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South America Tours & Trips

Book a South American tour and join in the magic of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, or trek the Andes and marvel at the beauty of the natural sceneries that will reveal themselves to you. Discover incredible tour packages and witness first hand the beauties of South America. Find here all the South America backpacking tours , the best South America travel specialists , the best backpacking groups  and the best South America honeymoon packages .

250+ South America tour packages with 10,988 reviews

The Great South American Journey: Quito to Rio Adventure Tour

The Great South American Journey: Quito to Rio Adventure

This is the best G adventures tour I have done in terms of itinerary and people I was traveling with. I had a fantastic time with a great group of people. The only feedback I will give G is I feel the CEO guides are pressured to get 9s or 10s in their reviews and hence transmit that to us which made me not leave a review on the G website as I felt I could not be completely honest without harming the tour guides' rating. This culture should change if you want constructive feedback. I loved all 4 of my CEOs on my tour but 2 of them were outstanding (10/10s) and I felt as a result of above, I could not give them the credit they were due without causing harm to the other 2 who were also good but more 7/10s.

Lima to Rio: Coast to Coast Tour

  • In-depth Cultural

Lima to Rio: Coast to Coast

Amazing tour, I will keep great memories from it

PERU EXPRESS - 10 days (Lima- Cusco & Puno) with Domestic Flights Tour

  • Christmas & New Year

PERU EXPRESS - 10 days (Lima- Cusco & Puno) with Domestic Flights

It was a professional tour. Everything was planned already flawless. Accommodations can be better; however, it is expected according to tour price. I dont recommend Puno as a city if food is an important part of your vacation. Leoned is informative, helpful on our tour which passed well with full memories. Thanks Italo, Ernesto and Marita!

From Buenos Aires to La Paz via Uyuni (15 Nights) Tour

From Buenos Aires to La Paz via Uyuni (15 Nights)

This tour was excellent. I would give it 9.5 out of 10 for planning and 9 out of 10 for execution. Value for money was better than 10 out of 10. I have some comments to help you improve your services. Your tour schedule either printed without the RH side if done in letter format, or without the bottom bit if done in landscape. Once the tourist has booked the trip, they do not need all the pictures and marketing guff: dump it, in favour of a more readable itinerary. The tourist needs to know what happens when. Full details of place and time are needed. A tour should indicate not only what time it starts, but also how long it is and what else is necessary. For example you included generic statement that park fees were the tourist's responsibility, but he main Bolivia park fee was incorrect, and there were 2 other park fees that had to be paid which were a surprise. The tourist needs to plan their currency availability. they need to know exactly which days they cross borders, for example. Being picked up in BA is very good, especially as the tourist arrive without A pesos. If the tourist needs to go from bus station to accommodation or accommodation to bus station, then they need to know, how to get there, approx cost of taxi etc, and how to ask for it. Several tours arrive late, I guess that is South America. One day our tour did not arrive atall, but we were rebooked for the following day. No worries. We had booked a private room. The accommodation in the Bolivia Park did not have a private room, unless it had a private bathroom (which we had not contracted for), so they charged us about $30 extra. I have no real problem with paying that and I am not asking for anything from you, but if a private room is not available, you should not promise it. :) The accommodation in BA and the Selina hostals was excellent. Please ensure that all guides are english speaking: most were but our excellent drive in Bolivia was Spanish only. :( Leaving us at midday in Uyuni to wait for a 9:30 bus was a pain in the arse. Overall, well done, we will definitely consider using tourradar again. John Parkinson

Buenos Aires to Rio Explorer Tour

Buenos Aires to Rio Explorer

Good variety of experiences and excellent guides.

Best of Galapagos Tour

Best of Galapagos

4 day/3 night Galapagos Flash - 4**** Hotel tour is really abysmal and a waste of money despite being 'cheap'. My wife and I went on the basis of having only a limited time in the Galapagos, therefore wanting something booked in advance to reduce the pressure of seeing as much as possible. In fact we could have utilised our time much more effectively if we'd self-coordinated. Let me start by saying this tour is not cheap, far from it, we paid £1300 between us for this package. Day 1: you are met at Baltra airport by a guide from Gray line (tourradars local tour operator on the ground in galapagos) - she was on time and very amicable, but then you have to still pay for the public bus to get to the port from the airport- I'm sure that $5 each should be covered within the total amount paid. We arrive at the port, the boat across to Santa cruz was paid for (we later found our this is only $1 per person), as was the taxi on the other side to take us to Puerto Ayora (the main town in Santa Cruz) - essentially where everyone stays as a hub. On the way we went to the tortoise ecological reserve and were given a private tour here but in reality, were only relayed limited information for a location that only costs a nominal single digit dollar entry fee ( you can do this on your own!)- to get here you can take a taxi from the main town once you've settled in to your hotel, if feeling more active you could also cycle. Next we moved on quickly to the Charles Darwin station - again very small entry fee and most of the information is on information placards around the path of the tour around the grounds - really another thing I'd advise you don't need to book a tour for these elements of the itinerary. We then arrived at the hotel just after 5, check in to the hotel was seamless and I must say the hotel was very good, checking online it was around £170per night, so for our 3 nights would have only totalled £510- struggling to see where the near other £800 was accounted. Day 2: your tour guide picks you up at your hotel on a timely fashion to take you to tortuga bay and playa mansa - they pay for your cab to tortuga bay ($2 max). Then you walk down a single path all the way to the beach - there is no entrance fee and again we learnt very little about the island and the location we were visiting as our same tour guide (although very nice), can reel off a set script of information but whenever we asked questions she couldn't understand them and we just had to move on. Later she disclosed she's only been learning English for the last 8 months and perhaps this showed in her lack of receptive comprehension. She walks with you all the way over the initial beach - Playa Brava and takes you to Playa Mansa - all of which you can do yourself for free as she didn't speak to us the whole walk along the beach anyway. They then give you some autonomous time to dip into the water at Playa Mansa - you can get a kayak if you'd like aswell (at your own cost). She waits on the side for an hour. It seems essentially you're paying for someone to escort you on a free activity. We arrived back at the hotel by 11.15am and then had 2.5 hours of time to 'rest' and eat our own lunch as you are not on a tour any longer. In the afternoon we followed our guides instructions to meet at the tour stall next to the church at the port area in Santa Cruz - a short walk from the hotel. We were due to be doing the shared Bahia tour - which is a land and sea tour. This is essentially a locals tour, with everyone apart from us speaking Spanish natively. Luckily the tour guide spoke excellent English and he translated everytime after explaining parts in Spanish but given our experience up to now we were afraid that we'd been lumbered onto a Spanish speaking tour. This tour itself was decent for a half day tour - but half day tours are well under $100pp - again struggling to see where the money goes. Day 3 - is a free day for yourself - which you know about in advance and actually lucky that you have it as you get to book your own tour doing your own research - but piece of advice - do it on the day you arrive as they get booked up fast - don't book it online as it's cheaper in person in the Galapagos. Day 4: because of travel complications with our flight we had to leave at 7am rather than 8.30 and didn't have time for the 'brief tour of Los gemelos'- this is also a free activity that I would recommend you could do at the same time as the eco tortoise reserve and Charles Darwin. We asked, but they couldn't adjust our transfer to the port so we had to pay $25 ourselves for a private taxi to get to the port, even though on the printed itinerary we received from our tour guide said it was a private transfer. We in fact spent around 40 minutes on the phone with them trying to explain this to 3 different people who didn't seem to understand what we meant. Having now been to the Galapagos Islands and seen the cost and quality of tours available, this package tour leaves an extremely sour taste in the mouth. I only hope that reading this will leave you with a greater understanding that this tour charges you a lot for free things and you'd be much better off using your time on the Galapagos booking your own tours and doing your own activities at a fraction of the price - so save your money and don't book!

South America: Glaciers, Water Falls & World Wonders Tour

South America: Glaciers, Water Falls & World Wonders

What an amazing organisation. Our thanks go out to Wendy, Rose, Sam and Alberto. We never knew who did what, you did it so seamlessly (the phone numbers were a hint). Your daily messages on WhatsApp were so helpful. We would like to express our gratitude and admiration for your team. The prompt reply to any queries we had and the coordination of our pickups and delivery, made our trip extremely comfortable and trouble free. Our thanks to all, Beth and Derick.

Premium Peru, Chile & Argentina (14 destinations) Tour

  • Jungle Trekking
  • Sightseeing

Premium Peru, Chile & Argentina (14 destinations)

Brazil and Argentina with Iguazu Falls 4 Star Tour

Brazil and Argentina with Iguazu Falls 4 Star

Great communication with the company and with daily reminders and updates made travel in South America much easier. Plenty of free time to further explore after organised tours with excellent guides. Good quality accommodation in safe and well located areas.

INCA ADVENTURES - 7 Days  (Lima and Cusco) with Domestic Flights Tour

INCA ADVENTURES - 7 Days (Lima and Cusco) with Domestic Flights

I had a great experience with tourradar. Ronald was an amazing tour guide. His passion and knowledge about his culture shone through his words and stories. His patience with our group was comforting. He helped us push through difficult moments in our hike in Machu Picchu and up to rainbow mountain. I highly recommend them.

7 Day Cusco Travel Package: Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Humantay Lake, and Rainbow Mountain. Tour

7 Day Cusco Travel Package: Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Humantay Lake, and Rainbow Mountain.

Glad I used Tour Radar! It was my first time using this website for my trip and it didnt disappoint me. I’ll definitely be a constant user of tour radar. The local tour agency that I used was Kantu Peru Tour agency. The tour was phenomenal. Kantu Tours really exerted their best effort to make my travel a lifetime to remember. They placed me in a a very nice hotel in the heart of Cusco. The daily itineraries were crafted well. There’s always a communication that Wadhir send at the end of the day to check how was my day and to give me a heads up on what will be the expectations the following day. He was consistent throughout the 7day tour. I would like to give special mention to the tour guide and driver on November 21, which was my birthday - Jose and Freddy( as he call himself Freddy Krugger) ???? for Rainbow Mountain and also November 22 for Humantay lake ( Driver Eustavio and tour guide Freddy) They were very attentive to the needs of all the people in the van. They made sure that he offers help when needed. Freddy with his jolly self made the climb in Rainbow Mountain and Humantay lake a breeze. He is very knowledgeable on the history and facts of the place we toured. Another thing that was memorable was when Kantu Tours gave me a surprise birthday cake to celebrate my birthday and make it more memorable. Thank you Kantu Peru!!! It is my first time using Kantu Peru tours but i would say that this won’t be the last. I would definitely use it again and recommend to all my friends ( which i did already) Again, thank you Kantu Peru and Freddy and see you again!!

Journey Across South America - 19 Days Tour

Journey Across South America - 19 Days

The tour was well organized and covered an extraordinary amount of ground.

Ultimate South America Tour

Ultimate South America

My wife fell sick in Sacred Valley. Thereafter, all the expenses I had to bear till 26th check out. Though I had paid for all the 18 nights. I had to pay for Cusco airport fares and Lima airport transportation that too heavy amount. When my wife fell sick we paid about 2200 us dollars also in hospital. Therefore, you should help us returning our hotel and transportation charges.

19-Days Epic South American Adventure; 4 Countries in 1 trip Tour

19-Days Epic South American Adventure; 4 Countries in 1 trip

  • Book With Flexibility This operator allows you to rebook your dates or tours with them for free, waiving change fees.

The Explorer (Train To Machu Picchu, 18 Days) Tour

The Explorer (Train To Machu Picchu, 18 Days)

The tour was well worth the money, there were a lot of travel days but everything we did was worth it
  • €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Reviews of South America Tours

This is the best G adventures tour I have done in terms of itinerary and people I was traveling with. I had a fantastic time with a great group of people. The only feedback I will give G is I feel the CEO guides are pressured to get 9s or 10s in their reviews and hence transmit that to us which made me not leave a review on the G website as I felt I could not be completely honest without harming the tour guides' rating. This culture should change if you want constructive feedback. I loved all 4 of my CEOs on my tour but 2 of them were outstanding (10/10s) and I felt as a result of above, I could not give them the credit they were due without causing harm to the other 2 who were also good but more 7/10s.
Great trip, we saw a lot of Peru, but the day tours took up too much of our time such that there was minimal time to enjoy the cities.
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  • Deutsch: Südamerika Rundreisen 2024/2025
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  • Work with Me

The Ultimate South America Itinerary – Plus Useful Travel Tips

Planning your south america itinerary.

South America has long been on my bucket list and therefore 9 months ago I found myself putting together my ultimate South America itinerary – determined to cram as many life-changing experiences into a 10 week trip as possible.

I started by listing all my South America must-sees and prioritising those I had lusted after for the longest, namely Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. I knew I wanted a good mix of wildlife, landscapes and culture with a few cities thrown in for good measure. As a keen dancer, the opportunity to dance would be a real bonus so Argentina and Brazil made it onto my South America bucket list .

An important thing to consider when planning your ultimate South America itinerary is the climate. It varies wildly from country to country and you need to take this into account when planning your route through South America. For example, the Inca Trail is actually closed for part of the rainy season as it’s too slippy and dangerous. When it dry and sunny in Brazil, you’ll find it’s sub-zero up a mountain in the Andes.

So for me, leaving in October, the route had to start west and work eastwards. This meant I could fit in some Andes mountain trekking before the rainy season hit and also meant that I got my fix of sunshine and caipirinhas on the beach in Rio before my flight home. Win-win.

** Pssst, this article may contain affiliate links. If you have no idea what this means, click here and everything will be explained!**

What you can expect from this article...

  • 1.1 South America by Plane
  • 1.2 South America on Tour
  • 1.3 South America by Hop on Hop off Bus
  • 1.4 South America by Local Bus
  • 2 Planning Your South America Itinerary Budget
  • 3.1 The Galapagos Eastern Islands
  • 3.2 The Galapagos Central Islands
  • 3.3 The Galapagos Southern Islands
  • 4.2 Machu Picchu
  • 4.3 Lake Titicaca
  • 4.5 Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats
  • 4.6 The Bolivian Altiplano
  • 5.1 San Pedro
  • 5.2 El Cafayate Wine Tasting
  • 5.3 Stay on a Ranch or Estancia in rural Argentina
  • 5.4 Get your Tango on in Buenos Aires
  • 6.2 How long?
  • 6.3 Foz do Igauzu Falls
  • 6.5 South Pantanal
  • 6.7 Rio de Janeiro
  • 7.1 Guatapé, Colombia.
  • 7.2 The W trek, Torres del Paine,  Patagonia
  • 7.3 Ushuaia, Argentina
  • 7.4 The Amazon Jungle
  • 7.5 More Useful Resources and Links for Planning your South American Trip
  • 7.6 Further Reading

How to get around South America

If you’ve travelled in South East Asia or Europe , you are probably used to getting about by train. However, there aren’t many trains in South America so you will be better off getting about by bus or plane.

South America by Plane

Whilst South America, in general, is not that cheap, getting about by plane is not as expensive as you may imagine as long as you don’t mind small rickety planes! Booked well in advance, you can get short international flights such as Cuzco to La Paz for $50-70. The airports are pretty straightforward.

I booked my flights with trusty Skyscanner – personally, I find this to be the best tool to find the biggest variety of flights at the best prices.

South America on Tour

To save the hassle of finding your own way about, one option is to join a tour . This is possibly the easiest way to pack a LOT of highlights into your South America itinerary in a short time period. You can focus on enjoying the highlights and not having to worry about the practicalities.

I’ve taken a few G Adventures tours in South America and they were great! Brilliant informative tour leaders , well organised and decent transport (mostly air-conditioned minibuses!)

Whilst I haven’t used Intrepid in South America, I have sampled their trips in Africa and South East Asia and again, I was very impressed. Their trips are actually very similar. Check them out and see if any of their South America Itineraries takes your fancy!

I spent a large chunk of my own Latin America itinerary travelling with Dragoman . These are participation, overlanding tours where you camp 50% of the time and stay in hotels and guesthouses the rest.

These are slightly cheaper than G Adventures and Intrepid so great if you’re on a tight budget. However, my preference is still for G Adventures as you get more included activities, smaller groups and local guides. They also work with more local projects to give back to the countries where you travel. That said I would definitely do another overlanding tour as they are a lot of fun!

Check out the trip I took HERE .

south america journey

South America by Hop on Hop off Bus

Perhaps the best of both worlds, this style of travel will allow you the freedom of doing it your own way with the convenience of jumping on a bus headed straight for the tourist attractions of hot spots in South America. The Bamba Experience is one of the most popular companies that organise hop on hop off trips.

South America by Local Bus

Sometimes it can be tricky finding the right bus and understanding timetables and prices when you don’t speak the local lingo. BusBud has provided a great solution for that – a website where you can search for local bus journeys in almost any country and in multiple currencies.

Planning Your South America Itinerary Budget

Without a doubt, the most expensive place to visit in South America is going to be The Galapagos Islands but boy is it worth it!! Being 1000Km off the mainland and with restricted numbers of visitors allowed on the islands at any given time, a trip to The Galapagos comes with a hefty price tag!

Spending time in Brazil is also pretty pricey with Chile and Argentina not far behind. If you want to make your pennies stretch further, you’ll want to spend more time in Bolivia and Peru. Bolivia particularly is cheap as chips. I would say if you are being careful, you could survive on $20-25/day in Bolivia whereas Brazil will set you back $50-70 per day.

My 9-week trip set me back $14000 which may seem like a lot of money, however, this included a week’s cruise in The Galapagos (which accounted for a whopping $3000) and I took several budget tours in order to pack a lot into a limited amount of time.

If I had the luxury of time, I would have travelled solo and I expect it would have been significantly cheaper! It really depends on what your priorities are! At that particular time, seeing as much as possible in a short time frame was mine.

For more practical tips for your trip to South America, check out my article: 20 Useful Tips for Travel in South America. Whatever you do, don’t forget to invest in a decent camera before your trip to South America! There are SO many great photo opportunities! I use a Sony A7iii yet but it’s pretty pricey so if you’re newer to photography I recommend this one or this one .

Ok so let’s get onto the good bit… What should be on your South America Bucket list?! Let’s get planning your South America Itinerary!

The Great Big South America Bucket List

South america itinerary 1 – the galapagos islands.

Best for Wildlife and Scenery

$200-300 per day if you take a cruise and $160+ for a land-based Galapagos island hopping trip . Remember to factor in tips for your crew! Read more about travelling the Galapagos on a budget and booking a budget Galapagos cruise

7-10 days. Most trips will start from Quito on the mainland so factor a day or two either side of your boat trip. A week actually exploring the Galapagos Islands is about right.

You could easily spend longer but a week will allow you to tick off most of the big wildlife and scenic attractions and will give you a good flavour of the islands. If you cut your trip short, there’s a chance you’ll miss out on the best bits like getting the opportunity to snorkel with sea lions!

Where to stay

Most Galapagos trips are boat based so your board and food will all be included. So it might be pricey but at least you know exactly how much money you will need.

You will undoubtedly save money by staying on dry land and arranging day trips but be warned, you’ll likely have to deal with bigger crowds and will spend a lot of time on the boats getting to the islands. There may also be certain highlights which you’ll miss without taking a boat.

The cruise ships and stay-onboard boats will sale overnight to maximise your time exploring the islands and get you there before the other tourists arrive which was a huge perk.

Since I have been desperate to visit the Galapagos for over 10 years, I really went to town on my research to get the best trip covering the most highlights but at the best price. I settled on a Gadventures boat called The Monserrat – I highly recommend it. I didn’t find any better prices and the trip was fantastic from start to finish! (The food by-the-way was to die for!) Check out the Galapagos tour I took .

To see other Galapagos options for all budgets, click here .

For a Galapagos packing list, click here .

south america journey

The Galapagos Eastern Islands

Best for beautiful scenery

Visit Isla Lobos for some close encounters with frigate birds and blue-footed boobies. There are SO many sea lions here. A great place to start your Galapagos adventure!

Another eastern highlight is Cerro Brujo – possibly the prettiest beach I’ve ever had the privilege to visit. Unspoilt bright white sand and azure ocean in stark contrast with the black volcanic rock dotted with the occasional marine iguana or sea lion. I think this was one of my biggest ‘Wow’ moments in South America!

See a sample eastern island itinerary here .

The Galapagos Central Islands

Best for rugged scenery

The scenery in the central islands is more varied and rugged. See the black lava formations at Sullivan Bay on Santiago and whilst you’re there, snorkel off the beach – this is where I spotted my first shark!

Take a hike to the viewpoint on the volcanic islet Bartolome island. The views are beautiful but beware the wind!

If you want to catch sight of the elusive land iguana (much harder to spot than marine iguanas,) head to Cerro Dragon. We were lucky to see two on our nature walk here!

For giant tortoises, head over to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz. Here you will find the Charles Darwin Conservation Centre, a great place to start and learn about the tortoises’ history on the island. Then head into the hinterlands to spot some in the wild!

If you are lucky you might spot a pod of wild orcas as we did. They may even put on a show for you like we were lucky to witness. That said, you are more likely to see whales on the western islands which I didn’t get chance to visit.

Check out a sample central islands itinerary here .

The Galapagos Southern Islands

Best for wildlife

For me, the best snorkel trip I took in The Galapagos was off the boat, not far from Espanola island. The most colourful coral I’ve ever seen but the best part was swimming with sea lions. There were so many of them and all fairly young which meant they were super playful.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say this was the absolute TOP moment of my South America trip! Between Cerro Brujo and here, The Galapagos Islands were scoring pretty high marks!

Another highlight of the Southern Islands was Floreana. This was absolute wildlife paradise. Here you can see the rarely spotted Galapagos Albatross and you will see so many marine iguanas – they lie on top of each other to keep warm so there will actually be piles of them! Hundreds of iguanas basking in the sun, careful not to step on them! Don’t worry, they are a lot more placid than they look!

Check out a sample southern islands itinerary here .

South America Itinerary 2 – Peru to Bolivia

Best for Scenery Seekers 

$20-40. You can do it really cheap but this budget will allow you a decent hotel room and the occasional luxury.

2-4 weeks. You can cover the main highlights (Inca Trail, Lake Titicaca, Bolivian Altiplano) in a fortnight but you may want to allow yourself longer to travel at a more relaxed pace.

Where to Stay

Since accommodation is cheap as chips here, I’d recommend splashing out on budget hotels and guesthouses . Save the hostels for the more pricey countries!

Top Tip: If you plan to do the Inca Trail, you will need to be super organised! Inca Trail permits need to be bought well in advance – often as early as 6 months! On writing this article in April, the next available permits are for October! If you don’t get yours in time, there are plenty of great alternative treks so don’t panic!

And another Top Tip (I’m good to you like that…) Pack lot’s of layers! The temperature can vary from glorious 25 degrees plus to minus figures within just a matter of hours. This can make it tricky to pack for South America but fear not, I’ve got you covered with my South America Packing Guide !

Previously the capital of the Inca Empire, this attractive city is made beautiful by the well preserved Spanish colonial architecture and is well-positioned in the stunning Andes Mountains in Peru.

Beware it is at 3400 metres altitude so take your time climbing the stairs here!

There are oodles of beautiful churches and colourful markets to explore but you can also use Cuzco as a great base for getting out into the surrounding mountains and visiting a few Inca sites.

Check out these day trips from Cuzco – everything from day hikes to pisco sours tasting!

Machu Picchu

Okay, you can’t really miss out this iconic site from your South America Itinerary, let’s face it! The question is not really IF you should visit it, but more HOW.

You could catch a scenic train ride or you could (and should in my humble opinion) take a trek to get there. Why you ask?! Well because the scenery is stunning and you won’t really get the full experience by seeing it from a train window! So providing you are in a reasonable state of fitness, book yourself onto one of the several treks in the area. You won’t regret it!

The Inca Trail is obviously the most well known. Book well ahead and prepare to be one of many of the trail. The scenery is diverse, beautiful and leads you straight to Machu Picchu plus you can say you did the actual Inca Trail which totally gives you street cred! Check out options for the Inca Trail here .

Another great alternative is the Lares Trek.

The Lares is much quieter, it’ll be just you, your team and the llamas. You may see an occasional farmer but otherwise, you’ll have the trail pretty much to yourself. It goes to a higher altitude 4800 metres so you can brag about that to your Inca trail friends! The scenery is absolutely mind-blowing. I asked my guide which trail he preferred, his answer? The Lares Trek every time!

Read about my Lares experience here .

Or see the G Adventures trip that I took here .

Lake Titicaca

Situated at 3800 metres altitude, Lake Titicaca is really unique and not just because it is the worlds highest lake. What makes it truly unique are the local’s who live by it and even on it! You can take a tour of the local reed villages – yes made ENTIRELY of reed. The local inhabitants make a living by fishing and trading the fish at local markets.

You can easily arrange a homestay at one of the farming villages on the lakeside.  See inside a traditional Peruvian farm, eat with the family and experience traditional cuisine that you won’t get in restaurants and then help out with the farm work the next day.

Don’t be put off by the fact that many won’t speak English. We muddled by using a mixture of English words the children learnt in school, my VERY poor Spanish, lots of miming and showing photos on our phones of our homes, pets and families!

The capital city of Bolivia, La Paz, is quite an experience especially if you take a taxi from the airport… Whilst you’re here, visit the Witches markets – dried llama fetus, anyone?! Also, take a cable car trip and get amazing views of this huge city!

Check out tours of La Paz and nearby HERE

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats

Visit the worlds largest salt plane – 11000 sq Km of bright white desert created when a prehistoric lake dried up leaving these vast salt planes dotted with little cacti islands! Enjoy taking some great perspective photos here. If you visit in the rainy season, you may get beautiful reflection photos.

Check out tours to Salar De Uyuni here .

The Bolivian Altiplano

The scenery here will have you speechless. There’s not a lot to ‘do’ here per se but I personally was entranced by the scenery that the long drive from Salar de Uyuni was actually one of my trip highlights. See the spurting bubbling geysers, find aqua and red lakes filled with flamingos and see desert which stretches for miles. For more inspiration, see my photos to inspire your trip to Bolivia.

Click here for tours to the Bolivean Altiplano

I travelled in Bolivia with Dragoman , see the exact trip here .

South America Itinerary 3 – San Pedro to Buenos Aires

Best for wine and dancing

$30-60. Chile and Argentina are much more expensive than Bolivia but slightly cheaper than Brazil so expect to pay a bit more in some restaurants and for tours.

The prices are not dissimilar to western countries so expect to pay similar to what you pay back home (unless home is Bolivia.)

This route will take 2-3 weeks to cover properly.

As prices are beginning to rise, this may be the time to consider staying in hostels. Most hostels have private rooms if you like a bit of privacy on a budget. Hostels are also a great way to meet people! I use booking.com to find hostels and hotels and usually find they have a great selection of accommodations and you can easily search for your specification – a swimming pool and a hot tub puh-lease!

Ah, I LOVED this place. From the cute little shops lining the streets to the drinking holes that look like they’ve been taken straight from a western movie, San Pedro certainly has character. You definitely shouldn’t miss this one off your South America Itinerary!

I also didn’t have a single bad meal here – the food was Ah-mazing! It’s a great place to arrange trips to Moon Valley and into Bolivia for the Altiplano.

There are so many outdoorsy activities to do here, you won’t be short of things to do! The scenery at Moon Valley, in particular, is just stunning! See my San Pedro guide for more info.

There are so many things to do in this area from horse riding to star gazing. Check out some options HERE.

El Cafayate Wine Tasting

Head to Argentina next and so some wine tasting in the beautiful countryside at El Cafayate. Then go out for a juicy Argentinian steak washed down with some delicious merlot! There are wineries both in the countryside and in town that you can visit. Some trips need to be pre-arranged but often you can just turn up and join the next tour or tasting session.

Stay on a Ranch or Estancia in rural Argentina

Experience the real rural Argentina on an estancia stay. Several estancias (or cattle ranches) offer accommodation and activities such as horse riding and wildlife watching. Check out these estancias near Buenos Aires .

Learn to swing a lasso like a real cowgirl or indulge in an Argentinian BBQ. I stayed at Estancia Los Potreros and had an absolute ball! In addition to the activities above, we also had more wine tasting and a music session with some local cowboys. Read about it here.

Get your Tango on in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is a brilliant city! Colourful and diverse, traditional yet cosmopolitan, this city has a lot to offer travellers.

This super colourful neighbourhood is popular with tourists so it can get busy – go early in the morning to escape the crowds. Visit markets, enjoy street tango performances and enjoy the colourful buildings and street art. But make sure you go home before dark as it can be a little unsafe here at night time.

San Telmo Market

Learn argentine tango.

There is no better place to learn to Tango than Buenos Aires! Watch a street show, attend a formal show or take a lesson. But if you want to see the real tango, find a milonga. These are like afternoon tea dances where everyone will be dancing for fun – not for the tourists.

Check out day trips in and around Buenos Aires here , from stadium tours to tango shows.

South America Itinerary 4 – Brazil

Best for eco-tourism

$50-100 Brazil is pretty pricey so unless you are happy to rough it, expect to spend a bit of money here!

2-3 weeks should be enough to cover most of the highlights in South Brazil but of course, there are plenty more places to explore in Brazil if you have time.

To keep costs low, I’d recommend staying in hostels or even camping. I stayed at a few campsites in Brazil which were great and the weather is nice and warm.

Foz do Igauzu Falls

Foz do Igauzu falls are the largest waterfall system in the WORLD, this will surely be a highlight of your South America itinerary! Bordering both Argentina and Brazil, it’s worth visiting from both sides.

From The Argentina side, you can get close to the falls to appreciate their power. From the Brazil side, there are some great opportunities to see it from afar and appreciate the overall beauty! I’ve written a detailed guide to Igauzu falls, see it here .

Also on the Brazil side, there is a great tropical bird park Parque das Aves  where you can get up close to some beautiful birds including the colourful macaws and toucans!

Book your tickets to Iguazu falls HERE .

Did you know Bonito is the eco-tourism capital of Brazil? And rightly so! There are so many amazing places to see in this area!

Rio da Prata

One of the best places worldwide to try freshwater snorkelling with an average visibility of 50 metres. You will drift for 90 minutes along with the current enjoying the underwater garden seeing colourful fish and if you’re lucky a caiman or anaconda! Read more about it in my Bonito Guide .

Buraco Das Araras

This limestone sinkhole is a meeting place for hundreds of brightly coloured and NOISY macaws!

Grotto de Azur

South pantanal.

If you are a big fan of wildlife, head over to The South Pantanal, Brazilian wetlands where you stand a reasonable chance of seeing one of the big cats, possibly even a jaguar!

You will undoubtedly see plenty of caiman crocs and birdlife and there are plenty of chances to see capybara, anteaters and even cute little river otters which apparently are not so cute after all!

Did you know river otters are territorial so they are actually more dangerous than the caimans or anacondas if you were to fall in the river!

Explore by 4WD safari vehicle, on foot, by boat or on horseback. I highly recommend a night safari for your best chance of seeing a jaguar!

Check out tours to The Pantanal here .

Paraty is a really lovely well preserved Portuguese colonial coastal town with cobbled streets and only horse and cart for transport. Spend time exploring the shops and cafe and take a day trip in one of the colourful wooden boats stopping at beaches and islands.

Check out day trips from Paraty here , from jungle treks to boat trips to beautiful beaches and islands.

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is one of the fastest paced, diverse, colourful, lively cities you could visit.

There are so many iconic viewpoints you will want to visit such as Sugar Loaf Mountain and The Christ Redeemer statue – two of the most popular sights in Brazil !.

There are so many things to do in Rio but I suggest you start by visiting the colourful Escadaria Selarón steps and then have a caipirinha on Copacabana or Ipanema beach.

Other Places you might want to put on your South America Itinerary

There are still so many places on my South America bucket list that I need to go back and tick off at some point! I would love to see more of Chile and I didn’t even step foot in Colombia and I’ve heard so many great things about it. Here are a few places that will be on my next South America itinerary!

Guatapé, Colombia.

I seem drawn to any colourful town – Cinque de Terre in Italy, by the way, is awesome! Guatape in Colombia is possibly the most colourful of them all. Not only that but it overlooks Penol-Guatape a beautiful man-made reservoir and a great place for water sports. Read more here about planning your Colombia itinerary .

The W trek, Torres del Paine,  Patagonia

Landscapes don’t get more dramatic than in Patagonia – think snow-capped mountains and bright blue glacial lakes. The W trek in Patagonia is a challenging 5-day trek but surely worth the effort for views like this?!

Click here for advice if you are  planning to travel to Patagonia .

Ushuaia, Argentina

In the South of Argentina, is Ushuaia, the starting point for many cruises to the Antarctic. But you don’t have to go that far to see penguins!

The Amazon Jungle

Head deep into the Amazon in Peru, Equador or Brazil to get close to the wildlife and creepie crawlies. Take night walks and river safaris but perhaps not if you are an arachnophobe…

For more itineraries on the places I’ve not been able to cover yet, you should head over to The Broke Backpackers site. He’s got some great information too!

More Useful Resources and Links for Planning your South American Trip

  • G Adventure Tours in South America (my personal favourite tour company.)
  • Intrepid Tours in South America  another great tour company I’ve sued many times.
  • Dragoman overland tour . (cheaper option for tours as long as you don’t mind camping.)
  • Other South America Tours
  • Bamba Experience – a hop on hop off trip. A cheaper option for the budget conscious.
  • Skyscanner – a great tool for booking your flights to and from and within South America.
  • Day Tours in South America  and other day tours
  • Accommodation via Booking.com or Airbnb

Further Reading

  • Useful tips for travel in South America
  • South America packing list
  • G Adventures Peru review
  • G Adventures Galapagos review
  • Iguazu Falls Guide
  • Day trips from Bonito, Brazil
  • San Pedro De Atacama Guide
  • The Lares Trek, Peru.
  • Lake Titicaca, Peru
  • Local’s guide to Rio de Janeiro
  • Estancia Los Potreros – Argentinian Ranch horseriding holiday.

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A really awesome new zealand bucket list, 10 days in vietnam: an awesome 10 day vietnam itinerary, the great big usa bucket list – 38 awesome things to do in america, this post has 34 comments.

Wow I’ve been literally DYING to go to all these places in South America and you’ve just planned my trip for me. Now I have no excuse not to go, THANK YOU, pinning this for later!

Glad you found it useful Constance! Let me know if you need any more tips!

I love this post! So thorough and so helpful!! Sourh Amerixa is huge and it can be so tricky to navigate. But saving this for when I finally make it back.

Thanks! Glad you found it helpful and I hope you get there soon!

I’m planning a RTW trip and this guide is exactly what I’ve been looking for. Thanks for taking to time to write such an in-depth article!

I’m so glad you thought it was useful! As a lazy researcher, I love having everything in one place! Have an amazing RTW trip – I’m SO envious!! Where’s first?!

Thanks for the great info! We’re hiking the Inca trail in September!

Ah have an AMAZING time!! I want to go back!!

Wow! What a guide! I’ll have to share it with my friend who’s currently living in BA and using that as a base to travel.

I hope she’ll find it useful too! Igauzu falls is reachable in a weekend trip from BA!

Great post Leanne. I would love to visit South America someday. I’ll definitely give some thought to the changing climates when planning my visit.

It’s incredible how different the climate from 1 country to the next!

I really enjoyed reading through this! You did a fantastic job! I will definitely pin this to my Pinterest board and share!

Thanks Elizabeth! Kind words ? I’m glad you enjoyed it!

What an incredibly detailed post. This is AMAZING. Saving this everywhere for one day when I go!

Thanks so much! I’m glad it’ll be useful for you! You will LOVE South America! It’s so diverse!

