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Culture

Cultural Travel to Central and South America

Cultural Tours to Central and South America

Culture abounds in Latin America, from ancient civilizations to living indigenous villages and the modern cultures of major cities.

On cultural themed trips you can explore the ruins of Mayan civilizations, visit indigenous villages in the Amazon basin, discover ancient civilizations throughout Peru, witness the living Chilote culture found on the Chiloé Archipelago in Chile, and experience the vibrant contemporary life in cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Cartagena, Lima, Buenos Aires.

Mayan civilizations are evidenced by the extensive list of ruins located throughout Central America from southern Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula (Palenque, Chichen Itza, Tulum) to Guatemala (Tikal, Yaxha, Quirigua), Belize (Caracol, Xunantunich), Honduras (Copan).

Cultural Travel 1

Visit and interact with Garifuna people in small villages along the Caribbean coast of Honduras and Belize. The Garifuna have their own language, music and food. Along the Bay of Tela in Honduras you will find Garifuna communities, such as Miami, where you can spend the day with local families, learning their language and history.

In Panama you can stay with a local Kuna (or Guna) family on a private island.

Colombia’s rich historical past and modern present is evident throughout the country. The cities and cultural centers of Bogotá, Medellin, Cali and Cartagena are home to restaurants, dance clubs, theaters, museums; calendar events include film and music festivals, lively religious fiestas. Cartagena is the perfect combination of colonial history and modern Caribbean joie de vivre. Visit picturesque towns such as Villa de Leyva, one of the most beautiful and well-preserved colonial villages in South America. The old and historic center of Popayán is considered one of the most beautiful and best preserved in Colombia as well as in all of Latin America.

Cultural Travel 2

In Peru and Bolivia you will find pre-Colombian civilizations and modern-day Quechua and Aymara-speaking people. The Northern Kingdoms were home to the Moche Civilization and Chimú Empire. Important sites include Tucume, a vast Lambayeque-period archeological complex and Chan Chan, the capital city of the Chimú Empire. The Chachapoyas culture was centered at the fortress of Kuelap before being conquered by the Incas. The Inca Empire can be best appreciated in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Inca capital of Cusco and the citadel of Machu Picchu. Evidence of the pre-Colombian Tiwanaku Empire can be studied at the ruins of Tiwanaku in western Bolivia near the shores of Lake Titikaka.

The Chiloé Archipelago, isolated from the Chile mainland, has a unique architecture, language (Chilote), cuisine and folklore. Explore on a day trip or spend a few days while staying at a small hotel or seaside lodge.

In Brazil make time for a few days in Salvador, the capital of the State of Bahia and a center for Afro-Brazilian music and dance, religion, cuisine and local customs; all brought to Brazil from the West coast of Africa then mixed with Portuguese traditions and culture.

And, of course, contemporary life is a focal point in the cultural hubs of Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro: restaurants, theaters, art galleries, markets, shopping, nightclubs, tango, samba, bossa nova…Carnival!

Curated Cultural Travel Experiences

Discover Northwest Argentina Tour

This itinerary through Salta and Jujuy invites travelers into a region shaped by ancient civilizations, colonial heritage, and dramatic natural forces. Each day reveals a new layer—from preserved city streets and sacred archaeological sites to vast landscapes carved by wind, time, and altitude.

Discovering the Hidden Guianas Travel Package

Across the northern shoulder of South America lies a region few travelers truly know: the Guianas. Defined by rivers, rainforest, and centuries of cultural blending, Suriname, French Guiana, and Guyana form a trio of destinations that defy easy comparison. On this journey designed by Lost World Adventures, you’ll explore three distinct countries linked by geography but shaped by entirely different languages, traditions, and histories.

El Salvador Highlights Custom Tour

Spend 8 days touring the highlights of El Salvador. El Salvador Highlights is a thoughtfully curated journey designed by Lost World Adventures to showcase the country’s most captivating destinations in one seamless itinerary. This tour blends cultural immersion, archaeological discovery, natural beauty, and coastal relaxation—ideal for travelers seeking a comprehensive yet flexible experience.

Experience Central America – El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Belize

This journey weaves together the rich cultural tapestry and wild natural beauty of Central America, tracing a route from the Pacific shores of El Salvador through the highlands of Honduras and Guatemala, and onward to the lush jungles and waterways of Belize. Designed for curious travelers who want more than a single destination, the itinerary balances immersive cultural encounters with active adventure, offering a dynamic perspective on the region’s diverse landscapes and traditions.

Experience Colombia 17 Day Tour Package

Experience the diversity of Colombia with this 17-day trip that covers some of our favorite areas in the region. Discover a Sunday in Bogota, where the streets are shut down to motorized vehicles and the whole city moves about on bike or foot enjoying various markets and arts, crafts, and fresh food stands, and, of course, the company of neighbors!

Flavorful Guatemala Food Tour

The cuisine and culinary traditions of the Ancient Mayans were diverse and extensive. The Mayans were hunters, fishers and used their own gardens to grow their food supply. Their most traditional dishes use a variety of ingredients. Their largest crop production was maize (corn). Cacao, another principle crop, was used in a sacred drink and also as an exchange unit in its grain form. The Spanish colonization brought change to the region.

