Small group hosted journey with World Journeys

36 Days / 35 Nights

Departs 31 August 2027

From $45,945 per person twinshare (2027 pricing)

This 36-day small group hosted journey takes in Chile, the Amazon, the Galapagos Islands, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls and Buenos Aires in one continuous itinerary. It is operated by World Journeys, the New Zealand tour company we book these tours through: the group is capped at 18, a host travels with you from New Zealand and back, and departure is guaranteed. The next departure is 31 August 2027, from NZ$45,945 per person twin share based on 2027 pricing. You pay the same booking it through us as booking direct, with a Napier agent handling the whole trip around it.

Where the tour goes

The itinerary moves through six countries in a deliberate arc, so each leg builds on the last rather than doubling back.

• Chile. Fly into Santiago for a city day and a winery visit out toward Valparaiso.
• The Amazon, Ecuador. A short flight over the Andes lands you at Sacha Lodge, an eco-lodge deep in the rainforest. Nature walks, twilight river excursions and a treetop canopy walk above the jungle.
• Quito. The first city ever named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, explored before the islands.
• The Galapagos Islands. Five days cruising on board the Isabela II, a small expedition ship, visiting Santa Cruz, Bartolome, Santiago, Isabela and Fernandina. Wildlife viewing and snorkelling with strict visitor limits protecting the islands.
• Peru. Lima and the Larco Herrera Museum, then the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco with the Incan fortress of Sacsayhuaman.
• Bolivia. Across Lake Titicaca by boat to Sun Island, the birthplace of the Incas in local tradition, then La Paz and the Moon Valley.
• Brazil. Rio de Janeiro with Sugarloaf and Christ the Redeemer, then Iguazu Falls from both the Brazilian and Argentine sides.
• Argentina. Buenos Aires to finish, including a tango lesson, dinner and an award-winning tango show before flying home.

What is included

The price covers the tour end to end, which matters on a trip crossing this many borders. Included: economy airfares from Auckland, all flights within South America, a World Journeys host travelling with the group throughout, accommodation in 4 and 5 star hotels and lodges, the 5-day Galapagos cruise on the Isabela II, meals as shown in the full itinerary, all transfers, sightseeing and entrance fees, and gratuities for group activities.

Not included: travel insurance (mandatory for this tour), visas, personal spending and the Galapagos National Park fee of US$200, paid in cash on arrival. We help you arrange the insurance and visas as part of booking.

What it costs

From $45,945 per person twin share, or from $58,790 travelling solo, based on 2027 pricing. Treat both as indicative: supplier prices for a tour like this move with seasons, exchange rates and departure years. Get in touch and we will confirm current pricing, check availability on the August 2027 departure, and talk through what booking looks like from there.

Who this tour suits

This is a long trip at a considered pace, built for travellers who want the whole continent done properly in one go. You need to be able to walk at least 3 kilometres unaided, and some days involve up to 8 kilometres on foot across sites like Machu Picchu. Cusco, Lake Titicaca and La Paz all sit at high altitude, so raise it with us if that concerns you and we will talk it through honestly. The group size stays at 18 or fewer, departure is guaranteed once booked, and the World Journeys host handles the daily logistics.

Many of our clients time a trip like this around a milestone. Thirty-six days through South America is a big commitment of time and money, which is exactly when a planned, hosted format earns its place.

How booking through YOU Travel Napier works

You pay the same price booking through us as you would going to World Journeys directly. The difference is what comes with it. We handle the booking, the mandatory travel insurance, visa guidance and any flights or stopovers you want to add before or after the tour. If you would rather ease in with a few nights in Santiago first, or break the trip home, we build that around the journey.

We are a locally owned, family-run agency at 86 Tennyson Street, Napier. You deal with the same person from first enquiry to the day you fly home, and if anything changes mid-trip, you ring us, not a call centre. If this itinerary is not quite right, our custom itineraries service builds South America your way instead.

Frequently asked questions

Can I extend the trip before or after the tour?

Yes. The tour starts in Santiago and ends in Buenos Aires, and we regularly build extra nights or side trips around a hosted journey. Tell us what you have in mind when you enquire and we will price it alongside the tour itself.

Can we adapt the tour to suit us?

The set departure runs as published, and we build everything around it: extra nights, a different start city, stopovers on the way over or home. If the set tour itself is not the right fit, we build a custom South America trip instead. Either way, the conversation starts the same: come and tell us what you have in mind.

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes, insurance is mandatory for this tour, and a 36-day multi-country trip needs a policy matched to its length and value. We arrange cover as part of the booking.

How far ahead should I book?

The group is capped at 18 and the departure is guaranteed, so places are finite. For an August 2027 departure, booking through late 2026 gives you the best chance of your preferred cabin category on the Galapagos cruise and time to plan any extensions.

Grand Tour of South America in pictures

Presented by YOU Travel Napier, 86 Tennyson Street, Napier. A small group hosted journey operated by World Journeys. Last updated August 2026.