South America is a vast continent with a wide variety of landscapes, wildlife, ancient cultures and modern cosmopolitan cities. The countries share interwoven histories of colonisation by the Portuguese in Brasil and Spanish everywhere else, dating back to the time of Columbus and the age of conquest. This strong European colonial influence enshrines the whole continent in a familiarity that contrasts with the remnants of powerful indigenous civilisations, providing an exotic blend that all inquisitive travellers will not want to miss.
Consider the impressive remains of the ancient Inca civilisation in Peru and Bolivia, and Andean mountain landscapes stretching along the Pacific coast from Colombia in the north, through Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru, all the way south to Argentina and Chile. The Amazon rainforest covers an immense area, including parts of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, with pristine virgin forest, wildlife and jungle lodges. Cruise the Galapagos Islands, Chilean Fjords and Glaciers of Tierra del Fuego or venture into Antarctica. The national parks of Patagonia in Argentina and Chile are the perfect places to embrace the great outdoors, walking in the mountains and admiring glaciers at close range. Travellers will also find beautiful sandy beaches and sophisticated cities such as Lima, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires with world class arts, shopping and culture, with hotels and restaurants to match.
We invite you to browse our selection of South America holidays below. These itineraries have been carefully planned by our destination specialists to optimise your time and provide a deeper perspective on South America.
Viracocha Tour
21 Nights from £5,147 €5,276 $5,691
A cross-continent odyssey from beaches to the high Andean mountains, via remote villages, cosmopolitan cities, Inca archaeology and dramatic landscapes.
Shaman Tour
28 Nights from £9,643 €10,671 $11,535
Cross the continent and cruise deep into the Amazon Rainforest. Enjoy cosmopolitan cities, colonial heritage, stunning Andean landscapes and the magnificent Iguassu Falls.
Osorno Tour
22 Nights from £5,402 €5,582 $6,022
A cross-continent adventure with alpine and Andean scenery, tropical beaches, cosmopolitan cities, magnificent waterfalls and colonial and Inca heritage.
Cataratas Tour
14 Nights from £3,902 €3,782 $4,072
Magnificent waterfalls, cosmopolitan cities and Lake District landscapes. The stunning setting of Rio de Janeiro, modern lifestyle and cuisine contrasts with the classic feel…
Encantada Tour
17 Nights from £5,394 €5,572 $6,012
Cruise the Galapagos Islands and experience the culture and Inca heritage of the Andean region. Option to continue to Lake Titicaca, La Paz and the stunning setting of Rio de…
Laguna Tour
21 Nights from £5,768 €6,021 $6,498
An expedition to the remote salt flats and flamingo-filled lagoons of the high Andes and the Atacama desert. Cross mountains and valleys to reach Machu Picchu and discover the…
Yamana Tour
14 Nights from £4,117 €4,040 $4,352
Explore a region of Patagonian glaciers and Andean landscapes of lush forests, pristine lakes and snow-covered peaks, plus the windswept islands of Tierra del Fuego.
Magellan Tour
15 Nights from £5,269 €5,422 $5,849
Explore a land of glaciers and stunning landscapes at the southern tip of Latin America, combined with Andean landscapes of Torres del Paine, the glistening Lake District and…
Tamboril Tour
12 Nights from £2,983 €2,679 $2,877
An introduction to the best of Brazil in a two week journey including cosmopolitan Rio de Janeiro, the magnificent Iguassu falls and Amazon rainforest, and colonial Salvador
Samba Tour
20 Nights from £4,538 €4,545 $4,899
Comprehensive tour exploring Brazil's colonial origins, rich cultural heritage and natural wonders and vibrant cities
Criollo Tour
14 Nights from £4,138 €4,065 $4,379
Discover Peru's diverse landscapes and history, from the Coastal Desert, the altiplano and high peaks of the Andes, to the lush Amazon rainforest.
Sereno Tour
13 Nights from £4,465 €4,458 $4,804
A thin ribbon of land stretching between the Andes and the Pacific. We visit the Atacama desert, the green lakes and mighty volcanoes of the Lake District and the glaciers of…
Azul Tour
13 Nights from £5,898 €6,177 $6,667
Fascinating contrast of the Atacama desert landscapes of salt flats, Tatio geysers and high mountains, with a cruise along the Chilean Fjords with lush forests, hot springs an…
Pichincha Tour
14 Nights from £8,532 €9,338 $10,091
This tour includes the Amazon rainforest, a Galapagos cruise to experience the stunning friendly wildlife and an insight into the colonial charm of Quito, high in the mountain…
Bellavista Tour
14 Nights from £5,927 €6,212 $6,705
Visit the mountain villages with local markets, along the Avenue of Volcanoes, high in the Andes. Take a cruise in the Galapagos Islands to observe the abundant friendly wildl…
'Our hotels were very good and our guides, Marvin, Mariel & Fernando were excellent: They had exceptional knowledge and made absolutely sure that our Peruvian experience was of the highest quality.'
