South America · TOURS

The 15 Best Day Trips in South America, Country by Country

923 tours  ·  from $1

Everything with a guide, a boat or a minibus attached, in one list. The 15 below are the ones worth giving a whole day to, priced and timed, and the full catalogue runs on below them.

Medellin: Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour, Cable Car & Street Food - From Poblado to the Metrocable
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Medellin: Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour, Cable Car & Street Food

1.Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour, Cable Car & Street Food

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 9,046 reviews · 4 hours · from $18Our pick

Join a small group of up to 10 for a four-hour visit to Comuna 13, traveling by metro, cable car, bus, and foot. Guides such as Natalia, Santiago, Martin, and Melina explain the neighborhood’s past, graffiti, coffee, dance, and daily life. The tour includes transport, coffee, an arepa with cheese, and one drink.

“The tour was amazing! Santiago shared a lot of knowledge about the history of Comuna 13. Knowing more about the past and how it shaped the culture was fascinating. Would definitely recommend this tour!”

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Santiago: Cajon del Maipo/Embalse del Yeso Tour with Picnic - The Tinoco Tunnel and the road uphill
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Santiago: Cajon del Maipo/Embalse del Yeso Tour with Picnic

2.Cajon del Maipo/Embalse del Yeso Tour with Picnic

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 3,789 reviews · 8 hours · from $37

Leave Santiago Centro in an air-conditioned van for Cajón del Maipo, passing Andean towns, rivers, the Tinoco Tunnel, and Embalse del Yeso. Your guide explains local folklore and leads a scenic reservoir stop, followed by cheese, salami, olives, juice, wine, and more. Guides may include Francisco, Diego, Edison, or Gonzalo.

“There was a fair bit of driving on this tour, but the views along the way to El Yeso were worth it! The little stop at the goat farm was nice, I got some cheese at a great price. Definitely a great value for the price.”

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Medellín: The Real Pablo Escobar Tour - Starting at Lleras Park and riding beyond El Poblado
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Medellín: The Real Pablo Escobar Tour

3.The Real Pablo Escobar Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3,205 reviews · 4 hours · from $42

Spend four hours tracing Pablo Escobar’s impact on Medellín with an English-speaking guide such as Daniel, Edwin, Vivi, or Danilo. Visit a former home turned memorial park, La Catedral prison, a soccer field tied to Escobar’s political ambitions, and Montesacro Cemetery. Small groups, round-trip transport, and a respectful focus on victims are included.

“Daniel is a very good guide, his English is clear and easy to understand, he’s a good story teller. Nothing to complain about.”

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Rio de Janeiro: Rocinha Favela Walking Tour with Local Guide - Meeting points in Copacabana, Ipanema, and São Conrado
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Rio de Janeiro: Rocinha Favela Walking Tour with Local Guide

4.Rocinha Favela Walking Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3,052 reviews · 2 - 3 hours · from $36

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”

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Cusco: Humantay Lake Tour with Breakfast and Buffet Lunch - Soraypampa and the steep two-hour climb
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Cusco: Humantay Lake Tour with Breakfast and Buffet Lunch

5.Cusco: Humantay Lake Tour with Breakfast and Buffet Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,976 reviews · 1 day · from $22Top rated

Leave Cusco before dawn for Humantay Lake, stopping for breakfast in Mollepata before the steep 3-kilometer climb from Soraypampa. Guides such as Jonathan, Eduardo, Kevin, and Waldir pace the group carefully. You get Salkantay views, time at the lake, breakfast, buffet lunch, transport, and emergency oxygen for $22, plus the entrance fee and optional horse rental.

“Such a fun experience. I mean that wake up time wasn't fun, especially on New Years Day 😅 But the rest was great! The food at the breakfast and lunch stop was great. And Jonathan was a fantastic guide, making sure to hike at the perfect speed for all levels of fitness, keeping an eye on everyone and making sure to have some personal time to get to know everyone a little. This hike is pretty difficult but soooo worth it! Such a fun off the beaten path tour from but yet outside of Cusco!”

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Santiago: Vina Del Mar, Valparaiso, Casablanca & Reñaca Tour - Route 68 and the Curacavi Valley
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Santiago: Vina Del Mar, Valparaiso, Casablanca & Reñaca Tour

6.Vina Del Mar, Valparaiso, Casablanca & Reñaca Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 2,838 reviews · from $39

Travel from Santiago to the Pacific coast on a 10-hour small-group tour with hotel pickup. Taste wine and olive oil in Casablanca, see Valparaiso’s painted hills, stroll Vina del Mar, and reach Reñaca beach. Guides such as Alexis, Diego, Edison, and Jhodad are praised for clear commentary and good local advice. Lunch and attraction tickets cost extra.

“Your was awesome. Guide, Edison, was awesome and full of history.”

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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

7.Historic Center and Getsemaní Shared Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,716 reviews · 2h 30m · from $12Best value

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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Small-Group Cajón del Maipo Full-Day Tour and Picnic - The drive through Cajón del Maipo
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Small-Group Cajón del Maipo Full-Day Tour and Picnic

8.Small-Group Cajón del Maipo Full-Day Tour and Picnic

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,277 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $41

Leave Santiago early for Cajón del Maipo and the high-altitude El Yeso Reservoir. This small-group trip combines mountain scenery, rural villages, optional food stops, a cheese visit, chocolate shop, picnic, wine, and folk dancing. Guides such as Francisco and Edison have earned praise, but pickup times and the day’s exact stops can change.

