Luxury South America Small Group Tours & Trips

Why Consider Luxury Travel to South America

Luxury tours of South America offer you the opportunity to handcraft your own itinerary through this vast continent while also still getting exclusive experiences. Most South American luxury tour operators specialize in creating trips that are designed to fit your needs. They work with you from the first call all the way through your trip making sure you have the once-in-a-lifetime experience you’ve dreamed up. 

Additionally, a luxury tour takes care of all the nitty-gritty details of travel. You’ll have excellent transportation for those bus rides between destinations, a local guide will meet you in your next city to show you around, and the hotels are comfortable and relaxing after your long journeys. 

Luxury tours also offer exclusive experiences not normally included in backpacking or standard trips. You’ll be able to share a wine tasting with a master winemaker, private tango lessons in Argentina, or stay in a hotel just steps away from Iguazu Falls.

When is the Best Time to Visit South America? 

First, most of South America - besides the Caribbean coastline - is in the Southern Hemisphere. This means that the coldest months are actually May-August and the warmest months are December-February. If you are looking to take a vacation from the colder months of the Northern Hemisphere, then South America is one of the best places to see. 

Second, with such a vast difference in climates and natural landscapes, every part of the year is the right time to visit South America. Most of South America generally maintains a comfortable, cooler climate throughout the year. If you are visiting the mountains at any point of the year, it will be cold and wet. February is one of the best times to visit Peru and Chile as this is right before the colder seasons. Countries such as Ecuador and Colombia will be consistently warm throughout the year as they both sit right on the equator. 

For countries such as Argentina and Chile, you’ll see a wider change in temperatures during the year because they are farther away from the equator. It’s hard to pick an exact time of year to visit South America (unlike Italy or Vietnam) since each region of the country is vastly different from the regions. However, a good rule of thumb is that February and March may be prime time for many of the countries.

Packing List for South America

South America is enormous, that’s not an understatement. With climates ranging from tropical rainforests to snowy mountain ranges to salt flats, what to pack for South America can be a little daunting. 

The first thing to figure out when packing is where in South America you will be going. If you are sticking to the Caribbean coast of the continent or the Amazon Rainforest you’ll need to pack lightweight clothes and rain jackets.

If you are hiking the trails of the Andes or Patagonia you will need wool jackets and good hiking boots. Layers are key throughout the continent. The weather can change on a dime, so you’ll want to include a few different options for those outings. 

It’s best to base your packing list on where you will be going. Check your itinerary for the climates and regions you will be in to help determine what to stuff into your suitcase. A few essential things to bring with you no matter where you are: bug spray, rain jackets, warm socks, and a travel adapter. 

It’s also important to remember that luxury travel in South America isn’t about ball gowns, diamonds, and pearls. While you may be treated to a nice dinner here and there - and be accommodated in nice hotels and houses - don’t worry about packing as though you’re staying at the Ritz. Luxury South America tours are more about the opportunity to have a private guide, comfortable transportation and accommodation.