What Are the Best South American Countries for First Timers?

Having travelled extensively in South America since 2022, I know which countries are easy, and which are more challenging to visit.

The best South American countries for first timers are Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay and Peru.

These countries are generally safer, and have more comfortable amenities and facilities for tourists.

I would avoid the likes of Guyana, Suriname and Brazil as those are certainly the more challenging countries in the region. Whereas Ecuador has safety issues on the mainland, although South America newbies should be okay if only going to the Galapagos Islands.

Read on to find out why these are the best South American countries for beginners, and what to expect in each place.

The Best South American Countries for First Timers

We’ll get stuck straight into which South American countries are the best for beginners.

Before each country listed, there are some of the best activities to do in each place. Check them out and see what takes your fancy.

1) Argentina

Good for beginners because: It has many awesome things to do, is the safest South American country, and it comes with a more familiar European culture

Magical Argentina is my favourite country in the world without a doubt. The landscapes here are fantastic in just about every corner of the country.

Where do we start?

You have the mighty Iguazu Falls in the northeast, capital Buenos Aires has lots to keep you occupied, Mendoza’s wine region is great fun, there’s also the Andean culture of the northwest around Salta.

And I haven’t even mentioned Patagonia yet. We spent two weeks in South America’s coolest region enjoying Bariloche’s amazing chocolates, the penguins of Punta Tombo, the jaw dropping Perito Moreno Glacier, many fun activities in Ushuaia and much more.

And you know what the best thing is? Well, apart from the landscapes and the food.

Argentina is super safe.

You can read my guide above for much more detailed safety information. But Argentina is very safe pretty much all round. The only areas you need to be really wary of are Rosario (you won’t need to go there anyway) and the area surrounding La Boca in Buenos Aires.

If you come from a Western European country like France or the UK, Argentina is much safer than your homeland. I’m British and felt a lot more relaxed in Buenos Aires than I did when living in London for several years.

It’s no surprise that Argentina is Latin America’s safest country, according to data compiled by the Global Peace Index, a leading compiler of data related to safety in every country.

Speaking of Europe, the culture in Argentina is very similar. Many Argentinians have Italian ancestry, so it’s no surprise that they have a lot in common.

The architecture is similar too. Buenos Aires looks like a European city, and the country has several alpine-themed locations including Bariloche and the German-style Villa General Belgrano.

Oh, and in another European similarity, football is an absolutely massive deal here.

The food isn’t wildly different from what western tourists will be used to. It’s easy to find Italian food, but where Argentina really excels is with its amazing steak, which beats any cuisine elsewhere in the world.

If you’re fairly new to travel, then your stomach may struggle to cope with more exotic cuisines, such as Mexican or Indian, so Argentina is a great country to ease yourself into something a little different, without quite jumping in at the deep end.

One downside of Argentina for first-timers: The economy is unstable and prices change a lot, sometimes very quickly. I first wrote this guide in January 2025, just two months after our most recent Argentina trip, and prices have pretty much doubled in some areas since then. Read about how to get the best exchange rates in Argentina before you go.

The blue dollar (black market) which gave you 100% extra money during my first Argentina visit in 2022, now only gives you 20% above the official exchange rate, and it’s coming down quickly.

2) Uruguay

Good for beginners because: It’s one of South America’s safest countries and is very Europeanised, just like Argentina

Uruguay is a great way to ease yourself into South America, as it is similar to Argentina in many ways.

The food, the architecture, the people who once again are generally descended from Europeans. Uruguay is like Argentina’s little brother in many ways.

It lacks the bucket list destinations that Argentina has which make you go wow. I wouldn’t suggest coming to Uruguay for the best time of your life. If I’m honest, Uruguay is a bit of a dull country.

So why come here?

Well, it’s still a great place to get your toes wet in the vast South American waters.

You can chill in quiet Colonia, which you can do as a day trip from Buenos Aires or Montevideo.

Speaking of the capital, that’s another fairly tame city with little to worry about on the safety front, and it’s pretty easy to get around as a foreign tourist.

It’s only the lack of things to do which push Uruguay down to second place as one of South America’s best beginner spots. Because in terms of safety, it is almost Argentina’s equal.

One downside of Uruguay for first-timers: It’s a very uneventful country that lacks the magical destinations in neighbouring Argentina.

