Our South America Travel Specialists

Visiting Colombia with Zicasso’s tour operator exceeded my expectations from start to finish. The itinerary was thoughtfully designed, balancing Colombia's vibrant cities, rich history, incredible food, and stunning landscapes. Every transfer, tour, and activity was well organized, which allowed me to relax and focus on enjoying the trip.
What stood out most was the local expertise and responsiveness. Their recommendations felt authentic and helped me experience places and activities I likely would have missed on my own. The guides they selected were nice, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about sharing their country.

Our trip to Colombia was our third travel experience arranged via Zicasso. As was the case with our previous two trips, this one was managed nearly flawlessly from start to finish with the kind of attentive customer care we have become accustomed to with Zicasso and their partners.
The agent from our travel company went above and beyond in assisting us with all our planning, providing insights and recommendations only someone who has experienced Colombia fully can provide. She was very patient in helping us make adjustments to arrive at the perfect itinerary and then remaining in constant contact to ensure every minor detail was handled perfectly throughout our journey.
Our drivers and tour guides made sure we were greeted and escorted through each destination, from Medellín to Bogotá to Cartagena and our final destination on Isla Barú. While many friends expressed concern over our safety in Colombia, I can say we did not feel unsafe for a moment. The Colombia of today is no longer one riddled with crime and drugs, but rich in culture and charm.
We greatly enjoyed the thriving art scene of Comuna 13 and the nightlife of Medellín. Our hotel made us feel like we were in the middle of the rainforest, while just steps away from the bustle and excitement of the Poblado district. Our visit to a wonderful coffee plantation provided a full education on every step of the coffee-making process, from the berries on the tree all the way to a delicious cup, delivering a new appreciation for black coffee. I may only drink Colombian from now on.
Bogotá proved to be a modern city with an incredible food scene. Our agent arranged an amazing gastronomical tour for us one evening that catered to our dietary needs. We attended an amazing wedding on top of an old portside fort in Cartagena and enjoyed the charm of the old walled city before relaxing on a pristine beach off the coast, then heading home to tell everyone to hurry down to see all Colombia has to offer.
I can only say, Zicasso is the only way to plan your travel, whether alone or with a small group. For those considering Colombia, our in-country travel company carries my strongest endorsement.

Fabulous is the word that comes to mind. From the very beginning of the planning process to the end of our trip we felt in good hands. Zicasso’s travel specialist, our direct contact, and her team, including the travel company’s principal, were one text away when we needed them for last-minute reservations at restaurants, tickets to events, or minor changes to our itinerary. In Buenos Aires, Mendoza, and Iguazú, the local drivers, guides, and hotel operators were true professionals in every sense of the word.

I loved our trip. The guides were fantastic. I have already told you how I felt about our guides, who were both great. We also loved our guide in Lima. His wealth of knowledge was impressive and really educated us on Lima, the Incas, and Peruvian history with a different perspective. We learned a lot from our guide in a short period of time. In addition, all the drivers we had were very good.
Overall, the trip was wonderful. The hotels, for the most part, were very good. My favorite restaurant was the restaurant in Lima. All the meals set up by Zicasso’s tour operator allowed us to experience Peruvian food, which we enjoyed very much. For the most part, I appreciated the quick contact and response time I was able to have with the guides, the tour operator, and our travel specialist.
If I was to give constructive feedback, there were two things I would have changed:
How long we had to wait around for our train in Aguas Calientes to go to Ollantaytambo. We had finished our hike and were back in Aguas Calientes by 12 to 12.30. I wasn't crazy about waiting around for four hours with nowhere to stay, especially with such a long travel day ahead of us to get back to Cusco. We did not arrive at the hotel in Cusco until 10pm. I think this scheduling could have been much tighter, allowing us to arrive much earlier and get a good night's sleep.
It would have been good to understand how far Miraflores was from the airport so we could have originally booked the hotel at the airport for our last night and not been charged for a second night at the hotel in Miraflores.
This constructive feedback is very small compared to our enjoyment for the rest of the trip. I would definitely use this tour operator again to explore other countries.
Thank you,

