South America · GUIDED
The good guided tours fill first, and the cheap ones are not always the weak ones. Below: 15 of them, what each costs and how they differ.
Spend about two hours walking through Rocinha with a local guide such as Ray, Bruno, or Carlos. The educational tour covers daily life, local challenges, and Rio from a different angle. Air-conditioned minivan transport connects meeting points in Copacabana, Ipanema, or São Conrado with this small-group experience.
“Learnt about the Favela and save how people live very safe”
Cover Buenos Aires’ essential sights in 3 to 5 hours by air-conditioned minivan and short walks. Your guide takes you from Plaza de Mayo and San Telmo to colorful Caminito, Puerto Madero, Retiro, and Recoleta. Guides such as Alejandro, Flor, Pablo, Stella, and Victoria have been praised for clear history, useful recommendations, and friendly service.
“A really good introduction into Buenos Aries. Lovely tour guide and driver. Would have no hesitation in recommending this 5 hour your!”
Leave Lima early for Paracas and Huacachina with a bilingual guide such as Franklin, Fio, Aymeth, or Diego. The day includes a two-hour Ballestas Islands boat trip, a vineyard visit with pisco tasting, and an optional dune buggy and sandboarding ride. Expect a comfortable coach, a restroom onboard, and a return to Lima near midnight.
“Long but super fun day! Would definitely recommend bringing approx 100 soles pp for incident expenses such as meals, bandanas, waters, etc”
Walk La Boca with an English-speaking guide from Buenos Aires Free Walks. You’ll see colorful conventillos, street tango, fileteado art, Puente Transbordador, and finish outside La Bombonera. Guides such as Santiago, Vito, Victoria, Maria, and Juan bring extra context, humor, and local recommendations. Stadium entry is optional and costs extra.
“Great! There wasn’t a heap of walking. The guide was really good!”
Spend about two hours exploring La Recoleta Cemetery with an English-speaking guide such as Victoria, Mariano, or Vito. You’ll see Evita Perón’s mausoleum, presidential tombs, ornate statues, and hear stories about the Sailor, the Wild Bull of the Pampas, and the families behind more than 4,000 mausoleums. Admission is extra.
“We had an excellent tour with Victoria as our guide. She brought the history of the cemetery—and of each grave we visited—to life with clarity and a lovely sense of humour. She was both personable and highly knowledgeable, which made the experience especially enjoyable.”
Walk La Candelaria with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide, visiting La Concordia market, Carrera Séptima, Bolívar Square, historic alleys, and the area near the Gold Museum. You’ll sample local fruit and may also taste coffee or coca tea. Guides such as Leslie, Luis, Juana, and José bring history, art, and practical city advice to life.
“Bernardo was an amazing guide. He introduced us to the colombian culture and history, and provided us with lots of useful tips on what to do in Bogota and answered our questions. The tour covers some nice spots around the center, fruits and coffee tasting, including explanations. Highly recommend this tour, especially towards the beginning of your stay.”
Start before dawn from Arequipa and spend a full day exploring the Colca region with an English or Spanish-speaking guide such as Nelson, Angel, or Walter. See condors at Cruz del Cóndor, alpacas and vicuñas, pre-Inca terraces, hot springs, Andean viewpoints, and a buffet lunch. Expect a long but well-packed day.
“It was a well-organized day trip. We saw condors, did a short hike, had a delicious lunch. I would strongly recommend this tour!”
Meet beneath the orange umbrellas at Plaza Cervantes for a 150-minute walking tour through Cartagena and Getsemaní. Guides such as Alvaro, Robert, Mercedes, Liz, and Legaxy lead you to nine generous tastings, from ceviche and patacones to sweets, coffee, beer, and local drinks. Come hungry and mention dietary needs in advance.
“Our street food tour in Cartagena with Alvaro (and Andres) was easily one of the highlights of our trip. Alvaro was incredibly knowledgeable, passionate, and engaging from the first stop to the last. He not only introduced us to a wide range of delicious Colombian bites (seriously, come hungry — you won’t need another meal that day), but also gave us a deeper understanding of the history and culture behind each dish. The number of stops was impressive, and each one had something unique to offer. Alvaro went above and beyond by also giving us recommendations for what to do and where to go while we were in town. Bonus…”
Spend four hours exploring Tijuca National Park by open-top Jeep, with English, Portuguese, Spanish, German, French, or Italian guidance. See Cascatinha Taunay, Capela Mayrink, Vista Chinesa on eligible weekdays, and forest wildlife. Guides such as Jorge, Roberta, Everton, and Darius are praised for lively explanations. A one-hour easy hike adds time on foot.
“really nice guide, the chinese view is amazing, quick tour but really fun!”
Walk from Plaza Serrano to Plaza Inmigrantes de Armenia with an English-speaking guide such as Juan, Vito, Victor, or Ailen. You’ll see Palermo’s murals, football art, political graffiti, and the Trump Wall at Madison Avenue Bar while learning how Argentina’s street art grew from protest, propaganda, and social conflict.
“Great 2 hour grafitti tour. Would have missed some due to the locations. Easy meeting area. Guide was very enthusiastic and knowledgable. Highly recommend it”
This four-hour small-group tour covers La Popa Convent, San Felipe de Barajas, the Old Shoes Monument, Cartagena Bay, and the Walled City. A bilingual guide such as Rafael, Álvaro, Carlos, or Fernando leads the visits in English and Spanish, with transport and entrance fees included.
“It was great, Alvaro was very attentive, gave us a lot of valuable information, friendly and courteous Also went the extra mile to recommend where to eat local value driven food. Definitely would recommend the tour and Alvaro as a guide.”
Spend one hour inside Buenos Aires’ Teatro Colón with a live English or Spanish guide. See the horseshoe auditorium, Raul Soldi’s ceiling frescoes, the 700-bulb chandelier, grand halls, and possibly backstage areas. Guides such as Ottavio, Martin, and Lucia have been praised for lively explanations, though groups can be large and direct theater tickets may cost less.
“excellent tour of the theater and our guide was so knowledgeable”
Ride an open-top Jeep from selected Rio hotels into Tijuca National Park. Walk easy forest trails to waterfalls, stop at Mayrink Chapel and Emperor’s Table, and photograph Vista Chinesa. Guides such as Everton, George, Lucy, and Andrea have been praised for clear explanations of Rio’s ecology and history. Weekend access to Vista Chinesa is restricted.
“This is a great trip through the jungles on an exciting jeep. The guide was awesome, she told us all about the places. Highly recommend. It’s really worth it!”
Walk Santa Marta with a resident guide such as Mario, Luis, or Marco, visiting Michael Jackson Square, Mirante Dona Marta, local projects, shops, and a guide’s home. Expect samba, football, honest stories, and a close look at daily life. The tour lasts about 2 to 3 hours, with English, Portuguese, and Spanish guides.
“Marco was a great guide, got to go to his house, great experience”
Meet at Paseo Colon 1355 in San Telmo for a three-hour home cooking class led in English or Portuguese. With hosts such as Thomas, Sophia, Maria, or Stella, you will make meat or vegetarian empanadas, corn-starch alfajores with dulce de leche, and traditional mate in a group of up to eight.
“From start to finish this was an excellent experience. Very hands-on, and we learned a lot of history along the way. Lovely home and family provide the space and equipment to make it so that people of all skill level and ages can participate. Would have loved small plates instead of napkins to eat from - but that’s just a preference not a necessity!”
Pick a coastline, an altitude or a kitchen.
