The Ultimate 6 Month South America Itinerary on a Budget

This 6 month South America itinerary is based on my own extensive travels in this magical region over the last few years. I first visited in June 2022 when I flew out from Panama after a 3-month Central American trip to Colombia.

I have since been to every country in the continent at least once, except Venezuela which I will most likely be visiting within the next few weeks.

I’ve been to most countries down here multiple times, gone to almost every place that tourists visit (and many they don’t), and I love almost everything about the region.

I want you to experience South America’s magic in the same way I did. Therefore I’ve crafted this 6-month itinerary to make sure you don’t miss a single thing worth seeing.

If you follow this itinerary, your life will never be the same. You will no longer settle for an average life in an office back home working for 5 days a week in return for just a few weeks off each year.

South America will inspire you to pursue a life of travel and adventure. It will work wonders for your confidence, and help you make memories you will keep for a lifetime.

You can of course change or skip parts of this itinerary to best suit your interests. Although everywhere I’ve been that’s worth visiting, I’ve included in here. And anywhere not worthwhile has been left out.

All images are my own, showing you a “real” idea of what to expect, rather than something edited to make a place look better than it is.

The Ultimate 6-Month South America Itinerary

A 6-month itinerary is 182 days in length. However I’ve condensed this to 160 days, because you will need the other 22 days to cover for a variety of things which I talk about at the very end of this itinerary.

By following this guide, you will travel through bucket list destinations like the wonderful Patagonia region of Argentina and Chile, Bolivia’s breathtaking altiplano, the mesmerising desert of Atacama, Argentina and Brazil’s spectacular Iguazu Falls, and Peru’s mysterious Incan relics, among much more.

This itinerary was done on a budget. I will talk about money towards the end. This isn’t a region you can realistically travel in on a shoestring, as you can in Southeast Asia. But it can still be done relatively cheaply if you plan appropriately and spend more time in the most affordable destinations.

My target spend in Latin America is £40/US$50 a day. Some days cost more, others cost less. However with this average, your trip will cost £7,280 (US$9,100) over 182 days, not including flights to and from South America, travel insurance (which is very important), and other pre-trip expenses.

At £14,600 (US$18,250) over a 365-day year, this level of expenditure is well below the £20,800 (US$26,000) UK minimum wage for 18-20-year-olds as of April 2025. For our US friends who often earn much more, this level of spending is even more affordable.

Anyway, let’s get into what you came here for. Your 6 month South America trip starts here:

Colombia

Colombia is the logical first stop for many South America adventures. Whilst you can’t cross the Darien Gap overland from Panama (well you can, but it’s highly dangerous and only recommended for the most extreme adventurers), Colombia is one of the best-connected countries with nations outside South America.

Only Argentina, Brazil and perhaps Peru and Chile can boast a similar level of accessibility.

You can almost travel around South America like a clock. Only Paraguay requires a detour into the centre of that clock.

I use the clock analogy, because an anticlockwise route from Colombia to Brazil will take you through most countries.

If you make the effort to also see Paraguay, this route will only skip Venezuela and the Guianas.

Most backpackers skip Venezuela due to its reputation as a dangerous country in recent years. Whilst I can tell you from person experience that the Guianas aren’t worth visiting and they definitely aren’t budget friendly.

Therefore, we start our journey at the 11 o’clock mark on the South American map: the magical country of Colombia, and my favourite in the world (from 72 countries visited) until Argentina topped it on my return to the beautiful south.

Days 1-3: Bogota

Bogota is a city that divides opinion. Some people love it, many don’t. And I get it. On first glance, Bogota is a gloomy city with bad weather and a bit of an edge in terms of safety.

My first tip would be to stay in La Candelaria. This scenic part of the capital city is the main tourist hub. You will meet many other gringo (western) backpackers here, and find lots of places to stay with suitable facilities for tourists, with some even helping to arrange tours.

My second tip would be to do a free walking tour. I’ll be saying this several times throughout this itinerary, but free walking tours are such a good way of getting to know a place.

A local guide who has generally spent years in a city (often growing up there), will show you around the coolest spots, take you to a few hidden gems, teach you a lot about the history of both the city and country, and then answer any questions you have.

Sometimes they even take you to local markets where you can sample the local food and drink. Bogota was one city where I experienced this.

It was thanks to this free walking tour that I left Bogota with a positive opinion, knowing there’s a lot of cool stuff behind the dull, grey, graffiti-covered buildings.

It not only took us to many fun spots around the city, but we also sampled some fruits and chicha at District Market Square La Concordia, we drank Colombian coffee in La Candelaria, and our guide recommended a restaurant serving up exotic meats including capybara.

Elsewhere, there were two more major highlights of Bogota I really enjoyed.

Firstly, there’s a mountain in the city called Monserrate which is well worth a visit. It takes around 45-60 minutes to walk up, or you can take a cable car for £3 (US$4) if you purchase a one-way ticket, or £5.50/US$7 for a return ticket.

Timings for Monserrate are listed here. It is open from 5am-1pm for a trip up to the top, and until 4pm for the descent. I recommend coming in early-to-mid-morning in order to ascend the trail whilst the police are guarding it. They tend to disappear in the afternoon here.

The other must-do in Bogota is attending a football match. I’ve been to football in 38 countries so far, and Colombia is by far the best (level with Brazil) for atmosphere.

I went to two games in the country, and it was Millonarios at Estadio El Campin who I saw first, purchasing a ticket from a tout outside the ground before witnessing a dull 0-0 draw. The excitement came in the stands however where passionate fans created an incredible atmosphere that made the experience memorable.

Other attractions of note in Bogota include the gold museum (Museo de Oro), the Botero art museum (Museo Botero), and dinner at the famous entertainment restaurant Andres Carne de Res.

A day trip to the nearby Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira is also a popular thing to do.

Days 4-7: Medellin

Magical Medellin is my favourite city in Colombia. It’s lively, it’s fun, and it has a lot going on.

Even whilst walking down the streets I saw one talented man juggling knives whilst riding a unicycle, and a group of musicians performing Andean music as cars waited at red lights.

Now, once again I recommend the free walking tour in Medellin. I won’t cover every little thing to do here, as the walking tour will show you all of those.

I would also suggest you take a Comuna 13 walking tour. This neighbourhood was the most dangerous in the world in the early 1990s at the peak of Pablo Escobar’s drugs empire. Today it has transformed into an arts hub.

Comuna 13 is highly interesting, and you will get the chance to meet real people with dark stories from the violent past of the area. It will really get you out of the western comfort bubble when you see what locals here experienced.

Another highlight of Medellin is once again, going to the football. Go to an Independiente Medellin game where you will experience one of the best atmospheres in world football. The stands were absolutely rocking when I went.

Lastly, you should consider a Pablo Escobar tour whilst in Medellin. Whilst this one isn’t free, it’s a fascinating insight into what the city was like in the drug lord’s heyday. You travel through key parts of the city related to Escobar, such as the “prison” (actually a comfortable mansion) he built for himself, and the grave where he’s buried today.

Medellin also has a big party scene. Don’t miss out on “Gringo Tuesdays” which is meant to be a language exchange event between Colombians and foreigners, but really it’s just one big party.

As the name suggests, it takes place on Tuesdays only, in the evening. It’s a great way to meet locals, and much safer than meeting people online which is infamous in this city due to several incidents where foreigners are drugged and robbed (or worse).

The best place to stay in Medellin is El Poblado.

Day 8: Guatape

Colombia has some really awesome small towns, and one of my favourites is an easy day trip from Medellin.

It takes 2 hours to take a bus to Guatape, and it’s absolutely worth it.

There are three reasons to come here really.

Start with the rock, El Peñon de Guatape. This giant monolith has a giant staircase built down the middle, creating a zig-zag shape which looks cool from below.

There are over 700 steps leading to the top, so you may need to stop a few times to catch your breath on the way up.

At the top you will see the second point of interest, Embalse Peñol-Guatape. This is the name given to the surrounding lakes which look really spectacular from up high.

Once you come down from the rock, it’s time for the 3rd and final interesting place: Guatape town. This is a typical Colombian town, it’s small, full of charm and the colourful buildings bring a lot of character to the place.

Spend your afternoon there before heading back to Medellin.

Day 9: Medellin and Bus to Cartagena

The truth of travel is that not every day is fun. And this is an example of that.

Brace yourself for over 14 hours on a bus which takes you to Cartagena, on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.

Days 10-11: Cartagena

Personally I didn’t love Cartagena, but many people do. After all, it’s still a city that attracts a lot of tourism.

Cartagena has a lot of historical points of interest. So what’s the best way to learn about what goes on here?

You guessed it, a free walking tour.

The other main activity here is just walking around and enjoying the scenery. Cartagena is probably the most scenic city in Colombia, a stark contrast from ugly Bogota with its gloomy grey buildings.

One point of note is the Palenqueras: ladies of African origin who walk around with fruit bowls balanced on their heads, whilst wearing skirts in the red, blue and yellow colours of Colombia’s flag. They charge for photos, but are still a unique sight exclusive to this city adding a little extra charm.

Days 12-14: Santa Marta

After Cartagena, head to Santa Marta. This city itself isn’t the most exciting in Colombia, it is more of a base for surrounding areas of interest.

One thing you can do here is party.

I stayed at Viajero Santa Marta Hostel which had a rooftop bar and pool with a great social vibe, and evening activities including trips to La Brisa Loca, a famous hostel in the area with a DJ playing on the roof and turning it into a club-like party spot.

Day 15: Minca

From Santa Marta, it is worth taking a day trip to Minca, where you can enjoy several waterfalls along trails through the jungle.

Some of them are good spots to bathe in for a while surrounded by nature. Although you may also be surrounded by a fair few tourists.

