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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- 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… - Cartagena Costs: Is It Expensive To Visit This Beautiful City?
Is Cartagena expensive to visit? While the exchange rate in Colombia can work in your favor, we had previously decided to go “all out” on our lodging when we visited… - 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. Here you can eat savory seafood… - The Ultimate Three Days In Cartagena Family Itinerary
Have you ever wanted to explore South America but didn’t know where to start? The place we continue to dream about is Cartagena with its mix of old and new,… - Ultimate Quito Ecuador Travel Guide for A Memorable Family Vacation
Nestled among the tall Andes Mountains, Quito is a special city in Ecuador that’s full of history, culture, and fun things to do. With its old-style streets, colonial buildings, and… - 24 Hours In Quito: The Ultimate 1-day Itinerary
Quito is an intriguing big city tucked away in the mountains of Ecuador. It’s a bit like finding a treasure chest filled with adventure and history. Families should put it… - 7 Of The Best Restaurants In El Poblado, Medellin
We like to dine out, and we have found that Colombia has amplified our desire and ability to do this. There are so many incredible restaurants, especially in Medellin and… - 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 hot… - Rosario Islands Hotels: The Best Places To Stay With Kids
The Rosario Islands are a beautiful archipelago off the coast of Cartagena. The islands are very popular to explore as a day trip from Cartagena, and I highly recommend a… - 9 Important Things To Know Before Visiting Ecuador
When you think about Ecuador, most people instantly think of the Galapagos. However, for a small country, Ecuador packs a big punch. It has the protected and majestic Galapagos, of… - 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… - 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… - A Must Visit To The Pristine Lagoon Of Quilotoa
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… - Cartagena Travel Guide Book: Recommendations 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. It feels like stepping into a living history… - North Seymour Island Tour – Day Trip In The Galápagos Islands
One of the last experiences we took while staying in the Galápagos Islands was a North Seymour Island tour. This bird-filled island is located just north of Isla Baltra which… - 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… - Uncover The Surprising Cost Of Visiting Quito, EcuadorWe were excited to get to Quito after visiting the Galapagos. Mainly to slow down the rate we were burning through cash. We knew that our lodging was going to…
- “The Best” Day Of Adventures: Cotopaxi National Park Tour
“In conclusion, Cotopaxi is the best!” This is the final sentence of a recent writing assignment that Isaac submitted. (The full version is at the bottom of this post.) I’m… - 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… - Trip To The Middle Of The World – Which One Is Best?
Tourist traps. We typically run the other direction. Every now and then you have to bite though, right? I mean we are in Ecuador. Ecuador = Equator, so why not… - The Top Spots To See In Historic Downtown Quito
Quito! Before we start talking about historic downtown Quito, a lot of you lovely readers have been wondering what it’s like here. Quito is a very long, skinny city with… - Bartolome: An Unforgettable Day Trip In The Galapagos
We have to be on a bus at 5:50am? I haven’t had to get up and be ready for the day in, well I guess since we flew down here…. - Discover The Magic Of The Famous Galapagos Tortoises
Why do most people come to the Galapagos? To see the giant Galapagos tortoises of course! And that is what we promptly did upon arrival. The Galapagos tortoises live on… - How To Guide To Arriving To The Galapagos
We are packed into the Jeep as we speed aggressively through busy Chicago traffic. Not enough seat belts for all of us. The luggage stacked high in the back. All…