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Central & South America Adventure Tours

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Central & South America Trips

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South America Hiking Adventure Tours v3

From Peru's Ancient Incan Empire and Patagonia's dramatic landscapes to the dreamy Galapagos, get ready for a South America hiking adventure tour like no other!

South America is one of the most diverse of all the world's continents, and we reckon the best way to explore its many landscapes is to join a South America hiking and adventure tour. Witness some of the earliest evidence of human society in Peru, as well as mind-boggling engineering at sites like Machu Picchu. Journey deep into Patagonia's pristine National Parks and discover the rich and flourishing wild flora and fauna of the Galapagos Islands. With small groups and experienced guides, you'll explore well off-the-beaten-path and embrace the local way of life on the way. These are some of the most diverse and authentic South American hiking tours you'll find.
South America Hiking Adventure Tours

Hike, bike and kayak in South America's most iconic landscapes, at your own pace

Here at Active Adventures we understand the need for variety, and in such a huge place it would be impossible to cover all of the ground in one trip - so we've created a bunch which all appeal to different interests. Our trips travel through Peru, Patagonia, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - we believe you should be able to enjoy the destination that appeals to your most, without having to rush to the next spot.

Hear from our Happy Guests
4.85/5 Rating | 6,500+ Reviews

What Our Guests Say About Our Trips

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Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure - March 2024

Exceeded Expectations

"Every step of this adventure was amazing! Pepo and Paolo, our guides, made the logistics of the trip seamless, but more importantly, their knowledge, experience and pride in their Islands and its people gave us a real understanding of the marvel that is the Galapagos. The trip could not have been better and we will look for other opportunities to travel with Active Adventures.

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"Every step of this adventure was amazing! Pepo and Paolo, our guides, made the logistics… read more

"Every step of this adventure was amazing! Pepo and Paolo, our guides, made the logistics of the trip seamless, but more importantly, their knowledge, experience and pride in their Islands and its people gave us a real understanding of the marvel that is the Galapagos. The trip could not have been better and we will look for other opportunities to travel with Active Adventures. read less

5 Stars (501 reviews)

M Mary Ellen | March 2024

Patagonia Hiking Adventure - February 2024

Patagonia

"Our trip with Active Adventures was outstanding. Our guide was amazing and the views were stunning

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"Our trip with Active Adventures was outstanding. Our guide was amazing and the views were… read more

"Our trip with Active Adventures was outstanding. Our guide was amazing and the views were stunning read less

5 Stars (370 reviews)

R ROBERT | February 2024

Ultimate Machu Picchu & Galapagos Islands Adventure - February 2024

Peru and The Sacred Valley

"I went on this trip to see Machu Picchu and ended up being amazed by The Sacred Valley, the people (Incas) of the Andes and our Guide Salvador. Our guide brought the people and the land to life!

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"I went on this trip to see Machu Picchu and ended up being amazed by… read more

"I went on this trip to see Machu Picchu and ended up being amazed by The Sacred Valley, the people (Incas) of the Andes and our Guide Salvador. Our guide brought the people and the land to life! read less

5 Stars (65 reviews)

D Dennis | February 2024

Ultimate Machu Picchu & Galapagos Islands Adventure - February 2024

Machu Picchu and Galápagos Islands

"There were so many wonderful things so see. We loved every day of this trip. Our Peru guide, Salvador, was outstanding, and so very kind. It was great to see Peru through his eyes! Our Galapagos guide Pablo was also very knowledgeable.

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"There were so many wonderful things so see. We loved every day of this trip.… read more

"There were so many wonderful things so see. We loved every day of this trip. Our Peru guide, Salvador, was outstanding, and so very kind. It was great to see Peru through his eyes! Our Galapagos guide Pablo was also very knowledgeable. read less

5 Stars (65 reviews)

D Donna | February 2024

Patagonia Hiking Adventure - February 2024

A precious memory

"From the first moment, we felt in good hands. We were fortunate with other group members being friendly as well. We had agonised over challenging vs comfort and we’re so glad we chose challenging for the immersion. Yes we had to share but our group was with us. Bonus. It was bonding

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"From the first moment, we felt in good hands. We were fortunate with other group… read more

