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South America has always been high on my travel wish list, so when I learned I would be heading to Cusco, Peru in September 2025 for a Skål Congress, I knew this was my chance to finally explore the continent. Rather than flying in and out for one destination, I decided to make the most of the journey and spend a full month discovering some of South America’s must-see regions.

Much like my experience planning travel to Africa, South America wasn’t a destination I had booked extensively for clients before. I knew I would need expert guidance—not only to shape a realistic itinerary, but to manage logistics, safety, and the many moving parts of multi-country travel. I partnered with Chimu Adventures, specialists in South America and Antarctica, and from our very first conversation I knew I was in good hands. While I initially planned to travel solo, after sharing my itinerary with friends, two of them decided to join the adventure.

After months of careful planning, the trip came together: 29 days across Ecuador (including the Galapagos), Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. While I knew I wouldn’t be able to explore each country in depth, the goal was to get a genuine taste of each place and work out where I would love to return for future adventures. Despite all the research, I still didn’t quite know what to expect—only that I was in for an unforgettable ride.

The first step was booking flights from Australia. Currently, Qantas and LATAM are the only airlines offering direct flights to South America, and they both fly into Santiago. I was thrilled to snap up a Qantas sale fare in premium economy. This is where working with a travel agent really paid off—because I had multiple internal flights within South America, I was able to add three additional flights to our international ticket for next to nothing.

We flew into Quito, Ecuador, where we spent our first two nights. Like many eager travellers, we rushed off the plane ready to explore, only to quickly realise that the altitude was much higher than expected. Feeling a little light-headed was a clear reminder that we needed to slow down and allow time to acclimatise.

Our driver was waiting for us at the airport and transferred us to Illa Experience Hotel. This stunning 17th-century property, perched above the city with sweeping views of Quito, was the first of many incredible hotels we stayed in throughout the trip. Illa Experience offers a true sense of luxury, with daily curated experiences such as chocolate tastings, artist demonstrations, and locally made pampering products designed to help guests relax. Their restaurant was also the perfect introduction to the culinary journey ahead.

On day two, we joined a Six Senses day tour, which turned out to be a true highlight of our time in Quito. Our local guide was both knowledgeable and entertaining, taking us through vibrant markets and introducing us to an unforgettable cultural experience with a local shaman—an experience that stood out as one of the most meaningful moments of my entire trip. We explored Quito’s historic streets and squares, wandering through the Seven Crosses, La Ronda, and San Marcos, soaking up the city’s colonial charm. The day also included traditional metalwork, chocolate tasting, panoramic city views, and much more. To top it all off, lunch was a hands-on cooking class where we made empanadas with a local grandmother—fun, authentic, and absolutely delicious.

The following morning, we were up early and heading back to the airport for our flight to San Cristobal and the start of our four-day Galapagos cruise. One piece of advice I can’t stress enough is to work with a company that manages the entire process. At the Quito airport, a representative was waiting to guide us through luggage inspections, permits, and boarding procedures, ensuring everything ran smoothly. We watched other travellers scrambling to organise additional passes and paperwork, while everything for us was already taken care of. It made the experience completely stress-free.

The flight was short and easy, and on arrival in San Cristobal we were met by the team from the Galaxy Orion, who whisked us straight to our boat. We had chosen a small vessel with just eight cabins and a maximum of 16 guests, though our group ended up being only 13, which was ideal. The crew consisted of 10 staff plus our guide, Jorge, whose knowledge of the Galapagos was exceptional.

Before setting sail, we had a few hours to explore San Cristobal—the last taste of civilisation for the next four days. The town is small and charming, with gift shops, restaurants, and a beautiful beachfront perfect for a relaxed stroll. The boat itself quickly felt like home. While compact, it had everything we needed. Each day followed a comfortable rhythm of morning and afternoon excursions, with time to relax in between. All meals were included, with a bar available for cocktails at an additional cost. While I loved the experience, if budget allows, I would recommend a slightly larger vessel with more open communal spaces.

The Galapagos truly is paradise for nature and wildlife lovers. Each day included at least one walk or hike, along with opportunities to snorkel or swim. The water was quite cold during our visit, so most of us didn’t stay in for too long, but the marine life more than made up for it. We saw an extraordinary number of sea lions, birds, lizards, turtles, and more. Spotting blue-footed boobies was a particular highlight. The crystal-clear waters, pristine beaches, and complete absence of crowds made the experience feel incredibly exclusive. Not seeing another group of people for more than three days was pure bliss.

On our final day, before heading to the airport, we visited the Charles Darwin Research Station. Seeing the giant tortoises up close and learning about conservation efforts was the perfect way to end our Galapagos adventure. From there, we flew to Guayaquil, where we stayed overnight at the Hilton. While we didn’t have time to explore the city, I will say that the breakfast buffet at the hotel was one of the most impressive I have ever seen.

I absolutely loved the start of this journey and would return to Ecuador in a heartbeat to explore more. I can’t recommend the Galapagos Islands highly enough. Even if wildlife and nature aren’t usually your focus, the serenity, remoteness, and sense of complete escape make it an extraordinary place to recharge.

Stay tuned for the next blog, where I’ll be sharing highlights from Peru.