Time your adventure perfectly with 1,700 tours departing in September 2026 in South America. Seasonal highlights and optimal conditions await, backed by 3,800 verified experiences.
I had a great time with Gadventures trip to Peru and Boliva. I highly recommend Gadventures, National Geographic small group trips. I believe these trips offer special insight into the local cultures.
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Overall, a wonderful trip! The pace is fast and the amount of things provided to do was very good. I would have liked to have spent a little more time in Guatemala and Honduras to get a feel for those countries (I can't really say that I have seen them on this trip) yet overall, it was a wonderful time with amazing people and beautiful locations.
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Guest House, Home-stay, Hostel, Hotel, Resort
Age Range
12-100 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
San Jose, Antigua, Ometepe, Mont
San Jose, Antigua, Ometepe, Monteverde, La Fortuna, Copan, Suchitoto, La Libertad, Leon, Granada
The guides, chef, and porters are all amazing. The food on the Inca trail is exceptional. How they do it, I don't know. This is a hard hike but you are well taken care of.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
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.
Buenos Aires, Lima, Cusco, Ollantaytambo, Llactapata, Dead Woman's Pass, Wiñay Wayna, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve, La Paz, Sucre, Potosi, Uyuni, Salar De Uyuni, Nazca, San Pedro De Atacama, Salta, Arequipa
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
1-75 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 such a wonderful experience on the Inca Trail trip. The G Adventures staff were all enthusiastic, engaged and knew what was needed to make the trip exciting, educational and enjoyable.
I recommend G Adventures to anyone interested in being immersed into a new culture and and enjoying an experience of a lifetime.
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Home-stay, Villa, Camping, Lodge
Age Range
12-100 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Lima, La Paz, Inca Trail, Machu
Lima, La Paz, Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Ollantaytambo
Our Costa Rica experience exceeded our expectations. Great organisation, transport and hotels. Fabulous national park visits where we saw lots of wildlife. Knowledgeable & interesting guides.
Active and outdoorBeach
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Eco Lodge, Lodge
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english, spanish
Destinations
San Jose, Tortuguero, Tortuguero
San Jose, Tortuguero, Tortuguero National Park, Arenal, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve, Manuel Antonio