We wanted to visit Buenos Aires and Uruguay for a week in June of this year. This is my second time using Zicasso. I had an excellent experience with them for a trip to Switzerland two years ago and wanted to give them another try. I was not disappointed.
I was offered two proposals from local travel experts in South America, both of which were promising. I made the choice because our Zicasso travel specialist was personally familiar with the places I wanted to visit, so he got the nod. I identified the places I wanted to visit and the kind of experiences I wanted to have, and he turned that around with a specific itinerary in a few days, after asking some qualifying questions about hotel, location, and traveling preferences.
For the Uruguay portion of the trip, he partnered with our travel specialist, our concierge for Uruguay and guide for Colonia del Sacramento, and travel through Montevideo.
Our guide for the tour of Buenos Aires was so knowledgeable that describing her that way is quite an understatement, given her mastery of the neighborhoods and their historic, cultural, residential, and shopping aspects. But even better, she had a talent for describing what real life in Buenos Aires was like historically and now.
Our hotel in fashionable Palermo was more than comfortable, with staff inviting us to share their sandwiches and pulling up chairs for the Argentina-Austria match being watched in the lobby. Very hospitable people, which we found everywhere, actually. We did a tango night with dinner and a show that left us speechless at a cabaret in Buenos Aires. We’ve never seen such grace, athleticism, and talent so up close. Bravo!
We reached Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay by ferry and were met there by our travel specialist for a tour (with our driver) of the colonial old city, where she explained how to tell which street or which building was built by the Portuguese or the Spanish during the contentious colonial period by looking at the stone arrangement and roof treatment. We had lunch and a lovely drive along the coast to Montevideo. Along the way, our travel specialist and our driver carefully explained how to avoid getting caught inadvertently by the prevalent speed cameras and be in compliance with local driving practices. Our hotel in Montevideo was our world-class HQ for touring the city, the beaches, and the wine country, before renting a car and driving to Punta del Este and surrounding areas.
From our hotel in Punta del Este, we could cross the road and walk along the beach for long distances. The dining staff greeted us like old friends after the first meal. The car always appeared immediately when we wanted it. The place is also rumored to throw one of the best New Year's parties in South America, but we weren’t there at the right time of year for that. Yet.
Our travel day home included a couple of hours' drive and rental car return (very easy), then boarding the ferry to Buenos Aires for a two-and-a-half-hour cruise. In Buenos Aires, we were delighted to meet up with our guide, who recommended that we spend our few hours until leaving for the airport at an excellent restaurant on the water, and then easily accommodated our need to buy some gifts for family back home. Along the way, he showed us how previous strangers can become good friends in a very small amount of time.
We saw and experienced everything we wanted to on this trip, and then some. It was well organized and scheduled, and the people were terrific. I would strongly recommend these people for traveling in South America. They really know their stuff.  

Our Galápagos journey was truly unforgettable and we are incredibly grateful to Zicasso’s travel company, who made every detail seamless from start to finish.
From Quito to the islands, everything was exceptionally well organized, with smooth transfers, excellent accommodations, knowledgeable guides, and a beautifully planned itinerary, which allowed us to experience the magic of each island in a unique way. Every day felt like stepping into a nature documentary.
Highlights included snorkeling alongside playful sea lions, witnessing the incredible wildlife of Genovesa and Española, seeing giant tortoises up close, and experiencing landscapes unlike anywhere else in the world. The balance of adventure, comfort, and personalized care made this trip extraordinary.
A special thank you to the guides and crew for their professionalism, warmth, and deep passion for the Galápagos. Their knowledge and attention to detail elevated the entire experience.
This was not just a vacation. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience filled with awe, beauty, and memories we will cherish forever. We highly recommend this travel company to anyone dreaming of exploring the Galápagos Islands.

Zicasso’s travel company spent a lot of time with me revising the trip to fit as much of Patagonia into as short a time as possible for my family. Their knowledge, attention to detail, and communication were excellent. They were also very responsive when we had questions or issues arise while we were on the trip.

We had a great experience with Zicasso’s travel specialist. We appreciated the kindness, the regular check-ins, the safety advice, and the constant availability. The planning part was really helpful, but the execution was really what made the difference. We had the reassurance that we were in another country, many miles away from home, and our local connection would go above and beyond to help. The travel specialist immediately understood our vibe and made the appropriate recommendations. We definitely recommend this travel company!