Top South America Budget Wildlife Viewing Trips & Packages 2025/2026

What travelers are saying

"It's taken a while to get around to writing this review. Last march 2024 I had the most amazing Antarctic expedition with Chimu. Everything was so professional, from the staff to the ship, food and equipment. Thank you Chimu for a trip of a lifetime."

What travelers are saying

"Because our dates in country did not align with any group tour offered by Tropical Birding, they arranged a custom tour for us in the Tandayapa Valley region of Northwest Ecuador. The staff at TB were incredibly helpful and worked with us to design and schedule the tour that we wanted. Several times during the planning process we asked for changes or accommodations, and they were able to make these happen. Our experience was amazing, in very large part due to our guide, Andres de la Torres. His knowledge of birds (by sight and by song or call), as well as of the flora and other natural history of the region was extensive. We have engaged a number of guides on our birding travels and Andres was clearly among the best - we recommend him without any reservations at all! He is fully bilingual, was extremely attentive to our interests and desires, and was a pleasure to be with for our 8-day tour. The only downside to an overall great tour experience was the lodging. TB owns the Tandayapa Birding Lodge, which features helpful and friendly staff, and good food. TBL is set in the forest, but unlike several other lodges we visited in the area there is no clear space or view of the valley. There are feeders set out at TBL, but the hummingbird feeders and solid food feeders are on opposite sides of the building, so we had to choose to watch one or the other. Additionally, our visit was during the rainy season, and there are regular mudslides that block the road above and below TBL. On two separate occasions we had to alter our day’s itinerary because the road was blocked. Fortunately, Andres was able to come up with alternative plans on those days and our biding adventures continued. Overall a great tour – thank you Andres and Tropical Birding!"

What travelers are saying

"L’organizzazione del viaggio è stata perfetta. Abbiamo fatto un tour del Brasile di 15 giorni visitando Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu e Manaus comma foresta amazzonica. I tempi sono stati tutti rispettati, le strutture alberghiere tutte dignitose. Agenzia molto affidabile."

What travelers are saying

"Our 8th OU tour was to Switzerland. We visited many sites in Switzerland, Austria and also a quick stop in Germany. O.U. takes all the stress away by using outstanding Tour Directors who handle everything. Our T. D. Kiara was fantastic! She worked flawlessly throughout the tour, even when we were stuck in Zermatt after a flood. I highly recommend O.U."

What travelers are saying

"SWITZERLAND-ON-FOOT Tour Start Date: 06 SEP 24 The tour was a hike and rail tour through much of Switzerland. There were about 15 people in our group and we had a veteran guide from Costa Rica. The weather wasn’t always favorable, but the guide and group were flexible enough to try and work around it, and when that failed, laughed and enjoy what we were dealt. Overall, it was a pleasant two weeks. The very disappointing part was the Adventures Abroad office’s lack of organizational support. I had booked a hotel room with Adventures Abroad for two extra nights before the tour and had paid my invoice in full almost four months before the tour began. I was shocked to receive an additional invoice for the two extra nights less than 2 weeks before the trip began because “the hotel costs for Zurich have increased quite a bit.” Even though I paid my full invoice in May, the hotel wasn’t booked until weeks before my scheduled arrival When I questioned this, the office responded, “The hotel room was an oversight that should have been caught but was not.” They were admitting that it was their mistake but were not accepting the extra cost. Of course, at this late date, I had no other choice but to pay the additional $184. Adding to this incompetence, I had been told that the Swiss Rail Pass that was part of the tour, would be sent to me 30 days in advance. I was considering a possible pre-trip excursion and taking full advantage of the rail pass. When it was about 20 days before the trip, I asked about the rail pass and received this curious response, “In the past we have had them ready 30 days prior, but due to travellers requesting early passes or extended passes, we have changed this to 2 weeks prior.” I was never informed of any change. In the end, the Swiss Rail Pass didn’t show up in my email until about ten days before the tour began and only five days before I departed from the States. Any additional benefit for the rail pass was lost. As bad as that was, there were some in the group who arrived in Switzerland and didn’t receive the rail pass until after they got to Zurich. One reason to take an organized tour is for the organization and confidence of having a professional watching out for all of the various parts of the journey. Adventure Abroad failed miserably. Adventures Abroad has a large portfolio of trips, but sadly, they seem to be unable to competently manage all of them. I’ve learned my lesson and will avoid any Adventures Abroad trip again."