Pozo Azul is perhaps the best-known.

Days 16-17: Tayrona National Park

Another day trip I took from Santa Marta was to Tayrona National Park.

But… you shouldn’t do this as a day trip. It deserves more than that.

Tayrona is a jungle with several awesome creatures ranging from sloths to howler monkeys to agoutis (like capybaras) and much more.

It’s also home to indigenous tribes including the Kogi people who I saw wandering through the trees in white robes.

I met several travellers who stayed in the park overnight, and they reported sleeping in hammocks before waking up to spectacular sunrises across the jungle.

It’s a nature paradise, and I regret only going for a day. Therefore I recommend you leave your heavy bags at your accommodation in Santa Marta, and spend at least one night in the jungle.

Day 18: Bus to San Gil

After Tayrona, you will need to head back to Santa Marta.

I went on to Palomino which is a small beach town, but it’s really dull and run-down so I won’t recommend it in this itinerary. It offers nothing you can’t find elsewhere.

From Santa Marta, you will need to take a bus to Bucaramanga, and another bus onwards to San Gil.

I ended up staying overnight in Bucaramanga, so be prepared for this possibility if the bus is a slow one.

Day 19: San Gil

San Gil is the adventure sports capital of Colombia. You can go bungee jumping, skydiving, rafting, biking and much more.

This is the place to come and really get out of your comfort zone with some activities that get the heart pumping.

Just make sure your insurance covers such activities.

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to do much here after picking up what turned out to be a very nasty illness that lasted a week.

But hopefully you have better luck and can see what San Gil has to offer.

Day 20: Barichara and Guane

Remember when I said Colombia has some great small towns? Just an hour from San Gil is beautiful Barichara.

The Cathedral of Barichara is one of the best spots, but the graveyard is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.

After Barichara, walk to Guane a couple of hours away through the hills. It’s a very scenic hike, and should be enjoyable (I say “should” as my health was really struggling at this point, and I couldn’t enjoy my surroundings any longer).

Guane is even smaller than Barichara. But these two towns are the perfect way to end your time in Colombia.

I really hope you enjoy this amazing country as much as I did.

Day 21: Bogota

The last day will be a boring one. Take a 7-hour bus back from San Gil to Bogota, then head to the airport and fly to Quito, the capital of Ecuador.

Ecuador

Ecuador is a country with many challenges. For all its beauty it is also fraught with danger.

Whilst Ecuador is home to the Galapagos Islands, which by the way are not budget friendly, it has also been plagued by drug and gang violence in recent years.

As a tourist, you can certainly travel through Ecuador safely, but you do need to take extra precautions, and not take unnecessary risks in this country.

My solo travel safety guide is a good starting point for how to stay safe in Ecuador.

Days 22-24: Quito

The capital city Quito has a lot to see and do. However it is not the safest place in the world.

I almost got mugged here in 2022 after my bus missed its stop and dropped me in a dodgy part of the city.

There are still some awesome things worth seeing here.

As you may have guessed, my first recommendation would be to take a free walking tour with a local guide who can show you the highlights and tell you exactly how to stay safe here.

The other real highlight of Quito is the Mitad del Mundo monument in the north of the city.

The name “Ecuador” means “equator”. The Mitad del Mundo monument is supposedly located exactly where the northern and southern hemispheres meet.

I’ll explain why “supposedly” in a second…

You can also learn a bit about Ecuador’s indigenous cultures, get some great views of the surrounding mountains from the top of the monument, and enjoy a beer in the sunshine.

However, it was discovered that the monument was actually built 240 metres south of the actual equator.

As a result, there is a much more modest second monument, which is located on the real equator.

A tour guide will explain what happens at the equator and play some games with you.

One of these will involve pouring water into a bowl with a drain at the bottom.

The water will go down the drain in one direction in the northern hemisphere and the other in the southern hemisphere.

It will not spin at all right in the middle.

There are a few more little games you will play, including one where you try to balance an egg.

It was pretty fun learning about how things work either side of the equator.

This was one of the most enjoyable places to visit in Quito.

Elsewhere, the Virgin of El Panecillo is a popular viewpoint in the heart of the city.

However it is very dangerous to go up there without private transport. You have to pass through slums where muggers lie in wait to attack unsuspecting tourists.

Do not go up here without Uber. The top is fine as there is a police presence there.

Overall, Quito is a very interesting city. However, my personal experiences were dampened by the mugging attempt.

If you are ultra cautious here, you should be able to enjoy Ecuador’s capital safely before heading south.

Day 25: Cotopaxi National Park

From Quito, you can take a day trip to Cotopaxi National Park. A bus journey lasts for just over 1.5 hours, and will drop you near the entrance.

I took this and walked in. Unfortunately, that was as far as I could go without a guide.

Apparently only cars can enter the park without local guides. I didn’t have a car and was therefore forced to pay US$40 (£32) for a (pretty useless) guide-turned-driver who I never wanted in the first place.

And the guides don’t speak English here either.

I hope you get a better guide than I did. But regardless of that, Cotopaxi has two real highlights.

One is Cotopaxi Volcano, an incredible sight best known for its snowy peak. Unfortunately, the fog blocked my view, meaning I never saw the best of it.

Just be aware that the weather can make or break your trip here.

Aside from the volcano, you also have the opportunity to walk around Laguna de Limpiopungo, which is fun. But be prepared to be blasted by cold weather and strong winds.

At the end of your tour, head back to the main road and catch the bus back to Quito. Then head to the next stop.

Days 26-27: Baños

Baños is the adventure sports capital of Ecuador. If you liked San Gil in Colombia, you will love it here.

Baños is also one of the safest places on Ecuador’s mainland. Therefore it’s nice not to permanently be looking over your shoulder as you have to in the big cities.

In fact, it’s even one of South America’s safest cities.

Activities on offer include ziplining, white water rafting, bungee jumping and more.

You can get some pretty cool views from above here. I attempted to hike to the top of a nearby mountain, only to fail as I encountered a dead-end and ended up clambering over the remnants of a landslide, before admitting defeat and heading back to base.

Baños is certainly worth a couple of days of your time.

Day 28: Guayaquil

Get in, get done, get out.

Guayaquil is notorious for being the most dangerous city in Ecuador. Therefore I suggest minimising your time here.

You shouldn’t be a target for crime if you take appropriate precautions. But I still wouldn’t hang around for long.

The main reason to come here is so you can buy a bus ticket down through Peru to the capital Lima.

But whilst in Guayaquil, I’d still advise taking Ubers to and from Santa Ana Hill. The hill is a mini fortress of sorts, since it is protected by armed police.

You can walk up to the top, enjoy views of Guayaquil from the lighthouse at the summit, and have a nice beer or two on the way up (but no more than that, you need to keep your wits about you here).

I really enjoyed Santa Ana Hill. It’s a shame that Guayaquil is too dangerous to see much more beyond that.

Peru

Just like Colombia, Peru is one of my top 5 countries in the world. And if you follow this 3 week Peruvian itinerary, then I’m sure you will feel the same way.

I’ve tweaked things slightly for the ultimate South America itinerary here, as there’s a lot to see over 6 months and you will need a few flexible days which I will talk about in the end.

I have no doubt however, that you will fall in love with Peru’s natural landscapes, Andean culture and mysterious Inca heritage.

Day 29: Bus to Lima

This journey is long, uncomfortable and boring.

Firstly you will take a bus down from Guayaquil to the tiny town of Tumbes just inside Peru.

Then you have a marathon 20-hour+ bus ride down to the capital Lima.

I’d be lying if I said this part of the trip was fun…

Days 30-31: Lima

I’ll be honest, Lima isn’t my favourite city in the world.

And for those of you who may be unaware, us Brits are famous for underplaying what we really mean. And I mean (in my opinion) Lima kinda sucks.

But I’m including it in this itinerary for two reasons. Firstly, because it’s a key stepping stone between Guayaquil and Paracas.

And secondly, because travel is subjective and my idea of “meh” may be your idea of “wow”. So I won’t leave out something I did unless it offers nothing you won’t find elsewhere in this itinerary.

Some people do love Lima. And that’s because they hang around in the Miraflores area. Here you can find many popular beaches which are loved by surfers. It’s also home to many of Lima’s high-end restaurants and its nightlife.

Lima is a world famous gastronomic city, home to some of the world’s top-rated restaurants. Central in Barranco was ranked the top restaurant in the world for 2023.

It has since slipped out the top 50 however with Maido in Miraflores currently Peru’s top offering, at a still very respectable number 5 on the world’s best restaurants list.

Elsewhere in Lima, if you love a bit of dark tourism, then check out the Lima Catacombs. For a small fee of £4/US$5, you can tour the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco with a guide who takes you underneath the basilica, where thousands of bodies are laid out for visitors to see.

Spooky, but pretty cool.

Other things to do include a free walking tour of the historic centre. Not one of my personal favourite walking tours, but architecture fans will enjoy it.

Lastly, consider heading to the hipster favourite Barranco for street art and more of a vibrant vibe.

Day 32: Paracas

After Lima, there are two cool places to visit nearby. The first is Paracas, a 3.5-hour bus ride from the capital.

This rather unassuming seaside town is home to the Ballestas Islands, known by many as the “budget Galapagos”.

This is because you can take a boat tour here, where you go around various islands (without leaving the boat) and see several marine creatures such as penguins and sea lions among others.

As a bonus, you can find a mysterious geoglyph known as El Candelabro which has been around for over 2,000 years, without anyone knowing where it first came from.

Thanks to El Candelabro, you don’t just get the budget Galapagos, but also the budget Nazca Lines too!

The Nazca Lines are best seen via helicopter, which obviously isn’t cheap. Therefore I’ve omitted them from this itinerary (and my own trip), because Paracas offers a good alternative.

