South America is well connected to the rest of the world. From North America and Europe there are many direct flights to the main gateways, especially Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. From New Zealand and Australia, the most common routes are via Santiago, Buenos Aires or other major hubs. From Africa, there are flights and connections to Brazil and Argentina, often via São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Addis Ababa or Luanda. From the Middle East, there are good connections to South America through Doha, Dubai and other major hubs.
From Asia, routes are more limited, but it is no longer true that there are no flights to South America. Some services now link China with South America via intermediate stops such as Madrid or Auckland. For most travelers from Asia, the best route will still depend on the countries you plan to visit, and may involve connecting through Europe, the Middle East, North America or Oceania.
As a general rule, flight prices to South America are highest over Christmas, New Year and Easter — plus July and August. It pays to plan well ahead, especially at these times.
Within South America, important airlines include LATAM, Avianca, Gol, Aerolíneas Argentinas and a number of low-cost and smaller regional airlines. Distances are large, so flights are often the most practical way to combine several countries or far-apart regions in one trip.
