South America is a huge continent with gorgeous colonial cities, buzzing artistic and cultural centres, vast sandy beaches, vineyards, the breath-taking Andes Mountains, gauchos and of course world famous cities like Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro.
Best South America Adventure Tours
These are some of the most popular small group trips in South America.
The Great South American Journey: Quito to Rio
• 65 days
• Price from £6,799
South America Explorer Trip
• 18 days, 3 countries
• Price from £3,917
Lima to Buenos Aires
• 35 days, 4 countries
• Price from £3,340
Argentina & Brazil Highlights
• 10 days
• Price from £1,807
Peru Inca Adventure
• 10 days
• Price from £1,196
Destinations
Dream of exploring South America? Some of the best and most popular tourist destinations include: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Galápagos Islands and Peru.
Other places you can also find trips to more off the beaten track countries including: Uruguay, Venezuela, Guyana, Paraguay, Suriname, Falkland Islands and French Guiana.
Travel to South America
You can make the most of your time in South America by exploring individual countries or travelling overland taking in multiple destinations.
One of the top destinations in South America, Iguazu Falls are taller than Niagara Falls, twice as wide with 275 cascades spread in a horsehoe shape over nearly two miles of the Iguazu River. The Iguazu Falls are part of a singular practically virgin jungle ecosystem protected by Argentine and Brazilian national parks on either side of the cascades. Two thirds of the falls are on the Argentinian side of the river where you can also tour Iguazu National Park full with jungle trails and bird hikes.
What better way to fully enjoy nature than to travel to the heart of it all; the most bio-diverse place on earth! The Amazon Jungle spans across Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. Canoe down the waters, looking out for the various wildlife and even spend the night in an eco lodge where you can awake to the sounds of nature right outside your door. For nature lovers, this truly is a top travel experience in South America!
Also not to be missed is the Perito Moreno Glacier in the Parque Nacional de los Glaciares down in Patagonia but the undoubted essential must visit destination is of course, Machu Picchu. The magical deserted Mayan city high up in the mountains of Peru, the treks here alone are epic.
There are hundreds of tours exploring South America with weekly departures. Just go, and you won’t regret it!