Absolutely love your post. South America is my absolute favorite continent and your pictures make me miss it so much right now. Can’t wait to go back and so all the places I haven’t ssen yet.

Glad you enjoyed it! I want to go back now to see more of chile and Patagonia!

What a fantastic itinerary to South America! I’ve never beenbefore but it’s on my bucketlist with the Galapogos being at the top!

They were at the top of mine too and so worth the price tag!!

Wow this is the most in depth guide of South America I have ever read. So far I ve only been in Central America jut I hope to visit soon

Oh wow thank you! That’s such a lovely compliment! Central America is awesome too – I need to visit there more often!

Wow! This is thorough, and great! I haven’t done South America yet and it’s on my list to do in the next two years. Totally saving this as a reference for planning.

Thanks amy! I bet you’ll have an awesome trip. South America is such an amazing place!

Looks like you put a lot of effort in to create such a detailed post. Thanks for sharing! <3

No problem! I just hope it can be helpful! ?

Wow, this is incredible! All that in 10 weeks, I feel you could write a book from so many experiences! I am myself toying with the idea of going to Argentina later this year, to see the spring (and penguins!), I will bookmark this post for future use!

I’d love to write a book one day – it’s on my bucket list. But I was thinking more of a novel! Argentina will be amazing. I definitely need to go head south and see those penguins soon!

Such a great post. I haven’t yet step foot in South America so this is a great help. Thanks?

Wow that is detailed! what a great overview of travel through south america. I love the salt flat pics, some corkers!

I’m SO glad I’ve found this blog post! South America is the last continent I haven’t been to and I’m in the planning stage of a big trip there. This covers pretty much everything I was hoping for, even the Galapagos Islands, which looks absolutely incredible so thank you so much it all looks insane!

You will have such an amazing time! I just made a video about the Galapagos – it’s on my twitter page @globetrottergp if you want more inspiration! (and videos of tiny tiny baby sea lions…) I hope you’ll have the most amazing trip!

Hi Leanne Great Post! Me and my girlfriend will be travelling to South America October 10th to the end February and will be looking to cover as much as possible, do you have any suggestions on where to start our trip ? I see you began your trip in October too and im a little worried about the changing seasons / rain ! Thanks

The main thing to coisder is the inca train opening times as it closes for some of the wet season. working west to east worked for me in oct

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Shall We Go Home Travel

  • Joe Bayfield
  • December 30, 2022
  • No Comments

The Ultimate Six Week South America Travel Itinerary & Route

Can you travel south america in six weeks.

Yes, six weeks is an ideal amount of time in South America, and you should be able to tick off a lot of countries.

The variety of travel routes you can take through South America is endless. But for six weeks in South America, I think the best travel route would be one that goes from North to South starting in Colombia and then down to Ecuador , Peru, Bolivia and then ending in Chile .

The benefit of a backpacking route like this is that these countries are cheaper when compared to places like Brazil , close together, and the travel routes between them by bus and air are short and well established meaning you are following the most efficient route.

Villarrica Volcano, Pucon (Chile)

The Comprehensive Six Week Itinerary For South America

Here’s the breakdown of this six-week South America backpacking itinerary:

Week 1 - Colombia

  • Day 1 – Bogata
  • Day 2-3 – Santa Marta
  • Day 4-5 – Palomino
  • Day 6-7 – Medellin

Week 2 - Ecuador

  • Day 8 – Quito
  • Day 9-10  – Cotopaxi
  • Day 11-12  – Banos
  • Day 13 – Guyaquil 

Country 3/4 Peru

  • Day 14 – Lima
  • Day 15-16 – Paracas
  • Day 17 – Huacachina
  • Day 18-22 – Cusco, Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu
  • Day 23 – Bus To Copacabana

Week 5 - Bolivia

  • Day 24-25 – Copacabana
  • Day 26-27 – La Paz
  • Day 28-31 – The Amazon
  • Day 32 – Uyuni
  • Day 33-34 – Salt Flats Tour
  • Day 35 – Travel To Chile

Week 6 - Chile

  • Day 36 – Atacama Desert
  • Day 37 – Santiago
  • Day 38 – Puerto Natales
  • Day 39-43 – Torres Del Paine National Park

Colombia is the best place to start this six-week South America itinerary. Here’s what you can look forward to your first week: 

Day 1 - Bogata

Bogata is a hub for international flights from the US and Europe and most stop here before connecting to other South America countries. So it makes sense to start your South America journey here.

However, you can only spend one day in the capital before moving on. There isn’t much here for backpackers and the rest of Colombia is much more interesting so best to get moving. You only have six weeks in South America, so you will have to miss every now and then.  

On the day you are here, find a free walking tour to help you explore the city with ease. Beyond Colombia   is my personal favourite and they will give you a good introduction to the city. On top of this they offer a free food tour as well. This is a great deal as you will get fed well and see the highlights of the city.

If you have time in the evening, walk to the top of Cerro Monserrate for an incredible viewpoint of sprawling Bogotá.

south america travel itinerary

Day 2-3 - Santa Marta

From Bogota, you want to take a short 2-hour flight to the Caribbean Coast in the north. You can then use Santa Marta as a base for exploring for the next few days.

Make sure you stay at the Dreamer Hostel. This is one of the best hostels in Colombia and maybe even South America . They allow you to leave your big bags in storage whilst you explore the region.

Spend one day in exploring the cloud forests in Minca . Minca is a tiny town in the mountains, 30 minutes away from Santa Marta. Here you can find some great coffee and chocolate farm tours that will also let you do tastings, go searching for waterfalls and watch the sunset from one of the many great eco hostels that sit atop the mountain.

On your second day, trek into Tayrona National Park known for its palm-shaded coves, coastal lagoons, rainforest, and rich biodiversity. You can stay the night on the beach in Tayrona National Park, which is a fun experience, but just make sure you book ahead before trekking all the way as spaces are often limited.

Day 4-5 - Palomino

Palomino is a quiet beach town north of Santa Marta (around 70km away).

It started as an off-the-beaten track town, but has it grown popular in recent years with backpackers. Travellers come here for a few days to enjoy tubing along the jungle rivers or to wander along the endless stretches of empty beach.

Tubing is a fun activity that starts in the jungle foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and ends on the beach in the Caribbean Sea. This can be a relaxing journey or depending on who you go with, it can turn into a party.

If you manage to join a big crew of backpackers, then people will bring alcohol and enjoy floating through the jungle with a few beers as well.

Make sure you have a beach day whilst here too. Palomino beach , with its white sands fringed with huge palms trees, is empty most of the time and you can enjoy peaceful walks up and down it without coming across another person.

Palomino is one of my favourite beaches in South America, for more, head to the list post below:

  • The Best Party Beaches In South America

beats in Tayrona National Park - Colombia

Day 6-7 - Medellin

The only downside of this six-week South America itinerary is that it requires a couple of internal flights in Colombia. The Andes goes through the middle of Colombia and separates a lot of the big cities which means bus journeys take a long time.

You will likely have to fly from Santa Marta to Medellin to avoid a seriously long and bumpy overnight bus.

Whilst here, take a tour out to the beautiful Guatape region to see the colourful town, the beautiful reservoirs and the huge celebrity mansions that back out onto them.

Also take some time to explore the city. Again, a free walking tour is your best bet so that you stick to the safe areas and learn about the rich history of the city.

This is the final part of your Colombia trip and from here you will need to fly from Medellin to Bogota to then reach Quito in Ecuador. This can be booked altogether with a stop over or you can book them separately if you want to spend a bit longer in the capital.

A flight from Medellin to Quito (with a connecting flight in Bogota) should cost around $150.

For more reasons why Medellin is such a great city to visit, head to the post below:

  • Is Medellin Worth Visiting? 16 Great Reasons To Visit In 2024

south america - view of a cable car above a town

Preparing for your first trip to South America? 

Here are 22 FAQ’s to help you prepare for the trip of a lifetime: 

How To Prepare For South America

How To Travel South America: 22 FAQs To Prepare For Your Next Trip

Planning a trip to South America can be an exhilarating adventure filled with diverse landscapes, rich cultures, and unforgettable experiences. However, to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey, it's essential to be well-prepared on several fronts. Here are 22 frequently asked questions...

Ecuador is country two of five in this six-week South America itinerary. Here’s what you can look forward to in week 2: 

Day 8 - Quito

The easiest and cheapest thing to do in Quito is to explore the city on the free walking tour.

A walking tour takes you to the main sights in the historical centre including Plaza Grande – the main square which includes the presidential palace, and La Ronda – the popular tourist street filled with galleries, craft shops, and restaurants.

If you have time, you should also ride the Teleferico – Quito’s cable car that takes you up to 3495m above sea level to the summit of Volcano Pichincha . At the top you will have unobstructed views of the city.

For more great things to do in Quito including chocolate tasing, museums, and visiting the equator, head to the guide below:

  • The 19 Best Things To Do In Quito As A Backpacker

Day 9-10 - Cotopaxi Secret Garden

Time to get treated to one of the best hostel experiences in all South America.

Booking a two-night stay at Secret Garden Cotopaxi is the best way to see the National Park and experience the stunning Cotopaxi Volcano. For $96 you get a two night stay, two guided treks and all your meals included.

The hostel sits directly opposite the volcano and the views are unrivalled. They also run tours into the park such as trekking to Cotopaxi Glacier , horse riding and mountain biking.

Everything you need to know about booking and staying at Secret Garden Cotopaxi can be found here:

  • Secret Garden Cotopaxi Review 

snow-capped mountain tops in Cotopaxi National Park

Day 11-12 - Baños

After 3 days of trekking, why not start with a spa and massage day with treatments fuelled by the volcanic activity around the Baños. 

El Refugio is the best choice of spas in town. Along with thermal baths, they have saunas, steam rooms, and offer a range of services such as massages, mud baths, and pedicures.

On your second day in Banos, it’s time to ride the ‘Route of Waterfalls’ – a single main road that winds its way through the Baños Valley, with waterfalls dotted at almost every corner and bend on the way.

The best stop along the route is Pailon del Diablo, an insanely powerful waterfall that plunges 61 metres into a pool of powerful rapids. With bridges and paths running through the gorge, and multiple platforms and viewpoints, this is an incredible natural wonder not to be missed.

For more information on all these activities in Baños including the best restaurants, hostels and transport tips, head to the full guide below:

  • The Essential Baños 4-Day Itinerary

Day 13 – Guayaquil / Travel Day To Lima

Well done! You’ve ticked off your second country on this six-week South America Itinerary. 4 more weeks to go.

On your final day in Ecuador, you will have to make your way to Guayaquil from Banos which is a 8-hour journey. From there you can take a flight to Lima and continue the next part of this epic journey.

To get to Peru from Ecuador, you’ll need to take the bus from Montanita to Guayaquil. From here, you take 2 hour flight to Lima which should cost between $100-150. 

I’ve been using WayAway Plus to book all my flights whilst travelling around South America.

With the WayAway Plus membership plan, you can get access to premium travel support, travel content prepared by locals, and cashback on flights, hotels, car rentals and other travel services.

All features are available with a free 7-day trial so why not try it out and book a flight through them! 

You can also get 10% off if you sign up with the link below.

river and forests of Pailon Del Diablo

Week 3/4 - Peru

Peru is country number three out of five on this six week itinerary. You have two weeks here as there’s so much to do, especially around Cusco: 

Day 14 - Lima

One day in the capital of Peru is more than enough. There isn’t much here for backpackers so best to move on and use your limited days on the six-week itinerary for the more exciting places in Peru.

Start by exploring Miraflores and walking along the boardwalk where you will get some beautiful views of the ocean.

If you carry on following the boardwalk south, you will eventually reach the bohemian district of Barranco . This is the best place to find an authentic local restaurant to try some amazing regional dishes like ceviche.

Barranco is also home to some great bars. Head to Ayahuasca bar to try one of the best Pisco Sours in Lima.

For more great things to do in Lima including chocolate tasing, museums, and learning to surf, head to the guide below:

  • Is Lima Worth Visiting? 10 Great Reasons To See Peru’s Capital

Day 15-16 - Paracas

Paracas National Park is an untouched natural desert perfect for exploration and adventure.

You can navigate the park by tour, bicycle, ATV, or dune buggy . Whatever mode of transport you choose, make sure you are in the park as the sun is going down for some epic sunset views.

On your second day in Paracas, book a tour to the Ballestas Islands (also known as the Poor Mans Galapagos). This is the perfect tour for wildlife lovers as the islands are full of sea lions, penguins and even dolphins if you are lucky.

Check out the complete backpacker guide to Paracas for more info:

  • Paracas City Guide & 2 Day Itinerary 

Biking in Paracas National Reserve

Day 17 - Huacachina

Then after Paracas, it’s time to swap one desert for another with a visit to the famous oasis at Huacachina .

Huacachina is a town geared more towards the adventure backpackers. It’s here where you can fly across the desert in buggies and go sandboarding down to the tallest sand dunes.

And like most places in Peru, it’s also another great place  watch the sunset .  

If you’re looking for a wild night out, then make sure you check out the famous Wild Rover backpacker hostel.

For more information on this unique place, head to the link below:

  • Huacachina Backpacker Guide & 2-Day Itinerary

driving dune buggies in Huacachina

Day 18-19 - Cusco

You have two options to get to Cusco: flight or overnight bus.

The bus is around 17 hours so I would personally recommend flying. Flights from the town of Ica The cost under $100 and the flight time is 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Once in Cusco you have just one day to exploring the city and one day to explore its surroundings.

On your second day, take a day trip out of the city to see the beautiful Andean countryside. You can visit the popular Rainbow Mountain or one of the many other natural wonders such as Laguna Humantay at 4200m above sea level.

If you think a trip to Rainbow Mountain is for you, then head to the full guide below so you know what to expect:

  • Is Rainbow Mountain Worth It? A Guide To Peru’s Best Trek

Rainbow Mountain (Peru)

Day 20-21 - Aguas Calientes & Machu Picchu

On the morning of day 20, either take the bus or train to the town of Aguas Calientes .

For a six-week itinerary, I would recommend the train as it only takes 3 hours in comparison to the bus which takes 9 (meaning you lose an entire day).

The train is more expensive but it saves you a lot of time, it’s a more enjoyable experience and it means you get more time to experience Agua Calientes and Machu Picchu.

Then early on the morning of day 12, it’s finally time to climb the 1,600+ stairs up to Peru’s most popular tourist attraction- Machu Picchu.

When you need to leave depends on what time ticket you purchased. However, I would recommend trying to get a 6:00 AM ticket which is the earliest entry possible. With the early ticket you may be able to get to the top for sunrise and you also miss the large majority of crowds. 

Whether you take the bus or the train to Machu Picchu, it’s a complicated journey and there’s lot you need to know. Luckily the guide linked below has everything you need:

  • The 3 Best Ways To Visit Machu Picchu

Day 22 - Cusco

Once you return to Aguas Calientes from Machu Picchu, you can either stay the night there or return to Cusco.  Either way, you should still stay on extra day to rest and recover and plan your next journey on this six week itinerary.

For your final day in Cusco, I would recommend a massage to help those aching legs. Massages in Cusco are cheap and you have several options from Swedish to deep tissue.

In the evening, you should make a reservation at Limbus Resto-bar which has one of the best views in the city. Try to get a booking around sunset and out on the terrace for incredible golden hour views of Cusco.

Head to the Cusco backpackers guide linked below for all the information you need:

  • Cusco Backpackers Guide & 13 Best Things To Do

Day 23 - Travel Day To Bolivia

After a relaxing day in Cusco, you can then get the bus to into Bolivia and straight to Copacabana which takes around 8-9 hours.

I used Bus Bud when travelling by bus in South America. It’s the best way to book bus tickets in advance and they have a loyalty programme so you get your 6th booking for free!

That’s country number 3 ticked off from this six-week South America itinerary. We have 2 more weeks to go and two more countries to visit!

Bus Bud

Bolivia is country number four out of five on this six week itinerary. You have just 10 days here in total to see some incredible places including the Amazon and the Salt Flats: 

Day 24-25 - Copacabana

Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,810 metres above sea level. Half of it sits in Peru, the other half in Bolivia.

The town of Copacabana on the Bolivian side is a small but pretty place filled with local markets and artisan restaurants, but it’s the lake itself that is the must-see.

Fun activities include walking up to the summit of Cerro Calvario to get beautiful views of the lake and taking a boat tour to Isla del Sol which is the largest island on the lake.

Day 26-27 - La Paz

Once you reach La Paz you have an endless list of activities to choose from such as biking down Death Road , trekking in the ‘Valley of the Moon’, or climbing Huayna Potosi (known as the easiest 6000m mountain to climb in the world).

Aside from all the adventure activities, the city is also an incredible place to explore. When wandering around you will see the impressive cable cars and their lines stretching out to every corner of La Paz.

Some routes will go as high as 4,000m (13,000 ft) above sea level, and it’s a great see more of La Paz and get incredible views of the city.

2 days is a good amount of time to cover it all. I recommend riding down Death Road one day and then using the other day to explore in the city.

Head to the complete La Paz backpacking guide to help you plan further:

  • The 13 Best Things To Do In La Paz As A Backpacker

the mountains above the city of La Paz

Day 28-31 - Amazon

Visiting the Amazon in Bolivia is much cheaper and easier compared to other countries in South America. You can fly from La Paz to the town of Rurrenabaque , which is where most Amazon tours embark.

The Pampas tour is the most popular among backpackers compared to a jungle tour as you see much more wildlife.

You will spend 2 nights sleeping in a wooden hut next to the river and your days will be spent winding through the tributaries of the Amazon on a longboat searching for caimans, anacondas, and exotic birds. You can even go swimming with pink river dolphins!

This is one of the best tours in Bolivia and it costs a fraction of the price compared to countries like Brazil or Colombia. It was one of the best experiences I had whilst backpacking in South America, and I highly recommend it.

The complete guide to booking an amazon tour in Bolivia can be found here:

  • How To Visit The Amazon In Bolivia

Day 32 - Uyuni

On day 31 you will fly back from the Amazon to La Paz. On this day you can either decide to stay in La Paz and relax or carry on with the journey to save time.

The flight back from the Amazon is only 20 minutes so if you prefer to save the day then you can either hop on another flight down to Uyuni or take the overnight bus which takes 8-9 hours.

Either way, once you reach Uyuni you will want to take a day to chill and organise your Salt Flat tour. You can book it online, but I always prefer doing it in person. Booking in person means you will find cheaper deals and you can haggle on the price!

I recommend Salty Desert Adventures for their excellent guides and competitive prices.

For more on the Uyuni Salt Flat Tour including the best tours companies and what to pack, head to the post below:

  • The Ultimate Guide To The Uyuni Salt Flat Tour

CACTUS IN SALAR DE UYUNI, BOLIVIA'S SALT FLATS

Day 33-34 - Salt Flat Tour

The three-day/two-night salt flat tour will take you exploring on one of the most surreal landscapes in the world.

The first day of the tour is spent on the actual salt flat taking the popular perspective and reflection photos for the gram. Your tour guide will bring some funny objects for you to take your shots with but why not be original and bring your own.

On the second day, the tour heads out across the high-altitude desert known as the Altiplano to see even wilder landscapes such as volcanoes, geysers, and beautiful high-altitude lakes full of flamingos.

This is one of best tours in the whole of South America and shouldn’t be missed.

For more great reasons on why you can’t miss the Uyuni Salt Flat tour, head to the post below:

  • Is The Salt Flats Tour Worth It? 10 Reasons Why You Can’t Miss It

Day 35 - Travel Day To Chile

One of the great things about a Salt Flat tour is that it also includes your transportation to Chile.

The tour ends on the morning of the third day (day 35) and drops you at Chilean border which works perfectly for this six-week itinerary. From the border you take a short 45-minute bus to the town of San Pedro De Atacama where your next adventure awaits in Chile!

Uyuni Salt Flat

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Chile is the final stop on this six week itinerary. You have one week here to enjoy Patagonia: 

Day 36 - Atacama

Your mind may have just been blown with volcanoes, high-altitude lagoons, and surreal landscapes but there’s more to come in Atacama.

Instead of booking tours this time, why not rent a car and explore it yourself? Renting a 4×4 for the day should costs somewhere between $60-80 and if there is a group of you then the cost can be split between you.

Driving around the Atacama desert means you can visit so many different parts on your own time. You can drive north to see the fields of geysers , then south to float in the salt lagoons before ending the day at ‘Valle de la Luna’ to see strange rock formations eroded over millions of years.

Check out my 12 reasons why Atacama is a must visit for more information: 

  • Is The Atacama Desert Worth Visiting? 12 Great Reasons To Visit Chile’s Desert

Day 37 - Santiago

You will need to fly from the Atacama Desert to Santiago. Chile is a big country!

Then once you land in Santiago, you have one day to explore Chile’s capital.

The best thing to do is join a free walking tour. I’d recommend Strawberry Walking Tours . They take you to several places in the city including Santa Lucia Hill to discover where Santiago’s history began, and through the Plaza de Armas to enjoy cosmopolitan Santiago.

In the evening, head up to the top of the Sky Costerna , Santiago’s tallest building, to find the best views of the city.

Santiago - Sky Costerna

Day 38 - Puerto Natales

Again, you will need to take another flight down to Puerto Natales to start the Patagonian part of this six-week itinerary. Puerto Natales is the closest town to Torres Del Paine National Park so it’s best to fly straight here from Santiago.

Take one day here to get your bearings, buy any last-minute gear for hiking, and prepare for the next 5 days of hiking on the W-trek route.

In Puerto Natales, I recommend staying at the Singing Lamb Hostel . They have a huge lounge area with sofas and tables, and the shared dorms had comfortable beds.

If you only have 4 weeks in South America you may want to cut down on the amount of countries you visit. Focussing on Chile and Argentina is always a great shout as they are so beautiful.  Head to the post below to see how to turn this part of the itinerary into a full month of incredible travel in Patagonia:

  • 3 Epic 1-Month Chile and Argentina Itineraries: Patagonia, The Lake District and the North

Day 39-43 - Torres Del Paine National Park

Time to end this epic six-week South America itinerary with one of the best treks in the world – the W-trek in Torres Del Paine National Park.

This 5-day self-guided trek takes you in the shape of a W – in, out, and around the beautiful Cordillera Paine mountain range.

The trek is relatively easy with the first two days taking you on an easy 3–4-hour hike past Lago Grey up to the stunning Grey Glacier. Then on the final day, you will trek up to the famous towers of Torres Del Paine.

A lot of people wake up at 3AM to start trekking to reach the towers for sunrise. If the weather is good then it is definitely worth it, as the three towers are lit up perfectly by the morning sun.

Want to turn this into a 7-week itinerary by crossing the border into Argentina? If you do this you’ll be able to see the epic Perito Moreno Glacier and then you will have truly ticked off the most incredible sights of South America.

To see some alternative itineraries for Argentine Patagonia, head to the post below:

  • How Many Days Do You Need For El Calafate and El Chalten? 3 Great Itineraries For Every Traveller

South America Backpacking Itineraries - Torres Del Paine National Park

How Much Money Do You Need For Six Weeks In South America?

Here’s a rough estimate of what you should budget daily and weekly for each country on this six week South America itinerary: 

A good rule of thumb for backpacking South America is $500 a week. So, for six weeks of travelling around South America, I would budget a minimum of $3000.

However, this six-week itinerary has you visiting five countries with several internal flights as well as flights between countries. It also includes some of the best tours in South America such as Machu Picchu, the Salt Flats and the W-trek in Torres Del Paine National Park.

These will alll cost extra and add to your budget so therefore, I would recommend budgeting $3300 for this six-week itinerary. That gives you a budget of $550 a week.

In some countries you will spend than $550 a week.

If we take Ecuador as an example, with a budget of $35 a day this is more than enough:

  • 1 Day In Quito – $35
  • 2 Days In Cotopaxi – $100
  • 2 Days in Banos – $100
  • Flight to Lima – $100

Total: $350

However, if we were to look at the Chilean part of this itinerary, it is more expensive:

  • Atacama Desert with car rental – $100
  • Flight to Santiago – $75
  • Day In Santiago – $50
  • Flight To Puerto Natales – $75
  • W-Trek with entrance feeds and camping in park* – $500

Total: $800

*$500 is the mid-range option for trekking in Torres Del Paine which includes renting tents from each campsite rather than bringing your own tent.

These two estimates are a little extreme, but I’ve used them as an example for backpackers who are aiming to do this six week itinerary laid out exactly as it is.

You can easily take your budget down to around $35 a day in most countries if you want. You can take overnight buses instead of flights to save money with the sacrifice of losing a day or two here and there. You don’t need to rent a car in Atacama. There is a lots of ways to cut your spending gown.

An Alternative Budget Friendly Six Week South America Itinerary

If the outlined six-week South America itinerary doesn’t suit your budget, then don’t worry. There are lots of other options to see South America in six weeks.

Here is an alternative option:

Week 1/2 - Ecuador

  • Day 1-3 – Quito
  • Day 4-5 – Cotopaxi
  • Day 6 – 9 – Quilotoa Loop
  • Day 11-13 – Banos
  • Day 14 – Guayaquil
  • Day 26 – Copacabana
  • Day 27-28 – La Paz
  • Day 29-31 – The Amazon
  • Day 33 – 34 – Salt Flats Tour
  • Day 15-16 – Lima
  • Day 17-18 – Paracas
  • Day 19 – Huacachina
  • Day 20-21 – Cusco
  • Day 22 – 23 – Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu
  • Day 24 – Cusco
  • Day 25 – Bus To Copacabana

Week 6 - Chile / Argentina

  • Day 36-37 – Atacama Desert
  • Day 38 – Travel to Salta
  • Day 38-39 – Salta
  • Day 40-42 – Buenos Aires

Avoid Colombia – Colombia has a couple of internal flights that will add to your cost, and it isn’t the most efficient of journeys through the country as you fly from south to north and then back again.

Instead, extend your time in Ecuador. Ecuador is a budget backpackers dream , and you can easily enjoy the country on around $35 a day.

Spend a couple of extra days in Quito and Banos, and include the 3-day Quilotoa Loop into your itinerary as well. This is a 3-day self-guided trek that costs next to nothing.

Avoid Chile – Chile is one of the most expensive countries to travel in South America. The long internal flights and trekking in Patagonia really do increase the cost of your trip.

Instead, you can cut this part of your journey out and visit North Argentina instead.

After seeing the Atacama Desert, you can get a bus across the border into Argentina to the town of Salta . This is the wine region of Argentina. It’s a beautiful place to explore and as the north of Argentina isn’t as well travelled, it’s budget friendly.

You can go south from Salta to see towns like Cafayate which is the second best wine producing region in Argentina after Mendoza.

You can go north to check out the small towns along Route 9 and see the natural wonders on offer such as Argentina’s very own Rainbow Mountain. Or you could head to Buenos Aires to check out the capital and then you are in the perfect spot to fly home.

Backpacking off the beaten track through the northwest of Argentina is one of many great reasons to add Argentina to your South America trip. For more great reasons, head to the post below:

  • Is Argentina Worth Visiting? 10 Great Reasons To Visit In 2023

Popular South America Itineraries

If you have more than two-weeks to spare then why not check out our other South America itineraries ranging from three weeks to three months:

  • 5 Expertly Curated Three-Week South America Itineraries
  • 4 Epic 1-Month South America Backpacking Itineraries
  • The Perfect 2-Month South America Itinerary For Budget Backpackers
  • The Ideal 3-Month South America Backpacking Itinerary
  • The Perfect 1-Month Peru and Bolivia Itinerary
  • How Many Days Do You Need In South America – 6 Great Itineraries That Work For Every Traveller
  • 4 Perfectly Planned 10-Day Itineraries For South America 
  • 4 Fast-Paced One Week Backpacking Itineraries For South America
  • A Flashpacker Five-Week South America Itinerary
  • The 8 Best Digital Nomad Cities In South America
  • From North to South: The Complete 10-Week South America Itinerary
  • Colombia, Ecuador & Peru Itinerary: From Two Weeks To Two Months
  • Suitcase Or Backpack? Which Is Best For South America?

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The great South American journey

From tours through the chilean fjords to amazon adventures, wild beaches and even wilder carnivals, south america offers experiences to last a lifetime..

People: URUGUAY Words by Mark Stratton

I snapped out of the prairie's mesmerising hold when Juan-Manual hollered, "Mark…  vacas… izquierda !" We'd been driving 300 cattle and I was drifting off in the saddle. Lulled by the hot winds, I was so absorbed by the heartbeat of pounding hoofs across the emerald-green plains I'd missed a breakaway of a mother and her calf. Squeezing my steed Viento's flanks with my heels, I turned and galloped after them. My  criollo , the gaucho's horse of choice, purred through his gears smoother than a Ferrari and we soon caught the escapees and turned them back into the herd.

I'd spent four days on Estancia Pangaea, a 4,950-acre  gaucho  ranch near Tacuarembó in northern Uruguay. To boost their income, owners Juan-Manuel Luque and his Swiss wife Suzanne take in wannabe cowboys to live the life of the  gaucho . This term, Juan-Manuel told me, derives from the Indian word for 'vagabond' — reflecting a once nomadic lifestyle.  Gauchada , he added, is the name of their code of values (chivalry, bravery and hospitality), which is still idealised to this day in Uruguayan literature, dance, and even fashion.

After being shown the daily ritual of tacking-up my criollo with sheepskin rugs and soft leather western saddles, I learnt to drive livestock, brand and grapple calves to the ground to administer medicinal injections. Surprisingly, sheep proved much flightier than cattle.

But as well as new skills, I was also learning that although gaucho culture extends across Southern Brazil down into Argentina, its heartland is here in Uruguay's 34.6m acres of beef- and lamb-rearing pastureland, which plays an integral role in the country's economy.

Juan-Manuel inherited the  estancia  from his grandfather and is one of around 50,000 Uruguayan  gauchos . When I arrived he kitted me out with a wide-brimmed hat, baggy  bombachos  ( gaucho  pants) and floppy leather boots — comfy for up to six hours' riding each day. Yet despite throwing myself into the work, I felt amateurish when faced with real gauchos in action one afternoon. Part of a shearing team on a neighbouring farm, these were real tough  hombres  who sheared feverishly like automatons. They drifted between ranches, they told me; slept under the stars, and ate only barbecued mutton with dried galleta bread, washed down with cow-horn cupfuls of herbal maté tea.

On my final day, we visited a livestock auction at Tacuarembó. Dressed in their finery,  gauchos  came in from across the region. I watched them moving cattle on horseback between pens with startling dexterity and speed. They rarely use the iconic three-stoned  bolas  (whips) but instead twirled brightly coloured ponchos above their heads to urge the livestock on. The hot sun glinted on silver daggers buried in their waistbands — these were men at work.

Indigenous experiences

1. Gauchos, Uruguay:  Brush up your rodeo skills at  gaucho  festival Fiesta de la Patria Gaucha in Tacuarembó (6-10 March 2013).

2. Amerindians, Guyana:  Visit the Makushi people's eco-lodge at Surama.

3. Lake Titicaca, Peru:  The traditions of Quechua-speaking tribes such as the Uros survive on reed islands on Lake Titicaca.

4. Mennonites, Paraguay:  See locals riding pony traps among the Mennonite farming communities in Paraguay's Chaco region.

5. Rapa Nui, Easter Island:  Mingle with the native Polynesian inhabitants on this Chilean island.

6. Yanomani Indians, Brazil: Visit the Amazonian forest dwellers renowned for their shamanistic rituals.

Read more in the October 2012 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK)

  • Easter Island
  • Región de Valparaíso
  • South America
  • Travel and Adventure

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The Great South American Journey: Quito to Rio Adventure

65 days, quito to rio de janeiro.

Horse back riding through the Atacama Dessert in Chile

  • Full itinerary
  • Tour details

Sometimes the slow road is the way to go. Hit the road from Quito to Rio with other young travellers and experience pretty much everything you can imagine in between. Hike the Inca Trail and discover the thriving Inca culture, cross the Salt Flats of Bolivia, dance the tango in Buenos Aires, and hit the beach in Brazil. This trip offers up lively cities, stunning scenery, and tons of adventure. 65 days, seven countries, three nights in the Amazon, and one adventure you’ll remember forever.

Quito to Rio de Janeiro

Special offers, award winning inca trail program.

Named Best Inca Trail Tour Operator by the Regional Direction of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Cusco (RDFTTC) in Peru. Your purchase of this tour helps employ over 560 local guides, porters, cooks, drivers, and office staff — connecting local communities to the global tourism chain. Learn more .

Is this tour for me?

Travel style: 18-to-thirtysomethings.

Fast, fresh, and fun adventures that never slow down, made for young, budget-minded travellers.

Service Level: Basic

Simple and clean hotels and hostels; affordable public and private transport; lots of optional activities.

Physical Rating: 4 - Demanding

Some high-altitude hikes or more strenuous activities, but accessible to most healthy travellers.

Trip Type: Small Group

Small group experience; Max 18, avg 14.

Age requirement: 18-39

Check your visa requirements.

Before booking, use our handy entry requirements tool so you know which documents you need to enter and travel through the countries on your trip.

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The Ripple Score is an honest evaluation of how often we use local businesses and services to create each tour. With this score you can see the percentage of our local expenses that stay in the communities you visit. Learn more

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More from The Great South American Journey: Quito to Rio Adventure

Map of the route for The Great South American Journey: Quito to Rio Adventure

Places visited

  • Machu Picchu

Itinerary Notes

We recommend bringing USD in cash for the Argentinean portion of this tour as it is easier than using a credit card or withdrawing ARS from an ATM. USD currency is accepted in travel agencies for booking optional activities.

Day 1 Quito

Arrive at any time. Tonight, get to know your fellow travellers over a few drinks at a downtown bar. Say cheers with a local craft beer and get excited for the adventure of a lifetime.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Day 2 quito/tena.

Travel overland to the jungle city of Tena, located on the edge of the Amazon. Hop into the back of a pickup truck and head to the local community of Pimpilala where you will stay in rustic wooden huts. Enjoy the hospitality of a Quichua family and experience life in the jungle first-hand.

Meals included:

Venture out on nature walks and become immersed in the jungle around you. Learn about uses of traditional plants, and the cultural beliefs and local traditions in the Amazon jungle. You can also choose to take a tour of an animal rescue and rehabilitation centre.

Wake up and cycle to the nearby community of Shandia and discover the beauty of the Amazon with a member of the community as your guide. Learn about traditional uses of cacao by watching a chocolate-making demonstration, eat meals made of fresh local ingredients, and stay at the G Adventures-supported community lodge.

Day 5 Tena/Baños

Travel to Baños and get your adrenaline pumping. Try out horseback riding, canyoning, hiking, mountain biking, or rafting in the surrounding mountains.

Day 6 Baños

The day is yours to explore what Baños has to offer. Check out the swing at the end of the world or relax in nearby hot springs.

Day 7 Baños/Cuenca

Soak up the scenic views en route to the town of Cuenca, Ecuador's third largest town. Explore art galleries, museums, and admire its colonial architecture. Visit national parks, take walks in the breathtaking countryside, or check out the country's only Inca ruin site.

Day 8 Cuenca

Choose your own adventure today. Wander through charming cobbled streets to discover the sights and sounds of Cuenca. From colourful homes with red-tiled roofs, to flower markets and picturesque plazas, the photo ops are endless in this town. (Prepare to have your camera roll filled with Cuenca!) Later, catch some z's on an overnight bus to Mancora.

Day 9 Máncora

Wake up in the seaside town of Mancora, a village populated by fishermen and surfers. Chill out and breathe in the salty air.

