Time your adventure perfectly with 1,500 tours departing in September 2026 in South America. Seasonal highlights and optimal conditions await, backed by 3,900 verified experiences.
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.
Incredible knowledge displayed by the local tour experts. Our Trip Liaison, was very responsive to our questions and adapted very well when a regional Peruvian flight was changed by the airline at the last minute.
Plunge into the heart of South America on the epic 44-day South America Highlights trip, spanning from Lima to Rio de Janeiro. Designed for those seeking both discovery and freedom, this tour seamlessly blends guided exploration with time for independent adventures. Travelers will trek the legendary Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, soak in the energy of Rio’s vibrant nightlife, and marvel at the thundering Iguazu Falls.
Wander through the historic barrios of Buenos Aires, snap unforgettable photos at the Uyuni Salt Flats, and take in the Nazca Lines’ mysterious allure. With 23 destinations in Brazil and Peru—including cultural, religious, and historic sites—this challenging itinerary lets you immerse yourself in the region’s diverse landscapes and cultures at your own pace.
The unique selling point? This tour package offers an expertly crafted balance of iconic sights and personal freedom, delivering South America’s best adventures, from ancient ruins to modern city buzz, in one unforgettable journey.
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, Camping, Home-stay
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Cusco, Oll
Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Cusco, Ollantaytambo, Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, Puno, La Paz, Sucre, Potosi, Salar De Uyuni, Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve, Tilcara, Buenos Aires, Colonia Del Sacramento, Tacuarembo, Nazca, Foz Do Iguazu, Arequipa, Colca Canyon
Done over 30 trips with Explore.
Always good.
Small group, well led, safe & comfortable but not luxurious.
Free time on some days, and some very full-on days.
Worth paying close attention to the itinerary
WildlifeActive and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Eco Lodge
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls Nat
Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls National Park, Amazon Brazil, Salvador
Just finished my Costa Rica Trip and had the best time ever!! If you are considering it DO IT!!!
I’ve been on many many group tours and this was by far the best I have done to date! The group leader - Elmer, honestly made the trip and just went above and beyond in every possible way to ensure we were having a good time! Will definitely be booking another Intro trip soon as it was the best two weeks ever!
Hot springsWalking
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-55 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
San Jose, Esterillos, Manuel Ant
San Jose, Esterillos, Manuel Antonio National Park, La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano, Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park, Playa Samara
Experience the full spectrum of South America on this epic 39-day adventure – the perfect way to forge lifelong connections. Follow in the footsteps of ancient people on the Inca Trail in Peru, drive past volcanoes, lakes, llamas and flamingos in the Atacama Desert and marvel at the might of Iguazu Falls. Spend nights on an estancia (farm) in Uruguay and at a homestay on Lake Titicaca, sample Argentinian barbecue in Buenos Aires and roam through the Amazon jungle. With like-minded travel companions and a local leader providing recommendations at every stop, this’ll be a South American expedition like no other.
Adventure
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Camping, Home-stay, Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
18-35 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Cusco, Pun
Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Cusco, Puno, Amantani, La Paz, Uyuni, Salar De Uyuni, San Pedro De Atacama, Amazon Jungle, Salta, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Estancia, Iguazu Falls, Paraty, Iguazu Falls, Ilha Grande, Ollantaytambo, Inca Trail
It is truly an experience that should be cherished and embraced at least once in a lifetime. We were incredibly fortunate to have been blessed with a sunny day, which enhanced the perfection of every moment.
All in all, we were really delighted with the service that we received from you. Thanks!
Our favourite part of the trip was the week we spent in the North West driving ourselves. We would definitely like to do that again and spend more time in some of the villages and towns.
Feedback and thoughts on the various activities and places we stayed and visited: I have written reviews on TripAdvisor for most of them, you can find me under the username fractal if youd like to read them
We liked all the hotels we stayed in. Each one was just right for its location and suited us perfectly. If we had to pick, probably our two favourites were Hacienda de Molinos in Molinos and Finca Adalgisa in Chacras de Coria.
Hacienda de Molinos had great charm and the food was excellent. We loved our room and would have liked to have spent a couple of days there. The Vinas de Cafayate had great views and the room was nice. The food in their restaurant was also quite good.. The Design Suites Hotel in Salta was great.our room on our first couple of nights was nicer than the room we had when we returned.the first room had a better view. The breakfasts were a little boring.
La Comarca in Purmamarca was really nice. It had great views of the mountains and was spacious.
One thing we did notice..Argentina is a wine country and yet only one or two of the hotels had wine glasses in the rooms.we had to ask!!
The agents on the ground were mostly very good.
Natural landmarks sightseeing
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
5-79 yrs
Operated in
english, spanish
Destinations
Salta, Cafayate, Calchaquies Val
Salta, Cafayate, Calchaquies Valley, Calchaqui Valley
Recently completed hikes in Peru including the Classic 4day Inca Trail, Sacred Valley, Vinicunca and Lake Humantay.
All hikes were spectacular, our guides, cook and porters very professional and looked after us very well. We were very spoilt with great food and companionship. Thanks to Nep and his team, they truely made us feel part of their family.
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Camping
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Inca Trail, Lima, Cusco, Sacred
Inca Trail, Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Chamana, Phuyupatamarca, Aguas Calientes
I would definitely recommend this trip for those who are seeking adventure! Each day we say different cities and sites (Huacachina Desert, Nazca Lines, Arequipa, Puno/Lake Titicaca, Cusco, Machu Picchu, and Rainbow Mountain), which are totally the experiences. The only downsides of the trip were the overnight bus due to its discomfort of trying to rest as well as the bumpy roads whenever I had to use the toilet on the bus. Also, make sure to bring enough medical supplements with you and buy enough coca supplements (mints, candies, leaves, tea) to adjust to the altitude or any higher elevations! I did get some headaches and dizziness, but that's kinda normal and to be expected.