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.
Destinations
Guide Types
Price
USD 65USD 28,804
Page 11 of 196 Wildlife Trips in South America with 1,372 Reviews
The greatest wildlife-watching destinations in Costa Rica? They’re the ones you haven’t heard about… yet. So, journey through untouched rainforests, jungle hillsides and concealed coastlines to search for sloths, monkeys and more with the help of our expert guides. The highlights are plentiful. Go deep into the Osa Peninsula, one of the most biologically intense places on Earth, immerse yourself in a remote mountain community, and stay in handpicked Premium accommodation each night – because going remote doesn’t mean giving up the luxuries!
If you’re looking for an adventure of a lifetime, this 24-day journey from the waters of the Galapagos to Peru might just be it! On this adventure, spend ten days drifting across the Pacific Ocean and uncover the natural beauty and unique wildlife of the Ecuadorian Isles. Retrace the voyage of Charles Darwin by sea, admiring the sandy beaches of Espumilla and the volcanic craters of Isla Santiago. Look out for blue-footed boobies, Galapagos sea turtles and sea lions in their natural habitat, then fly to Peru for lush valleys, rich rainforests and the Inca heartlands. Travel south from Lima to Arequipa, see condors in Colca Canyon and get to the wild heart of the Amazon Jungle. Consider trekking along the acclaimed Inca Trail or relax on a scenic train ride to Machu Picchu – one of the Seven Wonders of the World. With a local leader each step of the way, you’ll get all the best insights, too!
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Ship Cabin, Hotel, Lodge, Resort
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Quito, Lima, Arequipa, Colca Can
Quito, Lima, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Puno, Cusco, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes, San Cristobal Island, Amazon Jungle, Bartolome Island, Puerto Egas, Isla Santa Cruz, North Seymour Island, Cerro Dragón, Rábida Island
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Take on an epic 3-week adventure from the deck of the Grand Daphne in the Galapagos to the sarced land of the Incas in Peru. See pink flamingos in the lagoons of Isla Floreana, sunbathe with sea lions along Gardner Beach, hike along the green shoreline of Punta Cormorant and snorkel with turtles, rays and sharks. Then, uncover the secrets of Peru and Bolivia as you walk beneath the Amazon Jungle's canopy, trek the llama-filled plains of the Sacred Valley and stroll the cobblestone streets of Cusco. Search for monkeys and medicinal plants in the jungle, experience a homestay in a traditional community on the shore of Lake Titicaca and tick off one of the Seven Wonders of the World in Machu Picchu! With the option to see the sacred site by trek or by train, this trip will suit any active, curious traveller!
Experience Ecuador in full glory, where the mainland combines natural and cultural wonders, and the Galapagos islands offer unrivalled wildlife watching. Beginning in Quito, we gaze over Cotopaxi volcano, experience indigenous culture and spend two nights in the Amazon Rainforest. It’s then off to the Galapagos, where we snorkel with sea lions, walk among giant tortoises and sunbathe on white sands with marine iguanas.
See thousands of penguins on the seldom visited South Georgia Island and the 7th Continent- Antarctica. On this 19-day adventure to the Antarctic Peninsula, you’ll sail through ice floes, photograph massive albatross and watch the pintado petrels as they soar around the ship, guiding you to South Georgia. Make Zodiac excursions to beaches teeming with penguins and elephant seals, and pay your respects to the famed explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. Go further into the Antarctic Sea on your Zodiac boats and get as close as you can to the inquisitive Gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguins. Maybe even experience the rugged peninsula from a sea kayak, undertake an exhilarating hike up a glacier or sign up for an optional paddling excursion – this is the adventure you’ve been searching for!
Explore the rarely visited Falkland Islands (Malvinas), South Georgia and Antarctica on this unforgettable 20-day adventure to the 7th Continent. Stroll through the English village of Stanley, wander the islands’ sandy dunes and birdwatch at rugged cliffs teeming with seabirds. Discover the beaches where king penguins breed in South Georgia – this colony has one of the highest densities of animal life on earth! Both archipelagos are known for their wildlife and you’ll likely see epic displays of animals by the thousands. Explore the vast Antarctic Peninsula and enter a world of ice, snow and natural wonders, taking the opportunity to go on an optional sea-kayaking adventure, day paddling or snowshoeing.
Uncover the landscape, wildlife and stillness of the remote Antarctic Peninsula on this 11-day adventure like no other. Conquer the famed Drake Passage, explore scenic natural environments and take daily Zodiac expeditions to the South Shetland Islands. Here, you can walk, hike and get up close to the colonies of penguins and birds that call this remote paradise home. Spot whales and seals, enjoy talks on history, biology and glaciology by your handy polar experts, and personalise your adventure with optional activities that suit your interests, like kayaking, snowshoeing and paddling. Take on this incredible journey and cross the 7th Continent off the list—your way.
Embark on a 23-day adventure through Peru, Ecuador, and the Galapagos Islands, where diverse cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and unique wildlife await.
