordinary beauty of the region as you explore Patagonia with its magnificent mountains, fjords, glaciers, forests, and steppes. From there you will fly to the Atacama and discover the driest desert in the world as you explore the Moon Valley. This is a breathtaking geological wonder which will make you feel like you are walking on the moon! Bask in the beauty of the Andes Mountains and the teeming volcanoes in this otherworldly area, where you will end your tour of Chile.
This is a Solo Tour
You don't pay single supplement and get a room for yourself!
Explorer
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Villa
Age Range
8-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Santiago, Atacama Desert, San Pe
Santiago, Atacama Desert, San Pedro De Atacama, Puerto Natales
If you love big landscapes, deserts, rock formations, volcanoes, geysers, remoteness and views that go on forever, then this is the trip for you. This was combined with very friendly people, local culture and good wine, making for one of the best trips I've ever had.
This was my first trip with Explore. (All the other members of the group had travelled multiple times with them). I would say the trip exceeded my expectations in every respect. Judging by the comments of the rest of the group, it was one of the best many of them had been on too. I have taken away memories that will last forever and met some wonderful people along the way.
There were six travellers in the group (all solo travellers) as well as Andres our guide, local guides and drivers. This was the first trip run on a new itinerary or at least one which Explore has not sold for a number of years. So in that respect our group were the guinea-pigs for the trip. I felt the group got on very well. I would say six was a good group size for the minibuses. It gave us room to spread out with our bags and snooze if needed on the longer journeys.
Itinerary:
The itinerary covers a lot of ground in a short space of time so is definitely full-on. However, overall, I thought it was well-paced with well-timed rest periods. Given that this was a new itinerary, there are a couple of "tweaks" I would make (mentioned below). However, they are minor changes only to what I found to be a well-rounded and balanced trip.
HIghlights for me included the Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia. I loved the desert, lagoons, volcanoes, flamingoes, the salt hotel and of course, our meal with our wonderful Bolivian guides - which I'll never forget. Another highlight was the sunset and moonrise over the Atacama Desert near San Pedro. I felt the trip was a gift that kept on giving. Just when you had one experience which you thought could not be topped, along came another one. The trip was cleverly planned in that sense.
In terms of amendments, I would suggest the following:
HIgh altitude is a feature of this trip and perhaps needs to be emphasised and explained a little more fully in the trip notes so that travellers can take a view. However, for me, any discomfort was more than compensated for by the remoteness and beauty of the landscapes we saw.
I particularly loved Bolivia and perhaps Explore could consider adding that another day to this leg of the trip. This would allow more time to get to know this fantastic country and its people but would also allow more time to acclimatise.
We had a wonderful day in the wine region of Cafayate. Both wine and food were delicious and plentiful. However, I think we all felt the number of tours and tastings should be reduced a little to allow us to relax into one wine tour and the meal without worrying about time.
Guiding:
Andres was our Explore guide and I cannot speak highly enough of him. Most of the group had travelled extensively over the years with Explore and said that he was one of the best guides they had ever had. Andres was excellent in every respect - professional, knowledgeable, organised but relaxed and very person-centred, attending well to the different needs of the group. The trip ran very smoothly and to time. Andres paid close attention to detail, making small changes to the itinerary as needed, He found good places to eat, and timed visits to avoid any crowds in particularly popular places. As far as I am aware, there was one small logistical glitch during the whole trip. This was beyond Andres' control but he took it in his stride, dealt with it and it did not affect the group. Definitely 5* for Andres.
The local guides and drivers in each country were very friendly and efficient. I would say the guides in Argentina and Bolivia were particularly knowledgeable. The warmth and kindness shown to us was lovely. I would single out Wilbur in Bolivia for particular praise.
