South America Explorer

Begin your journey in Cusco, historic capital of the Inca Empire and cultural heart of Peru. Spanish lessons, homestays with friendly local families, city exploration and a Sacred Valley tour with your fellow travellers are the perfect way to acclimatise - both to the altitude and the laid-back South American way of life.

Step up the adventure level with an epic trek across the Andes to Machu Picchu. Follow in the footsteps of Inca roadbuilders on the remote Salkantay route over icy mountain passes and through mysterious cloud forests to the remains of a fallen civilisation. This is the way to the Lost City of the Inca for those who prefer the path less travelle

It's time to sling on your backpack again as you fly to Lima and then travel onto Punta Negra, a small town just a short distance south of the city, for a few chilled days on the beach. Enjoy a surf lesson in the Pacific waves and visit the Inca ruins of Pachacamac. After this brief stop, you'll head north, flying to Quito and your first taste of Ecuador! A country of diverse landscapes and a reputation for friendly, welcoming people, your time in Ecuador will begin with an incredible 3-day trek of the Quilotoa Loop. The Quilotoa Loop offers breathtaking landscapes, indigenous culture, and the stunning Quilotoa Crater Lake, providing a unique and immersive trekking experience in the Ecuadorian Andes.

Your adventures in Ecuador kick up a gear in week four as you explore the adventure tourism hotspot of Baños in the jungle-clad eastern province of Amazonas. This mountain town has restaurants and bars, as well as white water rafting, hiking, canopy tours, canyoning, rope swings, hot springs, cycling and many other adventure activities! It’s the perfect place to refresh and revitalise yourself before heading to the Animal Rescue Sanctuary in Puyo. 

Weeks 5 and 6 will be split between your volunteering placement and your indigenous culture immersion in Tamandua. Set to be a real highlight of your trip, get face-to-face and hand-to-paw with rainforest inhabitants at the animal rescue sanctuary. Macaws; boas; monkeys; ocelots and even caiman crocodiles are just some of the creatures the centre works to protect and rehabilitate after abuse by the black-market trade in wild animals as pets.

Alongside your truly rewarding volunteering experience, you will also venture further into the jungle and stay with an indigenous community. Learn the secrets of life in the rainforest – hike to a local waterfall and spot medicinal plants; craft beautiful bracelets and make delicious chocolate; try to keep up with the locals' dance routines; teach children at the local school and dare to go on night-time walks into jaguar territory!

To bring your adventures in Ecuador to a fitting conclusion, your final week will include ziplining in the Mindo cloud forest and soaking up the sun with some river tubing! Once dried off, you’ll head to Otavalo to browse the vibrant, bustling markets and enjoy a pleasant hike around the shores of Lake Cuicocha, in our view one of the most underrated crater lakes in all of Ecuador! As a final treat, you’ll return to Quito for the final few days of your adventure where a guided tour gives you the chance to explore this wonderful, historic city. Finally, a visit to the Mitad del Mundo, zero degrees of latitude and the centre of the world is a fitting finale to a once in a lifetime South American Adventure!