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Discover South America is a UK based independent tour operator specialising in tailor-made and custom itineraries in South America. Whether you want to get off the beaten track or visit the most iconic sites in a whirlwind trip of a lifetime, we are experts at crafting itineraries perfectly suited to each traveller.
Reviews 120
Genevieve van Tricht
Jun 07,2018Heather from Discover South America put together a tailor made package for me from the list of things I had said I would love to see and do in Peru. She made the PERFECT trip for me and everything was absolutely wonderful! Transfers, hotels, guides, everything was so perfectly arranged that although I was travelling alone I did not feel alone at all, I felt safe and always well looked after but also completely free to really enjoy myself. I will never forget my trip to Peru, thanks to Heather and Discover South America it was a trip of a lifetime...
Gillian Rockett
May 30,2018We wanted a holiday in Peru to visit our son in Lima and then onto Machu Picchu etc and then into the jungle. We could not find an organised holiday that matched our requirements ,so we looked at companies that would help us plan and finally settled on Discover South America .we found from the start they where very helpful with Jackie sorting out our requirements and needs and dealing very well with us changing the itinerary . Our holiday was a great adventure and all went to plan as was organised by Jackie and Heather with great hotels , all tours and tour guides , taxi pickups all brilliant , so a big thank you to Jackie & Heather and will certainly use Discover South America.
Jackie Carter
May 27,2018I would highly recommend Discover South America, from start to finish Heather compiled a wonderful trip encompassing everything we wanted with The Inca Trail as our finale! All the companies used during our trip were extremely helpful and professional. Can’t thank you enough
Stephen Jameson
May 10,2018Great company to deal with. Informed, friendly, approachable, personal contact at all times. Marvellous itinerary faultlessly executed. Thank you!
Andy
May 09,2018We had an absolutely amazing bespoke holiday in Peru. Machu Picchu totally lived up to my expectations and we loved all the other things we saw too - especially the rain forest. Everything ran smoothly and we were pleased to have local guides who were committed to their local communities. I would totally recommend booking with Discover South America.
Miranda Hodgson
Apr 08,2018We did a 13 day trip with DSA from Calama in Chile to Cusco in Peru. I had a rough idea what I wanted to visit and Heather turned my ideas into a wonderful trip. Many hotels and transfers and flights and all went like clockwork. Everything was prepaid and the hotels excellent. I doubt we could have done this trip for less if we had booked and planned it ourselves.
peter walker
Mar 17,2018from the very start Heather filled us with the confidence we needed to complete what was an adventure of a lifetime. she listened to what we wanted, put an itinerary together and tweaked it to suit our wishes. During the adventure we did have a problem with a flight connection which she was able to reassure us. i would highly recommend DSA and have indeed done so to many people. one man was so impressed that he joined us on our second adventure. i will use DSA next year.
mo watts
Jan 31,2018Excellent tour with Discover South America, well organised and the whole trip ran like clockwork, I highly recommend this tour company, they really listened to what I wanted and sorted out the best for me, I hope to use them again in the future.
Laura Brown
Jan 08,2018We came across Discover South America on Google when looking for a company to book our Machu Picchu trek with. After speaking to Heather on the phone and explaining the others things we wanted to do/see on our trip, she custom made an itinerary for us throughout Peru and Bolivia. Everything was arranged to the last detail including all hotel bookings and transfers which made the the whole trip seamless. After a missed flight to get to our original destination, Heather managed to re book our hotel for the next night and change our connecting flights accordingly, all while in Ecuador herself! We had the most wonderful trip and I would highly recommend DSA to anyone looking to book a trip in South America. We will certainly be using them again for our next adventure!
Mary Chan
Jan 05,2018We were a group of 7 from Hong Kong & this was the first time we went to South America, planning a 16D/15N trip to Chile, Bolivia & Peru. We had chose Discover South America UK ("DSA") as our land operator cos we saw some good comments from the web-site. Thus DSA was not the cheapest operator but we still pick this company. It proved that our choice was correct. Before the trip, DSA responded quickly to our questions. As a land operator, DSA required to arrange all the transfers, hotels & tours. The company picked high standard local tour operators, e.g. Latitud 90 in Chile, Transturin in Bolivia. The local tour guides were professional & took good care of us. Refer to the hotels, they chose the best hotels within our budget range & suit our requirements: located in downtown except for some remote areas. They are in safe areas so that we felt free to walk around in the evening. We all enjoyed the trip very much. We would like to thanks Jackie Jones & Heather MacBrayne for the arrangement! We have no hesitation to recommend this tour operator to our friends!
