South America is home to a plethora of cultures, natural wonders, diverse landscapes and ancient civilisations - there's a lot to fit in and on an A&K Classics journey we'll take you to the heart of this amazing continent, showing you the best it has to offer.

Ecuador & Galapagos are two of South America's highlights, and the mix of culture and wildlife make them a popular combination. Quito was the first city to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and on your first morning an A&K guide will introduce you to its sights and the city's historic cobbled streets. The next leg of your journey will be a seven night cruise in the Galapagos aboard a luxury cruise ship, a vessel built for both adventure and comfort. The Galapagos Islands are home to some of the world's most varied wildlife, and on this trip you will explore Darwin's living laboratory with an expert guide as you go in search of creatures such as the blue-footed booby, Sally Lightfoot crabs, penguins and finches. Returning to dry land after your cruise, visit Otavalo and stay in the grounds of a working hacienda, and visit Cotopaxi National Park, home to the world's highest active volcano.

Our next Classic journey focuses on neighbouring Peru, starting in Lima before moving onto Puerto Maldonado where you'll stay at Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica Lodge. Here you can walk through the lodge's extensive system of jungle trails, visit Rolin Island to see the several species of resident monkey, and canoe up the Madre de Dios River to Lake Sandoval, home to parrots, turtles, piranhas and giant otter. You'll then fly to Cusco and head to the Sacred Valley before making the short journey by train to Machu Picchu. Accompanied by an expert guide, explore the ruins and learn about the lives of the priests, craftsmen and servants who once lived in this seemingly uninhabitable place; and perhaps even take on a famous hiking trail for amazing views over the 'lost city'. Cusco is of course a highlight of any trip to Peru, and you'll have the chance to explore the inca town, visit San Pedro market and explore the ruins of Sacsayhuaman.

An A&K Classics journey to Argentina will reveal the vibrant combination of bustling Buenos Aires with the spectacular landscapes of Bariloche and Iguazú. The journey starts in Buenos Aires, where you'll explore the city's key sights around the central plaza, take a neighbourhood tour of San Telmo and visit artisans at work in La Boca; before watching a dramatic tango show. From Buenos Aires fly down to Bariloche, home to a myriad of streams and lakes framed by snow-capped mountains. The scenery is stunning and sets the bench high for your next stop, Iguazú Falls.

Our final Classics journey offers a great overview of Chile - city, the wine region and desert. As well as exploring Cosmopolitan Santiago you'll drive west to Valparaiso, a historic hill-top port scattered with colourful old houses, and head into the Maipo Valley to sample some of Chile's famous red wines. The Atacama Desert - the driest on earth - is a must-see in Chile, and on this trip you'll have two days to take advantage of the many excursions on offer. Your guide will be on hand to recommend outings to suit your specific interests and requirements, whether that be a 4WD trip, hiking, mountain biking, visiting thermal springs or even star-gazing.

Machu Picchu is THE bucket list sight. The ‘lost city’, hidden in the Andes, is swirled in mist and mystery – the stuff of travel legend. But with a ten days in Peru you can see far more, including a wealth of other incredible Incan sites plus the wilds of the Peruvian Amazon, one of the planet’s wildest, richest spots.

Slip deep into the jungle and hole up in a twinkly, lantern-lit Amazon lodge

Delve into the Peruvian Amazon, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet

Spot monkeys, walk up in the canopy and kayak with piranha from the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica Lodge

Journey into the Sacred Valley to meet llama farmers and discover Inca ruins

Haggle with the locals at Cusco's lively San Pedro market