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Ancient stone ruins of Machu Picchu sit on a lush green mountain ridge, surrounded by steep, forested peaks under a blue sky—a travel highlight and iconic wonder of South America.

Highlights of South America

  • 50 Days
  • 49 Nights
  • Get Custom Pricing
  • Customizable & Combinable
South America travel content reviewed by Juergen Keller, Co-Founder & CEO
Several waterfalls cascade down a rocky, green-covered cliff into a misty river below, where a small boat with people inside approaches the base of the falls—one of South America's natural highlights for travel and adventure. Lush foliage surrounds the scene.
Jagged red mountains with sharp ridges are illuminated by soft light under a purple sky. The full moon rises above the peaks, showcasing one of South America's travel highlights, with distant mountains visible in the background.
A person in a red jacket stands on a vast, reflective salt flat in South America under a bright blue sky filled with clouds, creating a mirror-like effect with distant mountains—one of the travel highlights of the region.
A cable car travels toward Sugarloaf Mountain, a tall granite peak rising above lush greenery and a scenic coastline at sunset—an unforgettable highlight of any Brazil tour in Rio de Janeiro.
A cobblestone street lined with colorful colonial buildings and a church tower, lit by streetlights at dusk in Pelourinho, Salvador, Brazil. People and cars fill this vibrant scene on the historic Coast of the Conquerors.
A man in a suit and a woman in a black dress with patterned tights dance passionately outdoors at sunset, with a bridge and cityscape highlighting the vibrant charm of South America in the background.
  • 50 Days
  • 49 Nights
  • Get Custom Pricing
  • Customizable & Combinable

*Example by 4 travelers in 4★ accommodation, low season. Flights priced separately. Get a quote for 1 to 99+ below

Summary - Highlights of South America

The Complete South America - ALL the Highlights!

We’ve put together our ultimate South America itinerary – it’s an extensive list, so be prepared for quite an adventure! If you’ve got 6 weeks to spare, this is the perfect itinerary for you to see all the most important highlights of South America. But if you can’t quite handle a 50 day vacation, don’t fret! This itinerary is just an example of what we can offer; you can customize it to meet your trip plans perfectly.

First we’ll take you on a journey through Peru, to learn about the great Inca empire that thrived here just a few hundred years ago. Continue into Bolivia to see the colorful landscapes and traditional cities of this landlocked country. Then venture into Chile, starting in the Atacama Desert, and make your way towards the central coast. Then cross the Andes into Argentina, where you’ll spend some time in Buenos Aires and then head to the northern tip of Argentina, where the Iguassu Waterfalls pours over the border with Brazil. Once in Brazil, spend some time in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Then delve into the historic gold mining region of Brazil. Finish in Salvador da Bahia, the original capital of Brazil and one of the oldest cities in South America.

After 6 weeks of traveling, you’ll have crossed destinations like Machu Picchu, Buenos Aires, the Iguassu Falls, and Rio de Janeiro off your bucket list!

Highlights

  • Incas: Machu Picchu, Cusco, Sacred Valley
  • Wine tasting
  • Lake Crossing Through The Andes
  • South America main cities: Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago
  • Brazilian & Argentine sides of Iguassu Falls

Included

  • All 49-Nights accommodations
  • All breakfasts & other meals as mentioned in the itinerary
  • 1 dinner with tango show
  • All tours, transfers and entrance fees
  • First class train transportation Cuzco-Puno
  • Tango lessons
  • English-speaking guides

Sample Itinerary

A smiling couple takes a selfie outdoors on their South America Tour, surrounded by colorful buildings and festive decorations. The man wears a hat and green tank top; the woman wears a yellow dress. Two church towers rise in the background.

First explore the culture of the Incas as you travel to Machu Picchu and Cuzco, the great cities of Lima and La Paz in Bolivia. On Lake Titicaca the floating islands await you on this excursion back in time! The second part is from the Bolivian Capital to the wonders of the Atacama Desert! Astounding contrasts as you journey from La Paz to the crystaline Chilean coastal Oasis of Arica, then into the beautifully fascinating Atacama Desert.

Visit Chile's natural wonders: Santiago de Chile a Mediterranean coast, rolling hills, volcanoes and the highest mountain range in the Western Hemisphere, glacial lakes, European traditions and a heaven for lovers of excellent wines and incredible food. Then the Paris of South America, Buenos Aires. Enjoy sights, sounds, shopping in Buenos Aires, and learn to dance Tango in this beautiful city. We show you both the Argentine and Brazilian sides of the majestic Iguassu Falls.

Take an unforgettable railway journey over the jutting Atlantic Rainforest Mountains, and view a mix of landscapes through southern Brazil on this special introduction into a fascinating land! The contrasts of Brazil become evident as you travel from natural wonders through high-tech farmlands to the industrial megalopolis of São Paulo. From marvelous Rio de Janeiro you are never far away from the best beaches Brazil has to offer.

Discover where the gold originated to build Europe's great palaces and churches. And discover a few treasures along the way. The Route of Gold rambles along rugged mountains from the beautifully preserved colonial gold mining towns of Ouro Preto and São João del Rei to the ancient seaport of Paraty. This bounty of gold provided the wealth to build the royal colonial seat of Rio de Janeiro as well as the Old World capital, Lisbon. The richest deposits of gold ever found in the Americas even financed England's Industrial Revolution!