Michalis (London)
Dec 11,2017DSA organised for us the perfect itinerary for our 7 weeks trip to 6 counties in South America. Hands down the best holiday ever with brilliant hotels and unforgettable experiences. Everything was organised and in place for us to just relax and enjoy our time in SA. Heather is a delight to work with and has provided prompt support before, during and after the trip. If you are planning a holiday in SA this is the travel agency to do it with. Personable and knowledgeable service throughout the whole process.
Rebecca R
Dec 08,2017I recently used DSA to help me book a long-awaited journey to Chile, Bolivia, Peru & Ecuador. Jackie was my first point of call & she helped me to put together a fab trip. As a solo, yet experienced, traveller I was looking for an agent who would allow me some flexibility to have input on choices and who would ensure that my transfers during the trip were all well covered. DSA tied everything together beautifully, dealing with the local detail that I didn't know about. Responses to calls were always prompt and cheery and it is very clear that DSA know what they are doing. Thanks to both Jackie & Heather for helping make a dream trip become reality!
Simon.
Nov 15,2017We are a couple in our mid 40s, and had an amazing two week holiday in Peru, organised through Discover South America. Heather was incredibly helpful at every stage of the process, and put together an itinerary for us based on what we wanted to do, rather on what she wanted to sell. This immediately set her apart from the other companies we had sought quotes from – her great strength is her personalised service coupled with her extensive knowledge and contacts. She arranged our flights, transfers, hotels, excursions and activities, and it all went smoothly. We consider her price to be exceptional value for money, and it was competitive with the other quotes. We found Discover South America online, and booked on the strength of the reviews left by others. The hotels were all superb – with excellent ratings on Trip-Advisor, and justifiably so. They were a good balance of quality and affordability, and meant that although we were never more than two nights in any one bed, we felt rested and ready for the excursions. Neither of us suffered any sickness, and the food in the hotels was outstanding. The trips were wonderful. After an initial night in Lima, we went to Paracas by coach and then had trip on a speedboat to see the Ballestas Islands (the ‘little Galapagos Islands’) to see the birds, penguins, and sea lions. Then we went on a flight over the Nazca lines which was brilliant – a tiny plane that pulled tight circles over the shapes on the ground to allow us to photograph them. Back to Lima for a night, before taking a flight to Arequipa where we stayed in a gorgeous hotel with hummingbirds in the grounds. Arequipa is a beautiful city, and we loved spending a day at the Convent and also seeing Juanita the Ice Princess. We then spent a day crossing the High Andes on a tourist coach, including at stop at 4910m above sea level, which is (literally) breathtaking. We stayed at the stunning Colca Lodge Hotel with hot-springs in its gardens, and went to the Colca Canyon to see the condors rising on the morning thermals. We then went to Puno, and had a day exploring Lake Titikaka including the ancient Uros People who live on floating islands made of reeds. We also saw the lively Puno Carnival. Then we took the ‘Highway of the Sun’ from Puno to Cusco, and stopped to see La Raya, the snow capped mountain that marks the watershed between Lake Titicaca and the Amazon, and to visit the Inca ruins at Rachi, and the astonishingly beautiful Iglesias San Pedro (known as the Sistine Chapel of South America). We had a day exploring the Inca streets of Cusco with a private guide, and stayed in an awesome hotel there, before journeying through the Sacred Valley to spend a night in another great hotel in the ‘Living Inca Town’ of Ollantaytambo where people’s houses are Inca buildings, and the cobbled streets haven’t changed in five centuries. We then made the journey to Aguas Calientes for two days exploring the ‘wonder of the world’ Machu Picchu, including a climb to the top of Huyana Picchu. We actually stayed in South America for a further week to visit friends in Chile, and Heather arranged all our flights and transfers to facilitate this as well, including a night in a well located hotel in Santiago Heather was responsive to queries, both before and during the holiday, and made what (for us) was a big adventure feel safe and secure. We would recommend her to anyone wanting to do a similar trip.
