Top Culture Trip Itineraries for a South American Adventure
Click book and brush up on your Spanish – our Culture Trip excursions through South America are magnifico.
The Andes and the Amazon. The Galápagos. Machu Picchu. South America is home to some of the most amazing landscapes, rivaled only by the vibrant cultures filling each country on the continent. From the lesser-visited shorelines of Colombia to the rich biodiversity found on Ecuador’s coasts, any journey into South America is guaranteed to amplify your wanderlust. These top Culture Trip tours will show you the best adventures in South America.
Dazzling Brazil
Brazil’s samba spirit is the perfect embodiment of South America – bold, colourful and adorned with a joyous smile on its face. We’ll loosen up and get into the Brazilian way of life on our immersive nine-day adventure, starting in Sao Paulo and ending in Rio de Janeiro. Discover the trendiest spots in Sao Paulo’s coolest neighbourhood, snorkel in the crystalline waters of Paraty Bay and walk the cobbled streets of Paraty town’s multicoloured streets. Your final destination is Dazzling Brazil distilled – our time in Rio will include a Carneval samba experience, sunsets over the Copacabana with caipirinha in hand, and a face-to-face with Christ the Redeemer himself.
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
Adventurous Ecuador
On this eight-day South American adventure, you don’t have to choose between a visit to the Andes or the Amazon. See them both as you navigate the country’s volcanic landscape. Fall in love with every aspect of Ecuador as you nibble on sensational chocolate and cycle to majestic waterfalls. This loop-tour starts and ends in Quito, but these immersive eight days could only amount to part one of your South American adventure.
From US$1459
Next available from 9th Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Quito, Ecuador
ENDS AT
Quito, Ecuador
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Go Wild in the Galápagos Islands
Looking to reconnect with nature? There are few destinations as remote and wild as the Galápagos, and you can experience this unusual archipelago on a five-day journey over land and sea. You’ll be following in the wake of Charles Darwin, as you see first-hand the endemic species that inspired the Theory of Evolution. This is one for the budding naturalists and adventurers out there – as you snorkel with sea lions and penguins, plod alongside giant tortoises and spot Darwin’s finches swooping overhead.
From US$1869
Next available from 6th Jan 2024
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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
From the Andes mountains to the palm-fringed beaches of the Caribbean Coast, Colombia is a thrill seekers’ dream. This eight-day trip includes canoeing through mangroves in La Boquilla, trekking through the dense jungle of Tayrona National Park and river tubing on the Río Don Diego. All that excitement will be offset with some needed downtime on the Rosario Islands – whether you’re horizontal on the white sand, cocktail in hand, or snorkeling through coral reefs and shoals of tropical fish, underwater GoPro in hand.
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
Ancient Peru
Tick off one of the seven wonders of the world when you visit Peru on our nine-day adventure. After a Peruvian cooking class in Cusco and a trip to Piuray Lagoon to kayak or stand-up paddleboard, visit the archeological ruins in the Sacred Valley. Machu Picchu, the epic Inca citadel high in the Andes, is undoubtedly the highlight of the trip and a true bucket-list moment. Spot condors on a trek through Colca Canyon and take a foodie tour around Arequipa’s picanterias (local lunchtime restaurants).
From US$1824
Next available from 1st Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Cusco, Peru
ENDS AT
Arequipa, Peru
DURATION
9
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Gethin Morgan, Maja Proescholdt, Nick Dauk, Lucie Gracie, Richard Collett, Grace Beard and Louis Rabinowitz contributed 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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