A guide to the best small group tours in South America

South America is a treasure trove for curious explorers and a vast playground for adventure-seekers. The combination of great natural spectacles, rural beauty and high-energy cities means there is something for every traveller to appreciate. And at a time when health considerations have never been greater when planning to travel, small group tours provide a compelling way to traverse this stunning continent safely. Here we bring together the best small group tours in South America for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Read on below and we’ll share our reasons why small group tours in South America are a great idea, along with our go-to recommended tour operator. Then we compile a selection of the best tours to take, including:

• Iconic experiences
• Multi-country routes
• Argentina
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Chile
• Colombia
• Ecuador
• Patagonia
• Peru

This site contains links to tours we recommend, which we may make commission from at no extra cost to you. This post was not sponsored and we give honest, personal recommendations on tours we think you’ll love.

Why take small group tours in South America?

The pandemic has changed the way we travel, and there are now many extra considerations when it comes to making plans. What are the safest destinations to visit? Are there any local measures and rules in place that you need to be aware of when you arrive? What are the best ways to get around and use local services? And how can you get the most out of your trip while taking all of this into account?

Small group tours are a great option for covering all the bases with minimal stress and impact, and making sure you have an unforgettable travel experience. And South America, with many of its natural attractions found in rural, sparsely populated locations, as well as its vibrant cities, has so many options for every type of traveller.

So, let’s take a separate look at each of the big considerations…

Ensuring high safety and hygiene standards

Travelling in a small group setting with a reputed operator, you can expect good safety and hygiene measures to be in place. Whether it’s getting around, eating, interacting with people or staying somewhere overnight, small group tour companies have the right local connections and knowledge to ensure this can all be done safely and hygienically.

Taking the stress away

Opting for a small group tour removes the logistical challenges of organising everything yourself. While we’re big fans of independent travel at Career Gappers, the new considerations when trip-planning in a world readjusting after a crisis do present some difficulties.

You can always combine elements of both, like we often do on our travels, and weave an organised small group tour into your itinerary. Even for the boldest travellers, it’s nice to have at least some time when you don’t need to worry about the arrangements.

Rural exploring

In a new post-pandemic world where many are now conscious of having personal space, you may be looking for exciting places to travel off the beaten path where you can avoid the crowds. South America offers these in abundance.

From the unspoiled Amazon jungle to the great wilderness of Patagonia, and from the vast salt flats of Bolivia to the lake districts of Argentina and Chile, it is a continent of stunning rural beauty.

Sharing the experience

For many people, us included, meeting people and making new connections is one of the great joys of travel. Small group tours provide the perfect environment for this.

Many of the lasting friendships Lisa and I have made through our years of travel have come from intimate small group experiences. And for the introverts out there, the ‘organised fun’ element of a small group tour helps ease the worries about approaching people.

Our recommended operator for small group tours in South America

Lisa and I have travelled extensively in South America in both independent and organised settings. Along the way we’ve taken many small group tours, and learned a lot about what makes a good experience.

Furthermore, in the new context of travel, we have taken time to research the measures being implemented by the foremost small group tour companies to adapt and provide a safe, fun environment.

Taking the various factors into account, we recommend G Adventures for small group tours in South America. Here are the main reasons why we recommend them:

Safety and hygiene measures

At the height of travel restrictions back in 2020, G Adventures acted quickly to put cleaning and safety measures in places as part of a new ‘travel with confidence’ policy.

The measures included in the policy have been adapted with time as travel circumstances have changed. But even with borders fully open and no more restrictions in place, the policy provides a great basis for making sure tours are safe, and that they can proceed if there are any new health emergencies.

Key features of the policy that remain in place are the option to have your own room, specially trained support staff who can advise on local rules and regulations prior to your trip, and additional training for all tour guides on health and safety measures

You can read the policy in full here.

Guides that give you confidence

Our first South America tour with G Adventures was the classic Inca Trail in Peru. One of the big takeaways of our experience was the quality of the local guides that looked after our team.

Like many people who hike the Inca Trail, it was our first time attempting such a challenging trek, and we were nervous about it. But the pre-tour briefing set a tone of team support and encouragement, which was carried throughout the trek and took away our anxieties.

This is an invaluable quality in a tour operator, and G Adventures work with the most reputed local guides in the destinations where they operate.

Optimal group sizes

All G Adventures tours are capped at 16 people, and the average group size is 12. We find this to be the optimal size for fostering an enjoyable social environment and making meaningful connections while sharing travel experiences.

Ethical standards and good causes

One of the main reasons we chose G Adventures in the first place was their commitment to ethical treatment of local staff and supporting good causes. Many of their itineraries include engagement with local community projects, and all of their teams work in good conditions with fair pay. Read more about their approach to responsible travel.

Small group tours in South America: iconic experiences

A select few of G Adventures’ tours focus on major single attractions or locations, rather than combining several into a varied itinerary. These independent adventures are perfect for experiencing the bucket-list headlines of South America in the capable hands of a trusted local guide. Here are our top picks:

Small group tours in South America: multi-country routes

Several of G Adventures’ longer tour packages span multiple countries in South America, combining a range of attractions and cultural explorations into a more in-depth itinerary. These are some of the most popular routes:

Small group tours in South America: Argentina

Argentina is a truly immense country, known for its great food and wine culture, tango dancing, and mammoths of nature such as Iguassu Falls and Perito Moreno Glacier. These are some of the top small group tours in the country:

Small group tours in South America: Bolivia

Many of Bolivia’s great attractions are found at dizzying altitude in the Andes, including the chaotic metropolis of La Paz and the world’s largest salt flats at Salar de Uyuni. These tour itineraries bring together the country’s highlights:

See all G Adventures tours in Bolivia

Small group tours in South America: Brazil

Brazil is a melting pot of nature and culture, from the Carnival scene and glorious beaches of Rio de Janeiro to the tropical jungle and wetlands. The following varied itineraries are ideal for packing a lot of activity into a focused trip:

Small group tours in South America: Chile

A long, thin strip hugging the Pacific coast of South America, Chile is a land of changing landscapes and breathtaking scenery. Here are some of the top small group tours for exploring this country’s great outdoors:

Small group tours in South America: Colombia

A country of tropical climates and colourful cities, Colombia is a playground for adventurous travellers. These G Adventures small group tours are our top recommendations for experiencing Colombia’s highlights:

See all G Adventures tours in Colombia

Small group tours in South America: Ecuador

Ecuador may be most famous for the Galápagos Islands, but its mainland has plenty to explore too, from its sweeping highlands and Amazon jungle to its pristine coastline. Some of these tours can also be combined with Galápagos trips:

See all G Adventures tours in Ecuador

Small group tours in South America: Patagonia

A great wilderness that stretches across Chile and Argentina at the southernmost tip of South America, Patagonia is a rural paradise for hikers and adventure-lovers. Here are our picks for small group tours in the region:

More ideas on small group tours in Patagonia

Small group tours in South America: Peru

Peru has been a meeting point of cultures throughout history, as the land of the Incas and the epicentre of the Spanish Empire in South America. It’s also a place of great natural significance, home to the Amazon jungle, great southern deserts, deep canyons and Andean mountain ranges. These are some of our top picks for G Adventures small group tours in Peru:

Read our top 10 picks for small group tours in Peru

Looking for more inspiration for your South America trip? Check out our South America bucket list, and our rundowns of the best beaches and most beautiful lakes across the continent.

Image credit: the photo of Colombia’s Lost City is by travelmag.com and is distributed under a CC BY 2.0 license.

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