Day 10 Máncora

A lazy beach day is just what the doctor ordered. Unless you want to or take a surf lesson or join a yoga class. Totally up to you as you enjoy a free day in Mancora.

Day 11 Máncora/Trujillo

Didn't get to do everything you wanted yesterday? No worries – more time in Mancora today. Later, relax and get some sleep on an overnight bus to Trujillo.

Day 12 Trujillo

Bienvenidos a Trujillo! You can visit the impressive Chan Chan sandstone archaeological site today, snap a photo at the yellow colonial church, or head to Huanchaco for some more beach time.

Day 13 Trujillo/Lima

Enjoy another full day in Trujillo before boarding a night bus to Lima.

Day 14 Lima

Day 15 lima.

Enjoy the day exploring the city. Opt to pre-book the Lima Cooking Class and learn how to cook some classic Peruvian dishes using ingredients from the local market.

Day 16 Lima/Huacachina

Travel along Peru's breathtaking coast to the oasis of Huacachina where you can sandboard on the desert dunes while watching the sun go down.

Day 17 Huacachina/Nazca

Wake up and make the most of your time in Huacachina before your adventure continues on to Nazca. There is time in the morning for an optional excursion to the Ballestas Islands, home to a lively colony of sea lions, pelicans, and other varieties of birds. Later, catch a bus to Nazca. Stop along the way at a Pisco winery and try the country's national drink!

Day 18 Nazca/Arequipa

Choose to soar over the iconic Nazca Lines today with a pre-bookable flight, or take a tour of the Nazca Desert Cemetery and Potter's Studio. Tonight, catch some z's on an overnight bus to Arequipa.

Day 19 Arequipa

Welcome to Arequipa! Take the day to explore what is known as the 'white city.' If you're into history and architecture, visit the Santa Catalina Monastery, where you'll get a unique glimpse into a bygone way of life. For spicy food lovers, visiting one of the 'picanterías' is a must. Satisfy your craving with a variety of local regional foods: alpaca, shrimp, pork, lots of soups, and spicy sauces.

Day 20 Arequipa/Colca Canyon

Enjoy a full-day tour of the spectacular Colca Valley and venture to the impressive Colca Canyon — one of the deepest canyons in the world — on an overnight excursion. With a little luck, you'll spot some unusual Andean animals such as vicuñas, and alpacas. Give your body some much needed relaxation by taking an optional dip in the the hot springs.

Day 21 Colca Canyon/Arequipa

Get an early start to be on the look out for condors. Travel from Chivay town to a condor viewpoint to get a glimpse of these magnificent birds in the air. On the way back, stop in local villages, and see old terraces. Later, head out for a drink in the Calle Zela area – restaurant, bar, or club, there's something for everyone!

Day 22 Arequipa/Cusco

Explore Arequipa – take a city tour if you want or check out a monastery or museum. Later, sit back and relax on an overnight bus to Cusco.

Day 23 Cusco

Explore the city on your own today or choose from a variety of activities that will help you discover the magic of Cusco. Wander the narrow cobblestone streets and plazas or choose to take a half-day tour of the city. Or, pre-book the Cusco cooking class if you want to learn to prepare delicious local specialties!

Day 24 Cusco

Today is another free day to explore all that Cusco has to offer. Feeling active? Take on the Rainbow Mountain trek or go mountain biking. Prefer to stay local? Take it easy with a visit to the Inka Museum and hit up some of the many great cafes, restaurants and bars.

Day 25 Cusco/Ollantaytambo

Head into the Sacred Valley today to visit the G-Adventures supported women's weaving co-op in the Ccaccaccollo community. Learn about weaving, and meet the adorable resident llamas. If you see a knitted item you like, buy it — a perfect keepsake from your journey. Stop and sample some craft beer at a brewery on your way to Ollantaytambo.

Day 26 Inca Trail

Depart Ollantaytambo by van to km 82 where your trek begins. Hike through beautiful scenery, with a variety of flora that changes with the seasons. You'll see several smaller ruin sites like Llactapata.

Day 27 Inca Trail

Get an early start today to climb the long steep path to Warmiwañusca, known as Dead Woman's Pass. This is the highest point of the trek at 4,198m (13,769 ft). Most hikers reach camp by early afternoon, with some much needed R&R.

Day 28 Inca Trail

Cross two more passes and ruins along the way. The first pass is Runquraqay at 3,950m (13,113 ft) where, on a clear day, you can catch a glimpse of the snow-capped Cordillera Vilcabamba. Hike through cloud forest on the gentle climb to the second pass of the day, walking through original Incan constructions. The highest point of the pass is 3,700m (12,136 ft). On a clear day, enjoy the spectacular views of the Urubamba Valley. At 3,650m (11,972 ft), reach the ruins of Phuyupatamarca, the "town above the clouds." Camp here or go another 1.5 hrs to the Wiñay Wayna ruins (""forever young"") located at 2,650m (8,694 ft).

Day 29 Machu Picchu/Cusco

The final day of the hike starts pre-dawn to reach the Sun Gate before sunrise. Wake up around 03:30 and walk to the checkpoint. Catch the first views of the breathtaking ruins of Machu Picchu on a clear day. Hike down to Machu Picchu for a guided tour of the site. Catch the bus to Aguas Calientes before your train back to Cusco in the afternoon. Tonight, dance the night away at a popular night club.

Day 30 Cusco

Today is another free day to get the most out of Cusco and to do anything you may not have done yet. Continue to explore and be active or relax and watch the world go by from one of they many bars and restaurants on the main plaza.

Day 31 Cusco/Puno

Sit back, relax, and soak in the impressive views as you travel by bus through the Altiplano on your way to Puno on Lake Titicaca.

Day 32 Puno/Lake Titicaca

This morning, you will board a boat on Lake Titicaca and head to Taquile Island. Opt to have lunch in a local restaurant and shop in the afternoon at the local weaving cooperatives. Later, cruise to another village for an overnight homestay to live like a local on the shores of the lake. Learn more about rural life in the Peruvian highlands and create unforgettable memories with the family and fellow travellers.

Day 33 Lake Titicaca/Puno

Say goodbye to your homestay family and stop at the Uros Islands on your way back to Puno. If you want, you can check out the spectacular chullpas (funerary towers) of Sillustani, a pre-Inca archaeological site. Or kayak on Lake Titicaca.

Day 34 Puno/La Paz

Today, enjoy a full-day drive around the picturesque lake and through the Altiplano to La Paz. Cross over into Bolivia and catch your breath before a night out in the highest city of the trip. Check out the area of Sopocachi for cool bohemian vibes.

Day 35 La Paz

If you didn't have time yesterday to do everything you wanted in La Paz — no worries! Today is another day to explore the city as you wish. If you're an adrenaline junkie, make sure to experience the Death Road Biking Adventure.

Day 36 La Paz/Sucre

Get to know La Paz with a free day to wander through the city's winding streets and vibrant markets before boarding a night bus to Sucre.

Day 37 Sucre

Discover the beauty of Sucre, known as Bolivia's "White City" at your own pace with a free day to explore. Set in a valley surrounded by mountains, you can choose to go hiking or mountain biking to admire this city from a different point of view.

Day 38 Sucre

One day in Sucre isn't enough, so take another free day to explore! Try optional activities such as hiking, mountain biking, a visit to the Textile Cooperative, or get up close and personal with real dinosaur tracks.

Day 39 Sucre/Potosí

Venture south to Potosí, the highest city of its size in the world.

Day 40 Potosí

Get out and explore Potosí on a free day. Choose to take an excursion to the silver mine, visit the Casa de la Moneda or wander the streets and visit the local market.

Day 41 Potosí/Uyuni

It's off to Uyuni today. Breathe in the beautiful scenery while relaxing in a private vehicle. Take it easy today because your next adventure is right around the corner!

Day 42 Uyuni/Salt Flats and Desert Crossing

Embark on a three-day 4x4 excursion to the Salar de Uyuni. Get your camera ready because the endless white of the salt flats creates the perfect backdrop for mindbending photo ops. Settle in to your G Adventures-supported community salt-brick bungalow — complete with salt floors and salt furniture, and enjoy a delicious dinner prepared with local ingredients.

Day 43 Salt Flats and Desert Crossing

Continue crossing the desert today, admiring the scenery while passing red and blue lagoons and intriguing rock formations along the route. Keep an eye out and you might spot wild llamas, alpacas, and even flamingos deep within the desert.

Day 44 Salt Flats and Desert Crossing /San Pedro de Atacama

Get a head start on your day by rising early to cover more ground on your journey through the unique landscape of the Salar de Uyuni. Soak in the views of unimaginable scenery including volcanoes and salt lakes. Travel to the border then kick back and relax on your descent by bus to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.

Day 45 San Pedro de Atacama

Today is full of possibilities. Explore San Pedro de Atacama on a mountain bike, cruise down the dunes on a sandboard, or chill out in the hot springs. Or visit the Valley of the Moon, an area on Earth that resembles the moon's surface. (How cool is that?)

Day 46 San Pedro de Atacama/Salta

Say "Adios!" to Chile because you're heading to Argentina today. Relax on the bus en route to Salta, home to empanadas salteñas—and no visit to the town is complete without trying them! Unwind at the hotel or liven it up with a visit to a Peña Folklore show to dance the night away and sip delicious Argentine red wine.

Day 47 Salta

Tantalize your tastebuds with the local cuisine today as you explore freely. Choose to saddle up and admire the scenery on horseback. Or, if you'd prefer, take a visit to the town of Cafayate to roam vineyards and sample some of the white wine produced at insanely high altitudes.

Day 48 Salta/Buenos Aires

Skip the long bus journey with a quick flight to Buenos Aires. Spend the afternoon exploring the city. Cruise around on a bike with a local or dine on a traditional Argentine meal while experiencing the art of the tango.

Day 49 Buenos Aires

Head out and explore the buzzing metropolis of Buenos Aires on a free day. A great city for walking, see the iconic obelisk, wander the pedestrian streets and visit the main Plaza de Mayo with its pink government palace before stopping for a coffee on a patio at one of the many cafes along the way.

Day 50 Buenos Aires

Explore the "Paris of the Americas," from the hidden patios of trendy Palermo to bohemian vibes in San Telmo this city has something for everyone. Don’t miss out! Today is your last chance to experience a guided tour of the city and to immerse yourself in the passion of the tango.

Day 51 Buenos Aires/Colonia

Hop aboard a ferry and cruise across the Río de la Plata to Colonia, Uruguay. Wander through the colourful streets of this quaint seaside retreat on an orientation walk before free time to explore (and relax!) at your own speed.

Day 52 Colonia/Montevideo

Your journey continues in the morning as you travel from Colonia to Montevideo. The afternoon is yours for the taking — so explore as you wish! You can wander through the vibrant streets of old town searching for street art or visit an iconic soccer stadium that was host to the first World Cup. Hungry? Bring your appetite to Port Market where you will find an endless bounty of delicious meats. (And fruits and veggies, too.)

Day 53 Montevideo

Wake up ready to take on another day in Montevideo. Hop on a bike and cruise down the Rambla, soaking up sun and gorgeous views from this coastline avenue. Take a day trip to glamorous Punta del Este to admire the upscale neighbourhoods and gardens. Or if you prefer to relax today, kick back and chill in the park like a local.

Day 54 Montevideo/Estancia Stay

Today, let the scenery of picturesque settlements and pastures guide you to Mercedes, your last Uruguayan stop at a local ranch, known in this region as an estancia.

Day 55 Estancia Stay

Live like a local today as you experience life on an Uruguayan ranch. Walk through the serene countryside, learn how to make empanadas, and enjoy the scenery of a nearby river. End your estancia stay in the best way possible — with a local barbecue.

Day 56 Estancia Stay/Iguassu Falls

Cross the border into Gualeguaychu in Argentina today. Unwind, relax and reflect on your travels as you begin your overnight journey to Iguassu Falls.

Day 57 Iguassu Falls

Welcome to Iguassu Falls where your next adventure awaits. Choose to visit the Brazilian side of the falls and experience unforgettable panoramic views. Reach new heights with the option to take a helicopter ride over the falls, or check out a bird park.

Day 58 Iguassu Falls

Enjoy a full day excursion to the breathtaking Argentine side of the falls. Don't forget to take pictures as you wander along paths to experience the falls from each exhilarating vantage point. You can also take a boat tour to see the cascading falls from below.

Day 59 Iguassu Falls/Paraty

Wheels up! Take a quick flight to São Paulo today then head straight to the coast. Take some time to explore the colonial town of Paraty, then hit the beach.

Day 60 Paraty

Do as much or as little as you want today. Go swimming, snorkelling, or explore the islands on a boat tour. Or, simply recharge your batteries by immersing yourself in the laidback vibes of Paraty.

Day 61 Paraty/Ilha Grande

Continue up the coast today and hop aboard a ferry to where your island paradise awaits.

Day 62 Ilha Grande

The day is yours to explore Ilha Grande. Break a sweat hiking remote trails to experience jaw dropping views, or choose to relax on a boat tour through turquoise waters to some of the island's most beautiful beaches to swim and snorkel.

Day 63 Ilha Grande/Rio de Janeiro

Say goodbye to island life and head north along a dramatic coastal road with sweeping views. Round the cliffs at Vidigal to catch a first glimpse of your next destination and one of the most memorable cities in the world — Rio de Janeiro.

Take a city tour to experience the sights of Rio, like the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, or take a stroll along Copacabana beach.

Day 64 Rio de Janeiro

In the morning, explore the favela with a local resident on a G Adventures-supported tour to watch a drumming demonstration, get a Capoeira lesson, and sample craft beers with a new perspective of the city. Enjoy a free afternoon to discover all that Rio has to offer.

Day 65 Rio de Janeiro

Depart at any time.

What's Included

  • Your G for Good Moment: Shandia Biking & Community Experience, Shandia
  • Your G for Good Moment: Shandia Community Lodge, Shandia
  • Your G for Good Moment: Ccaccaccollo Community and Women's Weaving Co-op visit, Ccaccaccollo
  • Your G for Good Moment: Handmade Biodegradable Soap Products
  • Your G for Good Moment: Jukil Community Experience & Lodge, Santiago de Agencha
  • Your G for Good Moment: Favela Experience, Rio de Janeiro
  • Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
  • Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends
  • Your Local Living Moment: Amazon Jungle Experience, Tena
  • Your Discover Moment: Baños
  • Your Discover Moment: Lima
  • Your Foodie Moment: Huacachina Winery Visit, Huacachina
  • Your Discover Moment: Cusco
  • Your Foodie Moment: Sacred Valley Brewery, Ollantaytambo
  • Your Big Night Out Moment: Cusco
  • Your Local Living Moment: Lake Titicaca Homestay, Lake Titicaca
  • Your Discover Moment: Sucre
  • Your Discover Moment: Salta
  • Your Discover Moment: Buenos Aires
  • Your Discover Moment: Paraty
  • Your Discover Moment: Ilha Grande
  • Your Discover Moment: Rio de Janeiro
  • Amazon Jungle excursion to a local community
  • Beach time in Mancora
  • Sunset sandboarding & dune buggies (Huacachina)
  • Pachamanca-style dinner (Nazca)
  • Colca Canyon excursion
  • Guided tour of Machu Picchu
  • Inca Trail hike with a local guide and cook (4 days)
  • Lake Titicaca excursion
  • Salar de Uyuni excursion
  • Entrance and visit to the Argentine side of the Iguassu Falls
  • Internal flights
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Accommodations

Simple hotels (38 nts, twin-share), hostels (9 nts, multi-share), jungle homestay (2 nts), G Adventures-supported community lodge (1 nt), overnight buses (6 nts), camping (3 nts), homestay (1 nt), G Adventures-supported lodge/basic hotels on Salar de Uyuni excursion (2 nts, multi-share), estancia/ranch (2 nts, multi-share).

43 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 12 dinners Allow USD1495-1945 for meals not included.

Transportation

Local bus, boat, truck, motorized canoe, train, hiking, plane, 4x4 truck.

Staff & experts

CEO (Chief Experience Officer), specialist Inca Trail CEO on hike, local guides.

Available extras  (Add these to your tour when you book)

Arequipa city tour - from $45.00.

Get out and explore "the white city" on this walking tour, stop at picturesque viewpoints to capture the surrounding volcanoes, marvel at the white volcanic sillar rock architecture, and visit one of the most stunning colonial buildings in the country, Santa Catalina Monastery.

Baños Canyoning Adventure - From $30.00

Jump, slide, rappel, swim and float around Cascadas de Chamana on this canyoning adventure, while enjoying the stunning scenery near Sangay National Park. Please keep in mind this is a level 4/5 physical activity. Good mobility and a strong fitness level are required for you to have an enjoyable experience.

Baños Ziplining Adventure Bundle - From $25.00

Buckle up your harness, put on your helmet, and prepare to launch. Glide along a zipline suspended 850m above the canyon below, dare to let go and reach top speeds as you zip past stunning scenery. Forget your fear as you cross Tibetan Suspension Bridge above Pastaza River. Rock climb up to a second zipline to finish off this adrenaline-filled adventure. Please keep in mind this is a level 3/5 physical activity. Good mobility, no fear of heights, and a strong fitness level are required for you to have an enjoyable experience.

Buenos Aires Bike Tour - From $35.00

Experience this vibrant city cruising around on a bicycle with a local Argentine. Bike, helmet, knowledgeable tour guide, they've got it all taken care of, just come along for the ride and take in the many historical sights on offer. Discover Plaza de Mayo, San Telmo, colourful Caminito, and the working class neighbourhoods where Tango was born. Meeting place: Carlos Pellegrini 1233 Please note the bike tour begins at 10 AM. We advise booking a pre-night in order to arrive on time for this pre-sold optional activity. If you choose to arrive the day of the bike tour, please ensure your flight lands no later than 8 AM to ensure enough time to make it to the arrival point.

Buenos Aires Tango Show - From $80.00

Let professional dancers enchant you with this passionate dance. Once banned for its sensuality, tango is now an icon of Buenos Aires and a must-see when visiting this vibrant city. Enjoy a delicious multi-course meal paired with Argentine wine while taking it all in.

Cusco Cooking Class - From $46.00

Channel your inner chef and get a taste of Peruvian cuisine. Learn all about the essential ingredients, and try your hand at preparing unique Peruvian dishes with a local expert

Death Road Biking Adventure - From $115.00

Get your adrenaline pumping as you soar down the 'world's most dangerous road.' Start high up in the Andes at 4,700m (15,420 ft) and wind your way down this steep, narrow road on the mountainside into the depths of the Bolivian jungle. This is not one for the faint of heart, adrenaline junkies only! Please note that the entrance fee of 53 Bolivianos (not included in this activity) must be paid directly to the National Park prior to biking, only local currency is accepted. We are unable to pre-pay this fee in advance, due to the park policy.

Flight over Nazca Lines - From $122.00

Take to the skies for the best view of the enigmatic Nazca Lines, a series of patterns and pictures etched in the ground, crisscrossing a wide area of flat desert. Marvel at the lines measuring up to 10km (6 mi) in length, yet, remaining perfectly straight. See depictions of birds, insects, and animals only recognizable from the air. Decide for yourself the origin of the lines – who drew the lines, and why, remains a mystery. Current beliefs suggest that they may be part of complex agricultural calendar. Please note that this activity does not include a tourist ticket fee of S/.47 PEN per person, payable directly by each traveller at the airport in Nazca.

Lake Titicaca Kayak Excursion - From $59.00

Begin your journey early in the morning by transfering from the hotel to the port, then head out by motorboat to the base camp at the Peninsula of Capachica, a 2.5 hr trip. Learn about sea kayaking from our guide and paddle towards Taquile Island and enjoy the beauty and serenity of the moment. Hike to a village upon arrival and enjoy lunch with the locals. Continue on by motor boat to Amantani Island to meet your hosts for the night.

Lima Cooking Class (4hrs) - From $79.00

Get a taste of Peruvian cuisine, visit local markets, sample exotic fruit, select fresh ingredients, and try your hand at preparing unique Peruvian dishes influenced by China, Italy, West Africa, and Japan.

Paraty Boat Tour - From $25.00

Home to hundreds of pristine islands and idyllic white sand beaches it doesn't get much better than the Costa Verde. Cruise up the coast with a caipirinha in one hand and your camera in the other. Stop along the way to swim in the crystal clear waters or to catch a few rays. Snorkeling equipment is provided for those wanting a peek at what is under the water's surface.

Quito City Tour and Equator - From $50.00

Enjoy a city tour of Quito. Visit the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with stops at the Basilica del Voto Nacional, La Compañia Church, San Francisco Square, Plaza Grande and the Panecillo, a towering statue of the virgin of Quito who looks out over a stunning view of the city. Drive 25km (16 mi) north of Quito to the Middle of the World, latitude 0º. Stand with one foot in each hemisphere. Please note that this tour starts at 8 a.m.

Rainbow Mountain Hike - Full-day Trip - From $50.00

Lookout over these colourful Andean mountains striped with maroon, turquoise, lavender, and gold. The sediment, elevation, and proximity to the ocean create a landscape that has to be seen to be believed. Get started early to drive around 2 hours to the starting point of this challenging, yet rewarding full-day hike. Reaching 5,029m (16,500 ft) this 14km hike is no walk in the park, but these unique mountains do not disappoint.

My Own Room - From $2219.00

If you're travelling solo and would prefer to have your own private room throughout your trip, select this option during the online booking process.

Make it a private tour

Book this tour as a private departure, with your own CEO and all the benefits of a G Adventures group tour.

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Our 2-month South America backpacking itinerary

After only 5-6 years and tens of your questions, we finally felt inspired to write down the itinerary of our first grande journey. It all started when we decided to head for South America and explore it for about 60 days. In this article, we want to wrap up the whole journey and share with you our 2-month South America backpacking itinerary.

Horseback riding, El Calafate, Argentina

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2-month backpacking itinerary in South America

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Our epic 4 month backpacking south america itinerary.

Bradley Williams

When I graduated university back in 2015, there was only one thing I wanted to do, and that was see the world!

Since then, we have planned trips to and visited more than 3 dozen countries all around the globe.

And it all began with our epic 4 month South America backpacking trip in 2016.

It seemed like a great place to start, seeing as the continent was so large and diverse that we knew it would be a world away form what we had experienced living in the UK.

From hot and humid rainforests in the north of Brazil right down to frozen glaciers in southern Argentina, the continent had everything to offer.

We spent weeks researching all of the best things to do in South America and planning a route that would allow us to see as much as possible.

In the end, we settled on a 4 month journey for backpacking South America that would take us through many of the most popular sites and journeying around almost the entire continent.

Below I’ve attached an image of the route we took and, although it missed out on a few countries, South America is so large that we really couldn't have squeezed much more in !

So, if you’re in the process of planning your own South America itinerary, be it for 4 weeks, 4 months or even a year, then hopefully this will help you.

our 4 month south america backpacking itinerary

Travellerspoint

Why would you want to backpack South America?

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again … South America really does have it all .

It caters to all kinds of travellers, right through from those who love relaxing on the beach to those looking for high octane adventures.

For me, I was really excited to discover new cultures that were completely foreign to anything I’d seen before.

I’d been to plenty of places as a kid, but nowhere as exotic as South America .

Most of all, South America appealed to me because it still has so many untouched areas of natural beauty, most notably, the Amazon rainforest.

But at the same time, I was equally excited to visit major South American cities, such as Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, which I had heard so much about in the past.

Christ The Redeemer in Rio De Janiero

But don't worry, you haven’t got to visit South America and travel quite as much as we did.

We traveled almost the entire continent and visited 6 countries along the way.

Instead, you could choose just two or three countries and spend the same amount of time, and give yourself greater chance to relax and experience each one to the fullest.

But if you’re on the fence about visiting, here are the top 3 things that I ultimately loved most of all about South America:

  • ‍ The people - All across South America, the people are so friendly and hospitable towards foreign visitors, regardless of whether you are in major cities or smaller settlements in the middle of nowhere. ‍
  • The sites - South America is home to some of the world’s most famous sites, such as the Amazon rainforest, Perito Moreno glacier, Tijuca Falls, the Bolivian Salt Flats, Machu Picchu and many MANY more. ‍
  • The chance for adventure - Though it is incredibly popular, the backpacking trails are by no means as developed as those in many typical Asian countries like Thailand and Vietnam. Instead, it’s up to you to take local routes and craft your own journey. And the continent is so vast that you really can design your own adventure and uncover local towns and villages that few tourists ever go to.

celebrating in el salvador brazil

Our chosen 4 month backpacking South America itinerary

Okay! Now that’s out of the way, let’s take a deeper look at the 4 month South America route that we chose to follow.

We designed it this way, as we wanted to start in a major capital city that offered affordable flights in and to then end in another major city that we could fly home from.

It's worth noting that many backpackers we met were actually doing a similar route but in the opposite direction .

From our experience, I would say that the route we took is better, largely because of how expensive each country is compared to one another.

Colombia, Peru and Bolivia are much much cheaper than the other 3, so it’s good to arrive at those last, so that you feel like you are slowly saving money as you go around.

It’s also easier to budget that way, once you know how much you have left to spend.

drinking wine in south america

So first up we have ...

1 month backpacking Brazil

Have you ever looked at Brazil on a map?

Well, I’m sure you have and you probably realised the same thing we did at first … that it is huge !

Brazil is almost an entire continent almost on its own and seems to dominate everything around it.

As such, 1 month in Brazil is quite a lot of time to see lots of sites, but in the grand scheme of things is nowhere near enough to see it all .

I think you could go back and spend an entire 4 months just backpacking Brazil, and maybe one day we will!

view of rio in Brazil

The best places to visit in Brazil

The route we chose through Brazil was based off starting In Rio de Janeiro in the southwest and then finishing up near the Amazon in the north, where we could then catch a flight down to Argentina.

In the end, I was very happy with this route and we got to see so much of Brazil’s stunning coastline.

The one place in Brazil I wish we could have stopped at was Sao Paulo, but this didn't quite work out with regards to timings.

Either way, here’s the final route we followed:

  • Rio de janeiro - 4 nights
  • Vittoria - 3 nights
  • Salvador - 3 nights
  • Recife - 2 nights
  • Belem - 4 nights
  • Amazon boat cruise - 6 nights
  • Manaus - 3 nights
  • Amazon jungle tour - 2 nights

4 week Brazil backpacking route

We used buses to get between Rio, Vittoria and Salvador; took a flight from Recife to Belem; and then, of course, a boat from Belem to Manaus .

So all inclusive of overnight buses, we ended up spending 29 days in Brazil .

The top 3 things to do in Brazil

  • Amazon riverboat cruise
  • Drinking caipirinhas on Copacabana Beach
  • Amazon jungle tour

our belem to manaus amazon riverboat cruise

2 weeks backpacking Argentina

After 4 weeks travelling through hot and humid Brazil, we were surprisingly excited to get further south and find us some cooler weather.

Well, we ended up going from 1 extreme to the other, by travelling from Brazil’s northernmost point all the way to Argentina’s southernmost city in less than a week.

Ushuaia, which is at the very bottom of Argentina, happens to be the southernmost city, not just in South America, but in the whole world!

So it is a complete world away from the heat of the Amazon.

And this absolute diversity in climates is what I loved a lot about Argentina and what helped it make itself onto the list of our best backpacking destinations around the world.

landing in ushuaia argentina

The best places to visit in Argentina

We started in the north in Iguazu, visiting the famous Iguazu Falls, where the temperature was still 30 degrees and above.

We then took a long overnight bus journey south to the famous city of Argentina, before then flying down to Ushuaia a few days later.

Without a doubt, Patagonia (so southern Argentina & Chile) is one of the most spectacular places on Earth.

No trip to South America would be complete without spending at least 7-10 days exploring this region .

Fun fact: We actually returned here in 2023 when we drove our UK campervan down from North America. You can read more about that adventure here .

Our route was as follows:

  • Puerto Iguazu - 2 nights
  • Buenos Aires - 3 nights
  • Ushuaia - 4 nights
  • El Calafate - 4 nights

2 week Argentina backpacking route

As mentioned, we used a mixture of buses and flights to get through Argentina .

But getting to the famous Perito Moreno glacier in El Calafate ended up being quite challenging.

In the end, the best way to get there required us to head up through Chile and then cut back into Argentina for a few days and visit it.

So in total we spent 15 days in Argentina when you include overnight buses .

The top 3 things to do in Argentina

  • Visit Perito Moreno glacier
  • Explore Iguazu Falls
  • Climb Marshall Glacier

perito moreno glacier argentina

3 weeks backpacking Chile

Once you hit Ushuaia in Argentina, there’s only one direction left to go, and that’s north!

So our route through Chile saw us gradually getting further and further north, all the way from glaciers in the south to arid, hot deserts in the far north.

Chile is such a beautiful country and it’s great heading up through the country, watching the landscape change.

moon valley in chile

The best places to visit in Chile

We used buses to head up to Puerto Natales, where we stayed for a couple nights before heading into the Torres del Paine National Park.

This happens to be one of the world’s most famous locations for hiking, and the W-Trek is attempted by thousands of passionate hikers every year.

We were in the park for just 2 days, which was still incredibly challenging and we made our way to the famous Three Torres for sunrise.

This ended up being my favorite moment from the entire 4 month South America journey.

From there, we visited the Perito Moreno glacier, before heading back south to Punta Arenas where we could catch a flight north to Santiago.

Chile is strange in that it's nearly impossible to get a bus north and the flights actually ended up being very cheap and taking just a couple hours.

I could talk for ages about Santiago, but I’ll give you just a brief recap.

So this was our first ever experience with Couchsurfing and we ended up having the best time with our hosts Carlos and Gabi who showed us around the city and got us drunk, on more than one occasion, on Caipirinhas!

couchsurfing in chile south america

After a few days, we hired a car and drove south on what ended up being another massive highlight to the trip.

The drive south is truly beautiful as you drive for hundreds of miles down beautifully tarmacked roads, bordered on both sides by gorgeous snow-capped mountains.

We went as far as Pucon, before heading back north again to Santiago.

We also stopped in a place called Cajon del Maipo and ended up driving deep into the snowy mountains (literally through 2 feet of snow!) until we reached some hidden hot springs.

Other than a couple of workers, we were the only ones there … relaxing in hot springs, completely secluded in this wonderful place.

It was one of the best moments of the entire trip and I highly recommend you visit here if you get chance.

Our route through Chile ...

  • Puerto Natales - 3 nights
  • Torres Del Paine National Park - 1 night
  • Punta Arenas - 1 night
  • Santiago - 7 nights
  • Cajon del Maipo - 1 night
  • Puerto Montt - 1 night
  • Pucon - 2 nights
  • San Pedro de Atacama - 3 nights

3 week Chile backpacking route

We used a mixture of buses, flights and hire cars to make it through Chile , with the journey north from Santiago to the Atacama being the longest and most dramatic in change.

After a few weeks spent in the cold south, we were finally ready to return somewhere warm and the Atacama desert is a world away from what you find in the south.

There, you get to visit a spot known as Moon Valley, because it literally looks like the surface of the moon!

In total we spent 22 days in Chile, including overnight buses

The top 3 things to do in Chile

  • Hike in the Torres del Paine National Park
  • Go glamping in the Atacama Desert
  • Relax in hot springs amidst snowy mountains in Cajon del Maipo

cajon de maipo in chile

3 weeks backpacking Bolivia

On our journey further north, the next logical country to stop in was Bolivia.

And the journey into Bolivia begins with one of the country’s most incredible adventures, which is a tour through the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve .

Tours through this region typically range from between 1 and 3 days and you get to see some truly awe-inspiring sites.

Ranging through from pink lakes surrounded by flamingos to wide open planes covered in lush grass and wild alpacas.

We chose for the more direct 1 day route that starts early in the morning with you crossing into Bolivia and getting stamped into the country at a very dodgy looking official office.

Afterwards, you spend much of the day climbing ever higher into the mountains, stopping off at key sights along the way.

Including spots that inspired Salvador Dali in many of his most famous pieces of art.

If you have the time and can afford the added expense, then we did hear good things about the 3 day routes.

bolivia border crossing

The best places to visit in Bolivia

From there, you find yourself in Salar de Uyuni, which is the most popular starting point for an epic day trip out onto the infamous Bolivian salt flats.

The incredible white expanse and clear blue skies make for some truly unique photo opportunities.

Just make sure you stock up on toys and ornaments, because you get a good couple of hours to let your inner child loose, trying to capture even more remarkable shots.

Here's a few of my favourite shots from the salt flats ...

hulk fighting salar de utuni

Potosi, Sucre and La Paz all offer up plenty to see and do, but do be warned that they are very high up, so you will likely suffer from altitude sickness and get tired after walking around for even short periods .

We took such a long time in La Paz for 3 key reasons:

  • First, we had been raising funds on our journey backpacking South America up until that point in order to donate to an exceptional type 1 diabetic charity for children.
  • Secondly, we were quite worn out by our hectic schedule over the previous 2 months, so did want to take things easy.
  • Thirdly, we spent a whole day out paragliding which was EPIC!

Here's the places we stopped off in across Bolivia:

  • Salar de Uyuni - 2 nights
  • Potosi - 2 nights
  • Sucre - 3 nights
  • La Paz - 10 nights
  • Copacabana - 1 night
  • Isla del Sol - 1 night

3 week Bolivia backpacking route

In my opinion, visiting Isla del Sol is up there as one of the top 5 things to do anywhere in South America .

This gem of an island is located about an hour from mainland Copacabana and I wish we’d stayed for more than just 1 night!

It is so peaceful and gorgeous and the island is filled with incredible hiking opportunities.

On the evening there, I chose to hike up to the highest point and it felt amazing being the only one up there, with views stretching for miles all around.

It’s worth noting that Bolivia is landlocked so it isn't ocean that surrounds Isla del Sol, but is instead a vast lake of freshwater!

Please, please, please make sure you visit Isla del Sol before you leave Bolivia; you won’t regret it.

In total we spent 21 days in Bolivia including overnight buses.

The top 3 things to do in Bolivia

  • Taking pictures at the Uyuni salt flats
  • Catching a boat out to Isla del Sol
  • Going paragliding outside La Paz

isla del sol viewpoint

1 week backpacking Peru

Our journey into Peru began with us crossing the border with Bolivia, to be greeted by a woman squatting in the road and peeing right next to us as we waited for our bus.

From there, it’s fair to say that our trip got better and better!

The best places to visit in Peru

We only managed to stop in two cities, so there are tons of awesome places in Peru that we've yet to explore!

However, Cusco and Lima are by far the most popular places to stop in and there’s tonnes to see and do all around them.

In Cusco, we went for a day tour to ancient Inca ruins and settlements and mines located all around the region.

We also went for a tour that went not as far from the city and allowed us to partake in some local evening rituals that have gone on for a number of generations.

We also found Cusco itself to be a nice place to explore, filled with all sorts of old school markets to pick up souvenirs and trinkets.

As well as lots of restaurants and bars, a perfect place to try traditional Peruvian dishes .

You’ll also find dozens of locals whispering in your ears as you pass asking if you want to buy cocaine .

We gave those offers a miss.

cusco in peru

By far the most famous reason that people visit Cusco is to climb up Machu Picchu .

This is easily one of the top 5 most famous places to visit in South America and I’m quite annoyed we never got the chance to do it.

By this point, we had burned through far too much of our budget and we simply couldn't afford it, as climbing Machu Picchu these days costs a good few hundred dollars.

From here, we took the long overnight bus journey from to Lima on the west coast.

I turned out to be very fond of Lima, in particular the incredible sandy beaches and idyllic surfing conditions of its long coastline.

It was here that I first learned to surf after paying a local instructor about $20 for a 2 hour lesson.