Begin in Peru with Lima’s vibrant markets, culinary experiences, and a walk through its colonial and modern districts. Journey to Lake Titicaca, exploring ancient cultures on Taquile and Uros Islands. In Cusco, visit iconic Inca sites and discover the Sacred Valley, leading to the legendary Machu Picchu.
Then, venture into the Amazon at Puerto Maldonado, exploring the rainforest and its exotic wildlife from a secluded jungle lodge. Next, wander through Quito, Ecuador’s colonial heart, and taste its famous chocolate.
In the Galapagos, encounter giant tortoises, snorkel among sea lions, and trek volcanic trails on Isabela Island. Finally, unwind in Guayaquil, enjoying coastal sights and vibrant local life.
Prepare to be captivated by the wonders of South America—an adventure of a lifetime awaits!
See the itinerary section below for more details.
Cusco, Machu Picchu, Quito, Lima, Puerto Maldonado, Puno, Galapagos Islands, Guayaquil, Amazon Peru, Sandoval Lake, Puerto Quito, Puerto Ayora, Isabela Island, Taquile Island, Sacred Valley
With lumbering giant tortoises, playful sea lions and an aviary of swooping, squawking, soaring bird life, the Galapagos Islands is wildlife-watching heaven. For this five-day trip, it’s all aboard the Solaris, a first-class motor yacht, to cruise around the archipelago in the company of an expert naturalist. Along the way, we stop at a string of biologically diverse islands, including Genovesa, Santa Fe and San Cristóbal, with the chance to get out and explore on foot and by snorkelling. Expect moments worthy of a nature documentary and plenty of photo opportunities.
Discover all that Antarctica has to offer on this epic 24-day expedition that explores the Falkland Islands, South Georgia islands and the Antarctic peninsula, including crossing the rarely seen Antarctic Circle! This is our longest Antarctica trip available – a voyage of discovery aboard the Ocean Nova, where you’ll marvel at spectacularly rugged landscapes, thousands of king penguins and the abundant wildlife of the south. Glide through ice floes in a Zodiac with your Expedition Team and take part in fascinating educational presentations. Keep your eye out for predatory seals, wandering albatross and migrating whales as you pass by towering ice-blue glaciers and icebergs. Round this unforgettable adventure off by reaching latitude 66°33’S, as you cross the fabled Antarctic Circle. With optional adventures like camping on the ice (there’s no better spot to experience the sound of silence) and day paddling across icy waters, this journey of discovery and mateship is sure to be the trip of a lifetime.
This eight-day southwestern tour aboard the catamaran Archipel I gives an extensive overview of the Galapagos by combining the circumnavigation of Isabela Island with excursions in the southernmost points of the archipelago. It also gives the chance to snorkel with sea lions in the Loberia and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station in Santa Cruz.
In 2004, Quark Expeditions made Polar history when they conducted the first-ever ground visit to the remote Emperor penguin colony near Snow Hill Island, Antarctica. Driven by a true expeditionary spirit—and guided by years of Polar expertise—the team sailed past masses of dense ice and thick, tabular icebergs in the Weddell Sea to experience the legendary rookery, which now numbers 8,000 breeding pairs of Emperor penguins. Today, it is one of the most exclusive wildlife viewing experiences on the planet. We invite you—almost two decades after our milestone visit of 2004—to embrace the thrill of the search as we once again set out to visit to the emperor penguins at Snow Hill Island.
Experience a true Polar quest as we journey on our new ship, Ultramarine, which is equipped with two twin-engine helicopters that will fly guests to the vicinity of this rarely-visited rookery, whereupon they will walk across the thick sea ice to stand within metres of the most coveted penguin species on the planet. Anticipate scenes reminiscent of “March of the Penguins” and BBC’s “Frozen Planet.” Just imagine the penguins tobogganing across the ice towards the sea. Such wildlife moments are too precious for words!
All aboard – the journey of a lifetime awaits. Set sail towards the Antarctic Peninsula, where whales gather in their largest numbers, on this 12-day expedition designed especially for wildlife-lovers and epic adventurers. Follow the migration paths of whales and spot seals, penguins and seabirds along the way. Explore the frozen wilderness from the deck of the Ocean Nova and from a fleet of up-close-and-personal Zodiacs, scanning for underwater silhouettes. Take an optional expedition by day paddle or choose to take a reinvigorating polar plunge. Among electric blue glaciers, this by-sea adventure provides the best opportunity for whale-spotting and once-in-a-lifetime exploration.
Set foot on the 7th Continent – an achievement that few people get to experience in their lifetime! Even more rare is the incomparable milestone of crossing the Antarctic Circle and navigating south of 66°33' S! For most, this is the highlight of a 14-day adventure to Antarctica. See dramatic ice formations, spot humpback whales swimming alongside the ship, watch leopard seals dive beneath your Zodiac and take photos of all the penguins sliding off icebergs into polar waters – this is a southern expedition like no other!