In South America, Chimu offers premium independent itineraries for individuals and their travel party, that have been refined, simplified and perfected, especially for the discerning traveller.
Choose one of our Signature itineraries below, choose your date and add extensions to make it yours.
South America is a continent like no other, offering a variety of incredulous terrains, a host of differing cultures, a fascinating and unique range of wildlife, a gastronomic cuisine, an intriguing history and a range of adventure-filled activities.
From snow-capped mountains to turquoise lakes, stark arid deserts, rainforest, vast salt flats, pampas grasslands, glaciers, volcanoes, spectacular coastline and waterfalls, the landscapes of South America are breathtaking. In complete contrast are bustling and vibrant cities such as Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Lima and Montevideo. Then there are fascinating colonial towns such as Cusco, Sucre, Quito and the mining towns of Potosi and Ouro Preto.
South America is steeped in history and culture and a South America tour could allow you to delve into the history of the Inca, Moche and Nazca civilisations or immerse yourself in the culture of the Quechua Indians or the Afro-Brazilian beat of Salvador. For food lovers, a gastronomic experience awaits, tempting you with mouth-watering Argentinian steaks or fresh seafood ceviche accompanied by a glass of fine Chilean or Argentinian wine.
South America travel offers something for everyone.
Getting there: For Australians visiting South America there are many ways to get there, the most popular is flying the southern route south via Auckland to Santiago/Buenos Aires.
Still wondering? Contact us: You are definitely better off giving us a call or dropping us a line and letting us do the hard work for you.
In South America, Chimu offers premium independent itineraries for individuals and their travel party, that have been refined, simplified and perfected, especially for the discerning traveller.
Choose one of our Signature itineraries below, choose your date and add extensions to make it yours.
South America is a continent like no other, offering a variety of incredulous terrains, a host of differing cultures, a fascinating and unique range of wildlife, a gastronomic cuisine, an intriguing history and a range of adventure-filled activities.
From snow-capped mountains to turquoise lakes, stark arid deserts, rainforest, vast salt flats, pampas grasslands, glaciers, volcanoes, spectacular coastline and waterfalls, the landscapes of South America are breathtaking. In complete contrast are bustling and vibrant cities such as Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Lima and Montevideo. Then there are fascinating colonial towns such as Cusco, Sucre, Quito and the mining towns of Potosi and Ouro Preto.
South America is steeped in history and culture and a South America tour could allow you to delve into the history of the Inca, Moche and Nazca civilisations or immerse yourself in the culture of the Quechua Indians or the Afro-Brazilian beat of Salvador. For food lovers, a gastronomic experience awaits, tempting you with mouth-watering Argentinian steaks or fresh seafood ceviche accompanied by a glass of fine Chilean or Argentinian wine.
South America travel offers something for everyone.
Getting there: For Australians visiting South America there are many ways to get there, the most popular is flying the southern route south via Auckland to Santiago/Buenos Aires.
Still wondering? Contact us: You are definitely better off giving us a call or dropping us a line and letting us do the hard work for you.
We offer flexible travel options in Latin America for the discerning traveller and their travel party.
We have refined, simplified, and perfected our itineraries over two decades to give you the ultimate experience in each location.
We know each Latin American country by heart and will work with you to determine which itinerary is best suited to your needs.
From your initial enquiry until your trip ends, you will be assigned a personal Destination Specialist who will offer a full service for your travel needs: we can book flights, insurance and any ancillary travel required to complete your journey.
We have offices across South America so you can be assured that ground staff are close at hand to assist whilst you are travelling.
We are your one stop shop for flights, insurance, itinerary, pre and post tour accommodation.
Ecuador
SHIP: Calipso Yacht
START: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
FINISH: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
SHIP: Cormorant II
START: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
FINISH: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Designed to make planning an upmarket South American adventure easy.
