education

Educational Tours to Central and South America

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So you want to experience the exotic sights and sounds of Latin America! Maybe relax on the beaches of Mexico or head offshore to the Galapagos Islands?

From the gargantuan trees of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil to the ancient cities hidden high in the Peruvian Andes, there’s something for everyone in Second Nature’s vast array of International Tours to Central and South America. Our local guides are ambassadors for their respective countries and provide a uniquely personal perspective on the places we visit so that your students come home impassioned global citizens.

What We Provide 

  • Award-winning educators/ facilitators
  • Local guides in each country visited
  • Itineraries and Flyers
  • Information Sessions at your school or university
  • Transportation options (we arrange flights and provide options for ground and/or water transport)
  • Accommodation options (we provide quotes to utilise the most affordable and most appropriate accommodation to suit your needs)
  • Catering options (all food is covered through our fantastic range of reliable third-party providers)
  • Curriculum-based work-booklets (where requested)
  • Pre/Post Tour Activities (usually a PPP)
  • Risk Assessment (location specific)

Central and South America Tours for School & University/TAFE Groups

Our International Tours for school groups are all-inclusive, affordable and fully customised. Tours are generally facilitated with a cultural, environmental, tourism or design technology focus depending on a school or university’s preferences.

Cultural Programs spend time exploring the ideologies, history, customs, arts and foods that differentiate countries visited. They encourage interaction with local peoples and expose students to different modes of living.

Environmental Programs concentrate on immersion and adventure in exceptional natural environments. They allow contextual exploration of Environmental Management principles and deliver a strong conservation message.

Tourism Programs focus on the Tourism Industry including drivers, challenges and innovations. They investigate major tourist attractions from an economic and environmental perspective to evaluate the sustainability of current operations.

Design Technology Programs investigate Sustainable Development in the context of megacities like Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. They showcase innovations in architecture, agriculture and tourism.

The flexible design of our International Tours means itineraries can be adapted to fulfil curriculum requirements for any of the following subjects: Geography, Biology, Earth & Environmental Science, Marine Science, Investigating Science, Agricultural Science, Languages, History and Tourism. Schools or universities can experience one of our pre-existing itineraries or choose from a variety of incredible destinations to build a program that perfectly suits their needs.

Destination Highlights

Any number of destinations from this list can be combined in a customised tour itinerary for your school or university group. Enquire now.

Colombia

  • Seamlessly walk between rainforests and beach at Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona
  • Embark on a challenging 4-day trek to the ‘Lost City’
  • Stay on a traditional coffee estancia in the heart of the growing region
  • Explore arts and culture in Medellin
  • Experience the Cocora Valley with its colourful birdlife and towering palm trees
  • Wander through the monasteries and mansions of Cartagena
  • …and so much more!

 

Mexico

·       Stumble upon the ruins of Aztec Temple Mayor in the middle of Mexico city

·       Explore the incredible pre-Aztec city of Teootihuacan (‘City of the Gods’)!

·       Cruise down the colourful canals of Xochimilco

·       Hike to Tepozteco, a cliff top shrine dedicated to the Aztec God of Pulque

·       Stroll the winding cobblestone lanes of Taxco

·       Wander the capitol of the ancient Zapotec civilisation at Monte Alban

  • See the famous Chichen Itza!
  • Observe a flock of flamingos at Celestun
  • Snorkel and play at the eccentric Xcaret eco-archaeological Park
  • …and so much more!

Ecuador and Galapagos Islands

  • Try to balance on the equator at Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
  • Rise through the clouds to 4500km above sea level on Quito’s TeleferiQo
  • Wander the cobblestone streets of La Ronda
  • Hike the edges of Cotopaxi, one of the world’s highest active volcanoes
  • Snorkel with baby sea lions on Isla San Cristobal
  • Swim with turtles on a black sand beach at Isla Floreana
  • Spy on nesting blue-footed boobies and their newborn chicks
  • Visit the Galapagos Tortoise Breeding Centre on Isla Isabela
  • …and so much more!

Peru

  • Try a warm churro in Lima, Peru’s capitol
  • Visit a Quechuan village where Indigenous people live by traditional means
  • See monkeys and macaws in the Amazon Basin at Puerto Maldonado
  • Learn about innovations in Incan agriculture and construction at Ollantaytambo
  • Hike the Inca trail from the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu
  • Explore the vibrant capital of the Incan empire, Cusco!
  • Float atop the world’s highest freshwater lake at Lake Titicaca
  • Visit an Indigenous community on one of the famous floating islands
  • …and so much more!

