Top Central & South America Cultural Tours

Step onto the cobblestone streets of colonial Antigua on a walking tour that helps you get your bearings in the city's charming center. Stroll the streets of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and navigate between landmarks without worrying about getting lost. Plus, exploring on foot lets you stop more regularly for photos and questions than if you were traveling by vehicle.

Get an in-depth insight in Bogotá's oldest and most eclectic district on this guided tour of La Candelaria. Your guide points out some of the most interesting street art as you walk to a chicha bar to learn about the local alcoholic beverage, then you head to a local market to taste of some of the nation’s unique fruits. Also visit cafés for insight into Colombian coffee and to the Plaza del Rosario and Plaza Simón Bolivar.

Get a glimpse into local life in Rio de Janeiro during a favela tour that reveals a different side of the Marvelous City. In an intimate group limited to 12 travelers, you’ll explore two of the largest favelas in Rio, and benefit from the local insight of a guide as you learn more about living conditions in the city.

Discover the vibrant charm of Guatapé on this day trip from Medellín. Explore its colorful streets and climb the 740 steps of Piedra del Peñol for panoramic views of the lake-dotted landscape. Enjoy a scenic boat ride past Pablo Escobar’s Hacienda La Manuela, visit a historic church in Marinilla, and stroll through the picturesque town of Zócalos. Please note: departure times may be adjusted slightly during holidays and high seasons.

Venture into the lush Andean highlands and discover Peru’s Sacred Valley on this full-day tour from Cusco. With a small group, visit top sites—Pisac, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo—to explore Inca ruins and ancient settlements with included admission. Enjoy a Peruvian buffet lunch in Urubamba and learn about the rich history and culture of Peru throughout the day.

Get to know Buenos Aires on this guided half day tour where you'll be driven to several stops in a private, air-conditioned vehicle, and also be walking between places. This is the perfect way to get an overview of the city upon arrival, or for those who have just a few hours in the city to walk. Among the stops are Alberto J. Armando Stadium (La Bombonera), Casa Rosada, and Recoleta Cemetery, but the entrance fees are extra.

Get a more intimate glimpse of the colorful, colonial streets of Cartagena than you would if traveling by coach or car during a private walking tour. Exploring with a private guide allows you to customize your experience according to your interests, as well as receive tailored recommendations to enhance the rest of your vacation. Plus, you guide collects you from your accommodation so you don’t have to worry about finding a meeting point.

Enjoy a guided sightseeing excursion in Panama’s vibrant capital city. After a convenient hotel pickup, experience one of the world’s great engineering marvels, the Panama Canal, at Miraflores Visitor Center. Take a walking tour of the city’s historic district, Casco Viejo, marvel at the Bridge of the Americas, and stop by the handicraft market at Amador Causeway to pick up some souvenirs.

Get an in-depth local experience with this walking tour of one of Rio's "favelas," Rocinha. Follow your resident guide through the slum to get an insider's perspective on daily life and learn about the challenges these communities face. Upgrade your experience to a 2-day tour that includes a visit to Tijuca Forest.

Encountering traditional Embera communities in Chagres National Park is a memorable part of exploring Panama, but visiting the park on your own can be tricky. On this day tour you cruise a jungle river, hike to a waterfall, and see a performance of traditional song and dance, with a traditional lunch and round-trip hotel transport from Panama City included.

There’s a lot to see in Panama City but group sightseeing tours can leave you feeling rushed or uncomfortable in crowded vans. Simplify your sightseeing and get a personalized experience during this private half-day tour. Hit the city’s highlights, including the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Casco Viejo, the Miraflores Visitor Center at the Panama Canal, the Amador Causeway, and more. Go at your own pace and get all your questions answered.

Lima's bohemian Barranco neighborhood has a thriving food scene, but, for visitors, it can be difficult to choose which venues to visit. Take the guesswork out of your trip on this small-group walking food tour that takes you to the area's best restaurants and shops to sample a plethora of Peruvian foods and drinks.

