Places to visit in South America
Somewhere on this continent of wonders will offer your perfect mix of pleasures.
Activity and landscape preferences, time available and weather all help decide which places to visit in South America. For example, the Inca Trail and Patagonia are hiking beacons – but couldn't be more different. Distances will also have an impact; best to explore one big country or combine a couple of smaller neighbouring places. In Brazil, many itineraries require internal flights, while Amazon trips usually involve boats. In Argentina and Chile, internal flights are often slotted into shorter itineraries – but overnight buses are affordable and comfortable, with seats that recline into beds. Itineraries anywhere can be disrupted by road problems or bad weather – be adaptable!
Activity and landscape preferences, time available and weather all help decide which places to visit in South America. For example, the Inca Trail and Patagonia are hiking beacons – but couldn't be more different. Distances will also have an impact; best to explore one big country or combine a couple of smaller neighbouring places. In Brazil, many itineraries require internal flights, while Amazon trips usually involve boats. In Argentina and Chile, internal flights are often slotted into shorter itineraries – but overnight buses are affordable and comfortable, with seats that recline into beds. Itineraries anywhere can be disrupted by road problems or bad weather – be adaptable!
Our South America Vacations
South America tour, coast to coast
Epic discovery journey across South America
From
£3480
19 days
ex flights
Ecuador ecolodge, Napo Wildlife Center
A luxurious eco-lodge in wildlife rich Ecuadorean Amazon
From
US $1590 to US $1890
4 days
ex flights
Galapagos & Amazon wildlife vacation, Ecuador
The ultimate wildlife trip to the Amazon and Galapagos
From
US $6190
16 days
ex flights
Peru and Galapagos vacation
An inspirational tour combining Peru, Ecuador & the Galapagos
From
£5692
15 days
ex flights
Highlights of Patagonia vacation
10 day adventure through the Highlights of Patagonia.
From
US $1312 to US $1666
10 days
ex flights
Hiking the Inca trail vacation
An unrivalled combination of history and spectacular scenery
From
US $2049 to US $2179
8 days
ex flights
Highlights of Brazil and Peru vacation
14 Days: Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Iguazu, Rio
From
£2695
14 days
ex flights
Patagonia small group vacation
Explore Patagonia's National Parks by foot and small-ship.
From
US $5730 to US $7789
12 days
ex flights
Tour of Patagonia, El Calafate & Torres del Paine
Patagonia's best - Torres del Paine and Perito Moreno Glacier.
From
US $625 to US $875
5 days
ex flights
Bolivia and Peru tour
Explore the Amazon Andes and Inca trail
From
US $4735 to US $5370
25 days
ex flights
Patagonia luxury adventure vacation
Luxury hotels and adventure in Patagonia
From
US $4327 to US $4887
11 days
ex flights
Patagonian adventure vacation
Explore the highlights of Argentine and Chilean Patagonia
From
US $3245 to US $3404
15 days
ex flights
Atacama and Patagonia hiking vacation
Explore Chile on foot Atacama Patagonia Walking Vacation
From
£4595 to £5170
14 days
ex flights
Galapagos cruise options, tailor made
The greatest wildlife experiences tailor made
From
£4800
8 days
ex flights
Chile adventure vacation
Chile's best: the Atacama Desert, Lake District and Patagonia
From
US $5749 to US $6049
13 days
ex flights
Southern Peru small group tour
Journey through south Peru, the heartland of the Inca Empire
From
£3461
14 days
ex flights
Ecuador adventure vacation, tailor made
From volcano-top to Amazon basin and everything in between!
