Our 7 Best South America Itineraries for Families
Iguazú Falls bordering Argentina and Brazil in South America
Our seven South America itineraries for families offer inspiration for finding the best activities, experiences, and destinations that fit with how you and your kids travel.
Whether an adventure across glaciers or an excursion into the world’s most extensive wetlands, a trek to see ancient ruins or a visit to a magical village, South America is diverse and exciting. Explore unique wildlife, sit beneath a blanket of stars, or find an exceptional view of a magnificent waterfall.
No matter your family’s travel style, our sample itineraries can give you an excellent foundation for planning your perfect South American trip, with the help of a local travel specialist who tailors the itinerary to you.
1. Family Adventure: Highlights of Argentina
El Calafate, Argentina. Photo courtesy of Visit Argentina
Length: 10 days
Places Visited: Buenos Aires, El Calafate, Iguazú Falls
Why we recommend this sample itinerary:
Argentina is full of wonder and thrilling experiences that embody the spirit of the wild and culture. Family Adventure: Highlights of Argentina immerses you in the scenery’s grandeur, from the thunderous sounds of Iguazu Falls to the expansive grasslands of Patagonia, capturing the ideals of South America family vacations.
Ride on horseback through an ancient forest, visit a hands-on interactive museum, and learn more about the legends of gauchos at a traditional estancia. From the wildlife of rainforests to the Patagonian ice field, your family will have the ultimate shared experience.
2. 10-Day Brazil: Wildlife and Nature Explorer
Pantanal, Brazil
Length: 10 days
Places Visited: Amazon, Alta Floresta, Porto Jofre, Miranda
Why we recommend this sample itinerary:
Discovering the natural world is an exceptional way to teach the family about wildlife, ecosystems, and the importance of a relationship with nature.
10-Day Brazil: Wildlife and Nature Explorer uncovers the elusive lives of jaguars and macaws as you visit unforgettable rainforest lodges and the most extensive wetlands in the world at the Pantanal, representing one of the best family vacations in South America
Enjoy a safari cruise through untouched habitat, embrace nature's comforting sounds and aromas, and search for spider monkeys and toucans, capybaras and anacondas, howler monkeys and gold macaws during your photogenic wilderness excursions.
3. Family Adventure Vacation to Chile
Atacama Desert, Chile
Length: 10 days
Places Visited: Santiago, Punta Arenas, Torres del Paine, Puerto Natales, San Pedro de Atacama
Why we recommend this sample itinerary:
Family Adventure Vacation to Chile is designed to inspire the entire family with an experience that combines unforgettable landscapes and cultural heritage. Chile is a land of natural marvels, expressed in snowcapped mountains and glinting glaciers, remnants of colonial culture, and night skies studded with stars.
South America with kids can be exciting and your family will enjoy the best of Chile’s natural world and historic towns as you visit with Chilean gauchos, view flamingos fishing in a reflective lake, wander the expanse of the whitewashed Atacama salt flats, and indulge in the fascinating panoramas of Torres del Paine National Park.
4. Experience the Real Encanto in Colombia
Hacienda Bambusa in Quindío Colombia. Photo courtesy of Hacienda Bambusa
Length: 8 days
Places Visited: Medellin, Santa Elena, Armenia, Salento
Why we recommend this sample itinerary:
Colombia is a land of magic and mystery that can enchant visitors of all ages during the Experience the Real Encanto in Colombia itinerary. Inspired by the Disney film and shaped by the authenticity of local culture and heritage that helped tell the story of the Madrigal family, Colombia is a stunning destination, accentuated by luxurious accommodations and captivating panoramic views.
Each day is a new adventure, with Colombia demonstrating the allure of South America trips for families, whether on horseback through jungle terrain, visiting a traditional floral farm and silletero, enjoying a private salsa lesson, or feasting on homemade chocolate. From artisan ceramics to unforgettable vistas, a tour of Colombia is charming.
5. A Perfect Family Vacation to Galapagos Islands
Bartoleme Island, Galapagos
Length: 10 days
Places Visited: Quito, Galapagos, Mindo
Why we recommend this sample itinerary:
Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands offer a one-of-a-kind experience for you and your children during A Perfect Family Vacation to Galapagos Islands. Adventure unveils conservation and cultural heritage framed by the distinctive wildlife for which the islands are known.
From the height of the Andean peaks to the whitewashed walls of Spanish colonial architecture, the volcanic rocks of a secluded archipelago to images of endangered tortoises, the family can find fascination in the heritage, culture, and untamed wilderness.
6. Ultimate Family Getaway to Eccentric Peru
Machu Pichu, Peru
Length: 8 days
Places Visited: Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu/Aguas Calientes, Puerto Maldonado
Why we recommend this sample itinerary:
Peru is a magnificent destination for family trips to South America, no matter the age of your children. It offers thrilling cultural connections, active living histories, and exciting wildlife during the Family Getaway to Eccentric Peru.
Take the trail winding to the Sun Gate at Machu Picchu, ride horses through the mystical Sacred Valley to view the engineering of Saqsayhuaman, or zipline between the trees of the Amazon rainforest.
7. Three-Week Family Tour of Patagonia and the Capitals of Chile and Argentina
Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Length: 19 days
Places Visited: Santiago, Casablanca, Puelo, Puerto Natales, Torres Del Paine, El Calafate
Why we recommend this sample itinerary:
Three-Week Family Tour of Patagonia and the Capitals of Chile and Argentina is an epic immersion into a landscape that defies borders, the cities reflecting the national cultures of Chile and Argentina.
Visit remote vineyards and enjoy excursions fit for the whole family. Find lively markets to sample local recipes, witness waterfalls and soaring glaciers that showcase circling condors, or take in the granite towers of Torres del Paine National Park.
From ATV tours to tango classes, it is easy to embrace the beauty of Chile and Argentina as a family.
Plan Your South America Itinerary for Families with a Travel Specialist
Family in Bariloche, Argentina
South America is full of adventure and relaxation. Endless discoveries and timeless beauty add to the allure of any destination. From viewing the Nazca Lines to learning the tango in the heart of Buenos Aires, you can design an experience that’s right for your family’s goals.
Find more helpful information with our tips for a South America family trip or explore a more extensive selection of experiences with our South America travel guide.
