Below are our South American travel guides, travel itineraries and other related blog posts to South America travel destinations.
South America Local Travel Guides
The South America local travel guides below offer insider knowledge on some of the best destinations in South America.
Each travel guide is based on an interview with a local expert, ensuring you get authentic recommendations, hidden gems, kid-friendly activities and tips you won’t find in typical travel guides.
Whether you’re looking for unique experiences, the best times to visit, or lesser-known spots, these travel guides will help you explore like a local!
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All South America Posts
- Journey To The Beautiful Rosario Islands, Colombia: An Honest Review
One of the best activities near Cartagena is booking a relaxing day trip to the Rosario Islands, Colombia. If you have the time, staying overnight is even better. Cartagena is… - Bartolome Island Tour: An Amazing Day Trip In The Galápagos
Are you looking at Galapagos Island day tours and wondering which one would be best? Or are you trying to decide if a Bartolome Island tour is worth it? Well,… - Where To See The Amazing Giant Tortoises On Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos
What is one animal in the Galápagos no one wants to miss? The giant Galápagos tortoises of course! And our first outing when we arrived was to see these amazing… - Galapagos Entry Requirements: What You Need To Know Before Visiting
Since the Galapagos Islands are an isolated archipelago off the coast of the mainland of Ecuador and 97% of those islands are protected land, there are some rules you need… - Cartagena Costs: Is It Expensive To Visit This Beautiful City?
Is Cartagena expensive to visit? Below are our total Cartagena costs for a month long trip with a summary of our takeaways for each section. We hope this gives you… - Is Ecuador Expensive? Uncover The Surprising Cost Of Visiting Quito
We were excited to be in Quito after visiting the Galapagos. Mainly to slow down the rate we were burning through cash. We knew that our lodging was going to… - Ultimate Cartagena Travel Guide: Tips From A Local Expert
Nestled along the sunny shores of the Caribbean Sea in Colombia, Cartagena is a city brimming with old-world charm and vibrant streets. We interviewed a local travel expert to find… - The Best Day Of Adventures: A Cotopaxi Tour From Quito
“In conclusion, Cotopaxi is the best!” This is the final sentence of a recent writing assignment that our son,Isaac, submitted. (The full version is at the bottom of this post.)… - The Best Things To Do On Santa Cruz Galapagos
Santa Cruz Island is one of the most developed of the Galápagos Islands and this is where we decided to base ourselves for our one month adventure. After spending much… - North Seymour Island Tour – Where To See Amazing Birds In The Galápagos
One of the last experiences we took while staying in the Galápagos Islands was a North Seymour Island tour. I’m going to take you on a journey of what to… - The Top Spots To See In Historic Downtown Quito
Downtown Quito! Before we start talking about the best things to do in historic downtown Quito, a lot of you lovely readers have been wondering what it’s like here. Quito… - How To Visit The Middle Of The World In Ecuador
Tourist traps. We typically run the other direction. Every now and then you have to bite though, right? I mean we were in Ecuador. Ecuador = Equator, so why not… - The Ultimate Three Days In Cartagena Family Itinerary
Have you ever wanted to explore South America but didn’t know where to start? Spending three days in Cartagena is the perfect introduction to this incredible continent! This vibrant Colombian… - How To Spend An Epic 5 Days In Cartagena With Kids
A destination our whole family continues to dream about is Cartagena with its mix of old and new, city and beach, and bursting culture. I’ve put together the ultimate way… - 24 Hours In Quito: The Ultimate 1-day Itinerary
Planning a quick stopover or short trip to Ecuador’s capital? Only have 24 hours in Quito and feeling overwhelmed by all the possibilities? Don’t worry! This high-altitude gem nestled in… - Ultimate Quito Ecuador Travel Guide for A Memorable Family Vacation
Quito is a vibrant city in Ecuador, full of history, culture, and exciting things to do. This guide has everything you need to plan an unforgettable trip. What makes this… - 8 Travel Tips For Ecuador: Important Things To Know Before Visiting
Planning a trip to Ecuador? These travel tips for Ecuador will help you feel prepared before you go. We’ll cover everything from tipping etiquette and currency to water safety, common scams, and… - Where To Eat In Medellin: Best Restaurants For Families That Love Food
We like to dine out, and we have found that Colombia has amplified our desire and ability to do this. There are SOOO many incredible restaurants, especially in Medellin and… - Rosario Islands Hotels: The Best Places To Stay With Kids
The Rosario Islands are a beautiful archipelago off the coast of Cartagena. If you are visiting Cartagena, I would highly recommend staying a few nights on the islands. I have… - Amazing Things To Do On Isabela Island Galapagos
Isabela Island is the largest of the Galápagos Islands, yet it remains one of the least developed and most untouched. As a tourist, you can only explore a small portion… - How To Get From Quito To Colombia Through Rumichaca
Our bus is canceled? What? Why? This is how our trip started when we were getting ready to leave Quito, Ecuador. Continue reading to hear more of our crazy story… - The Best Sunset Cruise In Cartagena With Kids
I’m a sucker for the unique and weird even if it is slightly cheesy. So, when we got to Cartagena and saw a gigantic pirate ship with a sign advertising… - Comuna 13 With Kids: A Vibrant Community Tour
One of the best activities we did while visiting Medellin, besides eating out of course, was a tour of Comuna 13 with kids. Back in the 1980s and 1990s, Comuna… - Learn From Our Mistakes: How To Have A Successful Road Trip In Another Country
After 5 short hours of sleep and delaying the rental car reservation until the next day, Mike arrived to pick up the rental car to begin our 7 and a… - The Best Views – Advice For Taking The Teleférico In Quito
One of the last activities we did in Quito, Ecuador was to take the Teleférico (or TelefériQo) cable car up the Pichincha Volcano to the Cruz Loma lookout point. Breathtaking… - Quilotoa Crater Day Trip Review: Is A Tour Worth It?
Upon arriving in Quito, we were eager to escape the city and embark on an adventure in the nearby mountains. Of course Cotopoxi was a top contender for a day… - The Best Walking Tour Of Cartagena, Colombia With Kids
We’ve been anxious to visit Cartagena. On this trip we really began craving its beaches and historic walled city about a month ago. If you go back further though, we’ve… - Medellin Trip Cost Breakdown With Tips And Takeaways
If you read our previous blog posts, you know that getting into Colombia and up to Medellin did not go as planned. Read more about our crazy adventure here. We… - A Kid Friendly Day Trip To Guatape And Piedra Del Peñol
One of the most popular and highly rated day-trips from Medellin is visiting Piedra del Peñol (Penol Rock) and the town of Guatape. We took this tour with our kids when… - Costs In The Galapagos: How To Budget Your Trip
I’m a pretty transparent person, and I’ve learned so much from others who have let their guard down and shared openly. So, while money is often a taboo topic, let’s…