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Ancient civilisations

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Latin America boasts a rich and fascinating pre-colonial history, with vast cities and pyramids waiting to be explored, in the company of expert archaeologists and our most knowledgeable guides who can bring these ancient ruins to life.

The ancients of the Americas brought a cultural richness, unique religious beliefs and a vast set of sophisticated skills to this continent long before Europeans set foot on land here.

From the numerous cities constructed by the mighty Mayan and Aztec empires of Central America to the citadels and agricultural terraces created by the Inca civilisation further south, some of the largest pyramids and man-made structures on the planet can still be admired today.

Often in remote locations either through a dense jungle canopy or via steep mountain passes, many of these sites have only in recent decades been uncovered and many of the less well known sites still have much excavation work to do by archaeologists to find out their full history.

Of course, some of these fabulous ancient cities are well-known to many of us and form some of Latin America’s most iconic images. Discover the incredible construction skills of the Inca at Sacsayhuaman outside Cusco in Peru, before heading off to the breath-taking lost city of Machu Picchu, so well hidden in the Andes that the Spanish conquerors never found it.

Leave the beautiful white sand beaches of Mexico’s Riviera Maya behind to explore the spectacular pyramids of Chichen Itza, the most famous of Mexico’s Mayan cities. Even today, the Maya civilisation is admired for its knowledge of astronomy, mathematics and architecture, and many remote villages still worship using ancient Mayan ceremonies and speak Mayan dialects, so powerful was their legacy.

For those fascinated by pre-columbian history, the continent offers a whole wealth of places to explore, whatever your interests. We have some incredible local experts who are passionate about preserving their ancient history and sharing its stories with you.

Many of the lesser known sites are no less rewarding to visit but require a little more effort to get there, whether by multi-day hike or along steep winding but spectacular unpaved mountain roads, perfect for those with an added sense of adventure.

Uncover the pre-Inca mysteries of the Moche and Chachapoyan people on one of our Peru adventure tours into the unexplored North, where ancient temple sites of burial and sacrifice, hundreds of pyramids in the desert and mountain top walled citadels tower over the remote landscapes.

Marvel at the enormous Aztec, Toltec and Olmec pyramids in central Mexico, and explore the incredible Mayan cities from southern Mexico into Guatemala, Belize and Honduras with many sites offering incredible carved stone stellae or richly coloured wall murals in the heart of dense rainforest.

We will gladly discuss the sites we think are the most impressive, the most off the beaten track or the most adventurous to get to, depending on you and how you like to travel. We will get you there in comfort, offer you some insightful and passionate local expert guides and shine a light for you on some of Latin America’s most fascinating ancient civilisations.


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As a guide, the cost of our extraordinary and utterly bespoke journeys tends to start from $1200 per person per day excluding international flights.

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