3) Chile

Good for beginners because: It’s another very safe country with a lot to see and do and a well-established tourism industry

Chile has a lot in common with Argentina and Uruguay. Therefore it shouldn’t be surprising that it makes this list.

Chile’s capital Santiago again has a European feel to it in terms of architecture and normal everyday people. However there is one key difference compared to Buenos Aires and Montevideo. It’s not very safe and faces regular riots.

I got caught up in Santiago’s weekly riots once. It wasn’t pleasant.

Outside of Santiago however, there’s a very different vibe to Chile. And it’s still very beginner friendly.

You can visit stunning Torres del Paine in the south. We did it as a day tour from Argentina and it was really cool seeing the beautiful lakes and mountains. Even a puma ran past our vehicle at one point.

In the north you have Atacama Desert. The small town of San Pedro de Atacama is where tourists gather in large numbers to book tours from the many agencies that line the streets.

Chile’s tourist infrastructure is some of the best in South America which makes this a fantastic beginner spot.

My tip would be to minimise time in Santiago (even better if you can avoid it entirely), and focus on the highlights in the north (Atacama) and the south (Patagonia).

Easter Island is technically Chilean, even though it is located deep in the Pacific Ocean and has more in common with Polynesian culture than anything else.

It’s a magical destination and it’s fairly simple to arrange tours there. I recommend going if you have deep pockets. It’s one of my all-time favourite travel memories and it has a very once-in-a-lifetime feel to it.

You shouldn’t have any issues travelling in Chile regardless of how much time you’ve previously spent in this part of the world.

It definitely deserves a spot on your South America itinerary.

One downside of Chile for first-timers: Chile is expensive. Wherever you go in the country will put a dent in your budget. It shares northern borders with Bolivia and Peru which are two of Latin America’s cheapest countries. However, Chile itself is not budget friendly.

4) Paraguay

Good for beginners because: It’s safe, very affordable and has lots of great amenities

Alongside Argentina, Uruguay and Chile, Paraguay completes what is known as the Southern Cone. A group of the four southernmost countries in South America.

South Brazil is sometimes included under the “Southern Cone” banner. And like the rest of the region, it’s safe (unlike northern Brazil).

But Paraguay is a very different country to the other three mentioned beforehand. It’s a lot more rugged, lacks tourism infrastructure, and doesn’t have the bucket list activities of Argentina or Chile.

Now Paraguay is a great place to spend a week. It’s more laid back and has a more authentic feel compared to the other countries here.

Paraguay has much better amenities than most South American countries. In Colombia and Ecuador I never found a good supermarket. Even Peru was a struggle. Paraguay on the other hand has several major supermarket chains which have anything you could possibly want, and they’re pretty easy to find, especially in Asuncion.

Superseis is my favourite. They often have a very cheap buffet with a decent selection of foods. The one in Ciudad del Este by the bus station is my personal favourite as it has some great steak which you can cut and serve yourself.

I have several posts on Paraguay to help first-time visitors in the country. They include a guide on how to use Asuncion’s buses and the best time for a Paraguay trip among other things.

You can also book one-to-one travel consulting where I can help you more with Paraguay logistics.

Lastly, Paraguay is a safe country. Not quite on the same level as Argentina or Uruguay, but you should still be fine coming here for a holiday without any issues.

One downside of Paraguay for first-timers: It doesn’t have a lot to do in terms of major tourist activities. You go to Paraguay more for the culture (and amazing food) than to tick things off your bucket list.

5) Peru

Good for beginners because: It has a well-defined tourist trail, is cheap and it’s easy to get around

The Southern Cone countries are the easiest to travel in for South America first-timers, which makes it surprising that it’s harder to find western tourists in those locations.

Peru is a different story. Peru is right at the heart of the “Gringo Trail” which attracts large numbers of tourists from Europe, Canada and the USA.

And because of this, it’s an easy travel destination for South America newbies.

Peru has a very well-trodden tourist trail with popular locations including Lima, Paracas, Huacachina, Arequipa and Cusco all seeing heavy traffic from foreigners.

Because of this, there’s a company called Peru Hop which exists specifically to take travellers to these popular locations, which all deserve a place on your Peru trip itinerary.

With highlights including Machu Picchu and Mount Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain), it’s very easy to find professional tour agencies offering memorable experiences.