Cicely
Nov 12,2017Fantastic tailor made trip to Peru. Excellent value. Immaculate organisation by agencies 'on the ground'. All guides were superb. All accommodation was fist class--often traditional and full of character . The only aspect which disappointed was the return flight ( Lima - Madrid - Gatwick) which we were obliged to take since no direct flight was available in November. Sadly, Iberia ( BA) did not compare with B.A 'proper'. The flight connections also meant quite a lot of 'lost time' en route, leading to quite a lengthy return journey. I know this is outside the control of DSA! We will certainly recommend you and indeed have already done so. Thank you Jackie and Heather for all you help and advice in setting up the trip. Cicely and Bob Olive
Viktorija
Nov 11,2017Would highly recommend booking through Discover South America! We had a few places in mind in terms of what we wanted to see & do in Peru but weren't sure of the best way to go about organising it all. Heather helped us to plan our itinerary, with suggestions of other things that we might also like to see & the best way to fit it all in. She booked everything including transfers, internal flights, accommodation, tours etc. There is no way that we could have planned everything to run so smoothly ourselves. Having everything so well planned meant absolutely no worry or stress, all we had to do is be up & ready to leave for the designated time. If you're thinking about booking with DSA - do it! You will have the most incredible time! Ian & Viktorija
Jon Ward
Nov 10,2017I knew I wanted to visit Machu Picchu and tried various online firms for prices etc. Jackie was the only person to take interest in what I wanted or thought I wanted. Right from the start she shared her great knowledge and guided me with ideas and suggestions. Together with Heather, they organised everything and drew up a comprehensive agenda for me that covered everything and left me nothing more to do than turn up to start my adventure, which it certainly was. Thank you Jon Ward
Declan Monaghan
Oct 31,2017We booked our trip to Peru with Discover South America, after we had checked their offerings, online. We talked with Heather about our requirements and she was responsive, honest and straightforward and gave us the reassurances we were looking for, given this was to be our introduction to South America. DSA did not disappoint. Everything went like clockwork and we were looked after like VIP’s. The hotels, guides, and transport were all high quality and all we had to do was turn up at the designated times. It was a really rewarding experience. For anyone looking to discover Peru and looking for a tailored solution, we highly recommend Heather and her Company, DSA. Declan & Maria Monaghan - October 2017
Anne and Adrian
Oct 24,2017Our holiday in Peru was wonderful. Heather was very friendly and helpful in the early stages in putting together our itinerary and every part of the trip was fantastic. The local guides were excellent and their programs extremely enjoyable and interesting. The hotels all were comfortable with perfect locations and great service not to mention good breakfasts. The Inca Trail was a highlight and it was a wonderful experience. It was certainly difficult but we were so well looked after and the scenery so amazing I wouldn't have missed it for anything. I certainly would (and do) recommend Discover South America.
Lorna Jane Borrett
Oct 23,2017Discover South America are fantastic. You can pick an itinerary - these are set to get the most out of your time in the country, then change anything you want to tailor make it to you. They are so helpful, and will give you advice on what's best, and will arrange an amazing holiday to an awesome destination. I would not hesitate to recommend this company to anyone wishing to visit this part of the world!
Office 1, Kingsway House, 134/140 Church Road, BN3 2DL, Hove, GB
http://discoversouthamerica.co.uk
Martin Wilkinson
Jun 07,2018We used Discover South America to plan a 4 day trek to Machu Picchu followed by a weeks beach holiday to Cancun. Our agent Heather planned it meticulously, answering all our concerns promptly by email and providing first hand advice on Peru in general. When one of the companies changed the flight schedules she rearranged our itinerary to make it work best for us. Once there things went without a hitch. The hotels she booked for us were excellent and in ideal locations. All in all would highly recommend this company. Very professional and helpful service with a wealth of inside experience of South America. Would definitely use again when we return