- Countries
- 12 countries · 2 territories
- Sub-regions
- 7
- When to go
- South America has no single sweet spot: dry-season Andes weather, Patagonia’s short summer, and tropical wildlife seasons pull in different directions. April-May and especially October-November are the least compromised months for a broad trip, trading perfect conditions in any one place for workable conditions across several. Near the Equator, rainfall matters more than temperature; in the Andes, dry sunshine still comes with cold nights.
- Daily budget, mid-range
- US$110–220
South America is a long-haul, landscape-led continent where a mountain pass, a wet season or a missed domestic flight matters more than how close places look on the map. The north is tropical and Caribbean-facing; the central Andes are high, cold at night and shaped by indigenous culture; the south runs on cities, wine, long roads and flights to the far edge. Trains are rarely useful across borders, buses work on major corridors, and flying is often the sensible choice.
The AndesThe AmazonPatagoniaGalápagos wildlifeIguazú FallsFood, wine and big-city culture
Slice it into Northern Andes and Caribbean; Ecuador and Galápagos; Central Andes; Brazil and the tropical interior; Southern Cone and Patagonia; and the Guianas. The Falkland Islands sit apart in the South Atlantic: a costly wildlife trip reached by air or expedition logistics, not a mainland detour. Peru and Bolivia make a natural high-altitude circuit; Argentina, Chile and Uruguay work on a different, temperate rhythm.
With two weeks, do one country properly or two adjacent countries well. Peru–Bolivia demands acclimatization and long bus days; Buenos Aires–Patagonia or north-to-south Chile needs domestic flights; Brazil is large enough to justify the whole trip.
Northern Andes and Caribbean
Warm, social, Caribbean-facing South America: Colombia is the easy entry point; Venezuela is a specialist proposition.
Colombia · Venezuela
Ecuador and Galápagos
The continent compressed into one manageable country, with Galápagos as a pricey separate wildlife leg.
Ecuador
Central Andes
The high-altitude core: ruins, trekking, indigenous culture and landscapes that justify the early starts.
Peru · Bolivia
Brazil and the Tropical Interior
Brazil needs a focused regional plan, while Paraguay is the quieter, lower-key add-on for travelers past the highlights.
Brazil · Paraguay
Southern Cone and Patagonia
The polished south for wine, serious hiking, desert, glaciers and the continent’s strongest city breaks.
Argentina · Chile · Uruguay
The Guianas
Rainforest-and-river country for travelers who want wildlife and rough edges, not the standard Andes circuit.
When to go
South America has no single sweet spot: dry-season Andes weather, Patagonia’s short summer, and tropical wildlife seasons pull in different directions. April-May and especially October-November are the least compromised months for a broad trip, trading perfect conditions in any one place for workable conditions across several. Near the Equator, rainfall matters more than temperature; in the Andes, dry sunshine still comes with cold nights.
Northern Andes and Caribbean
Dec-Mar and Jul-Aug
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Classic routes
Classic high Andes
16 daysPeru · Bolivia · Chile
Lima (2 nights) → Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu (5 nights) → Puno/Lake Titicaca (1 night) → La Paz (3 nights) → Uyuni (3 nights) → San Pedro de Atacama (2 nights)
The strongest first multi-country Andes route for ruins, altitude and scenery. Go May–October, build in acclimatization, and do not pretend the Uyuni crossing is an ordinary bus ride.
Fly Lima–Cusco; continue by tourist bus or rail/bus via Puno; take the daytime international bus to La Paz; then use a 3-day 4WD Uyuni salt-flats tour to the Chile border and transfer to San Pedro.
Plan this routeSouthern Cone sampler
15 daysArgentina · Uruguay · Brazil
Buenos Aires (4 nights) → Montevideo (3 nights) → Buenos Aires (1 night) → Puerto Iguazú/Foz do Iguaçu (3 nights) → Rio de Janeiro (4 nights)
For travelers who want city life, food, a proper river crossing, Iguazú and Rio without wasting days on land transport. Best in October–November or March–April; adding Patagonia ruins the logic.
Practical, at continent scaleShowHide
Visas & entry
There is no South America-wide visa zone: entry rules are set country by country and depend heavily on passport. Brazil requires an e-visa in advance for U.S., Canadian and Australian passport holders; Colombia requires the free Check-Mig form before flights; and French Guiana has its own overseas-territory entry rules, so a Schengen visa is not automatically enough. Venezuela and the Falkland Islands need advance checking rather than last-minute border assumptions.
- No continent-wide visa regime — All South American destinations. A multi-country route means checking each national entry rule separately; do not assume that entry to one Spanish-speaking country covers the next.
- Brazil electronic visitor visa — BR — Brazil for U.S., Canadian and Australian passport holders. Apply before departure; it is not a visa-on-arrival situation for these nationalities.
- French overseas-territory entry regime — GF — French Guiana. French Guiana is French territory but does not simply operate as metropolitan Schengen France for every nationality; verify its specific rule before routing through Cayenne.
- Colombia Check-Mig pre-arrival form — CO — Colombia. This is a free pre-flight immigration form, not a visa; complete it within the required 1–72-hour window before flying.
- Falkland Islands visitor-permit requirements — FK — Falkland Islands. Treat permits, flights and accommodation as advance-planning items; this is not a casual mainland add-on.
Where to fly in
Questions worth answering
How long do I need for a first trip to South America?
Give it 10–14 days for one country, or two adjacent countries at most. In two weeks, Peru or Colombia works well alone; Peru–Bolivia works only if you accept acclimatization and long bus days, while Brazil deserves 12–21 days on its own.
Which countries should I combine on a first visit?
Combine Peru and Bolivia for a Central Andes trip, or Argentina and Uruguay for cities, wine and coast. Chile pairs well with Argentina or Bolivia, but its distances make domestic flights—and a higher budget—part of the plan; do not try to bolt Brazil onto any of these routes.
Where should I start?
Start in Peru for the strongest all-round first route of food, archaeology and Andes; choose Colombia for warm weather, cities and a more social trip. Argentina is best for city-and-nature balance, Chile for dependable logistics and landscapes, Ecuador for a compact itinerary, and Brazil only if you can focus on one region rather than crossing the country.
What is the best time to go?
For a trip spanning several regions, aim for April–May or, better, October–November. Go May–October for Peru and Bolivia’s dry Andes, November–March for Patagonia, December–March for Colombia’s drier window and Brazil’s coast, and June–September for Ecuador’s highlands.
Do I need visas or pre-trip paperwork?
There is no South America-wide visa arrangement: check every country separately for your passport. Brazil requires an e-visa in advance for U.S., Canadian and Australian passport holders, Colombia requires the free Check-Mig form before flying, and French Guiana, Venezuela and the Falkland Islands need advance rule-checking.