The likes of Arequipa and Cusco are amongst the safest cities in South America, which makes them great beginner spots.

Peru overall is a very safe country. Not quite on the same level as Argentina, Uruguay or even Chile. But the dodgy parts are generally far from where tourists go, so don’t worry about accidentally ending up somewhere you shouldn’t.

Another upside of Peru is that it’s a very cheap country. Only Bolivia is really cheaper on this continent, so your money will go a long way here, you should be able to afford a decent level of comfort, and this is a country with a lot of things to enjoy.

One downside of Peru for first-timers: Peru is at high altitude, which means there is a risk of altitude sickness for visitors who aren’t used to similar environments. My advice would be to spend a few days in higher cities like Cusco to acclimitise, before attempting any major hikes including the trek to Machu Picchu.

Why Aren’t the Other South American Countries Suitable for Beginners?

I’ve been to almost every South American country, with the exception of Venezuela which I should be visiting within a month or so of publishing this post.

Now Venezuela is expensive and difficult to plan with the tourist industry having collapsed in recent years as people avoid Venezuela due to perceived danger. I will share updated information from the country when I return.

The trickiest countries on the continent are Guyana and Suriname (and French Guiana, which is a French territory rather than a country in its own right).

The Guianas (as the three are collectively known) are some of the least safe places in South America, they’re ridiculously expensive, and they have very little that’s actually worth seeing. They’re by far the least beginner-friendly destinations on the continent. I spent over £1,000 (US$1,250) for 2 weeks there and saw almost nothing worthwhile.

Brazil feels like multiple countries all in one. And whilst south Brazil is relatively safe, the north definitely isn’t. Violent crime is rife the further north you go. Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro (admittedly a fun city with lots of cool things to do) are dangerous enough. The likes of Fortaleza, Salvador and Belem are far worse.

Yet even the safe parts of Brazil aren’t tourist friendly. Aside from the fact few people speak English here, you need something called a CPF (a Brazilian tax number that tourists don’t have access to) to do many basic tasks such as purchasing a SIM card or ordering bus tickets online.

Now there are workarounds. ESIMs work well here, and I purchased three Brazilian eSIMs with Airalo which worked perfectly throughout my 2 months in the country.

And bus tickets can be bought in person at the station. Although your Portuguese needs to be good to do this without difficulty.

Elsewhere, you have Bolivia. If I turned this list from a top 5 into a top 6, Bolivia would be the next country on the list. It has a lot in common with Peru, but is a little more rugged and less touristy than its neighbour.

Really fun country though.

Then we have Ecuador. Ecuador is the scene of nasty conflicts between cartels and the government right now. The Galapagos Islands are very safe, as are a couple of smaller cities on the mainland. But overall, Ecuador requires a lot more care than other South American countries.

And lastly we have Colombia. This was my first South American country, although I had just travelled through Mexico and all 7 Central American countries, which have some similarities in terms of culture and safety.

Colombia is a very popular country with western tourists, and for good reason. But it’s also known for violent crime, and there have been 39 tourists killed in Medellin last year. I had no issues during my first Colombia trip. But it is a country where you need to take more care than usual.

What Would You Suggest For My First South America Itinerary Then?

My suggestion would be to start by flying to Buenos Aires, not just because Argentina is the best starter spot on this continent, but also because its capital is one of the most well-connected cities in this part of the world.

From there it really depends on how long you have.

My advice would be to spend at least a month in Argentina. A few days in Uruguay won’t hurt, but you can skip this if you’re short of time.

After Argentina, spend a bit of time in Chile taking in both Torres del Paine (if you don’t do it as a day trip from El Calafate) and some stargazing in the Atacama Desert.

Then head up to Peru and Bolivia.

A Paraguay trip can be an optional extra. If you’re short on time, again, the best thing to do would be to skip it.

From here, you will have at least a few weeks of South America experience under your belt. I would suggest making Colombia or southern Brazil your next level up as these countries are the logical next step for expanding your comfort zone.

Don’t bother with the Guianas at all. And make sure you’re well-prepared if you go to Ecuador’s mainland at all. You need to take a lot of extra precautions there.

Stay safe, and happy travels! Don’t be afraid to get in touch if you need help planning your dream trip.