South America Itinerary: 10 Days, 2, 3 and 4 Weeks

South America is huge: the flight from Quito to Punta Arenas takes longer than a flight from New York to London. The best South America itinerary is therefore not the one with the most countries, but the one that links the right places in the right season, with the fewest wasted days.

This guide brings together the routes we plan most often from our office in Cusco, from a 10-day Peru classic to a five-week journey across the continent. Each itinerary has a route map, a day-by-day plan, the best months and notes on pace and altitude. Every route is a starting point: we adapt them to your dates, interests and travel style.

South America itineraries at a glance

Legend for the maps below: numbered stops in order of travel, a solid line for road, train or boat, and a dotted line for flights.

How to plan a South America itinerary

1. Pick two or three regions per two weeks. Every change of country costs about half a day in transfers and flights. Fewer bases mean more time to enjoy each one.
2. Fly between regions, drive within them. Buses across the continent take days; flights between hubs take two to four hours. Inside each region, private transfers, trains and boats are part of the experience.
3. Book an open-jaw international ticket. Arrive in one city and leave from another, for example into Lima and out of Buenos Aires, to avoid backtracking.
4. Plan the altitude. Start in the lower Sacred Valley (about 2,800 m) before sleeping in Cusco (3,400 m), and visit La Paz and Uyuni after Peru, never on arrival day.
5. Match the route to the season. The Andes are best from May to October, Patagonia from November to March. You can combine them in the shoulder months (October, November, March and April) or by choosing the order well.

Flight times between South America’s hubs

Add check-in, transfers and security, and count at least half a day for each flight. Galápagos flights leave from Guayaquil or Quito via Guayaquil, and we recommend arriving on the mainland the day before.

10-day South America itinerary

10 days: Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco

The best first taste of South America is Peru. Ten days allow the classic route at a relaxed pace, with time to acclimatise and enjoy Lima’s food scene.

Best months: April to November. Add-ons: Lake Titicaca (2 days) or the Amazon (3 days). See our guide to the 20 best things to do in Peru.

2-week South America itineraries

2 weeks: Peru and Bolivia, from Machu Picchu to the Uyuni Salt Flats

Our most requested two-week route crosses the Andes from Cusco to Lake Titicaca and Bolivia, ending on the largest salt flat on Earth.

Best months: May to October, or January to March for the mirror effect in Uyuni. Book it as our Peru and Bolivia Discovery (14 days) or the longer 16-day version. Read our best time to visit Bolivia guide.

2 weeks: the Galápagos Islands and Machu Picchu

Two icons of South America in one trip: wildlife that has no fear of people, and the Inca world.

Best months: April to November for Peru; the Galápagos are good all year. Book it as our Ecuador and Peru Highlights (15 days) and read Galápagos and Machu Picchu: the perfect South America journey.

2 weeks: Rio de Janeiro, Iguazú Falls, Patagonia and Buenos Aires

Beaches, waterfalls, glaciers and tango: a sea-level route with no altitude at all.

Best months: October to April. Book it as our Brazil and Argentina Experience (14 days).

3-week South America itineraries

3 weeks: Peru, Bolivia and Chile through the Andes and the Atacama

The great overland journey of the Andes: Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, the Uyuni Salt Flats, the Atacama Desert and the Chilean coast.

Best months: May to October. Altitude: the most demanding route in this guide; we keep the highest nights for the second week. Book it as our Peru, Bolivia and Chile Expedition (21 days).

3 weeks: Machu Picchu, the Chilean coast and the Lake District to Buenos Aires

From the Incas to the lakes and volcanoes of northern Patagonia, crossing the Andes by boat from Chile to Argentina.

Best months: October to April. Book it as our Peru, Chile and Argentina Journey (21 days). Prefer Rio at the end? The Icons of the South (26 days) adds Iguazú and Rio.

3 weeks: Brazil, Argentina and Peru

Rio, Iguazú, the Perito Moreno Glacier and Buenos Aires, ending with Machu Picchu: our Brazil, Argentina and Peru Landmarks (22 days) is the sea-level start to a high-Andes finale.

4-week South America itinerary

4 weeks: the grand tour, from the Galápagos to Rio

One month lets you see the big five of South America: the Galápagos, Machu Picchu, the Uyuni Salt Flats, Iguazú Falls and Rio de Janeiro, with Buenos Aires in between.

Best months: May, September, October and November balance dry weather in the Andes with good conditions in Iguazú and Rio. Book it as our Signature Journey (29 days). Prefer Patagonia and the Atacama to the Galápagos? See the Must-See Gems (30 days) through Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.

5 weeks: the complete continent

Our Explorer (35 days) adds the Amazon, the Atacama, Mendoza and Bariloche to the grand tour, from Lima to Rio through five countries.

Best time to visit South America, region by region

best good low season (rain, cold or closures)

In short: from May to October focus on the Andes, the Amazon and the Galápagos; from November to March focus on Patagonia, the Lake District and Uyuni’s mirror; in October, November, March and April almost everything works. See our seasonal guides for Peru, Bolivia and Patagonia.

Mistakes to avoid

• Too many countries. Five countries in two weeks means living in airports. Two or three regions per two weeks is the rule.
• Sleeping in Cusco or La Paz on arrival. Start lower and climb gradually.
• The Inca Trail in February. It closes every year for maintenance.
• Patagonia in winter. From May to September most park lodges in the far south close.
• Booking Machu Picchu late. Entrance tickets, trains and Inca Trail permits sell out months ahead from May to October.
• Tight Galápagos connections. Arrive on the mainland the day before your island flight.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need for South America?

Ten days for one country such as Peru, two weeks for two countries, three weeks for three, and four weeks or more for a grand tour that includes the Galápagos, Machu Picchu, Uyuni, Iguazú and Rio.

What is the best 2-week South America itinerary?

For a first visit, Peru and Bolivia, from Machu Picchu to the Uyuni Salt Flats, or the Galápagos with Machu Picchu. For a route without altitude, Rio, Iguazú, the Perito Moreno Glacier and Buenos Aires.

Can you see Machu Picchu and Patagonia in two weeks?

It is possible but tight: Lima and Cusco to El Calafate takes a full day of flights via Lima and Buenos Aires or Santiago. We recommend at least 16 to 18 days, travelling in October, November, March or April when both regions are in good season.

How do you get from Cusco to La Paz?

Our routes cross overland through Lake Titicaca: by train or road from Cusco to Puno, then by road via Copacabana to La Paz. Direct flights between Cusco and La Paz have operated on limited schedules; ask us for the current options.

Which is the best month to travel around South America?

October and November, and March and April, combine good conditions in the Andes, Patagonia, Iguazú and Rio. For the Andes alone, May to October is best.

Is it better to travel South America with a tour or independently?

Distances, altitude and connections make a well-planned route essential. A private tailor-made trip gives you the freedom of independent travel with guides, transfers and timings already solved.

Which countries can be combined most easily?

Peru and Bolivia (by Lake Titicaca), Bolivia and Chile (Uyuni to the Atacama), Chile and Argentina (Patagonia and the Lake District), Argentina and Brazil (Iguazú Falls) and Ecuador and Peru (short flights from Quito or Guayaquil to Lima).

Ready to build your own route? Browse our South America tours or plan a tailor-made trip with our team in Cusco.