The Prices of Sightseeing Tours to South America
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Exploring South America has never been easier—or more fun—than with its incredible sightseeing tours. These adventures take you from iconic landmarks to off-the-beaten-path gems, whether you’re wandering historic streets, cruising through quaint towns, or enjoying breathtaking countryside views. With guided tours ranging from walking to bus rides, there’s an option for every type of traveler.
In this guide, we’ll explore the prices and costs of sightseeing tours in South America, reveal the top-rated choices, and highlight destinations that will make your trip unforgettable. After comparing pricing, tour quality, and included perks, we’ve narrowed down the best value tours just for you. So charge your camera and get ready to uncover all the sights South America has to offer!
Why does South America appeal to sightseers?
South America enchants sightseers with its diverse landscapes, iconic landmarks, and vibrant culture. Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Salvador offer plenty of amazing museums and sights to explore. Rio de Janeiro is known for its samba dancing, sandy beaches, and Carnival. Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and Sao Paulo are foodie destinations with fantastic cuisine and world-class restaurants. You can't miss the nightlife of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Salvador, either. The romance, charm, and excitement of Rio de Janeiro, Foz do Iguacu, and Salvador makes them very popular with couples looking for a romantic trip. South America's mix of historic charm, modern vibrancy, and natural beauty makes it a must-visit for sightseers.
How much do sightseeing tours in South America cost?
The average price per day for sightseeing tours in South America is $245, based on our analysis of 178 tours. While the overall prices can vary greatly, when we look at the daily price of these tours, the costs range from $82 to $814 per day.
Budget-friendly tours average around $131 per day, while higher-end luxury tours average about $398 per day.
Budget tours will usually provide less luxurious accommodation, have larger group sizes, and visit less expensive destinations. They will also sometimes have you pay for more activities on your own instead of including everything up front.
Mid-range tours often provide a step up in accommodation and transportation, and include more guided activities.
Luxury tours usually provide the highest levels of service, luxury hotels, more gormet food choices, comfortable transportation, and offer more all-inclusive payment options.
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The Best Tours in South America
Budget-Friendly Tours
Budget-friendly and affordable sightseeing tours in South America average $131 per day, with daily prices from $82 to $161. Budget tours usually include hotels, meals, and activities that are not quite as nice as other tours. Often, they might only include transportation, lodging, and some activities, leaving you on your own to pay for meals and other attractions during the tour. This can be a very convenient and economical way to visit France without spending too much money, as it gives you control over the amount you spend on meals and extra services. If you're looking for a really great option, check out Amazon to the Andes here.
Mid-Range Tours
For typical sightseeing tours in South America that fall in the middle range of prices, the average cost is $206 per day. Daily prices range from $161 to $264. Taking this step up in price from the cheaper tours to mid-range will often get you plenty of extra amenities and service for a great price. These tours usually include very comfortable hotels, meals at delicious local restaurants, comfortable transportation, knowledgable guides, and entry to many of the top attractions. One of the best tours is Absolute Peru.
Luxury Tours
Luxury sightseeing tours in South America average around $206 per day, with daily costs ranging from $264 to $814. At this price, you'll be very well taken care of and pampered on your journey through the scenic destinations. Knowledgable guides, the best accommodation options, the finest restaurants, comfortable transportation, and quick entry into attractions are all part of the itinerary. Every luxury and detail has been planned and thought about so that you don't have to deal with any hassle, you simple show up and enjoy your vacation. One of the best luxury tours here is Deserts, Jungle and Falls.
Which tour companies offer these trips?
A number of fantastic tour companies offer sightseeing tours in South America. These are a few of the best, because they offer the highest rated service, provide the best overall quality, and have the most five-star guest reviews to prove it.
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a large international travel company offering tours all over the world. Some of their most popular destinations include Australia, Thailand, Tanzania, and Italy. Many of the tours fall into the mid-range price category. The company's adventures often highlight activities such as camping, wine tasting, snorkelling, kayaking, cooking classes, island hopping, white water rafting, surfing, horse riding, whale watching, and bird watching.
See All Tours from Intrepid Travel
G Adventures
G Adventures is a large international travel company offering tours all over the world. Some of their most popular destinations include Thailand, Peru, South Africa, and Vietnam. Many of their tours are priced in the mid-range category. The company's adventures often highlight activities such as camping, island hopping, snorkelling, surfing, wine tasting, kayaking, cooking classes, water sports, jungle surfing, and canyoning.