Day 33: Huacachina

Just over an hour from Paracas is the city of Ica, the main hub for Huacachina, a desert oasis which is a 10-minute tuk tuk ride away.

Huacachina is seriously cool. It’s a lake surrounded by giant sand dunes, with a mini town built around it, made up predominantly of tour agencies, hostels and restaurants.

There are two major activities here.

Dune bashing involves taking a dune buggy around the sand dunes and just driving across the desert terrain.

Then there’s sand boarding, where you “surf” down the sand dunes on a board, similar to volcano boarding which you can do in Nicaragua, but for those looking for something a little less crazy.

Beyond these activities, Huacachina is a party hub too, where you can dance the night away at Wild Rover alongside fellow tourists and locals alike.

Don’t miss Huacachina. This was one of my favourite spots in Peru.

Once you’re done here, take a night bus to…

Days 34-35: Arequipa

One of the most beautiful cities in South America, if not the world.

Arequipa is an underrated gem with some incredible views of the surrounding snowy mountains.

I’ve probably done at least 40 free walking tours in various cities across the world. And to date, the one in Arequipa has been the best one yet.

Why?

Because it was more than just sightseeing and a history lecture, this tour was interactive too.

We were taken to a small place called Mundo Alpaca where we were able to feed the llamas and alpacas.

Mundo Alpaca also had a textile museum where locals made clothing using the wool from its residents.

This is the tour I did, if you wish to feed the alpacas too! Although I can’t guarantee with certainty that you will be able to do exactly the same. You should contact the guide before the tour on Guruwalk to be sure that this is possible.

Elsewhere in Arequipa, you should spend time at the Plaza de Armas. This is the central square, and it’s possible to grab a drink on the rooftop, whilst watching the sunset. A real highlight given the city’s surroundings.

Museum fans may be interested in the Museo Santuarios Andinos which details Peru’s Andean history, with several archeological exhibitions, and even a mummy on display.

Day 36: Colca Canyon

Whilst in Arequipa, I would recommend a day trip to Colca Canyon, which you can easily do on a guided group tour.

The canyon is famous for its spectacular landscapes and wildlife including Andean condors.

You can also see an ice-capped mountain in the distance, which happens to be the very start point of the Amazon River.

This a fun day trip with lunar-style landscapes you won’t be used to if coming from Europe.

By the end of the day, you will return to Arequipa, where you can catch a night bus to your next stop.

Days 37-38: Cusco

Cusco is like Mecca for South America backpackers. I met few fellow westerners in Brazil and Argentina, none at all in Guyana, a fair few in Medellin, and just about half of Europe in Cusco.

But there’s a reason why this magnificent city is so popular. It is the gateway to Machu Picchu and other incredible places such as the Sacred Valley and Rainbow Mountain.

Before going, I assumed Cusco was famous purely for being a gateway city.

I was very wrong.

To find out why, you can start with, that’s right, another walking tour.

I was lucky and happened to be the only person on my tour (a big surprise given the city’s popularity). My guide Casio told me a lot about the city’s Incan history, taking me to both the major points of interest in the city, and a few hidden spots down back alleys.

Perhaps the highlight was when he played several traditional Peruvian instruments for me to hear. And he even capped off the tour by giving me a small llama replica made by a local craftswoman.

Cusco is also home to Mercado Central de San Pedro, a bustling marketplace full of vendors selling their wares, mostly consisting of various fruits, vegetables and meats.

This is no place for the squeamish however, as they sell animal meat with the heads still on display, a little culture shock compared to the sanitised markets of Europe, where you see nothing more gruesome than a few slices of ham.

Being at the heart of Peru’s archeological region, it should be no surprise that Cusco is home to some interesting ruin sites from Incan times.

Saqsayhuaman Ruins are based at the very top of Cusco, and they cost 70 soles (£15/US$19) to enter. This price also gives you access to the nearby Qenqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay sites too.

I recommend a bare minimum of two days in Cusco. This is not just to see the sites (which are awesome), but also to acclimatise to life at high altitude. Otherwise your Rainbow Mountain and Machu Picchu trips could be a real struggle.

Lastly, make sure you book your Machu Picchu tour here if you haven’t already sorted it online. You will need to book it at least a few days in advance due to the popularity of the treks.

You won’t be able to book the Inca Trail here, as that sells out months in advance and only has a handful of places each day. Instead, I recommend the incredible Salkantay Trek, which was one of my all-time travel highlights.

You should book the trek in Cusco (it’s much cheaper than online) at least a few days in advance. Otherwise, you may have to wait for a while as demand is high. You most likely won’t be able to find a tour within a day or two of arrival.

Days 39-41: Sacred Valley

Near Cusco is the Sacred Valley, a valley (duh) full of interesting archeological sites.

I stayed in Urubamba for two nights. Wouldn’t necessarily recommend it as there’s nothing there really. I used it as a base town to visit the actual sites of interest, but really you’re better off staying around one of them to start your Sacred Valley journey.

Just like with the Cusco ruins, the Sacred Valley costs 70 soles (£15/US$19). This is for the individual sites of interest, rather than the entire valley. Tickets are valid for two days.

They include access to Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero and Moray, but not the salt mines of Maras which are often combined with a Moray trip due to their close proximity.

All five locations have something different to offer.

Pisac is a scenic small town, surrounded by mountains where you can hike around and see some cool ruins.

Ollantaytambo offers some easier ruins where you can pretty much walk straight in and don’t need to test your body with a lot of hiking as you do with Pisac.

Chinchero is a smaller site with similarities to Pisac and Ollantaytambo. It is perhaps the least interesting of the five spots named here.

Maras is a mini salt mine. Not a patch on spectacular Uyuni in Bolivia, or even the Salinas Grades in norther Argentina. Still worth an hour or two of your time regardless.

Lastly, Moray is home to some odd-looking circular land formations that look like they’ve been created by aliens.

The Sacred Valley is often overlooked in favour of its more famous neighbours (Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain). However I feel it’s a cool spot worth spending a couple of days in.

You can read in more detail about the locations here on my dedicated Peru itinerary.

Head back to Cusco at the end of your two days in the valley, and get ready for the next big adventure.

Day 42: Rainbow Mountain

Mount Vinicunca is commonly known as Rainbow Mountain. And if you go there, you will understand why.

It’s a mountain displaying many colours, just like a rainbow. And it’s seriously impressive.

You can take a cheap guided tour from Cusco, for around £17/US$22. From there a guide will pick you up very early in the morning and take you on a long drive.

Four hours later, and you will start the 1-2 hour ascent up Mount Vinicunca. Be careful, as I know even Peruvians who suffered with altitude sickness here. It’s vital that you acclimatise in Cusco and the Sacred Valley before coming here.

You will see indigenous locals with their llamas and alpacas as you make your way up, and eventually you will reach the mountain’s peak where you can take some nice pictures.

Mount Vinicunca is without a doubt worth visiting. One of the best places in an already-incredible country in my view.

Day 43: Make Preparations in Cusco

After Rainbow Mountain, you’re going to need some rest. Not only that, but you should also prepare for the main event… a 5-day trek to Machu Picchu along the illustrious Salkantay Trail.

You should buy enough snacks and water bottles to cover 80km of walking over 5 days. If going on a tour (which I highly recommend), meals will be taken care of, it’s just the small things you need to sort.

And you should have hiking trousers and hiking boots already. But if not, then make sure you buy them right now as they will be as valuable as gold in the coming days.

They’re sold for heavy markups in Cusco however. I spent an eye-watering £65 (US$85) on some bang average trousers because I didn’t come well-prepared…

A guide will come to your hotel to go through all the final details of the trek and provide all information you need. Listen carefully to ensure you have the best experience, and get some good sleep in ahead of an early start.

Days 44-48: Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

The magic begins. Five days walking over 80km across humid jungles, snowy mountains, and everything in between.

One of the highlights on the first day is Humantay Lake, a glistening blue lake in the mountains surrounded by stunning scenery.

Day two is a whopping 22km walk taking you through ice-cold mountains, where during my own trip, snow was fluttering down.

Days three and four are days of descent, heading to more humid jungle regions before you eventually end up in the small town of Aguas Calientes, the start point for the final push to Machu Picchu itself.

On the fifth and final day, you will be up early and hiking through the dark (unless you take the bus, which is pretty expensive).

Ultimately, you will see the magnificent World Wonder, Machu Picchu.

You can read my 3-week Peru itinerary for more details on the Salkantay Trek.

Day 49: Rest in Cusco

Eventually you will come back to Cusco late on day 5, and your legs will be like jelly after a testing few days.

Rest up and have a chilled day. You deserve it. And you probably need it too.

When you’re ready, hop on the bus across the border to the Bolivian border town of Copacabana.

Not to be confused with Brazil’s famous beach of the same name of course…

Bolivia

Bolivia will be the first “split country” in this itinerary, where you will visit on more than one occasion. This is because Paraguay is not really doable without returning to another country, unless you take an expensive flight to Santiago, Buenos Aires or Sao Paulo.

Bolivia is a magical country which joins Colombia and Peru as one of my favourites in the world. It has landscapes like no other, a unique culture with indigenous peoples and traditions visible in abundance, and it’s one of the cheapest countries in Latin America.

This itinerary follows a better version of the route I took during my first visit back in 2022. Although I have ditched a gruelling overland journey from La Paz to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, followed by a 26-hour bus ride to Asuncion.

This is because flying to Asuncion costs only a fraction more. And the extra challenges of the overland trip simply aren’t worth it.

If you want to book a few cool tours in Bolivia, here is a good start point:

Day 50: Copacabana

Copacabana is on the banks of Lake Titicaca. Along with Puno in Peru, it is one of the two places where people generally stop for a Titicaca adventure.