Fully Customized Beaches of Brazil Tour Package

Start your trip in magnificent Rio de Janeiro. A full-day tour of Rio includes a tram to the top of Corcovado Mountain and the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer, followed by a cable-car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, a visit the Sambodromo (where Carnival takes place). One day will be spent at leisure at the legendary beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema or on an optional day trip hiking and relaxing on the tropical island of Ilha Grande, or a day trip to the colonial town of Paraty.

Fully Customized Rio To Buenos Aires Tour

Start your trip in magnificent Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A full-day tour of Rio includes a tram to the top of Corcovado Mountain and the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer, followed by a cable-car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, a visit the Sambodromo (where Carnival takes place).

Granada and Morgan’s Rock Nicaragua Tour

From vibrant colonial cities to wild Pacific beaches, Nicaragua offers an unforgettable journey through culture, history, and nature. This itinerary, crafted by Lost World Adventures, blends the highlights of the country’s urban charm, volcanic landscapes, and pristine coastline into one seamless travel experience.

Guatemala & Honduras Custom Tour

La Antigua, Lake Atitlan, the Honduras rainforest, the beaches and reefs of Roatan. Tours and excursions from Antigua include a walking city tour, coffee plantation visits, mountain biking or hiking the many outlying valleys, climbing Pacaya Volcano.

Guatemala Multi-Sport Adventure

From the moment you arrive and transfer to Antigua, the pace is deliberate: ease into the rhythm of the highlands before stepping onto the slopes of an active volcano. The early days set the tone with a mix of movement and atmosphere, where cobblestone streets, colonial façades, and surrounding volcanoes create a setting that feels both grounded and dramatic.

Guatemala with Copan Ruins Tour

On this extensive circuit of Guatemala and Honduras you will stay in Antigua and on Lake Atitlan, visit the Comalapa and Chichicastenango markets and tour the Mayan ruins of Iximiche, Copan, Quiriguá, Tikal and Yaxha. You will also travel off-the-beaten-path to the village of Rio Dulce and visit the multi-cultural village of Livingston. Start with two nights in colonial Antigua and a full day with a choice of optional excursions.

Guyana Wildlife and Adventure Journey

Few destinations remain as profoundly wild as Guyana. Here, immense rainforests merge with sweeping savannahs, rivers carve through untouched wilderness, and nature continues its ancient rhythm largely uninterrupted. This 15-day expedition, crafted and operated by Lost World Adventures, reveals a country defined by both raw beauty and remarkable biodiversity—a place where adventure still feels authentic and discovery still feels real.

Highlands & Markets Guatemala Tour Package

After two full days exploring the colonial town of Antigua you will venture off-the-beaten-path with your private guide to remote towns and markets throughout the country. You will stay in the towns of Quetzaltenango and Huehuetenango with day trips to the agricultural towns of Almolonga and Zunil, the thermal springs at Fuentes Georginas, San Andres Xecul, Sacapulas and Aguacatan.

Honduras – Ruins to Rainforest to Reef Travel Package

Eight days/seven nights that allows visitors to the beautiful country of Honduras to enjoy all of its natural wonders, including the Mayan ruins of Copan, Pico Bonito National Park, Cayos Cochinos. An optional trip while at The Lodge and Spa at Pico Bonito includes a snorkeling trip around the world's second longest barrier reef in Roatan Island.

Honeymoon in Colombia

One idea when we designed this trip is to have a surprise element in each destination—whether it’s a romantic dinner under the stars, a chilled bottle of champagne waiting in your room, or a couple’s spa treatment surrounded by nature. These touches are thoughtfully placed to make each moment feel special and spontaneous.

Incredible Brazil – Fully Customized Tour Package to Brazil

Begin in Rio de Janeiro with a private tour of the city, Corcovado Mountain and Sugarloaf Mountain. Leisure time in Rio can be spent at the legendary beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. Fly to Foz de Iguaçú, home to one of the most beautiful ecological reserves of the planet and where you find one of the most spectacular views of the world, the Iguaçú Falls. You will explore the falls on both the Brazilian and Argentinean sides.

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A Colombia Cultural Circuit Tour

Experience the cultural side of Colombia in the country's three major cities. Discover Bogota by day and by night - history and culture, museums and theaters, markets and restaurants.

7-night Sea of Cortes Island-Hopping Mexico Adventure Cruise

Between Baja California and mainland Mexico lies a sea so alive that Jacques Cousteau called it “the world’s aquarium.” The Sea of Cortés is a place of startling contrasts — scarlet cliffs rising from turquoise water, whales gliding past desert islands, and pelicans cutting across the dawn. The landscape feels prehistoric, as if time has paused between wind, tide, and volcanic stone. This voyage moves through that stillness — a week of islands, coves, and hidden beaches connected by salt water and starlight.

A Central America Adventure – the Maya Route

This 10-day Maya Route itinerary traces the arc of an ancient civilization through four modern nations—El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize. Designed by Lost World Adventures for travelers drawn to archaeology, culture, and vivid landscapes, it connects living cities and long-silent temples along the spine of Mesoamerica.

An Archaeological Tour of Northern Peru

Our 3-day tour of the northern coastal desert of Peru explores the lands of the Moche Civilization and Chimu Culture, pre-Inca contemporaries of the Nazca Civilization. This short trip makes an excellent post-trip extension to any Peru itinerary.

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