As well as this, I recommend you stay at the Zig Zag hostel .

It’s a very cheap, yet modern hostel and the hosts are very friendly and welcoming.

But what makes this place to special is that every week or two the hosts visit the local slums and donate meals to the poor families living there.

As a guest you have the chance to go along and it was a wonderful experience getting to meet these locals who live in incredible poverty and to help and give something back.

visiting slums in Lima, Peru

We took up a few items that we no longer had use for, such as clothes and bags and donated them to the families.

Our journey through Peru was pretty straightforward ...

  • Cusco - 3 nights
  • Lima - 3 nights

1 week backpacking Peru route

In total we spent 8 days in Peru including our overnight bus ride.

The top 3 things to do in Peru

  • Climb Machu Picchu
  • Go an an Inca day tour in Cusco
  • Visit the El Agustino slum with Zig Zag Hostel

learning to surf in south america

2 weeks backpacking Colombia

Colombia was the last stop of our 4 month South America backpacking itinerary.

We had heard a lot about Colombia on our journey around the continent, as well as from older relatives and friends from back home.

After all of this, we surmised that Colombia would be a worn torn country, inundated with drug lords and gang wars.

What we found turned out to be very different.

Yes, Colombia has had a very eventful past, especially if you've seen the series Narcos on Netflix.

However, the truth is that Colombia is no longer the drug capital of the world and so much of the violence, drug trafficking and corruption has died out.

Instead, what you find is a country that is fighting it's hardest to get rid of this image and instead build into a modern and safe place to visit.

nice resort in colombia

The best places to visit in Colombia

Once again, our lack of funds meant that our time in Colombia was limited somewhat and there are a few crucial places we planned on visiting and were unable to.

However, we still has a wonderful time here, in particular in Girardot and Cartagena .

As a popular seaside city, Cartagena is the most touristy of the places we visited and is quite a bit more expensive.

But it’s a great spot to visit nearby coastal towns and to even take day trips out to islands off the coast of the country in the Caribbean.

Our Colombia travel route was as follows ...

  • Bogota - 1 night
  • Girardot - 3 nights
  • Cali - 5 nights
  • Cartagena - 1 night

2 week backpacking colombia route

The top 3 things to do in Colombia

  • Explore the old city of Cartagena
  • Go on a coffee tour
  • Fly out to San Andres

In total we spent 10 days in Colombia.

flying home from south america

So overall, our journey across South America was just short of 4 months, allowing us to see many of the continent’s best sites and discovering almost everything we wanted to see.

But of course, they are plenty more smaller countries across South America, all of which we are very excited to return to and visit ...

Other countries to visit in South America

With only 4 months to backpack South America, we did have to say no to visiting a few countries.

We could have easily popped into Paraguay, Uruguay and Ecuador, however, we still wanted to travel them properly so instead chose to leave them for a future adventure.

In particular, we are excited to one day visit Venezuela, but will need to give it a few years until they eventually get some sort of political stability and do away with the corruption that currently engulfs the nation.

These other countries are ...

  • Ecuador (try to visit the Galapagos Islands if you can!)

map of south america route

What are the best things to do in South America

If you are looking for a full rundown of what to get up to whilst on this continent, then check out this other post I wrote on the best things to do in South America

It takes you through all of the biggest highlights of our trip, and I highly recommend trying to fit in as many things as possible.

But I thought it also well worth mentioning ...

The 4 things I wish we had got to do in South America

1. lencois maranhenses.

These are located on the northern end of Brazil, not too far from Belem.

Unfortunately, we ran out of time so had to skip them prior to our Amazon riverboat cruise and I was nothing short of gutted!

The area is a large open desert filled with giant sand dunes that have then created a series of mini lakes.

These lakes are only present at certain times of the year, but are some of the most picturesque places in South America.

We met people who visited them and getting there is actually very difficult as you have to take a jeep tour for a number of hours deep into the desert.

2. Machu Picchu

I talked about Machu Picchu above and, once again, I was gutted to have been unable to visit.

In the words of the Terminator … “I will be back!”

3. A trip to Easter Island

Easter Island is located 2 miles off the coast of Chile.

It is most famous for the large stone carvings that have been there for hundreds of years and no one is quite sure what their purpose is.

4. Take a boat to Antarctica

Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world, located in the deep south of Argentina.

From here, it’s possible to purchase a ticket for a multi day tour that takes you across the ocean all the way to Antarctica.

These trips are, as you’d imagine, very expensive, so we had to give them a miss.

tierra del fuego patagonia

Planning the right South America itinerary for you

In my ever so humble opinion, if you wish to explore as much of South America as possible and take in all of the major sites, I think you need to spend at least 12 months here.

That way, you wouldn't have to move as quickly as we did and can take more time to enjoy what they astounding continent has to offer.

That being said, this is completely impractical for most people.

So feel free to edit the journey as applicable and to add in extended stays in certain locations.

Our 4 month South America route ...

Common FAQ about backpacking South America

Here are a few more great travel tips to help you plan your own trip to South America ...

How did you sort accommodation in South America?

For 95% of our bookings in South America, we used Booking.com .

We use them all around the world as they always seem to offer the widest selection of accommodation, right through from budget hostels to nicer hotels and apartments.

They also always have the lowest prices as well as cool discounts and offers to Genius Members (which you become once you make a few bookings).

Other than that, we used Couchsurfing.com when staying in Santiago, and the experience was so much fun!

Our hosts, Carlos and Gabi, were 2 of the nicest people we met when backpacking South America and there was no better way to discover the local culture and nightlife.

Oh, and they were even kind enough to pick them up from the airport.

At the time of writing ( more than 4 years on ) we are still in touch.

I recommend trying to sort your accommodation as far in advance as possible, so ideally a week or 2 before you arrive in each location.

Otherwise, you end up paying more and will find yourself with far fewer budget places to choose from, especially in peak backpacking months.

playing guitar in south america

How much does it cost to backpack South America?

Compared to other common backpacking regions, such as South East Asia, South America can seem quite  a bit more expensive.

However, it really does depend on how fast you move through the continent.

We ended up finding that our biggest expense was travel costs associated with flights and long distance bus tickets through each country.

These can be very, very expensive, especially in places like Brazil where you need to get numerous 12+ hour bus tickets.

Food and drink in South America was cheaper than what you'd find in most western countries, however it does really depend on where you are and what you're looking to eat.

To save money, we ended up buying food from a supermarket and cooking for ourselves most nights.

I don't have an exact figure, as our entire trip ended up going well over the anticipated budget.

But all in all we each spent around £4,500-£5,000 ($5,250-$6,500) for just under 4 months in South America.

That’s roughly $45-$55 per day.

If you are looking to save some money, then I recommend travelling much more slowly than we did, and also sticking to the cheaper countries.

These are Colombia, Bolivia and Peru.

Of course, you will find cheap places in Argentina, Chile and Brazil as well, however, they tend to cost a lot more to travel through.

Patagonia is one of my favourite regions anywhere in the word and is truly breathtaking. However, it is also much more expensive that other parts of the continent.

Also, be sure to pick up a travel card, such as Monzo or Revolut , which gives you the best exchange rates in all countries.

three torres in chile

How do you get around South America?

No South America travel guide would be complete without talking about how to actually get from place to place! As mentioned a couple times, the best way to get around South America is by bus and plane .

Flying in South America

In total we took 5 flights internally throughout South America; these were ..

  • Recife to Belem
  • Manaus to Foz de Iguazu
  • Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
  • Punta Arenas to Santiago
  • Lima to Bogota

As long as you book your flights a month or more in advance, then they should be pretty cheap.

And if you are travelling long distances then not only do they save you a lot of time and hassle, but they also save you a lot of money.

flying in south america

Using buses in South America

Unlike with flights, you can't really save much money on your bus journeys by booking them in advance .

And if you are planning on travelling the entire continent like we did, then the cost of these will soon stack up.

I can’t give a rough idea of how much each journey costs, as they really do vary depending on which country you are in as well as how far you are travelling.

They are also dependant on what quality of seat you are looking for.

In most of South America they have the following system:

  • No Cama - refers to seats that are in a static position and do not move. These are always the cheapest and are fine if you are taking short journeys up to a few hours.
  • Semi Cama - refers to seats that recline partially, up to around 45 degrees. These are the second most expensive and are fine if you don’t mind sleeping upright. Sometimes these are the only seats available so you don't really have much choice in the matter anyway.
  • Suite Cama - refers to seats that recline completely. Oh boy how I came to love sweet suite cama . If you have a long 12 hour overnight bus journey, then this is by far the best way to travel. You get to arrive well rested and not in pain from having been awkwardly huddled all night. However, these can easily be two or even three times the price of other tickets and in many cases are not even available.

Regardless of which bus you choose, I recommend buying a blanket for each journey as they can get very cold, and they often don’t provide one.

When you enter countries like Bolivia and Colombia, you will often find no choice in the matter and instead are forced to ride in uncomfortable buses and that’s just the way it is.

All in all, bus tickets ended up costing us a lot of money over the 4 months, far more than we were planning to spend.

As a heads up, if you are planning on visiting Lima and Cuzco, then book your flights way, way way in advance.

We were forced to catch a bus and the journey is long and famously perilous and uncomfortable, so if you can avoid it then do so.

When it comes to booking bus tickets, you can sometimes do these online and in other cases you have to do them in person from a local bus station.

This latter case seems to be more applicable in Bolivia, Peru and Colombia.

Good sites we used to book online bus tickets include:

foz de iquazu in argentina

Hiring a vehicle in South America

It is possible to hire cars or motorbikes in many parts of South America and they are a great way to get around.

Rentalcars.com is a great place to start your search, as they include most of the big car hire firms in cities all across South America.

However, if you wish to drop them off in another city, then it can be very expensive as the hire company will then charge you a large fee to have the car taken back to the original point.

We hired a car in Chile and drove south from Santiago for 4 days and had the best time! So I would highly recommend doing this if you get chance and can afford it.

renting and driving a car in south america

Buying motorbikes in South America

Though we have no personal experience with this, I wanted to quickly mention the option you have of buying your own motorbike and driving yourself around South America.

When on our boat cruise down the Amazon, we met an Australian couple called Ben and Ainsley who were doing exactly this.

They spent more than a year driving across South America in its entirety and had nothing but great things to say about their adventure.

Boat journeys in South America

It's possible to take boat journeys in certain parts of South America, most notably being the Amazon rainforest which stretches from Brazil down into Peru.

We took the journey from Belem to Manaus and you can read more about this here .

sailing a boat in south america

What’s the best way to get to South America?

Flights into South America are easy to come by and generally fairly affordable.

The major cities in every country offer international flights so you’ll find something to suit you.

All I would say is that you should try and plan your route as carefully as possible in advance so that you know which city is most practical to fly into and which one is best to fly out of.

For us, it made most sense to fly to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and eventually leave from Colombia.

As another note, I wouldn't recommend booking your return flights at the same time like we did.

This does limit your flexibility and we found it to end up being unnecessary.

Usually you save money by booking both flights together but we ended up finding that we could have booked even last minute return flights for almost the same price we had paid in the first place.

Whenever you are booking flights in, around and out of South America, I recommend using Skyscanner .

flamingo lake bolivia

How safe is it in South America?

Before arriving, we had heard our fair share of scare stories about South America.

Which is almost to be expected when you consider the ongoing news headlines about political arrest in many South American countries in recent years.

However, during our time here, we never had any trouble or felt concerned about our safety.

But I credit this success to a few key rules that we followed when backpacking through South America:

  • Don’t go out when it’s dark, unless you are with a large group of people
  • Only take out the amount of money that you need to spend at that time
  • Don’t go around flashing expensive phones and cameras
  • Always keep your day bag zipped up when out and about - In Brazil we took this one step further by always having a padlock on the bag. We did this after someone gave us this tip but I’m really not sure how necessary it was; and the anxiety it raised did spoil our time in Brazil somewhat
  • Don't stay out late drinking in a city you don’t know
  • Only ever use a licensed taxi or Uber
  • Don’t buy or accept drugs from anyone
  • Generally, try and be sensible and respectful of the local cultures and areas you are in

wrestling choquitas la paz

Final thoughts from our time backpacking South America

All in all, I found South America to be a wonderful place to discover and the sheer variety in climates and sites really did impress me.

It was nice knowing that, no matter where we went, there would always be some unique sites to see and kind people to meet.

Another great thing to do whilst in South America is to take a genuine interest in the local people and get to learn about them, their language, their culture and their customs.

I have very fond memories of dozens of people we met and spoke to along the way and I found it fascinating to learn more about the unique stories everyone had to offer.

I hope my 4 month South America itinerary can help you in some way in planning your own route around the country.

If there’s anything you think I’ve missed and have any additional question, then don’t be afraid to ask!

Just drop me a message in the comments below ...

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south america journey

We're the sisters who founded Across South America 15 years ago... and we're here to help you fall in love with South America just like we are!

From the towering Andes mountains and lush Amazon rainforest to the pristine beaches and vibrant cities, South America boasts an awe-inspiring array of natural wonders and cultural treasures.

With so much breathtaking beauty, planning a trip can sometimes feel overwhelming.

But don’t worry, I’m here to help you navigate the options and create your once-in-a-lifetime 3 weeks itinerary!

If you dream about having the adventure of a lifetime, continue reading this article and learn about this fantastic 3 weeks in South America itinerary, exploring Peru, Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador, filled with natural beauty, culture, history, and the best local cuisine.

But first, before I jump into giving you some advice, I just wanted to tell you why you can trust me!

Travel has always been a fundamental part of my life. Growing up in a family that was always on the move, I had the privilege of living in three different South American countries before I even started school. As a result, I developed a strong desire to explore the world around me.

I was fortunate to have parents who believed that travel was the best kind of education, so my school breaks were spent discovering fascinating places near and far.

16 years ago, my sister, Maria, and I founded Across South America, a boutique travel agency catering to discerning travelers looking for an authentic South American experience.

We understand the importance of a trip tailored to your needs! So we’re here to make sure that’s exactly what you get from our trips.

Now that you know more about me, I’d love to share my trip suggestion for a fantastic 3 weeks itinerary in South America!

Have you signed up for our South America travel Blog yet? Sign up here and get our South America Travel Guide with unique experiences you can do on your next trip ❤️

3 weeks in South America Itinerary: A Glimpse of Buenos Aires, Exploring Argentina’s Amazing Culture

Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, serves as a major transportation hub, making it a convenient starting point for your South American travels.

So this 3 weeks South America itinerary begins in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where you can experience the charm of the “Paris” of South America.

Buenos Aires is a city that provides a unique look into Argentina’s rich culture. The city offers an array of experiences that will help you immerse in the country’s history and traditions.

From the vibrant street art scene to the lively tango performances, Buenos Aires is a hub for creativity and expression. You can also explore the city’s landmarks, such as the iconic Obelisco and the stunning Recoleta Cemetery. With its delicious food, warm people, and beautiful architecture, Buenos Aires is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in experiencing the best of Argentina.

Your next days will be filled with exploring the memorable highlights of Buenos Aires and tasting the most delicious meals paired with the best Argentine wines.

You will also have the chance to catch a glimpse of the San Antonio de Areco ’s local markets, where you will learn all about Argentinean beef cuts and local produce and enjoy a fun Argentine cooking lesson.

And let’s not forget to include a traditional tango show or a visit to a Local Milonga, that promises to amaze your eyes and fill your soul.

How many days in Buenos Aires? I suggest 4 days/3 nights to explore the city and include visiting the countryside, The Pampas.

As a first stop for your journey through South America, picking the best time to visit Buenos Aires will be top of your priorities. Read here when is the best time to visit Buenos Aires.

3 weeks itinerary South America

3 weeks of South America Itinerary: From Buenos Aires to the Relaxing Iguassu Falls

Your 3 weeks in South America itinerary, exploring Peru, Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador continue with a short flight from Buenos Aires to Iguazu.

Explore the breathtaking natural wonder of Iguazu Falls National Park, where the thunderous roar of the cascading waterfalls will leave you awestruck. Marvel at the vibrant flora and fauna that thrive in this lush ecosystem, and keep an eye out for exotic wildlife such as toucans, jaguars, and monkeys. Immerse yourself in the serene beauty of the park, and experience an unforgettable adventure in the heart of South America.

Living in Buenos Aires, just a 2-hour flight from Puerto Iguazu, allowed me to visit the falls many times…every time I visit the falls, the Falls take my breath away…Iguazu is a place I will return to again and again!

READ HERE this blog post Is Iguazu Falls Worth It? Where I share five reasons why I think Iguazu is worth it, and you have to put it at the top of your itinerary.

How many days in Iguazu? I suggest 3 days/2 nights to explore The Argentine and the Brazilian side of the falls.

You can either visit the famous Iguazu waterfalls from Argentina or Brazil.

That said, ideally, you want to visit the Iguazu Falls from both the Argentine and the Brazilian sides. They are so totally different. The Argentinian falls are the stage and the Brazilian are the theatre

From the Brazilian side, you will have great views of the falls that are on the Argentine side. And from Argentina, you will walk above the falls, which is also exhilarating!

Visit Argentina

In one of the widest stretches across the Iguazu River, awaits the most important and monumental waterfall of Iguazu cascades system: the Devil’s Throat.

3 weeks of South America Itinerary: From Argentina to the Brazilian Wonder – Bustling Rio de Janeiro

This journey continues with a flight from Foz do Iguazu ( Brazilian side of the falls) to Rio de Janeiro.

Being born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, I have an inherent attachment to the city that is difficult to put into words. The vibrant culture, stunning natural beauty, and lively atmosphere all contribute to my personal LOVE for Rio ❤️

With its renowned Carnaval, football, gorgeous beaches, and attractive inhabitants it is a must-visit destination if you are traveling to South America.

3 weeks in south america itinerary

3 weeks South America Itinerary – Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas Rio de Janeiro, Brasil nsignorelliphotonn

A Full experience of spectacular views is waiting for you in Rio de Janeiro:

Highlight #1: See one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the magnificent Christ the Redeemer, the iconic statue on top of Corcovado Hill, Rio’s most famous landmark. Corcovado Hill is part of the Tijuca Forest, the largest urban forest in the world. On the way to its top is the Dona Marta belvedere, from where it is possible to see the Maracanã Stadium, the famous Guanabara Bay, and the beautiful Sugar Loaf.

Highlight #2: Every year, over a million visitors visit the famous Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf Mountain), an iconic symbol of Rio de Janeiro.

Journey to the top in a glass cable car. The first cable car takes passengers to the top of Urca Hill, which rises 215 meters above sea level, and it will offer you spectacular views of the entire bay and its surrounding islands.

Indulge in Rio’s culinary delights during a memorable food walking tour and a fun cooking class.

Rio is also the cradle of Samba and Bossa Nova, two of the most important cultural manifestations in the country:

Go behind the scenes of the Carnival and explore the complex of Samba City, where all Samba schools have their creation warehouses. Your expert local guide will tell you about the parade and customs.

Are you looking for a fun afternoon and learning to dance the Samba? You can introduce yourself to the world of Samba. Enjoy a Dance lesson and head to nightclubs to try your first steps of Samba in Rio. You’ll interact with the locals, called the “Cariocas,” who will show you how to dance the Samba.

READ MORE Top Places to Stay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil : If staying at great hotels is important for you… and you want the best Places to stay in Rio

3 weeks in south america itinerary

Cristo redentor at night by @nisegfs

3 weeks of South America Itinerary: A Memorable Peruvian Escape, Six Days in Peru

Exploring lima.

The tenth day of your 3 weeks in South America, exploring Peru, Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador will take you to charming Lima, in Peru.

Whether you’re captivated by historical landmarks, intrigued by culinary masterpieces, or enchanted by local traditions.

Lima is definitely a place that will cater to your discerning tastes!

We Love authentic and unique experiences. ⁠ What can this be in LIMA?⁠

✔️An Art Tour accompanied by an Art curator. ⁠

The city is now home to several major art galleries and some of the best street art in Latin America.⁠

✔️Exploring the outdoors in Lima⁠

A Cruise to Swim with Sea Lions or even Catch the Waves with a Surfing Lesson in the Pacific Coast⁠

✔️ A culinary experiences with real culinary experts.⁠

Including a visit to a local market and learning to prepare a Peruvian delicacy. ⁠

✔️Architecture tour in Old Colonial Lima and the Bohemian side⁠

Including a visit to some of the most important sights in downtown Lima and a visit to bohemian Barranco. ⁠

✔️Shopping Tour accompanied by a personal shopper⁠

Including appointments with relevant fashion designers. Visit some of the best and most exclusive boutiques and receive an interesting insight into the latest up-and-coming trends in Peruvian fashion or the newest collections.⁠

For more experiences in Lima Read MORE: 42 things you have to do in Lima Where I uncover the top things to do in Lima.

How Many Days Do you Need in Lima?

To savor Lima’s essence, consider spending around 2 to 3 days. This is enough time to explore the City highlights and uncover key attractions like the Historic Center and Larco Museum.

Gourmands can relish diverse culinary experiences, while explorers can soak in coastal beauty. If a deeper dive into local culture or more leisurely exploration appeals to you, extending your stay to 4 to 5 days will provide a more immersive adventure.

Peru tours

Enjoy a delicious Peruvian-style lunch

FROM LIMA TO CUSCO, THE SACRED VALLEY

Nestled amidst the Andes, Cusco boasts a charming cobblestone-street city with historic colonial architecture, cathedrals, museums, various cafes and restaurants, and ALSO Exquisite properties to stay.

Cusco is a city brimming with hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. While popular tourist spots such as Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley are undoubtedly stunning, there’s much more to explore beyond them. We’ll take you on a journey through the lesser-known gems of Cusco, from charming local markets to beautiful colonial buildings tucked away in quiet streets. Get ready to see Cusco in a whole new light!

After admiring Cusco and letting your taste buds run while during mouthwatering local meals, head towards the Sacred Valley of the Incas and let the village and the typical country accommodation get you closer to the soul of this stunning country.

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Stroll Cusco’s Plaza de Armas

YOUR NEXT DESTINATION: MACHU PICCHU

Can you travel to Machu Picchu and Avoid the crowds?

Last but not least, visit the famous Machu Picchu, explore the breathtaking ancient ruins and indulge in a sensational lunch, before returning to Cusco City.

No feeling can compare to how I felt when I stood at the sun gate and saw Machu Picchu for the first time.

The thing about Machu Picchu is it will almost always be busy.⁠

⁠If you ask any fellow adventurer where they dream of going in Peru, Machu Picchu is undoubtedly their top choice….

It’s easy to READ this and think,

“Well, okay, I would love to visit Machu Picchu, but also help to preserve them. And I want to travel to Peru, but do it authentically, avoiding the crowds.

but HOW do I do it?”

One of Machu Picchu’s biggest challenges is balancing preservation and tourism.

And in a bid to preserve this natural wonder for future generations and protect it from over-tourism, many NEW RULES and regulations are now in place.

✔️ Machu Picchu’s daily visitors are now limited to 2500

✔️ Each ticket allows only 1 entry, so it is impossible to re-enter using the same ticket after you leave.

✔️The new maximum time allowed for each group in Machu Picchu is 4 now hours.

✔️Machu Picchu is now divided into 5 different circuits you can choose for your visit.

So, is it possible to maintain tourism in Machu Picchu without causing overcrowding?

YES, With these changes, the overall tourist experience in Machu Picchu will significantly improve, as trails will be less crowded and groups will be far more organized.

BUT, We Also have these 3 suggestions for you to avoid the crowds.

Go somewhere else⁠ in Peru,

Machu Picchu is an incredible place, but is it the only amazing Incan ruin in Peru or even around Cuzco? We have many suggestions for you! ⁠

Avoid Peak season⁠

July through August is summer and peak season in Machu Picchu.⁠

The crowds tend to thin out from April through May and September through October while the weather remains relatively dry and pleasant. ⁠

Stay at the Sanctuary Lodge at Machu Picchu⁠

If you choose to stay at this accommodation, you’ll be right at the entrance to the amazing Inca citadel.

This location gives you the advantage of getting to Machu Picchu before the crowds or staying after they’ve left. By 4pm, most of the day-trippers from Cuzco have already left, making for a quieter and more peaceful experience.⁠

If you are considering visiting Machu Picchu, take a look at some of the insightful articles on our blog:

When is the Best Time to Visit Machu Picchu?

Best Luxury Hotels to Stay When Visiting Machu Picchu

3 weeks in south america itinerary

Machu Picchu — Image by © Picturegarden/Corbis

3 weeks of South America Itinerary: Exploring Ecuador’s Natural Beauty in Seven Breathtaking Days

Following this 3 weeks itinerary, On day 16, you will fly from Cusco to Quito, Ecuador’s mesmerizing capital.

Besides delicious meals and lavish accommodation, your Ecuador adventure also brings you the chance to see some of the most beautiful islands in the Galapagos archipelago.

The Galapagos Islands are a place of wonder and magic. From the unique wildlife to the stunning landscapes, there’s something enchanting about this archipelago.

Visiting the Galapagos is an unforgettable experience that will leave you in awe of the natural world. Each island had its own unique ecosystem, and you will be able to witness a variety of animals in their natural habitats. From swimming with sea turtles to watching blue-footed boobies dance, every moment is a unique adventure. The Galapagos Islands truly are a paradise for nature lovers!

3 weeks in south america itinerary

Friendly sea lions in Galapago’s beachesn @euetuporai

After a few days spent exploring the Galapagos Islands, you will fall in love with their fascinating natural beauty and wildlife, as well as with the tasty meals and friendly locals you will meet.

If you’re ready to plan a trip to Galapagos, here’s the Experience Dolores Barciela, editor and publisher from Yachting Times Magazine, shared with us about her last visit to the Galapagos Islands on board M/Y Wildaid’s Passion cruise. READ HERE: The Ultimate 7 Days Galapagos Cruise Adventure

This brings the end of your 3 weeks in South America, exploring Peru, Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador. From the vibrant street art of Buenos Aires to the stunning natural wonders of Peru, South America truly has something for everyone.

These are some of the places and experiences you can have on a 3 weeks in South America itinerary, but there are plenty of other surprises that await you.

I understand that planning a trip to South America can feel overwhelming.

If you are planning your first trip to South America and o you find yourself thinking things like this:

I want to plan a trip to South America, “So, where do I begin?”

I always plan trips by myself, but South America IS so BIG!

Looking at the internet for the “best destinations” is a never-ending job, I have more than 10 places I want to visit…and they are all so different and so far away one from the other

And booking flights? it’s like a mission impossible to connect all those countries and destinations.

But…I don’t want to go on one of those “group” trips, where I will be locked into other people’s schedules

I want to travel more authentically, visit the unique tourist spots and also dig a little deeper into each place.

“Hey, We can help you”

Along the way, we have helped travelers Get a CUSTOM TRIP to South America according to their desires.

Take a closer look and d iscover more about who we are and what we do!

And if you are ready, let’s plan a trip to South America that you will never forget! I t is easy! Start here!

PS – Have you signed up for our South America travel Blog yet? Sign up here and get our South America Travel Guide with unique experiences you can do on your next trip ❤️

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3 weeks in south america itinerary: rio de janeiro, machu picchu, and galapagos.

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Machu Picchu, Peru

Explore the iconic Incan ruins nestled high in the Andes Mountains, offering breathtaking views and a glimpse into ancient history.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Brazil's "Cidade Maravilhosa" (Marvelous City) and visit landmarks like the Christ the Redeemer statue and Copacabana Beach.

Patagonia, Argentina/Chile

Witness awe-inspiring landscapes of glaciers, fjords, and snow-capped mountains in this remote region renowned for its natural beauty.

The Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

Discover unique wildlife species, such as giant tortoises and marine iguanas, in this archipelago that inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

Iguazu Falls, Argentina/Brazil

Marvel at the mighty waterfalls situated on the border between Argentina and Brazil, where the sheer force and beauty of nature will leave you spellbound.

Cartagena, Colombia

Step into the colorful colonial charm of Cartagena, with its well-preserved historic center, vibrant streets, and captivating Caribbean atmosphere.

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Venture into the world's largest salt flat, a surreal and otherworldly landscape that stretches as far as the eye can see, creating a mesmerizing mirror effect.

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Hike through this breathtaking national park, encompassing towering granite peaks, pristine lakes, and picturesque landscapes in southern Chile.

The Amazon Rainforest, Brazil/Peru

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the world's largest tropical rainforest, where you can witness extraordinary biodiversity and indigenous cultures.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Experience the cosmopolitan capital of Argentina, renowned for its European flair, tango, vibrant neighborhoods like La Boca, and a flourishing arts and culinary scene.

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Home » South America » Backpacking Travel Guide

Backpacking South America Travel Guide (TRAVEL TIPS • 2024)

So you are getting ready to travel South America, eh? Great call! 

Backpacking through South America is like learning to ride a bike without the training wheels. There is just the right amount of danger and curve balls to keep you alert, focused, and totally stoked on life.

With the exception of a handful of backpacker hotspots, South America is the wild west frontier of backpacking. This is the land of crazy parties, epic surfing, sprawling cities, and wild landscapes including the Andes and the Amazon jungle.

Above all else, South America is stunningly beautiful. Though challenging to navigate at times, it’s budget backpacker friendly, diverse, relatively safe, and one hell of a travel experience…

But South America is MASSIVE. Deciding where to go and how to plan travel to South America is a mind-boggling task. That’s where I come in, amigos. This South America travel guide will provide you with EVERYTHING you need to know to prepare for your trip through South America.

Here’s the full low-down on backpacking South America itinerary and routes, country profiles, tips and tricks for South America budget travel, and much more.

Lace up your bootstraps and prepare to have your travel inspiration skyrocket. We’re going on an adventure!

Group of travelers stopped on the roads of Bolivia

Why Go Backpacking in South America?

The South American continent is one of my favourite places on earth. It was always a place that mystified me: the traveller group was generally older and more mature. So when I got invited (by a sexy South American), I jumped at the chance.

It’s a place where I learned the art of budget travel , fell in love countless times, and had a multitude of life-changing experiences along the way. If you want to get off the beaten track whilst still having the option to meet plenty of other travellers, South America is the place to level up your backpacking skills and head on a real adventure…

Woman in Argentina smiling looking over La Cumbrecita

South America is one of the most diverse continents on earth. It is home to the world’s second-highest mountain range in the Andes, world-class surf beaches, the Amazon Basin, the world’s driest desert, huge plains of lush grassland, glaciers, and unique wildlife not found anywhere else on Earth…

Each country you visit whilst backpacking South America offers up the opportunity to experience the incredible natural and cultural forces unique to that region.

Backpacking South America is generally a cheap endeavour – although it’s not as cheap as Southeast Asia or India. There are some fairly expensive corners of South America that you should avoid if you’re travelling on a budget .

You will fall in love with South America (and maybe a person or two along the way). So let’s dive into some South America travel itineraries and backpacking routes for your trip.

Best Travel Itineraries for Backpacking South America

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When making a South America backpacking itinerary, remember that travel distances are HUGE, internal flights expensive, and sometimes you want to stay somewhere longer than anticipated.

backpackers walking next to the train tracks towards Machu Pichu.

So choose your South America backpacking route carefully. Unlike other continents, how much time you have really matters; you simply can’t do all of it.

If you only have 2 or 3 weeks for travelling South America, forget about seeing the whole continent. I recommend sticking to one country and devoting your energy to exploring it properly. 

In one month, you could explore some countries closer to each other. You could visit Bolivia and Lake Titicaca in Peru for example. It’s good to have room for spontaneity in your South America travel itinerary too.

2 Week South America Travel Itinerary – The West Coast Appetizer

south america journey

You’ll have to keep moving to make this itinerary happen in 2 weeks, but I believe in you!

Start your backpacking South America itinerary in Colombia by visiting Cartagena . After a few days, head to Santa Marta , the jump-off point for Minca – a charming mountain town – and Tayrona National Park.

Get a bit off the beaten path, and head east to Cabo de la Vela (where the desert meets the sea) and Punta Galinas , where you can feast on fresh seafood along the Caribbean coast. Doubling back to Cartagena , head to nearby Playa Blanca and Tolú (mangrove) before heading to Islas de San Bernardo (white-sanded islands).

Or you could start in Lima , Peru. Explore the city for a day or two before heading to the Nazca Lines , Arequipa , and Colca Canyon . 

Then head to Cusco in the Andes. Take a few days to get used to the altitude before setting off on a multi-day trek to Macchu Picchu.

Alternatively, start in Buenos Aires . Then you can head south to trek in Patagonia . In southern Argentina and Chile, you can do the world-famous Torres del Paine circuit . 2 weeks is cutting it fine but – if you hustle – you could pull it off.

In 2 weeks, you can get a good taste of Colombia, Ecuador , or Bolivia . Don’t miss out on the Salt Flats . 

1 Month South America Travel Itinerary – The Starter

south america journey

With 1 month, you can make an epic backpacking South America itinerary. If you want to explore more than one country in South America, you’re gonna need more than 3 weeks. 

For surf bums, you could easily spend a month heading beach to beach from Southern Peru all the way to Colombia , in 1 month. Or you could do 2 weeks in Argentina followed by 2 weeks of hiking in Chilean Patagonia . 

If it were me, larger countries like Argentina, Chile , and Brazil are better to explore with more than 1 month. You can do it but you will spend a long time on bus journeys, so I would just stick to one area. 

Southeast Brazil is a good choice for 1 month on a South America itinerary: travel from Rio de Janeiro all the way south to Florianópolis and hit up everything in between. Bear in mind that you’ll probably want to stay in Rio AND Floripa longer than you expect.

Highlights of this route include exploring the megapolis of São Paulo , idyllic getaways of Ilha Grande and Paraty , eco-friendly and laidback Curitiba , and the crazy nightclubs of Balneário Camboriú .

Or, you could fly into Ecuador and spend 3 weeks exploring here: stay at a great hostel in Guayaquil before heading to Montañita . In Montañita you can party and surf to your heart’s content. Head North towards Bahia de Caraquez and Canoa for surf towns that are more off the beaten path. 

Next head to the mountains, stopping first in Quito . There are some excellent treks in the Ecuadorian Andes .

If you have time, definitely hit up the Volcano Loop trail on the outskirts of Cotopaxi National Park . A trip to the jungle around Puyo is recommended as well. Then head for a week of trekking in Colombia .

3 Month South America Travel Itinerary – The Great South America Main Course

south america journey

3 months backpacking South America, eh? Hell yes!

I recommend flying into Lima, Peru unless you know you want to start in the north (Brazil or Colombia) or further south (Argentina or Chile). Explore Lima and the coast before heading to the Andes. There Machu Picchu awaits in all of its glory.

Definitely do a trek to the famous Inca city! (More on hiking in South America later). From here, you can either drop down on the other side of the Andes and explore the Amazon basin or you can head south to Bolivia and eventually Argentina and Patagonia .

Alternatively, you can slowly start making your way north via the Coast. You could spend a month (or more) in Ecuador, Colombia, or Brazil respectively.

Personally, I started off in Buenos Aires then went north to Brazil and Colombia . The distances were truly massive. I’m talking 30-hour bus rides (on comfortable buses I must say). 

Travelling in South America is never a quick affair, so plan your itinerary accordingly.

6 Month South America Travel Itinerary – The Full 3-Course Latin America

south america journey

Life has brought you to the fortunate crossroads of having 6 months to travel South America? Good on you! 

With a 6-month backpacking South America itinerary, you have the luxury of really being able to take your damn time. To see multiple countries, it’s a practical choice to begin your journey either in the north or the south to avoid backtracking.

