A tour in South America tends to reward careful planning more than most regions. The distances are significant, altitude is a variable worth understanding, and the destinations that deliver the most – Machu Picchu, the Galapagos, Patagonia – each benefit from specialist knowledge to reach their full potential. Here’s how to think about getting it right.
Peru is a popular entry point. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is one of the world’s iconic multi-day walks, though the alternatives – the Salkantay Trek, the train route via Aguas Calientes – are worth knowing about and worth choosing between deliberately. A tour that manages altitude acclimatisation properly and times the Machu Picchu arrival for early morning tends to make a meaningful difference to the experience.
Ecuador and the Galápagos follow a different logic. The islands are generally best accessed by small expedition ship – they span roughly 45,000 square kilometres of ocean, and a ship-based itinerary reaches far more of what’s worth seeing. The vessel is the accommodation, the itinerary is the product, and the group size tends to shape the wildlife experience directly.
Patagonia – spanning the southern tips of Argentina and Chile – suits travellers after landscape at its most dramatic: the granite towers of Torres del Paine, the Perito Moreno glacier, the southernmost city in the world at Ushuaia. Tours here are physically active and weather-dependent, which makes specialist planning a genuine asset.
Peru is generally best May to October, in the dry season. The Galápagos works year-round, with different wildlife activity by season. Patagonia tends to be most accessible November to March. Colombia and Costa Rica are generally most comfortable December to April.
Consider South America’s altitude before you book your tour. Cusco sits at around 3,400 metres above sea level; some trekking routes reach considerably higher. A well-structured tour builds in acclimatisation time before any significant ascent – worth checking specifically when you’re comparing itineraries.