Learn about social projects that benefit residents of low-income Bogotá neighborhoods on this small-group tour, led by a local guide. You'll take a ride on a cable car to El Paraíso, where you'll visit a local nonprofit and meet locals. You'll then head up to a viewpoint to take in the Bogota skyline, with a stop for a snack at the end of your tour.

Discover Cartagena’s history and culture through the eyes of a local—who takes care of the logistics—on this walking tour. You’ll wend your way through the city’s historic center, with stops at Torre del Reloj, Portal de Los Dulces, Plaza de Bolivar, and Parque Centenario to learn about the city’s Spanish colonial, slave, and pirate history. Then you’ll explore the artistic enclave of Getsemani and the secrets of salsa.

Aromatic coffee, sweet sugarcane, and melt-in-your-mouth chocolate are three of Costa Rica’s top agricultural exports—and its favorite products among locals and visitors alike. Learn about these three crops first-hand on this tour of a family-owned farm near La Fortuna. See how coffee is created from bean to cup, and then taste other delicious crops along with a guide.

Get your bearings in the capital of Chile, without the stress of planning, on this small-group walking tour through Santiago. Follow your guide through the city’s historic center, passing landmarks such as the Church of San Francisco, the Santiago Stock Exchange, Plaza de Armas, and more, as your guide provides insight into the local history and culture.

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.

Many travelers to Panama City stick to city sightseeing and the canal, but if you want to see another side of Panama without traveling far from the capital, join an easy day trip to the Chagres National Park. Visit an indigenous Embera village to learn more about traditional culture, take a canoe ride along the Chagres River, and even cool off with a swim in a waterfall if you like.

Ditch the guidebooks and learn about Cartagena's Afro-Colombian heritage at the source on this group tour of San Basilio de Palenque. Relax in an air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup as you drive to the UNESCO-listed village. Participate in traditional dancing and drumming, and learn about local history as you visit a museum, traditional medicine house, and more.

Even if you have limited time in Chile, the charms of Vina del Mar, Valparaiso, and the Casablanca Valley shouldn't be missed. This comprehensive day tour from Santiago includes hotel pickup and covers all three destinations. Explore Vina del Mar's coastal highlights, walk Valparaiso's colorful bohemian neighborhoods, and enjoy a wine tasting at a vineyard in the Casablanca Valley, one of Chile's most celebrated wine regions, a stop that other tours skip.

Overview Depart Santiago and journey west across the scenic foothills of the Pre-Andes Mountains on a full-day excursion to Chile’s Pacific coast. Your first stop is Viña del Mar, the “Garden City,” where you’ll see its seaside charm, flower-lined avenues, and iconic landmarks. Continue to Valparaíso, a UNESCO World Heritage port city, to explore a vibrant local market, spot coastal wildlife, and enjoy a guided walking tour through its colorful hills, street art, and historic funiculars. Take time for lunch and sightseeing, before returning inland. On the way back, visit the Casablanca Valley, one of Chile’s premier wine regions, for an included wine tasting experience at a local vineyard. Highlights Hotel pickup and drop-off in Santiago Visit Viña del Mar’s gardens, avenues, and oceanfront Explore Valparaíso’s markets, hills, murals, and historic port Free time for lunch and personal exploration Stop in Casablanca Valley for a guided wine tasting

Casco Viejo, Panama City’s old town area, is a must-visit and you’ll get so much more out of sightseeing with a guide. Hear the stories behind the beautiful facades of the centuries-old churches, town houses, and government buildings on a walking tour. The neighborhood is also full of fashionable restaurants, and your guide will be able to share their recommendations.

Give your feet a rest from sightseeing and take to the water for a stunning sunset boat tour across Guanabara Bay in Rio. Board your vessel with just a small group and enjoy hours of mingling with other guests and swimming in the warm waters. Your relaxing cruise culminates with views of Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain just as the sun dips below the horizon.