The Best Beach And Island Tours In South And Central America

Hit the book button, close that laptop and pack your bags – these Culture Trip small-group adventures will give you the beach breaks and island retreats you’re badly craving, plus much, much more.

Load your luggage full of swimsuits and sun hats – it’s time to take a trip to the beaches and islands of Central and South America. Embraced by the Caribbean, Pacific and Atlantic, these destinations are all home to a diversity of culture and nature, with no two being the same. Seeking a shoreline to service your tan? We know just the place. These are the best beach and island tours in South and Central America.

Man surfs in water off Playa Guiones, Guanacaste

Tamarindo, Costa Rica

Surf’s up in Costa Rica’s Pacific coast town of Tamarindo. No need to bring a board or any skills to hang 10; this tiny surf town has everything you need to learn how to carve waves, pura vida style. If that’s a little too salty a suggestion for you, this Culture Trip experience will also send you puma-spotting high in the cloud forests and soaking in the volcanic hot springs of Arenal. After a hard day of play, a California massage at the spa will do your muscles well.

From US$2199

Next available from 6th Apr 2024

Secure your spot with a low deposit

Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

San Jose, Costa Rica

ENDS AT

Tamarindo, Provincia De Guanacaste

DURATION

8

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

View Trip

Many sea lions sleep on a sandy beach at Española Island in the Galápagos Islands

The Galápagos, Ecuador

This isn’t your typical South American island tour – this is a bucket-list trip to the Galápagos Islands that will introduce you to wildlife you won’t see anywhere else. Let giant tortoises show you how to enjoy island time at the slowest pace possible. Take notes from sea lions on how to properly frolic in the water. You’ll even follow birds along lava trails to find the best views of the Pacific – though seeing the Itabaca Channel from a stand-up paddleboard isn’t half bad, either.

From US$2499

Next available from 13th Jan 2024

Secure your spot with a low deposit

Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island

ENDS AT

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal Island

DURATION

5

GROUP SIZE

14

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Discovery

View Trip

Maja Proescholdt and Gethin Morgan contributed additional reporting to this article.

landscape with balloons floating in the air

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Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.