"From the first moment, we felt in good hands. We were fortunate with other group members being friendly as well. We had agonised over challenging vs comfort and we’re so glad we chose challenging for the immersion. Yes we had to share but our group was with us. Bonus. It was bonding read less

5 Stars (370 reviews)

D David | February 2024

Patagonia Hiking Adventure - February 2024

Spectacular Patagonia

"Incredible experience visiting the wonderful National parks of Patagonia in both Chile and Argentina. Spectacular scenery, great leaders and a lovely group of people. Perfect

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"Incredible experience visiting the wonderful National parks of Patagonia in both Chile and Argentina. Spectacular… read more

"Incredible experience visiting the wonderful National parks of Patagonia in both Chile and Argentina. Spectacular scenery, great leaders and a lovely group of people. Perfect read less

5 Stars (370 reviews)

J Janet | February 2024

Patagonia Hiking Adventure - February 2024

Excellent logistics handling

"For those considering if booking with Active is worth it... Well, in short, yes. They absolutely handle the logistics during the trip and handle them well. The booked transfer services, lodging, and guides were excellent and worth the cost. My particular trip was to Patagonia. Doing privately would / could have been challenging and potentially frustrating. There are a lot of complexities in Patagonia and the Active team absolutely handled that very well.

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"For those considering if booking with Active is worth it... Well, in short, yes. … read more

"For those considering if booking with Active is worth it... Well, in short, yes. They absolutely handle the logistics during the trip and handle them well. The booked transfer services, lodging, and guides were excellent and worth the cost. My particular trip was to Patagonia. Doing privately would / could have been challenging and potentially frustrating. There are a lot of complexities in Patagonia and the Active team absolutely handled that very well. read less

5 Stars (370 reviews)

B Bart | February 2024

Northern Patagonia Adventure - January 2024

What an ADVENTURE!!!

"Recently home from this fantastic adventure, my 3rd with Active. Northern Patagonia is just spectacular in scenery and activity. Wonderful hikes, two kayak days, lots of time spent traveling multi-modal transportation seeing much variety in landscapes. Could not have asked for any better than our wonderful guide, Mayra!!
Lodgings were good and interesting, food always great and plentiful, and to be sure we had good wine in both Argentina and Chile. Fun fun group, lots of laughter!

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"Recently home from this fantastic adventure, my 3rd with Active. Northern Patagonia is just… read more

"Recently home from this fantastic adventure, my 3rd with Active. Northern Patagonia is just spectacular in scenery and activity. Wonderful hikes, two kayak days, lots of time spent traveling multi-modal transportation seeing much variety in landscapes. Could not have asked for any better than our wonderful guide, Mayra!!
Lodgings were good and interesting, food always great and plentiful, and to be sure we had good wine in both Argentina and Chile. Fun fun group, lots of laughter! read less

5 Stars (37 reviews)

S Shearon | January 2024

Patagonia Hiking Adventure - January 2024

South Patagonia

"Amazing adventure lead by an amazing team to the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. Thank you!

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"Amazing adventure lead by an amazing team to the most beautiful scenery I have ever… read more

"Amazing adventure lead by an amazing team to the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. Thank you! read less

5 Stars (370 reviews)

F Francoise Guillo, | January 2024

Northern Patagonia Adventure - January 2024

Fabulous Northern Patagonia Trip

"We thoroughly enjoyed our Northern Patagonia trip. Endless beauty, perfect mix of hiking and kayaking, unique accommodations, fascinating flora and fauna, lovely lakes, plus yummy wine to sip at the end of the day! Everything lived up to the Active Adventure experience we have always enjoyed. Terrific trip...Highly recommend.

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"We thoroughly enjoyed our Northern Patagonia trip. Endless beauty, perfect mix of hiking and kayaking,… read more

"We thoroughly enjoyed our Northern Patagonia trip. Endless beauty, perfect mix of hiking and kayaking, unique accommodations, fascinating flora and fauna, lovely lakes, plus yummy wine to sip at the end of the day! Everything lived up to the Active Adventure experience we have always enjoyed. Terrific trip...Highly recommend. read less

5 Stars (37 reviews)

L Lori | January 2024

Patagonia Hiking Adventure - January 2024

Patagonia W-trek

"Fantastic trip that is one for the books. It was filled with exciting worthwhile activities such as biking to the caves, sea kayaking in Lake Grey, glacier hiking (extra cost not included in package) and of course hiking. Trekking was challenging at times but the summits with the views were well worth it. This was my second trekking trip with Active Adventures and once again the trip leader (Zac) and guides (Andrea, Camilla and Lucy) were top-notch. Excellent interpersonal skills (where does Active Adventures find these people?!!!) and knowledge of the local flora and fauna and areas. They quickly brought a diverse group of people together into a cohesive unit. A lot of laughs and mutual support.

