Educational Tours & Trips in South America

South America's natural diversity comes alive in this eco-adventure. Cultural experiences in Quito complement Galapagos wildlife encounters, perfect for nature enthusiasts seeking comfortable, meaningful activities.

The UNESCO-listed Historic Centre of Lima includes Basilica and Convent of San Agustín before you tour Cusco's Plaza de Armas and Koricancha temple. You'll stay at Tambo del Inka in Sacred Valley and Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel near the 15th-century citadel with 200 structures. Penguin rookery visits and whale watching happen during a 10-night Antarctic Peninsula cruise aboard Seabourn Venture with daily Zodiac landings.

This trip includes UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Historic Centre of Lima, the 15th-century Incan citadel of Machu Picchu, and the ancient Salt Mines of Maras. APT's expert naturalist guides lead interactive presentations on Antarctic wildlife, geology, and history aboard the Seabourn Venture. You'll visit scientific research stations like Port Lockroy and see pre-Columbian archaeology at the Pachacamac ruins near Lima, dating to AD200.

This educational trip through South America includes guided tours of Pachacamac's pre-Columbian pyramids built around AD200 and Cusco's Koricancha temple and Cathedral. Try traditional textile crafts in the Misminay community and watch a Peruvian Paso horse show at a private hacienda. See Buenos Aires' Recoleta Cemetery and La Boca's colorful streets, then attend expert naturalist presentations during Drake Passage crossings.

Colombian culture and language learning merge seamlessly in this enriching tour. Witness urban transformation in Medellin, cycle through Bogota, and master Spanish in colonial Cartagena.

Start with a guided walk through Montevideo's historic port district and Mercado del Puerto, followed by a traditional asado lunch and an evening Tango performance at the Primuseum. Head to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Colonia del Sacramento to walk its cobblestoned colonial streets with views across the Río de la Plata to Buenos Aires. Visit the boutique Finca Narbona winery in Carmelo for an intimate wine tasting and tour, learning about Uruguay's viticulture. See artist Carlos Páez Vilaró's Casapueblo Museum in Punta del Este.

Start in Quito's UNESCO-listed colonial center, checking out the 16th-century San Francisco Monastery and baroque La Compañía Church, then head to the indigenous Otavalo Market in the Guayllabamba Valley. In the Galapagos Islands, hike up to Sierra Negra Volcano's active crater and snorkel at Islote Las Tintoreras with Galapagos penguins and white-tipped reef sharks. Bike to Garrapatero Beach on Santa Cruz Island and spend time at the Charles Darwin Research Station learning about conservation work. Walk to Tortuga Bay's white sand beaches and see Giant Tortoises in their natural highland habitat while learning about volcanic island formation.