Written by Mr & Mrs F.
'All the guides we had were excellent. We were contacted by phone twice by Veloso Tours' representatives who checked if we were satisfied and offered assistance if required.'
Written by Mr & Mrs B.
'All guides were excellent: Malla was a pleasant young lady, Hildana had a perfect mix of humour and friendliness, Manuel provided useful information and Fernando was enthusiastic and knowledgeable.'
Written by Mr W.
'Our Argentinean guides and drivers were excellent, especially in Purmamarca and Iguazu: very knowledgeable and helpful.'
Written by Mr & Mrs P.
'Our guide Andy was excellent and very helpful as well as our driver throughout our stay in Bolivia.'
Written by Mr & Mrs H.
'We really enjoyed our holiday, especially with our guides: They take care of us, and made us feel special and welcome. Our trip went well and everyone was professional: Excellent services.'
Written by Mr & Mrs G.
'A huge thanks to Veloso Team. Everything went very smoothly which considering the number of flights, meetings, hotels, guides etc. was a miracle. Well done.'
Written by Mr & Mrs M.
'Our guide in Quito, Gabriel, and Mauricio in the Andean Landscapes area were excellent, knowledgeable, punctual, reliable and very flexible. Our guide Lena in the Amazon was outstanding.'
Written by Mr & Mrs W.
'Our guides were very good. Bethsheila Pinto in Cusco was very good and Maria Esther Segura in Quito excellent.'
Written by Mr & Mrs H.
'We were amazed the way the whole trip was organised: Guides and transport were all good, especially Joel Castillo in Machu Picchu and our driver in Ollantaytambo.'
Written by Mr & Mrs M.
'All went well, so thanks very much! Guides were very good, especially Emiliano in Buenos Aires. In Bolivia, the guide and driver were really kind and gave us a great journey out.'
Written by Mr & Mrs B.
'All guides were very good, especially Betesheila in Cusco who was excellent and knowledgeable and a pleasure to be with, and our guide in Buenos Aires, Emiliano.'
Written by Mr & Mrs R.
'We both thoroughly enjoyed our holiday from Veloso Tours, so 2/2 tours excellent to date. As a self-drive, your ground agent did track us down to see if things were going OK.'
Written by Mr & Mrs W.
'From the outset we had wonderful holidays. Our driver and Guide, Betsheyla, in Cusco were exceptional and helpful. In Rio de Janeiro, Eugenio, was very good and extremely knowledgeable.'
Written by Mr & Mrs D.
'The entire journey was absolutely seamless and everyone turning up without hiccup. So far everything has worked like clockwork and our guides have been prompt, attentive and very knowledgeable.'
Written by Mr & Mrs B.
'Our holiday worked well due to the suggestions Nick put in. Our guides were always early so there was no hanging out. Hotels and excursions exceeded expectations. We had the holiday of a lifetime.'
Written by Mr & Mrs B.
'Congratulation to your company for our splendid itinerary, documentation and your choice of the guides, especially Eugenio Souza in Rio de Janeiro who was amazing and Santana who was excellent.'
Written by Mr & Mrs S.
'The Andean Train Explorer from Puno to Cusco was just outstanding. Fernando Chara was a very friendly and excellent guide in Cusco.'
Written by Mr & Mrs R.
'We have been superbly looked after by Hector: Friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, he made our stay in Bolivia hugely enjoyable. We will recommend Veloso Tours to our friends.'
Written by Mr & Mrs R.
'Guides and drivers were excellent with very good English. German, our guide in Bogota, was very knowledgeable, with a special interest in birding. Gabriel, our guide in Santa Marta, was terrific.'
Written by Mr & Mrs F.
'Thank you for this wonderful holiday. The experience has remained fresh in our memories. The outstanding scenery was matched by our guides' quality whose knowledge and care never failed to impress.'
Written by Mr & Mrs B.
'We have travelled extensively during all our life and this trip was the acme of excellence. Our guide Eugenio in Rio and Luiz in Iguassu, were excellent. It was an ideal unique experience.'
Written by Mr & Mrs B.
'All our guide were exceptional, sharing their enthusiasm and their knowledge of their countries. In Peru, Fernando and Henry were amazing and make our trip unforgettable."