The lake is believed to be the birthplace of the Incas, which makes it a very important location for the people of Bolivia and Peru.

Today you can take a tour around islands on the lake, including popular Isla del Sol.

But perhaps the highlight is staying on artificial islands built from reeds by the indigenous Uros people.

The Uros built these islands to escape from the Incas who attacked them. Of course, this is very much in the past now, but the islands remain a cool spot to check out today.

Days 51-53: La Paz

La Paz is one of my favourite cities in the world. It’s absolutely bonkers here.

It takes around 3-4 hours to get from Copacabana to La Paz by bus. And I’d highly recommend dedicating a few days to this fun and unique city.

Bolivia feels like a different world compared to other South American countries. It borders European-style Argentina, but the two countries couldn’t be further apart.

Bolivia is dominated by indigenous people who still have widespread traditional beliefs and ways of dressing. Many of these are visible in La Paz today.

You will see many cholitas walking around the city – indigenous ladies with pigtails, bowler hats and large skirts who have effectively become the face of Bolivia in recent years.

La Paz is home to the Witches’ Market (Mercado de las Brujas) which is where all sorts of interesting trinkets are sold for witchcraft purposes. Among the most shocking are llama fetuses which I definitely haven’t seen in my local Sainsburys before, so that’s definitely unique if you have the stomach for it…

You can also take the cable car up to El Alto, the highest major city in the world. El Alto has a giant market on the streets, although this is infamous for being a pickpocketing hotspot.

The main reason to take a trip to El Alto however is to watch cholita’s wrestling which is exactly what the name suggests.

As always, I recommend a free walking tour to learn all about the city. My guide even suggested that human sacrifices still happen in Bolivia today, with victims buried alive.

Understandably, this is something that many locals deny any knowledge of… Either way, this fascinating Bolivian city has to be on your itinerary.

You will be back to Bolivia soon, but start with a short detour to Paraguay. Make sure you fly though as I took a bus to Santa Cruz de la Sierra followed by another 26-hour bus down to Asuncion. I saved just about no money and this route simply wasn’t worth it.

Paraguay

Paraguay is one of South America’s least-visited countries, which is unsurprising for two reasons.

Firstly, it lacks the magical “wow” factor of bucket list destinations such as Uyuni (Bolivia), Patagonia (Argentina/Chile), Machu Picchu (Peru) and the Amazon (9 countries).

Secondly, it’s a little inconvenient to get to, plonked in the middle of South America with poor international connections (Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires and Bogota are some of the best ways in).

But I love Paraguay. This is a chance to get off the beaten track and appreciate a country for its culture (and incredible food) rather than major sights. It’s also one of the safest Latin American countries.

Fans of the Amateur Traveler podcast may have heard me talking about why you should visit this hidden gem. And I’ll summarise briefly what you can do below.

I have a 1-week Paraguay itinerary which covers this underrated country in more detail.

Days 54-55: Asuncion

Fly from La Paz to Paraguay’s capital Asuncion to start your adventure here.

As my girlfriend’s home city, I’ve been here more than almost any European. So I wrote up an in-depth guide on 19 highlights of Asuncion. That’s more than enough to keep you busy over the next couple of days.

Among those, you should not miss out on Asuncion’s finest restaurants. World class all-you-can-eat steak is on offer in legendary restaurants such as Paulista Grill (our personal favourite) and Acuarela for little more than £10 (US$12).

Uber and Bolt are cheap and easy to use, but I wrote a detailed Asuncion bus guide if you wish to get the full local experience.

Day 56: Aregua

One of my favourite day trips is to Aregua on the banks of Lake Ypacarai.

This city is famous for ceramics and strawberries, with the latter being celebrated in the winter (July-September) when Aregua hosts its annual strawberry festival selling everything related to the beloved red fruit.

Even during other times of the year, it’s worth checking out for a day, chilling by the lake, riding a horse, and even taking a boat ride if you fancy one.

Day 57: San Bernardino

Another great day trip with lots to do is San Bernardino. It takes slightly longer to get here (read my guide linked in the previous sentence for more information). But this beach resort is where Paraguay’s rich and famous go to spend their summers.

You can play sports, party, eat great bollos (a dulce de leche-filled pastry) at La Alemana and perhaps even watch traditional dance performances if you visit during a national holiday.

Round off your day with all-you-can-eat steak at O’Gaucho before heading back to Asuncion.

Days 58-59: Encarnacion and Jesuit Missions

Take a bus from Asuncion to Encarnacion, and base yourself here for a couple of days.

Encarnacion itself is boring, but you’re here to visit a different spot: Paraguay’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Jesuit Missions.

There are two UNESCO-recognised ruin sites (UNESCO recognises them collectively, hence why I said Paraguay’s only site) – Jesus de Tavarangue and La Santisima Trinidad de Parana.

Both are close with just 10km between them, so the two of them can easily be done in a single afternoon. We managed it on the day we arrived in Encarnacion after spending the entire morning on a bus.

On your second day, take a day trip to San Cosme y Damian. It’s 90km from Encarnacion, and not a UNESCO-recognised site like the other two, but I would argue this is the coolest of the Jesuit Missions.

There is also a space observatory alongside the ruins in San Cosme y Damian, and you get a free tour which is pretty cool. You need to be fluent in Spanish to understand however.

Day 60: Return to Asuncion

After Encarnacion, head back to the capital ahead of your trip back to Bolivia (via Argentina). Tie up any loose ends here in your final few hours.

Hopefully you thought Paraguay was worth visiting. You will be back in a few weeks if you follow this South America itinerary day-by-day.

Day 61: Travel to Salta

Whilst returning from San Pedro de Atacama in Chile, myself and my girlfriend took a lengthy journey back to Asuncion via Salta in Argentina.

Here’s a guide on the journey we took from Salta to Clorinda, then Asuncion. Follow this route in reverse as you make your way to Argentina’s Andean corner.

Argentina

Argentina is my favourite country in the world. It’s a very safe country, it is home to the most spectacular landscapes on the planet, and you can order world class steak for low prices here.

Argentina was super cheap. However with Javier Milei radically reshaping the economy, prices have gone up for tourists. We were able to get double our money by exchanging USD for pesos on the black market in 2022 when I first visited. Now we only gain 25% with this method.

I wrote about getting the best exchange rates in Argentina here.

Even if this was the most expensive Latin American country, it would be well worth a few weeks of your time. The fact it’s more of a mid-range destination than a costly one is a bonus.

Although I do hear that prices are raising very fast, even just a few weeks after our latest trip here.

I’ll give you some tips on what to do in northwest Argentina below, but check out these offerings from Viator to see if any appeal to you.

Days 62-64: Salta

Unlike elsewhere in Argentina, Salta (and surrounding areas) have an Andean vibe similar to Peru rather than Europe (the rest of Argentina has much more in common with Europe).

The main attraction in Salta is to take a tour of the Salinas Grandes.

These salt flats are a little different from Bolivia’s more famous ones at Uyuni. I must admit, Bolivia’s are better, but the Salinas Grandes are still a good taste of what’s to come, and the guides can take some nice pictures for you, including a few silly ones where you’re being chased by a dinosaur…

The tour also includes a short stop at a “rainbow mountain“. You will only spend a few minutes here, but really it isn’t as good as the one in Peru. Not even close.

Elsewhere in Salta, spend some time in Plaza 9 de Julio watching the world go by, and enjoying street entertainment.

You may also want to take a rest day here. The next couple of weeks will be pretty intense with lots of long days and exhausting activities.

Days 65-66: Cafayate

A 4-hour bus ride from Salta is Cafayate, a cool little town in the Calchaqui Valley.

Small towns in South America have a lot of charm, as you will now know from the likes of Barichara, Guane, Guatape and Pisac among others.

And Cafayate is no different.

There’s a strong Peruvian feel here, with locals looking more like the people of Cusco than Buenos Aires. The markets have an Andean theme and sell products including coca candies, a local favourite believed to help with altitude sickness.

Cafayate has two main highlights.

Firstly, the alfajor shop Calchaquitos sells some of the best alfajores in the country with a variety of different flavours on offer. They’re well worth coming out here for!

Secondly, there are some sand dunes just outside Cafayate. Ask a local taxi driver to take you there and wait. You can clamber up the dunes for some cool views, especially at sunset.

Cafayate is a fun place to visit. Head back to Salta once you’re done.

Day 67: Travel to Uyuni

From Salta, follow my guide on getting to Uyuni by bus.

It’s a long and tiring journey. You should be wary of altitude sickness on the way. Both myself and the missus felt rough on the bus from Villazon (the Bolivian border town) to Uyuni town.

Bolivia (Part 2)

It’s worth coming back to Bolivia for many reasons. But you haven’t yet seen the best bit. This is one of the highlights of South America, not just Bolivia. So don’t miss out!

Day 68: Uyuni Town

When you arrive in Uyuni late in the afternoon, find a tour agency to go with for a 3-day tour to Atacama in Chile.

I wouldn’t recommend Uturunku Travel who we used as the guide was absolutely useless and couldn’t care less when I had nasty altitude sickness on the final day.

He also skipped seeing the stunning sunsets at Uyuni salt flats, which were the highlight of my first visit back in 2022.

Stock up on snacks for 3 days in the wilderness. Although your tour should at least include meals. There are occasional places to find supplies, but they are rare and come with huge markups due to the remote locations.

Days 69-72: Take a 3-Day Tour of Uyuni Salt Flats and the Bolivian Altiplano

One of my all-time travel highlights. A magical few days in the stunning altiplano of Bolivia. Read on for an idea of what to expect.

Day 1: Salt Flats, Train Graveyard, Salt Markets, Isla Incahuasi, Salt Labyrinth and Salt Hostel

Day 1 is all about the salt flats. Stunning white landscapes which seem eternal at times.