Food was very good with a mix of nice restaurants and refugio dinners. Accommodations in the hotels and refugioes were as billed - clean and comfortable..

Shout out to Big Foot outfitters at Lake Grey. Their staff led the sea kayaking and glacier hiking. Friendly, professional guides with updated equipment. I'm so glad I splurged on the extra cost for the glacier hiking. It was an experience of a lifetime and worth every penny.

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"Fantastic trip that is one for the books. It was filled with exciting worthwhile… read more

"Fantastic trip that is one for the books. It was filled with exciting worthwhile activities such as biking to the caves, sea kayaking in Lake Grey, glacier hiking (extra cost not included in package) and of course hiking. Trekking was challenging at times but the summits with the views were well worth it. This was my second trekking trip with Active Adventures and once again the trip leader (Zac) and guides (Andrea, Camilla and Lucy) were top-notch. Excellent interpersonal skills (where does Active Adventures find these people?!!!) and knowledge of the local flora and fauna and areas. They quickly brought a diverse group of people together into a cohesive unit. A lot of laughs and mutual support.

Food was very good with a mix of nice restaurants and refugio dinners. Accommodations in the hotels and refugioes were as billed - clean and comfortable..

Shout out to Big Foot outfitters at Lake Grey. Their staff led the sea kayaking and glacier hiking. Friendly, professional guides with updated equipment. I'm so glad I splurged on the extra cost for the glacier hiking. It was an experience of a lifetime and worth every penny. read less

5 Stars (370 reviews)

K Kevin | January 2024

Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure - January 2024

Best tour ever!

"We had the most spectacular time on this tour. The Galapagos and all it has to offer was amazing. It was made even better by our guide, Pablo. He was a wealth of information with a flair for the dramatic, which made the tour both educational as well as entertaining. Paulo, I’ll call him our support guide, made sure everything ran smoothly. All in all would highly recommend this tour.

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"We had the most spectacular time on this tour. The Galapagos and all it has… read more

"We had the most spectacular time on this tour. The Galapagos and all it has to offer was amazing. It was made even better by our guide, Pablo. He was a wealth of information with a flair for the dramatic, which made the tour both educational as well as entertaining. Paulo, I’ll call him our support guide, made sure everything ran smoothly. All in all would highly recommend this tour. read less

5 Stars (501 reviews)

R Robert | January 2024

Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure - January 2024

Ultimate Galapagos

"Fabulous trip, well organized with great variety of activities. Excellent guides! Great group of people to train with.

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"Fabulous trip, well organized with great variety of activities. Excellent guides! Great group of… read more

"Fabulous trip, well organized with great variety of activities. Excellent guides! Great group of people to train with. read less

5 Stars (501 reviews)

J Janelle | January 2024

Patagonia Hiking Adventure - January 2024

Wonderful tour of Patagonia

"The tour was well designed and the tour leader and guides were wonderful! The variety of activities was very good, with a focus on hiking. We got the active trip we were hoping for! We also got exposure to the local food and culture. Overall, we got a wonderful adventure in beautiful Patagonia!

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"The tour was well designed and the tour leader and guides were wonderful! The variety… read more

"The tour was well designed and the tour leader and guides were wonderful! The variety of activities was very good, with a focus on hiking. We got the active trip we were hoping for! We also got exposure to the local food and culture. Overall, we got a wonderful adventure in beautiful Patagonia! read less

4 Stars (370 reviews)

J Joseph | January 2024

Patagonia Hiking Adventure - January 2024

Great Patagonia trip!

"We just returned from a a 14 day trip to southern Patagonia. Once we arrived we were well looked after and the guides, scenery, food and accommodation were top notch. Our guide Gustavo Martinez, in particular, was excellent.

