As mentioned previously this was an ambitious itinerary. Chris the leader made it work, so I feel very grateful to him for this. It was just brilliant to see 3 very different countries in Central America on 2 wheels on a two week trip.
Active and outdoor
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
Panama City, San Jose, Granada
Panama City, San Jose, Granada, Bocas Del Toro, Santiago, Lake Nicaragua, Arenal, La Fortuna, Turrialba
Looking for a well-rounded introduction to Colombia? This eight-day adventure delivers it all. Be captivated by Cartagena’s Old Town, laze on palm-fringed Caribbean beaches and meet the locals who make Colombia one of the world's friendliest countries. Hike jungle trails in Tayrona National Park, learn about Indigenous reforestation initiatives and dive into the bold flavours of Afro-Colombian cuisine on a tasting tour in Cartagena. If you’re looking for an offbeat experience full of nature, authentic food and local connection, Explore Colombia is right up there with the best of them.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Bogota, Cartagena, Guachaca, Tai
Bogota, Cartagena, Guachaca, Taironaka Natural Reserve, Santa Marta
27% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Comprehensive, felt like I saw a wide spectrum of what Colombia has to offer, and a few surprises that I never would’ve sought out to experience myself!
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Explore the Amazon, Inca ruins, Lake Titicaca and more on this 13 day tour of Peru, starting and ending in Lima. In the cultural capital of Lima, visit plazas, monasteries and underground crypts. Delve into the flora and fauna of the Amazon Jungle during a two night stay at a charming lodge before exploring captivating Cusco and the Sacred Valley. Marvel at magnificent Machu Picchu and take a boat trip on Lake Titicaca, to see the remarkable floating islands of Uros.
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Bungalow
Age Range
18-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Lima, La Paz, Puno, Lake Titicac
Lima, La Paz, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Puerto Maldonado, Cusco, Sacred Valley
Transport yourself to otherworldly landscapes and immerse yourself in the cultures of the Andes as you make your way across two countries—Peru and Bolivia.
Take to the lunar-esque rock formations of the Moon Valley in Bolivia, or roam around the salt flat of Salar of Uyuni and its horizon-spanning natural mirror during rainy seasons for unforgettable scenery. Also, hop around the stunning floating islands of Uros and Isla del Sol, where you can explore the Incan landmarks like the Inca Garden, Pilcokaina Palace, the Stairway and the Sacred Fountain.
Explore the red tile-lined houses of the village of Copacabana and get a bird’s eye view of the city of La Paz on board one of the longest cable urban air transport in the world.
The trip really packed in some iconic elements of Costa Rica, and lived up to its name in terms of seeing the highlights. It was great to experience the contrast of the Caribbean lowlands, rain forest and the pacific coast. And seeing the abundance of wildlife was incredible, as well as the delicious local dishes and wonderful people we me along the way.
The guide was great, really personable and had good knowledge and a keen sense to show us as much as possible, often stopping en route when he had spied interesting animals from the van.
The Manuel Antonio and the La Fortuna accommodation was great. The Authentico hotel was fine for passing through but we had paid for an additional night in San Jose, and for this purpose the hotel wasn’t in the best of locations as it was on the edge of the city with not much around in terms of restaurants so we felt a bit stuck in the hotel at the end.
WildlifeActive and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Resort
Age Range
16-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
San Jose, Manuel Antonio Nationa
San Jose, Manuel Antonio National Park, Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio
22% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
South America has many sides, from the energy of the cities and the beauty of the landscape to the spirit of the people. On this 18-day discovery, you’ll wind through the Inca heartlands and jungles of Peru, the enigmatic cities and natural wonders of Argentina and the dynamism of Brazil's vibrant Rio. See animals, meet locals, traverse trails and marvel at all the contrasts of this very special corner of the world. If you’re looking for a trip that hits not one, but two Wonders of the World off your bucket list – you’ve come to the right place. Take a guided tour of Machu Picchu, nestled high in the Andes Mountains, then visit Christ the Redeemer, overlooking breathtaking Rio. Wild ride, anyone?
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Home-stay
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Buenos Air
Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Buenos Aires, Ituzaingo, Foz Do Iguacu, Iguazu Falls, Cusco, Aguas Calientes, Puno
This tour operator organized a cultural, spiritual and community immersion for me, my husband, my adult daughter and her boyfriend for 16 days in late February/early March of 2023. It was the most exciting trip I’ve taken. This is saying a lot considering I have spent a lifetime of travel, both personal and professional, focusing on Latin America.
