South America overland itineraries & highlights
South America might have been designed for adventurous overland travel. It has a diversity of landscapes between different countries, from thick rainforest to white sand beaches, snow tipped and jagged mountains to barren salt flats; ancient ruins and modern cities, and an enthralling mix of cultures. And of course the continent is so large that you can take many different routes across it, depending on your available time and personal interests. Here’s a few of our favourites.
Our Overland Vacations
South America tour, coast to coast
Epic discovery journey across South America
From
£3233 to £3313
19 days
ex flights
La Paz to Buenos Aires overland truck tour
Overland from the Altiplano to Argentina's grasslands
From
US $1120 to US $1150
21 days
ex flights
Lima to Cuzco overland truck tour in Peru
Explore Peru and the majestic Machu Picchu
From
US $890 to US $950
17 days
ex flights
Atacama Crossing, Buenos Aires to La Paz
Experience the expanses of the Bolivian Altiplano
From
US $1520 to US $2099
15 days
ex flights
Bolivia and Peru tour
Explore the Amazon Andes and Inca trail
From
US $4885 to US $5695
25 days
ex flights
Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires tour, Iguazu Falls
South American spirit & dizzying heights of Iguazu Falls
From
US $2000 to US $2699
17 days
ex flights
Buenos Aires to Rio small group vacation
Amazing discovery tour from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro
From
US $2830 to US $3565
17 days
ex flights
Small group overland vacation, Lima to La Paz
Discover the Andean landscapes and culture in Peru & Bolivia
From
US $2295 to US $2899
21 days
ex flights
Lima to Santiago overland vacation
Travel through Peru Bolivia & Chile
From
US $3570 to US $4199
21 days
ex flights
Buenos Aires to Rio De Janeiro overland truck tour
A classic South American trip in Argentina and Brazil
From
US $999 to US $1090
19 days
ex flights
Off the beaten track vacation to Colombia
Adventure through Colombia - highlights and off the beaten track
From
£2528
16 days
ex flights
Argentina and Chile vacation
Explore Argentina and Chile on our Puna and Atacama experience
From
£3775 to £3995
13 days
ex flights
Peru to Chile small group vacation
From Peru’s capital on the Pacific coast into the high Andes
From
US $3906 to US $5689
21 days
ex flights
Patagonia overland truck tour, South America
From the Chilean Fjords to the Magellan Straits
From
US $1520 to US $1670
23 days
ex flights
South America vacation, small group tour
Epic Journey across South America from Atlantic to Pacific
From
£4498
21 days
ex flights
Andes Journey, Atacama desert to Machu Picchu
Highlights of the South American Andes
From
€3280
24 days
ex flights
Bolivia, Chile and Argentina overland truck tour
Discover the diversity of Bolivia, Argentina and Chile
From
US $1090 to US $1220
21 days
ex flights
Lima to Rio tour by overland truck
An epic overland expedition across South America
From
US $3355 to US $3555
60 days
ex flights
Buenos Aires to Rio vacation, South America
Vibrant Buenos Aires, colonial towns and thermal baths
From
US $2252 to US $2849
17 days
ex flights
South America highlights vacation
Discover the highlights of South America!
From
£4530
21 days
ex flights
Rio De Janeiro to Cuzco tour by overland truck
Overland through Brazil's remote interior
From
US $1390 to US $1430
25 days
ex flights
Quito and Lima overland truck tour
Overland the incredible Andes in Peru and Ecuador
From
US $940 to US $990
20 days
ex flights
South America coast-to-coast
Travel from the cosmopolitan flair of Rio de Janeiro on the Atlantic coast to Lima, once the capital of Spanish America, on the Pacific, through countries such as Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. Along the way you can explore Lake Titicaca, the Iguazu Falls and the ancient Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. Depending on your travel dates, there is also potential to tie in the Rio Carnival or New Year celebrations at the beginning or end of your tour.
This trip can be done with a rapid, ‘taster’ itinerary over just three weeks, traveling by bus, train and internal flights, or it can be extended into a longer South America overland tour where you’ll get around mostly by self sufficient expedition truck, camping for much of the time. This latter option gives you more time to explore and get a real feel for each destination. You might take a few hiking expeditions in the Torres del Paine National Park for instance, a tango lesson in Buenos Aires, or a rainforest safari in the Amazon.
