5 ideias de roteiro em países da América do Sul!

5 itinerary ideas in South American countries!

South America

The backpack of many people’s dreams speaks portunhol. And you can start in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil or Peru – whatever. In this text, you will find five itineraries in South America, for trips of one week, 15 and 20 days or several months of duration. Shall we pack?

See also: How much does a backpack cost for South America?

How to organize a roadmap through South America

A trip through South America has the potential to transform the way we see our neighbors and ourselves. It is undoubtedly a rich region, both in natural beauty – ranging from beaches to snowy mountains and deserts, as well as in human wealth.

In theory, it is possible to cross the entire continent by land, stoping each day in one place and knowing to the most everything that a roadmap in South America can provide. In practice, this is not always feasible. First of all, because it takes time that many do not have. Secondly, because the distances are gigantic and the roads are not always good, which makes the plane stretches more inviting.

Dividing your itineraries through South America smaller trips can also make it much easier when planning. In general, we have the following subdivision:

  • Patagonia: Chile and Argentina
  • The Southern Cone: Argentina, Chile and Uruguay
  • Altiplan Andino: North Argentina, Atacama, Bolivia and parts of Peru
  • Amazon: Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela
  • North: Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela

Although it is not dangerous to travel through South America – the biggest risks are theft and scams – the region often goes through political instabilities from time to time, which can affect the logistics of your trip. Before traveling, it is always good to check the safety tips of the Itamaraty.

Best time to make your itinerary in South America

As we are talking about a gigantic region, it is necessary to look carefully at the time of the year – a month can be great to visit Peru, but not so cool for the beaches of the Brazilian northeast, for example. There is not much way out: you need to research on a case-by-case basis.

Do I need travel insurance for South America?

Travel insurance is mandatory to enter two countries in South America, Ecuador and Venezuela. In the others, it is optional, but our recommendation is that you never travel without, because in case of any medical emergency, theft, loss of luggage or need to interrupt the trip because of some great unforeseen, you will be calm.

Want to know how to spend little by contracting insurance? We have discount coupon that can reach up to 25% of the insurance amount, and still allows you to compare between various insurers and find the best coverage for you, including issues related to covid-19.

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Visas and borders in South America

You don’t have to have seen to visit any country on the continent – the exception is French Guiana. For most countries, in reality, you don’t even need to have a passport. Only the RG is necessary, provided that in good condition and with photo in which you are recognizable.

The national identity document is accepted on immigration from Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Those who will make the trip by car need to acquire a Green Card Insurance, which is a mandatory document to drive passenger vehicles among the Mercosur member countries.

Recommended vaccines for South America

Proof of yellow fever vaccination is mandatory and required in immigration from South American countries. Some countries in the region have also started to require proof of vaccination against Covid and/or negative PCR test in immigration. As this requirement changes a lot, our suggestion is that you check directly on the site of the consulate of the country to which you intend to travel

See here how to get your international vaccination certificate against Covid and Yellow Fever.

In addition, the government recommends that the traveler immunize against hepatitis A and B, tetanus and diphtheria, typhoid fever, meningococcal infection. These are not mandatory vaccines.

Cheap Flights to South America

Currently, you can expect to pay between R$ 1200 and R$ 2200 in a return ticket to Argentina and between R$ 1800 and R$ 3000 for Peru.

Itineraries of Itineraries in South America

1 – Between 7 and 10 days in Argentina and Uruguay

Perhaps the simplest backpack in Latin lands. And involving two countries: the neighbors Argentina and Uruguay. Other advantages of this trip are the prices of air tickets, which are usually well in account, and the little time needed to complete the itinerary – with a week it is possible to make this trip, although the itinerary fits better in 10 days.

To make your life easier, buy a flight to multiple destinations, arriving in Buenos Aires and returning through Montevideo (or the opposite). You can search for multiple destinations by choosing the “several cities” option in most of the airfare search engines that exist today.

For example, I will show how this itinerary would work with the arrival in Buenos Aires, but it is not very different if your outbound flight is to Uruguay.

road trip Uruguai

Montevideo

Arrone in Buenos Aires, the city that will take the longest in your itinerary. If you have 10 days, you remain at least four of them in the capital of Argentina. Swrought the weather, cross the Río de la Plata and go to Uruguay – in an hour’s drive you are in Colonia del Sacramento. Spend a day and night there, following a trip the next day to Montevideo. For this, take a bus at the Colonia bus station or rent a car, which is better if you wanted to know other parts of the Uruguayan coast.

See also:
How to go to Colonia del Sacramento
Uruguay by car – how to organize your trip

Stay at least two days in Montevideo. From there, head to Punta del Leste, the last destination of your trip. There is just go to Montevideo airport and take the flight back to Brazil. Easy, right?

Three accommodation options in Buenos Aires

The best regions of the city are Recoleta and Palermo, although many hostels are located in the center.

  • Hostel Parada – Good value and close to everything, but in a noisy region of the city (we have already tested!).
  • Belgrano Hostel – Privileged location, close to the subway and with lots of nightlife around (we already tested!).
  • Hotel Bys Palermo – Great hotel in Palermo, highly praised in the location.

3 accommodation options in Montevideo

To enjoy the city to the fullest the city stay in Pocitos or Punta Carretas.

  • Hotel Gema – Good value, close to the beaches and bars and restaurants (we have tried!)
  • Mercure – Even better location, overlooking the waterfront and also close to everything.
  • Destination26 – Great hostel in this area.

2 – 15 day thouts through Argentina and Chile

Another simple script involving two countries. As in the previous case, the ideal is to buy the ticket with multiple destinations: you arrive in Buenos Aires and leave for Santiago (or the opposite). The ideal time to make this trip is 15 days, although it is possible to face this itinerary with less time.

