Top Central & South America Day Trips

Spend a day exploring the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu during this all-inclusive day trip leaving from Cusco. Discover this renowned mountaintop Inca site with a guide, learning about its construction, history, and what daily life was like for its residents. The trip’s relaxed, non-strenuous pace is a great option for first-time visitors, families, and solo travelers alike, and features three different train ride options. The trip also includes round-trip hotel transport, transfer from Cusco to Machu Picchu (via train and bus), and the site entrance fee.

Escape metropolitan Medellin in favor of Guatapé (Pueblo de Zocalos), home to the magnificent Peñol Rock (La Piedra del Peñol) on a full-day tour from the City of Eternal Spring. As well as ascending the 742 steps leading to the summit of Peñol Rock (La Piedra del Peñol), you’ll explore the colorful streets of Guatapé and the famous Guatapé Zocalos as well as an exclusive boat tour of Guatapé Lake. Typical Antioquian lunch is included in the tour.

Revel in the vibrant color and culture of Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar on a full-day tour of the coastal cities from Santiago. Travel through Chile’s spectacular countryside, stopping in the picturesque Casablanca Valley to taste Chilean wine, and then arrive in the verdant city of Viña del Mar. Admire the gorgeous beach and revitalize with a delicious seaside lunch (at your own expense), and then take a tour of Valparaiso’s kaleidoscopic sprawl of houses and hills. Capture photographs of street art and hear of the city’s interesting history before returning to Santiago by luxury coach.

Don’t let limited time in Lima stop you visiting Huacachina and Paracas. See the desert oasis and natural hotspots on a full-day tour, ideal for travelers short on time. After traveling to Paracas, you’ll embark on a boat tour of the Ballestas Islands, regularly compared to the Galapagos Island, to see colonies of sea lions and seals. Then, explore Huacachina desert in a dune buggy and go sand boarding. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Explore the Chilean coastal cities of Viña del Mar and Valparaiso during this full-day bus-based sightseeing trip from Santiago. Get a look at Viña del Mar sights like flower clock and Playa de los Cañones beach, then explore the UNESCO World Heritage city of Valparaiso, including Sotomayor Square and the Cerro Alegre area.

See another side of Colombia on this trip to Guatape. Just outside Medellin, this town is known for its colorful buildings and charming cobblestone streets. Climb the 740 steps of the Piedra del Peñol for stunning views of the surrounding lakes and hills. This tour includes a boat ride offering a panoramic view of Pablo Escobar’s Hacienda La Manuela, a picturesque church in Marinilla, and the town of Zócalos.

Travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans during this full-day tour of the Panama Canal. With your local guide, explore the canal by sea and on foot, viewing the ships passing through the locks and the variety of plant and animal life on the canal's shores. Explore Gatun Lake and Monkey Island, home to howlers, capuchins, and tamarins. Stop at the Agua Clara Locks Visitor Center to get an overview of the canal's history through informative displays and exhibits. Explore San Lorenzo National Park and Fort San Lorenzo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and enjoy a picnic lunch. All activities, entrance fees, lunch, and round-trip transportation from Panama City hotels are included.

Explore the pristine beaches of the Rosario and Barú islands during this day trip from Cartagena. Travel off the coast of Colombia via speedboat to the Corales del Rosario National Park. Swim and snorkel in the azure waters, relax on the soft sand beaches, and take in the picturesque natural surroundings. National park fees, lunch, and round-trip transportation from Cartagena hotels are provided.

In just one day, it’s possible to visit top Costa Rica attractions like Arenal Volcano, La Paz Waterfall, and Arenal Hot Springs when you book this guided tour from San Jose. All-inclusive private transport smooths over otherwise tricky transportation logistics, and your guide keeps you well entertained and informed as you explore. This tour includes all entrance fees plus two meals, adding up to a great value.

Enjoy the thrill of this all-day adventure that includes some of the best outdoor fun. Get your adrenaline pumping on an exciting zipline tour, horseback riding through epic landscapes, and tubing along a flowing river. This memorable tour includes a visit to natural hot springs, a volcanic mud bath, and a full buffet lunch. It's the best way to experience the natural wonder of Costa Rica!

This tour of Roatan Island in Honduras is designed for travelers who want to customize the experience to include just their personal top priority destinations and activities. Visit the Butterfly Gardens, Gumbalimba Monkey Park, Iguana Farm, Carambola Botanical Garden, or Daniel's Sloth Hangout. Tour Mahogany Bay, French Harbor, West End, or West Bay. Relax on Tabyana Beach. It's up to you.

