The Best Group Tours in South and Central America
Ancient ruins, active volcanoes, waterfalls, rainforests and food to die for – South and Central America have everything you need for adventure. Book your place on one of these small-group adventures with Culture Trip.
With so much to explore, this vast region of the world takes time and planning to travel through – so, why not make things easier with a few friends and join one of these trips rather than traveling solo? From the mystical cloud forests of Costa Rica to the dazzling beaches of Brazil, here are the best Central and South American group trips for you to experience.
The Real Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, you’ll be quick to understand the meaning of “pura vida”. It’s the Costa Rican way of life, which to some means the “good life” – while to others, it’s simply a way of life. On this eight-day Culture Trip group tour, you’ll have time to acquaint yourself with the concept of Pura Vida as you start the journey by sipping freshly brewed coffee in the shadow of the Arenal Volcano – before heading off on a jungle safari in search of sloths and jaguars. Zipline through the cloud forests of Monteverde and finish the tour with surfing and yoga sessions on the beaches of Tamarindo.
From US$2099
Next available from 9th Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
San Jose, Costa Rica
ENDS AT
Tamarindo, Provincia De Guanacaste
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
17
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Go Wild in the Galápagos
One of the most beautiful places in South America is the Galapagos Islands, where you can find nature like nowhere else in the world. This five-day Culture Trip group tour starts when you arrive in Santa Cruz – where you’ll snorkel in the Itabaca Channel before visiting a giant tortoise preserve. Set off with a local naturalist to uninhabited islands to discover iguanas, finches and all the unique species that inspired Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection. The tour ends on San Cristobal Island – where you’ll walk through lava fields and snorkel with sea lions – before making the journey back across the Pacific Ocean to mainland Ecuador.
From US$1869
Next available from 6th Jan 2024
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island
ENDS AT
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal Island
DURATION
5
GROUP SIZE
14
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Caribbean Colombia
Are you a foodie with a passion for beaches? You’ll love this group tour of Colombia’s Caribbean coast with Culture Trip, where you’ll spend eight days touring the tropical coastline and gorging on local dishes. This trip is a feast for the hungry traveler as you’ll start in Cartagena with a street food tour that’s swiftly followed by an evening of rum tasting. You’ll also explore local mangroves by kayak, snorkel the Rosario Islands off the coast and visit the rainforests of Tayrona National Park. Along the way, you’ll revel in eating fresh seafood, ceviche and arepas every day.
From US$1711
Next available from 9th Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Cartagena, Colombia
ENDS AT
Santa Marta, Colombia
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
14
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Gorgeous Guatemala
You’ll see the best of Guatemala on our five-day trip. After exploring the charming cobblestone streets of Antigua, summit Pacaya volcano – and reward yourself at the top with a snack of pizza and marshmallows cooked over molten lava. Experience a traditional Mayan ceremony at Iximche before heading to Lake Atitlan. Here, you’ll kayak around the shores of the lake before visiting a unique artisan village that’s perched in the hills above the volcanic crater lake.
From US$934
Next available from 24th Jan 2024
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Guatemala City, Guatemala
ENDS AT
Guatemala City, Guatemala
DURATION
5
GROUP SIZE
18
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Culture
Dazzling Brazil
Get the complete Brazilian experience on our nine-day extravaganza. We start in Sao Paulo, for street art, epic urban parks and incredible feats of modern architecture. After experiencing the bustle of Brazil’s largest city we’ll head for a rural retreat in the beautiful old cobblestone town of Paraty. Here you’ll be surrounded by luscious forest and crystalline coastal waters – we’ll explore forest by 4×4 and ocean by boat, with barbecue and snorkelling equipment onboard. Finally, it’s on to Rio for four days of golden beaches, samba workshops and sipping cocktails with sunset views of the city.
From US$2099
Next available from 8th Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Sao Paulo, Brazil
ENDS AT
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
DURATION
9
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Express Mexico City
Fall in love with the ever-vibrant Mexican capital on this five-day feast for the senses. We’ll embrace ancient history at Teotihuacán pyramids, local culture at a lucha libre wrestling match and local cuisine on a tour of the city’s incredible markets. There’ll also be time to visit the fabulous floating gardens of Xochimilco, the Monument to the Revolution and, naturally, gorge on tacos and the best tequila you’ve shotted in your life.
From US$802
Next available from 9th Nov 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Mexico City, Mexico
ENDS AT
Mexico City, Mexico
DURATION
5
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Easy
STYLE
Discovery
Maja Proescholdt and Gethin Morgan contributed additional reporting to this article.
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.
KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
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