With a 6 month itinerary, you can explore many South American countries in depth. I’ll be honest with you, the itinerary shown on the map is really fucking ambitious. But hopefully, it gives you an idea of what crossing this vast continent would look like.

Starting your journey in Rio de Janerio or São Paulo might be a bit of a rough landing, though you will be a primed bad-ass by the time it comes to move on to another country. Other options are starting with some days in Buenos Aires , in Argentina, and Chile, in the south.

You could be surfing it up on the coast of Ecuador one day, and be in the mountains of Peru several days (and many bus rides) later. I advise taking a chunk of your time to really explore and get off the beaten path in top destinations like Brazil , Colombia , and Bolivia .

Having 6 months or more to go backpacking truly means you have a total blank slate to work with. So get ready to write your own beautiful backpacking destiny!

Each country in South America has something unique and profoundly exciting for backpackers. But they also have some common themes: they are Spanish speaking (minus Portuguese in Brazil), they have stunning natural beauty, and some of the nicest people you will meet whilst travelling. So finding the best places to backpack in South America has a lot to do with your own interests.

Woman sat by the river in South America with her flip flops off

Maybe you’ll explore the epic snow-capped peaks of Patagonia in Argentina and Chile. Party with beautiful people at the Carnival in Brazil. 

Trek to the Lost City in Colombia. Experience the sun-drenched deserts of Bolivia and the colourful Rainbow Mountains of Peru.

Backpacking through South America truly is a life-changing journey through one of the planet’s most fascinating landmasses. When you visit South America, you can be sure that it will be some of the most fun you will have in your life.

Group of travellers looking the view of mountains and lakes in Neuquen, Argentina.

South America is a vast continent on the move. The number of people travelling to South America is increasing every year. Whilst the cost of living in South America remains quite low, each country requires a different budget for travellers.

Once you begin to discover a few of the South American countries, you will be entranced by the jaw-dropping landscapes, fascinating history, vibrant culture, and awesome food.

Let’s take a look at the countries that make backpacking in South America so damn special.

Backpacking Brazil

Brazil is, hands down, one of South America’s most dynamic countries. It’s all about the extremes. Whether it’s the parties, the people, or nature, the vibrations run through everything – and connect everyone.

Backpacking in Brazil offers up sick surf beaches, fun-loving locals, insane parties, and landscapes that would make even the most seasoned traveller say “no shit, mate, look at that!”

Of course, the Brazilian festival Carnival is legendary – and for good reason. Get your mind blown on the Brazilian side of  Iguaçu Falls , visit the Amazon , drink a Caipirinha on the beach! Plus Brazil’s home to big up-and-coming cities like Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, and Natale.

Traveller on the beach in Rio de Janeiro with mountains and Brazilian flags.

And when I say ‘extreme’, I mean extreme : Brazil is absolutely MASSIVE and covers nearly half (47%) of South America’s landmass! That should give you an idea of how big it is.

But, more importantly, it gives you a better idea of how much diversity Brazil has on offer. In fact, there’s a lot going for Brazil that you may not be aware of.

For example, trekking probably isn’t the first thing that pops into your mind when you think about backpacking through Brazil. It’s a shame because Brazil has truly gorgeous trails spread throughout the country. It’s also home to Iguazu, one of the most incredible waterfalls on Earth.

The best hiking opportunities are usually found in Brazil’s national parks  (parques nacionais ). Brazil has over 70 national parks and – in terms of beauty – these can contend with any other on Earth.

What to Know Before Visiting Brazil

Surfer holding surf board on the beach during sunset in Brazil.

  • Don’t miss out on… Florianopolis. The Brazilians favourite place to visit for a reason. It’s chilled, safe, and gorgeous. You plan to stay in Floripa for a week, it grabs you by the balls, and you get stuck for months.
  • Keep an eye out for… Travel distances. Don’t be fooled: they’re way longer than they seem on the map. Give yourself plenty of time to get from A to B.
  • The coolest hostel is… Hostel do Morro . In one of my favourite destinations in Brazil, this hostel is a true nature immersion. In the “mato”, with sea view and monkeys visiting. A true good vibes place!
  • The best food is found in… Belo Horizonte. There is an amazing energy to this place; everyone hangs out on the streets, eating and drinking at plastic tables, all night long.

Backpacking Colombia

Whilst South America has many countries that I consider to have the full package , Colombia is the most complete. It’s a relatively small country. So considering the scale of epic surf, neverending parties, untouched jungle, happening cities, and towering mountains, Colombia is a reason for backpackers to keep travelling!

Cali, Cartagena, Bogotá , and Medellín are a few major cities in Colombia where you can really let loose. Go and have some extraordinary conversations with the locals about life in Latin America and not taking life too seriously.

Man looking over vista in Medellin, Colombia

Is Colombia safe ? Perhaps your mum would love to know. Hell yes, it is !

As much as Colombianos are ready for the disassociation with Pablo Escobar, it’s hard not to mention the impact that he made on the country and the South American continent as a whole. But his reign of terror is over.

Modern-day Colombia couldn’t be more different from the days when narco-traffickers ruled the country. Visiting Medellín now vs 20 years ago is a COMPLETELY different experience. The Medellín of today is a great experience.

Colombia is for adventure junkies and nature lovers too. The northern terminus of the Andes Mountains ends here and you can take your treks into the deep jungle in Colombia’s National Parks .

What to Know Before Visiting Colombia

Colombia street view in Medellin, comuna 13 neighbourhood

  • Don’t miss out on… Carnival in Barranquilla. Most of the time, this industrial town is overlooked by travellers. But for one week of the year, this place goes NUTS.
  • Keep an eye out for… how difficult the trek to Cuidad Perdida is. It’s long, treacherous, and hot as shit, but absolutely worth the effort in the end. The Lost City is one of the best places to visit in South America.
  • The coolest hostel is… Viajero Santa Marta Hostel . Great location and has lazy and peaceful vibes. Amazing rooftop and activities to connect and meet other travelers.
  • The best food is found in… the local restaurants. Look for the menu del dia to feel like you’ll never need to eat again.

Backpacking Ecuador

Ecuador might be small but it certainly packs a punch. I spent 3 months backpacking in Ecuador and could easily spend many more.

The diversity is incredible and it’s a great place to experience Andean Highland culture. The people who live in the Andes have a distinct and ancient culture rooted in mountain life. They even speak another language called Quechua . It’s a relatively safe country , and isn’t ruined by mass tourism.

In addition to staying in colonial cities like Quito , Ecuador’s natural landscape is the biggest draw. You can spend weeks or months exploring the coast before heading to the mountains and vice versa. Towering over the shore, volcanoes, waterfalls, and massive snow-capped mountains all make incredible trekking routes.

Surfing reigns supreme on the Ecuadorian coast. It attracts surfers from all over the globe. Even if you’re a beginner, it’s a great place to catch your first waves. Towns like  Montañita and Canoa are famous surf beaches and party hotspots.

Street with colorful colonial houses in Quito

If you have some extra cash in your budget, you can visit The Galápagos Islands . But be warned – this is not a cheap endeavour, especially for excursions like diving (though it is AWESOME). So prepare yourself to shell out some cash!

Then there is the Amazon Basin of Ecuador. The Amazon region is what helps make Ecuador one of the most biologically diverse places on earth. The Amazon is best explored by boat with a local guide and is bound to be the adventure of a lifetime!

What to Know Before Visiting Ecuador

Surf board and coconut at the beach in Ecuador coast.

  • Don’t miss out on… exploring the highlands and Cotopaxi National Park. Easily accessed from Quito and totally epic.
  • You know what’s overrated … Montañita. It’s not all it use to be and is mostly catered to foreigners who want to get wasted and high. If you want real Ecuadorian culture, there are better places nearby.
  • The coolest hostel is… Casa del Sol . Relaxed vibe at a few steps from the beach. Close enough to go party and far enough to have a good sleep. THE place for yoga and Surf.
  • The best food is found in… the small almuerzo (lunch) cafes found across the country.

Backpacking Peru

Ah Peru. Backpacking Peru is the essence of travelling in South America. Though tourism has spiked in Peru in recent years, there is still plenty of magic to be found here.

The cost of backpacking Peru is a little higher than you might expect. Expect to pay between $30-40 USD a day whilst travelling here. (But more about the cost of backpacking South America later.)

Peru has a super long coastline dotted with prime surf beaches and scuba diving sites. In the Andes lies a whole other form of beauty.

I mean, who isn’t aware of Machu Picchu and hiking the Inca Trail ? Besides the obvious, there is much, much more to the Peruvian Andes than Machu Picchu. Although, you still have to go there!

Peru has some truly fascinating colonial cities as well, including Cuenca and Cuzco, which is the gateway city to Machu Picchu. The off-the-beaten-path potential in Peru is enormous.

Backpackers relaxing on cuzco main square while local lady pass by.

Check out the Rainbow Mountains to see nature at its most colourful. Hike the majestic  Cordillera Huayhuash . Explore Colca Canyon and sleep out under a billion stars.

If you want a truly magical experience, there are many eco-lodges in Peru that are nestled in the best nature spots, from the Amazon jungle to the Andes mountain range.

Wherever you decide to travel in Peru, be sure that it will be a highlight of your South America backpacking adventure.

What to Know Before Visiting Peru

Backpacker looking at the old city of Machu Picchu on a rainy day.

  • Don’t miss out on… a motorcycle journey through the Sacred Valley outside Cuzco. It’s definitely worth staying in Cuzco a little longer for this.
  • You know what’s overrated… the Inca Trail. Go for the less-trod Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu instead.
  • The coolest hostel is… Banana’s Adventure Hostel . In an unreal location (an oasis in a desert) this is a sociable and relaxed vibes hostel. With a great rooftop plus a lovely garden with hammocks, and an outdoor pool.
  • The best food is found in… Lima. This city is full of cafes, local lunch spots, and street food vendors. The best are in Barranco and Miraflores. Pig out on ceviche !

Backpacking Bolivia

Backpacking in Bolivia offers up a glimpse of what South America was like 30 years ago. It’s a country looking to the future in many ways whilst still having one foot firmly rooted in the tradition of the past.

Expect super friendly locals, dramatic desert and mountain landscapes, and the kind of low prices which make the dirtbag within us very happy. You could easily get by on $20-25 a day here, and even less by roughing it a bit.

Bolivia is home to plenty of adrenaline-pumping activities including the Road of Death , which, in essence, is a road down through the mountains in which people ride bicycles to the bottom at top speed. The ride goes on for at least 30 kilometres and it is straight down. Can you guess why it’s called the Road of Death yet?

Aside from the high-risk adventure activities, Bolivia is safe for the most part as well.

Backpackers traveling in Bolivia and the view of Lake Titicaca on the back.

World-class trekking is abundant in the Bolivian Andes. If you love to hike, all the more reason to visit Bolivia. Bring along a good sleeping bag as temperatures can plummet at night.

La Paz has the best hostels (particularly for partiers) and is a cool city to base yourself in. Lake Titicaca is breathtaking, however, it has become far too touristy – I personally can’t deal with that many people taking selfies. I don’t blame the locals as they need to make a living. Just the way it has been done is unfortunate.

The Salt Flats are also cool AF. Okay, admittedly it’s pretty touristy too, but it’s still worth a visit.

What to Know Before Visiting Bolivia

Backpackers in Uyuni salt flats (salar de Uyuni).

  • Don’t miss out on… the Salar de Uyuni. Yes, everyone who comes to Bolivia does this and, yes, it’s touristy. Regardless, it’s still in-fuckin-credible.
  • Keep an eye out for… the altitude. Some people fly directly to La Paz from sea level and get sick almost immediately. At 3640 meters, La Paz is the highest major city in the world.
  • The coolest hostel is… Wild Rover La Paz . A dynamic and festive hostel. The perfect place to start your Bolivian experience connecting with other travellers. Great location in the central area.
  • The best food is found in… La Paz. This is the epicenter of Bolivia’s newly emerging food culture.

Backpacking Chile

There are no half measures while Backpacking Chile. From trekking through gorgeous glacial national parks to exploring the martian bone-dry Atacama desert , you’re all in for one hell of an experience.

Backpackers hitchhiking on the road in atacama desert, Chile.

There are 36 National Parks in Chile ; all of them are beautiful and unique in their own way. Chile is also home to Easter Island , one of the most mysterious places on the planet.

Like Argentina, Chilean Patagonia is a paradise for trekkers and adventure types – though it does take some effort to reach the places you want to go trekking in. That said, the journey is well worth it; experiencing some of the planets last truly wild places is an indescribable feeling that you can only understand by doing it!

Most backpackers will start their backpacking journey in Santiago. But you can come to Chile from one of its borders in the South (as I did).

Oh yeah, one more thing: Chilean wine is cheap and it is damn good! Do you need more reasons?

What to Know Before Visiting Chile

Person hugging an araucaria tree, also known as monkey puzzle tree, in the Andes mountains in Chile.

  • Don’t miss out on… Patagonia, and not just the usual spots. Chilean Patagonia is vastly unexplored, especially the fjords. Look out for whales, dolphins, penguins, and elephant seals.
  • Keep an eye out for… fire bans in Torres del Paine. A lot of nature has been threatened because of dickhead backpackers using gas burners, despite warnings.
  • The coolest hostel is… MaPatagonia Hostel . Near a beautiful lake, this place has what you need. Kitchen facilities, a nice big garden, some cats, and a jacuzzi! There is also a fireplace for those cold nights.
  • The best food is found in… Santiago. Staying in Santiago will unlock the most culinary options, including the cheap street food stalls.

Backpacking Argentina

Viva Argentina!

Backpacking Argentina is one for the ages. Welcome to the land of wine, excessive meat, football, tango, incredibly passionate people, and the final frontier – Patagonia.

Argentina is an immense country with very distinct regions. Eat to your heart’s content, party harder than you ever have before, and fall deeply in love.

You’ll probably land in Buenos Aires , arguably the cultural capital of all of South America.

Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires is the place where people protest in front of the government house.

Unquestionably, you’re going to find incredible hostels in Buenos Aires and reasons to stay. But don’t stay too long!

Rosario and Cordoba are cities like Buenos Aires but, in my opinion, better. They’re a perfect place to head to if you want to steer clear of the heavily populated capital.  Mendoza is the wine region home to the “best wine in the world” (according to Argentinos).

Further south lies Patagonia : one of my favourite places on Earth, and home to many Argentinian National Parks . Patagonia is a truly expansive, desolate wilderness area where the weather is harsh and civilization is few and far between.

Trek mountains and glaciers, or sea kayak around them,. There, you could go days without seeing many (if any) backpackers! Now THAT’S the dream.

Staying at an Argentine mountain hut (refugio) is a wonderful experience not to be missed. Few who travel to Argentina manage to make it as far as  Tierra del Fuego (the Land of Fire). Visit one of the most dramatic places in Argentina with its long summer days and epic arctic landscapes.

Speaking of the arctic, you can arrange trips to Antarctica from Ushuaia ! This would be the adventure of a lifetime but it’s by no means cheap.

What to Know Before Visiting Argentina

Argentinian asador grilling meat topless.

  • Don’t miss out on… El Chaltén, which is the base for seeing some of the most dramatic peaks on Earth: Cerro Torre and Fitz Roy.
  • You know what’s overrated… La Boca in Buenos Aires. These much-hyped multi-coloured houses are pretty rundown and actually quite dangerous, I strongly suggest you avoid it. The whole area feels like a tourist trap. There are much better things to do in Buenos Aires .
  • The coolest hostel is… America del Sur Hostel (El Calafate). Cozy, super social, and with an insane view of the lake, the town, and beautiful sunsets. Great place to chill, and work (if you need to).
  • The best food is found in… your neighbour’s personal asado . Nothing beats grilling grade-A Argentinian beef with some locals.
  • The official exchange rate is NOT THE EXCHANGE RATE . Because of the fluctating exchange rate, many of the locals withdraw their cash by using what is referred to as a “blue dollar rate” from Western Union. This way gives you 50% more pesos than withdrawing pesos from an ATM or exchanging currency.

Backpacking Uruguay

Not many travellers end up backpacking in Uruguay. There are a few reasons why:

  • It’s small
  • It’s out of the way
  • There’s not a ton to do

All of the above are true to some extent: Uruguay is not overflowing with adventurous activities or jaw-dropping sights. But let me tell you, they have some of the best quality of living in South America.

One of the perks about Uruguay is you don’t HAVE to do anything here. People are friendly and, compared to some chaos you find in other areas of the continent, it’s pretty chill. The beautiful coast is the perfect place to get away from the usual backpacking South America route and to avoid traveller’s burnout .

Two guys fishing and drinking mate during sunset next to the river.

Outside of Montevideo , there are nice beach towns worth crashing at; Punta del Diablo is the quintessential lazy surfer town. Punta del Este is fun in the summer if you like partying. Colonia del Sacramento is an old colonial outpost and UNESCO heritage – although it is admittedly more of a day trip rather than a base.

Oh but here’s the kicker: weed is legalised. Yes, Uruguay is famous for allowing the smoking of the devil’s lettuce. And the quality of it is surprisingly good.

Lots of locals keep a weed garden on their balconies. Perhaps your hostel in Montevideo will have one?

Head to Uruguay if you want to chill out and do your own thing. It’s easy to travel to Brazil and Argentina from there too.

What to Know Before Visiting Uruguay

uruguay  Colonia del Sacramento

  • Don’t miss out on… Punta del Diablo. This is laid-back surfer town evades most backpackers. It is arguably one of the best beach towns in South America.
  • You know what’s overrated… Punta del Este. This place literally exists for the sake of Argentinians on holiday. In the off-season, it’s empty.
  • The coolest hostel is… La Brújula Hostel . It’s near the beach, eco-friendly, has a family vibe, and is great to meet new people. This is a gem next to the sea.
  • The best food is found in… Montevideo. Can’t beat a giant chivito after you’ve got the munchies!

Backpacking Venezuela

Venezuela is a truly incredible country. With towering mountains, steaming forests, endless beaches , and just enough danger to keep you on your toes, this country is every budding adventurer’s dream destination.

A Disclaimer on Visiting Venezuela

Unfortunately, due to the political situation in Venezuela , The Broke Backpacker absolutely  does not condone visiting the country right now . It is simply not safe and it would be irresponsible to even attempt to Venezuela at present.

Unless you somehow have absolutely  solid and trustworthy contacts on the ground , Venezuela is not the place to travel for the foreseeable future. We do not have any contacts to give out.

That being said, there are many team members at The Broke Backpacker that hold a special place for Venezuela in their hearts. For this reason, we are leaving this information available to you, our readers, as an homage to a country we love. We can’t wait for the day that it will be safe to visit again.

Backpacking Venezuela has a truly terrible reputation. Don’t get me wrong, travelling Venezuela has been dangerous in recent years: this is a country where you need to keep both eyes on your gear, watch who you’re with, and be on the lookout for iffy situations before they get the chance to rear their ugly head.

Backpacking in Venezuela is, in my opinion, one of the last great adventures out there. Plus it’s one of the cheapest countries in the world to backpack in.

south america journey

Venezuela is a mysterious country. It attracts adventurers looking for a raw adventure.

It’s a country yet to be polluted by heavy tourism with incredible landscapes of mountains, forests, lakes, and caves. It is a kind of Shangri-La for adventurers and extreme sports lovers.

A South American backpacking trip to Venezuela is getting into the wild. To feel like the old explorers, Venezuela will not disappoint you. But backpacking Venezuela is not for the faint-hearted: this is a veteran explorer country.

What to Know Before Visiting Venezuela

Venezuelan flag painted on a wall and bars with FREE VENEZUELA written above

  • Don’t miss out on… Mt. Roraima – the highest tabletop mountain in the world; an incredible place to explore. Sometimes you feel like you’re walking on an island in the sky.
  • Keep an eye out for… the seasons when visiting Angel Falls. When it’s dry, the falls are actually quite weak (it’s more like a trickle).
  • The coolest hostel is… El Sofá Caracas . Safe, quiet, cozy place in the big city. You’ll feel at home instantly. And they have a unique boat pool to chill when it gets too hot.
  • The best food is found in… the buffet places where you pay by the weight of your plate. A little goes a long way here and you won’t be disappointed!

Getting Off the Beaten Path in South America

South America is totally full of wild places, tiny villages, far-flung settlements, lonesome valleys, sparsely inhabited jungle… Point being, there are plenty of great places to get off the beaten path . With a little motivation, you may well find yourself cutting your own path and writing your own backpacking destiny, one adventure at a time.

Backpacker hitchhiking on route in South America desert.

Explore the national park systems of South America as much as you can. Investigate the little interesting-looking food stalls where all the locals are queuing up.

Don’t rely on a guidebook of popular places. In South America, those tiny towns in the middle of nowhere are where the real culture is, and the real adventures. All you need is a bus ticket…

Aether Backpack

We’ve tested countless backpacks over the years, but there’s one that has always been the best and remains the best buy for adventurers: the broke backpacker-approved Osprey Aether and Ariel series.

Want more deetz on why these packs are so  damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!

You can make your South America backpacking route totally unique. No matter what things you get up to, they’re going to leave a big print on your heart. But here are some things I definitely recommend considering planning for your itinerary .

1. Explore Patagonia

Patagonia is still one of the last untouched wildernesses on the planet. Not everyone gets to experience this in their lifetime! In addition to the usual superlative locations, like Cerro Torre and Torres del Paine, there are heaps to discover off-trail.

laguna fitz roy patagonia argentina

2. Party hard at Carnival

It’s the biggest party on the planet! Grab yo’ body paint, yo’ finest feathers, whatever else you can get your hands on, and join the festivities!

You won’t ever forget the time you spent Carnival in South America. The carnivals in Bahia, Rio, and Barranquilla are particularly good.

3. Explore the Salts Flats of Uyuni

It’s one of the most unique places on the planet and a highlight of any South America backpacking trip. Get ready to be wowed by this alien landscape.

I know broke backpackers usually cringe hard at the idea of an organised tour (because I’m one of them) but the Salt Flats is one that’s really worth shelling out for.

Group of travelers in Uyuni flat salt tour on top of the truck.

4. Find your own secret beaches

It wouldn’t be a proper backpacking South America itinerary without some beach time! Every kind of beach imaginable is found on the continent.

From tropical slices in Brazil to surfer’s paradises in Ecuador to even fjords in Chile, you won’t be lacking in choices. There are plenty of them secret spots that make those magical days. Take a beer, bring your mates, get busy.

south america journey

5. Check out Medellín

Medellín is one of the most popular cities to visit in South America right now. The choice between Medellín or Bogota has never been easier.

It’s fun, safe, comfortable, and (most impressively) completely different than it was before. Medellín has shed its violent past and is ready to host the next wave of backpackers.

south america journey

6. Visit Machu Picchu

I mean, you’re reading a backpacking South America guide: I know you already know about this one. It is the place that attracts most people to visit South America… but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t worth visiting.

You can hike the Inca Trail like everyone else. But if you want to visit Machu Picchu in an alternative way, try one of the other Inca trails like Salkantay Trek.

A group of backpackers walking the inca trail to Machu Picchu.

7. Hike in the Andes

The Andes are one of the greatest mountain chains in the world, known mostly for hosting the aforementioned Machu Picchu and the gargantuan Aconcagua. But there is more to these mountains than just these popular destinations: the highlands of Ecuador, Cordillera Huayhush in Peru, the Cordillera Real in Bolivia are all stunning. Even Colombia gets a slice of the pie at Cocuy National Park.

Person trekking to the top of the Andes.

8. A South American

Hey, most backpackers will vouch for love and sex on the road being something memorable to take part in…

They love, and they love passionately. And the sex… well, maybe you’ll find out.

9. Get “stuck” somewhere

South America is full of sticky places AKA places where you get stuck for months on end. Florianópolis, La Paz, Medellín, Mancora… All of these locations start off as a simple stop on your South America backpacking route but turn into temporary homes.

Don’t fight it! Find your sticky place and stay awhile.

south america journey

Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear….

These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the  real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

South America has a wide range of budget accommodation options for backpackers. Airbnbs are fantastic for private rooms if you’re travelling as a couple or as a group.

For solo travellers, when you are not passing the night from the comfort of your tent in the Andes or with a Couchsurfing host , you’ll likely be booking hostels.

Backpacker volunteer house in South America with natural roof

Whether you just need a place to lay your head or a spot to meet fellow backpackers like yourself, hostel life is clearly where it’s at… In fact, I love South American hostels, even travelling with my partner, you get perks in a hostel that you don’t get in a hotel or Airbnb.

I’ve had some of the best nights of my life in them and met some of the best people in my life. The South American countries are home to some of the best hostels in the world .

  • Best Hostels in Sao Paulo
  • Best Hostels in Cusco
  • Best Hostels in Cartagena
  • Best Hostels in Mendoza
  • Best Hostels in Lima
  • Best Hostels in Medellin
  • Best Hostels in Quito
  • Best Hostels in Salvador de Bahia
  • Best Hostels in Santiago
  • Best Hostels in Valparaiso

Insider tip: If you want to see all your hostel options to visitbackp South America, Booking.com is the perfect one-stop-shop to book hostels. You can even filter your personal travel needs to find the perfect place for you.

It is the common belief that backpacking in South America is dirt cheap. In some places this is true, but it doesn’t go for the entire continent.

But fear not! Travelling South America on a budget can definitely be done.

Due to the nature of Patagonia being one of the most remote areas on earth, expect higher travel costs than the rest of South America. Peru also takes some navigating in order to travel on a tight budget.

Brazil is one of the most expensive countries in South America. The cost of living in Brazil is higher and it is notorious for jacking up accommodation prices during the high season.

Rio de Janeiro view from top. Buildings and coastline beach near city.

With a few travel tips up your sleeve, you will save a ton of money and have the time of your life. Bring your  haggle game  whilst backpacking through Latin America to ensure you get the best possible price for things, including accommodation. South Americans love smooth talkers so keep it playful but don’t get too cheeky.

Taking long-distance buses, buying beer and drugs, paying entrance fees to national parks… these things add up fast. But sometimes you have to shell out the dough in order to do the things you want. Overnight buses are a good way to save some money.

Remember to always leave a little extra wiggle room in your budget so you can go scuba diving or go on a trek that you have been dreaming about!

Daily Budgets for South America

Here is a breakdown of what you can expect to pay on a daily basis on a backpacking South America trip…

Travel Tips for Broke Backpackers in South America

Hey, all those dollaridoodles add up to more fun times. So saving whatever you can on your journey means you can be on the journey… for longer. So here are a few budget travel tips for South America :

Camping tent set in Brazil in nature with trees around.

  • Camp : With plenty of untouched beaches, forests, stunning countryside, and far-flung jungle, South America is a great place to carry a good backpacking tent . Camping saves you money and can help you get off of the beaten path.
  • Cook your own food: Travel with a  portable backpacking stove  and cook your own food to save some serious cash whilst backpacking across South America. If you plan to do some overnight hiking trips or camping on the beach, having a backpacking stove will be a great asset.
  • Haggle:  Haggle as much as you can. You can always get a better price for things, especially while in local markets. Learning Spanish will go a long way!
  • Couchsurf:  South Americans are awesome. Get to know some! Check out Couchsurfing to make some real friendships and see the real continent. When using Couchsurfing, be sure to send personalized messages to your potential host. A generic copy-and-paste message is much more likely to get turned down. Make yourself stand out.
  • Hitchhike:  Although some countries are friendlier than others, hitchhiking across South America is common practice, so you won’t struggle too much to find a ride. Speaking at least a little Spanish will go a long way though. You want to explain exactly what you’re doing and where you want to go.

Why Should You Travel to South America with a Water Bottle?

Plastic washes up on even the most pristine places… So do your part and keep the Big Blue beautiful!

You aren’t going to save the world overnight, but together we CAN make a difference. I hope you become more inspired to continue being a responsible traveller .

Plus, now you won’t be buying overpriced bottles of water either! Travel with a filtered water bottle instead and never waste a cent nor a turtle’s life again.

grayl geopress filter bottle

Drink water from ANYWHERE. The Grayl Geopress is the worlds leading filtered water bottle protecting you from all manner of waterborne nasties.

Single-use plastic bottles are a MASSIVE threat to marine life. Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. Save money and the environment!

We’ve tested the Geopress  rigorously  from the icy heights of Pakistan to the tropical jungles of Bali, and can confirm: it’s the best water bottle you’ll ever buy!

You know by now that we are talking about an enormous amount of land with regards to the South American continent. Countries in South America near the Equator do not experience distinct seasons. As you start to head south you will find the seasons to be the opposite of what they are in the Northern Hemisphere i.e. winter in June.

Patagonia experiences bitterly cold and windy winters. I do not advise travelling there during the winter unless you are a serious mountaineer and have all the right gear.

Group of people on a rainy day in Machu Picchu.

Dry season depends on the country. Generally, the cooler months from June to September are the driest in the coastal areas. In the Amazon – given that it is the world’s biggest rainforest – is wet pretty much all year. The Andes are the driest from April – November.

High season for all countries is, without a doubt, from December – February. This is due to holidays occurring over that time and it is also the time when many gringos and locals alike take their holidays. Backpacking in the low or shoulder seasons will definitely make for a cheaper trip, especially with regards to accommodation.

Best Time to Visit – Country Breakdown

Here are the best times to visit South America broken down by country!

Best Months to Travel: September – April

What’s the climate in Brazil like? 

In the south, the hot, wet summer season runs from November – March. In the north, the rainy season is from April – August. In the Amazon, it rains pretty much all year.

If you want to visit during the festival season though, September-March is best.

Best Months to Travel: November – March

What’s the climate in Colombia like?

Generally speaking, travellers should visit Cartagena and the Caribbean coast between November and March when the weather is dry. The rest of the country is good year-round. Bogota, Cali, and Medellin are always pleasant weather-wise.

Best Months to Travel: March – May, September – November

What’s the climate in Ecuador and Peru like? 

Lots and lots of micro-climates in the Ecuador Peru region. But there are some general trends:

  • The highlands/Andes are dry from May – September. These are the best months for hiking and visiting Machu Picchu.
  • The coast is warm and dry from December – May. This is the best time for the Galápagos.
  • The Amazon is always wet and humid as shit.
  • The south of Peru is much drier than the north, and Ecuador for that matter.

You’ll need to plan your trip carefully around what you want to see and do.

Best Months to Travel: May – October

What’s the climate in Bolivia like?

The winter season (May – October) is also its dry season, and the best time to visit Bolivia. This means that nights can be very cold, especially when you’re at higher altitudes. Although Bolivia is generally drier than its neighbours, it stills gets dumped on in the wet, summer season.

Best Months to Travel: March – April, October – November

What’s the climate in Chile like? 

Summers in Chile are generally the high season. That being said, this may not be the best time to visit. Prices are at their highest, the Atacama Desert is a furnace, and the winds are VERY strong in Patagonia.

Like almost anywhere, the shoulder months (October – November & March – April) are better.

Best Months to Travel:  October – April.

What’s the climate in Argentina and Uruguay like?

Summer for most of the country is from December – February. In the north, the summers can see rain and temperatures that soar to almost unbearable. In the south and Patagonia, summers are dry(ish) and pleasant.

The winters, obviously, are extremely cold in the south. Whereas the north generally has pretty mild winters.

What to Pack for South America

Travelling through South America is a lot easier if you have the right gear. A thorough backpacking South America packing list goes a long way – literally.

On every adventure, there are 6 things I never go travelling without:

Earplugs

Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.

nomatic_laundry_bag

Hanging Laundry Bag

Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.

sea to summit towel

Sea To Summit Micro Towel

Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.

Monopoly Card Game

Monopoly Deal

Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.

Grayl GeoPress Water Filter and Purifier Bottle

Grayl Geopress Water Bottle

Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!

South America IS a safe place to go backpacking. Is backpacking in South America safe all the time? 

Hell no. But nowhere in the world is safe 100% of the time. Does that mean we let it stop us?

Hell no. 

In recent years, security in South America is increasing. Using the common sense safety rules of backpacking is usually enough here. 

The thing with South America is understanding your surroundings and self-awareness. Coordinating your safety in Rio de Janeiro is completely different than hiking the Inca Trail. 

Robberies are rare and could happen to anyone – in any country. Sometimes people in desperate circumstances are forced to do bad things. They see a foreigner and they see a chance to temporarily relieve the stress of their situation. 

Odds are, you should be just fine. If ever you run into a hold-up situation just give them what they want. 

Your iPhone and wallet aren’t worth dying over, ever! But it’s worth hiding your money well just in case .

Political wobbles are pretty common. Due to the political situation in Venezuela right now, this is probably the most dangerous country in Latin America. I hate to say it but the situation is what it is.

In general, being out late, drunk, and/or alone is a recipe for trouble. Always take a taxi home at night, even in a group.

Do know which neighbourhoods you should avoid too, especially in major cities – even during the daytime. Ask the locals which these are. There’s no real reason to head into these areas anyway, but it’s worth noting so you don’t stumble into the wrong places.

  • Is Peru Safe?
  • Is Argentina Safe?
  • Is Chile Safe?
  • Is Brazil Safe?

Sex, Drugs, and Rock n’ Roll in South America

South Americans love to party! They start the party late and they don’t stop until the sun is way up.

Of course, Brazil is very famous for Carnival AKA the biggest party on the planet . But it’s a big deal in most South American countries – so you’ll find great parties everywhere.

The backpacker circuit is notoriously rowdy. Traveller hubs like Cusco, Buenos Aires, Montañita, Mancora, La Paz, and Medellín are legendary for their nightlife.

It is very easy to meet people, stay up all night, and fall in love with a sexy South American. Much of the continent is LGBTQ+ traveller friendly too!

People drinking from a bottle at the club during a party night.

Alcohol is freely available, freely consumed, and good quality too. I’m telling you, I’ve had beer in South America which puts Germany to shame.

South America is stoner-friendly too! Weed is legal or decriminalized for recreational use in many places – some countries are more relaxed than others. It’s best to ask the locals how it’s currently being handled where you are.

Cocaine is just about everywhere; particularly in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. But be aware, this isn’t the stuff you find back home – it’s much purer. One line is enough to keep you up all night.

To find drugs on the road, just ask a local to help you. Don’t go out alone looking to score in strange places and don’t give cops a reason to shake you down.

Ayahuasca retreats are gaining popularity as well. But remember, it is a ceremonial spiritual medicine of indigenous people. If you do want to try it, make sure you’re doing it with a real shaman, for real reasons; it’s not like acid and not a drug just to get mindless with.

Staying Healthy in South America

Travellers should be properly vaccinated before backpacking in South America. Consult a medical professional before travelling about which shots you should get.

You should have all the usual travel vaccinations before heading out: hepatitis A & B, typhoid, tetanus, etc. Rabies is also recommended particularly if you’re going to the rural areas or parts of the jungle. You don’t want to mess around with that one because it can be really nasty.

Best way to avoid mosquitos anywhere. A mosquito net will help you sleep weel.

It is worth checking if you need the Yellow fever vaccine before entering some countries. In some places, it is only recommended.

It’s also worth noting that in most places in South America, the water isn’t fit for consumption. The best travel water bottles have a filter.

Getting Insured BEFORE Visiting South America

Travelling without insurance in South America is risky. I broke my back in Brazil and will be happy to tell you why GOOD travel insurance is so important.

So consider getting travel insurance sorted before you head off on an adventure. You don’t want to be struck with a big, unexpected bill, or, worse, to put your health at risk.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

south america journey

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Where you will start your trip will be determined by what backpacking route you have chosen. Obviously, if you plan to tackle a specific country, the capital city of that country is a popular starting point and – usually – the logical option.

south america journey

South America is not the cheapest country to fly to, but you can sometimes bag a cheap direct flight from another major airport. It’s pretty expensive to fly within it too. Unless you are coming by boat to Colombia via the San Blas Islands, you will certainly be arriving by plane.

