Destinations South America

Updated 2026

South America is the RTW leg many travelers save for when they've got their rhythm down. You can do 8-12 weeks across Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, and Ecuador for $35-60/day on backpacker budget. The continent rewards slow travel with mountains, jungles, archaeological sites, cosmopolitan cities, and people who'll make you question leaving. It's large enough that you can't "do" South America - you do a region and go deep.

Why South America on a RTW Trip

South America offers everything - Machu Picchu, Amazon, Atacama desert, tango in Buenos Aires, Galapagos, Caribbean coast. But the real appeal is that you can move slower and cheaper than elsewhere. You can spend 2-3 weeks in one country and actually know it. The culture is distinct from Central America, the Spanish improves your language skills if you're learning, and the landscape shifts constantly - one day you're in cloud forest, the next in high altitude desert. For most RTW travelers, South America is where they realize they've finally cracked the traveling thing. It's often the 3-4 month mark of an RTW.

Budget Context

Daily costs by country (2026):

• **Peru**: $30-45/day for backpackers - cheap. Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Amazon access. Hostels $12-20/night, meals $3-8, Machu Picchu entry $60 USD but can be bundled with train tickets.
• **Bolivia**: $25-40/day - South America's cheapest. La Paz, Lake Titicaca, salt flats, Amazon. Incredible value. Hostels $10-18/night.
• **Colombia**: $30-50/day - increasingly popular, cheap, friendly. Cartagena beach town, Bogota culture, coffee region, emerald mining. Departure tax $38 USD if staying over 60 days.
• **Ecuador**: $30-50/day - small country with jungle, Amazon, Quito colonial city, Galapagos if you splurge. Hostels $12-20/night.
• **Chile**: $50-75/day - pricier than neighbors. Atacama desert, Patagonia, Chilean wine, Santiago. Good value for scenery.
• **Argentina**: $40-65/day - Buenos Aires expensive ($60-80/day), rest of country cheaper. Mendoza wine region, Patagonia, waterfalls.

Best Routes Through South America

Peru-Bolivia circuit (4-6 weeks): Lima → Sacred Valley → Machu Picchu → Cusco → Lake Titicaca → La Paz → Atacama (Chile or Bolivia salt flats). Classic RTW arc.

Andean vertical (6-8 weeks): Colombia (Bogota, Coffee Region) → Ecuador (Quito, Amazon) → Peru (highlands, Machu Picchu) → Bolivia (La Paz, Atacama) → Chile.

Patagonia-focused (3-4 weeks): Buenos Aires → Mendoza wine region → fly south to Patagonia (El Calafate, Torres del Paine). Expensive but iconic.

Amazon insertion (1-2 weeks): Peru/Ecuador Amazon lodges cost $60-100/day but are included. Fly into Iquitos or use Ecuador's Amazon access.

Coastal route (4-5 weeks): Cartagena (Colombia) → Caribbean coast → down Pacific side through Ecuador, Peru, Chile.

RTW integration: Most travelers hit South America after Central America (natural flow) or after Africa (fly from South Africa to Buenos Aires or vice versa). Coming from Asia? You'd fly to Peru or Colombia.