You will start the day with the less impressive stops. Most notably, an abandoned train graveyard (cool concept, but far too packed with tourists), and a market selling goods made from salt.

Then you will head across Salar de Uyuni, take pictures and visit a monument to the Dakar Rally which once stopped here.

Next up is Isla Incahuasi, an island amongst the salt plains with several cacti growing on it. Hike to the top for great views of the surroundings.

Later you can even have fun in a labyrinth made of salt, and enjoy some wine as the sun starts to set.

We ended the day staying in a hostel which was of course made of salt!

You had to pay for literally everything though, from Wi-Fi down to toilet paper…

December-March is the best time to visit Uyuni to see the salt flats.

Day 2: Flamingo Lagoons, Volcano Viewpoint, Stone Tree and Viscachas

Day 2 is for the flamingos.

Your driver will take you to various lagoons where you see these cool creatures chilling in their natural habitat.

An awesome experience made even better by the stunning surroundings.

You also stop for views of a distant volcano, It’s nice, but the flamingos are the real highlight.

Then there’s the stone tree. I don’t see the point of this stop. It’s just a filler activity really… Basically a rock that loosely looks like a tree. Pretty lame in all honesty…

Later you will stop to see viscachas, large rodents which look more like bunnies. They live in the rocks of the altiplano. I got a scare when one dashed out suddenly from a rock beneath me, much to the amusement of onlookers!

The viscachas are fun to see at least.

In the evening, you will end up at another hostel. Ours was a ghost hostel with no staff beyond the cooks who disappeared after dinner, and no guests other than our tour group of 6. Spooky place…

It was fun though. We ended up sharing a few drinks between our tour group, and getting to know each other a little better. A fun night.

Day 3: Geysers, Thermal Baths and Arrival in Atacama.

You will start the final day by driving up to the Sol de Mañana geysers. You will once again gain altitude here and reach 5,000m above sea level.

This was a bit much for me. I felt horrific, thought I would be sick and had to be helped by my wonderful tour group who gave me warm clothing, coca leaves and other things to ensure I didn’t collapse.

The powerful geysers were cool. I was able to appreciate them despite feeling on death’s door at this stage.

We quickly descended after the geysers and made it to some thermal baths.

These were the miracle cure I needed. After warming up in the hot springs, I suddenly felt alive again. These springs were incredible and a really enjoyable way to end three exhausting yet exhilarating days.

I absolutely loved this adventure. It was a real “this is why I travel” moment. And when those moments come, every penny you have spent and every hardship you have faced seems completely worth it.

After the springs, fun time is over. You head to the border with Chile, and after a few hours of slow border formalities, you will arrive in San Pedro de Atacama.

Chile

Chile is a country I didn’t enjoy the first time around. I spent too much time in gloomy capital Santiago. I also spent a few magical days in Easter Island, but this budget-busting destination (which I’ve omitted from this itinerary for those reasons) didn’t really feel like Chile at all.

I couldn’t enjoy Atacama Desert as I injured myself in Uyuni and had to race through to Santiago for my flight, meaning there was no time to do anything worthwhile.

The second time was different. I visited magical Torres del Paine (more on that later), and finally saw the best of Atacama.

Chile is not budget-friendly. It is one of South America’s most expensive countries. Therefore I recommend minimising your time here. But it is still really cool.

Days 73-75: San Pedro de Atacama

This small desert town is a great place to take some fun tours. But first I would suggest a post-Uyuni rest day. Trust me, you will need it.

After that, there are three tours I recommend.

Firstly, to Laguna Cejar. You will see more flamingos here, but the main attraction comes at neighbouring Laguna Piedra, where you can float in the salt water, in a way similar to the Dead Sea.

Secondly, to the Moon Valley. This is a desert adventure taking you from the sands to higher ground where you can view some lunar-style landscapes (hence the name).

The last activity is the best however. An astronomical tour.

As the driest place in the world, with clear skies and high altitude, Atacama Desert is also one of the world’s best stargazing destinations.

As a result, numerous astronomy experts are based here. The good news for you, is that they share their passion with tourists who come on night tours.

You can look through telescopes and get incredible views of the moon. Venus is also visible from here. And your guide will teach you a lot about space before taking some cool pictures with the stars in the background.

The astronomy tour was one of our overall South America highlights, and we’d recommend it as the best thing to do in Atacama.

Days 76-78: Santiago

I was hesitant over whether or not to put the Chilean capital in this itinerary. Truth is, I hated Santiago and it’s one of the worst cities I’ve ever been to.

It’s filthy, expensive, surrounded by gloomy smog, there’s graffiti absolutely everywhere, regular riots take place (especially on Friday afternoons) and the locals weren’t very friendly there.

One of my travel lowlights was getting caught in riots in Santiago.

Now that I’ve persuaded you to drop everything and spend the rest of your lives in Santiago, let me explain why I have included it. And there are two reasons why.

Firstly, it’s a good stepping stone on the way to Argentina’s wine capital Mendoza (a city I love by the way).

Secondly, travel is subjective. I hated Santiago, but maybe you will love it. My job is to inform you of the cool things you can do in each place, and you can make up your own mind as to whether it’s worth visiting or not.

You’re probably sick of hearing the words “free walking tour” by now. I must admit, the Santiago tour wasn’t the best (no fault of the guide who was great, the city just wasn’t that inspiring).

Therefore I’d only recommend taking this one if you’re really keen on it.

Among Santiago’s highlights are a couple of hills you can hike up.

Cerro Santa Lucia is the smaller of the two, and won’t take much time out of your day.

The bigger and better of the two is Cerro San Cristobal. It takes an hour to ascend, and has some of the best views of the city. Santiago does at least have several mountains surrounding it, which are cool to see if the smog doesn’t block the view.

You can spend a bit of time exploring the Plaza de Armas (central square) and Mercado Central (the central market).

Santiago also has a few museums to help you kill the time, such as the Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos (Museum of Memory and Human Rights) which details what happened under Chile’s 17-year military dictatorship period under Augusto Pinochet.

Argentina (Part 2)

Salta and Cafayate were just a small introduction to Argentina. And to be honest, they’re nothing like the rest of the country.

After Chile, it’s time to discover the very best of what this magical nation has to offer. Starting in wine country.

Days 79-85: Mendoza

Mendoza is everything Santiago isn’t. It’s calm, it’s beautiful, it’s affordable, the people are pleasant, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

In the city itself, my favourite place to chill is Parque General San Martin. This massive park has a lovely lake, where people cruise around on kayaks. You can also walk around the perimeter.

The park also has regular events including markets. When I first went in 2022, there was an awesome Chilean market with some fantastic steak. Two years on and the Chilean market had unfortunately gone, however there were still many spots full of locals selling crafts.

It’s a nice place to kick a ball around or grab a beer if that’s what you wish to do.

Do not miss out on dinner at El Asadito. This upmarket steakhouse (where it only costs £11/US$14 per person for a parrilla for two) is quite possibly my favourite in the world, although Asuncion’s Paulista Grill may have a say in that.

A word of caution: prices in Argentina tend to change very quickly, and as the economy gets better for locals, it becomes rapidly more expensive for tourists, meaning the prices above may be outdated very quickly.

El Asadito has an authentic Argentine feel, with atmospheric lighting and wine bottles lining the walls, whilst you can see the meat being cooked on the parrilla at the front.

But the ambience is a bonus. The food is what you come here for, and let me tell you now that the food is fantastic.

Elsewhere, Mendoza is the wine capital of Argentina. And doing a wine tour here is so much fun!

For £31/US$39, you can book a tour in one of many agencies around Plaza Independencia and Sarmiento Street.

The tour takes you to three vineyards where you get a mini tour, along with several free wine tasting samples. We probably had about 12 samples in total, and let’s just say that everyone on the tour was pretty merry by the end.

The tour also includes a slightly less interesting stop at an oil factory. Whichever tour you go with will have the same itinerary if you book the cheapest half-day tour.

Lastly, Mendoza is near South America’s biggest mountain, Aconcagua.

Whilst you only have a very short window to hike up Aconcagua each year, it takes weeks to do so and you should be an experienced mountaineer to attempt it, so don’t do this.

Instead, take a day trip to see Aconcagua from a nearby viewpoint, Mirador del Cerro Aconcagua. Then walk to the Puente del Inca, the Inca bridge, which was visited by a certain Charles Darwin back in the day.

Rather than booking a tour, we took a bus here and did this independently. It was fun, but walking between the road at the base of the mirador, and the Inca Bridge was not a good idea.

Wait for a bus or hitchhike between the two, because the winding road between them is dangerous and susceptible to landslides.

I’d also suggest spending a few days chilling in Mendoza. It’s a good place to wind down for a bit. You will need some rest, as next up is the magical region of Patagonia. Take a flight to Bariloche to begin your journey.

I would recommend visiting Patagonia at all costs, but if your budget doesn’t allow, then consider this 3-week northern Argentina itinerary which will take you through Cordoba (a city of little interest to be honest), the Germanic village Villa General Belgrano, spectacular Iguazu Falls, and capital Buenos Aires.

Days 86-89: Bariloche

The next few stops will be covered in more detail in my 2-week Patagonia itinerary, so check that out for further information.

For the purposes of this itinerary, it makes more sense to do everything in reverse order to what I did, starting with Bariloche.

Bariloche is a European-style city famous for two things: incredible views of the mountains and lakes, and amazing chocolate which adds to the alpine-style charm of this awesome place.

I suggest two major activities whilst you’re here.

Firstly, the Circuito Chico tour, which costs £18/US$23 + an additional £9/US$11 for a chairlift up to the top of Cerro Campanario.

Make sure you pay the extra for the chairlift ride. It’s the only way up this mountain, and this was without doubt the highlight of the tour. The views from the top reminded me of Slovenia’s Lake Bled.