Uncover the fascinating architecture and culture of the ancient Incas during this full-day tour covering the highlights of Peru’s Sacred Valley from Cusco. Check out the market in Pisac, stopping on Sundays to observe its famous mass. Then visit the Inca settlement at Ollantaytambo and explore the ruins of its fortress and the Temple of the Sun, a mysterious structure composed of giant 12-foot (3.5-m) stones. Your Sacred Valley tour also includes a guide, lunch, and round-trip hotel transport.

Venture into the wild Argentinian pampas and experience 'gaucho' (cowboy) life on a traditional 'estancia' (ranch) on this full-day tour from Buenos Aires, including lunch. Saddle up for a horseback ride or 'sulky' (horse cart) tour, visit the country town of San Antonio de Areco, enjoy a folklore show and tuck into a barbecue lunch, while the gauchos entertain you with rope tricks and tales of estancia life.

Combine three adventurous activities in a single tour: a hike to Arental Volcano, visit to the Hanging Bridges, and exploration of La Fortuna Waterfall. This full-day tour from La Fortuna, perfect for nature lovers, includes hiking and swimming amidst Costa Rica's beautiful natural scenery. Hotel pickup and drop-off included.

Explore the cave of the crystal sepulcher on a full-day tour to Actun Tunichil Muknal from San Ignacio, and discover a spiritual site that was sacred to the ancient Maya. Learn about the traditions and rites that took place in the cave system and visit the crystallized remains of an ancient ceremonial victim as you hike deep into the cave with a professional guide. Swim through a spring-fed pool, and follow tunnels, passageways and yawning chambers lined with stalactites, stalagmites, ancient ceramics and stoneware.

Escape Santiago to enjoy the natural grandeur of the Andes during this day-long excursion to Cajón del Maipo with a small group. Enjoy views of gushing waterfalls, icy glaciers, and towering cliffs as you visit this scenic outdoor area. Cap it all off by savoring an included picnic featuring red wine and a snack made with locally-sourced ingredients.

Experience the majestic icy expanse of the Perito Moreno Glacier on this full-day tour from El Calafate. Enjoy views of the peaks of Los Glaciares National Park with a professional guide, and take a boat ride on Argentino Lake for an up-close perspective on the fantastic formation. You might even witness the glacier’s signature movement and cracking sounds from detaching icebergs!

Experience Cartagena’s famed mud volcano, and the indigenous community of Galerazamba on this all-day adventure. After a convenient hotel pickup, soak up a mineral-filled mud bath, visit a salt mine, stop by a museum and monument dedicated to a legendary indigenous woman, India Catalina, and enjoy a delicious lunch included in the tour price.

Escape the bustling streets of Buenos Aires with a full-day fiesta at the Estancia Santa Susana gaucho ranch. Discover the traditional way of life in the Argentine countryside with a horseback ride, ranch tour, and an impressive horseman show by the gallant gauchos. Feast on an array of grilled meats and sides at a traditional ‘parrillada’ barbecue, and watch a performance of folk song and dance.

Learn about the coffee production process from bean to cup on this half-day tour. Enjoy the scenery as you ride from Medellin to El Poblado, then sample delicious Colombian coffee as you discover the production stages including planting, depulping, fermenting, roasting, and grinding. Tour the coffee farm and try picking some of the beans yourself.

If you’re a first-time visitor to Panama City, you’ll want to see the must-visit highlights. This five-hour group tour takes you to the atmospheric old town, the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal, and the sweeping Amador Causeway, with its great views of the city. If you’re short on time or on a quick shore excursion, this convenient tour makes the most of your time.

Experience the idyllic splendor of Playa Blanca and Barú with a full-day package that combines round-trip transport from Cartagena and lunch. After a short drive from Cartagena, arrive on the pristine sands of Playa Blanca and recline in a hammock or sun lounger at a local hotel. Refresh with a dip in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea and then revitalize with lunch and a soft drink around midday. Your day will conclude with drop-off back in Cartagena.

Travel for a few hours from Cusco through the rugged mountain countryside of Peru to reach the aptly named Rainbow Mountain, striped with colorful mineral deposits and located far off the beaten path. Hike with a guide to the summit for a once-in-a-lifetime wilderness adventure, or rent a horse (own expense) for easier access to the same incredible views.

Discover the natural beauty of the La Fortuna region on an action-packed full-day tour that is ideal for people who enjoy outdoors activities. Go on hikes through lush rain forest; visit a butterfly garden and Maleku Indian village; take a dip at La Fortuna waterfall; look for wildlife; and view the Arenal Volcano. Top off the day with a cocktail and a relaxing soak in a natural hot water river.