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"We just returned from a a 14 day trip to southern Patagonia. Once we arrived… read more

"We just returned from a a 14 day trip to southern Patagonia. Once we arrived we were well looked after and the guides, scenery, food and accommodation were top notch. Our guide Gustavo Martinez, in particular, was excellent. read less

5 Stars (370 reviews)

D David | January 2024

Patagonia Hiking Adventure - January 2024

Amazing bucket-list adventure

"The W-Trek was awesome -Los Torres, Los Cuernos, and the French Valle were all particularly spectacular and IMHO there is no substitute for seeing them in person. The day hikes to Lagunas de los Tres, Lomo del Pliegue Tumbado likewise were beyond description; and we were extremely fortunate that we reached the viewpoints as the weather cleared and could see them in bright sun light! Our tour guides were just awesome hosts in introducing us to this amazing land; they really brought everything to life while taking care of the needs of the group. And it was fun to experience the area with our fellow tour group members. The trip was challenging as described- much of the trails are rougher than those normally those encountered in the western US – they go straight up rather than constructed with switchbacks; and were very rocky- having trekking poles was critical for going up and down these. The wind was persistent and challenging at times; trekking poles helped with balance during exposed stretches such as Windy Pass on the Las Torres hike. Expect to have some rain; we had at least a little rain each day, but…

read more

"The W-Trek was awesome -Los Torres, Los Cuernos, and the French Valle were all particularly… read more

"The W-Trek was awesome -Los Torres, Los Cuernos, and the French Valle were all particularly spectacular and IMHO there is no substitute for seeing them in person. The day hikes to Lagunas de los Tres, Lomo del Pliegue Tumbado likewise were beyond description; and we were extremely fortunate that we reached the viewpoints as the weather cleared and could see them in bright sun light! Our tour guides were just awesome hosts in introducing us to this amazing land; they really brought everything to life while taking care of the needs of the group. And it was fun to experience the area with our fellow tour group members. The trip was challenging as described- much of the trails are rougher than those normally those encountered in the western US – they go straight up rather than constructed with switchbacks; and were very rocky- having trekking poles was critical for going up and down these. The wind was persistent and challenging at times; trekking poles helped with balance during exposed stretches such as Windy Pass on the Las Torres hike. Expect to have some rain; we had at least a little rain each day, but only two days where we it was windy and wet for a few hours. The refugios are what you expect – very basic, somewhat cramped, but generally the rooms are clean and bathroom facilities are good, normally cleaned twice a day. We visited during high season and the refugios were pretty crowded, especially Refugio Las Torres and Vertice Paine Grande. They added some of their own interest to the adventure, and it was interesting talking with other visitors. Everything added to a great and memorable experience. read less

4 Stars (370 reviews)

M Michael | January 2024

Our Trips... from our Guests' Perspective

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Take 10% off the trip price when you book a trip and pay in full

By paying in full we are able to pass on savings to our guests, but please note that by opting for this payment plan, your booking becomes non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-changeable. This offer is only valid for reservations where the trip is no sooner than 180 days from the departure date at time of booking.

We highly recommend that you purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. We recommend Redpoint Insurance – you can find details here.

T&Cs Apply. Read more here.

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Adventure Travel to Costa Rica: Everything You Need to Know

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Travelling to Ecuador and the Galapagos During the Covid-19 Pandemic

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Top 5 Open Destinations to Visit in 2022: Where Can Americans Travel?

The light at the end of the tunnel is finally here and keen travellers are…

The Best Time to visit the Galapagos Islands

If you’re heading to the Galapagos Islands, you probably can’t wait to get out your…

Podcast: Erin Chambers talks with Kit about her adventure to Patagonia

 

 

Our Local Guides

South America Travel FAQs

Do you recommend buying travel insurance?

As an Active Adventures traveller, It’s essential you take out travel insurance to cover the likes of personal injury, medical expenses, trip cancellation for your travel with us. Please head to our Travel Insurance page for more in-depth information and insurance provider options. It’s also important to check your insurance covers all the activities you’ll be partaking in, in case you’re travelling to altitude or looking at extreme sports.

What's included on your South America trips?

