South America · HISTORICAL TOURS

Historical & Heritage Tours in South America: 15 That Fill a Day Properly

52 tours  ·  from $1

The good historical & heritage tours fill first, and the cheap ones are not always the weak ones. Below: 15 of them, what each costs and how they differ.

Cartagena: Historic Center and Getsemaní Shared Walking Tour - Plaza de la Aduana, museums, and the city’s public life
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Cartagena: Historic Center and Getsemaní Shared Walking Tour

1.Historic Center and Getsemaní Shared Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,716 reviews · 2h 30m · from $12Our pick

Walk for 150 minutes from Plaza Cervantes through Cartagena’s Walled City and Getsemaní with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide. Expect colonial landmarks, slavery-era history, San Pedro Claver, bastions, street art, local advice, dancing, salsa, champeta, and a look at Cartagena’s changing social order. Guides include Dani, Legacy, Robert, Álvaro David, Ingrid, and Rebeca.

“Our guide was great! What an experience! Book this tour and be ready to learn and explore the beauty of Cartagena! 🥳”

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Lima's Vibrant Heritage: Exploring the City's Landmarks Half-day - Lima’s Main Square frames the colonial city
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Lima’s Vibrant Heritage: Exploring the City’s Landmarks Half-day

2.Lima’s Vibrant Heritage: Exploring the City’s Landmarks Half-day

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 581 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $39

Explore Lima with an English-speaking guide, visiting Love Park, Huaca Pucllana, the Main Square, Lima Cathedral, and Santo Domingo Convent. The 3.5-hour tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, entrance fees, and an air-conditioned vehicle. Guides such as Janet, Gabriel, Rosa, and Ursula have been praised for clear explanations and patient service.

“Tour operator never showed up. When called on phone, I was told that the tour operator picked up a wrong person from the hotel. The tour operator should have examined the Viator ticket.”

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Santiago: Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Old Town - Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral of Santiago
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Santiago: Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Old Town

3.Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Old Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 459 reviews · 3 hours · from $25

Walk from La Moneda to Patio Bellavista in three hours with a guide speaking English, Spanish, or Portuguese. See Santiago’s cathedral, Plaza de Armas, Bellas Artes, Lastarria, Santa Lucia Hill, and more. Guide Eugenio is often praised for clear history, local tips, and a friendly pace. Water is included; lunch and major attraction entries are not.

“We thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Our guide Eugenio was really friendly, very knowledgeable and made the tour very interesting. I highly recommend this tour.”

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Maria Fumaça - Wines and History - Epopeia Italiana and the story of Lázaro and Rosa
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Maria Fumaça – Wines and History

4.Maria Fumaça – Wines and History

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 242 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $97

Spend about five hours in Bento Gonçalves visiting Epopeia Italiana, Garibaldi Winery, Devorata Craft Truffles, and the Maria Fumaça wine train. A guide and transport are included, with cultural exhibits, wine tastings, Italian and gaucho music, and a small-group limit of 10 people.

“They really made an effort for me because I dont speak Portugese. And everything was arranged really well.”

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Rio de Janeiro: Historic Rio and Santa Teresa Half-Day Tour - Driving up to bohemian Santa Teresa
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Rio de Janeiro: Historic Rio and Santa Teresa Half-Day Tour

5.Historic Rio and Santa Teresa Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 228 reviews · 4 hours · from $47

Spend four hours exploring Rio’s old center, XV de Novembro Square, Cinelândia, the Carioca Aqueduct and Santa Teresa. Your guide drives between stops, shares Brazil’s past and takes you to Parque das Ruínas for wide views over Guanabara Bay. Guides include Dario, Monica, Thiago and Millene, with several languages available.

“Our tour was great. Picked up on time. Itinerary explained. Tour guide was great!”

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Lima: Historic Center Street Food, Market, and Eateries Tour - Meeting at Plaza San Martín
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Lima: Historic Center Street Food, Market, and Eateries Tour

6.Lima: Historic Center Street Food, Market, and Eateries Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 216 reviews · 4 hours · from $69

Spend four hours walking Lima’s Historic Center with guides such as Marcos, Aura, Valeria, or Sheyla. Sample anticuchos, churros, picarones, tamales, chifa flavors, fruit, chilcanos, and more while visiting Mercado Central, Chinatown, Plaza Mayor, and colonial landmarks. Expect a generous food-focused outing, with plenty of history and some sweets.