Everything ran smoothly, even with chaotic settings and complex logistics. A big part of this was by providing us with amazing guides, starting with Jahel Amaru, who met us at the La Paz airport to whisk us across the altiplano to Oruro for its truly spectacular Carnival. Jahel is knowledgeable, patient, down-to-earth, smart patient, funny, and an extremely enjoyable person to spend time with. She guided us through the hectic Oruro Carnaval during its culminating weekend - with boundless energy and contagious enthusiasm. We had the time of our lives cheering on the colorful characters as they paraded and danced thanks to Jahel knowing exactly where to go, when, and providing invaluable context.
Community tourism (where visitors are connected with everyday Bolivians to learn about their lives) - has started to blossom in Bolivia, and this company is one of its pioneers. We got to experience it in Potosi, where we had another excellent guide, Marlene Quispe. She took us through Cerro Rico mine, which was the world’s leading supplier of silver. Marlene has close ties to mining: her brothers, parents and even she has worked there. As we ventured deeper into the earth, we learned from her about the mining process and cooperatives involved with it. She also introduced us to one of the mine's “tios” (“uncles” who are believed to protect miners), to whom she made an offering as she explained his importance.
Marlene took us to the Quechua community of Phuto Phuto, one of several in the rural district Cabanias that welcomes visitors as part of its community tourism program. Families take turns showing visitors their homes and traditions, including cooking huts with steaming pots, whose contents you later share for lunch. Marlene and one of the family members we met then led us on a beautiful hike to a spot where they invited us to participate in a ritual offering to Pacha Mama (Mother Earth). It was an incredible day I will always remember.
Another wonderful community tourism experience was in the majestic Cordillera Real (Central Andean range), where we appreciated both the nature and culture of the region by staying near the town of Tuni with the multi-generational Quispe family (not related to Marlene). Family members share with guests Aymara traditions like placing fishing nets, spinning yarn, making quinoa flour, and shearing alpaca fleece. Patriarch Jaime is a charismatic host and a certified mountain guide who along with his adult son Denys, also a certified mountain guide, have expertise leading visitors of different ages and abilities. We loved staying with them!
There are a few other places that stood out on our trip:
Hostal Las Olas in Copacabana on the shore of Lake Titicaca with gorgeous, artistic “cabins” and lovely views
Templo del Retiro Espiritual Cruz Andina (the Andean Cross Spiritual Retreat Center), in Tiwanaku steps from the ruins and owned by spiritual and cultural guide Rosse Mary Vargas Vilela. It’s filled with cats and crystals and offers delicious vegetarian meals. This is not a stop for everyone, but worth visiting or staying in if you are interested in mindfulness, ancient healing, and/or new age spirituality.
Local culture
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Hostel, Home-stay
Age Range
1-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
La Paz, Potosi, Uyuni, Copacaban
La Paz, Potosi, Uyuni, Copacabana, Sucre, El Alto, Yumani, Villamar, Bolivia, Silolio Dykuma, Tomasamil
I had not been on holiday for over a decade before I embarked on this trip, so suffice to say I had high expectations! Costa Rica had been on my list ever since a colleague visited the country two years ago, and it was well worth the wait. We were fortunate enough to only have eight travellers, which meant that our guide, Jonathan, had ample time to answer all of our questions.
If you are looking for a holiday which will give you eight hours of sleep a night then this trip is not for you. We were up for breakfast before 8am every day and despite there being several optional extra activities listed on the trip notes, we didn't have time to do any of them as we were constantly on the go! I felt as though I was away for six months or more, and I enjoyed moving to a new area of the country every few days. Each hotel we stayed at had a different style suited to the area of the country we were in - rainforest lodge, spa resort, mountain hotel, ranch, beach hotel. The food was wonderful - all breakfasts are included and on the days when our lunch and/or dinner weren't included, we never felt hungry.
Adventure
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Resort
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
San Jose, Rincon de la Vieja Vol
San Jose, Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park, Playa Carrillo, Tortuguero National Park, Sarapiqui, La Fortuna, Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve
Great trip but itinerary could be improved. Only one night in Saraquipi in a lovely lodge which would have been better for 2 nights. One night in Arenal would have been sufficient.
Will still use Explore in the future and recommend
Active and outdoorWildlife
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Resort, Eco Lodge
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
San Jose, La Fortuna, Manuel Ant
San Jose, La Fortuna, Manuel Antonio National Park, Manuel Antonio, San Gerardo De Dota, Savegre Cloud Forest, Turrialba, Pacuare River, Tortuguero National Park, Sarapiqui
17% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
My husband and I had a wonderful trip, but our friends, who aren't as physically fit, had a hard time in the high altitudes - something to consider if you are older and not in good shape. The country is beautiful, the people were very friendly, and our main and local guides were wonderful.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
5-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picch
Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco
11% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