Patagonia
Spanning swathes of Chile and Argentina at the southern tip of the continent, Patagonia is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. The lure of renowned trails in the Torres del Paine National Park, the frozen landscapes of Los Glaciares National Park, accessed from El Calafe and El Chaltén, Mt. Fitzroy and the magnificent Perito Moreno glacier – Patagonia is a stunning destination for overland tours.
A typical itinerary will last around three weeks, zig zagging across the border between Chile and Argentina several times, often negotiating steep Andean passes. Purpose-built expedition trucks are the ideal way to get around, sometimes camping, and at other times staying in hostels or guesthouses. As with the coast-to-coast route, tours in Patagonia tend to operate between the austral spring and autumn, avoiding the harshest winter weather, but here especially you will need clothing to suit all conditions.
Our top Overland Vacation
South America tour, coast to coast
Epic discovery journey across South America
From
£3233 to £3313
19 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2019: 10 Apr, 8 May, 12 Jun, 17 Jul, 7 Aug, 11 Sep, 23 Oct, 4 Dec
2019: 10 Apr, 8 May, 12 Jun, 17 Jul, 7 Aug, 11 Sep, 23 Oct, 4 Dec
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Overland or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
Practicalities
Linking up the myriad highlights of South America on an overland tour naturally means some long drives, but it’s difficult to complain when every day brings something new and exciting. If you’re camping then you can expect basic conditions and an emphasis on participation in everything from setting up camp to cooking meals. On shorter tours, you may stay instead in hotels and guesthouses, with domestic flights cutting down travel time between key destinations.
The terrain can be challenging at points as well – that said the Camino Austral out of Rio is a real stunner – but roughing it like this only adds to the fun and unpredictable nature of overland travel in South America. Grin and bear it, because there’s sure to be a jaw-dropping waterfall, or a glistening stretch of coastline around the next bend in the road.
Tips from our vacation reviews
“This was a well planned and well conducted trip, the hotels were all good or very good and all in close proximity to the local attractions, bars and restaurants; our guide was excellent, as were the local guides. It was fast paced and at times tiring but oh so well worth it. I have travelled quite extensively over the years, as a couple, in small and in larger groups and I would rate this trip as one of the best ever.” – Andy Goodenough on a coast to coast tour through Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Peru
“Be prepared to live out of a suitcase and enjoy traveling. Not for people who just like to sit on a beach all day. If you like exploring and want to learn about different countries then this vacation gives you more than you can imagine.” – Ann Hammersley on a South America overland tour through brazil and Ecuador via the Galapagos Islands
Jess Millett, from our supplier, Tucan Travel, shares her advice on what sort of traveler is suited to a South America overland trip:
“To make the most of an overland tour you need to be very flexible, quite patient, and up for a really good adventure. Due to the very nature of these tours, there’s always a chance that something can go wrong – like a tyre blowing, or a break down – so you need to be able to shrug that off and make the most of it. An overland trip is ideal for solo travelers as it’s a very sociable style of travel – you’re mucking in together; you’re cooking together; you’re cleaning together, so there’s a definite community spirit. You’re almost guaranteed to make some really good friends and share some incredible memories.”
More about Overland
Jump aboard our overland vacations travel guide to find out all about what this kind of vacation involves, and get ready to unleash the explorer within.
Our exciting guide to the best overland tour routes is stuffed with useful info on what to expect, but don’t forget our helpdesk team can go into much more detail if you need it.
It’s easy to find useful information about the destinations you’ll be visiting, but more difficult to get a feel for one important aspect of overland travel – what it’s like to spend weeks on end in a truck.
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Will my kids enjoy an overland vacation? What if I can only take a few weeks off work? Where are the best places to take an overland tour? All these questions and more are answered by the experts.
All our overland guides. Find all of our overland guides in one place; includes all rail and self-drive vacations as well as trips using a combination of transport; or see our regional overland trips.
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Photo credits: [Page banner: Phil Whitehouse] [Intro: Loïc Mermilliod]
[South America coast-to-coast 1: Kingdom Compass]
[South America coast-to-coast 2: Blaise Vonlanthen]
[Patagonia 1: Sean Thoman]
[Patagonia 2: Tom Winckels]
[Practicalities 1: Amy Rollo]
[Practicalities 2: Constanza.CH]
[Andy Goodenough Quote: Loïc Mermilliod]
[Ann Hammersley Quote: Madeleine Deaton]
[Jess Millett Quote: Madeleine Deaton]
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