South America
Sing like no one’s listening. Samba like no one’s watching.
When you’re surrounded by tropical green rainforests, deep blue seas, and red-hot dance floors, it’s easy to lose your inhibitions— and gain a brighter perspective. With affordable tours in South America, Cosmos makes chasing rainbows reality. Literally. Multi-colored macaws, vibrant Peruvian tapestries, and 180-degree rainbows at thundering Iguassu Falls are just waiting to wow your retinas. Your other senses won’t be disappointed as you step away from the ordinary—and into the deep mystery of Machu Picchu, the colonial cafés of Buenos Aires, the remote fjords of Patagonia, and the pulsating samba clubs of Rio. From Peru to Brazil down to Chile and Argentina, Cosmos makes your South America travel dreams come true—and in vivid color. Follow the mega rainbows to pots of simmering, spicy stews; planks of fresh, grilled seafood; and pitchers of tart-yet-sweet caipirinhas. Foodies will relish the world-class culinary scenes of Lima and Cusco while travelers of all tastes relish the flavors and fascinating experiences like no other. A magical menu of exotic jungles, sunny cities, puzzling peaks, and breezy beaches awaits.
You Gotta See This! |
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Hear…
the rush of thunder on an excursion to Iguassu Falls. Explore the Brazilian side (and the Argentinian side) of 275 waterfalls rushing over a precipice almost two miles wide and 250 feet deep. Walk into Devil’s Throat Canyon amid the mammoth roar and misty rainbows. BRAZIL -
See…
…the wonder of the Galápagos Islands unfold before your eyes with a panga ride on Santa Cruz Island and a snorkeling excursion off Floreana Island. A kaleidoscope of color awaits you on the islands and in the waters teeming with life found nowhere else on earth. GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS -
Taste…
…the pleasure of poured Chilean wine with a farewell dinner in Santiago to celebrate your South America adventure. Toast to answering the call when adventure came calling from south of the border! -
Smell…
…the irresistible aromas of Argentine barbecue and Malbec wines with a visit to a local estancia (ranch) outside Buenos Aires. Work up an appetite where gauchos (cowboys) ride through a hard day’s work and dancers move with easy steps to traditional Argentine music. -
Hear…
…the passion of Argentine Tango music in Buenos Aires and see why the “dance of love” was once called “the forbidden dance” for its passionate, sensual style that brings out the Latin lover in all who hear and see its signature moves. -
See…
…eye to eye with Andean condors soaring on the updrafts high above Peru’s Colca Canyon. Spread your wings for an extraordinary experience on the edge of a canyon that plunges two times deeper than the Grand Canyon. -
Taste…
…Get a taste of ancient and modern artistic tradition with a visit to a ceramics workshop in Peru’s Sacred Valley before tasting a glass of chicha—a typical Inca drink served in an authentic Peruvian chicheria. -
Smell…
…adventure around every corner and the fragrant air of the Amazon jungle on a canoe excursion with a Naturalist guide. Breathe in the exotic fragrance of rainforest plants and flowers in the night air with an after-dark canoe ride with your Naturalist guide. -
Touch…
…the fabric of Peruvian life with a hands-on experience in textile-weaving techniques and a visit to the ancient village of Pisaq and its renowned Indian market. Browse alpaca sweaters and blankets, and hold silver and ceramic treasures in your hand
Destination Extraordinary









Islands in the Dream
Float Trip
No, you’re not dreaming as your boat approaches the floating islands of the Uros Indians on Lake Titicaca. Learn about the centuries-old practice employed by generations of indigenous Peruvians who still construct their islands, homes, and boats solely with tortora reed. It’s a trip!
Life’s a Beach in Brazil
Blame it on Rio
You’ll swear you’re hearing the samba start to play on Rio de Janeiro’s legendary Ipanema and Copacabana beaches. Ascend 2,300 feet up to the summit of Corcovado to see the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue and a 360-degree view of Guanabara Bay and bustling Rio below.
Mixing Watercolors Where Rivers Meet
Come Together
Cruise down the Rio Negro to the Meeting of the Waters in Manaus. Marvel at the confluence of the dark-colored Rio Negro and the light chocolate-colored Rio Solimões, where the two rivers flow side by side for miles before coming together to form the mighty Amazon.
Sophisticated Stories
Modern Love
Fly over the majestic Andes to Chile’s scenic capital city of skyscrapers and ancient sites. Poised between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains, Santiago is a striking mix of Latin flair and European style—creating a sophisticated and modern skyline.
All Creatures Great and Small
Island Hopping
Find your inner naturalist in Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands. Find flightless cormorants, Galápagos penguins, and fur seals. Snorkel in an underwater world of marine iguanas and Pacific green sea turtles, and see Sally Lightfoot crabs, blue-footed boobies, and pink flamingos add extra color!
Rock Your World in Arequipa
White-Hot Lava
Explore the Chili River Valley where the buildings of the “White City” of Arequipa are adorned with the white volcanic rock provided in dramatic fashion by the age-old eruptions of Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu. Mind blown!
Stone-Faced Secret Keepers
Busted on Easter Island
Marvel at the mammoth Moai carvings on Chile’s extraordinary Easter Island. Scratch your own head trying to figure out how these massive sculptures wound up here, and why the nearby quarry seems to have been abandoned in mid shift! One thing’s for sure, the Moai aren’t talking.
Building a Mystery in Cusco
The Road to Ruins
Ponder the mysteries of the Inca in Cusco where the 15th-century civilization built the Temple of Sacsayhuaman using stones weighing up to 350 tons—without mortar or modern tools. Just one of the many mysteries to be solved just south of the border!
Lost and Found in Machu Picchu
Hidden Treasure
How stunned were explorers to find a “Lost City” in the clouds high above a tropical forest in Peru? Explore for yourself with a visit to the stunning 15th-century ruins of Machu Picchu –undisturbed and undiscovered for 400 years



You're Getting Warmer.
Something Extraordinary is Closer than you Think.
The exotic and extraordinary sights and sensations of South America are closer than you think! In fact, more Cosmos travelers are warming up to wonderful destinations of South America—as close in air travel (with less jet lag) as European flights. Plus, South America turns on the warmth in winter with mild summer temperatures. Warmer still are the people of Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Ecuador, who share their cultures, kitchens, and craftsmanship with a smile. Other interesting locals you need to meet are the less talkative kind—like giant Galápagos Tortoises, champion swimming iguanas, birds with blue feet, and thousands of other creatures great and small who call the Galápagos Islands and the Amazon Rainforest home.