South America expedition

A South America expedition offers the potential for all kinds of exciting ‘once-in-a-lifetime' opportunities. On a South America expedition you can experience remote Amazon jungle, trek in the stunning Andean mountains and enjoy some fantastic beaches - to name just three of the region's highlights. Of course South America encompasses a huge area and it would be impossible to cover the entire continent on one South America expedition, not in a year anyway! However it is possible to experience the ‘real' South America and really travel off the beaten track on a South America expedition by travelling to the region on one of Real Gap's Gap Year Expeditions.

Find out more about all of our Gap Year Expeditions Abroad

Real Gap's ‘Expeditions Abroad' programmes have been designed for more intrepid and adventurous gap year travellers who really want to experience everything a particular country or region has to offer. The ‘Expeditions Abroad' programmes still visit all of the essential ‘must see' places but also check out other areas most conventional tours never get to. Travellers on the ‘Expeditions Abroad' spend time learning the local language (so it's also challenging mentally) and also get involved with some tremendously rewarding volunteer projects.

Real Gap has three superb South America expeditions - in Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Each of these South America expeditions provide an exciting ‘real' South American experience. If you have an entire year at your disposal for a South America expedition you could also consider travelling on two, or even all three, of the programmes to create the ultimate South America expedition. For full details on all of these South America expeditions click on the above link or talk to one of Real Gap's team of expert travel advisers. In order to get you thinking, however, here are just some of the things you could get up to on a South America expedition with Real Gap…

South America expedition - Ecuador

On a South America expedition to Ecuador you could work as a conservation volunteer in the wildlife lovers' paradise of the Galapagos Islands. If you travel to the Galapagos on a South America expedition you will see some of the world's most unique and remote wildlife and there are some excellent volunteer projects to choose from. For example you could help teach local school children about the importance of environmental awareness or work on a project dedicated to helping the islands' gravely endangered giant tortoise population.

On a South America expedition to Ecuador you can also ride on horseback through the Andes Mountains and explore the virgin rainforest of Cuyabeno - where you can even try your hand at piranha fishing!

Read about our Ecuador Expedition

South America expedition - Peru

Peru offers some classic experiences on a South America expedition - not least of which is an amazing four-day trek through the Andes, in the footsteps of the Incas, to the lost city of Machu Picchu. On a South America expedition to Peru with Real Gap you also travel through the desert to check out the mysterious Nazca lines, stay in the home of a Quechua Indian family, sail on the highest navigable lake in the world - Titicaca - and go glacier trekking in Huascaran National Park. As with all of Real Gap's South America expeditions you choose a volunteer project that most suits your interest. For example if you would like to explore the Amazon jungle while you are in Peru you could work on a turtle conservation project alongside jungle communities on a tributary to the Amazon.

Read about our Peru Expedition

South America expedition - Venezuela

Venezuela is often overlooked by travellers planning a South America expedition, despite the fact that it has the potential for some of the continent's most exciting travel. On a South America expedition to Venezuela you can swim and dive in pristine Caribbean beaches, visit the world's highest waterfall (Angel Falls - 16 times higher than Niagara!), trek to the top of the incredible ‘tabletop' Roraima Mountain, explore the jungles and waterways of the Orinoco Delta by canoe and visit local Warao tribal communities.

Read about our Venezuela Expedition

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