$17,787—South America, Galápagos & Antarctica tour, save 40%

Most travellers save Antarctica for one trip and South America for another. This 38-day journey does both, then adds the Galapagos for good measure. It starts in Buenos Aires, then flies south to Ushuaia, the end of the world. From here, the expedition ship MS Fridtjof Nansen crosses the Drake Passage. Over five days, Zodiacs carry you ashore among penguins, glaciers and icebergs. Weather permitting, Deception Island and Paradise Harbour are on the cards. Back on land, the pace changes completely. Iguazu Falls thunders around you from both the Argentine and Brazilian sides. Rio follows, with Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf and the beaches of Copacabana. In Peru, a motorboat carries you up the Tambopata River into the Amazon. After dark, caiman eyes glint in your torchlight along the riverbank. Then the Andes take over, from the Sacred Valley to Cusco. A scenic train ride delivers you to the gates of Machu Picchu. On Lake Titicaca, you’ll step onto the Uros floating islands. The finale belongs to the Galápagos. Giant tortoises roam the highlands, and you’ll snorkel around Kicker Rock. Internal flights, hotels, many meals and guided tours are all organised for you. It’s a lifetime of bucket-list moments in a single journey.

Travelzoo members enjoy an exclusive 40% off all 22 departure dates through March 2029. Starting at just $17,787, that's a saving of up to $16,298 per person.

What's included

• 37 nights accommodation
• Daily breakfast, 15 lunches and 12 dinners
• 10-night Antarctica and Drake Passage expedition cruise onboard HX Expeditions’ premium Scandi-designed MS Fridtjof Nansen
  • Return flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
  • Expedition-led landings by small expedition boats to reach remote areas
  • In-depth lectures and discussions from the onboard Expedition Team
  • Full use of the ship’s Science Centre and access to the Citizen Science programme
  • Complimentary wind- and water-resistant jacket to keep
  • Loan of boots, trekking poles and all activity equipment
• Small-group South America land journey with no more than 20 people. Tour highlights include:
  • 2 nights at an eco-friendly lodge in the Peruvian Amazon
  • One-way economy-class flights:
    • Buenos Aires to Iguazú
    • Iguazu to Rio de Janeiro
    • Rio de Janeiro to Lima
    • Lima to Puerto Maldonado
    • Puerto Maldonado to Cusco
    • Puno to Lima
    • Lima to Guayaquil
    • Guayaquil to Santa Cruz
    • San Cristóbal to Quito
  • See Iguazu Falls from both the Argentine and Brazilian sides
  • Visit Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro
  • Take a scenic train to Machu Picchu for a guided tour
  • Explore the Sacred Valley and Cusco
  • Visit the Uros floating islands and Taquile Island on Lake Titicaca
  • Explore Santa Cruz, San Cristobal and uninhabited outer islands of the Galápagos
• All internal flights, plus coach, rail and boat transportation

When

The featured $17,787 fare is valid for travel on 1 February 2027. Other departures from February 2027 to March 2029 and start from just an additional $60 per person.

Book by 4 November 2026.

Cabin upgrades

Featured prices are based on a Polar Outside Window cabin while cruising. Upgrades start from $1618 per person:

• +$1618pp for an Arctic Superior cabin
• +$3824pp for an Arctic Superior Balcony cabin
• +$7500pp for an Expedition Balcony Suite

To find out more, see our partner's website.

Travelzoo tip: Add six days in Patagonia before heading to Antarctica with this extended 44-day tour. You'll explore Torres del Paine and Perito Moreno Glacier and enjoy the same exclusive 40% discount across nine departures. That's a saving of up to $18,998 per person.

