The Best Beach and Island Tours in South and Central America

This isn’t your typical South American island tour – this is a bucket-list trip to the Galápagos Islands that will introduce you to wildlife you won’t see anywhere else. Let giant tortoises show you how to enjoy island time at the slowest pace possible. Take notes from sea lions on how to properly frolic in the water. You’ll even follow birds along lava trails to find the best views of the Pacific – though seeing the Itabaca Channel from a stand-up paddleboard isn’t half bad, either.

It won’t take you long to find paradise on Colombia’s Caribbean coastline. This Culture Trip beach and island tour of South America’s gateway country will take you off the mainland and over to the crowd-free white sands of the Rosario Islands. We suggest diving in the water to admire the rich sea life; you’ll have plenty of time to tan when you reach the laid-back beach town of Palomino.

Experience the magic of South America’s two most famous beaches on our nine-day Brazilian adventure. After a couple of days in Sao Paulo you’ll get to enjoy the luscious countryside of Paraty Bay on a boat tour through the coastal region’s crystalline waters, including a barbecue stop at a secret spot. We end the trip with four days in Rio – plenty of time to play volleyball on Ipanema and chill on the Copacabana. The best bit? Your Rio hotel will be in walking distance of both.