South America is MASSIVE, and deciding where to go and how to travel can be a mind-boggling task.

Every border crossing is like you're stepping into a different world...

If you're thinking of travelling there, it helps to have an idea of the routes that make the most sense for the amount of time you have.

But it also helps massively when you at least have a general understanding of the region and the different countries you're about to visit.

And that's where we come in 😉

South America in 60 Seconds

Let's start with a brief introduction.

Defining a beast of a continent in a mere 60 seconds is no easy feat, but we can sure try.

• Best country to start with: Peru
• Daily budget reality: $30 on average, less in Bolivia or Peru, more in Brazil or Uruguay.
• Biggest first-timer mistake: Underestimating distances, this is a whopper of a continent!
• When to book ahead: Flights, ASAP, certain tours 1 month ahead, accommodation 1 week ahead.
• Best time to visit: Andean countries are best visited in the dry season (May – October), while Patagonia is best visited from November – February, Colombia and Brazil are all year round options.
• Biggest safety risk: traffic + motorbikes, watch out when crossing roads!
• Budget killer #1: Not shopping about for tours
• Budget killer #2: Using the least efficient ATM machines
• Budget killer #3: Paying ‘Gringo Tax’ on meals and market purchases
• Must-have app: BusBud, gives travel times and great prices for bus travel throughout the continent.

Itinerary Suggestions

When picking your itinerary, it's worth remembering that travel distances are HUGE, internal flights expensive, and sometimes you'll want to stay somewhere longer than anticipated.

Or perhaps a side quest will present itself, as is often the case.

2 Weeks

A killer itinerary to start with is focusing first on Peru: you land in Lima, explore for a day or two there before heading to the Nazca Lines, Arequipa, and Colca Canyon.

Then Cusco in the Andes, a few days exploring and getting used to the altitude before setting off on a multi-day trek to Macchu Picchu.

Alternatively, you could focus on Colombia and start by visiting Cartagena. After a few days, head to Santa Marta, the jump-off point for Minca and Tayrona National Park.

Head east to Cabo de la Vela (where the desert meets the sea) and Punta Galinas, where you can feast on fresh seafood along the Caribbean coast.

Near Cartagena, you can also check out Playa Blanca and Tolú before heading to Islas de San Bernardo (beautiful white-sanded islands).

1 Month

For surf bums, you can easily spend a month heading beach to beach from Southern Peru all the way to Colombia. Or you could do 2 weeks in Argentina followed by 2 weeks of hiking in Chilean Patagonia.

Another good choice is Brazil, focusing on the Southeast: travel from Rio de Janeiro all the way south to Florianópolis. You're probably gonna spend longer in both of these anyway.

Highlights of this journey include the megapolis of São Paulo, the idyllic getaways of Ilha Grande and Paraty, eco-friendly and laidback Curitiba, and the crazy nightclubs of Balneário Camboriú.

But we've got plenty more alternatives and sick routes for 3 and 6 months! Check them out by clicking the button below.

In a Nutshell

Backpacking in South America truly is a life-changing journey through one of the planet’s most fascinating landmasses.

If you're planning your trip out, read our mega-guide to stay on top of things like safety, handling money, doing it as cheap as possible, and all else you can think of!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reply to this email 😇

Travel far. Spend less. Live more.​​
- The Broke Backpacker