“Enjoyed seeing the mountains and lake. El Yeso tkts were NOT included as stated. Also we did not go to the Tunel Ferraviorio del Tinoco as listed. We stopped for lunch and you had no choice but to purchase something as there was no place to sit unless you were at one of their tables. Driver got a kickback from the restaurant i'm sure. Same with the Chocolate factory. They picked up over an hour before the tickets stated at 555am. Too early.”

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Rio De Janeiro: Half-Day Rocinha Favela Walking Tour - Walking through Rocinha’s narrow lanes
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Rio De Janeiro: Half-Day Rocinha Favela Walking Tour

9.Half-Day Rocinha Favela Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,272 reviews · 3 hours · from $35

Walk through Rocinha with an English, Spanish, or Portuguese-speaking local guide. You’ll learn how the community developed, hear personal stories, visit a capoeira school, and stop at a rooftop viewpoint. Guides such as Wellington, Alberto, Daniel, and Martin have been praised for making the visit thoughtful, clear, and reassuring.

“The tour was absolutely fantastic, the favela was so different then expected. This is a must-do tour when you are in Rio if you ask me. I learned a lot today about the culture also. Our tour guide was absolutely fantastic! you can really feel he loves to do his work and explained everything very well, he is also a very funny guy! I will never forget the experience of today!”

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From Cusco: Sacred Valley & Maras Salt Mines Tour with Lunch - The 6:00 AM start from Cusco
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From Cusco: Sacred Valley & Maras Salt Mines Tour with Lunch

10.From Cusco: Sacred Valley & Maras Salt Mines Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,227 reviews · 1 day · from $28

This early-starting day tour links Chinchero, Moray, Maras, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac in one long circuit from Cusco. Expect bilingual guides such as Liliana, Lily, Jorge, and Kevin, a buffet lunch, comfortable van travel, textile and salt demonstrations, and roughly 200 steps at Ollantaytambo.

“Everything went smoothly with a not so small group. Lili was our guide and she did amazing!”

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Buenos Aires Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, Free Walking Tours & Discounts - Congress, downtown, and the first four stops
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Buenos Aires Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, Free Walking Tours & Discounts

11.Buenos Aires Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, Free Walking Tours & Discounts

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,218 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $39

Use Gray Line Argentina’s open-top, air-conditioned bus to see Buenos Aires at your own pace. The route links Congress, San Telmo, La Boca, Puerto Madero, Recoleta, Palermo, River Plate Stadium, and more. Choose a 1, 2, or 3-day pass, add optional walking tours, and use the discount booklet to shape your visit.

“Do not use this hop on hop off. The pickup spots are impossible to locate. There are no signs indicating where the bus stops. We spent the day searching one after another pickup spot.”

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Bogota: Bicycle City Tour - Starting in La Candelaria and finding your rhythm
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Bogota: Bicycle City Tour

12.Bicycle City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,156 reviews · 4h 30m · from $19

Spend about four and a half hours cycling Bogotá with bilingual guides such as Mike, Lina, Daniel, or David. Visit a traditional fruit market, coffee roaster, historic sites, street art, plazas, and neighborhoods beyond La Candelaria. The mostly flat route includes frequent stops, local tastings, and a game of tejo.

“Was a great tour, wonderful tour guide, very fun and engaging, me and my friend genuinely enjoyed it and didn’t notice how the time passed”

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Buenos Aires: City Highlights Guided Tour with Transfer - Plaza de Mayo sets the historical stage
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Buenos Aires: City Highlights Guided Tour with Transfer

13.City Highlights Guided Tour with Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,946 reviews · 3 - 5 hours · from $38

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!”

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From Cusco: Moray, Maras Salt Mines & Chinchero Weavers Tour - Chinchero: living Quechua textile work
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From Cusco: Moray, Maras Salt Mines & Chinchero Weavers Tour

14.From Cusco: Moray, Maras Salt Mines & Chinchero Weavers Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,925 reviews · 6h 30m · from $15

Travel from Cusco to Chinchero, Moray, Maras, and the Salineras with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide. Expect textile demonstrations, Inca farming terraces, 3,000 salt pools, mountain views, and some shopping stops. Guides such as Felipe and Julio are praised for clear explanations and friendly care.

“Great value and didn't feel rushed. guide was very informative and the bus was clean. Nice scenery during the journey also and managed to take some photos. Would definitely recommend.”

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Buenos Aires: Hop-On Hop-Off City Bus Tour - Congress, San Telmo, and the southern neighborhoods
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Buenos Aires: Hop-On Hop-Off City Bus Tour

15.Hop-On Hop-Off City Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,855 reviews · from $35

See Buenos Aires from an open-top double-decker bus, with stops near La Boca, San Telmo, Puerto Madero, Palermo, Recoleta, football stadiums, and Chinatown. Your ticket lasts 24, 48, or 72 hours, and multilingual commentary explains the city as you ride. Use it for a full loop or as practical sightseeing transport.

“The hop on hop off bus tour in Buenos Aires was excellent. The volume was good and I could understand the English recording very well.”

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