From
£1795
9 days
ex flights
Tailor made vacation in Brazil
Green Coast, the Pantanal, and Iguaçu Falls
From
US $6450
15 days
ex flights
Ecuador vacation, small group tour
Ecuador small group adventure vacation
From
US $2350
16 days
ex flights
Brazil wildlife vacation, tailor made
From the world’s largest jungle to wild empty beaches
From
£5115
14 days
inc UK flights
Peru highlights tour, Inca trail, Titicaca and Nazca
Taste Peru's diverse landscapes and fascinating culture
From
US $3499 to US $3649
15 days
ex flights
Galapagos tailor made vacation
Discover wildlife upclose & personal, guided by Galapagueños
From
£1995
9 days
ex flights
Tailor made vacation in Argentina, best of Argentina
Enjoy Mendoza's wineries, Iguazu Falls and Patagonia glaciers
From
US $2346 to US $2965
15 days
ex flights
Peru Amazon Rainforest family adventure
Amazon family adventure vacation, for children aged 4-10
From
US $925
4 days
ex flights
Galapagos land based adventure vacation
Amazing wildlife, both on land and underwater
From
US $3037 to US $3880
10 days
ex flights
Antarctic cruise and hiking in Chile
Walk in Atacama and Patagonia before cruising Antarctica
From
£13725
4 weeks
ex flights
Paine and Fitz Roy trek, trekking vacation
Spectacular Andes scenery from glacial lakes to towering granite peaks
From
US $5990
13 days
ex flights
Patagonian adventure vacation in Chile and Argentina
Discover stunning Patagonia
From
£2804
12 days
ex flights
1.
Atacama
2. Bolivia
3. Colombia
4. Ecuador
5. Galapagos
6. Guyana
7. Iguazu Falls
8. Inca trail
9. Northern Amazon
10. Pantanal
11. Patagonia
12. Southern Amazon
2. Bolivia
3. Colombia
4. Ecuador
5. Galapagos
6. Guyana
7. Iguazu Falls
8. Inca trail
9. Northern Amazon
10. Pantanal
11. Patagonia
12. Southern Amazon
Atacama
1. Atacama
The world's driest and oldest desert is a 1,000km-long plateau of unique other-worldly beauty – a place of salt flats and emerald lakes, ancient lava fields and far horizons, dotted with 6000m peaks. Atmospheric settlements like San Pedro de Atacama contrast sharply with over 170 ghost towns. In September and October, rare spring rains can spark stunning floral blooms in southern Atacama. Read more in our Chile travel guide
Bolivia
2. Bolivia
Ringed by Andean peaks, 3,800m Lake Titicaca is the world's highest navigable lake – deemed the birthplace of the sun, moon and the first humans in Inca myth. But Bolivia is full of such beauty. Sucre and Potosi are ravishing historic towns, contrasted by the tropical Oriente region, the dramatically sparse Altiplano and a vast slice of mesmerising Amazon rainforest. Read more in our Bolivia travel guide.
Colombia
3. Colombia
Forget Colombia's coke-and-conflict past – this is one of South America's more secret jewels. Cartagena's gorgeously preserved old city contrasts with cobblestoned rural villages and a stunning history-soaked Caribbean coast. Inland, the dense jungle of the Darien Gap is a biodiversity mecca that contrasts thrillingly with the dramatic desert vistas of La Guajira. Read more in our Colombia travel guide.
Ecuador
4. Ecuador
Crammed into an area the size of the UK, Ecuador's habitats include steamy Amazon jungle, high Andean páramo, bird-filled cloud forest and mangrove-lined coast. Add majestic colonial cities beside snow-capped volcanoes, and the unique wildlife of Galápagos. Ecuador's culture is equally diverse, from the Inca-descended Quichua to lowland rainforest tribes where shamans guide and forest plants heal. Read more in our Ecuador travel guide
Galapagos
5. Galapagos
Isolation 1,000km out in the Pacific from Ecuador has shaped Galapagos' wildlife into a unique menagerie of amazing animals, a living exhibit of evolution bustling amid forest, lava fields and smoking volcanoes. Lack of fear lets you admire these scenes without disturbing their protagonists: giant tortoises, salt-snorting iguanas, penguins and sea lions. Explore in the footsteps of Darwin (and pirates) with our Galapagos travel guide.
Guyana
6. Guyana
Stunning landscapes, awesome biodiversity and charmingly rough-edged, colonial history in the capital Georgetown give Guyana a concentrated blast of draws. Kaieteur National Park features gorgeous waterfalls plus rainforest and savannah, while Rupununi is home to atmospheric cowboy and old mining towns by the Brazilian border. Amerindian villages offer fascinating indigenous culture. Read more in our Guyana travel guide.
Iguazu Falls
7. Iguazu Falls
Straddling the Argentina-Brazil border, the mighty Iguazu Falls stretch 3km and tower higher than Niagara. There are actually over 270 falls, and you’ll need to border hop for the full experience. The Brazilian side has rainforest walks and catwalks above the cascades, while Argentina allows you to cruise upriver on a zodiac – navigating rapids to reach the Devil’s Throat Canyon. Read more in our Iguazu Falls travel guide.