Chile

  • Learn to surf at Valparaiso
  • Discover the mysterious stone heads of Easter Island
  • Sit in the open air at Plaza de Armas in Santiago
  • Stand by Las Tres Marías salt formation in the Valley of the Moon
  • Search for flamingos on the Atacama Salt Flats
  • Float in the salty waters of Cejar lagoon
  • Delve into the rich history of South America at Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino
  • …and so much more!

Brazil

  • Join the crowds at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro
  • Witness the colourful parades at Carnival in February
  • Visit the iconic Christ the Redeemer sculpture
  • Trek through the Amazon jungle on the lookout for monkeys and macaws
  • Go fishing for piranha in the Amazon River
  • Cruise the river at night to spot caimans on the banks
  • Snorkel the crystal-clear waters of Ilha Grande
  • …and so much more!

Argentina

  • Stand beneath the towering cascades of Iguazu Falls
  • Learn to Tango at a remodelled Cathedral in Buenos Aires
  • Walk through the frozen landscape at Los Glaciares National Park
  • See 10,000-year-old cave paintings at Cueva de las Manos
  • Stand under red mountains on the colonial streets of Salta!
  • Visit Museo Pachamama to learn about Indigenous history, arts and culture
  • Enjoy a traditional Argentinian barbecue feast
  • …and so much more!

More Information

Tour Outcomes
  • Enhancement of curricular learning through the contextualisation of course content
  • Appreciation for the diversity of cultures that exist on Earth
  • Respect for people who abide by different beliefs and cultural practices
  • Sense of adventure and a willingness to try new things (including food)
  • Independence in learning and problem solving
  • Expansion of vocabulary in one or more languages
  • Memories of a truly unique and life-changing experience
Example Itinerary 1: Mexico

Below is an example itinerary with a focus on culture in Mexico.

Day 1 Australia -> Los Angeles
Day 2 Los Angeles -> Mexico City
Day 3 Presidential Palace, Templo Mayor, Zocalo and Palace of Fine Arts
Day 4 Teotihuacan and Frida Kahlo Museum
Day 5 Xochimilco
Day 6 Tepoztlan and Taxo
Day 7 Travel to Oaxaca
Day 8 Monte Alban and Oaxaca city tour
Day 9 Mitla and San Cristobal de las Casas
Day 10 Sumidero Canyon and Indigenous Markets
Day 11 Blue Waterfalls and Palenque
Day 12 Campeche
Day 13 Loltun Caves and Ancient Mayan City of Uxmal. End the day in Merida
Day 14 Merida and Celestun (flamingoes)
Day 15 Chichen Itza and Tulum ruins
Day 16 Xcaret Eco-archeological Park
Day 17 Cancun -> Los Angeles
Day 18 Los Angeles -> Australia

 

Example Itinerary2: Highlights of South America

Below is an example itinerary with a focus on culture and environment in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

Day 1 Australia -> Quito (Ecuador)
Day 2 Plaza Grande, La Mariscal and Calle de la Ronda
Day 3 Board a liveaboard boat (Galapagos Islands) for birdwatching and snorkeling
Day 4 Hike South Plaza Island and snorkel Santa Fé!
Day 5 Charles Darwin Research Centre, Devil’s Crown and Cormorant Point
Day 6 Dragon Hill, then travel to Lima (Peru)
Day 7 Larco Museum and Old Town
Day 8 Check into eco-lodge at Puerto Maldonado for night spotlighting
Day 9 Full-day hike through the Amazon Rainforest!
Day 10 Cruise along Tambopata River and visit local villages in canoes
Day 11 Travel to Cusco for evening city tour
Day 12 Sacred Valley
Day 13 Aguas Calientes and Chavez Ballon Museum
Day 14 Machu Picchu!
Day 15 Travel to Puno with sites to explore along the way!
Day 16 Lake Titicaca including Uros Floating Islands and Taquille Island
Day 17 Travel to La Paz (Bolivia) via Copacobana, Moon and Sun Islands
Day 18 City tour and free evening in La Paz!
Day 19 Valle de La Luna and Coroico
Day 20 La Paz -> Santiago
Day 21 Santiago -> Australia
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