The other must-do in Bariloche, is to try the chocolate. There are numerous chocolate shops down the street, with many offering free samples to pique your interest.

We really loved Fabrica de Chocolates and Rapa Nui, and would say they are the best chocolate shops in Bariloche.

Days 90-91: Puerto Madryn

From Bariloche, take the night bus to Puerto Madryn. This will save you a lot compared to flying.

Once you arrive, book a day tour to Punta Tombo. In Argentina, it’s always cheaper to book tours in person rather than online.

More on Punta Tombo in a second, but there is one thing worth doing in Puerto Madryn itself.

You can go whale watching at Playa Las Canteras, which you can reach by car only. I would recommend asking a local if they can take you. It should cost around £38/US$48 for a round trip which includes an hour of the driver waiting for you (more than enough time).

Other than this, Puerto Madryn is boring. But the main reason you came here is…

Day 92: Punta Tombo

Punta Tombo. The best place to see Argentina’s penguins.

Penguin season runs from September-March, and there are literally thousands of them here. You will see endless penguins if you come in this time.

The penguins waddle freely around the area as you watch from the main path (which they sometimes cross). You can spend hours watching these cool creatures chilling in their natural habitat.

Punta Tombo isn’t just home to penguins. You can also see llama-like guanacos roaming around here. And we were even lucky enough to spot an armadillo.

One of my favourite places in South America for sure. Punta Tombo is a true gem.

And the tours often come with a second activity. We chose to see the elephant seals on Isla Escondida, which are visible from August-March.

These cool creatures lounge around on the beach and occasionally flick stones over their bodies to shelter from the sun. Really fun for a bonus activity.

Day 93: Travel to El Calafate

I’m afraid a great day has to be followed by a bad one. Begin your 27-hour bus journey to El Calafate, via Rio Gallegos.

Days 94-95: El Calafate

In Rio Gallegos, you can arrange a Perito Moreno Glacier tour at the bus terminal. You will have enough time to do this, although you can save some cash by booking from one of the many agencies in El Calafate.

El Calafate itself has little of interest. Spend day one booking tours, as you should be based here for the next three events on this itinerary: Perito Moreno Glacier, Torres del Paine and El Chalten.

Day 96: Perito Moreno Glacier

Another magical Patagonia stop. Perito Moreno is a giant glacier which you can see from a variety of walking trails (or a boat if you wish to pay an extra US$50, although the walking tours are spectacular enough).

Every so often, ice will crash from the glacier into the water below.

Perito Moreno is probably in my top 10 “must-visit” places worldwide.

Day 97: A Day Trip to Torres del Paine (Chile)

The following day, be prepared for an early start and a long day in Chile.

You will take a tour to Torres del Paine in a specialist vehicle designed specifically to deal with the rugged terrain of rural Patagonia.

Torres del Paine is magical. The lakes are some of the most stunning we’ve ever seen, the waterfalls at some points are an incredible aqua blue colour, and the nature is simply amazing.

Wildlife lives in abundance round here. A puma even ran in front of our vehicle at one point.

Torres del Paine has three iconic granite towers, which make it recognisable to many. However, they aren’t nearly as good as some of the less famous views on show here.

This was the most expensive of the three tours we took from El Calafate costing £103/US$129 (+ a £31/US$39 entrance fee). But we have no regrets at all. A wonderful place.

Day 98: El Chalten

Next up is another day trip, this time to El Chalten.

El Chalten is famous for being a hiker’s paradise.

In all honesty, this was perhaps the most underwhelming stop in Patagonia. Another one I hesitated over putting in this itinerary, because it’s so similar to other Patagonia stops, but not as good.

However, I left it in so you can make your own mind up.

There is a nice viewpoint where you can see Andean condors flying overhead.

If you take a tour as we did, you will probably end the day at a waterfall. It isn’t an impressive one though, and the trekking was the only worthwhile part of this excursion.

If there’s one activity you skip in Patagonia, make it this one.

Day 99: Travel to Ushuaia

Next up, another lengthy travel day. You will go to Rio Gallegos, wait for a while, then get another bus through Chile which eventually takes you to Ushuaia.

Days 100-104: Ushuaia

The “end of the world” Ushuaia, is the closest large-ish city to Antarctica. And there’s certainly a bit of magic about this place.

Take a tour around Tierra del Fuego National Park, preferably in the winter which is when snow turns this place into a true winter wonderland.

The park has lots of wildlife and awesome scenery.

Next up, take a cruise down the Beagle Channel. You will see several marine creatures such as sea lions and cormorants here.

There will also be a chance to explore the small island of Puerto Karelo, a scientific research hub with some cool views of the surroundings.

The other absolute must-do in Ushuaia is hiking up Martial Glacier. Hire some shoe spikes and trekking sticks. From there, head up as far as you desire, and take in the surrounding views of snowy Ushuaia.

Other notable activities in Ushuaia include visiting the emerald-coloured Esmeralda Lagoon (not when it’s snowy from May-October however, as you won’t see anything) and going to the Prison Museum in the city.

I’ve covered all the highlights of Ushuaia in much more detail.

Days 104-115: Buenos Aires

After Ushuaia, fly to Argentina’s capital city. Here you have a lot of things to see and do, but can also take some time to rest after several exhausting activities in Patagonia.

My 24-hour Buenos Aires guide can give you some ideas in a bit more detail. But we will summarise the highlights of Buenos Aires here.

You can start your first full day with breakfast whilst visiting world-famous Cafe Tortoni, a Parisian-style cafe popular with celebrities and intellectuals.

Spend time around Plaza de Mayo, enjoying the European architecture and even Casa Rosada, the workplace of President Javier Milei.

Do a free walking tour, to learn about Buenos Aires’ history and see the best of its architecture.

Head to San Telmo to watch authentic Argentine tango dancing at Plaza Dorrego, capped off with a parrilla at El Rincon de Dorrego.

You should spend a day exploring the colourful La Boca district, home to great steak, tango, cool buildings and Boca Juniors Football Club.

For a bit of scenery, check out Buenos Aires’ Jardin Japones. A beautiful Japanese-style garden. It does get pretty packed with tourists though.

Fancy a drink or 10? Then go party the night away in either upmarket Palermo, or Puerto Madero which has several bars overlooking the waterfront.

If the opportunity arises, go and watch a football match in the capital. Unfortunately, Boca Juniors tickets are incredibly difficult for foreigners to obtain these days. River Plate tickets are slightly less tricky, but still hard. You need to find a reputable tour agency, or have good local contacts.

Your best bet is to watch one of the smaller teams. I went to a Barracas game and enjoyed that.

Besides this, just enjoy lots of great steak and soak in the culture of the city.

Uruguay

You can take a ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento, a popular day trip.

But Uruguay is worth a few more days if you have 6 months in South America.

I won’t pretend it will be the highlight of your trip. Uruguay is like Argentina’s little brother.

The culture, architecture and food are very similar. The main difference is that Uruguay costs (now just under) twice as much, and lacks the bucket list destinations which make Argentina so good.

You don’t need long in Uruguay, but a few days here won’t hurt.

Day 116: Colonia del Sacramento

Colonia del Sacramento is small but cool. There’s not loads to do here, but the chilled vibe, quiet beaches and colonial charm make it worth a visit.

Other activities include going up the lighthouse (Faro de Colonia) for great views from above (UYU35 for entry, or £0.64/US$0.80), and renting out a golf buggy for a few hours to cruise around.

I stayed here for two nights. That was one too many. A day trip is enough.

Days 117-120: Montevideo

Uruguay’s capital city doesn’t quite have as much to see and do as Buenos Aires, but it’s still worth at least a couple of days of your time.

Naturally, a free walking tour is the best way to find your feet in this city. I use Guruwalk as my go-to option to find good ones.

El Mercado de Puerto should be on your radar at lunchtime. This market sells some fantastic Uruguayan steak (similar to Argentinian steak in quality).

Montevideo is one of the world’s most important football cities. It hosted the first ever World Cup final in 1930 at Estadio Centenario which still exists today.

You can visit the Estadio Centenario museum for UYU330 (£6/US$8) and learn all about the history of the beautiful game.

Elsewhere in the city, Uruguay is home to Nacional, and I recommend going to a game if one is on during your visit.

When I went to a Nacional game in 2022. It quickly made Uruguay the 3rd-best country in the world to watch football (in my opinion) after Brazil and Colombia.

I even saw Luis Suarez playing for his boyhood club.

Day 121: Travel to Puerto Iguazu

I’m afraid this journey is pretty gruelling…

Flying from Montevideo is expensive. Therefore my suggestion would be a ferry to Buenos Aires (around £34/US$43) followed by a flight to Iguazu (flights as low as £33/US$42 if booked early enough, but up to triple that price when booked at short notice).

You are looking to fly to Puerto Iguazu in Argentina.

Argentina (Part 3)

Fortunately Argentina is very easy to enter and leave multiple times. Your passport won’t be stamped and the entry/exit process is very easy.

It’s time to end your time in this wonderful country with yet another awesome stop.

Day 122: Puerto Iguazu

Arrive in the town of Puerto Iguazu and check out the Triple Frontier landmark. This viewpoint is fun for geography nerds like myself as you can see three countries at the same time!

From Argentina, you can also see Paraguay on the left, and Brazil on the right. It’s an interesting spot to spend some time overlooking the Parana and Iguazu rivers.

Enjoy some baked treats at El Arbol Real, one of my favourite ever bakeries due to its large selection of tasty goods. It’s just across the road from Puerto Iguazu’s bus station (which you will be using a lot whilst here), so you won’t be going far out the way.

Otherwise, just soak up the vibe. Puerto Iguazu is a chilled town and it’s fun to relax here without even doing anything notable.