“YUM! This tour was informative and really tasty. Shainy (sorry if I spelt it wrong) was fantastic and gave us interesting information about the culture and the history of the foods. Went away very full.”

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Nazis in Buenos Aires: a historical walking tour - Starting at Monumento a Juana Azurduy
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Nazis in Buenos Aires: a historical walking tour

7.Nazis in Buenos Aires: a historical walking tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 193 reviews · from $25

Join Max, a University of Buenos Aires history teacher, for an English-language walk through Recoleta, Retiro, and Microcentro. You will connect Nazi migration, Adolf Eichmann’s capture, Perón-era politics, Jewish life, and later attacks to real city sites, with archival photos and careful discussion.

“really strong insight on everything related to the Nazi's in Buenos Aires, but also the deeper Argentinian history”

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São Paulo: Downtown Historical Bike Tour - Starting at Portinha183 Café in Vila Mariana
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São Paulo: Downtown Historical Bike Tour

8.Downtown Historical Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 191 reviews · 3 hours · from $85

Cycle through São Paulo with UrbanBikeSP on a three-hour, small-group ride limited to 10 people. You’ll see Paulista Avenue, MASP, Copan, Luz Station, Pátio do Colégio, Sé Cathedral, and Liberdade, with bikes, helmets, water, snacks, and a guide in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.

“Jeff was a wonderful guide!! He explained so much history and shared fun facts about São Paulo. This was a great way to experience a ton of the downtown area of the city in a fairly short time. I highly recommend this tour, and especially Jeff as the guide!”

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Scenic Train ride to historical cities of Morretes and Antonina - The Serra do Mar railway ride
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Scenic Train ride to historical cities of Morretes and Antonina

9.Scenic Train ride to historical cities of Morretes and Antonina

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 188 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $128

Travel from Curitiba to Morretes on the historic Paranaguá-Curitiba Railway, passing bridges, tunnels, waterfalls, and Serra do Mar rainforest. Explore Morretes and Antonina, visit the moving HISGEOPAR model park, and eat barreado beside the Nhundiaquara River. A Portuguese-speaking guide leads the day, with English or Spanish commentary available in the train carriage.

“Pedí especialmente u servicio con guía en español y todos los guías hablaban portugués , entonces entendí menos de la mitad de todo el tour. Yo no hablo nada del idioma”

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Colonia del Sacramento:Best Walking Tour (Historic Old Town) - Starting at Matriz Church and the old town entrance
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Colonia del Sacramento:Best Walking Tour (Historic Old Town)

10.Colonia del Sacramento:Best Walking Tour (Historic Old Town)

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 180 reviews · 1 hour - 90 minutes · from $15

Spend 1 to 1.5 hours walking Colonia’s historic quarter with a live guide in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. Meet at Matriz Church or the field gate, then see the Portón de Campo, old wall, San Miguel Bastion, Calle de los Suspiros, Plaza Mayor, and Rio de la Plata viewpoints. Guides such as Selena and Adrian add local stories and practical tips.

“Alan's tour through Colonia was great! One could really feel his passion for his town!”

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Walking tour in the Historic Center of Arequipa - Meeting at Santa Catalina Street 204
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Walking tour in the Historic Center of Arequipa

11.Walking tour in the Historic Center of Arequipa

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 180 reviews · 2 hours · from $10Best value

Start near Plaza de Armas with a guide holding an umbrella, then walk through Arequipa’s arches, Company cloisters, old mansions, Mundo Alpaca, and San Lazaro. Guides such as Edgar, Johan, Beatriz, and Jorge Echeandia add history, humor, food tips, and local context. The tour lasts about two hours and costs $10, plus a voluntary tip.

“some parts were boring some fun. still worth doing”

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Rio de Janeiro: Little Africa Heritage Walking Tour - Starting at the Rio Art Museum and Mauá Square
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Rio de Janeiro: Little Africa Heritage Walking Tour

12.Little Africa Heritage Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 177 reviews · 2h 30m · from $40

Spend 150 minutes walking Rio’s port district with an English-speaking guide such as Luana, Nathalia, Larissa, or Eddie. Learn how African culture shaped Brazil, pause for Mauá Square views from the Rio Art Museum rooftop, visit Pedra do Sal and the Valongo sites, and finish back at the museum.

