South America is huge, and a first trip works best when you pick one region and do it properly. Distances are long, flights are often the only practical option, and several highlights need advance booking. These are the four places most first-time visitors put on their list, followed by routes that link them.
The big four
Machu Picchu, Peru. The Inca citadel sits high above the Urubamba River, a few hours from Cusco. Most people take the train from Ollantaytambo or Cusco to Aguas Calientes, then a bus up to the site. Entry is by timed ticket, and tickets sell out in peak months, so book several weeks ahead. The classic four-day Inca Trail has a daily permit limit and often sells out four to six months in advance. Shorter alternatives, such as the Salkantay trek, are easier to book.
Patagonia, Chile and Argentina. Torres del Paine in Chile and the Fitz Roy massif around El Chaltén in Argentina are the two big hiking areas. Torres del Paine has the famous W Trek, which takes about four to five days. El Chaltén’s day hikes are easier to arrange and need no permits. In the same region, the Perito Moreno Glacier near El Calafate is reached on an easy day trip. The main season runs from November to March.
The Amazon. The simplest access points are Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado in Peru, Manaus in Brazil, or Leticia in Colombia. Most visitors stay at a jungle lodge for three to five days with guided walks and boat trips. Rainfall is heaviest from roughly December to May, when water levels are high and some trails are flooded. That period is good for canoe trips, while the drier months suit walking.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain and the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema are the highlights. Go up to Corcovado early in the morning on a clear day, because afternoon cloud often hides the view. Santa Teresa and the Botanical Garden are good for slower days.
Three routes that make sense
- Andean Arc (10–14 days): Lima → Cusco and Machu Picchu → La Paz → Uyuni. This combines Peruvian food and Inca history with Bolivia’s high plateau. Flights connect Cusco and La Paz, and Uyuni is reached by flight or an overnight bus from La Paz. Salt-flat tours usually run for one to three days.
- Brazil highlights (9–12 days): Rio → Iguaçu Falls → Salvador. The Brazilian side of the falls gives wide panoramas, while the Argentine side lets you walk close to the Devil’s Throat. Salvador adds Afro-Brazilian music, food and colonial architecture.
- Patagonia loop (8–10 days): El Calafate → El Chaltén → Puerto Natales. Buses link all three, and the crossing from Argentina to Chile takes a day. Add extra days for weather, since delays are common.
Practical advice
- Acclimatize. Cusco is at about 3,400 m and La Paz is at roughly 3,600 m, with the airport much higher. Spend at least one or two nights at moderate altitude, such as in the Sacred Valley, before going higher. Drink water, eat lightly and avoid alcohol on the first night. Ask your doctor about altitude medication if you are concerned.
- Plan distances honestly. A bus that looks short on the map may take 20 hours. Use domestic flights to save time, and book overnight buses only when you can sleep on them.
- Eat in markets. Mercados are the cheapest and often the best place to try local dishes such as empanadas in Argentina, ceviche in Peru and moqueca in Brazil.
- Stay alert in cities. Use ride-hailing apps or licensed taxis, carry only what you need, and keep a photocopy of your passport. Ask your hotel which neighborhoods to avoid at night.
- Check the season. Patagonia is difficult in winter, and the Amazon changes dramatically between wet and dry months. Pick your region based on its own calendar.
Quick city plans
Rio, 3 days: Copacabana and Sugarloaf on day one, Corcovado and Santa Teresa on day two, and the Botanical Garden and Lapa nightlife on day three.
Buenos Aires, 3 days: Recoleta and the museums first, then San Telmo and La Boca, then Palermo’s parks and parrillas.
The short version
Choose one of the three routes, book Machu Picchu or Patagonia permits early, and allow a day or two of slack for altitude and weather. Trying to cover the whole continent in two weeks is the most common mistake.