Day 123: Iguazu Falls (Argentina Side)

Why come all this way to Puerto Iguazu? Well, to visit the falls of course!

Iguazu Falls are split across two countries. Argentina has a lot more to see, but Brazil has better panoramic views.

I highly suggest visiting both. You’re missing out otherwise.

I wrote a complete guide to visiting Argentinian Iguazu Falls, so read that for tips on trails, costs and everything else you need to know, right down to where the toilets are located, and where to find medical facilities if needed.

No need for further details here. The guide has all the information you need.

Day 124: A Day Trip to Ciudad del Este (Paraguay)

We had some unfinished business in Paraguay. The city of Ciudad del Este (city of the east) is a border city with easy access to Brazil (although you can take a boat to Argentina from nearby too, but buses are the most popular option).

CDE (as the city is known) is a grubby metropolis best known for being tax-free and a big shopping hub. This attracts numerous Brazilians and Argentinians who hop across the border on a daily basis to grab a few bargains.

Sounds amazing right?

No?

Well the shopping isn’t why you come here. The real reason is to visit two cool spots: the Saltos del Monday waterfalls and the Itaipu Dam.

I explain these spots in a little more detail as part of my week-long Paraguay itinerary. However to summarise:

The Saltos del Monday falls are some pretty cool waterfalls with a short nature trail (although I didn’t see any wildlife during my own visit).

Sure, they aren’t as impressive as Iguazu. But unlike Iguazu, you may well get the whole place to yourself (we did). And that makes them an enjoyable experience.

Itaipu Dam straddles the Parana River with Brazil. You can take a free tour from the Paraguay side (you have to pay in Brazil). It’s an impressive engineering structure, if that’s the sort of thing that interests you.

You will need to cross what some people call the Iguazu Falls border to get here.

Brazil

Brazil, the largest country in South America. You can spend years here and only see a tiny amount of what the country has to offer.

I must admit, I’m not a Brazil lover. I’ve been to the country twice and found it to be very weather-dependent as to whether it’s enjoyable or not. I do NOT recommend visiting Brazil in December/January time as there’s a lot of rain and gloom in the skies at this time of year.

Safety is another issue here. Whilst some parts of Brazil are very safe (mostly small towns in the south, like Gramado and Canela), others can be very dangerous.

Brazil generally gets more dangerous the further north you go. Although I would advise extra caution in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro too.

I strongly recommend making Brazil your last stop rather than your first in this itinerary. Colombia has its dark side, but is still an easier country to get around safely than Brazil.

Here I will cover what you can do in Brazil.

Day 125: Foz do Iguacu

Pack your bags, and find a place to stay in Foz for at least one night. This is Brazil’s version of Puerto Iguazu. A little more rugged, a lot less charming, but an okay place to start your Brazil trip.

I would suggest heading to Dreams Park which is home to a few attractions ranging from a waxwork museum, to a motorcycle display and more.

The reason we went however was to see the ice bar, where you can take photos with ice sculptures, drink unlimited drinks for an hour or so whilst you’re inside, and just experience something a little different to the norm!

Day 126: Iguazu Falls (Brazil Side)

The main reason to visit Foz, is to see the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls. It’s much smaller than the Argentinian side, with one trail instead of six. However there are some fantastic views of the falls here, which are different to those across the border.

You can easily do Brazilian Iguazu in a half-day trip.

Day 127: Travel to Gramado

Another boring travel day. Take the afternoon bus from Foz to Porto Alegre. Then another bus to Gramado.

If you’re unlucky like we were, then perhaps tickets direct to Porto Alegre have sold out and you will need to stop in gloomy Cascavel on the way.

Days 128-135: Gramado and Canela

Our favourite places in Brazil.

I’ve bundled them together in this itinerary because they’re only 10km apart, so you can easily take Uber from one to the other meaning you don’t need to sort accommodation out twice.

On one hand, I feel December is a bad time to visit Brazil, because the weather is pretty awful.

On the other, it’s the best time to visit these two European-style towns which have some of the best Christmas vibes in the whole of South America.

Gramado has plenty of decorations, whilst Canela had an awesome light show with a festive theme taking place at 8pm and 9pm every night in December (weather-dependent).

Outside of the yuletide season, Gramado is Brazil’s answer to Bariloche in Argentina, with some incredible chocolate shops lining the streets.

For overall quality, I would say Bariloche had better chocolates than Gramado. However, Gramado has one trump card which is better than anything Bariloche had to offer.

The strawberry fondue at Lugano is simply sublime and remains one of my Brazil highlights, much more so than big attractions such as Copacabana Beach in Rio.

Lago Negro is a scenic spot, which caters heavily to tourists with pirate-style boats taking visitors across the water. We decided against taking one of these, but walking around it was still a relaxing experience.

In Canela, the Catedral de Pedra Canela is where the Christmas light show is held. However, it’s cool to see at any time of year even without the light show.

For an awesome budget lunch, we went to Churrascaria e Restaurante Kasarao da Serra. Here you can get really cheap all-you-can-eat steak with a big buffet selection. For the price, the quality is excellent, and this is one of our top 3 restaurants in Brazil.

Days 136-139: Florianopolis

Florianopolis is famous for its beaches. We went to a few of them. We started at Praia do Saco do Matadouro, which was nothing spectacular.

Then we went south to Praia dos Acores which was much cooler due to the lack of people around. It’s more remote and less touristy. Sure, you don’t get many vendors here, but you get a lot of freedom to enjoy the beach with few others around.

Next up was Praia do Campeche. This beach caters much more to tourists, with a lot of options to drink or buy a dessert.

We also went to Praia Joaquina. A nice place to see out the day with a beer by the sea.

Florianopolis is all about the island. The city is nothing to write home about. Although it does at least have a long coastline with plenty of exercise opportunities ranging from a running track to an outdoor gym.

The coastline is good for a walk, but otherwise the city isn’t worth seeing. The city centre is boring, and didn’t feel overly safe, so avoid that area.

One major plus point? The ribs at Ponta d’Agulha Costelaria were by far my favourite meal in Brazil, and one of the best I’ve ever had.

Days 140-141: Camboriu

After Florianopolis, we spent a night in Camboriu. However I would suggest at least two.

Camboriu is a beach resort. The beaches are lively, and it’s also famous for nightlife. A lot of South Americans come here on holiday.

Simply enjoy the beaches and the bars here. They can be quite good fun.

Days 142-144: Curitiba

Curitiba offers a bit of time and space to relax. We spent a month here to slow down the travels and work. It’s a city that’s fairly good for that purpose, but there are also some cool things to do whilst passing through.

Head to Parque Barigui to see capybaras. They’re most active shortly after sunrise and around sunset. But you can generally spot dozens of them, especially around the lake.

Elsewhere in the city, Passeio Publico is another nice park. One part of it has an island full of monkeys. You can’t access the island, but you can see the monkeys chilling.

The park also has many geese, fish and exotic birds.

I can’t mention Curitiba without bringing up a fantastic cheap steakhouse and buffet. Churrascaria Ponto Gira Grill became our go-to weekly lunch treat. It’s open daily from 11am-3pm and serves great all-you-can-eat meat for just £6/US$8.

Days 145-148: Sao Paulo

In Sao Paulo, you want to stay around Avenida Paulista. This is the lively area of the city, it’s also the more upmarket area with a higher police presence and a safer feel.

The road is home to a lot of entertainers, most visibly on Sundays. You may even spot the famous Porquinho da Paulista (Paulista pig) in an inflatable pig costume, singing outside Top Center Shopping.

I would recommend a free walking tour in the city to see the downtown area. A tour is the best way, not just to learn about the city, but also to keep you safe in an area that isn’t overly secure. It’s the only free walking tour I’ve ever done where a guard has come with us…

Spend the rest of your time here chilling in a secure hotel or apartment. It is at least an affordable place to stay for a few days.

Days 149-150: Paraty

Paraty is a really fun beach town between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. I highly recommend taking a boat tour across several paradise islands.

You can go snorkelling, and enjoy a few nice drinks on the boat.

This was one of our best experiences in Brazil, and a real itinerary highlight.

Days 151-160: Rio de Janeiro

And for the very last stop of this 6 month South America itinerary, I suggest ending in Rio de Janeiro. Check out the best things to do in Rio here. Or read on for a quick summary.

Rio is a city of extremes. On the plus side, it has lots to keep you entertained and some fantastic scenery. Based purely on its positives, Rio is one of the top cities in the Americas, if not the world.

On the downside, Rio is dangerous. That doesn’t mean you’re in imminent danger and can expect something bad to happen to you. It means you need to do a lot more planning and take a lot more care to stay safe.

I’ve been to Rio on two separate occasions now. I never had safety issues on either of them, but only because I was ultra cautious and did my research.

You can ask me questions in the comments if you want to know more about safety in Rio, or book a travel planning session with me for more detailed responses.

But for now, we will cover the best things to do here.

Let’s start with arguably the most famous. Rio is home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World: the statue of Christ the Redeemer.

This giant statue is on top of Corcovado Mountain. You can get there by purchasing tickets on the tremdocorcovado website. That is the official website, so be sure to use that link. At the time of writing, it ranked 30th on Google behind a bunch of sites selling tickets at much higher prices, so be careful.

The statue is pretty cool, although I would say it doesn’t deserve World Wonder status. There are much more deserving sites around the world in my opinion, such as Tikal in Guatemala, or the Moai statues of Easter Island.

Apparently, there are great views of Rio from the statue. Although I wouldn’t know this, as both times I went (October 2022 and January 2025) it was covered in heavy fog up there!

One thing to note, it gets ridiculously busy by the statue. So try and book your tickets well in advance for the earliest spot possible to try and beat the crowds.