Quito, Ecuador, Galapagos Islands
SHIP: Seaman Journey
START: Quito, Ecuador
FINISH: Quito, Ecuador
PRICED FROM
AUD 12,005*
PER PERSON
Quito, Ecuador, Galapagos Islands
SHIP: Seaman Journey
START: Quito, Ecuador
FINISH: Quito, Ecuador
PRICED FROM
AUD 9,213*
PER PERSON
South America, Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu
START: Lima, Peru
FINISH: Cusco, Peru
PRICED FROM
AUD 4,568*
PER PERSON
South America, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Machu Picchu
START: Santiago, Chile
FINISH: Santiago, Chile
PRICED FROM
AUD 14,824*
PER PERSON
Brazil, Argentina, South America
START: Rio De Janerio, Brazil
FINISH: Buenos Aires, Argentina
PRICED FROM
AUD 4,824*
PER PERSON
Argentina, Brazil, South America
START: Buenos Aires, Argentina
FINISH: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
PRICED FROM
AUD 4,729*
PER PERSON
All Chimu Adventures' clients are given the opportunity to review their trip once they return home. These reviews are administered by a third party and as such are unfiltered by Chimu Adventures.
Looking for blogs on South America, Antarctica, or even the Arctic? If so, we have you covered! The Chimu blog is updated regularly with new articles and packed with great content on planning your trip, what to pack, and amazing adventures in each destination.
Your comprehensive guide to South America’s Andes Mountains – one mesmerizing wildlife treat at a time
The most famously slow animal on the planet needs little introduction.
Ever seen a guinea pig with the weight of a fully grown human?
Llamas are without doubt some of the fluffiest animals on earth – but there is so much more to these super smart fluff balls!
South America might not be the world’s largest continent (in fact, the 4th largest), but it sure has a lot to offer!
We recommend that you visit your doctor or a traveller’s medical centre for current information specific to those countries that you will be travelling through. As a general guide we recommend the following: - Yellow Fever – Especially for jungle areas - Hepatitis – Both A and B (twinrix) - Typhoid - Diphtheria - Cholera - Rabies - Tetanus
Each country has its own currency, with US Dollars being readily exchangeable throughout most of South America and accepted in many large hotels, top-end restaurants, supermarkets and major stores. Argentina - Argentinian Peso (ARS) Bolivia - Boliviano (BOB) Brazil - Brazilian Real (BRL) Chile - Chilean Peso (CLP) Colombia - Colombian Peso (COP) Ecuador - US Dollar (USD) French Guiana - Euro (EUR) Guyana - Guyana Dollar (GYD) Peru - Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN) Suriname - Suriname Dollar (SRD) Uruguay - Uruguayan Peso (UYU) Venezuela - Bolivar (VEF)
Portuguese and Spanish are the primary languages of South America. The majority of South Americans speak Portuguese but most South American countries are Spanish-speaking. English is spoken in Guyana, Dutch and Indonesian in Suriname and French in French Guiana.
While you can usually get by in major tourist areas with English, it's always helpful to learn a few words of the local language before you travel.
The level of fitness needed will depend on the South America tour that you choose to take in terms of countries to be visited and the types of activities to be included in your itinerary. Many parts of South America are at altitudes above 2000 metres, where there is a risk of altitude sickness. Altitude sickness effects everyone differently and usually has nothing to do with your general fitness level, but we highly recommend acclimatizing at altitude before taking strenuous treks or walks.
However, it's definitely possible to experience South America and have an amazing time, no matter your fitness levels.
Most South American countries have now recognized that tourism plays an important part in their economies and governments have taken great steps in the last few years to change South America’s poor security image. You will find a strong police presence in the towns, cities and sites most frequently visited by tourists. To minimise security risks we recommend the following: - do not show any outward signs of wealth or wear expensive jewellery - keep your valuables in your hotel in safety deposit boxes - keep any valuables that you must carry with you hidden, as pickpockets can be present in crowded areas and around tourist areas - use only taxis with official identification - avoid going on your own to remote areas/ruins where tourists would not be expected to go - always keep your day pack and camera close to you and never leave them unattended
Visas are required by some nationalities for travel to certain South American countries. Please refer to the detailed information on the specific countries that you plan to travel through for visa requirements or contact the official government website for your destination country.
You could spend anything from a few days to several months travelling in South America, depending on whether you plan to focus on just one country, or maybe just one experience such as the Inca Trail. Or whether you plan to encompass several countries in your South America travels. Chimu Adventures offers itineraries to suit every time frame and we're happy to give advice on which itinerary might suit you best.