São Paulo, Lima, Buenos Aires, Santiago, and Rio de Janeiro are all major hubs for South America. Compare the prices between these top destinations, and base your South America itinerary from there.

Entry Requirements for South America

Good news everyone! Most South American nations DO NOT require a visa to visit! This applies to those travelling from the USA, UK, EU, Australia, and most other Western nations.

This is a positive trend in the last few years. A few years ago, travellers sometimes had to apply for (expensive) visas to enter countries like Argentina and Brazil. Luckily, this is no longer the case .

Once you’ve entered the country, you can remain for a period of 90 days visa-free. Extensions are possible but these vary on a country-by-country basis. Most South American governments do not take kindly to people who overstay.

Of course, ALWAYS double-check visa policies before travelling .

City Bus. Local Bus. Long-distance bus. Overnight bus.

That’s right. Buses are the most economical way of getting around South America. Every major capital has buses going to the far reaches of the country.

Two backpackers eating and drinking while traveling by bus.

Local buses are typically super cheap. You can book online but the bus stations are organised really well too.

Taxis are an option within cities and sometimes Uber too, depending on the city. If you opt for a taxi ride, make sure they are legit, set the price beforehand, and haggle the shit out of the driver without being rude.

Flights between countries in South America can be expensive. Internal flights within the country aren’t the cheapest either, though they are cheaper if you buy them while you’re inside the country (you’ll save money on taxes).

As a general rule when backpacking, cheap travel is slow travel . Buses can be slow but as you will be taking many if you are backpacking South America long term, you want to go for the cheapest option.

If you want to go full Che Guevara style you can travel by motorbike pretty easily (and cheaply) in most places in South America. I recommend that you have some experience riding motorbikes before you even think about sauntering into a capital city or down a winding road in the Andes. If you do go the motorcycle route you can be sure that it will be the ride of your life.

Hitchhiking in South America

Travelling by hitchhiking is always an option. Your success will greatly depend on the area and the country; I wouldn’t recommend hitchhiking in a major city or at night.

Hitchhikers aren’t that common in countries like Colombia, mainly due to paranoia about the security situation in the country. Not everyone here is a drug lord that wants to kidnap you for ransom money. You can hitchhike throughout Colombia AND it’s such an awesome experience!

Backpacker hitchhiking in the route with a sign.

Rural areas of South America are especially impacted by high rates of poverty. Expecting free rides from folks with limited means isn’t morally fantastic. That said, even if you offer the driver a few bucks, it could very well end up being cheaper (and more rewarding) than taking the bus.

I would never assume that the ride is free initially. Always ask to avoid having an awkward scenario in which the driver who picked you up is demanding an unexpected fee. This is when learning Spanish comes in very handy.

Onwards Travel From South America

Your only options for leaving the continent are by boat or by plane. Most likely you will fly out of the country where you are finishing your trip if it makes sense and is the cheapest option. Try to book your flights in advance in order to find the best flight deals .

Two girls walking towards a plane at sunset in Mexico

It is technically possible to cross the Darien Gap to Panama overland. Rumour has it that you can hire a guide for quite a bit of money and cross the Darien on foot.

In the past, this was impossible though due to narco-terrorist/guerrilla activity. May the Gods of Backpacking be with you if you attempt the journey on your own without a guide.

South America is becoming a digital nomad hub. After the pandemic, the boom really: a generally low cost of living, relatively reliable internet, and tons of expat communities.

Medellín is the current front-runner. This city is growing at a RAPID pace and is becoming the apple in every backpacker’s eye.

Plus, Medellín is safer than ever. Lots of people want to stay here for an extended period of time, digital nomads included.

south america journey

Close behind are larger South American cities like Buenos Aires, São Paulo, and Quito. Being big cities though, you’ll have to overcome higher prices and crime. Safety in Buenos Aires can be sketchy but so can every massive city, right?

Note that, at the moment, most South American countries do not offer a special digital nomad visa.

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A new country, a new contract, a new piece of plastic – booooring. Instead, buy an eSIM!

An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! You’re connected the minute you land. It’s that easy.

Is your phone eSIM ready? Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market and  ditch the plastic .

Teaching English in South America

Most people who end up living or staying long-term in South America do one of two things: teach English or volunteer.

Teaching English in South America is very popular. Some people make a living out of just going from one city to the next city and hitting up all the English schools in between. Some are accredited though many find success using their own merits.

If you have a TEFL certificate it will be much easier to score teaching gigs in South America. I recommend getting yours with MyTEFL – Broke Backpacker readers get a 50% discount on TEFL courses when you enter the code PACK50  at the checkout.

Volunteering in South America

Volunteering abroad is a great way to experience a culture whilst doing some good. There are loads of volunteering gigs in South America ranging from protecting the Amazon to teaching in barrios of Buenos Aires.

Arguably, you may need a permit in order to volunteer. But in reality, the continent is pretty chill and this is unlikely to ever be enforced.

Group of people helping as Volunteer  in Ecuador

I spent a few weeks volunteering in the mountains in Northern Colombia and it was the best way to get to know the land, people, and lifestyle. Finding volunteering opportunities in South America is about learning, building community, and making an impact in a place you visit.

The best way to find volunteer jobs is word of a trustworthy mouth. But programs run through reputable work exchange programs like Worldpackers , Workaway , and WWOOF help you get your foot in the door of volunteer communities.

They’re a great opportunity for unique experiences and make amazing connections with people. But you do have to stay vigilant, especially when working with animals or children.

If you sign up for Worldpackers with a discount code, memberships are only $39 a year. For that price, it’s often worth giving it a try.

Summing up food in South America is like trying to explain what music is. It’s incredibly diverse and every country, every region, every household has a different definition.

First of all, meat is hard to avoid. They like it juicy, tender, slow-cooked, and accompanying pretty much everything. Especially in the southern part of the continent, Argentina, Uruguay, and South Brazil, the smell of cooking cow is heavy in the air.

The Argentinian way of grilling is Asado . And it’s not just a delicious barbecue – oh no – that’s just the centrepiece. The event is a huge part of the culture.

The vegetarian movement is gaining momentum, though it’s harder in some places than others. In more rural places, you may go hungry if you don’t want to eat meat now and again, but in general, it’s not impossible.

Man cooking food on the grill using his hands.

Andean countries like Peru and Bolivia have chronically underrated food scenes. In fact, Peruvian food is often regarded as some of the best in the world. You’ve never felt fresher than after chowing down that ceviche.

In the Amazon, they have a whole different gastronomic world; obviously, everything grows here. There are ingredients that come from the Amazon that just don’t exist anywhere else.

There are strange fruit and vegetables in abundance. Then, of course, the fresh fish comes leaping out of the river, almost directly to your plate. Catching your own fish is never a bad idea either.

The food in the north of South America, like Colombia and Venezuela, is the definition of comfort food. If you’re eating right, you’re going to be gaining a few kilos. Don’t pass on an opportunity to gorge yourself silly.

Street food usually involves lots of deep-fried goodness. But it’s the abuelas that make the best pastries, with oodles of love. And ooh, those arepas… they have a special place on my plate.

The Best Food in South America

Here are some of the best South American foods that you definitely shouldn’t miss out on.

  • Feijão (Brazil) – Beany stew for everyday eating.
  • Acai (Brazil) – Superfood berry.
  • Empanadas – Your trusty stuffed pastry friend.
  • Dulce de leche – Just try it… thank me later.
  • Asado (Argentina) – Grilled meat with a side of meat.
  • Antichucho (Bolivia) – Mmmm… cow’s heart.
  • Ceviche (Peru/Chile) – raw but not raw fish, in lemon juice.
  • Cuy (Peru) – A large cooked guinea pig.
  • Encebollado (Ecuador) – Ecuadorian Grandma’s comfort stew.
  • Arepas (Colombia) – Corn pockets to fill your hungry belly.

South America is a very complex continent. Colonization by Western Europeans technically makes it the youngest member of modern civilization. But saying this disregards all the history that came before the “ conquistadors” arrived.

South America has hosted many advanced civilizations like the Incan Empire, whose influence still lasts to this day. Though much of the native culture was lost with the mass killing by said conquistadors .

Long story short: South America is an enormously diverse region, maybe more so than anywhere else. Yes, European culture has largely shaped the entire continent. But indigenous and African cultures are just as important, if not more so.

Northern Brazil is very Afrocentric. This was the first charted part of the continent and ideal for rowing sugarcane. Consequently, it’s the place where all the slaves were brought.

Slavery is over. But it leaves behind a blend of African customs and cultures morphed into Latino culture.

Local family dressing traditional clothes from Peru in front of their house.

The south, which constitutes Argentina, Chile, and Southern Brazil, is much more European. Aside from the big players – the Spanish and Portuguese – Italians, Germans, and French all settled here following a huge era of migration.

In the Andean countries of Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador you see a lot of indigenous cultures. Some people still live like their ancestors, living in the highlands and tending the land. Though Spanish is still the dominant language, several local languages, like Quecha and Aymara, are still commonly spoken.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that all of South America is just an extension of Europe or North America. You’ll miss out on the beautiful subtleties of the region, which make backpacking in South America so wonderful.

A backpacking trip in South America is a unique experience in itself. And within that, there are instance amounts of opportunities to make your South America itinerary different to anyone else who’s travelled here before. Here are some of the best things to add to it:

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Hiking in South America

South America has some of the best hikes in the world . Here are a few iconic options to get your bucket list started:

View of argentinian lakes in Patagonia.

  • Lost City Hike, Colombia : This hike through the Colombian jungle will certainly be a highlight of your South America travel.
  • Sierra Nevada de Cocuy, Colombia : Snow in Colombia? Here you can find peaks are as high as 5,330 meters above sea level. If you have your own gear and a good sleeping bag , you can probably do the hike without a guide.
  •  Iliniza-Norte, Ecuador . This is a fantastic 2-day trek that does not require any special gear or equipment. If you are planning to tackle Cotopaxi this is a great warm-up. A solid challenge for the dedicated hiker!
  • The Salkantay trek, Peru: Hike to Machu Picchu over 4 days and experience the true beauty of the Andes along the way. One of my favorite South American treks for sure.
  • The Cordillera Huayhuash, Peru : Truly one of the most stunning areas in Peru. For serious hikers, planning a trek like this is one for the books!
  • Hut-to-Hut in Bariloche, Argentina:  Spectacular hike for some of the best views of Nahuel Huapi National Park and its lakes. Tents are optional since you can stay exclusively in the refugios.
  • Villa O’Higgins to El Chaltén, Chile/Argentina : One of the greatest ways to experience Patagonia. Walk from Villa O’Higgins in Chile to El Chaltén in Argentina. You’ll see some superlative mountain, forest, and lake scenery along the way.
  • Torres Del Paine Circuit, Chile : The hike of all hikes in South America. This epic walk takes 9 – 11 days and passes through some of the most dramatic landscapes one can fathom. A must if you’ve got the time and hiking spirit!

Scuba Diving in South America

You have scuba diving options galore in South America! In general, scuba diving is pricier than it is in other parts of the world but that’s because it’s worth it. If it is something that you really want to do, I say go for it! 

Colombia is probably the cheapest and best place to dive AND get certified in South America. You have Providencia and Santa Catalina (a smaller island to the north) which is home to the third-largest coral reef barrier on Earth and includes over 40 dive sites.

Backpacking South America

Malpelo is the harder-to-reach version: a jagged rock in the Colombian Pacific, it can only be reached by boat, and divers can only visit here as part of an organized trip. It’s worth the time and money for sure; Malpelo is one of the best places in the world to dive with sharks, including hammerheads, whale, and the rare sun ray shark.

People have reported schools of up to 500 sharks around Malpelo. That’s right. 500!

Peru and Ecuador both have some decent diving right off their coasts. The diving around the Galápagos Islands is world-class, but it will cost you a fortune go diving there.

If you truly want to have the scuba diving adventure of a lifetime, I highly recommend joining a Liveaboard trip.

  • Liveaboard the Galapagos
  • Liveaboard Colombia

Surfing in South America

Surfing is the number one sport on South America’s coast. From Peru to Brazil, backpackers and locals are coming together and shredding!

Peru is home to the longest left-breaking wave in the world . You can literally ride a wave for five minutes!

The Pacific Coast is dotted with funky surf towns, where the main activities revolve around the waves and the nightlife. There are a plethora of surf schools in every country. Often these surf schools offer Spanish classes as well if you are wanting to double down (which I highly suggest!).

It is easy to fall in love with the surfing lifestyle. But be careful, you might just fall in love with the whole scene. I wouldn’t blame you for a second.

A woman surfing in the ocean off the coast of Australia

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Is backpacking South America safe?

Yes. Backpacking South America is safe. Just bear in mind that crime rates are higher than in some other areas of the world. But by following standard safety procedures, there’s no reason why that crime should affect you. Be sensible, show people plenty of respect, and look after your friends.

How are the bus journeys in South America?

The long-distance buses are generally top quality and comfortable. Just be aware that distances on the map can be deceiving and journeys can be long so bring plenty of water, food, something to keep you warm in the baltic aircon, and probably some toilet paper too.

Is travelling South America as a woman possible?

Absolutely! Not only is it possible, it’s awesome. Do remember that, unfortunately, women do have to consider safety as a factor more so than men, especially after dark. But with that in mind, prepare for the adventure of a lifetime.

How are South Americans so damn sexy?

There are too many reasons. Just go and spark up conversation with them and find out for yourself. Beware though, you’re likely to fall completely, madly, deeply in love.

Backpacking South America can be one hell of a party at times. Take it from me, it can be easy to get carried away.

You can make a positive impact on people when we travel and South America is the perfect place to do that. Try to spend your money in places where the experience is mutually rewarding.

When buying a local craft, be fair to the person who spent countless hours crafting it. Pay people their worth and contribute to the local economies as much as possible.

If you visit small or indigenous communities, be respectful: they are normal folks just living their lives.  Backpacking South America – or any region for that matter – often illuminates some of the great socio-economic inequalities of the world. Never take it for granted that you are healthy and financially able to go travelling.

Show the world around you some gratitude and help to make a positive impact on it. Most of all have the time of your life and spread the love!

Well, amigos, the time has come for me to send you on your travellin’ way. Armed with your budget travel knowledge, on you go!

Your South America backpacking trip awaits. Have a few cold ones for me, yeah?

Will stood with four of the maestras in traditional Amazonian clothing

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Laura Hall

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Journey Beyond the Horizon

To visit the extreme points of South America- the southern “New World”

When we look at the map of the Earth, one of the first things that we see is that its surface is divided into land and water. The land consists of several continents and millions of islands, and the water is all the oceans and seas. We, humans, live on continents and islands. Do you know which piece of land is the longest, almost from pole to pole? This is America, consisting of two continents- North and South America. Now, let’s make a journey around South America and reach its extreme points!

Table of Contents

Basic geography

Let’s open the map of the world . South America is the southern half of the Americas, as mentioned above, the longest piece of land on our planet. It is prolonged from the Caribbean Sea to the Strait of Drake. The continent is wide in the north, gradually becoming narrow in the south.

South America is connected to North America by the Isthmus of Panama. It is well-known for its long and narrow Andes Mountain Chain, and the plain of Amazonia , with the largest equatorial rainforest on the Earth. The continent “points to the south”, but its southernmost part suddenly curves eastward. Besides, it is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Magellan, forming Tierra del Fuego Island.

Mainland and islands

Now, let’s define the extreme geographic points of South America and try to reach them. But to do this, we have to define the mainland of the continent only, as well as the whole continent including its shelf and nearby islands.

As we can see, unlike its northern neighbor, South America is a much more “simple” continent. There are no large archipelagos beside it, and the few nearby isolated islands are ocean islands, not a part of any continent. The only “difficult” areas are its southernmost region- Tierra del Fuego and the islands around it, and the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea, which almost “touch” South America, and can be considered a “bridge” with the North.

The continental shelf of South America doesn’t spread much beyond its mainland. However, it makes another “bridge” with the shelf of Antarctica . And there are some islands on this “bridge”, which can be considered either as a part of South America, or Antarctica.

The extreme points of South America

So, let’s define South America’s extreme geographic points.

south america journey

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The extreme geographic points of South America

Although the Lesser Antilles “touch” South America, let’s consider most of them (and the continental shelf bridge on which they are located) as a part of North America. There is only their western group, called the Leeward Antilles, which is located firmly on the South American shelf. In this case, we can look only at this sub-archipelago, and one of its islands is located beyond the mainland extreme point, so we have two northernmost points- a mainland, and an island point.

On the west, Galapagos is widely considered a part of South America, but this archipelago is not located on its shelf, so we will not count it. As a result, we have only a westernmost mainland point. It is the same on the east- no easternmost islands on the continental shelf. And on the south, we have Tierra del Fuego and its satellite islands, located further south of the southernmost point of the continent.

However, if we count the “shelf bridge” between South America and Antarctica, which forms an arc to the east, then we have other easternmost and southernmost island points. These are two small islands belonging to South Sandwich Archipelago. So, in the south, we will look at two island extreme points, and one more extreme point in the east.

Anyway, let’s start our journey and see it in detail, beginning from the North.

Extreme North

When we look at the map, we can easily see the northernmost point of mainland South America. This is Punta Gallinas in Colombia. And for the northernmost island point, as I mentioned above, I exclude most the Lesser Antilles from South America, with exception of the Leeward sub-archipelago. So let’s see these islands. We can easily identify the northernmost of them. This is Aruba, and its northernmost tip is called Westpunt (Boca).

The northernmost mainland point of South America- Punta Gallinas, Colombia

12°27′31″N 71°40′8″W

If you look at the map of South America, you can clearly see two small peninsulas, surrounding a bay and “looking at each other”, shared between Colombia and Venezuela. The western one is like a “male”- it is larger, and it penetrates a bit further into the Caribbean Sea. This is the Guajira Peninsula, and Punta Gallinas is its northernmost point.

Although this piece of land is not far from the Equator, it looks surprisingly different than the nearby humid tropical rainforest lands, and the tropical paradise of the Caribbean islands. Guajira is a desert place, covered by dry savannas, some bush, and dunes. It is a sparsely populated area, and its inhabitants are mainly native Wayuu people.

How to reach Punta Gallinas

Guajira Peninsula is safe, but not so touristy-developed place. There are organized tours to Punta Gallinas, the nearby dunes and beaches, as well as the villages of the native people. But for a better experience, you can do it yourself.

First, you have to get to Riohacha. There are buses from the bigger cities in the country traveling to Riohacha. From there, you have to find a shared taxi to Uribia, then, another 4×4 taxi to Cabo de la Vela, a small town on the seacoast. Then you can ask the hotel where you stay, and they can arrange for you a trip to Punta Gallinas- usually for two days-one night.

Punta Gallinas is a sandy place, a kind of a steep beach descending into the sea. The sand is full of stone piles probably left by visitors, and there is a small lighthouse behind it. But of course, your Punta Gallinas trip would not be pointed only to this place. You would enjoy a lot of adventures in the desert, on the stunning beaches and the nearby lagoon.

Now, let’s head a bit further north- to Aruba.

The northernmost island point of South America- Aruba

12°62′33″N 70°05′48″W

Aruba is a small island country (or “sub-country”, belonging to the Netherlands). It is a flat island, with almost the same climate and natural landscapes as the Guajira Peninsula. Oranjestad is the capital of Aruba and is only 14 km away from the northernmost tip of the island.

And this northernmost tip looks a bit like Punta Gallinas, at least the land around it. But the point itself is a bit more spectacular- there are rock cliffs, where the waves from the Caribbean break. The most stunning place is a small bay surrounded by these rock cliffs, some 100 m west of the point, where the waves form a kind of waterfalls on the rocks.

The northern coast of Aruba

How to reach the northernmost point of Aruba- Westpunt

First, you have to make a trip to Aruba. It is a stunning tropical paradise and such a trip would be a great experience. Many flights go to Aruba, from most of the American countries, as well as from some countries in Europe (of course, including the Netherlands). There are also many cruise lines traveling to the island.

Once you arrive in Oranjestad, you have to go to Noord, a small resort town in the northern part of the island. You can do it by taxi, by bus “Arubus”, or by rental car. In fact, you can even go on foot, for just an hour and a half walking. Then, again by taxi, you can go to California Lighthouse, built on the northernmost tip of the island (but still around 600 m far from the coast). And from there, you can walk on Arashi Dunes until the rocks of the coast, enjoying great views all the time.

This is the North. Now, let’s cross the continent and reach its westernmost extreme point.

The extreme west

South America is quite a compact continent. Its western coast is clear, without large gulfs, nearby archipelagos, and other more complex coastline forms. As I mentioned above, the only archipelago which lies west of the continent is Galapagos, but it is not located on the continental shelf. There are no other islands west of the mainland too, so there is only one westernmost point of South America, and it is on the mainland. This is Punta Parinas (Balcones) in Peru.

The westernmost point of mainland South America- Punta Parinas (Balcones), Peru

4°40’58″S 81°19′43″W

Let’s travel to Peru. This is one of the countries with the most contrasts on Earth. From equatorial rainforests to dry deserts and mountain tundra with glaciers, you can see almost all kinds of nature. Now, let’s research Peru’s coastline. Here is Punta Parinas (Balcones)- the westernmost point of South America. How does it look like? If we open the satellite map of the area, we can see the dry desert strip of land along the Pacific Coast. And Punta Parinas (Balcones) is located in its northernmost part. Although it is very close to the Equator, the area is dry.

Punta Parinas (Balcones) is a “double” extreme point, and if you zoom enough on the map, you can see it. There are two points with exactly the same longitude. The northern point is higher and rocky, providing stunning views around, and is a good place to watch the seals on the coast. There is a lighthouse on it, called Faro Negritos. And the southern point is lower, but still rocky, forming a promontory, with a stone marker on it. Finally, there is a beach between two points, called Balcones Beach.

How to reach Punta Parinas (Balcones)

To reach Punta Parinas, first, you have to arrive in Talara, a small city on the Pacific Coast, with a small airport. So, you can travel to Talara from Lima with a bus (once daily, for 18 hours), or by plane (for about 2 hours). But since Talara is much closer to Ecuador than to the Peruvian capital, it could be faster to reach it from Quito.

Once you arrive in Talara, you can take a taxi to Negritos for about 10 mins, the westernmost village in South America. And from Negritos, you can take another taxi (or proceed by the same taxi) for another 5 mins to the southern Punta Parinas (Balcones). Or you can just walk about an hour to the northern Punta Parinas (Balcones). In both cases, don’t skip the stunning beach between these two points. Most probably you would be only yourself, the beach, the raging swell waves of the Pacific, and the wind. And these will be nothing in front of you, but only an endless ocean, to the islands of Polynesia, far beyond the horizon.

Now, let’s jump to the east.

The extreme East

Just like the West, the East of South America has a compact and clear coastline. Yes, the eastern coastline is more complex (mainly due to the mouth of Amazon and Parana rivers), but its easternmost section is simple. The continental shelf spreads not far from the coast, and there are no other islands located further east on the shelf. There are several isolated islands in the Atlantic Ocean, but they are ocean islands, not on the continental shelf. So, on the east, we have only the extreme mainland point. This is Ponta do Seixas in Brazil.

However, as I mentioned above, the continental “tail” proceeds further east on the south, where it connects with Antarctica. In this area, we can find pieces of land located beyond Ponta do Seixas, on the South Sandwich Islands. But this is a “special case”, so let’s first ignore them and focus on the easternmost mainland point of South America.

The easternmost point of mainland South America- Ponta do Seixas, Brazil

7°9′19″S 34°47′35″W

When you look at the map of South America, you can see that the coastline bends very smoothly on the east. There are no peninsulas, no promontories. So, when you zoom to Ponta do Seixas, you can see that this point is just a low curve of the coast, without any rock cliffs, or other spectacular things that can be seen on a cape. Instead, there is just a beach, like every other “normal” beach, where you can spend your day with a coconut juice under the umbrella, sometimes playing with the waves of the ocean, with nothing to show that this place is more special.

If you want to see something a little more spectacular, you have to walk to the northern end of the beach. There is a low cape with a lighthouse. This is Cabo Branco, officially known as the “easternmost point of South America”, however, it is still about 200 m west of the Ponta do Seixas Beach.

How to reach Ponta do Seixas

It’s easy. Ponta do Seixas is not a wild, remote and difficult to access place, like most of the other extreme points of the continents. Instead, the beach of the easternmost point of South America is a good place to establish a city and a resort.

So, there is a big city near the point- Joao Pessoa, the capital of Paraiba State. This city is really worth visiting, not only for geographic purposes but because there are so many things to see and do there. You can explore its old churches, its green parks, its museums, and enjoy its handicrafts, for which it is famous.

And Ponta do Seixas is just a small district of Joao Pessoa, a resort established at the easternmost point of the continent. You can easily go there by public bus, by taxi, or just on foot along the coast. You can see the lighthouse of Cabo Branco, then you can enjoy the beautiful beach south (and east) of it.

Finally, let’s get to the south.

Extreme South

Now we leave the warm tropical paradise and head to cold and harsh places. South America is prolonged far to the south, “trying to touch” Antarctica. Advancing in this direction, the mainland starts to tear into pieces. These are the archipelagos of Chile and Patagonia. Hidden among the island is the southernmost mainland point of South America- Cape Froward. And the islands proceed further south until the last one- Aguila Islet.

So, let’s start with the mainland.

The southernmost mainland point of South America- Cape Froward, Chile

53°53′47″S 71°17′40″W

Patagonia is a compact piece of land until it reaches its southernmost part. Then it turns into peninsulas, bays, and islands, with a lot of fjords between them. One of these peninsulas is the Brunswick Peninsula, forming a significant section of the Strait of Magellan’s north coast.

Brunswick Peninsula is a desolate place, covered by cold forests and tundra. Most of it is uninhabited, with some natural reserves on its northern and central part. The nearest city is Punta Arenas- a famous spot for expeditions to Antarctica. The climate is harsh, often windy and rainy, sometimes snowy in winter. But this remote part of the world also features rich wildlife, of which penguins are the most popular animals.

Cape Froward is a high promontory with steep rock cliffs. There is a metal cross on it, marking the southernmost mainland point of the Americas. This is a magnificent spot, revealing great panoramic views to the Strait of Magellan and the islands beyond it.

How to reach Cape Froward

The starting point of a trip to Cape Froward is Punta Arenas. It is a small city, concentrated around its center, full of interesting places to visit. You can reach Punta Arenas by plane, and by bus, from both Chile and Argentina, including Ushuaia (the southernmost city on the planet). Many cruise lines stop in Punta Arenas too.

Check your transportation from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas!

From Punta Arenas, you have to travel on Road 9. This is a dirt road but in good condition. Anyway, there is no public transport on it, so you have to arrange private transport (your hotel in Punta Arenas can help you with that). It will take you to the end of the road at a parking lot. Then you have to start a challenging trek along the sea coast and the lighthouse of San Isidro. The whole trek to Cape Froward is around 16 hours in one direction. In other words, you have to prepare for a 4-5 days journey.

An easier way is to go there by boat, but again- just a private trip, which can be arranged in Punta Arenas. No matter which way would you choose, it would be a fantastic adventure, with breathtaking scenery all the way. Now, let’s go further south- to the last piece of American land- Aguila Islet.

The northernmost island point of South America- Aguila Islet, Chile

56°32′15″S 68°43′10″W

Probably you have heard about Cape Horn, known as the “southernmost point of South America”. But it is not that point. Cape Horn is famous mainly due to its important location as the point dividing the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as its magnificent and dangerous image. But the continental shelf proceeds further south, and there are some spots of it appearing over the surface of the ocean.

These spots are the small Diego Ramirez Archipelago, located about 100 km southwest of Cape Horn. And the southernmost island of this archipelago is a tiny rocky islet, called Aguila. It is a cold and harsh place, exposed to the severe winds and rains of the Drake Strait, with the size of a small parking lot. The cold furious waves of the ocean break on its rocks, and there is almost nothing else on it.

How to reach Aguila Islet

The only way to reach this spot is by a passing cruise trip. And it would not stop on the islet, but you can only take photos from afar. Another, more challenging way is to go to the only inhabited outpost on Diego Ramirez Archipelago- the meteorological station on Isla Gonsalo (which is possible only by a specially arranged trip from Punta Arenas or Ushuaia). Then they could eventually take you to Aguila Islet, but again, most probably without a chance to step on its rocks.

These are the traditional extreme points of South America. But let’s reach the alternative version of the extreme south and east- South Sandwich Archipelago

Alternative island extremes of South America- South Sandwich Archipelago

These pieces of land, scattered far in the Atlantic Ocean, but still on the South American-Antarctic shelf, are really extreme. Not just geographically, but also physically. They belong to the Sub-Antarctic group of isolated islands, and they are located in the geographical latitude zone where no continent can be found. Instead, winds (often strong and furious) blow almost permanently from west to east, with nothing to stop them. At to this the freezing breath of Antarctica, and the humid from the ocean. As a result, we have an extremely inhospitable environment, too hostile for permanent inhabitants.

South Sandwich Archipelago consists of 11 islands, most of them volcanic. There is no permanent population on the islands, but there are almost only scientists who stay there for a longer time. The largest of the islands is Montagu Island, and its easternmost tip is the point that we focused- the alternative easternmost island point of South America. And on the south- two islands are sitting on the same latitude- Thule, and Cook. Cook Island “wins” the prize for its southernmost tip- just 50 m beyond the southernmost end of Thule. So, let’s visit them.

The alternative easternmost island point of South America- Montagu Island

58°30′43″S 26°16′7″W

This is a volcanic island, with 90% of its territory covered by ice. The rest small portion of it is covered by rocks, moss, and tundra. Recently, its volcano Mount Belinda has erupted (no man has been there to see it), creating a lava river, which has increased the area of the island.

Its easternmost tip is located on the island’s southeast part. It this area, the slopes of Mount Belinda just descend into the ocean with steep rocky cliffs, covered almost permanently by ice and snow. The easternmost tip is almost inaccessible, unless in the rare calm days, eventually only by professional extreme adventurers.

The alternative southernmost island point of South America- Cook Island

59°29′20″S 27°8′40″W

Cook Island has the same nature as Montague Island, but just its highest peak Mount Harmer is not an active volcano. Same as the other islands, it is almost entirely covered by ice. Again, the terrain is rugged, steep, and highly inhospitable. It is completely uninhabited, with exception of some scientists coming temporarily there for work.

Its southernmost point is a rocky promontory, located on the island’s southeast part. Same as in Montague, it is just a part of the steep mountain slopes of Mount Harmer. Again, it is almost inaccessible, and the waters around the island are often covered by ice.

Landscape from the South Sandwich Archipelago

How to reach Montague and Cook islands

The only possible way is by cruise. Recently, the number of cruises passing by these islands and stopping there is increasing. But of course, they just stop near the islands (at a safe distance), so you can only observe and take photos of the islands and their extreme points from afar. You can’t step on the ground (at least not on the extreme points). Even if you join a scientist’s mission, you can only arrive at the few access points. Of course, the adventure and the feeling to be so far at the end of the world are really worth it.

Now, let’s leave the edges of South America and make a journey to its interior- to the continent’s Pole of Inaccessibility, the farthest point from every seacoast.

The Pole of Inaccessibility of South America- Nova Marilandia, Mato Grosso, Brazil

14°05′34″S 56°85′10″W

This is the middle of South America. It is located in the southwest part of Brazil, in Mato Grosso State. Although the name “inaccessibility” proposes a difficult to access place “in the middle of nowhere”, this point is not so difficult to reach. It is located in a green area, on the large Mato Grosso plains, covered by agricultural fields and some forests and bush.

So, the area around the South American Pole of Inaccessibility is an inhabited place, with small towns and villages around. The nearest city is Arenapolis, but there is a nearer settlement- the village of Nova Marilandia. Well-paved roads are connecting the villages and cities in the area, but the Pole of Inaccessibility is aside from the roads.

How to reach the Pole of Inaccessibility of South America

The best way to reach the Pole of Inaccessibility is first to fly to Cuiaba, the capital of Mato Grosso State. From there, you can take a bus to Rosario Oeste, then another local bus or taxi to Arenapolis, or directly to Nova Marilandia.

Once you reach Nova Marilandia, you can take another local taxi to the nearest curve of the road, in the north direction. Stop the taxi and make a trek westward through the agricultural fields, on local dirt roads. You will reach a low forest and bush area, and you have to penetrate deeper into it. Watch your GPS, because there are no paths, no geographical markers, or other sign pointing to the Pole. Then you can find it just in the middle of the forest.

The Turner Twins expedition

Actually, maybe you can see something. In 2017 The Turner Twins- twins known for their geographical expeditions reached the Pole of Inaccessibility and put there a small blue board as a marker. If it still remains there, you can find the spot easier, but if not, you still have to watch only your GPS.

This is South America- a continent full of contrasts. Most of its extreme points are in the tropics and are easy-to-reach tourist destinations. But those in the south are very different, harsh, and challenging. And if you want to cross the continent from north to south, and from west to east, you can enjoy fantastic landscapes of all kinds, appealing for discovery by those who are thirsty for exploring expeditions.

Want to reach the extreme geographic points of the other continents?

Take a look at the following ones:

Extreme geographic points of EURASIA

Extreme geographic points of AFRICA

Extreme geographic points of NORTH AMERICA

Extreme geographic points of AUSTRALIA

Extreme geographic points of ANTARCTICA

Check some books about South America:

south america journey

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Let's explore the continent of South America- its extreme points on the west, east, north, south and in the middle! Geographical guide.

Hi, we are Krasen and Ying Ying. Krasen is from Bulgaria, and Ying Ying is from China. We are passionate about geography and history, and we believe that the best way to experience it is by exploring the Earth in reality, not in a school, and not virtually.

So, we created this blog Journey Beyond the Horizon, where we share geographical knowledge, travel guides and tips how to experience it when you explore our planet, and a lot of inspiration.

And we wish you a happy journey, not just virtually, but most of all- in reality.

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  • South America By Bus

The Ultimate Guide To Bus Travel In South America

Everything you need to know to plan a successful overland adventure, life on the road, what to expect with long-distance bus travel in south america.

Get on the bus! As much a symbol of backpacker folklore as a means of transport, the humble bus is a staple of every South American journey. It’s from this vantage point that you’ll interact with local life, meet new friends and watch the continent unfold in full panoramic view.

Most towns and cities have a central terminal, known variably as terminal de omnibus, terminal terrestre, or, in Brazil, rodoviária, from where all long-distance journeys depart. Others, especially in Peru and Ecuador, have multiple terminals serving individual transport companies. Make sure you know which terminal you need before you set out.

It’s always advisable to have your ticket booked in advance, especially during busy seasons and around holidays. Services are usually severely restricted, if running at all, on national or religious holidays. This is where a specialist booking agency or travel pass company can come in handy.

Quality (and safety, see below) varies wildly, based largely on how much you’re prepared to shell out. For a reasonable price you can expect a professional driver, a clean, well-serviced bus and confidence of reaching your destination on time. Of course you can always spend less but expect to get what you pay for.

The best buses, coche cama or ‘bed bus,’ offer the most comfort for overnight trips, with fully reclining seats and often a hot meal served at your seat. Look for a lujo, or ‘luxury’ option, which often beats low-cost flights in terms of comfort.

Sometimes the driver will play videos to alleviate the boredom, sometimes not, but the landscapes can be sufficiently picturesque as to take away some of the tedium.