See All Tours from G Adventures
Waman Adventures
Waman Adventures is a smaller tour company that focuses on Peru and Bolivia. The small group sizes, often less than 15, make for a very personal experience. The company appeals to travelers of all ages, with many tours focusing on families with children. Budget travelers will appreciate the relative affordability of the company's offerings.
See All Tours from Waman Adventures
Inkayni Peru Tours
Focusing on Peru and Bolivia, Inkayni Peru Tours is a smaller tour company which provides a personalized level of service to customers. Traveling with Inkayni Peru Tours provides for a very personal experience, because most of their tours have less than 10 people. This company's tour offerings are generally priced lower than others, which makes them attractive for budget travelers.
See All Tours from Inkayni Peru Tours
Departure Destinations in South America
Wondering where tours launch from in South America? With a variety of stops and destinations along the way, there's something for everyone.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is a world famous megacity that is filled with colorful neighborhoods and a population that knows how to have fun. The city has iconic beaches such as Copacabana and countless urban hikes that take you to dramatic mountain peaks. At night, people come out to party, and you're sure to have a good time, particularly during the Carnival season.
Foz Do Iguacu
Foz do Iguaçu is the main hub for visitors going to the waterfall on the Brazilian side. Iguaçu Falls is the largest waterfall in the world and it sits on the border between Brazil and Argentina. The are many separate cascades as well as walkways and trails around the falls. Devil's Throat is the tallest of the cascades.
Sao Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in South America. It's also the economic and financial capital of Brazil and a cultural and international megacity. There's a range of architecture styles around town and many unique neighborhoods. It's not the most popular destination in Brazil, but it does offer a unique experience with a glimpse at real life in a large and diverse setting.
Fortaleza
Fortaleza is the capital city of the state of Ceará. It's a popular tourist destination with Brazilians, and it has a growing reputation with international tourists as well. The city has a long stretch of sandy beach that's lined with high rise buildings and bars. There's also a rich cultural scene and a big city energy.
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Other popular destinations for sightseeing tours through South America include Cusco, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes, Lima, and Buenos Aires.
Sightseeing Tours vs. Independent Travel: Pros and Cons
If you're debating whether to plan your trip solo or join a guided tour, take some time to reflect on the pros and cons of both options.
Organized Tours
Pros- Guided tours ensure you see all the major attractions efficiently.
- Professional guides provide historical context and interesting facts.
- You don’t need to navigate or worry about transportation.
- Tickets and entry to popular sights are often pre-arranged.
- Group tours can offer discounts on attractions and services.
- Local guides help you discover hidden gems and lesser-known spots.
- Tours often include additional perks like meals or refreshments.
- The itinerary is planned for you, saving you time and effort.
- You can meet other travelers with similar interests.
- Guides help with language barriers and local customs.
- The fixed schedule may not align with your personal preferences.
- Tours may include stops that don’t interest you as much as others.
- You have less flexibility to explore attractions at your own pace.
- Some tours cater to general audiences and may lack depth.
Independent Travel
Pros- You can create an itinerary tailored to your specific interests.
- Independent travel allows you to spend as much time as you want at each location.
- You have the freedom to explore at your own pace.
- Flexibility allows you to visit attractions on your own schedule.
- You can discover unique experiences not included in standard tours.
- Researching and planning can be time-consuming.
- You must navigate unfamiliar places on your own.
- Managing transportation between attractions can be challenging.
- Popular attractions may sell out or have long lines.
- You might miss out on local insights provided by professional guides.
- Language barriers can make communication more difficult.
- There’s no support system if unexpected issues arise during your trip.
Which is cheaper?
Is independent travel cheaper than guided sightseeing tours? The answer is not simple. Tours provide many of the services that you would otherwise pay for yourself on an independent trip. Hotels, transportation, food, entry tickets, guides, and activities are provided on organized tours, whereas you would pay for everything separately on your own. To deterine the difference in price, you would need to compare the combined price of everything in a tour with everything you would book separately. Sometimes you might want to stay in a cheaper hotel, or eat at a more expensive restaurant, so the price of a tour could be more or less than what you would otherwise pay on your own. Make sure you know what is included before making your comparison.
Also, before booking a tour, make sure you know exactly what is included as tour companies sometimes change their itineraries or included amenities to keep them updated with seasonal changes and customer interests.
More Tour Options
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