Accommodation

On your South America trip you'll stay in a variety of places depending on the destination and activities. In Peru you'll stay in nice hotels, tents while you're hiking (complete with porters to put them up for you, cook your meals and generally make sure it's the best camping experience ever!), jungle lodges and local homes on Amantani Island (a truly once in a lifetime experience). In Ecuador mainland you'll stay in hotels and jungle lodges, and on the Galapagos Islands you'll stay on dry land, meaning you're free to walk around each evening and get to know the residents of these famous isles. Down in Patagonia you'll lay your head each night in hotels, lodges and the famous 'refugios' in the National Parks. While these may sound basic they have incredible facilities (including electricity), the views are out of this world, they have restaurants and you'll meet an incredible array of people that have travelled from far and wide to visit the bottom of the world.

Transport

Your transport will be a mixture of bus, plane, boat, bike and your very own two feet on our trips in South America. You'll spend most time on a boat in the Galapagos Islands as you make your way from island to island during the day, and down in Peru you'll travel by boat in the Amazon to get to your lodge. We have domestic flights included in our Galapagos Islands and Peru trips to shorten our travel times and to ensure you have the best experience possible. All your transport is included from the start of your trip and we'll drop you at the airport at the end. The details are all listed in the trip specific itineraries.

Meals

All your meals are included as described in the itinerary except on your free days. We have found that people enjoy checking out what is on offer by themselves sometimes, so you can go and see what's out there! On every other day and especially after any long hikes, we've chosen places to eat that can cater for our hearty appetites, work well with our small groups (they know we are coming) and provide us with an authentic destination specific culinary experience. There are always options for you, so you can either be brave or choose something more familiar. On the hiking portion of our trips (such as on the Inca Trail) we work with an outstanding team of cooks who will amaze you with what they can produce on a campsite miles from the nearest town. You can be assured that on all our trips we will make sure you are very well fed.

Trip leaders

Our trips are all led by an experienced Trip Leader. Our Trip Leaders are very proud to work with Active Adventures and often lead our trips for many years, for which we are very lucky and very grateful as it means we're able to consistently offer a fantastic level of service. They work closely with our local specialist guides to provide you with a seamless, fun, exciting and memorable trip. They will happily share with you as much or as little as you want to know about the history, culture, social aspects and lifestyle of the country you are visiting. In the Galapagos Islands you will be accompanied by a specialist Nature Guide, qualified to provide you with plenty of information about the species that make their home on the islands.

How many people are there on each of your South America trips?

We generally take up to 14 people per trip, although this can vary, and all our trips have at least two of our guides to look after you (apart from the occasions we have a small group). We have found that our trips tend to attract a particular kind of person and many people have commented that the social scene was one of the highlights of their trip!

Do you charge a forced single supplement if I'm a solo traveller?

We welcome many solo travelers on our trips – in fact, we get so many solo travelers and they always say it’s a great way to travel alone, but not actually by themselves. You’ll have an incredible adventure sharing your experiences with other like-minded travelers, and the best part is we don't charge extra for solo travelers, providing you don’t mind sharing a room. However, for bookings within 90 days of your chosen departure, a forced single supplement will apply if there is no other guest of the same gender already booked to share with.

If you prefer not to share a room at all, you can upgrade to a single room, if one is available. If your trip uses refugios which can only accommodate guests on a multi-share basis, the upgrade cost will reflect this.

Why Travel With Us

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Experience adventure the way you want

You’ll be inspired and exhilarated, enjoying mind-blowing scenery on foot, in a sea kayak, or by bike - all at your own pace.

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Crafting award-winning trips for decades - the New Zealand way

We're proud of our New Zealand roots and you’ll love our professional and warm style of hosting. We’re always here to help with planning... even hiking boot recommendations!

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Every detail covered, to maximise your time

We've got everything covered – top-notch meals, comfortable transport, superb accommodation, amazing guides and INCREDIBLE service.

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Group travel for those who aren’t ‘group travelers’

With an average of 12 guests per departure and an industry-leading average 6:1 guest-to-guide ratio, you'll get to know your fellow travelers and have the flexibility to go at your own pace.

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Explore hidden gems through our expert local guides

All our carefully selected guides are highly experienced and have deep personal connections to nature and culture. You’ll enjoy an authentic local experience.

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Over 10,000 5-star reviews - that’s pretty solid

We could hang around all day telling you how wonderful our trips are... but the best people to hear it from are our guests themselves.