Bring clothing for all conditions. Climate in South America can change dramatically during a 20-hour bus ride, so you’ll want to have both warm and cold-weather clothes on hand to stay comfortable. Always keep some basic toiletries--toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper--in your carry-on bag.

Earplugs are essential. Even better are headphones and your own entertainment. Bring a small lamp or flashlight to read at night. Bring snacks. Some bus companies don’t provide meals, and the dining options along the way are generally limited. Higher quality companies all provide meals. Booking ahead with an overland specialist can make all the difference.

Above all, be patient. Breakdowns and mechanical problems are not uncommon, so don’t be in a rush to get where you’re going. Remember, it’s all part of the experience!

Budgeting And Currency

How to plan your travel finances.

With so many variables it’s virtually impossible to estimate an accurate budget. What you’ll pay depends on the standard of accommodation you choose--from fleapit hostels to luxurious Airbnb homes--how well you want to eat, and how much partying you like to do.

Local prices vary wildly, too. Brazil, Chile and Uruguay are among the most expensive; Argentina is catching up after its historical currency slump; the Andean countries of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador are traditionally more affordable, although prices continue to rise on the main gringo trail. A good way to plan your budget is to have as much booked and paid for in advance, including your accommodation, transport and big activities such as treks, a Galapagos side-trip, and any other major excursions.

What you have left over is your pocket money: food, taxis and local transport, entertainment, souvenirs, etc. The difference you pay for accommodation in each country will give you a measure of how expensive they are relative to each other.

Eat in local restaurants, not the more tourist-oriented places. Pointing at menu items and hoping for the best is all part of the experience! Market food stalls are a great place for a cheap snack, or even a full meal. (Watch out for untreated water and ice in juices, though.)

Many hostels these days are inching up into the “flashpacker” market, with the dirt cheap but clean backpacker hostels virtually an endangered species. That said you’ll still find plenty of cheap accommodation, including dorm rooms. Keep your possessions safe and valuables in a locker.

Couchsurfing and Airbnb are good options for finding bargains and something more locally flavoured.

Cash and currency exchange in South America

The USD is by far the best currency to travel with and will be readily converted to local currency everywhere you visit. The Euro and Sterling are also accepted, although not as universally. Keep your bills pristine; especially in Peru and Bolivia even the slightest tear can get them rejected.

You’ll find an ATM virtually everywhere you go, aside from the very smallest towns. Ditto with currency exchange (cambio). In some countries (such as Peru) currency exchange in the street is considered safe and normal, less so in others. Get local advice from your hostel.

Solo Female Travel In South America

Cynthia ord.

South America is right at the top of the list for low-cost, independent adventures. For the thrill of a backpacking trip nothing beats Latin America and its blend of fascinating cultures, the thrilling cities and the outdoor adventures from mountains to rainforest to coast.

When I mention my nine-month solo journey through South America, it raises eyebrows. “You did that alone?”

For solo female travellers, concern is warranted. But with a few precautions, I managed to get span the continent on my own terms--and stay safe in the process.

Just as in North America and Europe as anywhere else, pay attention to no-go zones. Each country and even each city has its good parts and its sketchy areas. In any city or town in South America, I would make it a point to steer clear of bus stations and transport hubs at very late-night or early-morning hours. It’s worth it to pay a little extra to avoid an odd-hours arrival or departure.

There are obvious precautions that apply to everyone. Don’t find yourself alone, late at night in an unfamiliar part of town. Keep to brightly-lit, busy areas, even if it means taking the long way home or paying for a taxi ride. If you’re out drinking stick with people you know and trust, and don’t let your drinks out of sight. Use licensed taxis, and call to book ahead if possible.

Couchsurfing can be an excellent way of skipping the hostel scene and getting a better insight into local life, but you do hear stories of over-amorous hosts picking up the wrong signals. Check their reviews and references carefully, including from other solo females.

Finally, beware of the machismo. Men can be unreserved with their attention, whether it’s welcome or not. Usually this goes no further than prying eyes or the occasional whistle. This can be intensely annoying but the vast majority can be safely ignored. If attention becomes physical or too persistent for comfort don’t hold back in showing your anger and causing a scene--they’ll quickly back off.

One area it pays (literally) to be extra cautious is with overnight buses. The higher-class buses (lujo) are both more comfortable and, in my opinion, more secure.

It’s a good idea to get a money belt to stash your cash, and keep your valuables close at hand--not in the overhead bin or in the cargo hold. One technique I use is to hug my carry-on very close, then wrap a scarf or blanket around myself and the bag together before closing my eyes to fall asleep. That way, the goods are out of sight, and there’s an extra layer between them and sticky fingers.

Knowing some local language can go a long way. Basic Spanish will help you out a lot, although keep in mind that it’s only Portuguese in Brazil and in remoter parts of the Andes, indigenous languages are more common than Spanish.

But overall, I’d say if you’re okay with a bit of culture shock and can be adaptable to unfamiliar situations you’ll have a great time in South America.

Dealing With Border Crossings

Generally speaking, border crossings in South America are straightforward affairs. You enter, the officials give you a visa stamp in your passport, and you’re good to go.

Borders usually consist of two immigration checkpoints, with a stretch of no-man’s land in between. Usually the two checkpoints are within spitting distance, in which case you simply conduct the exit and entrance formalities, walking between the two and re-board your bus. Elsewhere the distance between the two checkpoints can be somewhat further and you’ll need transport to get from A to B.

If you’re traveling on local transport, you’ll need to figure all this out for yourself. It’s usually smooth sailing--just follow everyone else. There will usually be touts and ‘helpers’ hanging around to point you in the right direction--for a fee!

If you’re traveling with a half-decent transport company they’ll look after you and make sure you get where you need to be.

That said, there are a few things worth keeping in mind to make the process as smooth as possible.

Crossings may not be open round the clock, so check your arrival time. If you’re traveling by long-distance bus your trip will already be timed for any necessary border crossings.

Be aware of time zone changes. Lots of people miss onward connections because they don't realise the time has gone forwards or backwards by an hour.

If fees are applicable (entrance or exit fees, overstay fines, etc) you’ll need some cash. There should be an ATM there but don’t rely on it, plan ahead. Local currencies and US dollars are usually accepted. Small change is handy--bigger bills can be hard to break.

Not all border crossings are created equal. Some are calm and orderly, others are chaotic and lawless. Do some research on your crossing before you arrive so you know what to expect. They’re busy places so keep an extra vigilant eye on your belongings in all the hustle and bustle. This isn’t the right time to pull out your expensive camera and start snapping photos. Be watchful and avoid offers for help from non-officials.

Reciprocity fees are notoriously fickle, changing often and without notice. For that reason we haven’t listed the current fees. Be sure to check ahead before you reach the border.

Argentina charges visitors from Canada, Australia, and, until recently, the U.S. a fee to enter. This fee must be paid online before you enter the country; it cannot be paid at the border. On March 24, 2016, the fee was suspended for 90 days for U.S. citizens, but it’s still not known how things will be in the future. Check the embassy’s webpage before you go.

Americans need to pay a reciprocity fee, in U.S. dollars, upon entering. You’ll also need a passport-sized photo for the visa.

Australians have to pay a reciprocity fee in Chile, but only if arriving by air. This doesn’t apply to land borders.

When To Travel To South America

Planning for climate and peak seasons.

The diversity of South America’s geography and climate is all part of the appeal. With overland trips ranging through coastal deserts, over the Andes and into tropical jungle, it comes as little surprise to find the weather, well... changeable.

There are also some major events and pronounced peak and off-seasons to be aware of and, if possible, time your trip around.

When to visit Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail

Machu Picchu, including the Inca Trail and trekking more generally in the Andes, is more pleasant during the dry season from May to October. Trails are firmer underfoot and there is less risk of disruption from heavy downpours. That said, it’s perfectly fine to spend time in the Andes year round, just be prepared for rain.

The wettest months are January and February, and note that the Inca Trail is closed for maintenance every February.

If you are planning on hiking the Inca Trail you’ll need to book your permits well in advance (at least two or three months).

Mind the crowds

South America’s most popular tourist destination is consistently busy no matter the time of year, but particularly so during the northern hemisphere’s summer vacation season (July and August). The best period to beat the crowds are the shoulder seasons in October and April, when the weather is still generally good.

When to visit Rio de Janeiro

Rio is a subtropical city, which means hot and humid summers. Highs of 37 C (100 F) are not unheard of and humidity levels hover around 80 or 90 percent. This is also rainy season, so cloudbursts are frequent but generally short lived.

If you’re not hellbent on going to Carnival and want to avoid these sticky conditions, consider going in the autumn (March to May) or spring (September and October). These are also, happily, the times when the tourist crowds are at their lowest. If you’re headed to Ilha Grande, climate conditions there are generally similar to Rio.

Get your samba on

If you’re timing your trip to coincide with the world’s greatest party, be sure to plan well ahead. Although Carnival is theoretically just five days long, the revelry dominates Rio for most of February. Get your accommodation and Sambadrome tickets booked in advance to avoid scalpers and touts.

When to visit Uyuni

As part of the Bolivian altiplano, Uyuni has a remarkably consistent climate. Daytime temperatures are about 15 C (60 F) year-round--dropping towards zero at night. If you want to see the flats when they’re wet, go during March or April; otherwise, for the best climate, July to October is ideal.

When to visit Patagonia

Patagonia covers a vast area and conditions vary considerably. Generally, though, in the north, the temperatures vary from around zero C in July, up to 20 C and above in January. The warmer months are the most comfortable, but whenever you go, be prepared for the strong winds that whip across the plains year-round.

When to visit Iguazú Falls

Iguazú is located in a tropical zone, which means that during the summer months (December to March), the heat and humidity can be overpowering. Compounding the problem is the possibility of flooding, which has been known to inundate some of the area’s walks. Factor in the crowds in January and February, when most Argentines and Brazilians take their vacations.

One good option is the shoulder months of May and September, when skies are still generally sunny and the crowds are manageable. But the winter months (June to August) are also a possibility, if you don’t mind overcast skies and occasional rain.

When to visit the Atacama Desert

Due to the Atacama Desert’s unique location and geography, the climate rarely changes; the rule is sunny skies and zero humidity year round. It is surprisingly cool for a desert; maximum daytime temperatures run from around 20 C (70 F) in the winter to 26 C (80 F) and higher in the summer. At night, these numbers drop dramatically so you’ll want to bring some warmer clothes if you plan on making a nocturnal excursion.

South America Bus Travel FAQs

What visas are required for south america.

Most South American countries allow tourists 90 days visa-free but specific requirements do vary by nationality. A good resource can be found at: https://www.visahq.com/citizens . Keep in mind that some countries apply reciprocity fees for certain nationalities.

Will I need an onward ticket to enter each country?

When you check in for your flight to South America you may be asked for evidence of onward travel. It’s worth having a ticket (either bus or flight) booked in advance.

What vaccinations are needed for South America?

Aside from the standard travel vaccinations (Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid), you may also want to consider vaccinations for Hepatitis B and rabies.

Yellow Fever is a must-have, and some countries require it if you’re travelling to places where it occurs.

A good resource is at: http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk

What about malaria, dengue, zika and chikungunya?

You cannot be vaccinated against these illnesses. Taking a course of antimalarials may be wise if you’re planning on spending time in a high-risk area, but be aware of potential side effects.

With mosquito-borne disease, prevention is by far the best medicine. Bring a mosquito net, keep your arms and legs covered, and use a good insect repellant.

Is bus travel safe in South America?

Yes, but take sensible precautions. Keep valuables with you in the cabin, not in your big backpack which will be stowed out of sight under the bus. Don’t leave your day bag in the overhead storage, just keep it between your legs and looped to one leg.

How do I get to and from the bus terminals?

Taxis in South America are cheap and reliable and will zip you to and from the bus terminals at any time of day. When arriving to a destination it’s always a good idea to have your accommodation pre-booked and the address written down to show the driver. If the taxi doesn’t have a meter make sure you agree a price before getting in. On your way back out to the terminal ask at your hostel reception to call a registered taxi.

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Ben Lerwill | 09 November 2017

8 unforgettable train journeys across south america.

From Andean highs to coastal lowlands, South America's railroads cross some of the most dramatic scenery on Earth...

The train was a boxy grey express that had seen better days, but it pulled out of Oruro on time. I boarded late and breathless, having lost track of the hour in town. Breathlessness was nothing new to me in Bolivia - it being a country where altitudes of 3,500m are routine - but this time it was self-induced. I unshouldered my backpack and collapsed into my seat, clutching paper bags full of half-squashed saltenas (pastries), and looked out of the window. Within minutes the show began.

The train was making its way by bridge across Lake Uru-Uru, a broad expanse of water just outside town. A belt of low grey hills rumpled the horizon. On the water, meanwhile, an unexpected sight: hundreds of flamingos feeding in the shallows. And as we moved, so, too, did the birds. It was gradual at first, with one or two stick-thin flyers flapping above the lake, then great flocks emerged, as a pale blizzard of pink peeled off from the water and followed the train south. I watched the silhouettes of the birds disappear into the distance as the train nosed its way onto the vast emptiness of the altiplano . Our journey was just starting but had already been worth the ticket price.

South America isn't veined with extensive train routes in the same way as Europe or India, but the continent still offers some hugely memorable rail experiences. They range from the no-frills to the luxurious, and from the staggeringly scenic to the boldly ambitious. Here are eight of the best.

Expreso del Sur, Bolivia

Bolivia&#39;s salt flats (Dreamstime)

Bolivia's salt flats (Dreamstime)

The south-west of Bolivia is a land of extremes: high altitudes, colossal views and mind-bending landscapes. Little wonder, then, that this rail journey finds its way on to so many travel itineraries. Yet the Expreso del Sur is rather misleadingly named - it takes some seven hours to cover the 300km between mining town Oruro and the salt flats hub of Uyuni. Luckily, its twice weekly afternoon departure (2.30pm Tue & Fri) means you can enjoy the trip during daylight hours, as the views are spellbinding.

Oruro (a three-hour bus ride from La Paz) is best visited at carnival time, when La Diablada sees locals dressed as demons hit the streets in early November for a riotous week-long festival. At other times, a side-trip to the flamingo-frequented waters of Lake Uru-Uru - which you'll later pass - is well worth it as a precursor to the altiplano vistas through which the train trundles.

But the big draw here is the vast salt flats of Uyuni - the largest in the world. It is one of Latin America's most incredible natural spectacles, and often takes on a very different feel between December and April, when seasonal rains can turn its cracked, crusty surface into a giant liquid mirror of the sky.

From here on, it's an overnight trip through the cowboy country of Tupiza (good for treks and horseriding) to Villazón on the Argentine border. But there are no sleeper carriages and it can get cold on board, so pack accordingly.

Duration: 15.5 hours (one-way)

Best for: Altiplano scenery and visiting the salt flats

Route: Oruro - Uyuni - Atocha - Tupiza - Villazon

Bogotá to Zipaquirá, Colombia

Underground chapel in Colombia (Dreamstime)

Underground chapel in Colombia (Dreamstime)

A fleet of five restored steam trains and two diesel locomotives - all of them salvaged from old railroad workshops in the 1990s - plough a route that was once part of the Bogotá Savannah Railway. This line was completed in 1896 but was latterly abandoned as Colombia's state-owned rail company collapsed less than a century later. Thankfully, in 1993 it was resurrected and reborn - like much of the nation's railways - as a tourist train route.

Today, the Tren Turístico de la Sabana (or Turistren ) makes the three-hour trip north from Bogotá's historic Sabana Station to Zipaquirá once a day (from 8.15am; Sat, Sun & public holidays). Here, passengers hop off to explore the town's famed salt cathedral.

The site is an extension of the old shrines that the salt miners would carve, long before the first cathedral was built here in 1954. This was closed in the early 1990s for safety reasons, but a second one replaced it in 1995. Naves and chapels have been carved into vast tunnels that extend up to 75m (and 180m below the surface at its lowest point). It can reputedly hold up 8,400 people, with crowds packed in like sardines for its Sunday service.

Before making the return trip to Bogotá, the train stops at the town of Cajicá for a meal. It's by no means a luxurious ride but expect lively traditional music performances once the journey's underway. And last but by no means least, the countryside scenery - all sweeping savannah - is astonishing.

Duration: 9 hours (return)

Best for: Underground chapels and travel by steam train

Route: Bogotá - La Caro - Zipaquirá - Cajicá - Bogotá

Tren Crucero, Ecuador

Through the Andes on the Tren Crucero (Dreamstime)

Through the Andes on the Tren Crucero (Dreamstime)

Billed as journeying from 'The Andes to the Pacific', the Tren Crucero goes from the 2,850m heights of Quito to the lowland coastline of Guayaquil. En route, it covers the continent's most dramatic stretch of track: the Nariz del Diablo , or Devil's Nose.

Its fame stems from the complexities of building a railway across the Andes, requiring many dramatic switchbacks. Completed in 1908, the result is an engineering masterpiece - and the views are just as magnificent.

Since 2013, the route has been operated by the high-end Tren Crucero , which runs four-night itineraries in either direction. Between the 17th-century colonial facades of Quito's Old Town and the vibrant metropolis of Guayaquil, you'll pass over a dozen volcanoes, as well as river gorges, cloud forest, fruit plantations and a national park.

It's also possible to catch a shorter tourist service that takes in the Devil's Nose section from sleepy Alausi, a town midway along the line. This is also a good jumping-off point for treks along the old Inca Trail (from Achupallas) or trips out to its many thundering waterfalls.

Duration: 4 nights (one-way)

Best for: Volcanic views and dramatic rail engineering

Route: Quito (bus to Otavalo Station) - Valley of the Volcanoes - Riobamba - Devil's Nose - Bucay - Duran (Eloy Alfaro Station, Guayaquil)

Belmond Andean Explorer, Peru

Cusco train, Peru (Dreamstime)

Cusco train, Peru (Dreamstime)

When the Belmond Andean Explorer service through the Peruvian mountains launched earlier this year, headlines proclaimed it 'the most luxurious train in South America'. And for those keen on seeing the Andes' high altitudes in serious comfort, the hype is justified.

Passengers - up to 48 at any one time - can expect mahogany panelling, chandeliers and plush compartments. There's even an on-board library, for those times when staring out of the window at the cascading highland scenery doesn't cut it. But such moments should prove few and far between.

Starting in the one-time Inca stronghold of Cusco (gateway to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu), the route takes in natural marvels such as Lake Titicaca - the planet's highest navigable body of water - and Colca Canyon, a ravine twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and well primed for spotting Andean condors. It almost goes without saying that the route forges one of the highest railway lines in the world (over 4,250m in places).

The terminus - or start-point, depending on which direction you travel - is Arequipa, a city arguably less well known than Cuzco but just as spectacular on the eye. Ringed by volcanoes, its UNESCO-listed historic core is a vision of baroque buildings created from local white igneous rock. Pay a visit to its vast cathedral, which was first founded in the mid-1600s - even earthquakes and rebuilding work haven't dimmed its glory.

Duration: 2 days (one-way)

Best for: Luxury travel and ancient Inca heritage

Route: Cusco (Wanchaq Station) - Lake Titicaca - Arequipa (Arequipa Station)

La Trochita, Argentina

The Old Patagonian Express (Dreamstime)

The Old Patagonian Express (Dreamstime)

As Paul Theroux wrote in his 1979 travelogue The Old Patagonian Express : "I wanted something altogether wilder, the clumsier romance of strangeness." Few quotes sum up this part of Patagonia better. The final leg of Theroux's trip was made on the steam train still known locally as La Trochita , or ' The Little Gauge ', though the name that he christened it has since entered into common usage, even if the service is a much reduced one these days. However, for rail - and travel - enthusiasts it remains a thrilling prospect.

Today, only the odd charter runs the full 402km route between Esquel and Ingeniero Jacobacci. The most viable option now for travellers is the weekly 20km run between Esquel and the native Mapuche settlement of Nahuel Pan (45 mins), as you ride along in old vintage carriages. Less frequent services cover the 165km journey between Esquel and El Maitén (9 hours), usually coinciding with maintenance work on the engines.

But whichever route you take, it's worth exploring the area. Just south of Esquel is Trevellin, the archetypal 'green valley' sought by Welsh settlers in the late 19 th century - Welsh is still heard in its tea rooms and chapels today. To the east lie the steppe-like plains of the Chubut, or head north of El Maitén for the Argentine Lake District - a genteel mix of snow-capped peaks and beech forests flanking crystalline waters. Still, little can compete with the romance of chugging the wild foothills of the Andes.

Duration: 45 minutes or 9 hours (one-way)

Best for: Far-flung wilderness and the romance of the past

Route: Esquel (Esquel Station) - Nahuel Pan - El Maitén (El Maitén Station)

Serra Verde Express, Brazil

Serra Verde Express (Dreamstime)

Serra Verde Express (Dreamstime)

Without doubt, it takes a certain bloody-mindedness to construct a railway through the middle of a rainforest. Indeed, when plans for a route across southern Brazil's Atlantic Forest were first raised more than 150 years ago, several engineers deemed it impossible. Yet by 1885, thanks to the toil of some 9,000 workers, it was complete, and what started as a way of transporting grain to the coast is now one of Latin America's most thrilling journeys.

The so-called Serra Verde (or Green Saw ) Express operates a daily there-and-back route between Curitiba and Morretes. Take time to stroll both, with the former famed for its eco-minded layout - its pedestrianised downtown was one of the first big streets in Brazil to ban cars. Visit the eye-shaped Oscar Niemeyer museum, a fascinating insight into the architect who designed much of the country, or stretch your legs on the 15km trail to Paranaguá through Marumbi NP. Meanwhile, the whitewashed Portuguese houses of Morretes are surrounded by forested hills and plenty of trails leading to a series of waterfalls amid the Serra da Graciosa range.

The train departs Curitiba at 8.15am and returns by 6.30pm each evening, with around 3.5 hours of journey time in each direction. Along the way, you'll skirt bridges, mountain canyons and plenty of lush rainforest. But it's definitely worth booking ahead, particularly between the summer months of December and February, with the best views on the outbound trip found on the left-hand side.

Duration: 10 hours (return)

Best for: Riding through Brazil's wild rainforest

Route: Curitiba (Curitiba Station) - Morretes

Sabores del Valle, Chile

Colchagua Valley (Dreamstime)

Colchagua Valley (Dreamstime)

Aimed squarely at the thirsty end of the leisure market, this day-long rail-and-bus trip starts and ends in the Chilean capital of Santiago, making it an easy addition to any travel plans.

The Tren del Vino departs shortly after 9am and heads south for two hours, as far as San Fernando, crossing the region's main wine-producing valleys. Live music and - even at this early hour - wine tastings provide plenty of on-board entertainment.

When the engine stops, passengers head by bus into the nearby Colchagua Valley for a winery tour, lunch and a 90-minute visit to the renowned Colchagua Museum - a truly fascinating collection of pre-Columbian artefacts, Mapuche silver and cowboy gear. From then on, it's back to San Fernando for the return rail journey to the capital, during which (surprise) there's the chance to sample more of the local wine. Happily, it's a mighty pleasant drop - the reds from the region are especially well thought of.

Departures on the service are sporadic, running two or three times a month, usually on Saturdays. It's a tourist train plain and simple, but the fact that it attracts so many locals tells its own story. Plus, it'll leave time to test out your new tasting skills in the wine bars of the capital's Lastarria and Bellavista areas, or at least walk off your hangover the next morning in Cerro Santa Lucía, the city's green lung and a good spot for a wander.

Duration: 12 hours (return)

Best for: Wine tasting and captivating valley views

Route: Santiago (Alameda Station) - San Fernando - Santiago

Tren a las Nubes, Argentina

Tren a las Nubes (Dreamstime)

Tren a las Nubes (Dreamstime)

Since being inaugurated in the late 1940s, Argentina's famous Tren a las Nubes - or Train to the Clouds - has been regularly ranked among the world's top rail adventures. It's also been frequently out of action, hampered by everything from financial problems to a derailment, and it's impacted on the route.

The service is currently running as a bus-and-train combination journey (Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday), with only the most westerly section between San Antonio de los Cobres and the Polvorilla Viaduct covered by rail. This is likely to remain the case until around 2022, when the full line is due to reopen.

It remains, however, one of the simplest ways of witnessing the country's towering north-west. Buses connecting with the train depart the attractive colonial city of Salta at 7am, though it's worth arriving here a day early to explore. Wander the crumbling 17th-century buildings or visit the curious Museum of High Altitude Archeology, where you can see mummified remains found in an Inca burial site on nearby Mount Llullaillaco.

The bus makes multiple photo stops en route as it snakes west through the tobacco fields of the Lerma Valley, passing forests of red-blossoming ceibo (the national flower of Argentina). From there, it rises into the brightly coloured rocky ravines of the Quebrada del Toro, slowly twirling up into the high-altitude desert plains of La Puna and - five hours after leaving Salta - the old mining town of San Antonio de los Cobres. This is where you'll board the train and set out across the high plateau to reach the Polvorilla Viaduct, a structure that sits at an atmospherically thin 4,200m above sea level, seemingly on top of the world.

Duration: 13 hours (return)

Best for: High-altitude scenery and dramatic ravines

Route: Salta (Salta Station) - San Antonio de los Cobres - Polvorilla Viaduct

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south america journey

Passing Thru Travel

Passing Thru Travel

Solo Adventure: 17 Thrilling Destinations in South America 2024

Posted: March 6, 2024 | Last updated: March 6, 2024

<p><strong>Embarking on a solo journey through South America can be a transformative experience, offering a blend of rich cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant cities. This guide will help you navigate the continent safely and enjoyably, providing essential tips for solo travelers seeking to explore South America’s diverse offerings.</strong></p>

Embarking on a solo journey through South America can be a transformative experience, offering a blend of rich cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant cities. This guide will help you navigate the continent safely and enjoyably, providing essential tips for solo travelers seeking to explore South America’s diverse offerings.

<p><span>Machu Picchu, the ancient Incan city set high in the Andes, is a must-visit for any solo traveler in South America. The journey to Machu Picchu, whether by train or through a multi-day trek like the Inca Trail, is as remarkable as the destination.</span></p> <p><span>The site offers an extraordinary insight into Incan history and stunning panoramic views. For solo travelers, it’s a chance to join group tours where you can meet like-minded adventurers.</span></p> <p><b>Insider’s Tip: </b><span>Book your Inca Trail trek well in advance, as permits are limited and sell out quickly.</span></p> <p><b>When to Travel: </b><span>The dry season from May to October is the best time to visit, with clearer skies and less rain.</span></p> <p><b>How to Get There: </b><span>Fly into Cusco from Lima, then take a train or join a trekking group to Machu Picchu.</span></p>

1. Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu, the ancient Incan city set high in the Andes, is a must-visit for any solo traveler in South America. The journey to Machu Picchu, whether by train or through a multi-day trek like the Inca Trail, is as remarkable as the destination.

The site offers an extraordinary insight into Incan history and stunning panoramic views. For solo travelers, it’s a chance to join group tours where you can meet like-minded adventurers.

Insider’s Tip: Book your Inca Trail trek well in advance, as permits are limited and sell out quickly.

When to Travel: The dry season from May to October is the best time to visit, with clearer skies and less rain.

How to Get There: Fly into Cusco from Lima, then take a train or join a trekking group to Machu Picchu.

<p><span>Buenos Aires, known as the “Paris of South America,” is a city that captivates solo travelers with its European charm and Latin flair. Explore the city’s diverse neighborhoods, from the colorful houses of La Boca to the elegant streets of Recoleta. The city’s vibrant cultural scene, with tango shows, bustling cafes, and rich history, makes it an ideal destination for those traveling alone.</span></p> <p><b>Insider’s Tip: </b><span>Take a group tango lesson to immerse yourself in Argentina’s iconic dance and meet new people.</span></p> <p><b>When to Travel: </b><span>Visit in the fall (March to May) or spring (September to November) for pleasant weather and fewer tourists.</span></p> <p><b>How to Get There: </b><span>Buenos Aires is well-connected by international flights to its two main airports, Ezeiza and Aeroparque.</span></p>

2. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, known as the “Paris of South America,” is a city that captivates solo travelers with its European charm and Latin flair. Explore the city’s diverse neighborhoods, from the colorful houses of La Boca to the elegant streets of Recoleta. The city’s vibrant cultural scene, with tango shows, bustling cafes, and rich history, makes it an ideal destination for those traveling alone.

Insider’s Tip: Take a group tango lesson to immerse yourself in Argentina’s iconic dance and meet new people.

When to Travel: Visit in the fall (March to May) or spring (September to November) for pleasant weather and fewer tourists.

How to Get There: Buenos Aires is well-connected by international flights to its two main airports, Ezeiza and Aeroparque.

<p><span>The Amazon Rainforest, spanning across several South American countries, offers solo travelers an unforgettable adventure into the world’s largest tropical rainforest. Join guided tours to explore the diverse ecosystem, spot exotic wildlife, and learn about indigenous cultures. The Amazon is not just a destination; it’s an experience that connects you with nature on a profound level.</span></p> <p><b>Insider’s Tip: </b><span>Choose eco-friendly tours that support conservation efforts and respect local communities.</span></p> <p><b>When to Travel: </b><span>The dry season from June to October is ideal for wildlife spotting and fewer mosquitoes.</span></p> <p><b>How to Get There: </b><span>Access the Amazon from gateway cities like Manaus in Brazil, Quito in Ecuador, or Iquitos in Peru.</span></p>

3. The Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon Rainforest, spanning across several South American countries, offers solo travelers an unforgettable adventure into the world’s largest tropical rainforest. Join guided tours to explore the diverse ecosystem, spot exotic wildlife, and learn about indigenous cultures. The Amazon is not just a destination; it’s an experience that connects you with nature on a profound level.

Insider’s Tip: Choose eco-friendly tours that support conservation efforts and respect local communities.

When to Travel: The dry season from June to October is ideal for wildlife spotting and fewer mosquitoes.

How to Get There: Access the Amazon from gateway cities like Manaus in Brazil, Quito in Ecuador, or Iquitos in Peru.

<p><span>Patagonia, straddling Chile and Argentina, is a dream destination for solo hikers. Its dramatic landscapes of glaciers, mountains, and lakes offer some of the most spectacular trekking opportunities in the world. National parks like Torres del Paine in Chile and Los Glaciares in Argentina are perfect for joining group hikes and connecting with fellow travelers.</span></p> <p><b>Insider’s Tip: </b><span>Consider staying in refugios or shared lodges to meet other solo hikers.</span></p> <p><b>When to Travel: </b><span>The Southern Hemisphere’s summer months, from November to March, offer the best conditions for hiking.</span></p> <p><b>How to Get There: </b><span>Fly into Punta Arenas for Chilean Patagonia or El Calafate for Argentine Patagonia, then travel by bus or car to the national parks.</span></p>

4. Patagonia, Chile and Argentina

Patagonia, straddling Chile and Argentina, is a dream destination for solo hikers. Its dramatic landscapes of glaciers, mountains, and lakes offer some of the most spectacular trekking opportunities in the world. National parks like Torres del Paine in Chile and Los Glaciares in Argentina are perfect for joining group hikes and connecting with fellow travelers.

Insider’s Tip: Consider staying in refugios or shared lodges to meet other solo hikers.

When to Travel: The Southern Hemisphere’s summer months, from November to March, offer the best conditions for hiking.

How to Get There: Fly into Punta Arenas for Chilean Patagonia or El Calafate for Argentine Patagonia, then travel by bus or car to the national parks.

<p><span>Cartagena, a coastal city in Colombia, is a delightful destination for solo travelers. Its well-preserved colonial architecture, vibrant street life, and Caribbean beaches perfectly blend culture and relaxation. The city’s friendly locals and lively music scene warmly welcome solo visitors.</span></p> <p><b>Insider’s Tip: </b><span>Join a walking tour of the historic walled city to learn about Cartagena’s rich history and meet fellow travelers.</span></p> <p><b>When to Travel: </b><span>The dry season from December to April is the best time to visit, with sunny days and lower humidity.</span></p> <p><b>How to Get There: </b><span>Cartagena has an international airport with direct flights from major cities in the Americas.</span></p>

5. Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena, a coastal city in Colombia, is a delightful destination for solo travelers. Its well-preserved colonial architecture, vibrant street life, and Caribbean beaches perfectly blend culture and relaxation. The city’s friendly locals and lively music scene warmly welcome solo visitors.

Insider’s Tip: Join a walking tour of the historic walled city to learn about Cartagena’s rich history and meet fellow travelers.

When to Travel: The dry season from December to April is the best time to visit, with sunny days and lower humidity.

How to Get There: Cartagena has an international airport with direct flights from major cities in the Americas.

<p><span>Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, the world’s largest salt flat, offers a surreal landscape that feels like another planet. For solo travelers, it’s a place of introspection and awe. The vast expanse of white salt, especially during the wet season when it reflects the sky, creates a dreamlike horizon. </span><span>Guided tours, often in groups, allow you to explore this unique environment safely, including visits to cactus-filled islands and flamingo-populated lakes.</span></p> <p><b>Insider’s Tip: </b><span>Book a tour that includes a stay in a salt hotel for a unique experience.</span></p> <p><b>When to Travel: </b><span>The rainy season from December to April offers the mirror effect on the salt flats, while the dry season from May to November provides easier travel conditions.</span></p> <p><b>How to Get There: </b><span>Fly to Uyuni from La Paz or take an overnight bus for a more budget-friendly option.</span></p>

6. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, the world’s largest salt flat, offers a surreal landscape that feels like another planet. For solo travelers, it’s a place of introspection and awe. The vast expanse of white salt, especially during the wet season when it reflects the sky, creates a dreamlike horizon. Guided tours, often in groups, allow you to explore this unique environment safely, including visits to cactus-filled islands and flamingo-populated lakes.

Insider’s Tip: Book a tour that includes a stay in a salt hotel for a unique experience.

When to Travel: The rainy season from December to April offers the mirror effect on the salt flats, while the dry season from May to November provides easier travel conditions.

How to Get There: Fly to Uyuni from La Paz or take an overnight bus for a more budget-friendly option.

<p><span>Rio de Janeiro, with its iconic beaches, vibrant street life, and pulsating samba rhythms, is a dynamic destination for solo travelers. The city’s natural beauty, from the Sugarloaf Mountain to the Christ the Redeemer statue, is matched by its cultural richness.</span></p> <p><span>Exploring Rio’s diverse neighborhoods, enjoying beach sports at Copacabana or Ipanema, and experiencing the nightlife are perfect solo activities that offer both adventure and the opportunity to meet locals and fellow travelers.</span></p> <p><b>Insider’s Tip: </b><span>Join a group tour to visit the city’s landmarks and meet other solo travelers.</span></p> <p><b>When to Travel: </b><span>Visit during the Carnival in February or March for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, or choose the shoulder seasons for fewer crowds.</span></p> <p><b>How to Get There: </b><span>Rio de Janeiro is well-connected by international flights to Galeão International Airport.</span></p>

7. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, with its iconic beaches, vibrant street life, and pulsating samba rhythms, is a dynamic destination for solo travelers. The city’s natural beauty, from the Sugarloaf Mountain to the Christ the Redeemer statue, is matched by its cultural richness.

Exploring Rio’s diverse neighborhoods, enjoying beach sports at Copacabana or Ipanema, and experiencing the nightlife are perfect solo activities that offer both adventure and the opportunity to meet locals and fellow travelers.

Insider’s Tip: Join a group tour to visit the city’s landmarks and meet other solo travelers.

When to Travel: Visit during the Carnival in February or March for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, or choose the shoulder seasons for fewer crowds.

How to Get There: Rio de Janeiro is well-connected by international flights to Galeão International Airport.

