Best Countries for a First Trip to South America

How to choose

The most common mistake on a first trip to South America is underestimating the distances. Brazil alone is larger than the contiguous United States, Chile is more than 4,000 kilometres from north to south, and many journeys that look short on the map cross mountain ranges or rainforest. On a trip of two or three weeks, one country, or two neighbouring ones, is usually plenty.

Start with what you want most. If it is ancient history and mountain scenery, Peru is the obvious choice. For colourful cities, coffee country and Caribbean beaches, look at Colombia. For wine, food and the wild landscapes of Patagonia, consider Argentina and Chile. For wildlife, Ecuador, with the Galápagos Islands and the Amazon, stands out.

Think about seasons too. Most of South America lies in the southern hemisphere, where the seasons are the reverse of Europe and North America. The Andes have distinct dry and wet seasons, Patagonia is best in the southern summer, and the Amazon is warm and humid all year.

Language matters a little as well. Spanish is spoken in most of the continent, and a few basic phrases help a great deal, especially outside the main tourist areas. In Brazil the language is Portuguese.

Peru: the classic first choice

Peru is the country many people picture when they think of South America, and it works well for a first visit because its highlights form a natural route. Lima, on the Pacific coast, is known for one of the most exciting food scenes on the continent. From there, most visitors fly to Cusco, the former Inca capital high in the Andes, with its stone walls, colonial churches and markets.

The Sacred Valley, below Cusco, has Inca terraces, villages and ruins at Pisac and Ollantaytambo, and leads to Machu Picchu, the Inca citadel set on a ridge above the cloud forest. You can reach Machu Picchu by train and bus, or on foot along the Inca Trail or one of several alternative treks. Entry to Machu Picchu and permits for the Inca Trail are limited, so book well ahead, especially for the dry season.

Other highlights include Lake Titicaca, shared with Bolivia, and the Colca Canyon near the city of Arequipa. The main thing to plan for is altitude. Cusco sits at around 3,400 metres, and many people feel breathless or unwell for the first day or two. Starting lower, in the Sacred Valley, and taking it easy at first helps. The Andean dry season, roughly May to September, is the most popular time to visit.

Colombia: cities, coffee and the Caribbean

Colombia has become one of the continent's most popular destinations, and it offers a great deal of variety within one country. Cartagena, on the Caribbean coast, has a walled old town of brightly painted colonial houses and balconies covered in flowers. Medellín, in a valley in the Andes, is known for its mild climate, cable cars that connect hillside neighbourhoods and the transformation of areas such as Comuna 13.

Bogotá, the capital, sits at around 2,600 metres and has an excellent gold museum and a lively old centre called La Candelaria. Between the cities, the coffee region around Salento has green hills, coffee farms you can visit and the Cocora Valley, where tall wax palms, the national tree, stand on the slopes. On the Caribbean coast, Tayrona National Park combines jungle and beaches.

Because Colombia is close to the equator, temperatures depend more on altitude than on the time of year. Distances between regions are long by road, so domestic flights are the usual way to link Cartagena, Medellín and Bogotá. As anywhere, follow local advice about which areas to avoid and how to get around at night.

Argentina and Chile: Patagonia, wine and long distances

Argentina and Chile share the Andes and the vast, windswept region of Patagonia, and many travellers combine the two. Both are relatively easy to travel in, with good long-distance buses and domestic flights.

In Argentina, Buenos Aires is a grand, European-feeling city of cafes, tango, steakhouses and distinct neighbourhoods. Iguazú Falls, on the border with Brazil, is one of the largest waterfall systems in the world, with walkways that bring you close to the water. Mendoza, at the foot of the Andes, is the heart of the country's wine production. In the south, El Calafate is the base for the Perito Moreno Glacier, and El Chaltén is a hiking centre beneath Mount Fitz Roy.

Chile is extremely long and narrow, with the Atacama Desert in the north, one of the driest places on earth and a superb place for stargazing. Santiago, the capital, is close to both the mountains and the wine valleys, and the colourful port of Valparaíso is nearby. In the far south, Torres del Paine National Park is one of the continent's great hiking destinations. Easter Island, far out in the Pacific, also belongs to Chile.

Patagonia is best visited from about November to March, the southern summer, when days are long and most services are running. Weather there is notoriously changeable, with strong winds at any time of year.

Ecuador, Brazil and Uruguay

Ecuador is compact, which makes it easy to combine very different environments in one trip. Quito, the capital, has one of the best-preserved colonial centres in Latin America and sits high in the Andes. From there you can visit volcanoes such as Cotopaxi, the Amazon rainforest and the cloud forests of Mindo. The Galápagos Islands, around a thousand kilometres offshore, are famous for wildlife that has little fear of people, including giant tortoises, marine iguanas and sea lions. Ecuador uses the US dollar as its currency.

Brazil is a destination on a different scale. Rio de Janeiro, with its beaches, Sugarloaf Mountain and the Christ the Redeemer statue, is the usual introduction. The Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls gives a panoramic view, Salvador has a rich Afro-Brazilian culture and colonial old town, and the Amazon can be reached via Manaus. Because the country is so large, a first trip is best limited to two or three areas connected by flights.

Uruguay is small, calm and easy to travel. Montevideo has a long riverside promenade, and Colonia del Sacramento, a historic town across the river from Buenos Aires, makes an easy addition to a trip to Argentina. It is a good choice for travellers who want a relaxed start.

Bolivia, with the vast Uyuni salt flat and La Paz, one of the highest cities in the world, is spectacular but involves high altitude, long journeys and basic facilities in places. Many people find it more rewarding on a second trip, or combined with Peru.

Practical tips for a first trip

Check the entry requirements for each country you plan to visit with official government sources, as they differ between countries and can change. Arrange comprehensive travel insurance that covers any activities you plan, such as trekking at altitude.

Safety varies between countries, cities and even neighbourhoods. Most visits pass without problems, and simple precautions go a long way: use registered taxis or ride-hailing apps rather than hailing cars in the street at night, keep valuables out of sight, and ask your accommodation about the local area.

Learn some basic Spanish, or Portuguese for Brazil. Even a few phrases make ordering food, taking buses and asking for directions far easier, and offline translation apps fill the gaps.

Mobile data is especially useful in South America for booking ride-hailing cars, using maps and translating. A travel eSIM gives you mobile data abroad, and regional plans can cover several countries if you are crossing borders. Download offline maps before visiting remote areas such as Patagonia or the Atacama, where coverage can be limited.