Written by Miss L.
'Everything went smoothly: Everywhere we were greeted by a cheery welcome and a quick transfer. Hotels were all very good as well as excursions. We've returned to the UK uplifted by our experiences.'
Written by Mr & Mrs C.
"For 4 weeks, we have been almost entirely at the mercy of the arrangements you put in place. We visited 7 different places and travelled 23,000 miles with never a worry and hardly a hitch."
Written by Mr & Mrs C.
'Everything worked perfectly and we were very pleased with the service Veloso provided. Our local guides were very good and our hotels of a high standard. Machu Picchu exceeded our expectations. '
Written by Mr & Mrs F.
'Your guides took us by the hand that we could totally relax throughout our journey. They were excellent and made the holiday fantastic through their efficiency, friendliness and knowledge.'
Written by Mr & Mrs G.
'Colombia is a captivating country with welcoming and friendly people. Guides and drivers were excellent and we had no security concerns at any time during the trip. An unforgettable trip.'
Written by Mr & Mrs W.
'All our guides were well qualified with excellent English, especially Fernando in Cusco and David on the Galapagos. Our trip was fascinating and we enjoyed every minute. Thank you.'
Written by Mr & Mrs A.
'Guides were excellent and really loved their countries. It was the first time we had personal guides and we were very impressed with them all. Always on time for pickups and nice clean vehicles.'
Written by Mr & Mrs L.P
'We had 4 guides who were very different in character, but they were all excellent, friendly, efficient, knowledgeable and informative, especially Marvin Abanto in Lima.'
Written by Mr & MR G.
'Our holiday through Veloso was a real luxury tour for us. We felt safe at every moment and confident with our drivers. Guides were all efficient, helpful. It was a pleasure to spend time with them.'
Written by Mr & Mr R.
'Thank you for all times and effort that went into our fabulous holiday. No complaints. Except that 4 weeks is unfortunately too short for visit these places.'
Written by Mrs G.
'Our guides: Marvin in Lima, Fernando in Cusco & Maria in Quito, were excellent, friendly, and very knowledgeable. We can’t thank them enough for making our holiday such a memorable time for all.'
Written by Mr & Mrs M. and Mr & Mrs K.
'Amazing trip to Brazil thanks to your team. A special mention to Carlos Carbosa in Salvador Da Bahia: We found him to be a very friendly flexible guide who was also very good company.'
Written by Mr & Mr C.
'All guides, especially Marvin Abanto in Lima and Betsheyla Pinto in Cusco were very friendly with excellent local and historical knowledge.'
Written by Family M.
'All our drivers and guides were very helpful. We were impressed by our guides' knowledge of Peruvian history and their excellent English, especially Fernando, Marvin and Richard.'
Written by Mr & Mrs F.
'Guides were exceptional: Enthusiasm & freshness they showed was as if they had just started and wanted to impress this is to be commended when considering they've been doing the job for many years.'
Written by Family C.
'You planned our itinerary perfectly and adjusted everything to suit our requirements. We feel privileged to have spent this time in Peru and will remember forever. Thank you.'
Written by Mr & Mrs R.
'All the guides were fantastic, they really made our trip wonderful. Transport all were excellent, faultless. Thank you. Our trip was a huge success and very enjoyable.'
Written by Family R. & M.
'Our trip was extremely enjoyable and well-organized. Guides were very good and ground agent helpful; But there is a need for more fluent English speaking guides & drivers for English travellers.'
Written by Mr & Mrs W.
'Our holiday was very satisfactory and exceeded our expectations. Guides were knowledgeable and the Galapagos Cruise was amazing.'
Written by Mrs F & Mr P.
'Our tour hosts were without fail. They were friendly, warm, informed, open and shared the love of their country. We recommend all of them highly, especially Eugenio in Rio and Gaby in Bariloche.'
Written by Mr F & Miss G.
'We had a wonderful time in Bolivia and loved every experience. Thank you for arranging for Carlos Campuzano to guide us. We enjoyed his company enormously. We recommend Veloso to all our friends.'
Written by Mr & Mrs T.
'We had a most fantastic holiday. Guides were all very knowledgeable, they took us around interesting places, and took into consideration our age and fitness levels making each part enjoyable.'
Written by Mr & Mrs B and Mr & Mrs L.
'Every guides & drivers were a joy to be with. Nothing was too much trouble and the attention to detail shown by all should be commended. Silvia, Richard & Queoma were more like friends that guides.'
Written by Mr M & Mrs B.
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