What travelers are saying

"I recently took a trip to Kenya and I cannot imagine any other tour operator doing a better job. Let's start at the beginning. My flight from the US landed first in London and then a second flight was to have gone to Kenya. The airline nightmare began with AA being two hours late causing me to miss my next flight on British Air. BA had given my flight away before I got off the plan and had no acceptable replacement. I spent three days and nights at Heathrow airport forcing me to miss those days of my tour. I stood in lines hours long at the airport and my second replacement flight never left the ground after being held hostage in the plane for hours. I was ready to go home. My phone would not work much of the time in the airport, but I was finally able to contact Best Singles Travel. They figured out a way to arrange for a driver to meet me at the Nairobi airport three days after my trip began and take me to Samburu, a five hour drive where the group was then located. If it had not been for this effort in figuring out a way for me to meet my group then this trip would have been lost for me. And what a shame that would have been because once I finally arrived it was magical. I saw every animal as well as much of the countryside driving all over even with missing three days. The lodges were picturesque with monkeys playing on expansive grounds, wild birds and animals, beautiful colored geckos, mountains and streams in the background where the sun met a landscape expanding as far as the eye could see producing sunsets like those seen in National Geographics. Oh, did I mention the food? No US chemicals. Just organically grown and delicious. If anyone reading this decides to travel to Kenya then I hope you stop to see David Sheldrick's rescued baby elephants. I am grateful that Best Singles Travel and Patrick, our knowledgeable considerate tour guide, took the time, effort and resources to make the remainder of this trip happen for me because now I cannot imagine having missed it. This trip was organized, included lovely memorable hotels/lodges and attentive to our needs."

What travelers are saying

"I recently took a trip to Kenya and I cannot imagine any other tour operator doing a better job. Let's start at the beginning. My flight from the US landed first in London and then a second flight was to have gone to Kenya. The airline nightmare began with AA being two hours late causing me to miss my next flight on British Air. BA had given my flight away before I got off the plan and had no acceptable replacement. I spent three days and nights at Heathrow airport forcing me to miss those days of my tour. I stood in lines hours long at the airport and my second replacement flight never left the ground after being held hostage in the plane for hours. I was ready to go home. My phone would not work much of the time in the airport, but I was finally able to contact Best Singles Travel. They figured out a way to arrange for a driver to meet me at the Nairobi airport three days after my trip began and take me to Samburu, a five hour drive where the group was then located. If it had not been for this effort in figuring out a way for me to meet my group then this trip would have been lost for me. And what a shame that would have been because once I finally arrived it was magical. I saw every animal as well as much of the countryside driving all over even with missing three days. The lodges were picturesque with monkeys playing on expansive grounds, wild birds and animals, beautiful colored geckos, mountains and streams in the background where the sun met a landscape expanding as far as the eye could see producing sunsets like those seen in National Geographics. Oh, did I mention the food? No US chemicals. Just organically grown and delicious. If anyone reading this decides to travel to Kenya then I hope you stop to see David Sheldrick's rescued baby elephants. I am grateful that Best Singles Travel and Patrick, our knowledgeable considerate tour guide, took the time, effort and resources to make the remainder of this trip happen for me because now I cannot imagine having missed it. This trip was organized, included lovely memorable hotels/lodges and attentive to our needs."

What travelers are saying

"My wife and I just returned from a wet season trip with International Expeditions (IE) to Lima and the Amazon. It was tremendous: 1. The diversity of wildlife is extreme and up close and personal. 2. The vastness of it all approaches infinity. 3. The staff and guides were top drawer professionals. The IE mother ship (Zafiro) is in great condition and very comfortable, clean and welcoming. The staff is friendly, helpful, supportive, knowledgeable. The naturalists/guides are the best. Experts in the wildlife and flora and good-natured and personable. Yes, it is hot and humid, but very bearable. Yes, there are mosquitoes at night, but again very manageable. (We've all experienced much much worse in the US.) In the wet season (50 feet higher water than in dry season) you don't get to walk as much as you do in dry season because terra firma is so much further into the rain forest than you can reach in a boat. But we did get to visit villages and walk in the rain forest. We swam. We went out every morning and afternoon in the skiffs to explore smaller rivers and lakes. Sloths, monkeys, iguana, boa, anaconda, caiman, tarantula, piranha, frogs, toads, and more bird types than you can count. Wow - What a Show!"