The Best Adventure Holidays In South And Central America

If there’s a place for adrenaline junkies, it’s South and Central America. Book your place on one of these Culture Trip adventures and let us give you an experience you won’t forget.

From white-water rafting through the jungle in Costa Rica and horse riding in the Ecuadorian Andes, to snorkelling with sharks in the Galápagos Islands and river tubing in Colombia, South and Central America are an adventure lover’s paradise. With tropical rainforests, snow-capped mountains, volcanic islands and pristine beaches, the landscapes are as diverse as they are spectacular. Tempted? Here’s our selection of the best adventure holidays from Culture Trip in South and Central America.

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Surfers in Guanacaste province on the Nicoya Peninsula, near Tamarindo, Playa Avellana

Jungle trekking, white water rafting and surfing in Costa Rica

If you’re looking to combine adrenaline-pumping activities with wildlife spotting, then look no further than Costa Rica. On this eight-day small group adventure, you’ll have the chance to spot capuchin monkeys and jaguars on a safari in the Arenal Volcano National Park, and sloths on a moonlit hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Bounce down the Balsa River on a white-water rafting adventure and go mountain biking through the jungle, before heading to the coast, where you can learn how to ride waves in trendy Tamarindo.

From US$2023

Next available from 11th May 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

San Jose, Costa Rica

ENDS AT

Tamarindo, Provincia De Guanacaste

DURATION

8

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

View Trip

The snow-capped Cotopaxi Volcano at dusk with mist hanging over it

Horse riding, volcano hiking and cycling in Ecuador

Mainland Ecuador boasts some of South America’s most spectacular scenery, including glacier-capped volcanoes, enormous waterfalls and tropical rainforest. Horse riding in Cotopaxi National Park and hiking around the Laguna Limpiopungo while staying overnight in a traditional mountain hacienda are just two of the highlights of this eight-day adventure. Hiking around the rim of the emerald green Quilotoa crater lake, cycling the Baños Waterfall Route and white water rafting through the Amazon on the Jatunyacu River are exhilarating activities on the agenda. You’ll also have an opportunity to ride the Swing at the End of the World, which offers jaw-dropping views of the Tungurahua volcano and the sweeping valley below.

From US$2089

Next available from 27th Jul 2024

Secure your spot with a low deposit

Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Quito, Ecuador

ENDS AT

Quito, Ecuador

DURATION

8

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

View Trip

Maja Proescholdt contributed additional reporting to this article.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.