Home to one of the most ethnically diverse populations on earth, Brazil mixes Old World charm, new world vitality and African rhythms. Many nations have made a claim to Brazil's soul. Today, these influences spice everyday life, from the most African city in the Americas - Salvador to the former Dutch colonies in Recife.

Aerial view of Rio de Janeiro, a South America travel highlight, featuring the Christ the Redeemer statue atop a hill with the city, coastline, and Sugarloaf Mountain framed under a blue sky.
Highlights of South America
  • 50 Days
  • 49 Nights
  • Get Custom Pricing
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Rated 4.5/5 stars based on 701 customer reviews and custom tour testimonials.
A man and woman stand in front of a row of large stone moai statues on Easter Island, enjoying the grassy landscape and cloudy sky during their fantastic trip.

Thea and John Pfeiffer

"The wonderful accommodations were more than we could have hoped for from a travel company...."
Two people stand smiling with their arms around each other at Machu Picchu in Peru, with ancient stone terraces and a tall mountain visible in the background under a bright sky—a fantastic trip to remember.

Gilles & Dominique Corpart

"Thank you for your assistance and recommendations. Great job...."
Two people are silhouetted as they kiss at a table by a window, with a scenic view of water and coastline in the bright background—an experience Juliet would highly recommend for its romance and excellent service.

Lou Winship

"It was a pleasure working with Juliet and I will definitely use South America Travel again in the future...."
Several brown horses stand near a large, weathered Moai statue on grassy land on Easter Island, with rocky hills and a partly cloudy sky in the background.

Angelica Stefansdotter

"Horseback riding on Easter Island..."
Six people stand inside a greenhouse, smiling at the camera behind tables filled with young, tailored potted plants and seedlings. The greenhouse walls are covered with green material.

Violeta Sacara

"Perfectly tailored. They know what I am looking for before I do...."
A scenic view of Rio de Janeiro’s Sugarloaf Mountain at sunset, with well-organized boats on the water and city buildings in the foreground. The sky is tinged with pink and purple hues.

Lynn Zhang

"My travel consultant Izabela was very helpful in choosing those beautiful attraction sites...."
A large cobblestone plaza with people walking, bordered by arched colonnades on the left, and a tall, twin-spired brick church—perfect for travel planning under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

Sherlia Shi

"I'd like to thank you for arranging such a wonderful trip for us, we had a great time in the past nine days...."
Aerial view of ancient terraced ruins surrounded by lush green mountains, showing stone structures and pathways—an archaeological site where guides offer excellent service to visitors exploring its rich history.

Sheila

"She was easy to work with, thorough, efficient. I highly recommend Christina!..."
Aerial view of Machu Picchu, the ancient Incan citadel in Peru, surrounded by lush green mountains under a partly cloudy sky—perfect inspiration for organizing our trip and travel planning. Sunlight beautifully illuminates the historic ruins.

Ron & Gisele

"It was a trip of a lifetime for us and was everything we were hoping for and more!..."
A person walks on a sandy beach during their Brazil trip, carrying items, with a large rocky mountain and city buildings in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Archana Manocha

"The tour guides were very friendly and informative and were always on time...."

Estimated Tour Price Without Flights

Prices vary according to several factors including: season, number of people traveling, shared vs private excursions, when you book and rooming arrangements. These are from prices based on low season.

We can customize anything for any time of year! Contact us for an exact quote for your trip.

⭐⭐ - ⭐⭐⭐
Budget
From US
Call for Custom Pricing
Per Person
  • Flights quoted separately
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Basic
From US
Call for Custom Pricing
Per Person
  • Flights quoted separately
⭐⭐⭐⭐➕
Superior 👍
From US
Call for Custom Pricing
Per Person
  • Flights quoted separately
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Deluxe
From US
Call for Custom Pricing
Per Person
  • Flights quoted separately

*Budget generally includes excursions in group, Superior & Deluxe private excursions, & Basic is a best mix (varies by itinerary & excurion)

Note: ALL itineraries are 100% customizable to create your perfect trip!

⭐⭐ - ⭐⭐⭐
Budget
From US
Call for Custom Pricing
Per Person
  • Flights quoted separately
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Basic
From US
Call for Custom Pricing
Per Person
  • Flights quoted separately
⭐⭐⭐⭐➕
Superior 👍
From US
Call for Custom Pricing
Per Person
  • Flights quoted separately
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Deluxe
From US
Call for Custom Pricing
Per Person
  • Flights quoted separately

*Budget generally includes excursions in group, Superior & Deluxe private excursions, & Basic is a best mix (varies by itinerary & excurion)

Note: ALL itineraries are 100% customizable to create your perfect trip!

⭐⭐ - ⭐⭐⭐
Budget
From US
Call for Custom Pricing
Per Person
  • Flights quoted separately
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Basic
From US
Call for Custom Pricing
Per Person
  • Flights quoted separately
⭐⭐⭐⭐➕
Superior 👍
From US
Call for Custom Pricing
Per Person
  • Flights quoted separately
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Deluxe
From US
Call for Custom Pricing
Per Person
  • Flights quoted separately

*Budget generally includes excursions in group, Superior & Deluxe private excursions, & Basic is a best mix (varies by itinerary & excurion)

Note: ALL itineraries are 100% customizable to create your perfect trip!

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