The rainy season in South America is finished and from now until November you can have a great adventure holiday in the Andes. Then, from November to March, Patagonia awaits.
Our favourite adventure tours in South America take you to highlights and off the beaten track
17 days from CA$5645
Welcoming, sophisticated people, epic scenery, timeless colonial towns and outdoor adventures galore, Colombia has been waiting to be discovered. From the cloud-forested mountains of the Andes to the pretty coffee plantations in the highlands to the palm-fringed beaches of the Caribbean and the gorgeous old town of Cartagena, Colombia is one varied, fascinating country. This tour will show you all these places, along with the capital Bogota and exciting Medellin.
14 days from CA$4375
Pretty colonial towns alive with markets, churches and monasteries; indigenous villages, Amazonian jungle and the Andes mountains running down the spine of the country - Ecuador packs a lot of variety into a small country. From the capital Quito you will explore cloud forests, rain forests, volcanoes, waterfalls and mangroves. You even get to take a ride down the Devil's Nose by train. This tour shows you all the highlights of mainland Ecuador.
10 days from CA$8764
Ecuador's undisputed highlight is the Galapagos Archipelago, with it's otherworldly volcanic landscapes and stunning array of wildlife. Snorkel with sea lions and penguins, come close to boobies and albatrosses, iguanas and tortoises and watch whales. This is nature in its primordial state, nature as it used to be.
This ten-day cruise package will give you 7 nights in the Galapagos Islands, the ideal length for anyone wishing to get a good idea of the variety of wildlife and natural history.
14 days from CA$8945
The enchanted isles of the Galapagos Archipelago are traditionally explored by expedition cruise boat. This trip changes things up a bit as it follows in the footsteps of Darwin as we hike the rim of Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabela Island. Among amazing landscapes of smouldering fumaroles and lava streams you will discover some of the last habitat of the Galapagos giant tortoise.
In addition we visit San Cristobal with its Galapagos Islands Interpretation Centre, the highlands of Floreana as well as Santa Cruz and several smaller islands. You will have the opportunity for shorter walks and to admire the underwater world of the Galapagos while snorkelling the pristine seas.
8 days from CA$2390
One of the most popular treks in the world, the Inca Trail follows ancient pathways to the mountaintop citadel of Machu Picchu. Beautiful scenery, ancient ruins and high passes are hallmarks of the trek. In addition this adventure tour of Peru gives you time to discover the capital Lima with its stately museums, edgy art galleries and great restaurants, Cuzco, with its splendid blend of ancient Inca fortresses, temples and colonial Spanish churches and mansions and the Sacred Valley lined with high terraced mountains and sprinkled with Inca Ruins and traditional markets.
8 days from CA$1759
From Peru's capital Lima this one-week adventure tour of Peru takes you to Cusco, Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. Fly to Cusco and travel to Urubamba through the scenic Sacred Valley, en-route exploring the salt pans of Maras and the Inca site of Moray. Tour the Inca Ruins at Pisac and Ollantaytambo before boarding a train for the scenic journey to Aguas Calientes, the bustling town at the foot of Machu Picchu. We explore the temples and terraces of this UNESCO World Heritage listed Inca citadel with an expert local guide before travelling by train to Cusco. A free day here gives you the chance to explore its ancient heritage, its museums and nearby ruins or perhaps join a cooking class. After an early flight back to Lima you have an afternoon to discover all this fascinating city has to offer.
15 days from CA$5895
An exploration of the highlights of Peru, including Cuzco and the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, the Amazon jungle and a homestay on Lake Titicaca.
20 days from CA$6675
A three week exploration of all the highlights of Peru. Visit Lima, sail to the Ballestas Islands, see the Nazca Lines, explore Arequipa and the Colca Canyon, sail on Lake Titicaca, discover Cuzco and the Sacred Valley in depth or hike the Inca Trail, delve into Machu Picchu and come close to wildlife in the Amazon rainforest.
