Traveling in South America with kids
South America is a magical lab able to conjure up any child's dream
Traveling in South America with kids will make lifelong memories. Animal lovers will adore a startling menagerie: penguins, pumas and pygmy deer; whales and condors; soft-furred alpaca and giant flightless rhea; jaguars and marine iguanas. Fit kids will jump at wilderness hikes, kayaking fjords, rafting wild rivers, or surfing on golden beaches. Horse-mad types have trail rides with the cowboys of Chile and Argentina or splashing canters through Brazil's Pantanal. Let them discover wondrous cultures older than Egypt, from the Andes to the Amazon, and learn about the earth and sky amid smoking volcanoes beneath remote starry skies lit by the Milky Way.
Our South America family Vacations
Peru Amazon Rainforest family adventure
Amazon family adventure vacation, for children aged 4-10
From
US $844
4 days
ex flights
Bolivia tour, tailor made
Tour the magnificent landscapes of Bolivia.
From
US $3895 to US $4850
26 days
ex flights
Ecuador and Galapagos family activity vacation
View world famous wildlife in award winning National Parks
From
£5595
15 days
ex flights
Brazil family vacation
Rio de Janeiro, Copacabana beach, TAMAR sea turtle project
From
US $4980
14 days
ex flights
Exciting family vacation in Peru
A fabulous family vacation including the best of Peru
From
US $2900 to US $3700
15 days
ex flights
Galapagos family adventure vacation
Family activity vacation on the beautiful Galapagos Islands
From
£3015
7 days
ex flights
Chile activity tour
Active adventure vacation in Chile's Lake District
From
US $1310
4 days
ex flights
Argentina Family vacation
Buenos Aires, Iguazú Falls, the Lake District & the Pampas
From
£3990
12 days
ex flights
Galapagos family vacation, hotel based
Fantastic Galapagos Islands Family Adventure Vacation
From
US $1669
6 days
ex flights
Family adventure vacation in Peru, Inca & Amazon
Pretty Sherpa villages and spectacular mountains
From
US $3025 to US $3255
13 days
ex flights
Family vacation in Peru
Amazon rainforest and Peruvian culture family adventure
From
US $2905 to US $3195
10 days
ex flights
Horse riding & trekking in Argentina
The Andes on horseback
From
US $2495 to US $3492
10 days
ex flights
Family volunteering in Peru
Experience sensational Peru with family volunteering
From
US $649
7 days
ex flights
Patagonia family vacation, glacial lakes and mountains
Discover true wilderness on this adventurous family vacation
From
£5374
16 days
ex flights
Galapagos & Ecuador vacation for families
Active family vacation in Ecuador and Galapagos
From
US $3800
15 days
ex flights
Galapagos family vacation
Follow in the footsteps of Darwin on this family vacation
From
US $2350 to US $3180
8 days
ex flights
Family teenager vacation in Peru
An active itinerary in Peru’s varied terrain
From
US $3026 to US $3345
14 days
ex flights
Peru Amazon family adventure with teenagers
Energetic Amazon adventure vacation for teenagers and parents
From
US $844
4 days
ex flights
Peru family adventure vacation
Peru Family Adventure activity vacation
From
US $2608
8 days
ex flights
Family vacation to Peru, Machu Picchu & the Amazon
Experience Peru's top sights as a family
From
£3395
19 days
ex flights
Flexible Galapagos Islands tailor made tour
Your choice of four to eight-day land-based adventure
From
US $2125 to US $4385
5 days
ex flights
Things to do in South America
Strange beasts
South America is home to a plethora of quirky but enchanting animals. Marvel at giant flightless rheas, adorable pygmy deer and cute soft-furred llama-like guanacos. Smile at waddling penguins and blubbery elephant seals. And be very glad your hamster isn't as big as a capybara!
Get active!
Burn youthful energy on land and water. Kayak around fjords and glaciers, thrill with whitewater rafting or canoe through flooded Amazon jungle. Scale Andean peaks on ancient trails or cross vast plains. Horse-ride through a wetland nirvana. Or wander amid jetting geysers and smoking volcanoes.
Chile and Argentina have fascinating - but distinctive - cowboy cultures, without any Wild West bad guys! riding with Argentinian gauchos across the grass sea of the Pampas is fantastic even without the stupendous barbecues!
Our top South America family Vacation
Peru Amazon Rainforest family adventure
Amazon family adventure vacation, for children aged 4-10
From
US $844
4 days
ex flights
Tailor made
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about South America or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
Tips for families
Alan Lyall from our supplier Andean Trails reels off some Patagonian pleasures for traveling in South America with kids:
“Walking trails in the Torres del Paine National park. Seeing if you can spot a fox, pudu (miniature deer) or ñandu (rhea). Zip lining in cold rain forest, floating on emerald coloured rivers, exploring volcanic caves, picking shellfish and crabs on rocky beaches. Spotting shooting stars in immaculate clear desert skies, horse riding and so much more. Active kids = happy kids.”
Tim Winkworth from our supplier The Family Adventure Company highlights Andean culture in his tips for traveling in South America with kids:
“The Inca culture is not as prevalent in Ecuador as it is in Peru as it doesn't have the ruins - but there are traditional communities, and where you really get that feel is in the markets and in the highlands. You have farmers working in a traditional way, and it's great to show children what's outside of the technological world they live in. The colourfully dressed children are happy to see people, you can kick a football around with them; it's a wonderful opportunity. It's great to take the kids to the markets too. They can have a look at the different trinkets and see all the people.”
Anna Scrivens from our supplier Audley Travel explains why Brazil is a good choice for traveling in South America with kids:
“I think Brazil works well for families – as long as they’re aware of all the traveling involved. Children would love the wildlife in the Pantanal or the jungle in the Amazon or the waterfalls, it’s all very visual. In Rio there are some really good family tours. You can do cycling trips around the beaches, walking, kayaking... It’s a very active country, so even if you just go to the beach, there are kayaks you can hire or boat trips you can take.”
More about South America
The best time to visit much of South America is any time outside of the Jan-March rains. Remember that in the southern hemisphere, seasons are reversed...
We take you trekking, bushwhacking, rafting and salsa-ing your way across this thrilling continent, from Amazon depths to Andean peaks...
Our map helps you choose which places to visit in South America, whether you're enjoying an epic overland tour or a relaxing two-week vacation...
Trek in the Andes, spot Andean wildlife, discover Aymara, Quechua, Afro and Latino culture, or cross remote borders on a thrilling overland tour...
Get tips on the best way to explore Patagonia, the Amazon vs the Pantanal, what to do in the Lake District and where to find the best street food...
Is there really such a thing as an ethical wildlife selfie? The spread of social media has encouraged a worrying trend in pictures of tourists holding, hugging and feeding wild animals, and NGO World Animal Protection has campaigned to stop this.
Across the continent there are issues with the displacement, deforestation and deep set poverty. Our guide helps you make wise - and kind - choices...
Find all of our South America guides in one place, for particular places in South America such as Bolivia, the Galapagos or Peru.
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Photo credits: [Page banner: McKay Savage] [Topbox: Kenneth Banks]
[Strange beasts - Guanacos: strudelt]
[Get active: Marcelo Jorge Vieira]
[Cowboy thrills: Vince Alongi]
[Alan Lyall quote - zip lining: Steven Depolo]
[Tim Winkworth quote - Ecuadorian market: Rinaldo Wurglitsch]
[Anna Scrivens quote - cycling Brazil: mi chiel]
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