Holiday snapshot

Buenos Aires - Ushuaia - Drake Passage - Antarctica - Drake Passage - Ushuaia - Buenos Aires - Iguazu Falls - Rio de Janeiro - Lima - Puerto Maldonado - Amazon Jungle - Puerto Maldonado - Cusco - Sacred Valley - Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes - Sacred Valley - Cusco - Puno - Lake Titicaca - Puno - Lima - Guayaquil - Santa Cruz Island - Outer Island Excursion - Santa Cruz Island - San Cristobal Island - Kicker Rock or Isla Lobos - San Cristobal Island - Quito

Itinerary highlights

Your journey begins with a night at a 5-star hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s passionate, tango-loving capital. After the cruise, you'll return for a guided tour of the pink-hued Casa Rosada, colourful La Boca, and elegant Recoleta.

Nestled beneath the Martial Glacier, Ushuaia competes for the title of the world’s southernmost city. Board the eco-friendly expedition ship MS Fridtjof Nansen and set sail for the bottom of the world.

Two days crossing the legendary Drake Passage prepare you for what lies ahead. Expert lectures, the onboard Science Center, and the ship’s spa and lounges fill the days at sea.

Nothing quite prepares you for Antarctica, one of Earth's most remote places. Over five days, Zodiac landings bring you close to penguins, seals, glaciers and old whaling stations, while whales surface around the ship.

Up to 275 waterfalls thunder into a 2.7-kilometre gorge at Iguazu Falls. Walk the catwalks of the Argentine side, then take in the sweeping panoramas from Brazil.

Christ the Redeemer gazes down from Corcovado Hill over Rio de Janeiro, one of the world’s most spectacular cities. Ride the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain, enjoy a churrascaria lunch and spend a free day on Copacabana and Ipanema beaches.

Lima's colonial grandeur and world-class food scene make it a delicious introduction to Peru. A city tour visits the Plaza Mayor, Santo Domingo Convent and the pre-Columbian Huaca Pucllana.

From the jungle town of Puerto Maldonado, a motorboat carries you up the Tambopata River to your eco-lodge. It’s the gateway to two unforgettable days in the rainforest.

Life in the Amazon Jungle comes alive as you search for caiman by torchlight and climb a 42-metre canopy tower. Look for giant river otters on Tres Chimbadas Lake, then fall asleep to the forest's sounds.

In Cusco, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Americas, Inca stonework and Spanish colonial churches blend together. A walking tour reveals the Temple of Qorikancha, Plaza de Armas and San Pedro Market.

Fertile terraces and Andean villages fill the Sacred Valley, once the heart of the Inca Empire. Visit a local community and browse market stalls for hand-woven ponchos.

A scenic train winds along the Urubamba River and through the cloud forest to Aguas Calientes. From here, a winding road climbs to one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Perched 2,430 metres above sea level, Machu Picchu is the jewel of the Inca Empire. Explore the legendary citadel with your guide and marvel at its extraordinary stonework.

A ten-hour scenic journey through the Andes brings you to Puno, where alpacas and vicuñas graze the high plains. Along the way, stop at a 17th-century church and an ancient Inca temple.

Ancient traditions endure on Lake Titicaca, which straddles the Peru-Bolivia border. Step onto the reed-built Uros Floating Islands, then visit Taquile Island, famous for its UNESCO-recognised weaving.

Iguanas roam the city park in Guayaquil, your gateway to the Galapagos. A walking tour leads along the Malecon 2000 waterfront to the historic Las Peñas neighbourhood.

Giant tortoises wander the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, your first taste of the Galápagos. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, then walk to beautiful Tortuga Bay.

A full-day Outer Island Excursion takes you by speedboat to an uninhabited island. Look for blue-footed boobies and Galápagos penguins, and snorkel in crystal-clear water.

Sea lions lounge on the beaches of San Cristobal Island, where you’ll stroll Puerto Baquerizo's waterfront. In the afternoon, visit La Loberia beach to see sea lion colonies and marine iguanas.

Snorkel with turtles, rays and Galapagos sharks at Kicker Rock or Isla Lobos, two of the archipelago’s most celebrated marine sites.

Your journey ends in Quito, Ecuador’s capital, built on the foundations of an ancient Inca city. Explore its beautifully preserved colonial centre at your own pace.