Overland guide
Get ready to unleash the explorer within, by trying one of our inspirational overland tours.
South America overland
travel guide
At first glance, it can be hard to differentiate between the 12 nations of South America. They all speak Spanish or Portuguese; most of them have the Andes as their vertiginous spine; most of them, too, descend into the endless stretches of the Amazon. But an overland tour here will make you wonder why you ever thought Peru and Bolivia were alike, or what on earth Chile has in common with Argentina. There is lilting Spanish, yes – but also Quechua, Aymara, Huaorani – and Welsh. Really. There are places where the rain seems ceaseless – and places where it never falls. There is fresh seafood, hearty stews cooked in the earth, and strange fruits as vibrant and delicious as this captivating continent.
With a landscape ranging from looming Andean peaks and moonlike desert, to the planet's largest rainforest – the spectacular scenery in South America was made for overlanding.![]()
Linking up these highlights on an overland tour involves long hours on the road – but what roads these are. The landscape changes not daily but hourly, with mountain passes, waterfalls, indigenous villages, modern cities, thick jungle and stunning coastline all side by side. Find out how to explore it all in our South America overland vacations travel guide.
What does a South America overland trip entail?
On a South America overland vacation you’ll be in a group of equally adventurous passengers, in group sizes from as small as four to as large as 20 people. You’ll travel in a purpose-built expedition vehicle, which has been developed to be self-sufficient and really comfortable with water tanks, cooking stoves and fridge-freezers aboard, plus plenty of room to stow luggage, high, cushioned seating to allow great views, and lots of leg room.
Generally, you’ll be sleeping in hotels, guesthouses, or lodges as much of the time is spent in towns and cities – itineraries which include the Inca Trail being one of the exceptions. The trips are often designed for multi-share accommodation however – making them brilliant for solo travelers, couples, or groups of friends. A huge emphasis on South America overland trips is to do as the locals do, so when you’re staying in hotels you will be eating locally prepared food and the wonderful array of dishes you try will vary from country to country, and region to region – something which is even more apparent when border hopping so frequently.
Generally, you’ll be sleeping in hotels, guesthouses, or lodges as much of the time is spent in towns and cities – itineraries which include the Inca Trail being one of the exceptions. The trips are often designed for multi-share accommodation however – making them brilliant for solo travelers, couples, or groups of friends. A huge emphasis on South America overland trips is to do as the locals do, so when you’re staying in hotels you will be eating locally prepared food and the wonderful array of dishes you try will vary from country to country, and region to region – something which is even more apparent when border hopping so frequently.
Most trips are run by a minimum of two tour leaders (both western and local leaders are used, depending on which company you travel with) who are highly knowledgeable and passionate about South America and can provide loads of suggestions for things you might like to see or do en route whether that’s trekking in the Torres del Paine, or finding a great place to eat in Buenos Aires. Local guides will join you at places of interest along the way too, who’ll ensure that you’re party to invaluable snippets of local knowledge.
Most South America overland vacations cover a serious amount of ground, and although you won’t be on the road every day, when you are, stints can last from as little as four hours to as many as nine. There is an awful lot of choice out there, so you can find South America overland trips that combine less lengthy days on the road and instead opt for flights where possible to maximise your time at destinations. You can look into tours that stick to travel by private vehicle, or those that mix and match with public transport too. The whole point of a South America overland trip is to really get under the skin of the destination and share that experience with your fellow travelers; your journey is much more about group camaraderie and memories than it is about luxury and relaxation.
South America tour, coast to coast
Epic discovery journey across South America
From
£4226
19 days
ex flights
South America overland tour, Quito to Rio
A coast to coast adventure through remote beauty
From
£4995
105 days
ex flights
Lima to Santiago overland tour
Inca heartland, Peru, Bolivia and Chile
From
£3379 to £3699
21 days
ex flights
Bolivia and Peru tour
Explore the Amazon Andes and Inca trail
From
US $4492 to US $5140
25 days
ex flights
Chile, Argentina and Brazil overland tour
Action-packed adventure from Santiago to Rio
From
£2545
51 days
ex flights
Bolivia salt flats tour from La Paz
Expedition through the Uyuni Salt Flats in southwest Bolivia
From
US $385
5 days
ex flights
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Things to do in South America
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Best time to go
There's a type of weather for everyone across a continent that clashes humid tropics in the north with cool Andean mountain air along the west coast and frozen glaciers down south.![]()
Its vast size and altitude contrasts means there is no single best time to visit South America. June, for example, offers a steamy 30°C in the Amazon – but snow and ice shut down much of southern Patagonia, best visited from November to March, when it is much more accessible. Dramatic contour shifts can mean clement temperatures on Chile's coast, but snowy 5,000m chill just 100km away. September and October offer a good balance in many places, with generally comfortable spring temperatures and dry weather. But check specific locations – even within the same country – to help you set nature's thermostat to suit yourself during your trip according to your route.
Cuzco, Peru Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
4
17
153
FEB
4
17
136
MAR
4
17
120
APR
3
18
46
MAY
0
18
8
JUN
-2
18
2
JUL
-2
17
4
AUG
-1
18
8
SEP
1
18
23
OCT
3
19
40
NOV
3
19
68
DEC
4
18
116
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