Expedition South America

Real Gap has a diverse range of programmes throughout South America and it's possible to tailor-make your own expedition to South America by combining some of them together. Alternatively you could consider Real Gap's three comprehensive gap year expedition abroad programmes for Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela - all of which have been put together to combine the main highlights of each country with some more extreme travel off the ‘beaten track.' All of Real Gap's ‘Expedition South America' programmes include Spanish tuition, which greatly enhances the overall travel experience, as well as the opportunity to get involved with some extremely worthwhile and rewarding volunteer projects.   

Expedition South America - Ecuador

An excellent choice for an expedition to South America, especially if you are passionate about wildlife, is Ecuador. What makes Ecuador such a fantastic destination for an expedition to South America is its geographical diversity. The Andes mountain range dominates the mainland and divides the country in to three main regions - coastal, Amazon and highland - each of which possesses its own unique flora and fauna. Off the coast of Ecuador is also one of the most exciting locations for wildlife for any expedition to South America - the Galapagos Islands, where the wildlife has evolved entirely differently from the wildlife found on the continental mainland (it was the Galapagos which helped inspire Darwin's theory of evolution). With Real Gap's Ecuador Expedition programme in Ecuador travellers get to explore the Andes on horseback, go canoeing in the Amazon, spend time with Indian tribes-people, camp in the jungle rainforest of the Cuyabeno jungle and can even - if they wish - get involved with wildlife conservation on the Galapagos Islands.  

Expedition South America - Peru

One of the most popular countries for an expedition to South America is Peru. For many travellers who have never been to the region before an expedition to South America simply wouldn't be complete without trekking Peru's famous Inca Trail to the ‘lost city' of Machu Picchu in the Andean mountains. If you travel on Real Gap's Peru Expedition you won't miss any of the essential Peruvian experiences such as the Inca Trail, Lake Titicaca (the highest navigable lake in the world) and the beautiful cities of Cusco and Arequipa. However, as with all of Real Gap's ‘Expedition South America' programmes, the emphasis is also very much on seeing and experiencing other areas of Peru that most other travellers don't get to. For example if you visit Peru on your expedition to South America with Real Gap - as well as the main sights - you will also experience a home-stay with a Quechua Indian family, visit the pristine marine wildlife of the Ballestas Islands and go glacier trekking in the Huascaran region of the Andes.   

Expedition to South America - Venezuela

Many travellers planning an expedition to South America often miss out Venezuela, which is a great shame as it's a country that has so much to offer. Venezuela has more Caribbean coastline than any other country and is also home to the incredible Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world - 16 times higher than Niagara Falls! If you travel on a Venezuela expedition to South America with Real Gap as well as the main sights you will also canoe down the Orinoco Delta, visit local Warao Indian tribes and trek to the top of the amazing Roraima mountain (said to be the ‘Lost World' described by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in his famous novel of the same name).

Back to World Expeditions page
Back to What to do on a gap year
Back to Gap Year Advice Main Menu