Accommodation:
Before the trip, I did not have particularly high expectations of the hotels, thinking that location would take priority over hotel standard and that budget hotels would be used to keep costs down. To a certain extent this proved to be the case. I would say in most places the standard was 3*. I found all of them were perfectly acceptable although some had variable hot water and wifi which is only to be expected really given the region. All hotels were very friendly and in a very good location. Some hotels stood out as having more character and better service than others. The Salt Hotel (Laguna Salada) on the Uyuni flats was something truly special. The stunning location, the hotel design and the friendliness of the staff there were something I will never forget. The Hotel Los Flamencos at the Laguna Hedionda was graded as "simple" and we warned to take warm sleepwear as it can get cold at night. However, I found the hotel to be warm and characterful and again, the location was stunning. Standing outside the hotel (albeit at about -5 degrees Celsius), watching the flamingos on the lagoon and the sun come up over the volcanoes behind was something truly memorable.
San Pedro de Atacama was the most touristy place we visited and I would say the hotel there reflected that. It felt a bit more generic than the others, although the barman was excellent and served some knockout Pisco sours.
Overall, I would give this trip 5* without hesitation. Unforgettable - in the best possible way. Any quibbles are very minor ones to me. I would highly recommend.
Sightseeing Tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Buenos Aires, San Pedro, Santiag
Buenos Aires, San Pedro, Santiago, Salta, Cafayate, Purmamarca, Tilcara, Tupiza, Uyuni, Incahuasi, San Pedro De Atacama
Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime with this 38-day journey through five incredible South American countries — a dream for history buffs, nature enthusiasts, and nightlife seekers alike. Ride the rails through Peru’s stunning Urubamba Valley to the iconic Machu Picchu, dive into the vibrant culture of Lake Titicaca, and marvel at the surreal landscapes of Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni and Chile’s Valley of the Moon in the Atacama Desert. Explore colorful Valparaíso, find thrills in the adventure haven of Pucón, and relax in the lakeside charm of Bariloche. From the tango halls of Buenos Aires to the samba beats of Rio de Janeiro, and the thundering majesty of Iguassu Falls, every moment of this trip will leave you in awe and hungry for more.
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Guest House, Hotel, Resort
Age Range
12-100 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Rio de Janeiro, Lima, La Paz, Su
Rio de Janeiro, Lima, La Paz, Sucre, Potosi, Uyuni, Salt Flats, San Pedro De Atacama, Cusco, Santiago, Valparaiso, Pucon, San Carlos de Bariloche, Buenos Aires, Foz Do Iguacu, Paraty, Ilha Grande, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes, Puno
22% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Ready to dive into the history, culture, and breathtaking wilderness of South America? Spend 11 unforgettable days exploring Bolivia and Chile, uncovering iconic highlights and hidden gems. Marvel at the surreal salt flats of the Salar de Uyuni, wander through the otherworldly desert landscapes of the Atacama Plateau, and venture off the beaten path to experience the best of this diverse region. With just the right mix of guided adventures and free time, this journey is the perfect way to truly connect with two extraordinary destinations.
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Guest House, Hotel, Resort
Age Range
12-100 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Santiago, La Paz, Sucre, Potosi
Santiago, La Paz, Sucre, Potosi, Uyuni, Salt Flats, San Pedro De Atacama
22% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina, where South America’s most iconic cities and landscapes come alive. Stroll the surreal salt flats of Salar de Uyuni and lose yourself in the otherworldly Atacama Desert. Wander the colourful streets of coastal Valparaíso, chase adrenaline in Pucón’s adventure-sport playground, and experience authentic gaucho life on a ranch near charming Bariloche. Cap it all off in the vibrant cosmopolis of Buenos Aires, where tango, culture, and culinary delights await. Fall head over heels for the region’s diverse landscapes, warm people, and mouthwatering cuisine — and leave already dreaming of your next adventure.
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Guest House, Hotel, Resort
Age Range
12-100 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Buenos Aires, La Paz, Santiago
Buenos Aires, La Paz, Santiago, Valparaiso, Pucon, San Carlos de Bariloche, Sucre, Potosi, Uyuni, Salt Flats, San Pedro De Atacama
22% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