Elsewhere in Rio, you also have spectacular Sugarloaf Mountain. For this one, you must book tickets on the Bondinho website and select the cable car tickets option, which will take you to the top of Morro da Urca. There’s an additional cable car that takes you up to Sugarloaf Mountain for no extra cost.

I recommend this activity for fantastic views of the city.

Elsewhere, we can’t talk about Rio without mentioning its two famous beaches: Copacabana and Ipanema.

I recommend visiting Copacabana for sunrise when there are few people and no vendors around. It’s completely different during the day when the beach becomes a sea of umbrellas as beachgoers, vendors and unfortunately, pickpockets are all over the place.

Ipanema is best for sunset. The picture you see at the very beginning of this post with purple skies was an Ipanema sunset.

For football fans, Rio is an absolute treat. It is home to the world famous Maracanã Stadium, which hosted the game with the best atmosphere I have ever seen after attending games in 38 countries at the time of writing.

You can generally get tickets by turning up at the stadium the day before a match. Unfortunately buying tickets online is pretty tricky, as is anything in Brazil, without a CPF (Brazilian tax number).

You will probably be able to get tickets at the ground, as long as it isn’t for a massive derby game between Flamengo and Fluminense, or another very popular fixture. Do it before the day of the game though.

If you fancy a little adventure, you can take a favela tour. Favelas are often dangerous places, and you should never try to enter one without a local.

However, tours allow you to visit some of the slightly less dangerous favelas alongside a local guide who will ensure you can visit safely.

Favela Rocinha is the largest and most famous one. I really enjoyed seeing it first hand and witnessing how locals live in these tough locations.

Another popular attraction is Escadaria Selaron. These colourful stairs seem like the perfect Instagram backdrop…

But really, the stairs suck. Any pictures you take will include dozens of other tourists. It’s super busy and they aren’t that impressive anyway. Go if you want, but don’t be surprised if they turn out to be disappointing.

And the Final 22 Days

I said this would be a 6-month South America itinerary, but that’s only 160 days. So what about the rest?

Well there are a few reasons I’ve left the final 22 days blank.

Firstly, you will get ill at some point. If not, it would be a massive surprise.

Sorry, but this is the honest truth of travel. Things do go wrong. I spent an extra week in Colombia after being wiped out by multiple illnesses.

I also had to scrap a planned month in Brazil and spend most of that time lying low in Uruguay during my first Latam adventure, whilst food poisoning additionally slowed me down in Guatemala.

You will need to allow extra days to compensate for things going wrong.

Secondly, you will need rest days. I’ve scattered a few into this itinerary in spots with a lot of amenities where it can be good to slow down. But if you spend every single day either travelling or doing activities, you will crash and burn hard. Take it easy.

Thirdly, you can use these extra days to squeeze in something I haven’t suggested. The Amazon Rainforest is perhaps the one glaring omission from this budget itinerary, and may be somewhere you want to spend some time.

I’m yet to visit myself, and have only suggested things here which I have done personally. But the Bolivian, Peruvian or Colombian Amazon are your best bets on a budget.

Alternatively you may want to visit the Guianas: Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.

Read the links in the previous paragraph to see my posts on those territories. However I left them out of this itinerary for two reasons: they’re not budget-friendly at all (they’re stupidly expensive), and they kinda suck if I’m honest with you.

Suriname is my least-favourite country in the world at the time of writing, and I’ve been to all of these. Guyana and French Guiana at least have some plus points, but not enough for me to say wow you’ve got to go there.

Then there’s Venezuela. More of an advanced travel destination, with a reputation for danger and violent crime in recent years. I’ll be visiting within weeks and share some content on here. Sign up to my email newsletter if you want more information on that.

This itinerary is meant to be a rough guide to inspire you and introduce you to some really cool spots. You don’t have to follow it word-for-word. In fact I encourage you not to, because travel is always more fun with a bit of flexibility.

Your South America backpacking trip should primarily be about doing the things that interest you the most.

Is South America Safe to Visit?

South America is safe if you take appropriate precautions. But this is not Japan or Saudi Arabia. It does have above-average levels of crime, the pickpocketing risk is moderate, and violent crime can occur, especially in major cities.

Argentina is super safe, as is neighbouring Uruguay, with Chile not far behind.

Paraguay is pretty safe too, and both Bolivia and Peru also err on the safer side to a lesser extent.

Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela require more caution, as do the Guianas if you choose to go there.

Safety in Ecuador is one thing I wrote about in more detail.

I’ve spent many months on this wonderful continent, and the only serious issue I faced was a mugging attempt in Ecuador.

I learnt a lot about safety that day, and have shared many safety tips which will help you avoid becoming a victim on the road.

Never get your phone out on the streets. Always lock your bags up on buses. And try to dress down, blend in with locals, and leave the jewellery at home.

Those would be my most important South America safety tips.

Is South America Cheap for Tourists to Travel in?

Travelling in South America can be done cheaply. But not every country here is cheap. We aren’t talking Switzerland, Singapore or USA prices, but some countries can put a dent in your budget. Let me rank countries below by how far your money will go:

Cheap: Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Paraguay

Mid-range: Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina (although Argentina is becoming more expensive at rapid rates)

Expensive: Uruguay, Chile

Very expensive: Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana (and from what I’ve heard, Venezuela, although I will confirm from personal experience after visiting)

Even within those ranges, there are differences. Bolivia is by far Latin America’s cheapest country. You can get by on £15/US$19 per day there if you take it easy. Maybe even less. Although by following this action-packed itinerary, you will be spending double that on average.

Paraguay on the other hand is mostly cheap, but accommodation could push it more into the mid-range category.

I would say you should allow for a spend of £40/US$50 per day on average. You will spend less in the cheaper countries and more in the more expensive countries, but that’s a reasonable average, and roughly what I’ve spent during my Latin American adventures over the last 3 years.

When is the Best Time to Visit South America?

South America is massive, and experiences every climate possible. Therefore it’s not possible to label any particular time as “the best” to go, as it varies wildly across the continent.

The best time to visit the northern countries (Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname) is roughly November-April due to the dry season which makes exploring safer and more enjoyable.

The best time for the Andean countries (Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia) is around May-September. Again, this is the drier season in those places. Skies are generally clearer too.

In the south, I would recommend visiting Chile and Argentina in the winter months (June-September) to see Patagonia at its best during the snowy season. Although I’d hang around until October which is when the penguins of Punta Tombo really come out to play.

Uruguay is best visited around November-February during the summer months when you can enjoy the beaches at their best.

Brazil is hard to categorise as it’s so big. But I would stay away during December and January when rain seems to fall pretty much every day and the sun rarely comes out of hiding. This is especially true in the south. I’ve been here almost two months at the time of writing and it’s not fun in this weather…

In all honesty, there’s no way to follow this itinerary entirely at the best time. You will hit some countries in the better seasons, and others at trickier times of year.

Overall, you should have a great experience however, with the weather doing little to dampen your experience overall (pardon the pun).

What Languages are Spoken in South America?

The most commonly-spoken language in South America is Spanish, used in 9/12 countries down here.

Only Brazil (Portuguese), Guyana (English) and Suriname (Dutch) don’t speak Spanish. Additionally in French Guiana they unsurprisingly speak French.

Although, Spanish goes a long way in Brazil, even if you don’t speak Portuguese. The two languages have a lot in common.

Also I will add that the Surinamese people speak fairly good English.

I would recommend spending a few weeks on Duolingo before you come to South America to learn Spanish. I did this before my first Latin America trip and it made a colossal difference to my enjoyment and understanding of the region, even without being fluent.

Is 6 Months Enough Time to See Everything in South America?

No, not at all. Even 6 years won’t be enough, but 6 months should at least cover the majority of the highlights.

The main attractions not covered by this itinerary are as follows:

The three major island groups of the Galapagos (Ecuador), Easter Island (Chile) and the Falkland Islands (UK). Although all three are major budget-busters, so do be aware of that.

I’ve been to 1/3 so far (Easter Island) and highly recommend visiting as it is a magical place. But it’s going to put a dent in your bank account.

The Amazon Rainforest. Accessible from 9 different countries, this one has eluded me so far, hence its exclusion here. But it’s certainly a place of interest which you may want to squeeze in using the 22 extra days here.

Venezuela and the Guianas. Again, these are budget-unfriendly destinations, and the Guianas at least don’t have so much of interest to see.

North Brazil. Northern Brazil is said to be much more dangerous even than dodgy coastal cities like Rio and Sao Paulo. It’s supposed to be an interesting region. If I explore it any time soon, you will be able to read about it on here.

Even within the well-covered countries, there are always spots of interest that haven’t yet been mentioned. Examples include beach town Punta del Este (Uruguay), vibrant Valparaiso (Chile), world salsa capital Cali (Colombia) and Bolivian capital Sucre among others.

You will never run out of cool things to do in South America.

Which Countries Should I Skip if I Don’t Want to Visit All of Them?

The Guianas (Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana). As I’ve said, they’re a lot more expensive and a lot less interesting than other countries on the continent. Also they aren’t very safe.

Don’t expect me to get a job with the Guianese tourism board any time soon…

I would also suggest skipping Venezuela. I’ve heard a lot of good things, but it’s an expensive country with more risks, less of a developed backpacking trail, and it requires a lot more planning than the others.

Otherwise you can also skip the smaller countries of Paraguay and Uruguay. I love Paraguay, but these two don’t have as many highlights as the other countries on this list.

If you want to trim down this itinerary even further, next on my culling list would be Ecuador and Brazil. Two countries that certainly have their highlights, but also come with safety issues that can’t be ignored.

Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia and Chile should be visited at all costs. Those countries are simply amazing.

Check out all of my South America content if you wish to learn more about specific countries.