Key Stops

• [Cartagena](/cartagena/) - Colombia's Caribbean jewel. Walled colonial city, Caribbean water, excellent food and nightlife. Gateway to Colombia. 3-4 days.
• [Bogota](/bogota/) - Colombia's capital. Museums, street food, neighborhoods, altitude adjustment. 2-3 days.
• [Coffee Region](/coffee-region-colombia/) - Colombia's countryside. Coffee plantations, green mountains, rural hospitality. 2-3 days.
• [Quito](/quito/) - Ecuador's capital. Spanish colonial old town, equator nearby, gateway to Amazon/Galapagos. 2-3 days.
• [Amazon Lodges](/amazon-ecuador/) - Ecuador or Peru Amazon trips. 3-5 days immersive in jungle.
• [Lima](/lima/) - Peru's capital and food capital. Historic neighborhoods, museums, ceviche. Gateway to Peru. 2-3 days.
• [Sacred Valley](/sacred-valley/) - Peru's mountain agricultural valley. Towns like Ollantaytambo, Urubamba. Base for Machu Picchu. 2-3 days.
• [Cusco](/cusco/) - Peru's historic Inca capital. Stone walls, altitude adjustment, access to trekking. 2-3 days before or after Machu Picchu.
• [Machu Picchu](/machu-picchu/) - Peru's ultimate destination. Ancient ruins on a mountain. 1-2 day visit (entry $60 USD). Done as day trip from Aguas Calientes.
• [Lake Titicaca](/lake-titicaca/) - Peru-Bolivia border. World's highest navigable lake, island communities, Uros floating islands. 2-3 days.
• [La Paz](/la-paz/) - Bolivia's capital. Altitude chaos, markets, food, city on a mountainside. 2-3 days adjustment and exploring.
• [Atacama Desert](/atacama/) - Chile or Bolivia. Red rock desert, salt flats, stargazing, lunar landscape. 2-3 days of activities.
• [Buenos Aires](/buenos-aires/) - Argentina's glamorous capital. Tango, wine, steak, European feel, nightlife. 3-5 days.
• [Mendoza](/mendoza/) - Argentina's wine region. Vineyards, mountain views, wine tastings, outdoor activities. 2-3 days.
• [Patagonia](/patagonia/) - Southern Chile/Argentina. El Calafate (glaciers), Torres del Paine (hiking), remote beauty. 3-5 days if visiting.

When to Go

Southern hemisphere seasons (opposite North America): September-November (spring) and March-May (fall) are sweet spots. Warm, dry, fewer tourists.

Dry season (May-September): Best for highlands and Patagonia trekking. Perfect weather but peak season (higher prices, more crowds).

Wet season (November-March): Lush, greens are vivid, fewer tourists, cheaper. Jungle and Amazon are better. Mountains can be cloudy.

Amazon: Wet season (June-July) for higher water levels and wildlife visibility, though flooded forests are challenging.

Patagonia: December-February is peak season (warmest), June-August is winter (snow, some passes close).

Visa & Logistics

Visa-free or on-arrival: Most Western nationalities get 30-90 days visa-free or easy on-arrival in Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina.

Specifics:

• **Peru**: US/UK/Canada/Australia/most nationalities get 90 days on arrival
• **Colombia**: US/Canada/most get 90 days; Australia 90 days but departure airport fee $38 USD if over 60 days
• **Bolivia**: 30 days free, extendable to 90 with visa application
• **Ecuador**: 90 days free
• **Chile**: 90 days for many nationalities
• **Argentina**: 90 days for many nationalities

Health: Yellow fever vaccine strongly recommended if visiting Amazon or jungle areas. Malaria precautions for lowland areas. Get vaccines before leaving home. Altitude sickness is real - ascend slowly, drink coca tea, stay hydrated.

Transport: Buses connect everything - overnight buses cheap ($15-40), flights budget airlines ($50-150) between major cities. Flying is often worth it for time/comfort on long routes.

How Long to Spend

Classic Peru-Bolivia (4-6 weeks): Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu → Cusco → Lake Titicaca → La Paz → Atacama. Hits highlights, reasonable pace.

Andean loop (6-8 weeks): Add Ecuador and Colombia to above route. You'll know the Andes.

Deep south (3-4 weeks): Buenos Aires → Mendoza → Patagonia. Shorter but intense experiences.

Extended (10-14 weeks): Combine Andean route with Patagonia insert, add Amazon, do Chilean wine touring. You could spend 3 months in South America easily.

Caribbean to Patagonia (12+ weeks): Cartagena → down the continent → end Buenos Aires. The ultimate South American journey.

Most RTW travelers allocate 8-12 weeks to South America. The continent doesn't reward rushing. You'll want to stay in places longer than expected.