ACTIVE SOUTH AMERICA offers a variety of cultural and outdoor adventure-orientated, hiking, biking, and multi-activity guided adventure tours around Costa Rica, Peru, the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador and Patagonia.

ACTIVE SOUTH AMERICA allows you to experience our unique blend of physical activities, friendly guides, and legendary service, in some of the most awe inspiring parts of the world - Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands!

We run the most active adventure tours in South America. But you don't have to be an athlete to enjoy our hiking vacations - our trips are designed for people with reasonable level of fitness and interest in outdoor activities. Along with our regular tours in South America, we also run family adventures with fantastic activities and cultural experiences no matter what your age. You'll enjoy some of the best hiking in Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Patagonia along with other heart pumping activities like cycling, rafting, sea kayaking, and snorkeling/diving in the Galapagos Islands. We'll spend less time traveling in a vehicle and more time hiking, biking and paddling in the great outdoors in South America. You'll also get to meet the locals, eat fantastic food and sleep well in some unique locations. If you've always wanted to dive in the Galapagos or sea kayak Lake Titicaca, hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, or walk through the rainforests of Costa Rica, you'll love our trips. If cycling down a high volcano in Ecuador, sea kayaking the Tortuguero canals of Costa Rica, or multi day hiking in Torres Del Paine is on your "to do" list, we'll take there and beyond the beaten path on the best active vacations in South America!

iguana (dec-apr)

11 days - costa rica

US$2099

With almost 20% of its land area made up of National Parks, Costa Rica is an incredible place for an adventure vacation. Hike through tropical rainforest to the summit lake of the Cerro Chato Volcano after whitewater rafting the Pacuare River - one of the top 5 rivers in the world. Then explore the Monteverde Cloudforest from high above the forest canopy along a zip line, and enjoy the white sand at our very own Pacific Coast secret spot - Coyote Beach! Our trip ends with wildlife and rainforest hikes in Cabo Blanco National Park and the amazing Curu wildlife reserve. Complete itinerary Request Information

tortuga

10 days - galapagos islands

US$2499

An adventure tour around the Galapagos Islands should be more than taking photos of wildlife from a boat! Our 10-day Tortuga trip explores some off the beaten track areas of the Galapagos Islands in ACTIVE style. Hike up Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabela Island for stunning views of the archipelago, snorkel or dive Floreana Island and Kicker Rock with friendly sea lions and sea turtles, and cycle down to the beach from the highlands of Santa Cruz Island after visiting the Galapagos Giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Complete itinerary Request Information

ACTIVE SOUTH AMERICA supports a variety of wildlife conservation projects on the Galapagos Islands through our membership of the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association. Click on the logo to find out more.

condor

11 days - chilean patagonia

US$2999

The Condor is an awesome multi activity tour around Patagonia and the Chilean Lake District. We take a multi-day hiking trip through Torres del Paine National Park, sea kayak on a beautiful lake at the foot of the Andes, and hike to the snow line of the stunning Osorno Volcano. We'll cycle through amazing mountain beech forest, fill our water bottles from crystal clear mountain streams, and watch as massive glaciers crash into the turquoise lakes of one of the most beautiful places on earth. Complete itinerary Request Information

jaguar

14 days - peru 10 day option 7 day option

US$2699 US$2399 US$1799

Our action packed Jaguar adventure tour explores the far reaches of Peru, combining the best that this amazing South American country has to offer. Hike through ancient ruins in the Sacred Valley of the Incas before embarking on the Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu, hike through virgin Amazon rainforest, and cycle across amazing Andean mountain passes. Sea kayak across lake Titicaca to meet the locals at the end of the trip with a homestay on Amantani Island. For those with limited time available, the Jaguar can also be shortened to either a 7 or 10-day trip. Complete itinerary Request Information

tucan

11 days - ecuador

US$2499

Ecuador is often overlooked by most looking for an adventure tour in South America. On our Tucan trip you'll find a country bursting at the seams with awesome scenery and exciting adventure activities. Hike through serene cloudforest and high country volanic plateaus, cycle down the highest active volcano in the world and through stunning river valleys, and explore the Amazon rainforest on foot, in a rivertube and canyoning the surrounding waterfalls. Complete itinerary Request Information

quetzal (may-nov)

11 days - costa rica

US$2099

Lying between the Carribbean Sea and the vast Pacific Ocean, Costa Rica experiences beautifully warm weather all year round, with tropical rain in some areas from April to November. It's dry in many places during this time though, and is the best time of year to raft the world famous Pacuare river, sea kayak Tortuguero National Park, hike and search for Sea Turtles on the Caribbean Coast, and hike the tropical rainforests around Arenal Volcano. We'll also hike through the Monteverde Cloudforest, explore the Curu wildlife Reserve on the Pacific Coast and sea kayak to stunning tropical islands. Complete itinerary Request Information

capybara

11 days - peru

Adult fare US$2499 Child fare (15 and under) US$2299

Our 11 day Capybara is an incredible adventure in Peru for the whole family. We'll explore the Amazon rainforest to its depths looking for monkeys and macaws, stay with a local family on Amantani Island after sea kayaking on Lake Titicaca, and hike to the Salinas salt pans above the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We'll meet llamas and alpacas near Cuzco, soak in hot springs, and visit the amazing Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. Complete itinerary Request Information

hiking	biking	sea kayaking	rafting	wildlife

PHOTO OF THE MONTH Go to our photo gallery to see more snapshots from our trips "The organisation, the itinerary, the leader and the entire trip was amazing. An experience of a lifetime that I will never forget. The creatures you see, the people you meet, the fresh air that you breathe were all unbeatable. It's a trip that I'm definitely not going to forget." Lina Tchung (CA, United States) April 2007 Tortuga

GUIDE OF THE MONTH Tim Cooney "Tim was a great guide, he made it seem so easy and relaxed, but I knew he had everything all taken care of. He had lots of enthusiasm, knowledge, great humor and really made us feel relaxed and comfortable. He did an amazing job." Brooke Rawdin (Arlington,VA) April 2007 Tortuga Click here to read what our clients have said about their guides

Check out our trips in New Zealand	Check out our trips in Australia