If your arrival is through Buenos Aires, stay at least four days in the capital of Argentina. From there, head to Cordoba, which will be your stop for two days. Cordoba is the second largest city in the country, a place full of interesting bars and restaurants with university climate. You can take the trip by plane or bus, on a night trip that should last around eight hours. I opted for the bus and did not regret it.

See also: How to travel by bus through Argentina

The weather is up in Córdoba? Take another bus (or plane) and head to Mendoza, where you will be for at least three days. When you get tired of the wine capital, run again to the bus station. The next destination is already in Chile: Santiago. The trip takes six hours. If your trip is in winter, make sure the road is open.

Spend the rest of your time in Santiago and surrounding areas. You can take a trip back to the cities of Valparaíso and Vina del Mar. Another alternative is to spend a night in these cities, returning to the Chilean capital to take the flight back to Brazil.

3 accommodation options in Córdoba

The Plaza San Martín region is great, full of hotels and close to bars and restaurants.

Three accommodation options in Mendoza

Basically, the question is to choose between staying in the center or in the suburbs, near the wineries.

3 accommodation options in Santiago

In terms of charm and nightlife, the Paris London district is a good choice. Other regions that are also worth it are the Center itself, Bellavista, Providência and Las Condes.

Valparaíso, Chile

3 – 20 day itineraries for Uruguay, Argentina and Chile

In this case, arrive in Uruguay and leave for Chile (or the other way around). Spend three days in Montevideo/Punta del Leste. From there, head to Colonia del Sacramento, from where you will take the boat to Buenos Aires. After four days in the capital of Argentina, go to Córdoba. So far everything is the same, right? Pay attention to the difference:

From Cordoba head to Salta, in the northern region of Argentina. Stay at least a week in this region, exploring both the city and the surrounding attractions – Quebrada das Conchas e Cafayate, Cachi and National Park there Cardones, Salinas Grandes and also the tourist cities of the neighboring state, Jujuy.

From Salta or Jujuy, take a night bus to San Pedro do Atacama, Chile. The trip lasts around eight hours and is carried out by three different companies: Andesmar, Geminis and Pullman. In some cases you may have to go to Calama, also in Chile, and from there take another bus to São Pedro do Atacama, a journey that lasts around an hour.

After exploring the Atacama Desert, head to Santiago. In this case, the ideal is to make the stretch of plane, by the airport of Calama. If you prefer to go by bus, prepare for a 20-hour trip (at least). Stay four days in Santiago, also getting to know Valparaíso and Vi?a del Mar. Take the flight back to Brazil there.

3 accommodation options in Salta

There is not much secret: look for accommodation in the central region.

Three accommodation options in San Pedro do Atacama

4 – 20 day backpacking through Peru, Bolivia and Chile

One of the most traditional South America’s itineraries among backpackers, this trip goes through the beautiful Andean landscapes. As I have never been to Bolivia, I asked for help from Fábio Freitas, a long-time friend who has already moved there to put together this script. In this case, start your trip through Cusco, Peru, and finish by Santiago, Chile (or the opposite).

Book between four and five days to get to know Cusco and surroundings, which includes the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.

See also: How to buy the entrance to Machu Picchu

Roteiros pela América do Sul: Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu, Peru

In Cusco, take a bus and head to Puno, which is on the shores of Lake Titicaca. The average trip lasts eight hours. After a few days in Puno, it’s time to enter Bolivia. The bus journey to La Paz usually passes through Copacabana and lasts around eight hours. Demonstrations are very common in the region, which can interrupt the traffic of vehicles, delay your trip or even force you to make a good stretch of foot, until you pass the demonstration.

Have you come to La Paz? Great. Take the opportunity to know the attractions of the city, among them the Witch Market, where it is sold for everything: handicrafts, Andean clothes and even products used in religious rituals (which guarantee the name of the market).

From La Paz head to Uyuni, the base to get to know the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt plain in the world. This trip can be made by bus, by train (stop in Oruro) or by plane. The bus ride takes around 10 hours. The blog Rê Living Travel gives details about the route.

From Uyuni, head to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. Fábio, who helped me put together this itinerary, came to the border with Chile by jeep, during the three-day tour he took for the Uyuni Salar. There he took a transfer to San Pedro do Atacama. After spending a few days in the Atacama, go to Santiago, preferably by plane, since the airline tickets are usually not expensive (or take that looonga bus trip). Enjoy the Chilean capital for a few days and take the flight back to Brazil.

Three accommodation options in Puno

5 – Backpack in South America: Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru in how long you want

I bet you’ve noticed: you can bring together parts of all the previous itineraries in one, doing a backpacking through South America, which passes through Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru. For this, go to Cusco, Peru, and return through Montevideo, in Uruguay (or the opposite).

Between Cusco and San Pedro do Atacama in Chile, follow the entire route number four. From there you have two options: the first is to go to Salta or Jujuy, in the north of Argentina, a bus trip that lasts about eight hours, as reported in the route number three. From that point you can follow to Cordoba and then Buenos Aires, where you will take the boat to Uruguay.

The second option is to go from San Pedro to Santiago, from there going to Mendoza, Argentina, as I reported in the route number two. Then the itinerary is identical: Cordoba and Buenos Aires, where you will take the boat to Uruguay.

Roteiros pela América do Sul: Andes

The Andes Chileans

Other itineraries for South America

There are hundreds of itineraries in South America, from the most luxurious backpacking. It is possible to make the excerpts listed here differently; it is possible to go in other parts of the countries mentioned (for example, Patagonia and Tierland); it is possible to include countries that have stayed outside these examples, like Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and, of course, Brazil, which yields a separate text, but can be combined with neighboring countries.

In the links below you can find more information for each of these scripts.

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