<p><span>Lake Titicaca, straddling the border of Peru and Bolivia, is the world’s highest navigable lake and a place of deep cultural significance. Solo travelers can explore ancient ruins, visit the unique floating islands of Uros, and experience the traditional way of life of the local communities. The lake’s serene beauty and the people’s warmth make it a fulfilling destination for those traveling alone.</span></p> <p><b>Insider’s Tip: </b><span>Stay overnight on Isla del Sol or Isla Amantani for a more immersive cultural experience.</span></p> <p><b>When to Travel: </b><span>The dry season from May to October offers clear skies and more comfortable temperatures.</span></p> <p><b>How to Get There: </b><span>Access Lake Titicaca from Puno in Peru or Copacabana in Bolivia, both reachable by bus from major cities in each country.</span></p>

8. Lake Titicaca, Peru and Bolivia

Lake Titicaca, straddling the border of Peru and Bolivia, is the world’s highest navigable lake and a place of deep cultural significance. Solo travelers can explore ancient ruins, visit the unique floating islands of Uros, and experience the traditional way of life of the local communities. The lake’s serene beauty and the people’s warmth make it a fulfilling destination for those traveling alone.

Insider’s Tip: Stay overnight on Isla del Sol or Isla Amantani for a more immersive cultural experience.

When to Travel: The dry season from May to October offers clear skies and more comfortable temperatures.

How to Get There: Access Lake Titicaca from Puno in Peru or Copacabana in Bolivia, both reachable by bus from major cities in each country.

<p><span>The Galapagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador, are a dream destination for solo travelers interested in wildlife and nature. The islands offer an unparalleled opportunity to observe unique species up close in their natural habitat. Joining a cruise or a guided tour is a great way to explore the islands and meet fellow nature enthusiasts.</span></p> <p><b>Insider’s Tip: </b><span>Opt for a small-group tour or cruise for a more personalized and intimate experience.</span></p> <p><b>When to Travel: </b><span>Each season offers different wildlife viewing opportunities; however, the cooler dry season from June to November is great for seeing marine life.</span></p> <p><b>How to Get There: </b><span>Fly to the Galapagos from Quito or Guayaquil in Ecuador, then join a pre-arranged tour or cruise.</span></p>

9. The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The Galapagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador, are a dream destination for solo travelers interested in wildlife and nature. The islands offer an unparalleled opportunity to observe unique species up close in their natural habitat. Joining a cruise or a guided tour is a great way to explore the islands and meet fellow nature enthusiasts.

Insider’s Tip: Opt for a small-group tour or cruise for a more personalized and intimate experience.

When to Travel: Each season offers different wildlife viewing opportunities; however, the cooler dry season from June to November is great for seeing marine life.

How to Get There: Fly to the Galapagos from Quito or Guayaquil in Ecuador, then join a pre-arranged tour or cruise.

<p><span>Valparaiso, a port city on Chile’s coast, is a vibrant canvas for solo travelers seeking artistic inspiration. Known for its colorful houses, historic funiculars, and stunning street art, the city’s bohemian atmosphere is perfect for those exploring alone.</span></p> <p><span>Strolling through the cerros (hills) with their labyrinth of streets offers spectacular views and a chance to delve into Chile’s artistic heart. The city’s lively cafes and cultural events provide ample opportunities to mingle with locals and fellow travelers.</span></p> <p><b>Insider’s Tip: </b><span>Take a guided street art tour to fully appreciate the stories behind the city’s famous murals.</span></p> <p><b>When to Travel: </b><span>The Chilean summer months from December to March offer pleasant weather for exploring the city.</span></p> <p><b>How to Get There: </b><span>Valparaiso is about a 1.5-hour drive from Santiago, Chile’s capital, and is also accessible by bus.</span></p>

10. Valparaiso, Chile

Valparaiso, a port city on Chile’s coast, is a vibrant canvas for solo travelers seeking artistic inspiration. Known for its colorful houses, historic funiculars, and stunning street art, the city’s bohemian atmosphere is perfect for those exploring alone.

Strolling through the cerros (hills) with their labyrinth of streets offers spectacular views and a chance to delve into Chile’s artistic heart. The city’s lively cafes and cultural events provide ample opportunities to mingle with locals and fellow travelers.

Insider’s Tip: Take a guided street art tour to fully appreciate the stories behind the city’s famous murals.

When to Travel: The Chilean summer months from December to March offer pleasant weather for exploring the city.

How to Get There: Valparaiso is about a 1.5-hour drive from Santiago, Chile’s capital, and is also accessible by bus.

<p><span>Cusco, once the capital of the Inca Empire, is more than just a gateway to Machu Picchu. This high-altitude city in Peru is a treasure trove of history, architecture, and culture, ideal for solo travelers.</span></p> <p><span>Wander through its cobblestone streets, explore the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, or immerse yourself in the vibrant San Pedro Market. Cusco’s blend of Inca and Spanish colonial heritage, along with its lively atmosphere, makes it a captivating destination for those traveling on their own.</span></p> <p><b>Insider’s Tip: </b><span>Spend a few days in Cusco to acclimatize to the altitude before heading to higher elevations.</span></p> <p><b>When to Travel: </b><span>The dry season from May to October is the best time to visit, with sunny days and cooler nights.</span></p> <p><b>How to Get There: </b><span>Fly into Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco, with frequent connections from Lima.</span></p>

11. Cusco, Peru: A Cultural Gem for the Solo Explorer

Cusco, once the capital of the Inca Empire, is more than just a gateway to Machu Picchu. This high-altitude city in Peru is a treasure trove of history, architecture, and culture, ideal for solo travelers.

Wander through its cobblestone streets, explore the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, or immerse yourself in the vibrant San Pedro Market. Cusco’s blend of Inca and Spanish colonial heritage, along with its lively atmosphere, makes it a captivating destination for those traveling on their own.

Insider’s Tip: Spend a few days in Cusco to acclimatize to the altitude before heading to higher elevations.

When to Travel: The dry season from May to October is the best time to visit, with sunny days and cooler nights.

How to Get There: Fly into Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco, with frequent connections from Lima.

<p><span>Salvador, the capital of Brazil’s Bahia state, is a city where African and Brazilian cultures meld into a vibrant landscape. For solo travelers, Salvador offers a chance to experience its rich history, colorful colonial architecture, and pulsating music and dance scenes. The Pelourinho district, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a must-visit for its well-preserved colonial buildings and cultural significance.</span></p> <p><b>Insider’s Tip: </b><span>Attend a capoeira performance or take a class to experience this Afro-Brazilian martial art form.</span></p> <p><b>When to Travel: </b><span>Visit during the Bahian Carnival, a less crowded alternative to Rio’s Carnival, usually held in February or March.</span></p> <p><b>How to Get There: </b><span>Salvador is accessible by air from major Brazilian cities and some international destinations.</span></p>

12. Salvador, Brazil

Salvador, the capital of Brazil’s Bahia state, is a city where African and Brazilian cultures meld into a vibrant landscape. For solo travelers, Salvador offers a chance to experience its rich history, colorful colonial architecture, and pulsating music and dance scenes. The Pelourinho district, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a must-visit for its well-preserved colonial buildings and cultural significance.

Insider’s Tip: Attend a capoeira performance or take a class to experience this Afro-Brazilian martial art form.

When to Travel: Visit during the Bahian Carnival, a less crowded alternative to Rio’s Carnival, usually held in February or March.

How to Get There: Salvador is accessible by air from major Brazilian cities and some international destinations.

<p><span>The Atacama Desert in northern Chile offers solo travelers an otherworldly landscape of salt flats, geysers, and lunar terrains. It’s a place for self-reflection and adventure, with opportunities for star gazing, hiking, and exploring unique geological formations. The desert’s vastness and tranquility make it an ideal destination for those seeking solitude and a connection with nature.</span></p> <p><b>Insider’s Tip: </b><span>Visit the ALMA Observatory for a unique insight into astronomical research and spectacular stargazing.</span></p> <p><b>When to Travel: </b><span>The Atacama Desert can be visited year-round, but spring and fall shoulder seasons offer more comfortable temperatures.</span></p> <p><b>How to Get There: </b><span>Fly to El Loa Airport in Calama, then take a shuttle or bus to San Pedro de Atacama.</span></p>

13. The Atacama Desert, Chile

The Atacama Desert in northern Chile offers solo travelers an otherworldly landscape of salt flats, geysers, and lunar terrains. It’s a place for self-reflection and adventure, with opportunities for star gazing, hiking, and exploring unique geological formations. The desert’s vastness and tranquility make it an ideal destination for those seeking solitude and a connection with nature.

Insider’s Tip: Visit the ALMA Observatory for a unique insight into astronomical research and spectacular stargazing.

When to Travel: The Atacama Desert can be visited year-round, but spring and fall shoulder seasons offer more comfortable temperatures.

How to Get There: Fly to El Loa Airport in Calama, then take a shuttle or bus to San Pedro de Atacama.

<p><span>Medellin, once infamous for its turbulent past, has transformed into a hub of culture, innovation, and tourism. Medellin offers solo travelers a unique blend of modern urban landscapes and lush greenery. The city’s innovative public transport system, including cable cars and metro, makes it easy to explore.</span></p> <p><span>Visit the Botero Plaza, take a graffiti tour in the Comuna 13 neighborhood, or relax in the Botanical Gardens. Medellin’s story of transformation is particularly inspiring for solo travelers looking for stories of resilience and renewal.</span></p> <p><b>Insider’s Tip: </b><span>Join a guided tour of Comuna 13 to understand the neighborhood’s history and witness its vibrant street art.</span></p> <p><b>When to Travel: </b><span>The best time to visit is during the Flower Festival in August, although the city’s pleasant climate makes it a great destination year-round.</span></p> <p><b>How to Get There: </b><span>Medellin is served by José María Córdova International Airport, with good connections to major cities in the Americas.</span></p>

14. Medellin, Colombia

Medellin, once infamous for its turbulent past, has transformed into a hub of culture, innovation, and tourism. Medellin offers solo travelers a unique blend of modern urban landscapes and lush greenery. The city’s innovative public transport system, including cable cars and metro, makes it easy to explore.

Visit the Botero Plaza, take a graffiti tour in the Comuna 13 neighborhood, or relax in the Botanical Gardens. Medellin’s story of transformation is particularly inspiring for solo travelers looking for stories of resilience and renewal.

Insider’s Tip: Join a guided tour of Comuna 13 to understand the neighborhood’s history and witness its vibrant street art.

When to Travel: The best time to visit is during the Flower Festival in August, although the city’s pleasant climate makes it a great destination year-round.

How to Get There: Medellin is served by José María Córdova International Airport, with good connections to major cities in the Americas.

<p><span>Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is a city rich in history and culture, making it an ideal destination for solo travelers interested in heritage and architecture. As the second-highest capital city in the world, it offers breathtaking views of the Andean landscape. The city’s well-preserved historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is filled with colonial monuments and architectural treasures. Exploring Quito allows solo travelers to delve into Ecuador’s history and enjoy its vibrant contemporary culture.</span></p> <p><b>Insider’s Tip: </b><span>Take a trip to the equator line at the Mitad del Mundo monument, just a short distance from the city.</span></p> <p><b>When to Travel: </b><span>June to September offers clear skies and dry weather, ideal for exploring the city and its surroundings.</span></p> <p><b>How to Get There: </b><span>Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport has regular flights from major cities in the Americas and Europe.</span></p>

15. Quito, Ecuador

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is a city rich in history and culture, making it an ideal destination for solo travelers interested in heritage and architecture. As the second-highest capital city in the world, it offers breathtaking views of the Andean landscape. The city’s well-preserved historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is filled with colonial monuments and architectural treasures. Exploring Quito allows solo travelers to delve into Ecuador’s history and enjoy its vibrant contemporary culture.

Insider’s Tip: Take a trip to the equator line at the Mitad del Mundo monument, just a short distance from the city.

When to Travel: June to September offers clear skies and dry weather, ideal for exploring the city and its surroundings.

How to Get There: Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport has regular flights from major cities in the Americas and Europe.

<p><span>Santiago, the capital of Chile, is a cosmopolitan city set against the backdrop of the Andes Mountains. For solo travelers, Santiago offers cultural experiences, outdoor activities, and culinary delights. Explore the city’s museums, parks, and vibrant neighborhoods like Bellavista.</span></p> <p><span>A short trip to the nearby Andes allows for skiing or hiking, depending on the season. With its blend of traditional Chilean cuisine and international flavors, Santiago’s growing culinary scene is a delight for food enthusiasts.</span></p> <p><b>Insider’s Tip: </b><span>Visit the top of Cerro San Cristobal for panoramic views of the city and the Andes.</span></p> <p><b>When to Travel: </b><span>Spring (September to November) and fall (March to May) offer mild weather and fewer crowds.</span></p> <p><b>How to Get There: </b><span>Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport is well-connected internationally.</span></p>

16. Santiago, Chile

Santiago, the capital of Chile, is a cosmopolitan city set against the backdrop of the Andes Mountains. For solo travelers, Santiago offers cultural experiences, outdoor activities, and culinary delights. Explore the city’s museums, parks, and vibrant neighborhoods like Bellavista.

A short trip to the nearby Andes allows for skiing or hiking, depending on the season. With its blend of traditional Chilean cuisine and international flavors, Santiago’s growing culinary scene is a delight for food enthusiasts.

Insider’s Tip: Visit the top of Cerro San Cristobal for panoramic views of the city and the Andes.

When to Travel: Spring (September to November) and fall (March to May) offer mild weather and fewer crowds.

How to Get There: Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport is well-connected internationally.

<p><span>Lima, the capital of Peru, is a paradise for food lovers and a must-visit for solo travelers interested in gastronomy. The city offers a culinary journey through its diverse food scene, from street food to gourmet restaurants. Don’t miss the chance to try ceviche, Lima’s iconic dish. The city’s rich history, represented in its museums and architecture, complements its culinary offerings, making Lima a well-rounded destination.</span></p> <p><b>Insider’s Tip: </b><span>Take a Peruvian cooking class to learn about the local cuisine and meet fellow food enthusiasts.</span></p> <p><b>When to Travel: </b><span>The best time to visit is from December to April, when the weather is warmer and sunnier.</span></p> <p><b>How to Get There: </b><span>Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima is the main gateway to Peru, with numerous international connections.</span></p>

17. Lima, Peru

Lima, the capital of Peru, is a paradise for food lovers and a must-visit for solo travelers interested in gastronomy. The city offers a culinary journey through its diverse food scene, from street food to gourmet restaurants. Don’t miss the chance to try ceviche, Lima’s iconic dish. The city’s rich history, represented in its museums and architecture, complements its culinary offerings, making Lima a well-rounded destination.

Insider’s Tip: Take a Peruvian cooking class to learn about the local cuisine and meet fellow food enthusiasts.

When to Travel: The best time to visit is from December to April, when the weather is warmer and sunnier.

How to Get There: Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima is the main gateway to Peru, with numerous international connections.

<p><span>Leveraging loyalty programs effectively can transform your travel experiences, offering not just cost savings but also enhanced comfort and exclusive perks. Whether you’re loyal to a particular airline or hotel chain or prefer to spread your wings across multiple programs, understanding how to maximize these benefits can make a significant difference in your travels. Remember, the key to making the most of these programs is to stay informed about the latest offers and promotions and to align your travel plans accordingly. Happy travels, and enjoy reaping the rewards of your loyalty!</span></p> <p><span>More Articles Like This…</span></p> <p><a href="https://thegreenvoyage.com/barcelona-discover-the-top-10-beach-clubs/"><span>Barcelona: Discover the Top 10 Beach Clubs</span></a></p> <p><a href="https://thegreenvoyage.com/top-destination-cities-to-visit/"><span>2024 Global City Travel Guide – Your Passport to the World’s Top Destination Cities</span></a></p> <p><a href="https://thegreenvoyage.com/exploring-khao-yai-a-hidden-gem-of-thailand/"><span>Exploring Khao Yai 2024 – A Hidden Gem of Thailand</span></a></p> <p><span>The post <a href="https://passingthru.com/top-loyalty-programs/">15 Top Loyalty Programs 2024 – Maximizing Your Rewards</a> republished on </span><a href="https://passingthru.com/"><span>Passing Thru</span></a><span> with permission from </span><a href="https://thegreenvoyage.com/"><span>The Green Voyage</span></a><span>.</span></p> <p><span>Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Prostock-studio.</span></p> <p><span>For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.</span></p>

The Bottom Line

Solo travel in South America offers an unparalleled opportunity for personal growth, adventure, and cultural immersion. As you navigate this diverse continent, embrace its challenges as part of the journey. Remember, your solo travels in South America are as much about the destinations you explore as the personal discoveries you make along the way.

Always keep safety in mind: stay informed about local conditions, trust your instincts, and keep your belongings secure. Embrace the freedom and flexibility of solo travel, but also be open to joining group activities where you can share experiences and make new connections.

More Articles Like This…

Barcelona: Discover the Top 10 Beach Clubs

2024 Global City Travel Guide – Your Passport to the World’s Top Destination Cities

Exploring Khao Yai 2024 – A Hidden Gem of Thailand

The post Solo Adventure: 17 Thrilling Destinations in South America 2024 republished on Passing Thru with permission from The Green Voyage .

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Peera_stockfoto.

For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.

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Migration From South America Through the Perilous Darién Gap Resumes

On Friday, boat companies began operating in Colombia after a five-day pause, allowing migrants to once again make their way through the notorious jungle terrain and continue toward the U.S. border.

A man carrying a young child wades through a river in the jungle with more people behind him.

By Julie Turkewitz

Reporting from Bogotá, Colombia

Migration toward the United States through the perilous jungle known as the Darién Gap returned to normal on Friday, with hundreds of people from Venezuela, Ecuador and beyond entering the jungle following a roughly five-day pause in which migrants could not begin the trek.

The pause in this increasingly large migration flow was the result of an arrest operation led by the Colombian prosecutor’s office, in which two captains driving boats full of migrants headed to the jungle were taken into custody, where they remain, according to the prosecutor’s office. The office said that the captains had been transporting the individuals illegally, in part because the migrants did not carry proper documentation.

The captains worked for two boat companies — Katamaranes and Caribe — that for years have been playing an essential role in carrying migrants from the northern Colombia community of Necoclí about two hours across a gulf to the entrance to the jungle, which they must then cross to get to Central America and eventually the United States. The boat companies have been doing this openly — something documented extensively by The New York Times — and the arrests seemed to signal a shift in policy by Colombian authorities.

But in retaliation for the arrests, the boat companies paused transport, and the number of migrants waiting around in Necoclí and another exit town, Turbo, swelled quickly to several thousand people. That posed an enormous challenge to both towns, which do not have the resources or infrastructure to house and feed so many people for an extended amount of time.

The arrests of the boat operators came after months of pressure by the United States on the Colombian government to do more to limit or stop migration through the Darién. In a recent interview, Hugo Tovar, a Colombian prosecutor, said his office was working diligently, with the help of the United States, to investigate and arrest human traffickers.

On Friday, Johann Wachter, secretary of the Necoclí municipal government, said that the boat companies decided to restart operations after a meeting between representatives from the boat companies, local governments, the Colombian national migration office and other agencies, including someone from the U.S. Embassy in Colombia.

In the meeting, said Mr. Wachter, representatives of Colombia's migration office assured the boat companies that “there would be no problem” as long as the migrants they transported “fulfill the requirements.” In this case, Mr. Wachter said, each person seeking to cross into the jungle would have to fill out a form on a mobile phone application called Secure Transit.

A State Department spokesperson confirmed that the United States was present at the meeting and said it continues to “follow developments in Colombia related to irregular migration very closely.”

The Darién jungle is the strip of land connecting South and North America. It must be traversed to get to the United States from South America by foot. Once rarely crossed, it has become a major migrant thoroughfare in the last three years, with nearly a million people risking the journey since 2021. This has posed an enormous challenge to President Biden, who has seen a record number of arrivals at the United States’ southern border during his presidency.

The fallout in Necoclí from the decision by the boat companies to shut down operations after just two arrests shows just how difficult it is for U.S. and Colombian officials to stop the multimillion-dollar people-moving business that operates in the open in northern Colombia. Any efforts to halt it using the law are likely to have unintended consequences, including the agglomeration of thousands of people in poor Colombian towns that do not have the ability to care for them.

Mr. Wachter, for his part, called the restart of migrant transport a positive move. “Our capacity is limited,” he said, “so this gives us a good deal of peace.”

Julie Turkewitz is the Andes Bureau Chief for The Times, based in Bogotá, Colombia, covering Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. More about Julie Turkewitz

Extinction or adaptation? The plague of wildfires in Chile is a warning for our future

Retracing darwin’s journey through south america, i had an ominous premonition about environmental crisis, by nikolas kozloff.

Amidst rapidly intensifying global climate disasters, Chile has become the latest casualty. Fueled by strong winds and a heat wave, recent forest fires have killed more than a hundred people. El Niño, a cyclical climate phenomenon, created hazardous conditions prior to the fires by contributing to heat and drought, while global warming drove temperatures upward.

For years, however, Chile has been suffering from such drought, which has dried up forests and depleted water supplies. Indeed, over the past decade, almost two million hectares of land have burnt to a crisp. Confronted by one of the worst tragedies in his country’s recent history, President Gabriel Boric declared a two-day period of national mourning in February.

Though certainly destructive in terms of size and scope, I was not surprised by the fires. In the weeks leading up to the disaster, I was making my way through the country in tandem with research and a book project concerning Charles Darwin’s legacy in the context of climate change. The naturalist, who traveled throughout Chile and South America aboard H.M.S. Beagle , between 1832 to 1835 would not have denied the environment is changing; however, the pace of current day natural catastrophes would have undoubtedly concerned him. 

As I roughly retraced Darwin’s route, I became aware of the threat of forest fires. In Torres del Paine National Park, I spotted a glacier in the distance, though such picturesque scenes were interrupted by the sight of burnt patches of trees. To be sure, not all fires are negative, since they can help get rid of dead vegetation or encourage forest clearings featuring greater species diversity.

However, my guide explained that local fires linked to human error and carelessness have become more intense and difficult to extinguish. Climate change, he added, has contributed to such blazes amid low humidity and elevated temperatures. Speaking to members of a forest brigade, I learned that seasons had now become unpredictable and “super different.” Fires, meanwhile, posed a risk to beloved wildlife species such as pumas and South Andean deer.

What are the chances that Chile’s unfavorable ecological picture can be reversed?

During his travels, Darwin explored the island of Chiloé where he observed houses made of alerce, also known as Fitzroya cupressoides . The naturalist named the tall deciduous tree after Beagle captain Robert Fitzroy. To his credit, Darwin recognized that planting a mixture of species can result in faster growth than species planted individually. However, the naturalist was also a product of his time, and regretted that locals in the vicinity had not cleared the woods to make efficient use of natural resources.

Waterfall at Torres del Paine National Park in Chile

Such “extractivist” approaches haven’t served Chile well over time, however — so says Carlos Leiva, director of the non-governmental organization Andean Alerce . Though logging alerce has been outlawed , illegal deforestation has continued to plague Chiloé, while native forest has been replaced by tree plantations. This in turn has disrupted the hydrological cycle on Chiloé, which is already suffering from water scarcity. Could forest fires be related to underlying practices of extractivismo ? Speaking to me in Puerto Montt, a city located near the island, Leiva expressed concern about the increased frequency of fires.

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In other areas of the country hit by recent heat and drought, large plantations full of flammable trees lie in close proximity to cities and towns. Eucalyptus, a common tree found on plantations, burns relatively rapidly. In view of these trends, experts agree that plantations make the landscape much more prone to fire as opposed to maintaining intact native forests.

Moreover, in contrast to native forest, which exhibits a wide spectrum of vegetation and animal species, plantations display the most homogeneous conditions possible. Traveling north, I felt suffocated by the heat during an interminably long bus ride. Peering out the window, I spotted large forest plantations along the highway sporting rows and rows of uniform trees, just some of the more than three million hectares of forest monoculture which has turned Chile into a leading cellulose exporter.

Just how much specific blame can be pinned on the Boric administration for Chile’s dire environmental straits is up for debate: though the forestry sector has been poorly regulated, last year the president launched a national plan to prevent, mitigate and fight forest fires to make the forestry industry more resilient to climate change. The government also increased funding for firefighting, though needless to say, such moves did little to prevent recent blazes.

What are the chances that Chile’s unfavorable ecological picture can be reversed? For answers, I caught up with Felipe and Constanza Espinosa of the Chilean Glacier Foundation at a café in Santiago. Felipe, the management and operations director for the group, said he was gratified by a substantial 2019 climate change protest in the capital. The momentum seemed to continue with the election of Boric in late 2021. A 36-year-old former lawmaker and the most leftist-leaning leader since Salvador Allende, the new president called for constitutional reform.

Burnt Vegetation at Torres del Paine National Park in Chile

My contact was heartened by environmental provisions in the draft package seeking to protect glaciers. Ambitious in scope, the reform also proposed granting rights to animals and nature, while pledging to deal with climate challenges and biodiversity loss. Chipping away at extractivismo , the draft abandoned the term “natural resources” in favor of “natural common goods.”However, the new constitution was resoundingly defeated by voters.

Society must recognize that “nature isn’t infinite” and impose limits on the use of natural resources.

Constanza, Felipe’s sister and the foundation’s director of communications and outreach, did not hold grand expectations for the government. Despite radical constitutional terminology, she remarked that the Ministry of the Environment still focused on managing natural resources, as opposed to truly protecting the environment. On the other hand, considering Chile’s environmental distress, could Boric become a spokesperson for international climate action in the mold of, say, former Bolivian President Evo Morales? The country is responsible for a tiny fraction of world-wide emissions , yet Chile is particularly vulnerable to drought and desertification. A more combative Boric seemed unlikely, she answered, given the president doesn’t seem interested in challenging the Global North, but rather maintaining friendly relations.

It’s the last day of my stay in Santiago before catching a late-night flight back to New York. In the midst of record temperatures and heat alerts , not to mention the onset of Chile’s deadly wildfires, I’m contemplating Darwin’s legacy once again. Apocalyptic extinction or adaptation?

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The sobering new reality seems apropos as I sit down with Bárbara Saavedra , director of the Wildlife Conservation Society in Chile. Considering Chile’s climate emergency, she says, society must recognize that “nature isn’t infinite” and impose limits on the use of natural resources. An evolutionary biologist, Saavedra is concerned about charismatic animal species such as Darwin’s frog , which is facing an uphill conservation battle like other amphibians, and Darwin’s fox , whose population has become diminished and fragmented.

And what of Boric — has the young and idealistic president turned out to be a political disappointment? “The constitutional reform wasn’t his defeat,” she says, “but rather a defeat of our entire country.” Pausing, she adds, “on the other hand, I don’t see the reform as a defeat, but rather as forming part of a long-term process which is challenging and still hasn’t played itself out entirely. I’m not a politician, but I believe there will be other opportunities in future. Even without the reform, however, we have other laws and tools at our disposal to resolve our environmental problems, and there is sufficient willingness to measure up to our challenges.”

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Nikolas Kozloff is a New York-based journalist who has written more than sixty articles about the environment and climate change. He is also the author of No Rain in the Amazon: How South America's Climate Change Affects the Entire Planet.

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south america journey

Sailor Cole Brauer makes history as the first American woman to race solo around the world

Aboard her 40-foot racing boat First Light ,  29-year-old Cole Brauer just became the first American woman to race nonstop around the world by herself.

The New York native pulled into A Coruña, Spain, on Thursday after a treacherous 30,000-mile journey that took 130 days.

She thanked a cheering crowd of family and fans who had been waiting for her on shore.

“This is really cool and so overwhelming in every sense of the word,” she exclaimed, before drinking Champagne from her trophy.

The 5-foot-2 powerhouse placed second out of 16 avid sailors who competed in the Global Solo Challenge, a circumnavigation race that started in A Coruña with participants from 10 countries. The first-of-its-kind event   allowed a wide range of boats to set off in successive departures based on performance characteristics. Brauer started on Oct. 29, sailing down the west coast of Africa, over to Australia, and around the tip of South America before returning to Spain.

Brauer is the only woman and the youngest competitor in the event — something she hopes young girls in and out of the sport can draw inspiration from.

“It would be amazing if there was just one girl that saw me and said, ‘Oh, I can do that too,’” Brauer said of her history-making sail.

It’s a grueling race, and more than half of the competitors have dropped out so far. One struck something that caused his boat to flood, and another sailor had to abandon his ship after a mast broke as a severe storm was moving in.

The four-month journey is fraught with danger, including navigating the three “Great Capes” of Africa, Australia and South America. Rounding South America’s Cape Horn, where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet, is often likened to climbing Mount Everest because of its perfect storm of hazards — a sharp rise in the ocean floor and whipping westerly winds push up massive waves. Combined with the frigid waters and stray icebergs, the area is known as a graveyard for ships, according to NASA. Brauer  said  she was “so unbelievably stoked” when she sailed past Cape Horn in January.

Marco Nannini, organizer of the Global Solo Challenge, said the comparison to scaling Mount Everest doesn’t capture the difficulty of the race. Sailing solo means not just being a skipper but a project manager — steering the boat, fixing equipment, understanding the weather and maintaining one’s physical health.

Nannini cited the relatively minuscule number of people who have sailed around the world solo — 186, according to the International Association of Cape Horners — as evidence of the challenges that competitors face. More than 6,000 people have climbed Mount Everest, according to  High Adventure Expeditions .

Brauer stared down 30-foot waves that had enough force to throw her across the boat. In a scare caught on camera, she badly injured her rib   near the halfway point of the event. At another point, her team in the U.S. directed Brauer to insert an IV into her own arm due to dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea.

She was able to stay in constant communication with members of her team, most of whom are based in New England,   and keep herself entertained with Netflix and video calls with family through Starlink satellites.   That’s also how Brauer was able to use Zoom to connect with NBC News for an interview, while she was sailing about 1,000 miles west of the Canary Islands.

While Brauer was technically alone on First Light, she had the company of 450,000 followers on Instagram, where she frequently got candid about life on an unforgiving sea while reflecting on her journey.

“It all makes it worth it when you come out here, you sit on the bow, and you see how beautiful it is,” she said in an Instagram video, before panning the camera to reveal the radiant sunrise.

Brauer grew up on Long Island but didn’t learn to sail until she went to college in Hawaii. She traded in her goal of becoming a doctor for life on the water. But she quickly learned making a career as a sailor is extremely difficult, with professional racers often hesitant to welcome a 100-pound young woman on their team.

Even when she was trying to find sponsors for the Global Solo Challenge, she said a lot of people “wouldn’t touch her with a 10-foot pole” because they saw her as a “liability.”

Brauer’s message to the skeptics and naysayers? “Watch me.”

“I push so much harder when someone’s like, ‘No, you can’t do that,’ or ‘You’re too small,’” Brauer explained.

“The biggest asset is your mental strength, not the physical one,” Nannini said. “Cole is showing everyone that.”

Brauer hopes to continue competing professionally and is already eyeing another around-the-world competition, but not before she gets her hands on a croissant and cappuccino.

“My mouth is watering just thinking about that.”

Emilie Ikeda is an NBC News correspondent.

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south america journey

Middle East latest: Explosion in Red Sea near Yemen; Biden backs US leader who said Netanyahu must go

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations has said a vessel has reported an explosion 65 nautical miles west of Yemen's Hodeidah. Meanwhile, Joe Biden has backed the US Senate leader who said the Israeli PM was an obstacle to peace and must go.

Saturday 16 March 2024 00:15, UK

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We'll be back soon with all the latest updates on the Israel-Hamas war.

The families of hostages in Gaza have been marching in Tel Aviv today to call on the Israeli government to agree to a ceasefire deal.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been criticised by the families for prolonging the war instead of negotiating a deal.

Further to reports we brought you earlier of an incident 65 nautical miles west of Yemen's Hodeidah (see post at 8.48pm) we are now receiving more information.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has said the master of a merchant vessel reported an explosion a distance off the vessel's starboard beam.

"There is no damage to the vessel and the crew are reported safe. The vessel is continuing to its next port of call," UKMTO added in an advisory note.

Months of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to re-route to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa, and stoked fears that the Israel-Hamas war could spread to destabilise the wider Middle East.

The US and Britain have carried out strikes against Houthi targets in response to the attacks on shipping.

Back to the offloading of aid in Gaza now and the World Central Kitchen has shared a video of cargo being offloaded.

The US-based aid organisation said almost 200 tonnes of rice, flour, proteins and more "arrived by sea earlier today".

It has said a second vessel is preparing to set sail from Cyprus with "hundreds more tonnes of food".

The UK Maritime Trade Operations has said it has received a report of an incident 65 nautical miles west of Yemen's Hodeidah.

Authorities are investigating the incident, the UKMTO said.

Today we have been reporting on Israel's approval of a potential ground operation on the Gaza city of Rafah.

But global allies and critics alike have urged Benjamin Netanyahu to hold off attacking Rafah, for fear of mass civilian casualties.

Looking at the move, our  military analyst Sean Bell  has said the region is "packed" and "dense".

"How an earth you can do a military operation and differentiate between where Hamas are, where the civilians are and even where the hostages are? It would be a nightmare," he said.

"And if they were to do airstrikes, which has been part of what the IDF have been using, it would have devastating consequences for the people on the ground."

You can watch Bell's full analysis here...

The White House has expressed cautious optimism about a proposal from Hamas on a Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages deal.

The proposal has been presented to mediators and the US and includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, 100 of whom are serving live sentences.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said the proposal was "certainly within the bounds in broad brush strokes... of the deal we've been working on now for several months".

"We're cautiously optimistic that things are moving in the right direction but that doesn't mean that it's done," Mr Kirby said.

After Israel approved plans for a Rafah military operation, our  Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall  has said it is unlikely that a operation will happen imminently.

He said the Israelis have "always been clear" about their military operation in Rafah and argued they need to do that in order to dismantle Hamas's infrastructure and gain a victory. 

"They have never wavered from that," he said.

"The Israeli military have been drawing up plans about how that would work and how they would evacuate the people who are now in Rafah."

But Bunkall noted this is "not going to be a simple task".

He added: "It may be a credible plan in America's eyes but it will be difficult to implement.

"I think it will take time so I don't think we are looking at an imminent ground invasion of Rafah."

He went on to say the announcement of a ground operation in Rafah was Israel's way of showing "they are going to keep military pressure up".

As detailed here earlier, reports in Israel suggest Benjamin Netanyahu has approved plans for military operation in Rafah, where more than one million people in Gaza have fled after being previously ordered to do so by Israeli authorities.

The plan would reportedly include people being evacuated from Rafah itself, despite large swathes of the enclave having been devastated by Israeli bombardments.

While Germany has been largely supportive of Israel throughout its military operations since 7 October, it's foreign minister issued a warning following the latest reported development.  

"A large-scale offensive in Rafah cannot be justified," Annalena Baerbock said.

"Over a million people have sought refuge there and have nowhere to go.

"We need a humanitarian ceasefire now, so that the dying ends and the hostages are finally released."

It comes after US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Washington had not yet seen a clear and implementable plan for how civilians would be protected in the event of an Israeli offensive in Rafah.

The IDF has issued an update on the aid ship from Cyprus, which in the last few hours arrived in Gaza.

They said the ship contained 130 pallets of humanitarian equipment and 115 tonnes of food and water, which were transferred to 12 World Central Kitchen trucks and accompanied by IDF naval and ground forces.

"The vessels and goods underwent comprehensive security inspection," the IDF added.

They also emphasised that "the delivery of humanitarian aid does not affect the maritime blockade". 

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