“I just loved the tour. Our guide Nathalia knows a lot about the history of Brazil and in special about the slavery and the heritage of little africa. She showed us all the nice and hidden spots and could tell a lot about it! Highly recommended!”

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Bariloche: German Immigration and History Walking Tour - Starting at the Civic Center
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Bariloche: German Immigration and History Walking Tour

13.German Immigration and History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 169 reviews · 1h 30m · from $41

Walk 1 kilometer from Bariloche’s Civic Center into the German district with a Spanish or English-speaking guide. Learn about three waves of German immigration, visit the German School and key civic sites, and examine the story of Erich Priebke, whose presence was exposed by Sam Donaldson. Guide Diego is frequently praised for clear storytelling and fluent English.

“Excellent! Learnt so much from Diego. What a brilliant historian who really knows his stuff. Don’t hesitate to book this fascinating walking tour!”

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Shared Tour Cali's Historical Downtown - Starting at La Merced and the Calima Gold Museum
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Shared Tour Cali’s Historical Downtown

14.Shared Tour Cali’s Historical Downtown

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 143 reviews · 2h 30m · from $13

Walk Cali’s historic center with Beyond Colombia guides such as Cristian, Fernando, Juliana, or Lem. Over about 150 minutes, you’ll connect La Merced, the Gold Museum, major plazas, theaters, churches, salsa culture, Afro-Colombian traditions, and the city’s difficult modern history. Bring water, rain gear, and comfortable shoes.

“Traveling for 9 monts best guide so far. THANKS LEM, KEEP UP THE GOOD MOVES!”

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From Foz do Iguazu: Triple Frontier Landmark Ticket - A simple ride from your Foz do Iguaçu hotel
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From Foz do Iguazu: Triple Frontier Landmark Ticket

15.From Foz do Iguazu: Triple Frontier Landmark Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 136 reviews · 4 hours · from $24

Spend an afternoon and evening at Foz do Iguaçu’s Triple Frontier Landmark, where Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay meet. Your small-group van ride includes hotel pickup, sunset views, cultural performances, and a stop by the Yup Star Ferris wheel. Guides speak English, Spanish, or Portuguese, though the show may be mainly in Spanish.

“The whole experience was very personalised and all done in a timely manner. The show itself was amazing and should not be missed. One has to get there and take seats by 17:30 nearly an hour/45 mins before the show but it’s worth the wait. Interactive show of the three countries. Really enjoyed and highly recommend……”

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New in Historical Tours

★ 5.0Half Day Guayaquil Historical Tour and Cocoa Culinary ExperienceFrom $13542 reviews
★ 4.5Pisco Sour Secrets: Hands-On Mixology in Historic CuscoFrom $3550 reviews
★ 5.06-Day Cultural Tour to Machu PicchuFrom $99976 reviews
★ 5.0Visit Palenque with natives : history, culture and ancestral legacyFrom $10253 reviews
★ 5.0Historical tour BogotaFrom $1972 reviews
★ 4.5Arequipa, Historic and Colonial City and Santa Catalina MonasteryFrom $6142 reviews
★ 4.8Sucre: Free Walking tour (History, culture and traditions)From $047 reviews
★ 4.7Santa Marta A Historical & Street food ExperienceFrom $5641 reviews
★ 5.0San Telmo: Historical Guided Tour with Street Food & DrinksFrom $6987 reviews
★ 4.1Olympic Boulevard, Museum of Tomorrow & History TourFrom $6747 reviews
★ 5.0Recoleta Cemetery – Small Group Tour of History & SecretsFrom $4953 reviews
★ 4.8Salvador Historic Walking Tour – Pelourinho62 reviews
★ 4.77-hour City Tour of Historic Bogotá with MonserrateFrom $11847 reviews
★ 4.6Cusco: Historic Walking Tour with Pisco Sour and Music ShowFrom $1065 reviews
★ 4.8La Boca Art and History Walking TourFrom $4655 reviews

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