8 days from US$8435
Sail into the Amazon headwaters in Peru on this 8-day luxury expedition-style cruise. Discover the hidden lakes and lagoons of Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve and the two Amazon tributaries that flow through it, the Marañon and Ucayali rivers. Spot rate pink Amazon dolphins, kayak, canoe and swim in pristine waters and visit remote settlements to learn about local culture. Your experienced guides will teach you all there is to know about flora, fauna and life in the Amazon.
15 days from CA$5695
Visit Bolivia on this two-week tour, exploring inmense landscapes, a strong indigenous culture and colonial towns. Discover Amboró National Park with its flora and fauna, visit Pre-Columbian archaeological sites, walk around Bolivia’s capital, Sucre and get lost in the streets of picturesque Potosí. Next are the salt flats of the Salar de Uyuni, an unforgettable experience offering wonderful photo opportunities. The markets and plazas of La Paz, and a stay at an eco-lodge on Lake Titicaca’s beautiful Isla del Sol make for a fitting end to a journey through fascinating Bolivia.
13 days from CA$8549
Squeezed between the depths of the Pacific and the volcanoes, peaks and glaciers of the Andes, Chile stretches from the driest desert in the north, to the ice fields of the south. In between you will find numerous landscapes from deep fjords and mountain-ringed lakes, to dunes, vineyards, fertile valleys and dark forests. This tour of Chile will take you from the capital Santiago to enigmatic Valparaíso before flying up to the Atacama Desert and high Altiplano, with its lunar landscape, strange rock formations, salt lakes and geysers.
Turning south we fly to the Lake District, where we enjoy breathtaking views of lakes, waterfalls and volcanoes. Finally, we travel to Torres del Paine National Park where we explore trails, glaciers and viewpoints before returning to Santiago.
If you have more time, extend your trip to Chile's outpost in the Pacific, where time has all but forgotten magical Easter Island and its treasure trove of moai.
13 days from CA$7595
In the deep south of Chile and Argentina lies the stunning region of Patagonia. Home to soaring Andean peaks, rolling hills and endless grasslands, the region is a mecca for walkers and nature lovers alike. Two national parks protect some of the most beautiful landscapes: famous Torres del Paine in Chile and the lesser-known Los Glaciares in Argentina. We walk some of the best trails while also visiting Perito Moreno glacier and the world's southernmost city - Ushuaia. On either end of the tour there is time to explore the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires.
13 days from CA$8040
Near the tip of Patagonia, deep in the south of Chile and Argentina, the Andes mountain range culminates in soaring granite peaks rising steeply in to the skies. Two national parks protect some of the most beautiful landscapes: famous Torres del Paine in Chile and the lesser-known Los Glaciares in Argentina. In the former we hike the beautiful W-trek, so-called as it enters three valleys to some stupendous viewpoints. In Argentine meanwhile we hike to Cerro Torre and Cerro Fitz Roy. En-route to our hikes we visit several glaciers, including Perito Moreno.
14 days from CA$8070
This tour of Brazil will show you all the highlights this diverse Latin American nation has to offer. After looking around colonial Salvador we fly to Manaus from where we travel in to the Amazon jungle for a stay at an Amazon Eco Lodge. Here you can fish for Piranha, visit the local Caboclo community or take one of the guided walks into the jungle. Next is another paradise for birds and wildlife, the Pantanal, where you explore on foot and in small boats and are likely to spot armadillo, tapir, capibara and caiman. Another highlight of the trip is your visit to Iguazu Falls, where you will have time to visit both the Brazilian and Argentine side of these amazing waterfalls. Finally, fly to Rio de Janeiro, where you will enjoy amazing views from Corcovado, the hill topped by the immense statue of Christ the Redeemer. You will also visit the funky neighbourhood of Santa Teresa and take a spectacular cable car ride up to Sugar Loaf Mountain.