Inca trail
8. Inca trail
This high altitude hike takes brave trekkers through extraordinary Andean scenery, with mountain passes, Quechua villages, Alpine tundra and humid cloud forests. There are several routes to choose from; the 43km classic route is usually completed in four or five days. Most of the trail follows original Incan stone paths, and leads to the "Sun Gate" - the most dramatic entry point to Machu Picchu. Read more in our Inca Trail travel guide.
Northern Amazon
9. Northern Amazon
The vast Amazonian city of Manaus is the leaping off point for tours into the northern region of this rainforest, including the waterfall, wildlife and pristine jungle environment of Jaú National Park. Take a cruise past tropical archipelagos, looking out for pink river dolphins and giant otters. Or encounter true native culture by canoeing to Yanomami and Tukano villages.
Pantanal
10. Pantanal
The world’s largest seasonal wetland – and Brazil’s wildlife spotting HQ – is home to 700 bird species and nearly 100 mammals, more easily viewed thanks to the lack of jungle. Choose from night treks, canoe rides and horseback hacks to see capybaras, anacondas, monkeys and hyacinth macaws. Porto Jofre is also the world's top spot to see habituated jaguars. Read more in our Pantanal travel guide.
Patagonia
11. Patagonia
Patagonia would be a unique and wonderful country all by itself. Iconic sealife throngs its long coast: whales and elephant seals, albatross and penguins. Inland, lonely steppe overflown by condors mixes with jewel-like lakes and epic peaks in national parks like Torres del Paine. Rustic mining and ranch towns complement old Welsh settlements and indigenous communities. Read more in our Patagonia travel guide.
Southern Amazon
12. Southern Amazon
While many of the Amazon’s thousands of species stay concealed by dense greenery, guides can help you spot some of the 550 bird species and multiple types of monkey – and if you don’t see howler monkeys you’re sure to hear them, even amid the startling natural crescendo of the world's largest jungle. Capybaras – giant rodents – graze the riverbanks.
Our top South America Vacation
Galapagos cruises
Sail in a charming red schooner
From
US $2614
8 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
Daily departures throughout the year.
Daily departures throughout the year.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about South America or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
Travel times in South America
The following times give you a rough idea of the travel times between the main attractions in South America.
2 hours by plane
4 hours by plane
4 days on foot
2 hours by air, then 1 hr by car
2 hours by air
13 1/2 hours by train
6hrs 30mins by road
3hrs 15mins by train
12 hours by bus (sleeper options available)
2 hours by air
2 hours 30 minutes by road
More about South America
The best time to visit much of South America is any time outside of the Jan-March rains. Remember that in the southern hemisphere, seasons are reversed...
We take you trekking, bushwhacking, rafting and salsa-ing your way across this thrilling continent, from Amazon depths to Andean peaks...
Trek in the Andes, spot Andean wildlife, discover Aymara, Quechua, Afro and Latino culture, or cross remote borders on a thrilling overland tour...
There are few places that hold such significance for life on earth as the Galapagos Islands.
Towering walls of glacial ice, windswept open steppe and spectacular miradores with views of majestic jagged mountains are Patagonia’s calling cards.
Wildlife in South America has thrilled scientists and explorers and beguiled travelers for centuries.
Latinos are famously welcoming towards children, and will be delighted to share folklore, street food, language and dance with any curious visitor...
Get tips on the best way to explore Patagonia, the Amazon vs the Pantanal, what to do in the Lake District and where to find the best street food...
Is there really such a thing as an ethical wildlife selfie? The spread of social media has encouraged a worrying trend in pictures of tourists holding, hugging and feeding wild animals, and NGO World Animal Protection has campaigned to stop this.
Across the continent there are issues with the displacement, deforestation and deep set poverty. Our guide helps you make wise - and kind - choices...
Find all of our South America guides in one place, for particular places in South America such as Bolivia, the Galapagos or Peru.
It’s not possible to visit every country in South America at the moment – some borders remain closed to international travelers.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: McKay Savage] [Top box: CucombreLibre]
[Atacama: Justin Jensen]
[Bolivia: Madeleine Deaton]
[Colombia: Luz Adriana Villa]
[Guyana: amanderson2]
[Northern Amazon: A C Moraes]
[Southern Amazon: Kevin Jones]
[Driving times: Deensel]
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